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Filed Under: Collaborations, Little Style, STYLE AND ATTIRE

A Little More, Not So Basics for Fall 2015

Hold up, wait a minute! Yes I did just do a big post about the new fall stuff I designed in partnership with mini mioche, but guys there is more! Today we launched 3 more styles (and the last for this season from me) in our little Not So Basics line designed by heart and habit exclusively or (and with) mini mioche. This drop of not so basic, little basics is all new. Yes, duh it’s new since you’re just hearing about it now. I’m talking new as in, we have never done these styles before (not like last drop which was full of the best sellers!). I love LOVE these three cozy, little fashion basics so much — I wish they all came in my size. And of course as all mini mioche items are, every item is designed and made right here in Toronto and organic don’t forget the organic fabrics!

THE COVERALLS – Sorta like the comfy overalls, except ten times more cozy and warm. The perfect throw one item on “hurry up and get dressed we are gonna be late” outfit for those busy days (basically every day attire). Made in 100% organic french terry and it comes in 3 colours.
[King is wearing the indigo coveralls with Doc Martens + a Tuck Shop hat] [Harlow is wearing the coveralls in eggplant with leather high top Vans in black + a Tuck Shop hat]

THE PONCHO HOODIE – A wearable hybrid of our go to favorite lush hoodie and the poncho us moms wish we had in our closet this year. The perfect fall and winter layer, that will keep her warm and probably more stylish than you (sorry about that). Made in 100% organic french terry comes in 3 colours.
[Harlow is wearing the heather granite poncho hoodie with mini mioche midwash denim and leather high top Vans in black]

THE HOODIE DRESS – Finally a dress that will keep her warm, no more saying it’s too cold to wear a dress (or is that just me saying that?). Pop on the hoodie dress and she’ll be cozy, like PJ’s all day kinda cozy. Made in 100% organic french terry in 3 colours.
[Harlow is wearing the heather blush hoodie dress with mini mioche black snug pants and Hunter Chealsa Boots]

Also, ‘Living The Dream‘ ball tee has been restocked and in a heather grey this time! And you might still be able to get a cowl hoodie, comfy overalls and a drop shoulder long sleeve (basically a kiddo version of a slouchy tee) if you hurry quick!

And if you have never ordered from mm before, sign up for their newsletter and get 10% off your first order — because any % off is always a good thing.

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, SALES AND SHOPPING, STYLE AND ATTIRE, The Lazy Girls Guide

The Guide To Becoming A More Ethical / Socially Conscious Clothing Consumer

the guide to becoming a more Ethical & Socially Concious clothing consumer Technically this is a Lazy Girls Guide, but as I began to realize pretty much any sorta guide I write here will be the lazy girls guide. Meaning a straight forward no BS guide, or the most straight forward way I know how to type whatever it is I’m typing about.

Being a socially conscious and more ethical shopper is a bit of a mix between caring about how workers are treated, the impact the products have on the environment (during and after production) and the effect it has on animals (but that can also be categorized with environmental concern). Maybe you are focused more on the treatment of people than the environment, or vice versa? Whatever your largest concern lies, you don’t have to tell me or anyone for that matter. But hopefully these basic tips will help you and me both to become more informed consumers and generally ones who are by default more conscious about the social and environmental effects of our shopping. After doing my research (and talking to my ethical shopping sister, who helped me a ton with this guide) I will be trying my best to be a much better shopper than I currently am now.

1. Get Educated

Of course this has to be the is the first tip and the most time-consuming one. But if you want to shop better, you need to learn about the companies you currently buy from and the ones you might want to buy from in the future. A website like GoodGuide is a great resource for looking up products and getting a quick and very clear rating on their social, environmental and health effects.

2. Buy Organic And/Or Chemical Free

Not fool-proof, but a good rule of thumb. Generally if an item is organic and made without chemicals the working conditions for the workers who made the items (and the effect the production has on the environment) are less toxic and generally probably better than their chemical ridden counter parts.

3. When in Doubt, Shop Local

So hip right now, but it’s for good reason! It can be hard to find out if larger companies produce their items in ethical conditions even with a service like GoodGuide. You can of course follow-up with the company directly if you really love them and want to know, but even easier than that is to stick with local companies. It is always much easier to find out if a company is producing their items under ethical conditions if they are local and more often than not they will be so proud that the items are handmade, produced locally, and or ethically that it will be a part of their marketing.

4. Spend a Little More

If you buy cheap, chances are the items (especially clothes) are made cheaply and probably with very cheap labor. I know fast fashion is appealing and cheap is budget friendly, trust me I get it. If you add, educating yourself on the brand, buying organic and shopping locally all together you get, the ethical trifecta (mini mioche is a natural trifecta for kids and FRANC for yourself!). By spending a bit more you can be a step closer to making sure the items you own weren’t made in sweatshop like conditions.

5. Shop Less

Buy smart, by buying only what you love and need. This will help to ensure everything you own is worn a lot and mix a matches well. If you spend a little more, to make sure you have quality items they will last a lot longer. So buying items you love, only when you need and that last a long time means you’ll be shopping much less often.

6. Buy Second Hand

When you can, if you can. This is probably the easiest and best way to be an ethical consumer. Sure the items you buy might not have high ratings on the GoodGuide but by extending their life and not adding to the production of new items you are being kind to the environment and to human kind. I am admittedly not very good at shopping used, I find the second-hand stores very picked over or very high-priced in Toronto — guess that’s what I get for living in a city where it’s so hip to be ethical.

7. Clothing Swaps and Alterations

How about don’t buy at all, trade your old clothes for new ones at clothing swaps. Maybe organize one on your own with your friends? Or do alterations to clothes you already own, Denim Therapy is a great place to get your jeans fixed up good as new. Especially good because denim is one of the clothing items that has the biggest environmental footprint.
You know what would be great? A big list of brands and shops that are stylish, ethical and socially conscious, to make all of this shopping really easy! And hey guess what, I got that for you (because I like you all so much)! Click here to grab the list filled with stylish ethical clothing brands, I put together for you!

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Filed Under: STYLE AND ATTIRE

Fall Winter 2015 Footwear Trends, That Are Every Day Wearable

fall winter 2015 shoe and boot trends #footwear #trends Here we go, the big list of fall-winter shoe and boot trends (that aren’t too trendy). I know I promised this list weeks ago, but breaking trends down and finding every day wearable items that meet the actual trend category, takes a lot of time. More time then I care to admit, but it’s a good way to spend my time so it’s cool. This list of shoes and boots, will be a great compliment to your existing fall wardrobe. With or without all of those awesome fall/winter clothing trends, we talked about a couple of weeks ago. These are gonna be the shoes and boots that will get you happily through fall and right past winter, basically until the time you are wearing winter boots like they are going outta style. I’m gonna cut my chatter short, because as always this is a pretty long post as it is. So let’s just get on with it already, it’s okay if that’s what you were thinking. [black chelsea boots via urban outfitters]

Filed Under: Daily, STYLE AND ATTIRE, Uniform

Uniform / While The Seasons Decide

every day fall uniform every day fall boots fall style TOP: aritzia – JEANS: paradise mine – BOOTS: ted & muffy

The funny thing about these pictures is I found them on the camera after the kids and I took photos for my Not So Basics collection (PS. thank you, thank you all for your notes, likes, shares and support. You don’t know how much it truly means, I appreciate it all so much more than I can type).
If you are wondering why a couple of them are a tad bit blurry and I look maybe a bit uninterested in the camera, well that’s mostly because I didn’t know my little sneaker of a son was snapping away. There was of course hundreds more to choose from (as there always is when the kids grab a hold of the camera), but those were all super blurry or just super close-ups of my face, hair, butt and feet — you’re welcome for me leaving those out. Since I had been wanting to show you my new boots, new favorite boots I should add (LOVE THEM) — I decided to just use the pics (after a bit of clever cropping) and make a post. Also he did such a great job, my little photographer in the making.

Okay, we are moving into weather talk aka the worst kind of small talk around, but I feel like it has to be said. Since in Toronto, we seem to be in the midst of a strange (and very awesome) lengthened summer (that’s the politically correct way of saying that, correct?), fall dressing is sorta stuck in this transitional phase. The phase where you think your outfit is just right in the morning, but come the afternoon you are sweating buckets and cursing “these damn jeans!“. So while the weather decides (you can decide transitional summer-fall forever, I’m VERY cool with that!) I’m just going to alternate between my summer and fall clothes every other day, for fun.

While we are on the topic of Fall Clothes, why not check out these Fall Trends. That I broke down to be wearable and versatile.

I’m working on a Fall Shoe Trends (that aren’t super trendy) post, sign up to get that sent right to your inbox as soon as it gets published!

Filed Under: Collaborations, Daily, SALES AND SHOPPING, STYLE AND ATTIRE

Not So Basics (exclusively for mini mioche by heart and habit) Fall 2015

NOT SO BASICS for mini mioche by heart and habit #bestnotsobasics Yay!! Guys, this is our 4th official season working with the fantastic mini mioche in a design collaborative way. Since it worked so (SO) well the past 4 seasons, we decided to give it an actual name and twist it from a simple collaboration to a capsule collection. And this is the very first drop (oh yes, there will be one more!) of Not So Basics exclusively for mini mioche by heart and habit. All styles are of course made in mini mioche’s signature (and amazing) organic cotton — which wash and wears like nothing else, so it’s always gonna be hand-me-down. And as always everything from the fabric to the sewing is done in Toronto, hurrah for organic and ethically made kids clothes.

Okay already, enough with the chatter, I can here you shushing me. Let’s get with the pictures already. [PS. the grey overalls, aren’t actually available this season the photo was just too good not to use]

Filed Under: STYLE AND ATTIRE

Uniform / Back To (Taking The Kids To) School

Uniform / Back To (taking the kids to) School #style one:hide that bedhead/ball cap – two:feels almost like pajamas/henley top – three:the cover up layer/ utility jacket – four:look all pulled together layer/jean jacket – five:comfy and stylish/jeans – six:carry those toys back home/backpack – seven:not ready for real shoes/sneakers

Back to taking the kids to school, or maybe back to school for you too? Either way, you’re gonna need a couple of go-to uniforms for those tired, not ready to get ready, no time to get ready mornings. Aka, everyday of my life with kids — but school mornings are a special kinda busy. A hat or some sort of mechanism is required to hide (no time to brush) bed head or post yoga hair and no hat seems more fitting for mornings like that then a baseball cap. And why all the layers with two jackets, do you ask? Well, the extra layer automatically gives the impression that you took extra time to put yourself together, even though you probably didn’t. Think of it as your school morning optical illusion. Okay the outfit makes sense for busy school mornings, but what about everything before that? Maybe some extra helpful morning tips will help….

Well, then CLICK HERE TO GRAB THAT FREE TIP CHECKLIST

Heart and Habit

A Little More, Not So Basics for Fall 2015