style Archives - Peculiar Porter

5 Ways to Love Your Clothes Longer

Published on June 5, 2018June 21, 2018 by PeculiarPorter8 Comments

When it comes to style and trends, there is always this idea that you need new clothes in order to stay fashionable. In my mind, that is just plain dumb. Yes, it’s always fun to incorporate new trends into your wardrobe, but you can also work with what you already have. By creating new pieces with these simple DIY projects, you’ll be able to turn some heads with your own unique trend. Instead of throwing things away, love your clothes longer. Just like you wouldn’t give up on a good friend, don’t give up on a good piece of clothing.

Switch out what is broken

I ended up washing the tank top above on the wrong setting and one of the straps broke. It has always been one of those shirts that I would throw on a day where I needed to feel good about myself (if you don’t already have one of these types of shirts you need one ASAP). Instead of doing the easy thing and throwing out my favorite shirt, I decided I wanted to save it by just cutting off the straps completely and sewing on pearl straps. Now, I constantly get compliments on this top because of the straps. So forget throwing out your favorite shirt, do something about the problem instead.

Create art out of the old fabric.

I have a ton of old skirts in my closet that are waaaay too short to ever be worn in public again. Instead of throwing them away, I really want to make pillows out of them. Most of them are this obnoxious shiny material that would look way better as a pillow than a skirt. Thank you rebellious teenage angst. So instead of throwing away your tacky, youthful items, think of another way you can use them. If you don’t think you can salvage them… some of them might just make great rag towels too.

Check out more of my saved DIY repaired clothing pins here.

Sew or paint something on top of a stain

I keep seeing these beautifully embroidered jeans on Pinterest and I’m dying to try it out. These faint x’s and dashes look effortless against the clean-cut jean material. I also love the idea of hiding a grease stain by painting directly on top of them. I didn’t have a stain on this pair of jeans but so far this is my favorite DIY project to date. I also have a jean pencil skirt that I wore out once and dropped gyro grease on… just my luck. I’m definitely going to incorporate it into a DIY project like this soon so stay tuned.

Distressed and patched pants always beautiful

One thing that never goes out of style is a unique pair of blue jeans. Whether you’re wearing a clean pair or styling a distressed pair of jeans, you look good. Cover up a tear with a patch or fray the rip even more by using sandpaper and a steak knife. You can make one pair of jeans look completely different just by adding a little bit of imagination.

If you’re bored of it or grew tired of it, change something about it

I despise the color grey. It’s a horrible color that I’m convinced looks good on no one. I know it and you secretly know it. Instead of just growing tired of this grey sweatshirt I decided to do something about it. It took me countless hours sewing on these little beads onto this sweatshirt, but when I was done I was so incredibly excited to showcase my school’s colors and constantly receive compliments on my cute DIY project. One day I’m going to retire the sweatshirt, frame it, and put it in my office. It’s a cute way to change a piece of clothing and make it art.

How do you make your clothes last longer? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Green Linen Dress and Everlane Denim Jacket

4 Reasons Why You Need a Linen Dress This Season

Published on April 24, 2018June 21, 2018 by PeculiarPorter18 Comments

Over the weekend, I went to a blogging event with a few local Connecticut bloggers. It was so much fun meeting everyone and learning what their blog is about. Even though all 15-20 of us were at different ages and blog popularities, it was so pleasant to see what people were really passionate about. For example, Courtney from Betty Juliet Diaries blogs about her incredible vintage vibes and the history of the era associated with it. Kelsey from Kelsey Lynn B finds the best sales and knows how to have a killer workout. Lastly, Caitlyn from Confessions of a Northern Belle, the one who brought us all together, blogs about her adventures with her adorable children. All completely different topics but it was so pleasant to see how much joy they have from blogging.

As I talked to a few bloggers and even a few coworkers, I found myself lighting up when I talked about sustainability and fashion ethics. When a coworker compliments me on an article of clothing, like these white jeans, I find myself spewing knowledge about how denim is made or who makes the product. Sometimes it gets to a point where I say to myself “girl, calm down before they frame you as a psychopath”.

Everlane Jacket | Artisan NY (Can’t find anything similar) |Giving Key Necklace | Shoes

Despite starting my journey to more ethical shopping, I still find myself wandering through Marshalls and T.J. Maxx line no one’s business. Sometimes I’m able to find “Made in the USA” or “Organic Cotton” shirts whereas other times you can see where the quality is missing out of the garment. A missed stitching here… a spaghetti strap that was just slapped on… or jeans that have that weird chemical smell that you can’t seem to get rid of. We’ve all bought these products in our lifetime. As a recovering shopaholic, I have tons of pointless fashion items in my closet that barely see the light of day. With challenges like the 10x10challenge, I’ve been trying to use the items I already have more but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I love shopping. Which is why I’m slowly easing into the sustainability world by focusing on the quality of the items I’m buying and how often I will wear it. Thus, the reason why this adorable linen dress came into my life.

So why the heck is linen so great? What makes it better than other fabrics and why is it so darn expensive?

Linen as an environmentally friendly product.

When linen is made, the entire part of the flax plant is used to make the linen yarn. The by-product, Linseed Oil, is even used and can be used to preserve wood. Flax uses 13 times fewer pesticides than potatoes but is only approximately 1% of the world’s apparel fiber consumption.

It is easy to grow, but not easy to make the yarn.

Although Flax seeds can grow in poor soil while using less water than cotton, the process of making the linen yarn is very laborious and time-consuming. This what causes linen garments to be so much more than other items. Although it is time-consuming, to spin the yarn it is more durable than cotton which is the big benefit of having linen clothing.

Unlike polyester or acrylic, it is 100% biodegradable when it is not dyed.

This dress is actually dyed so it is not 100% biodegradable. But if this is something that is very important to you buy linen that is colored in its natural form which is ivory, ecru, tan and grey. This means that if you grow out of the dress in a few years or it just isn’t the same style you fell in love with, you can actually compost the dress! So forget clothes piling up in the landfills, if we wore more linen we wouldn’t have this problem.

On hot days it will keep you cool.

Even though here in Connecticut I don’t have to worry about the warm weather just yet, I know I have this linen dress to fall back on once it gets warm. Since the linen fabric is built differently than cotton, it actually allows more airflow. It also is less likely to cling to your skin because of the how stiff the fabric is naturally. It is the perfect fabric for the spring and summer because of this.

So, be like linen. Be easy to adapt and stronger when things get you down. Okay, that may be stretching it but I think it works well. Next time you’re walking through Marshalls and you pick up that adorable t-shirt, look at what the item is made out of. If it’s made out of polyester, nylon, or acrylic (otherwise known as straight up plastic), you might want to put it back on the rack. Hey, this trick has been helping me save up for this adorable jean jacket (check out the factory it is made in and you’ll be hooked on this company).

What do you think about linen as a textile? Do you like wearing linen in the spring/summer? Have you ever meet up with local bloggers in your area? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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P.S. This week is Fashion Revolution Week where sustainable bloggers from all over the world are calling out big named companies and asking who makes their clothes. For more information about this week check out my Instagram to see how I’m raising awareness for the garment workers all over the world (40 million garment workers and 80% of them are female).

Double PS: Thank you for Amy from Amy Marie Blog and Lindsay from Lindsay Demo for making me laugh during these photos. We’re definitely going to have to back to Conspiracy to watch a drag show or hit up a cidery/brewery! 💕

How to Style a Denim Romper for Hot, New York City Weather

Published on April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 by PeculiarPorter2 Comments

Hi friend! This past weekend, two of my college friends and I took advantage of the incredible weather and traveled to good ol’ New York City. For someone who lives only two hours away, I’m shocked at how little I’ve seen of the city. We walked a total of eight miles roaming around Dumbo, voyaging to the Highline, popping in little boutiques, and going out until 4 am. I already can’t wait to go back again soon.

Romper | Necklace | Shoes

The Brooklyn Bridge is something that I’ve wanted to see ever since I developed a little crush on Gossip Girl’s Dan Humprey back in 2009. I even was able to see the iconic Manhattan Bridge view that is shown in multiple scenes (keep scrolling) and act like a total tourist. Yes, I was being a total fangirl.

Since it was the first nice day of spring, everyone and their mother was out. Courtney, Mickey, and I puts around and didn’t mind the roaring crowd. We ended up walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at a snail’s pace to take in all of the scenery. The cool thing about the Brooklyn Bridge is that it was designed by a man but finished by a female engineer. Talk about a major girl boss.

Tip: There is no escaping the crowds in New York City so just accept the fact that you’ll be packed like a little sardine.

For the first warm day of spring, I opted for this adorable romper from Current Elliott and some comfy slides. Current Elliott is a company based in California where 90% of their denim is made. In an interview with LA Times, Brett Ramey, Vice President of creative for Current/Elliott said, “We wanted everything in the store, every material, to get better with age — like our denim.” That was the only quote I needed to read in order to buy this adorable romper. It ended up being perfect for the sunny, cloudless day.

If you have a curvier build, I recommend finding rompers that sinch you in at the waist with a cute detail such as a bow or belt.

Since I’m not someone who usually loves rompers, I was a little nervous about buying this one. After trying it on, I knew I had to have it. It is made out of a soft denim that is breathable and lightweight without feeling cheap. The little bow belt and the adorable buttons going up the middle of the romper were the two things that sealed the deal. Plus, it definitely helps that this one wasn’t too short. I’m only 5’4″ and I find it close to impossible to find a romper that is actually an appropriate length.

If you’re walking 8+ miles in New York City opt for shoes that are comfy and lightweight.

These shoes were a life changer because they are so versatile. I was able to wear them with jeans the next day and I even wore them out to a casual bar. New York City is all about walking so make sure you’re wearing shoes that you can put some steps on. Since these shoes are made with a pleather, they tend to not breathe as well as normal sneakers. Toms might be a great alternative to these cute, casual shoes once it gets warmer. I’ve been eying this slip on and this casual, white sneaker.

Other than the Brooklyn Bridge and MOMA, I rarely pulled out my camera because I just wanted to enjoy being with my two friends. After seeing the Brooklyn Bridge, we walked around Dumbo and popped into little shops. We eventually made our way to the meatpacking district to see the Chelsea Market and the Highline.

The next day, the weather did a huge 360° and went from 70°F to a lame 40°F. We wrapped ourselves up in our thin jackets and traveled to MOMA, which was luckily right down the road from our hotel. It was surreal seeing Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies. This is definitely something I would go back and see. You could spend hours in this six-floor art museum.

I already can’t wait to go back and explore more of New York City. I still need to explore the Top of the Rock, Williamsburg, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building, China Town, Little Italy, and so much more. One day I’ll get there!

Have you ever walked across the Brooklyn Bridge? Is there a style item that you’ve always been scared to rock? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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Why the Blog Name “Peculiar Porter”

Published on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 by PeculiarPorter3 Comments

It’s been four years since I started my own blog. That seems wild to me. Thinking back to my first posts, I get a little embarrassed. I posted blog posts with pictures of me randomly posing next to graffiti and no text. Yes, it was just pictures with no information or point. Seriously, check out this one for an embarrassing reference. I even remember posting an Oscar red carpet critique back in 2015 and being super excited that 82 people viewed it. My words are jumbled all over the place and I provide no information whatsoever.

It took months to gain enough courage to tell people what I was doing in my spare time. I remember awkwardly asking Robert to take pictures of me in an abandoned factory near our school because I thought it would be great for some “edgy” photos. As time went on, I became more and more comfortable writing more about my life and things I’m passionate about. I blogged about my study abroad experience, my passion for bees, and now I’ve been trying to dive into the world of sustainable fashion. Although my creativity for my blog and my followers have grown, one thing that has always stayed the same was the blog name: Peculiar Porter.

Necklace | Shoes | Jeans | Cardigan (Similiar) | Shirt (Similiar)

Why Peculiar?

If I’m being honest, I would have picked a word that was easier for people to spell. You would be surprised how many people cannot spell peculiar. I usually get it spelled “peculair” or “peculer” and a select few actually think there is a “q” in the word. Nonetheless, I love the word peculiar because of how different it is. According to Webster dictionary “The word peculiar first meant “a person’s own.” You may have some quality that is just your own. No one else has it. That surely makes it unusual. This is how peculiar came to mean “unusual” or “odd.””

I really resonate with the idea that peculiar means that you have some quality that is your own. Instead of holding all of my different passions hostage, I wanted to share these unique ideas with the world. I’m someone who has an insane amount of passions and in a variety of different things (hence why I changed my major four different times). This blog has and still does act as an outlet where I can talk about these different ideas and share them with the world. Whether it is talking about my commute to work, travel, or sustainable fashion, I get to share my unique experience with you twice a week.

I’m so happy I started this journey four years ago and have meant some incredible people on the way. Blogging has become something that is so special to me because of how I can interact with people from all across the country and even world. Find out all the other reasons why I blog in this post.

Why include my last name in my blog name?

My last name is something that very important to me. Okay, I get everyone’s name is important to them but it’s something that has always stuck with me. In high school, I was always referred to by my last name because my brothers were always referred to by our last name. As someone who grew up with a boys name, I was really happened to be called something other than Logan. As time went on, I started to love both my first and last name more and more. I realized that having a boy’s name is something kind of special. I no longer get super awkward when people say “wow, I love that name for a girl” or rudely ask “why would your parents name you that” (yes, people actually say that)! Instead, I learn to take the compliment and always joke that I’m more likely to get a job with a boy’s name. Thank you cover letter scanners!

Five tips for coming up with a blog name:

Make it easy to spell.

This is something I deal with time after time when I’m telling people how to spell peculiar. Even when I need to give my email to a clothing store I always spell it out. If I were to do it again… maybe I would change the name to something easier to spell but if you really like the word that is all that matters.

Make it memorable.

Since there are so many blogs out there you really need a name that is memorable so that when people are searching for your name that it is easy to think of. Alliteration is a great way to make this easier or even something funny.

Short and sweet is better than long and bitter.

Let’s face it, we are all lazy! Make a blog name that is super easy to search and super easy to type. No one would ever remember “LoganPortersSustainableFashionBlog.com” instead they’ll remember that is short and sweet.

Your blog is about you so many sure that your name is personable towards you!

Don’t follow the blog trends that are out there but instead try something different! The best blogs I follow have unique names that have some personality in them.

Make it relate to your topic/niche.

When I started my blog, I had no idea that I wanted to switch gears and start writing about sustainable fashion. By incorporating the idea of your niche or topic in your blog name, it will be easier to get a better SEO ranking. This one obviously isn’t something that I did but it woudl be a great idea for new bloggers.

So if I’m unusual, I’m okay with it. I’d rather embrace it, take some weird pictures in a movie theater parking lot, and make friends with strangers on the internet. Why suppress something that makes you happy anyhow?

If you’re a blogger, why did you name your blog what it is today? If you don’t have a blog, why is your Instagram handle what it is? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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10×10 Spring Challenge: 10 Pieces, 10 Outfits, 10 Days

Published on April 10, 2018April 10, 2018 by PeculiarPorter27 Comments

After reading articles on how to appreciate what you have more, I stumbled across Style Bee’s 10×10 challenge. She developed a challenge to force people to become more creative with their clothes. While she was going through a shop-free fast she decided it would be the perfect time to create a challenge where she only wore 10 items for 10 days. Since I love a good fashion challenge, I decided to try.

Rules:

Pick any 10 items you already have in your current closet
Style those items in 10 different ways
Use 10 days to do it

PJs and workout clothes also do not count. Lee, from Style Bee, recommends that if you’re a beginner you start off with:

2 Pairs of Shoes (1 heel + 1 flat)
4 Tops (Consider pieces that layer well like a fitted long-sleeve, a button-down, and a cardigan)
1 Dress
2 Bottoms
1 Top Layer

I ended up picking 2 pants, 1 dress, 2 jackets, 4 shirts, and 1 pair of shoes. If I do the challenge again, I would pick a cardigan instead of a pink blazer because it is comfier and more versatile. Otherwise, I really liked my picks. I think for the summer challenge I would pick a few skirts instead of jeans.

Nonetheless, here are the 10 different outfits I ended up creating. If you want to see these outfits in action make sure you check out my Instagram page here.

Day One | Friday

I felt like a total rockstar in this outfit. There is something about a solid black and white outfit with a pop of color that always looks good. I ended up hanging out at friend’s new house (talk about major adulting) after work. I can’t believe I’m starting to embark on the age where my friends are all growing up. Please make it slow down ASAP please and thank you. This bag was definitely the highlight of this outfit due to it’s bright color.

Day Two | Saturday

I did absolutely nothing on Saturday and it was soooo nice. Most weekends I’m running around with my head chopped off so it was so lovely doing nothing. Well, I did take these pictures with a makeshift tripod (I set up my camera on a stool outside my house and hoped to God that my neighbors wouldn’t see me acting crazy). This layered outfit is perfect for spring because you never know how cold it is really going to be. Plus, I’m a huge fan of olive and light denim paired together.

Day Three | Sunday

Easter Sunday was a big day for me! I started the day going to church with my mom and ended the day with watching my brother propose to this girlfriend! Talk about a good day! An awesome outfit to match an equally as awesome day. I was slightly worried about doing this challenge during Easter because I knew I needed a fancier dress for Church. I ended up being able to transition this dress a few different ways. If I were to do the challenge again I would have picked a dress without a pattern because it was a little too recognizable for my taste. However, I would have still picked this bright yellow because it is perfect for spring!

Day Four | Monday

The best thing about this challenge was that it convinced me to pull out this scarf I purchased in high school. I bought this neck scarf thinking I would wear it one day and never did… until now. I love how the pattern looks contrasting with the stripes! This is definitely an outfit I would have never of tried if it wasn’t for this challenge so I’m super soaked about that.

Note: I did have to cheat on this day! It ended up randomly snowing so I needed to pull out my winter coat. I ended up wearing that winter coat on top of some of my outfits as the challenge went on. I felt guilty, but Lee said herself that this challenge is meant to be fun not stressful. Thus, I felt like it was okay for my first time ever trying this challenge.

Day Five | Tuesday

This outfit definitely got the most compliments out of all of these. One of my coworkers told me he liked my shirt three different times. I mean, I love a good green shirt but I’m not sure it deserved three different compliments. Anyway, I did end up tucking this shirt into my pants and throwing on my white belt just because I wanted to make sure I didn’t show any of my belly at work. During this challenge, I ended up wanting to wear this green shirt the most because of the bright color and soft texture. The power of a good t-shirt is really underrated.

Day Six | Wednesday

Since my coworker complimented my green shirt from the day before, I was worried that people would notice that I’m wearing the same shirt. Not one person noticed. This challenge was definitely a great way to refocus on the fact that not everyone cares about what you and other people wear. Often times what you say is much more important than what you wear. As someone who is very passionate about fashion, this is something that often escapes my reality. My work is very casual so it was really nice to be able to wear a fancier dress to work without it being a really big deal.

Day Seven | Thursday

Thursday was just another casual day at work. I love wearing my chambray top like this because it is the comfiest thing in the world. It’s like wearing a thick cardigan but wihtout the extra warmth. Out of all these outfits, this one was definitely the comfiest.

Day Eight | Friday

I wore this outfit to work but ended up throwing on my white belt from this outfit and making the necklace a lot shorter (check Instagram if you want to see the real deal). Robert came to visit me this weekend so we ended up going out with my friends to see a live band and play some games. I did end up switching into my outfit on day one but with blue jeans because I would be devastated if anyone split alcohol on my white pants. None of my coworkers noticed that this was the same stripe shirt I wore on Monday. My boss even complimented my top.

Day Nine | Saturday

I didn’t end up wearing this outfit the entire day because I was actually taking future blog pictures (eek, I’m so excited to show you them later). I love this outfit but it would have been a little too dressy for the day. I ended up going to Puerto Vallarta with Robert, taking pictures, and then watching Deadpool… laugh all you want but it was a great movie! I could definitely see myself wearing this outfit for a girl’s brunch or spring birthday party.

Day Ten | Sunday

If you followed my Instagram stories, this actually wasn’t what I wore on Sunday! Since I took these pictures on Saturday when I was planning out these outfits, I thought I was going to wear this. I ended up getting a little bit more creative and throwing on a thrifted belt alongside my chambray button up. I love this outfit too but definitely loved wearing a belt that I rarely get to wear instead.

My takeaways

I ended up trying new accessories that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

I loved being able to try out new accessories in order to spice up different outfits. It definitely made my challenge myself to rethink how I wear things and how to make them unique. Plus, I found out what items I gravitate towards more than others. I’m loving these white jeans and my green shirt!

No one noticed that I was wearing the same items over and over again.

Literally, no one noticed. I thought for sure someone would have said something about wearing my white pants twice during a work week. No one noticed or cared. This was a great reality check that not everyone cares about what you’re wearing so you might as well wear something that makes you happy. For instance, I’m never trying the wooden basket bag trend… maybe the woven ones but definitely not this bag. It’s more important to find stuff you like wearing instead of what other people like wearing.

I need to appreciate what I do have more.

It’s so easy to get swept up into the idea that I constantly need to buy new articles of clothes to keep things fresh. I really need to look at the items I already have and develop new ways of wearing them. Plus, I really need to appreciate that I’m fortunate enough to have all these clothes.

It’s more about a positive attitude than what you’re wearing.

People don’t care what you’re wearing, they care about who you are as an individual. It’s better to be positive and optimistic than negative and pessimistic. People want to be around you because of who you are not because of what you wear.

What do you think about the 10×10 challenge? Would you ever try something like this? What is your favorite outfit out of these 10? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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How to Wear Your Chambray Button Down Three Different Ways

Published on April 5, 2018 by PeculiarPorter6 Comments

If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram you would see that I’ve been diving headfirst into the 10×10 challenge. For those who don’t know, the 10×10 challenge is a challenge that forces you to only wear ten items for ten different ways. For more information on what is included and discluded check out my story here.

Since I’ve been doing this challenge, I’ve been trying to come up with unique ways to wear my chambray button-down other than wearing it like a normal shirt. Here are the three aesthetics I’ve come up with during the challenge:

Casual

Layer the chambray top over a casual tee to create an effortless look.

For the days where it’s rainy and you’re running around doing errands, throw on a button-down chambray to add some texture to your outfit. I love wearing a chambray top like this because it is lighter than a cardigan while still giving you the extra warmth. Plus, it adds a little pop of color to an otherwise colorless outfit.

Preppy

Layer a stripe long sleeve shirt over the chambray top and have it peek out ever so slightly.

For the slightly chillier days, an easy way to warm yourself up is to layer a chambray top underneath a long sleeve shirt. In New England, this is the way we survive the awkward spring temperatures. In the spring, we never know if we’re going to be cold or hot so it’s better to layer and then take off the layers if we end up getting too warm. Plus, it automatically makes it look like you put a lot of thought into your look. If it doesn’t warm up soon I might have to wear this exact outfit for Memorial Day!

Feminine

Tie the dress at your natural waist to create a natural hourglass figure.

Out of all three of these looks, this one is my favorite. I’m a sucker for a good dress styled in a different way. If you recall, this dress was actually spiced up with a suede jacket before. To create a softer look for this bright dress, I decided to tie up a chambray top on my waist. The soft hue of the chambray top tones down the loud dress. Also, by tieing the buttondown at my natural waist it creates a very flattering silhouette. This is my favorite trick for making a dress into a skirt because it creates a very flattering contrast.

What is your favorite way to wear a chambray top? Let me know in the comments down below. Also, be sure to check out the rest of my 10×10 outfits on my InstaStory… only three more days to go!

As always,

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Half United: 7 Donated Meals for Every Purchase

Published on April 3, 2018 by PeculiarPorter12 Comments

Do you ever fall so hard for a company that you just want to scream from the rooftops so everyone knows about them? That is how I feel about Half United. In 2009, two siblings made an incredible company out of only $200. Their mission is that for every product a customer buys they will also be purchasing seven meals for children in the USA, Haiti, Fiji, and Cambodia. After running the company for almost 10 years, the company has donated over 800,000 meals to children in need.

I recently picked up two new items from Half United and wanted to share with you my little Half United Haul.

Bracelet | Necklace | Shirt

The way Half United helps these areas in more detail:

USA: Helps implement farming programs into schools. This allows meals to be packed for the hungry, food to be planted, and community gardens maintained. Half United works with the local communities to help improve daily lives.

Haiti: Each beaded item from Half United is supporting the livelihood and well being of artisans in Haiti. Each beaded item is created by men and women in Papillon. The beaded item is then hand-signed and completely unique.

Fiji: The funds sent to Fiji go towards supporting sustainable, thriving feeding projects at the “NCTC” primary school. Half United has funded sweet potato farms, student garden projects, honeybee farms, chicken coops, and more.

Cambodia: Half United has teamed up with the EAI orphanage in Phnom, Penh Cambodia. EAI focuses on empowering children emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Necklace

Half United sells different products ranging from slogan tees to jewelry. The big attraction is the necklace made from recycled bullet casings to represent the fight against hunger. I love the idea of using something negative and turning it into something good. I talk more about my necklace in my first Half United post.

Bracelet

The bracelet pictured is supposed to represent Half United’s connection with Fiji school NCTC. Half United provides meals to these children in need as well as fund the school for long-term sustainable employment. The Fijian people work on beehives to create wax and honey for profit.The brass hex nuts and washers on this leather bracelet represent the rugged farm tools needed to grow healthy food. The symbol of the hexagon represents the shapes in beehives. The leather in this bracelet is from Georgia and the bracelet itself is assembled in Wilmington, NC at the Half United headquarters. I absolutely love the idea of working with beehives because of how necessary it is to have bees in our ecosystem. Saving the bees was actually one of my first “socially responsible” posts I’ve done on Peculiar Porter. You can check out that post here. (I can fully admit now that the dress in this post is waaaaaay too short)

Slogan T-Shirt

As someone who travels and is really diving blindly into the line of sustainable/eco-friendly fashion, I was thrilled when I saw this adorable slogan tee. I’m a sucker for any white graphic tee and this one really poked the inner wanderluster in me. This same shirt also comes in black and they have other adorable slogan tees that say “Giving Back is the New Black” and “Fighter”. Stay tuned on a few posts coming up because I’ll be styling this shirt ASAP.

Have you ever heard of Half United? What do you think about repurposing bullet shells and using them for good? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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11 Winter Outfits to Get Inspiration From

Published on March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 by PeculiarPorter5 Comments

I have some very exciting news… the ground is finally thawed and there is no snow to be seen! That’s right…. spring is finally here. I decided to do a little recap on my “winter” outfits just in case you missed something or if you wanted to read one of my lovely posts. As a blogger, it is so hard to take pictures in the winter because it is always so cold and if you’re too layered you look like a stuffed cabbage. Thus, most of these outfits are secretly worn with another jacket on top of them… I won’t tell if you won’t!

Remember during New Years where the temperature wouldn’t get above zero? Well, I certainly remember begging Robert to take pictures of this outfit in the fridged cold. We actually ran to a van to bring us to the Skytop Lodge. Check out how you can layer to your advantage in my post “The Ultimate Styling Tricks to Staying Warm in Below Zero Weather“.

My commute to work is still an hour long but I’m thriving thanks to the tips and tricks found in this post. Check out my favorite podcasts and radio stations to listen to so that I don’t go crazy. P.S. I can’t tell if I’m getting better or worse at driving as the weeks go on…

After coming back to my hometown, I found myself doing the exact same things over and over again. I’ve been trying to find new places to go near my hometown (like this art gallery) and decided to write a few tips on how to find these new places in your own hometown. Check out this post here. (Also, this vest is my absolute favorite thing to wear in the cold winter).

After I graduated, I applied to over 100 different jobs and went on some crazy interviews. After doing all the hoops and jumps, I ended up with a job that will really help my future. Check out more about what finding a job after college is like by reading this post.

This post is definitely perfect for this upcoming season because I show how you can transition some of your favorite winter clothes into your spring outfits. Check out this post here. Also, thumbs up to embroidered pants… I cannot get enough of them.

This was one of those weird days in February where it was warm enough to take my jacket off for a split second. Sadly, the next week the weather dropped to fridged temperatures and I need more than a light jacket. If you’re like me, I get pretty bummed around mid-February and it lasts usually throughout March (the worst of all months). It is usually because of days like this one where I thought it would finally get warm and sunny out. Check out how I combat my winter blues by reading this post.

New England Date Ideas During in the Winter

I’m obsessed with this feminine dress from Urban Outfitters. Something about the sleeves was really calling my name. Since Rob and I have been doing a lot of weird activities for date night, I decided to make a list of date ideas for the cold, winter months. Check out those ideas here. One of my favorite dates so far was going to this aquarium in Norkwalk, Connecticut.

The pink blazer that does all the talking is this one right here. If you don’t already have a blazer in your closet it is time you invest in one. They can add so much to an outfit and they’re a staple that will never go out of fashion. Check out more of my reasons why you need a pink blazer here.

I watched the True Cost on Netflix and it changed my entire perspective on the fashion world. Since watching this documentary, I’ve been thinking more and more about what I’m consuming and if it is really benefiting my life and others. I admit, I’m a self-declared shopaholic so it has been hard but I’m really trying to follow my tips found here. If you read any of these posts it should definitely be this one. Plus, if you really have enough time you should definitely watch the True Cost. I cannot recommend it more.

Wrap me up like a big burrito all spring long. I love wrap dresses almost as much as I love burritos… and that is saying something. Check out how to style the wrap dress this spring by clicking here. Plus, the best part about wearing wrap dresses is that you can wear them a thousand different ways. I plan on doing a 10×10 challenge in the month of April so stay tuned for that.

Following up with trying to think more about how I’m consuming, I bought these adorable white jeans from Everlane. In this post, I talk about how much work goes into one pair of jeans and how we need to rethink the way we buy our denim. You’d be surprised by how much denim effects our environment.

What was your favorite post or outfit? Let me know in the comments down below.

P.S. Happy Spring!

As always,

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Everything You Need to Know About Buying and Selling Clothes on eBay

Published on March 22, 2018March 22, 2018 by PeculiarPorter4 Comments

eBay rocks my world. It allows me to make money without even having to move from my bed… okay, sometimes I do have to leave my bed to mail out a package. But other than that, it’s smooth sailing. If you haven’t tried to sell or buy clothes on eBay or you just don’t know where to begin, this is the post for you.

A few years ago my cousin started selling tons and tons of clothes, comic books, action figures, etc. on eBay and I didn’t think twice about it. It just seemed like unnecessary work for “little” return. Little did I know that he made way over a thousand dollars just from selling clothes on eBay. My green eyes turned a little bit greener when I thought of the cash I could make just by selling the clothes in the back of my closet. Not only could I make money from selling my clothes, I would be giving my clothes to someone who will appreciate them instead of throwing them away. After all, only 10% of clothes donated to charity get sold… the rest gets thrown away or shipped to countries who don’t need any more clothes. Also, if I wanted to donate money to charity I could donate my earnings directly to charities through eBay. So instead of throwing away your clothes let’s put them to good use.

Selling Tips

When I first started selling clothes on eBay, I was a little overwhelmed. Where do I begin? I called up my cousin and asked him for some tips and tricks and this is what we came up with.

Start off by looking what other people are pricing the same items for.

Before I list an item, I always look what other people are selling the item for and if they include shipping or not. I usually end up putting my item $1-$2 cheaper than what other people are selling their stuff for. This way people are more likely to buy my item for cheaper.

Measure everrrrrryyyythaaaanggggg.

One thing I was absolutely clueless about was making sure all of the measurements are listed on jeans, belts, and so forth. Make your life easier and just look at this guide to figure out how to measure your pants. For shirts, make sure that if you think it runs a little small or large you put that in the description. It’s all about behind honest on eBay.

Take pictures of every corner of the item.

Take pictures of labels, pattern, tags, buttons, hemlines… if you think of it you should take a picture of it then do it. Also, if you are selling something that has a rip or stain (which I personally do not do) make sure you take a picture of it so people understand what they are buying. If you don’t you could get a bad review and people will become more hesitant to shop from your store.

Add personality into your captions.

This is my absolute favorite thing to do on my eBay page. I love mentioning what someone can wear an item with and how fabulous they will look. I can just picture a total stranger reading my words and being super amused. Plus, this might make someone want to buy more because they can relate to the buyer. Make sure you include descriptors like “only worn once” or “it was the back of my closet since 2009 and has never been worn before.” The better the description, the better the outcome.

Shipping Tips

The hardest part about selling clothes is figuring out how to do the shipping. However, once you figure it out it will be second nature to you.

Don’t include free shipping with your jeans.

Jeans are typically heavy so they cost around $5-$7 to ship. This can be half of what you’re selling the jeans for so make sure that you calculate the cost of the shipping in the cost or just say shipping “$6.99” or whatever it is to ship. Sometimes I sell my pants for a super low cost because I know shipping is going to be so much. It all depends on if they’ve never been worn before or if you just bought them directly from J.Crew.

Shirts typically cost between $2.50-$4.50 to ship.

Since shirts are typically lighter you can make the shipping costs much lower. If you buy a scale (which I highly recommend you do) you can measure it the shipping cost before you put the listing up. It also helps when you do have to finally ship the product.

High priced items: include free shipping.

Personally, I think it is polite to include free shipping when someone is buying a big priced item. I sold a pokemon card for $150 and didn’t charge the customer shipping. Obviously, a little card didn’t cost that much to ship but I think it makes the sale go through that much easier.

Buying Tips

You know that awesome feeling when you return something that you weren’t really sure that you loved or not? You then get store credit or your money back and you feel this odd sense of power. Okay, maybe just me. The best part about selling clothes on eBay is that you have money you can either save or you can put back into finding something super cute.

Make sure you read all of the descriptions!

I almost bought a shirt that had a stain on it without even knowing. Just as I was checking out, I noticed the little description saying that there was a faint stain on the front of the shirt. That was definitely enough to deter me from buying the shirt. Also, sometimes the titles get mixed around when you’re posting so make sure that you’re actually buying the right size.

Play around with bidding wars.

This one is very new to me and it’s oddly thrilling to play the little dancing game. I’m currently in a bidding war on a beautiful Free People top. Fingers crossed that I win it because it is the cutest thing in the world. My tip would be to wait until the very end to bid the shirt up.

Search your favorite companies with descriptors you might be looking for.

Instead of just searching the name search key things you may be looking. This may be the textile-like “lace” or it could be a vibe like “edgy”. This will help narrow down the search and hopefully weed out the sellers that you’re not looking for.

What is currently on my watch list:

Free People Top, Vintage Belt, Feed Bag, Button Skirt, White Madewell Jeans

What do you think about selling or buying clothes from eBay? Have you ever done it or do you use sites like postmark? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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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,

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