Sunday 7 – Slinky Satin Edit

Hello,

Welcome to another Sunday 7 – possibly the hardest one I’ve compiled to date.

And by hardest, I mean, most difficult… I feel somewhat sombre and heavy-hearted in the knowledge that I am a teeny-tiny cog in the massive machine that has contributed to the awful environmental destruction of our planet.

All in the name of fashion FFS.

Utterly ridiculous!

Before I launch into my chosen 7, I need to off-load: I hope you don’t mind?

It’s just I really need to get this off my chest.

I’ve watched all week, on social media, how various people have piped up and talked on the subject following the Stacey Dooley exposé about the devastation caused from our consumption of fast-fashion.

Some – rather piously and hypocritically I might add.

Others, have been justifiably on point.

And me?

Regardless that I’m not the biggest shopper in the world, and that I have, not through choice I might add, always had a limited number of stores that I can shop in, due to my extra-petite sizing – I’m still a fashion lover.

I may wear items in my wardrobe which date back 20 years (after all, trends come round again and again, right?) but I am one of the guilty.

There’s no doubt.

In my weekly Sunday 7 – an apparent ‘harmless’ bit of fun ogling and fawning over new stuff, I rarely deviate off high street stores – the same stores, featured in the documentary.

And this doesn’t feel good.

The difficulty being, of course, the lack of transparency from most brands.

And you should note: just because you pay a higher price tag, doesn’t necessarily equate to better brand morals or ethics.

Vintage and charity shopping is a different mindset: you can’t just say ‘I need a pair of black trousers’ and go and buy them… you may or may not find what you are looking for: take what you can, when you find it… whether on eBay or in an actual vintage/charity store.

But equally,  it is a mindset more and more shoppers are getting on board with.

And as for ethical, sustainable brands?

Well there are few and far between – though of course, there are plenty out there if you look hard enough.

The key word being ‘hard’.

It’s not easy shopping ethically or sustainably: often prices are prohibitive to most (and fair enough that those prices are a true reflection of how much it costs to produce a garment) but equally, most such brands I have come across – neither cater for smaller sizes, nor do they offer trend pieces.

My experience of ethical, sustainable brands over all is that they offer more of a ‘way of life’ style of clothing: generic, minimalistic… a life uniform if you will, in the range of styles on offer and of course, for any bright colour lovers out there – which involve ridiculous levels of chemicals in their production… availability is, again, limited.

I realise I am stereotyping here, but as a general rule of thumb, that is my experience of some ethical/sustainable clothing brands: they are advocating a slower pace of fashion… pieces that will stand the test of time and which can be worn year after year…

Though arguably, the clothing is simply too functional and practical and… well… boring for many fashion lovers out there.

{And again, I repeat: I know this is a broad, sweeping generalisation!}

So…we all need to slow down.

Shed the ‘want it!’ attitude and come back to the good old days of ‘do I need it?’

No one is saying return to a war-time ‘make do and mend’ ethos… though frankly, I have wondered this week about this and how ultimately, they had the right idea.

We’ve taken huge strides in using our grocery ‘Bags for life’ instead of plastic carrier bags, so we can do this right?

Perhaps here in the UK we can… we can make a start.

But as more and more high street stores end up closing as a result of us slowing down; job losses and the ramifications that come with that are felt, both here and abroad… we, the consumers, will be held accountable again.

It’s not just us, alone, captaining this destructive ship, is it?

What of the magazines / publications / bloggers / influencers, feeding our hunger and thirst for the latest and greatest?

And brands themselves?

Governments (around the world!) – they should be held to account as well?

The issue is, after all, one of the huge pieces in a global socio-economic-environmental catastrophe, right?

The enormity of the issue has weighed heavily on me all week, and I’ve watched, astonished, that for others, who claimed the documentary was ‘food for thought’ – and yet…

… they’ve managed to get back to doing what they do best in a single blink of an eye: whether it’s a good old H&M changing room try on session or bagging the latest fast-fashion bargain and sharing on their social media… for the most part, it’s all back to business as usual.

So why can’t I do that as well?

Why does compiling my 7 of the latest pieces which have caught my eye, feel so, so sh!t?

So for what it’s worth, this photo on Topshop’s Personalshopping Instagram feed caught my eye this week:

I can’t find it (the shirt) online.

But it’s the sort of piece I’d buy, and wear for years.

A bit like my Satin Ghost Skirt from 19 years ago, which has come into it’s own again recently:

This skirt used to be a go-to piece, and over the years it’s been stored away for a couple of years here, a few years there – but I’ve never wanted to sell it on, nor charity bag it, because it’s such a useful piece.

Satin, and indeed, the good old bias cut skirt are having a moment again, aren’t they?

I’m not going to feature the sold out Topshop one – because… it’s sold out!

And although my Ghost skirt is made of a silk-satin mix – which is a little different to the current high street offerings, none the less, I think these slinky slip skirts and shirts make for very useful additions to any wardrobe.

So this week’s 7, is a look at what satin pieces (skirts & shirts in fact…) are around at the mo.

7. Mint Velvet – Satin Dip Hem Skirt (£79)

A beautiful skirt, in a beautiful colour and with added the interest of the dipped hem detail instead of the usual bias cut skirt, made somewhat dowdy by the all black styling.

Which isn’t to say, that the skirt doesn’t look good with black… I just find the styling off.

And price wise?

It’s not the most purse friendly, but neither is it an outrageous price tag.

Unfortunately, unless you want a maxi skirt, it’s not going to be one for us shorties… the very detailing that makes this skirt stand out would get lopped off in a straight forward taking up alteration.

The skirt is also available in a very dark French Navy and is made from 100% viscose.

6. Mint Velvet – Burgundy Silk Satin Shirt (£119)

I know… it’s still Mint Velvet, and still pricey.

Bit if I had a spare £119, I would be investing in this shirt.

I love the colour, and indeed, it is one of the few offerings which is actually made from a 90% silk, 10% elastine mix.

And I can tell you, from experience of both my Ghost skirt – and indeed my Wedding dress (which was made by my mum – from the same fabric as my Ghost skirt – a perk of working at the Ghost HO back in the day; Mum & I then dyed the fabric a beautiful champagne gold ourselves… rather like a couple of old hags, adding a dash of this, and a splash of that over a cauldron of a boiling pan…) it’s a beautiful fabric to both wear, wash and lasts for an absolute eternity.

The shirt does go down to a size 6 through to size 18.

It’s a perfect spruce-up to your jeans & heels outfit for lo-key evenings out.

Likewise, a useful piece for full blow smarter events as well.

5. H&M – Satin Blouse (£17.99)

I like the idea of a Nehru/Mandarain/Collarless collared shirt (not sure which it is to be honest?) and obviously, the pricing is very purse friendly.

However, the proportions of this shirt would be crazy long on a shortie like me.

Likewise, it’s basically made from a satin-effect polyester, so static would be a real issue.

The shirt is available in a few colours, but it’s the Burgundy Striped one which is my favourite.

4. H&M – Asymmetrical Skirt (£49)

I’ve seen a lot of people posting on instagram the H&M Flared Satin Skirt as an alternative to the sold out Topshop one.

But a wider, flared skirt doesn’t compare to a slinky bias cut in my opinion.

#justsaying

However, this Asymmetrical Skirt *is* more comparable.

I like the little pleat detail at the waistline, and the dusky green colour is gorgeous – and unlike the polyester flared skirt, this one is viscose with a jersey lining.

Therefore, no static issues!

3. & Other Stories – Satin Workwear Shirt (£59)

Another beautiful colour, which for me, is quite timeless… this mustard yellow will *always* look stylish and effortless as far as I’m concerned.

Simple.

It’s another viscose offering, but as is often the case with this brand, the shirt is unavailable in size 32.

If anyone is looking a blingy, metallic shirt for the party season, this Metallic Gold Satin Blouse is a bargain at £21.

2. Urban Outfitters – Satin Bias Cut Skirt (£42)

A longer skirt this time, but one which is a regular, straight forward hemming job should you wish to take it up.

The skirt is also available in Dark Green & Black and again, 100% viscose.

The thing about all of these bias cut skirts… by their very nature: no pockets!

#whytho

So, although this next one, my number one this week… isn’t a bias skirt… it is my favourite:

1. Arket – Washed Satin Skirt (£59)

Again, it’s viscose… for the price range I’ve mainly featured, what else can we expect?!

This fluted/gathered elasticated waist, dark blue satin skirt – WITH POCKETS – from Arket, styled to perfection here – is the most versatile skirt style featured today.

This classic style won’t date, in the way that a bias skirt can, and will.

If I was in the market for a satin skirt, this would be the one I’d go for.

It’s also got a cotton lining, so there would be no static issues.

It’s elegant, the style is timeless, and of course it can be dressed up with a cami top for nights out, or dressed down with a chunky, fluffy knit/hoody for day to day, but most importantly, it would get worn year after year.

The only thing stopping any of us wearing the same thing over and over… is us.

It’s our own mindset.

The skirt is also available in this candy Pink:

Which is a very pretty shade of pink.

But I know myself well, and I wouldn’t get as much wear out of the pink skirt, as I would the dark blue.

Unfortunately, Arket doesn’t cater for my extra petite frame, so no matter how much I may *want* this skirt, I have no choice in the matter… I can’t have it.

Unless I spend a small fortune on alterations.

And I’m gonna tell you the truth: the piece winds up being too expensive and this extra cost of alterations puts me off enough to not want to buy this particular skirt.

It’s a rare piece indeed, which I’d willing to go that extra mile for.

Plus, I kind of think: I may as well attempt to make one of my own with some of the left over fabric from my wedding dress…

…of which there is plenty, and the natural silk fibre of the fabric makes it perfect for dyeing it to any colour my heart desires.

Nice in theory, but highly unlikely I’ll get round to it!

I’ve waffled a fair bit in this blogpost… had a great big bloody mental breakdown in fact!

As such, there’s no stinker or wildcard looks this week.

I’d probably have chosen a Satin jumpsuit as a stinker – due to static issues, and maybe chosen a satin dress to try and style 3 ways as a wildcard item.

Perhaps another time.

Earlier this week, I posted a pic of me wearing a H&M x William Morris Dress which I’d ordered the week before the documentary was aired… and I felt pretty crap about doing so:

The dress only cost £18 odd (I think…) so there’s no mistaking it – it fits the criteria of destructive fast fashion, right?

That I might wear and keep this dress for years: does that make it any better?

That I still wear 18 year old Topshop dresses or coats: does that make my personal contribution less?

Of course, I don’t have an answer.

All I know is this: I’m often stupidly sensitive about global issues which are beyond my control and I’ve fully saturated my brain with doom and gloom this week.

It’s a doom & gloom which I’m currently finding difficult to shake off…

And of course I realise that the solutions to this colossal problem do not sit on my shoulders alone.

After all, it’s not just our fashion choices, it’s *e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.*  it’s our whole modern, destructive way of life!

{Miserable, depressing little old boot? Moi?!}

Back to this blog though: there’s no denying I contribute, in my own teeny-tiny way, to feeding the thirst and hunger for new…

… and so it does beg the question: should I even carry on blogging?

Do I attempt to introduce a Sustainable Brand of the week?

Style up one look for the wildcard, using sustainable brands only?

Or is that just… well, a bit of lip-service and so no point really, better to scrap the Sunday 7 altogether?

The one thing I will say for certain is this: no – I don’t think I’m being a drama queen about this issue.

If you’ve made it this far, I salute you!

Thank you for reading –  and as ever, do leave a comment: I’d very much like to hear your thoughts on this.

Bx

P.S. I ordered my wildcard item last week after blogging about them and styling them up in 3 ways … convincing myself I’d wear them lots.

It was this pair – Checked Tapered Trousers (£39) from Topshop:

But when they arrived, I decided to return them before even trying them on.

They are a flight of fancy piece… and not one that fits my norm…. they’d get worn a handful of times.

Which isn’t enough.

I still like the trousers, but realised I simply wanted them ‘just because’ but that I didn’t need them.

On one had, this kind of sucks a little joy out of my life by having to think this way, and yet on the other hand, I felt pretty good about my realistic, logical line of thinking.

#babysteps