one pastime i’ve been enjoying a lot recently is finding quirky fashion brands online. like the dirty capitalist consumer i am (jk), i will now share some of the cool things i found this month (:
i went through a phase where i was obsessed with platform doc martens. sadly the high price deterred me from ever purchasing a pair (this “phase” was two months ago; i don’t know why i’m making it sound like it was long ago lol). thus, i was happy to stumble across palladium, a footwear brand based in paris. the business originates from supplying world war i paratroopers with boots, but now they also make streetwear-inspired designs.
most of their boots aren’t made of leather, but that means they are much lighter and more comfortable than docs (according to reviews at least). they are also less expensive. i think i will likely splurge on a pair if/when they go on sale.
earlier this month, i realized that i had a troublesome lack of athletic shorts. this was a problem because i needed cool lightweight clothing for my trip to kansas. it was time to go on a quest to acquire high quality, affordable athletic shorts. i spent some time online combing over various stores’ inventories: lululemon, athleta, outdoor voices, girlfriend collective, old navy, uniqlo, and probably more.
what did i find? i learned that i am not yet ready to make the trade-off between high prices and high quality, ethical clothing. i ended up buying two pairs of target-branded shorts (their in-house brand is called “in motion” or something like that) from goodwill for $5 each. however, i discovered a sustainability-centered athletic clothing brand in the process: prAna.
everything is on the pricier side, of course, but i feel more drawn to prAna’s offerings because they are practical (pockets) and i like how they look. i don’t really have a reason to buy anything from them right now when my budget is low and goodwill exists, but i’m filing away their website for the future (i have a notion database with a list of brands that i like).
i found this boutique with alt, edgy, and goth-inspired designs. i’ve been interested in trying out this aesthetic for a while now and i’m pretty excited about their offerings. i’m probably also going to wait for a sale and splurge.
this is the most blessed shop to ever exist. i’ll let their products speak for themselves.
my partner recently gifted me a mr. cheese plushie. he’s so cute!
i can’t remember how i found this site, but it’s basically two people selling unique clothing. each item is one-of-a-kind. the website is super minimalist and quirky, but it’s also inspiring and makes me want to start a similar kind of workshop or business.
i honestly haven’t been doing anything too special in iowa so far. i went and got a vision check-up with an eye doctor, and i’ve been working on my internship. my family is driving to chicago tomorrow, and i have a dentist appointment next week. i’m trying to rest up from the solar car race and eat more and be healthy. i did try to run once this week, and unfortunately my legs still feel sore.
i am working on some new music though, which is exciting! and being home is very nice.
lyricist 