Author: amfertalks

Sustainable Shopping Tips

Want to move away from fast fashion and build a more sustainable wardrobe but have no idea where to start?

If you’re not super into fashion you may not know how to find independent, smaller, homegrown brands. This is where I recommend looking at retailers that have lots of brands. Moda Operandi, Net-A-Porter, Garmentory, Intermix. Don’t worry if you can’t afford them, just browse at the clothes.

When you see something you like, go on Instagram and follow that designer. Instagram will recommend other similar designers, follow them too. Use your explore page as well to find reputable brands and companies.

Eventually you’re gonna have lots of brands you like, but not necessarily can afford. But now you need to look at what you like. For instance, if your see yourself liking dramatic sleeves or statement collars, take note.

Take your measurements. Do not buy from any site that doesn’t have a consistent sizing chart. Ideally they have individual garment measurements too but not always. Do not just guess at your size. That’s how you end up unsatisfied with you purchase.

Remember a lot of brands are also on Afterpay, so if you stick to buying 1-2 items a time you can start investing in better pieces in instalments. Not crazy expensive, but I find a good spot for quality is usually around $50-$150 with smaller brands.

Now just Google. When my research lead me to want a denim skirt I just googled it and set my price range. The skirt I ultimately went with was from ZARA. Isn’t that fast fashion? Yes, but it was a thoughtful purchase. That is really the point of a sustainable choice. The more you look at your Instagram fedd and things you’ve saved the more you can pinpoint your style. Search for those specific qualities. Regardless of the price point, stick to only buying 1-2 items at once that you really love or that fill a gap in your wardrobe. You’ll also start getting ads for smaller brands. Follow what you like. Bookmark items, save them to folders. When you’re ready to invest, you have a feed full of stuff you like and ideas where to find it. Go forth and prosper.

With regards to vintage, I use Etsy exclusively. I have saved searches for things/brands I want (gold belts, silk blouses, etc.) and I know my measurements. With vintage, NEVER go by the size tag. The seller should list measurements.

Remember, unethical choices are hard to avoid. But being more intentional with what you buy will at least lead you to a wardrobe where you never “have nothing to wear” and get you out of the vicious fast fashion cycle of buy, toss, re-buy that’s burying us in all ways. And yes, this takes time, so be patient. Be mindful. Be an outfit repeater. Just don’t be wasteful. Jumping on every trend without knowing what you like is wasteful.

Finding actualy ethical and sustaibale brands is actually even easier, just go on GoodonYou.eco https://goodonyou.eco/colourful-clothing-brands/ and search for what you want and read their ratings. Follow them on Instagram, get recommended similar and ALWAYS read their About, Shipping and FAQ pages to avoid scams. I can already hear someone saying “this is a lot of work just to buy clothes” well let me tell you, YES IT IS. Buying hours worth of designs, development and labor should take time. Clothes are not disposable goods, they are how you navigate the world. So be thoughtful when buying no matter what, whether that’s thrifting, high end, or fast fashion or anything else.

You should LOVE everything you put on.

A Moo point: Cow Prints

A FRIENDS reference was much needed in today’s topic. Thanks Joey!

Does cow prints matter? Or is it all just a moo point?

Let’s us all take a minute to appreciate cows as they are. Vegetarians you might not agree with this but the lovely creature provides us with delicious ground beef, cuts our grass, provides us with fresh milk every day to drink, along with fresh cheeses, yogurt, butter and ice cream. What more can we ask from a dear old cow? Clearly, they are a big part of our lives as humans to such an extent fashion designers have incorporated it into their staple pieces and are calling it the trend of the season: Cow Prints!

Cow print tips on my nails.
One of the BEST MANICURE I’ve ever gotten. Thanks Posh TTDI.

But why all of a sudden besides the classic cheetah, snake and leopard? Well, the bold black and white cow prints gives a sense of power and authority to the wearer. Doja Cat’s 2018 music video “Mooo!” is one of the most well-known beginnings of the cow print craze. The video, which has over 90 million views, contains a cow print tie-top and a skirt. Despite the fact that the video was uploaded in 2018, the style emerged in late 2019 as a result of its presence at the New York Fashion Week with companies such as Burberry, Saint Laurent, Nicole Saldaña and more.

I designed a look highlighting the cow printed shorts.

Calling someone a cow or shouting “Moo” at them has always been an insult or a way to make fun of their weight or body type. Given the fact that this design is meant to be a “fun” and “youthful” twist on the animal print, I personally view it as a way to express and take ownership of the insults.

So YES. It matters.

Winter Virgin

Growing up in Malaysia, I never needed a jacket to keep me warm because of our summer season all year round. I would always be in my comfy cotton t-shirts, jeans, sun-dresses,shorts and tops.

Then, I moved to the States for college and realised I needed to invest in a few winter essentials because unlike any other states, Chicago’s winter can be a mean one. However, it wasn’t too bad for me because thermal shirt and leggings were my best friends throughout. When looking for thermal wear, I recommend looking at good brands with fleece lined inside of them such as Uniqlo, Marks & Spencer, and Amazon. You also want to make sure that you have a few pairs of comfy and cosy socks or even better, thermal ones! I found out there are even thermal panties on Amazon made with Merino wool and silk. The special thing about Merino wool is that it naturally balances the body temperature, so you won’t overheat or wake up cold. Perfect for the kitty in you. Aritzia, the store where I lost my ‘winter virginity’ at. My first ever winter clothing purchase. My wallet was crying. Literally.

I got The Super Puff Mid down jacket from Aritzia and to be honest, it felt amazing and was real functional for me. Firstly because I did not have to necessarily wear a thick wooled sweater inside. A regular turtle neck top was good enough because the jacket is well insulated. The pockets are nice and roomy with fleece lining inside. Although the price was on the steep side of $298, it was definitely a better alternative compared to a Canada Goose jacket. In a nutshell, I personally feel that it’s a must-have investment piece in your closet for as long as you live. Trust a winter virgin like me, you won’t regret it.

One of a kind

Going into the fashion industry I asked myself, what is my purpose being here and learning about the business. Can I see myself making a career out of it? The answer was simple. A hard YES. There are endless of opportunities in the industry from being a buyer/consultant to a visual merchandiser.

However, some may say that the fashion industry is a toxic work environment to be in because mainly it drains up all your time and energy. But what career in life doesn’t right? Take The Devil wears Prada movie for instance and watch the lives of Andrea and Emily besides the glitz and glam of it all. I’m not saying that every company is going to be torturous like that but some are different. Good different. All that matters is the hard work, perseverance and a constant burning passion for fashion.

At an early age I knew fashion was what I wanted to do but I didn’t know which route to take. To either be a designer or a marketer. Then I realised I needed a platform to speak and express my thoughts to encourage young people like myself to embrace and love who they are regardless of skin colour, ethnicity, body size (even body hairs because hey! let’s face it, we all have em).

Personally, I struggled as a kid growing up in an asian household where you would have to be skinny and fair to get people to like you or even to get a successful job. I’ve always hated narrative and thought to myself, I am one of a kind and that’s truly a gift. I’m going to do what I want, what inspires me, what gets me up every morning and eventually be an inspiration to somebody out there who is going through the same journey as me. All this coming from a South-East Asian Indian, petite, curvy women.

So how do you think of yourself as one of a kind? A good way to embrace it is to list down all the good qualities about yourself. It could be an achievement, a talent, your capabilities and positive strengths. Besides that, also note the general characteristics are important like honesty, trustworthiness, empathy, loyalty and emotional maturity. Note it down in a place where you can look at it everyday. More importantly, block out all the negative self-talk that comes to the mind during the day. Its easy having these negative thoughts coming in when the mind is empty. My mother always says, an idle brain is a devil’s workshop. Try to look at the bright side of things throughout the day. Besides, the negative self-talk will only highlight your flaws and bring you down. So why not use your flaws to inspire others to achieve what you could do, with what you consider your weaknesses? Here’s a quote I love from one of my favourite American singer.

“Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks and know that you are just as perfect as anyone else, exactly as you are.” -Ariana Grande