Unfortunately Mango is not in Cork so anytime I’m in Dublin I always try to take a look. In one corner of the shop a series of beautiful jumpers and tailored pants caught my eye. I began to examine the garments and noticed the label ‘Mango Committed.’ I had never heard of this before and so I took a closer look. Each garment had a cotton tag that said “made with eco friendly & recycled fabrics. Committed to sustainable fashion.” I instantly gathered loads of garments from the collection and rushed to the dressing room!

The collection comprised of earth tones and military style pants and jackets. The pants were uniquely and impeccably tailored. They were made from recycled wool mix fabric. Usually I find wool quite itchy on the skin however, these were super comfy and flattering, particularly around the waist.

I was especially drawn to the unusual waistbands on the pants.

My favourite pants from the collection were the ‘Pleat wool detail trousers’ at €69.95

And the ‘wool palazzo trousers’ at €79.95

There was also a gorgeous printed shirt and skirt from the collection that I have added to my wish list.

The committed collection also includes accessories such as bags and shoes and is not just for women. It also caters for men.

I was on the hunt for a winter jumper and ended up purchasing an off white ‘ribbed edges sweater’ for €49.95 from the line (also comes in mustard). It’s perfect for those chilly days and no doubt I will get loads of wear out of it. Knowing that by purchasing this garment I am making a positive impact on the environment is really heart-warming.

This is a perfect example of how ethical and sustainable fashion is not out of our reach. In fact it is quite accessable and not way out of our price range. Ethical fashion is the way of the future. The fashion industry is one of the largest industries for waste in the world and so as consumers we have a moral responsibility to consider incorporating sustainable fashion into our wardrobes.

I am really excited to see how this collection progesses in the future. As long as this positive change can progress further beyond the likes of McDonald’s ‘offering a salad on the menu’, then I think that high street fashion will change for the greater good! To check out the current mango committed collection click here.

 Louisa spoke about her experience on the show. She is also studying fashion buying in London and gave us an insight into this aspect of the industry as well as sharing her experience of interning at Paris Fashion Week. Louisa has struggled with her skin for most of her life. During the show she was asked to remove all of her makeup and she spoke about how self-conscious she felt. She has been using makeup to shield her insecurities.

She is now challenging herself to overcome this insecurity by posting no makeup selfies on her instagram and has set up a ‘free the pimple’ campaign to address one of the most common insecurities among young men and women. Louisa hopes to raise awareness of learning to love your insecurities by doing a no makeup, no airbrush spread in a magazine as well as working with skin care brands (which she could not name as of yet) to spread the word. I believe that this will really empower women around the world to embrace their insecurities until they no longer exist.

Louisa was so down to earth and honest about her experiences in the fashion industry. I look forward to seeing more of her campaign journey and hope to cross paths again with her in the future. To find out more about Louisa and her campaign, follow her on Instagram and check out her vlogs.

Fur can is a debatable topic in the fashion industry due to the ethics of how the fur is obtained and so if you are an animal lover, faux fur is your favourable option. Peta supports the wearing of faux fur saying that it “can be a good alternative” to real fur.

I love the texture of fur but I would not be in favour of wearing real fur. Modern technology has vastly improved the appearance of faux fur making it softer and more realistic. So for those who do favour real fur, there’s really very little difference between the two these days so why not opt for the more ethical option.

Last season I bought my first faux fur coat (see photoshoot blog post) and fell in love with it instantly that I decided to get another one this season. Now I can alternate between the two to add a bit if variety into my outfits. I purchased this at Zara for €89.95 who have a beautiful variety of faux fur coats/jackets.

The boots (€79.95) and bodysuit (€39.95) are also from Zara.

To check out more faux fur products click here.

I met Emma outside the Main Gates of UCC and we ventured around campus finding different spots to take outfit pics. Prior to the shoot Emma requested that I wear garments that go with the autumn leaves so I opted for oranges and browns. Fur and velvet are everywhere this season so I had a little fun playing with textures. Most pieces that I wore were last season so if you wish to follow trends you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy new clothes, just take a closer look at pieces you already own.

What I wore –

Coat – Last season Zara (see faux is the future post)

Bodysuit – Zara

Black Jeans – last season Pennys/Primark

Velvet Boots – last season New Look

Belt – last season Pennys/Primark

Bracelet – Present from France

I actually bought a few of these bodysuits in different colours. I thought that they’re a great way of adding a splash of colour into my wardrobe. The shoulder pads add more structure to the look and the silk fabric is so smooth against the skin. They’re a perfect transitional piece that can be taken from day to night. Just add some stilettos and you’re good to go.

Faux fur is a must have autumn/winter staple. Check out my post on ‘faux is the future‘ for some more fur coat options.

I had such a lovely day walking around and chatting with Emma. To see more of Emma’s photos be sure to follow her on Instagram.

I arrived at RTE studios bright and early on a Thursday morning. There I met with Irene who brought me backstage and introduced me to the models. There were 3 models and 6 outfits in total. All of the clothes were from Carraig Donn. Some of the clothes were wrinkled from being transported so I had to iron them before the models wore them. The models arrived with their own hair and makeup done and went to their dressing rooms to do a few last minute touch ups. I was asked to iron all of the clothes and hang them in order on a rack, making sure the right bags and accessories were placed with the correct outfits.

The models waited in robes and slippers while waiting to be called for filming. In the meantime, Irene and I went through her queue cards insuring that every item was included. She brought her laptop behind set and looked up each piece of clothing on the Carraig Donn website to see if certain garments were available in different colours/patterns. We were then called for filming.

I helped each model get dressed into their first outfits ensuring that no tags were visible and assisting with zips and buttons. Each model lined up in order of their outfits waiting to go on stage. A girl with a headset told each model when it was their que to walk on set. Once they modelled the clothes, they had to rush back stage where I was waiting for them with their next outfit. Filming was short and fast and so the models didn’t have a lot of time to change.

Once filming was over, I helped the models get out of the outfits and put them into a suitcase which Irene used to transport the clothes back to the shop. I never knew how much work went into short fashion segments. The models had to travel down from Dublin the night before and Irene had to prepare what she was going to say. There was a lot of preparation on the day in terms of caring for the clothes and assisting with outfit changes.

It was a great insight into the styling side of the fashion industry. I also got to meet Daithi and Maura! I really enjoyed working with Irene. She knew exactly what needed to be done and was kind to share her story of her career journey with me.

Autumn is officially upon us. The weather is getting colder so it’s time to prepare for those chilly days with this season’s ultimate staple – the coat.

 Unfortunately, as fast fashion is taking over, garments are mass-produced at a cheaper price. Vintage items are generally better quality. With this in mind I headed to one of my favourite vintage shops – Miss Daisy Blue.

I wanted a piece that would go with most items in my wardrobe and that reflected my aesthetic. Red is my favourite colour so I was instantly drawn by the vibrant shade.

I also fell in love with the gold buttons against the richness of the dyed wool. This beautiful Italian coat is 100% virgin wool.

 I think it’s important to have key seasonal pieces that essentially become a basic for that time period. Usually basics are considered to be quite minimal, particularly in terms of colour. They’re either black or brown. I like to play with colour so I opted for a vibrant shade. The coat finishes around the knees and is easily layered.

 I know that I will get great wear out of this piece over the coming months. So if you’re looking to update your wardrobe with a coat for this coming season, check out Miss Daisy Blue’s wide range of beautiful, unique vintage attire.

Shoes – Eva May Vintage

Jeans and shirt – Zara

1. 70’s Vibes

70’s is without a doubt on trend at the moment and will continue for Autumn and Winter as seen on the catwalk by the likes of Chloé, Max Mara, Prada and Gucci. The washed out denim allows for a brighter colour palette for summer and the flared, frayed ends scream laid back vibes. I also love how there are slits up the sides which add some free-spirited movement, perfect for festival season!

2. Embellishment

Everyone loves a great pair of mom jeans. Their comfy, they’re chill and can be worn casually or dressed up. What I love about this pair is that they make a statement. There are a lot of elements to this garment, the pearls, the rips and the rolled up ends so the rest of the outfit can be kept simple. Once again they can be worn casually or with a great pair of strappy heels out on the town.

3. Needlework

Embroidery is a trend that the fashion industry have been loving the last few seasons, and it’s not going anywhere. This beautiful oriental detail adds some fun colour to play with. The length is also shortened here with some rips and frays.

These pairs were bought at Zara (1 & 3) and Bershka (2). There are so many different types of jeans these days from push up to cigarette fit and ripped to lace up. There’s plenty to choose from, so why not express your personal style through a tasteful pair of statement denims!

Happy Shopping!!

xx

I came across this gorgeous bucket bag in Zara recently and fell in love with the beading. The attention to detail here is incredible and not to mention colourful. If you’re the kind of person who likes to match their accessories with their outfits based on colour, well I don’t think you’ll have a problem with this piece.

Raffia bags are really in this season but I always like to adapt the trends and venture beyond them. Tassels seem to be a trend this season too, particularly as earrings and can be seen here as a finishing touch to the drawstrings.

I was at the beach over the weekend and discovered that while this pouch looks small it surprisingly fits quite a lot. I was able to roll up my beach towel and have it peeping out over the top as well as storing my phone, keys, sun cream, and water in there too. I didn’t have to worry too much about it on the sand or anything spilling out as the drawstring keeps the contents secure.

I have been using it non-stop since I got it. I’ve brought it to the beach, out shopping and to dinner with friends. It’s such a versatile piece that would be perfect with a sundress or a casual pair of shorts. Accessories are meant to be fun and playful so why not have a little fun with them this summer. The bag is also quite reasonable given the immense detail. I purchased it for €39.95.  If you wish to order it online here’s the link – Beaded Bucket Bag.

Bodysuit is also from Zara, shorts and sunglasses from Pennys/Primark and belt is Stradivarius.

Seeing as yesterday was Earth Day I thought I would write a blog post and share some interesting fashion tips. Many people have no idea that the fashion industry is “the second largest polluter in the world…second only to oil” (Sweeny, 2015)

With fast fashion rapidly increasing, the clothing industry is creating huge ethical and environmental consequences. While fashion appears to be glamorous in magazines and on the catwalk, there is a side to fashion that the Western world is sheltered from. Some of you may have heard about the Rana Plaza incident in Bangladesh where a clothing factory collapsed causing the death of 1,135 people. This tragedy highlighted the poor working conditions of factory workers in this industry. While fashion is about expression and looking good, when we buy clothes, we have a responsibility as humans to respond to the ethical and environmental implications that our clothes can have. We need to ask ourselves: where are our clothes coming from? Are the people who made our clothes receiving fair wages and working in good conditions? Do I really need to buy all of these clothes? We have a duty to our planet and to our fellow beings to promote ethical and environmental fashion, so here’s a few tips on how you can make a difference.

1. Educate Yourself

In order to truly make a difference to the fashion industry I recommend that we all educate ourselves. If you have not seen ‘The True Cost‘ documentary, WATCH IT!!

Here is what it is about:

“This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing? Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, and featuring interviews with the world’s leading influencers including Stella McCartney, Livia Firth and Vandana Shiva, The True Cost is an unprecedented project that invites us on an eye opening journey around the world and into the lives of the many people and places behind our clothes” (truecostmovie.com).

 The great thing about this movie is that it is available to watch on Netflix or else you can download it off their website. It’s so gripping and will make you think twice about the clothes you put on your body. Click here to check it out.

Another way of educating yourself is to read about it. There are endless amounts of articles on the topic. All you have to do is google but if you want an informative overview read ‘How To Be A Fashion Revolutionary’ booklet. More resources are available here.

2. Attend Events

 Next week is fashion Revolution week. There are a number of events being held around Ireland to promote ethical and environmental fashion, which I strongly advise you to attend. If you would like to find out more about these events check out:

 http://fashionrevolution.org/country/ireland/

 These events promote vintage and ethical fashion through several popup shops around the country, provide discussions and some fun DIY up-cycling workshops for those who wish to revamp their wardrobes. If you are not from Ireland check out the fashion revolution website to see what your country is doing to raise awareness.

3. Take Part in the Challenges

The fashion revolution movement is encouraging people from all around the world to take part in fun awareness raising activities. These include the #lovedclotheslast (fashion love story) challenge and the #haulternative challenge. The first challenge encourages people to “rather than buying new, fall back in love with the clothes you already own” and the second challenge encourages people to refresh their wardrobe with some fun DIYs, swapping clothing, or buying vintage or second hand etc.

4. Buy Vintage/Ethical or Second hand

If you follow me on Instagram you know that I am vintage obsessed! I love buying vintage pieces because they’re so unique but also because they are better for the environment.

I recently came across an Instagram post by hazelsnutsaboutvintage who are a vintage store in Kilarney, that said:

“If one million women bought their next item of clothing secondhand instead of new, we would save 6 million kg of carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere.”

This really resonated with me. We all have the power to make a difference, so take the leap! If you aren’t following them on Instragram check them out. They are very consistent with their posts showcasing their fabulous stock which can be bought in store, at their pop up shops or online.

Cherish your clothes. They are an expression of who you are and what you believe in so make sure you have something to say. I hope you enjoyed these tips and that you will take them on board. If you use any of these tips be sure to tag me using #glassjotterrevolts

This jacket is quite a versatile piece. It can be worn over a dress or casually over a pair of jeans. Here is how I styled it:

I added a scarf from Miss Daisy Blue for a pop of colour.

The shoes are also from Eva May Vintage. I think they go really well with this coat.

Be sure to follow the shop on Instagram and Facebook @evamayvintage to see the new stock.

I bought a few more vintage pieces, which will be featured on my blog over the next few weeks so keep an eye out!