how to style – Peculiar Porter

Rethink the Way You Buy Jeans

Published on March 20, 2018April 3, 2018 by PeculiarPorter19 Comments

Let’s talk about America’s favorite piece of clothing: jeans. I’m jean obsessed. Growing up my brothers used to mock me because of my different colored jeans. They even had a song for when I wore my pink pair… “Logan pink pants Porter” still rings in my ears to this day. Nonetheless, my love for the classic pair of jeans has never faded.

It didn’t occur to me how jeans were actually made until I watched the Trust Cost. I figured cotton and a little bit of stretch make the ideal jean. I knew so little about how much jeans and the cotton production ruin the environment surrounding the factories and cotton farms. I never knew that although cotton is only planted on 2.4% of agriculture land, it accounts for nearly 11% of pesticide sales in the world. I never even though of the beloved plastic elasticity in my jeans being the exact reason why it is so hard to recycle jeans. The more I researched the more I started to feel guilty about the cheap pair of $12 jeans I found at Marshalls. Who made those jeans and what conditions were they made in? I started asking myself more and more questions and found myself researching until the wee hours of the night. That’s when it occurred to me that needed to make a vow to stop buying cheap, fast fashion jeans and either thrift of invest in ethical jeans that will last. So when I was looking for a new pair of white jeans, I found Everlane.

Jeans | Boots | Sweater (Sold out… Similar) | Jacket (Similiar) | Belt (Same on eBay)

Everlane is a slow fashion company that focuses on basics with a touch of creativity. The reason I found this basic store so incredibly comforting is that they show the factories that make their clothes on the website and then break down the cost of the item directly (see their jean factory here). I know, wild. So let me take you through the process of making these jeans and explain to you why these ones, in particular, are the white jeans you need for spring.

“Belly” washing machines that are used in standard denim manufacture plants waste up to 1,500 liters of water per pair of jeans (about 132 Gatorade coolers).

Depending on where you live water may not seem that important because it always seems like it is raining or snowing (ex: these snowy pictures). But 35% of the world’s population doesn’t have proper access to clean water. Instead of wasting all of that water, Everlane’s factory, Saitex, uses a closed water system and super-efficient jet washing machines. The result? Only .4 liters of water is lost due to evaporation. By being conscious of the water consumption, Everlane is making a difference in jean production and the community around the factories.

Often times factories in developing countries dump polluted water back into the waterway, which directly affects the surrounding communities.

Saitex recycles 98% of all used water and when it comes out the other side, it’s so clean you can actually drink it. You don’t have to worry about Everlane’s factories polluting the surrounding areas. Instead, you can have a clear conscious buying a pair of wicked cute jeans.

Most denim factories use an insane amount of energy for their factories because they have to constantly dry the jeans.

Saitex airdries 85% of their jeans and the rest of the jeans are dried with energy coming from solar panels. This has allowed their factory to reduce energy usage by 5.3 million kilowatts of power and reduce CO2 emissions by almost 80%. Kudos for clean energy!

All denim creates a toxic byproduct called sludge.

No matter how clean a denim factory is, jeans will still create a byproduct called sludge. This byproduct is nearly impossible to get rid of until Saitex found out that when you mix sludge with concrete the toxic material can no longer leech into the environment. The factory uses this method to make concrete bricks to build affordable homes. So far, Saitex has built ten homes with these bricks. So not only are they creating jeans but they’re actually creating homes from a byproduct!

My top four picks for your white jean wardrobe:

Everlane ($68) | Able ($128) | Amour Vert ($178) | DL1961 ($188)

So if you’re ready to buy another pair of white jeans for this spring and summer why not buy a pair that is better for the environment. When you’re buying a pair of jeans that are better quality make sure to check what the jeans are actually made of. Look for the ratio of cotton to spandex and make sure that you’re not just buying a cheap pair of jeggings that will only last a few washes. A good pair of jeans will be made out of either 100% cotton or 99% cotton with 1% spandex. Staples, like jeans, that you wear again and again deserve to be invested in.

What do you think about Everlane? Did you know how jeans were produced? Let me know in the comments down below. (Also, I’m very curious if you think it’s wrong to wear white before Memorial Day… I clearly have no shame).

As always,

Instagram | BlogLovin’ | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

How to Style My Favorite Spring Trend: The Wrap Dress

Published on March 15, 2018March 15, 2018 by PeculiarPorter38 Comments

Ummm… is it spring yet? I literally cannot stand another northeastern. We’ve literally had a snowstorm every single week for the past three weeks and I’m so over it. Although I do admit, it’s March and I oddly hum Christmas tunes every time it snows. Hey, it’s never too early to be in the holiday spirit.

So unlike mother nature, I’m ready to bring out the spring outfits as soon as possible. Bring on the floral print, pops of color, and a whole lot of sunshine. If you saw my s ummer barn wedding guide, you know that wrap dresses are a curvy girl’s secret weapon. It hits you in all the right places and makes you look like a million bucks. Seriously, invest in one that you know you’ll wear again and again and you can thank me later.

Go for a bold color for double the impact.

To me, yellow isn’t that bold of a color because it’s just something I’m naturally drawn to because of my pale skin and reddish-brown hair. What I mean by a bold color is picking something that is bright as can be. This yellow is bold because of how in your face it is. It can easily be toned down with some neutrals like this black jacket and booties or it could be played up with a green jacket and white shoes. Regardless, it’s fun to play with something out of your comfort zone once in a while.

Don’t be boring, try something daring.

The fun thing about wrap dresses is that they have so much added texture to them. For example, this one has florals and ruffles so it creates this extremely dramatic silhouette. Just like I did in this post, I love mixing this edgy, studded jacket on top of a feminine dress. It’s an outfit that instantly makes me feel like I can take on the world. Plus, it such a mix of textures that no one will ever expect so you’ll look instantly chic.

Ditch the flats and wedges and grab a classic, black bootie for the perfect winter to spring transitioning outfit.

Don’t sacrifice your little toes just yet! I love pairing booties with literally everything. They will look perfect next to your feminine dress due to their inherent need to be edgier than flats. Personally, I love the comparison of the leather jacket and booties next to this floral dress because it adds so much interest to the look. You almost don’t know where to look without being super overwhelmed… my kind of outfit.

Try wearing your dress as a skirt to get double the use.

As you probably know, I’m trying to incorporate more and more sustainable ideas and principles into this blog. What better way to achieve this than bringing up ways where you can get the most use out of your wardrobe! The best part about dresses is that you can wear them in so many different ways. Throw a shirt over the dress and you now have a skirt (seen here) or throw a turtleneck under the shirt and you now have a warmer look (seen here). With different colors, graphics, and accessories, you can make so many interesting outfits out of one piece. To me that is the best part about style: you get to be creative with it.

Personally, I can definitely see this dress in a million and a half ways. I can see it being paired with a bright green shirt and a jean jacket for a more casual look. I can see it with a pair of strappy sandals for when it finally stops snowing. I can also see it without a jacket to finally embrace the warm weather. Don’t stop at just one look… find a few ways to wear it!

How do you feel about the wrap dress trend? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | BlogLovin’ | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

A Day in My Shoes: Thursday Uptown Boot Review

Published on March 13, 2018March 13, 2018 by PeculiarPorter4 Comments

If you’re not already aware, I’m an Instagram fanatic. I love the pictures, the advertisements, and mostly the Instastories. I can spend hours watching my favorite bloggers do mini haul videos, talk about their day, and videos of them traveling. (My favorite blogger’s Instastories are Emma from Emma’s Edition, Mallory from Mallory on the Moon, and Juliette from Juliettiful).

A few months ago when I was scrolling on my feed, I found an advertisement for Thursday Boot Co. and their amazing Instagram. These sleek shoes have a buttery leather texture, a smooth finish, and they have the cutest styles. I couldn’t love a boot more. I decided to flip through their website and I was quickly distraught because I love every single shoe. How could I pick just one? I ended up deciding to get the Uptown boot in black because my suede booties from J.Crew couldn’t handle this rainy-snowy, New England weather.

Order a size up in the Uptown Boot.

When they finally arrived, I was super excited and literally couldn’t wait to slide my foot inside the adorable boot. Sadly, the pair I ordered was just a smidge too small so I had to send them back. The process was incredibly easy. I simply printed out a packing slip and sent it back to the warehouse. They then sent me my new pair of boots (in a size up) a week later.

After looking at the reviews, I probably should have known to order a size up. I’m almost always a 7.5 shoe in everything and I never listen to reviews because my foot always ends up fitting. This was definitely the one exception so make sure you order a size up!

Thursday Boot Co cares about the people who are making the boots.

Thursday boots are made in New York City, Arkansas, and Lyon. Thursday Boots believe in fair labor and environmental conservation. Once a quarter, each manufacturing factory is visited in person to ensure that there is appropriate labor, operational maintenance, and that the waste management protocol is being followed. Since the leather industry is constantly bombarded with unfair labor and environmental practices, it is so refreshing to find a company that cares about the repercussions of working with leather.

What is the quality of the leather and boot?

I am pigeon toed which means I pretty much ruin all of the shoes I own. What it really means is that my big toes face one another and constantly rub against each other. This often makes the side of my shoes wear out. Instead of constantly trying to get around the fact that my feet are destructive little animals, I decided to opt for a shoe that I knew would withstand such torture. Thankfully, these durable leather boots are perfect for the job. The buttery leather is made of such a durable leather that has been able to withstand my awkward toes.

Not only are they durable enough to withstand my devilish toes, but Thursday owns up the process of making leather. Leather can be a very taxing material because it requires tons of chemicals and waters that often affect the areas surrounding. Thursday only works with tanneries that can provide traceable material records and receive high marks from the Leather Working Group for environmental practices and chemical management. By creating this promise they’re changing the standard for other companies.

Also, the boots are handmade! Each pair of boots goes through over 80 different steps before you get a pair. Talk about hard work and commitment to make the best shoe.

Would I buy another pair?

Oh, heck yes. I’ve already been eyeing the Duchess Chelsea Boot in black. This boot would be perfect for Sunday errands, touring big cities, and going pumpkin picking in the fall. I would also totally get this boot in the brown because I’ve actually never owned a brown boot! I could see myself rocking it in the spring with all my lighter colors.

Why the Uptown boot?

They literally go with everything! I could dress them up with a bold dress or style them down with jeans. I can wear these boots to anything! I personally love throwing on little socks and scrunching them down to create a really relaxed look. Here are just four ways I decided to style them:

New England Date Ideas During in the Winter

With socks at Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut

With a girly blazer at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas

With a flirty dress at Terrain Garden Café in Weston, Connecticut

Lastly, with a bold dress that will be on the blog very soon…

So how would you style these adorable little booties? Have you ever heard of Thursday Boot co? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | BlogLovin’ | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

(This was not sponsored by Thursday Boot Co… I’m just in love with their boots)

5 Ways to Find New Things to do in Your Hometown

Published on January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 by PeculiarPorter13 Comments

As some of you may already know, I’m currently living at home so that I can save money to eventually move out. There are a ton of upsides of living at home such as home cooked food, two loving puppies, no rent, and simply just going home to a loving atmosphere. I can’t complain… I have it good. The only downside I can really see is that nothing is really new to me. I grew up my whole life in the very small state of Connecticut where I’m half an hour to an hour from literally everything (unless you count Boston or New York City because then I’m two hours away). It’s the perfect location if you want to go and do something. I’ve made it my mission to look for new and exciting things to do while I’m spending the time home. Here are some of my tricks to making your hometown feel like a travel destination.

Layered Top (On sale and 4 different colors) | Jeans (On Sale) | Shoes | Vest (Similar)

Look up your state on Pinterest and Yelp just as you would do if you were traveling somewhere new/special. You’d be surprised how much stuff you’ll find.

One random Saturday, I wanted to do something but had no idea what. I started to look on Yelp, Only in Your State, and Pinterest for things to do in Connecticut. I came up with tons and tons of things to do that I never thought about doing. Thus, this ‘research’ was the exact reason why my friend and I visited Yale to see their incredible art museums. Sometimes you need to act like an unknowing tourist so that you get rid of your blinders.

Force yourself to go to a new town or city near your hometown.

Growing up, I never ventured to New Haven because it just seemed so far away. In reality, it’s only thirty minutes away and I drive four times that in one day for work. Go a little further from your hometown so you feel like you’re “traveling” but in reality, you only have to cross a few bridges and highways. Even just walking down the street or “sightseeing” might be worth the little travel.

Look up events near you on Yelp and Facebook.

I just recently found the tool on Facebook where you can search for events near you and let me tell you… it is pure genius. How else would I have known that there was a giant air balloon festival this past summer or a food truck event? My favorite part of this genius invention is that you can actually pick a date further in the week or last minute and it will tell you what events are going on based on categories. This is also perfect for finding something to do on a holiday. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner after all!

Once it’s warm again, go on a hike to see your town from a different perspective.

One of my favorite things this past summer was visiting Talcott Mountain State Park because I was able to see Connecticut from a completely different perspective. Once you hike up the mountain, there is a huge 360° viewing tower. These random gems are in almost every state you just need to look around for them. Plus, hiking gets you moving and grooving which is always a good thing.

Don’t forget about exploring new restaurants!

If you read my last post you probably can tell that I’m a little bit of a foodie. So when you’re looking for new places in your state don’t leave out the food! There are always so many new and upcoming places you can visit to spice things up. Try a different cuisine or order something you never thought you would. It’s the perfect way to spice things up in your hometown.

How do you make your hometown feel like a destination place? What is the best attraction near your home? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | BlogLovin’ | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

What Finding a Job After College is Really Like

Published on January 18, 2018January 22, 2018 by PeculiarPorter15 Comments

Right now, I’m currently typing up this blog post waiting for my airplane to Houston, Texas… talk about a girl boss, am I right? I’ll be in Texas for a little under five hours for a printer convention and then flying back as soon as the convention is over. Houston in 24 hours really hit a new definition.

It’s been about eight months since I graduated college. It feels like yesterday I was cramming in all nighters, going out on Thursdays, and trying to figure out what to wear to the next themed party. Man, do I miss college. Since I graduated, I’ve surprisingly done a lot. I ended up getting a job that fits in what I eventually want to do, traveled to two new states (Virginia and now Texas), and wrote more blog content than I ever did during school. Since many seniors are just starting their last semester (shedding a tear for you), I decided to write a blog post about my journey to landing a job.

Shirt ($15 and comes in four colors) |Jeans |Similar Shoes | Similar Bag | Similar Vest

Apply, apply, and apply again.

After college, it was pretty hard getting into the groove of things. There is this immense pressure of finding a job right after you graduate. I applied to almost a hundred different jobs looking for something that would eventually help me land a job in fashion. I applied on LinkedIn, Job Recruiter, and Zip Recruiter. Whatever job site I could get my hands on, I applied to. It took me two months and almost a hundred different cover letters for me to get the job I have now. I highly recommend using LinkedIn and Zip Recruiter.

Sure, they may be interviewing you but make sure the company is a right fit for you.

I ended up going on three different interviews and they were all very different from one another. One of my interviews was at a marketing firm in Stratford, Connecticut. It took me two hours to get there and the interview only lasted 15 minutes. The second interview was an interview from the pit of hell. The interview process lasted two days and the second day was an eight-hour day filled with no breaks, no lunch, and they made me drive a stranger to a random job site. After the eight-hour day, I knew I really didn’t want the job. The woman offered me the job and I awkwardly turned it down. She was very upset, but I knew if I took that job I wouldn’t be happy. Plus, the interview process was like that then they would probably have treated me worse when I had the job. If I had to do it again, I would have left the job interview earlier once I knew in my gut it wasn’t the job for me.

The third job interview was for the job I have now. I went through a series of phone calls and in person interviews before I was offered the job. The head of the company interviewed me on the phone for an hour and he sold the company to me. He was so friendly and passionate about the company that I knew I wanted to work there. Plus, he laughed at my lame jokes.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice in order to get experience or the job you want.

If you’ve been reading my blog during this adult-transitioning period, you’re probably aware that I commute an hour to and from work each day. Sure, that may seem cruel and unusual punishment to some, but to me it was a sacrifice I needed to make in order to get the experience from this job. Sacrifices you need to make may mean taking an unpaid internship (my brother did this and was offered a full time job from it), working a lower income job in a company you want to work for, or even moving to a far place. If you need to make the same commute sacrifice like I did, make sure you read this post and this post. It’ll save your sanity.

If you don’t know what you want to do, try out different positions.

We’re often directed to go to college to find out what we want to do, but sometimes you really don’t know what you want to do and that’s okay. I changed my major four different times. I wanted to be a teacher and then the other three times I wanted (and still want) to work for a company that knows what it is like to be excited with fabrics. What really helped me realize that I didn’t want to be a teacher was taking a summer job as a camp counselor I realized running fifteen screaming children wasn’t the job for me (shout out to the fearless teachers out there). Sometimes you need to act the part of the job to realize it’s definitely not the job for you.

If you’re lost in what career you want, write down everything you find important in a career.

Since I had a difficult time figuring out what I wanted to do, I wrote down everything I wanted in a career. I want a job where I can be creative, work with others, make a difference, work with social media, possibly travel, and eventually work with fashion or textiles. Once I wrote down all of the different things I wanted out of my job I then mapped out what kind of skills I needed in order to achieve all of those things. Do I need more experience with social media? Do I know enough influencers do work in public relations? The more I thought about it the more questions I had. This is a great way to start mapping our your career if you don’t know where to go after you graduate.

It’s okay to set big dreams as long as you know how you’re going to work your way towards that goal.

I’m a dreamer. I don’t stop short of thinking of all the possibilities life has to offer and neither should you. You want to write for a magazine or online publications? You can do it. You want to start a company and become your own boss? You can do it. You want to become a travel agent and travel the world? You can do it. As long as you’re willing to put in the time, sacrifices, and commitment to landing your dream job you can do it. That may mean getting experience at other jobs and working your way up to that goal. It may mean working longer nights than you thought were possible. It may even mean giving up an opportunity to go somewhere with friends in order to focus on that goal. If you’re willing to make these sacrifices and work towards that goal you can achieve anything.

From one college grad to another, you got this.

If you already have graduated college what was it like finding a job? Do you have any tips for recent grads or someone still finding a job they love? If you’re still in college or starting college, what is your dream job?

As always,

Instagram | BlogLovin’ | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

12 Fall Outfits to Get Inspiration From

Published on December 21, 2017December 29, 2017 by PeculiarPorter32 Comments

Happy first day of winter! I’m always so sad to say goodbye to fall because it is my favorite time of the year. Regardless, I’ll open my arms up wide for a little bit of snow. Before I do all that, let me recap my favorite outfits of this fall season. After all, a good outfit should be seen more than once hehe.

I finally got daring this year and purchased my first leather jacket. The quirky studs drew me into this jacket but the warm, buttery texture made me fall hard. This fall I loved pairing it with different patterns such as this striped outfit and this floral outfit. This jacket was finally one thing that really pushed me out of my style comfort zone. Check out more on that here.

Every day I commute an hour to and from work. I’ve figured out how to keep sane on my daily commute… and trust me it’s hard! Find out more about what podcasts and audiobooks I listen to keep alert on my drive here.

Camouflage is such an underrated pattern and I want to drastically change that. Find out about the history of this awesome pattern and how you can include it in your outfits here. This is definitely a pattern that can be used for the winter season too!

Do you have a ton of items in your closet that you totally forgot about or just don’t know how to style? That is literally the definition of my life. I’ve decided to conjure up some of those items and create an outfit and tips that you can finally use some of those items. You can find out more about that here.

Running for Rescues contacted me to write a review on their incredible non-profit. As an animal lover, I was thrilled to have the opportunity. Find out how you can help our furry friends by purchasing apparel or running for this great cause.

Embroidered pants were all the rage this past summer and it dipped into the fall season for me. These pants are currently my favorite pants to wear because I always feel like a bad ass in them. Something about the girly flowers paired with the studs makes a long-lasting impression on people. Check out more about this outfit here.

For Thanksgiving, I wanted an outfit where I can eat and eat and eat and not worry about how big my stomach grew. That’s why I picked a large scarf to cover my food baby. A sweater dress is one of my go tos for the colder months because it makes you look put together even though you feel like you’re wearing a big blanket. Check out more about this outfit here.

One of my favorite purchases this year was this necklace from Half United. For each purchase they donate seven meals to a child in need. Find out more about their awesome company here and find out more about this outfit and shoes here.

Ever wonder why I blog? Wonder no more, I talk about it in this post while wearing some pretty awesome camo pants. Let me know why you blog on this post. I’m very curious to hear your reasoning.

Something about borrowing your mom’s flannel without telling her feels so rebellious… and that is exactly what I did in this outfit. Find out how I styled it in this post… it might help you come up with some interesting layered outfits.

Lastly, my favorite outfit from the fall season. I’m obsessed with this skirt I found on sale in the summer. Ugh, can you blame me? I can hear my childhood self cringing at the fact that I’m wearing a turtleneck but who cares! Find out more about this outfit and some of my family traditions here.

What is your favorite outfit out of all these? What was your favorite outfit you wore this fall? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook

How to Style Masculine Accessories + Five Shoes Under $100

Published on November 28, 2017November 30, 2017 by PeculiarPorter11 Comments

The day has finally arrived. I can finally wear my chunky knits and be appropriately dressed for the weather. Woo-freaking-hoo. You might have actually recognized this sweater (one of my favorites) from one of my favorite winter posts from last year, How to Make a Dress Warm for Date Night. Instead of the feminine approach, I decided to go out and try to make it a tad bit more masculine. So I picked out an army jacket, a fierce pair of shoes, and a loud necklace.

Add traditional masculine textiles such as army jackets, dog tag necklaces, and oxfords on top of neutral clothes for the biggest impact.

Now, I admit… no matter what I do I’m never going to look masculine. Although I prefer dressing more feminine, I’m a sucker for incorporating different styles into my outfits. I normally style this cable knit sweater in a feminine way due to the fabric’s woven texture. However, the sweater can fit in well with masculine items when paired correctly. This army vest covers up most of the cable knit’s texture so only a little amount of the woven texture is peaking out. This necklace also resembles a dog tag traditionally worn in the army, thus adding another masculine element. The inclusion of multiple masculine elements creates a cohesive look.

To create a more masculine style stick to darker, neutral colors in your outfit.

Color to fashion is like water to the Long Island Sound… it is beyond necessary. When I’m styling an outfit, I focus on one item and then build the rest of the outfit around that color. These shoes are pretty hard to pair with many colors so I typically throw in a few neutral, dark colors such as army green, black, navy, camel, and white. If I’m feeling brave, I’ll throw on something red.

If you’re scared of wearing a masculine element make sure it incorporates something you feel comfortable with.. aka leopard print.

Thankfully, not a lick of snow has fallen so I’m still proudly wearing these adorable, Steve Madden shoes (currently on sale for $49.98). Since I purchased them, I’ve literally been wearing them nonstop. It’s something about the fun, bold print mixed with a masculine styled shoe that gives me all the feels. Plus, they look fantastic with a pair of black jeans so it has been super easy to get dressed in the morning. If you’re fearful of styling leopard, play it safe by pairing the pattern with colors you’d normally see in nature. Last year I talked about 5 Reasons Why You Need Leopard Print in Your Closet. Check out that post some leopard print motivation.

For my jewelry, I’ve been wearing a Half United necklace I picked up a month ago. I rave about this company in this post. The idea behind Half United is that customers are doing their half by uniting together to make a lasting change in children’s lives. Each product has seven meals built into the cost. These meals go to children in the USA, Haiti, Fiji, and Cambodia. After every three months, Half United divides the funds into four charity partners. This necklace is made out of a recycled bullet casing to show a physical symbol for the fight against hunger.

If you think you or your friend is bold enough to try a statement shoe here are five bold shoe ideas for the holiday season. Bonus: They’re all under $100.

Shoe 1, Shoe 2, Shoe 3, Shoe 4, Shoe 5

What do you think about incorporating masculine accessories in your style? What would you add and how would you wear it? What do you think about bold, masculine shoes? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook

5 Graphic Tees that Give Back

Published on October 24, 2017April 3, 2018 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

Disclaimer: Running for Rescues contacted me to review their organization. They personally sent me this graphic tee. Every thought and opinion expressed on Peculiar Porter are entirely mine alone and do not reflect the views or opinions of Running for Rescues.

Style can do so many great things for your confidence, but it can also help others in need. Running for Rescues, a local Connecticut organization, recently reached out to me and asked if they could send me one of their shirts. Since I’m a huge animal lover, I immediately said yes.

Running for Rescues is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that raises money through races, donations, and products to help rescue animals from high-kill shelters. Runners from across the country can pick a race they want to run and fundraise independently for Running for Rescues. This money then goes to small organizations that help fun the rescuing animals and the associated costs.

As some of you may already know, I’m that obnoxious person who talks in baby voices to dogs. I know, it’s embarrassing and I cannot help it in the slightest. With that said, I don’t know what I would do without my two dogs. Butch and Daisy are like weird, goofy humans. They both have their own personalities compact with weird poses, obsessive habits, and funky sounds. We picked up my dogs from a farm in the middle of a huge blizzard. With that said, Butch and Daisy were not rescued from a kill-shelter. However, I can only imagine what it would be like if my dogs were behind bars, constantly waiting for a warm home, hugs, kisses, and above all… love. No animal should be put down just because they simply exist. If you have the ability to run, donate, or purchase a shirt from Running for Rescues, I’m sure each and every dog and cat would be thankful with warm, slobbery kisses.

Buying socially conscious goods opens an opportunity to start conversations and develop awareness to values you believe in. It is one thing to be stylish and another thing to be able to convey messages you’re passionate about. By wearing a t-shirt that captures the values you believe in, you can create a conversation that wouldn’t have been able to happen otherwise. Plus, you’ll look good doing so.

Graphic tees are incredibly easy to style with any outfit. You can throw on a fun skirt like I did in this post or put on a bold pair of colored pants like I did in these pictures. Lately, I’ve been really into trying the graphic tee into a knot and rolling up the sleeves. Just throw a fun jacket over this look and bam a whole new look. You’re making an impact while having an incredible outfit.

I admit it is pretty hard to find socially conscious t-shirts unless you look hard for them. That is why I developed a little list of five companies you can buy shirts from. You can buy a Running for Rescue shirt here or you can buy one from these four other companies:

1, 2, 3, 4

Feed Shirt ($16.50). For every purchase from Feed, a portion of the money goes to school meals. This particular shirt provides 10 school meals to children in need. Feed has a wide selection of bags and accessories. I’ve been saving for one of their beautiful, leather bags.
Arm the Animals ($21.99). Similar to the company I’m sporting in this post, tArm the Animals’ mission is to spread the word about animal welfare. They have a long list of witty t-shirts that bring awareness to neglected animals.
Krochet Kids ($48). Every product that is made from Krochet Kids is hand signed by the person who made it. They do this in an effort to make you realize where your products come from. This particular shirt states “Wear for Hope.” Their business is established on the principle that people in developing countries should be paired fairly and equality.
Serengetee ($32). Serenge Tee supports 32 different causes ranging from education to ending sex trafficking. Each shirt comes with a different pattern that is linked to a specific cause. If you want to incorporate abstract patterns in your every day look while helping out great causes look at this company.

What do you think about graphic tees that give back? Do you think we’ll be seeing it more in fashion? Do you know of any similar companies? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook

Susie Has a Suede Tooth

Published on October 4, 2016October 4, 2016 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

Hello darling! Don’t you just love how you can wear pretty much any texture you want in the fall and get away with it? Leather, suede, flannel, cotton, spandex, lace, the list goes on and on. Normally, I love mixing up all of the fun textures and having an insane outfit, but for this outfit post I decided to keep it simple. I wanted to put a little spot light on the material suede. I’m so happy that this material has started to jump more and more out into the fashion scene. For those who don’t know, suede is just like leather but softer and usually not as edgy looking. Don’t get me wrong, you can definitely edge up this material, but usually leather is way more daring than suede.

The suede elements of this outfit are my favorite. Whenever I throw on this suede jacket, I feel incredibly chic and confident. It’s something about the matte black and the way the zipper folds. This jacket was on some insane sale at Forever 21 last year. You need to check out their sales racks from time to time especially at the end of a season. You’ll find major scores like this one. I had to throw on my J.Crew suede flats because they match so perfectly. The tassels are really what have my hooked. I hope its a trend that stays for a while.

Now I’m not someone who normally wears gray, but when I saw this grey turtleneck dress in Forever 21 I had to get it. It is made out off this soft, stretchy material that you have to fall in love with. I also love that it isn’t just this plain matte gray. It has speckles of other types of gray mixed into it, which makes the dress appear more textured than it actually is. If you don’t know by now, I love shift dresses. I think everyone should own a few and then another one just incase something happens to the other three.

I decided to splash on a bit of color with my necklace. I adore this orange and black necklace from J.Crew. In comparison, it makes this outfit more suitable for the day of Halloween. If you don’t love the black and orange combination, I think you’re crazy!

What do you think about suede? Do you like it more or less than leather and why?

As always,

This Maxi Doesn’t Need a Taxi

Published on July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 by PeculiarPorter6 Comments

Hello darlings! Out in the woods has never been so awesome. I mean look at how pretty this place is. All my life living so close to this place and I’ve never been over here! Anyway, how do you feel about maxi’s? Personally, I think they’re super duper rad. Why? Uhm, hello, its like wearing pants without having to. It’s literally like the fancy version of yoga pants because they’re that comfy. I’d pick a skirt over a dress over pants any day. Hello, comfort. I love tying shirts like this when I wear maxi skirts just because the skirt is so much fabric I think it makes since to take some off the fabric on top. Obviously, if I was wearing a short skirt you would want to have more fabric on top. This wonderful off the shoulder top is from J.Crew. If they had this shirt in every color I would own every single one. I wear this shirt an embarrassing amount. This bright maxi skirt is from Kohl’s. I have shopped at kohl’s maybe 2-3 times but this skirt is very cute and super comfy like I said before. I have a black one that is similar to this but it has flower designs on it. Perhaps I’ll to a similar post about that one day. These awesome sandals that I seem to be wearing all the time are from American Eagle. Don’t lie you want them too. If you want to see me in another maxi… surprise this one is a dress and it’s kinda funky because of the weird background… click here. Join the discussion: What do you think of Maxi’s? (Hopefully you like them so we can be friends.. if not.. sorry).

Hype this look on lookbook.

As always,