{ Sustainable Fashion In Kansas City: A Guide }

I don't usually go shopping, but when I do, I endeavor to either, A: Support a local artisan or maker by spending my money on handmade, high-quality pieces of clothing; or B: purchase used or vintage apparel. It's a blend of high and low that keeps me from supporting 'fast fashion' (I won't get into it here, but if you are interested in learning more about the political aspects of apparel, there is no shortage of depressing information out there about how environmentally taxing, damaging and wasteful this practice of consumerism is).

If you are also interested in supporting sustainable fashion, I've put together a guide for how to support some wonderful shops and creators here in Kansas City! Check it out!

- Hadley - I have loved designer Hadley Clark's exquisite garments for years. Hadley recycles beautiful materials made from natural fibers (such as silk kimonos and African indigo textiles) and creates the most beautiful and comfortable pieces, I feel like an actual High Priestess when I wear her clothes! It's also worth noting that Hadley is offering sewing lessons, workshops and textile tune-ups in her shop to educate and empower others to repair and tailor pieces they already own for their personal wardrobe. She's an incredible artist and her activism through apparel is badass! You should follow her instagram account if you don't already, you won't be sorry. 

Amazing dress by Hadley Clark.

- Donnas Dress Shop -  This shop is a jewel in Kansas City!  I have found more treasures at Donna's than I can count, my favorite, one-of-a-kind, vintage pieces have all been found here! Donna and her staff are also super supportive of local artists and designers, Donna's Dress shop is always hosting pop-ups and creative events - it's a treat to visit her delightful shop! Aaaaand, if you are like me and are mostly a mole person who rarely leaves her hermit cave, do yourself a favor and follow Donna's awesome instagram account - no joke, the last three purchases I made there were because of her instagtam photos!

Donna's Dress Shop.

 

- We Are Sincerely Yours - Danielle Meister has created a charming boutique with hand-selected vintage items, one of a kind jewelry, TADEJ leather goods and beautiful Hadley Clark original pieces. Danielle's affinity for natural fibers, interesting textures and timeless design make her apparel offerings so special, and, she often collaborates with my other favorite vintage seller, Wunderhub Vintage! Danielle and Leslie both utilize instagram to reveal new finds and sales, so I highly recommend following them here and here. 

We Are Sincerely Yours. 

 

- Dear Society - Oh man do I love this shop.  This lovely space offers beautiful vintage and new garments as well as home decor items. It's absolutely worth the visit, aaaand their instagram is full of PRETTY - check it out, here! 

Dear Society.

{ Suggested Reading }

I am of two minds when I find something that is AWESOME. The selfish part of me wants to keep it to myself like a beautiful, happy secret...but then the nagging guilt sets in, at which point I start feeling compelled to share this wonderful thing - because what kind of awful, garbage monster would I be if I kept this to myself? Such were my feelings when I discovered a new-to-me blog, The Woman Who Married A Bear, written by woman whose expertise is relevant to my interests - earth activist, plant sorceress, tarot reader and all around badass - Milla Prince. 

Milla Prince, plant witch and noted badass.

 

Y'all. Some real talk, if you will.

I didn't grow up with very healthy associations with food. My family didn't treat it as medicine, but rather food was often viewed as some kind of ruthless enemy, lurking in the shadows, waiting to fuck up your body in some awful way when you succombed to consuming it. Eating was not an act of pleasure or joy, and on the rare occasion in which you did eat something that you actually enjoyed, it was shameful and viewed with suspicion. It won't surprise you to learn that we did not garden as a family and we sure as shit did not go foraging for edible plants. That said, these are things that have interested me as an adult. For the last ten years I have endeavored to repair my relationship with food by growing some of my own and even foraging for mushrooms. I am learning how to identify edible, wild plants and (thanks to Jill McKeever, who has workshopped several plant medicine classes with Oracle) also how to keep myself healthy with our little herb homies. I am learning How To Plants, Y'all. (Look down. I know what these are now!)

Milla Prince's blog and instagram account have brought a special joy to my life. As I learn more and more about the medicinal and nutritional properties in certain plants (and how to identify them!), I have found her site to be a tremendous resource and an integral part of my plant education. Milla writes so eloquently about her culture, her experiences and the knowledge she has gained therein. I have found myself captivated by her stories of tradition and folklore. This incredible woman is all about connections, plant-based or otherwise - and I happen to love that sort of thing too, so I enjoy all of her non-flora content as well. If you, like me, are interested in developing your knowledge of plants and herbal medicine, or simply are curious about energetic connectivity (and or sartorial excellence in power-clashing prints), I HIGHLY recommend that you check out her work! (I would be remiss if I didn't mention her wonderful herbal shop, Fireweed & Nettle, which you should also check out!

++ This podcast is fantastic, btw, Milla Prince discusses witchcraft, her childhood in Finland and the tradition of plant healing with which she was raised. Have a listen, you won't be sorry.

{ Insomnia }

I can't sleep. Insomnia has been hanging around and being a big bastard in my life for roughly twenty years now, and it has ranged from being annoying to downright crippling. I still struggle with it, and I've yet to figure out a surefire way to eliminate it from my life. I've tried everything (except for giving up coffee, which will never, ever, nerver erver happen. Please stop tssking me and shaking your head. I know what I'm doing. I gave up coffee for six months during my first pregnancy and all it did was make me ANGRIER when I was lying awake at night.) and despite my efforts to rid myself of this affliction, insomnia remains my awful, enduring constant. So, in conclusion, I can't sleep and I don't know what I can do about it. Now let's talk about how I bide my during my wakeful nights! 

I look up crap on the internet!

What I initially search for often leads me to beautiful things, but it doesn't take long for the brain raccoons to take the wheel and steer me in the direction of some truly weird shit - but that is for another post. I'm here to show you the pretty stuff - lookie:

OVATE - This incredibly beautiful, Montreal-based brand creates the most elegant, lovely pieces. I try not to purchase new (unused) clothing unless I know it was handcrafted by an actual person. I absolutely love seeing a designer embrace the beauty of texture found in natural fibers - I want all of the Ovate - I've spent many a late night with saucer eyes coveting.Follow Ovate on Instagram here to see more!

La Abeja Herbs - Created by herbalist and folk healer Sophia Rose, La Abeja Herbs provides tinctures, elixirs, salves, herbal blends, oils, teas and other medicinal magic. It's awesome, Y'all. After bookmarking several of her concoctions, I finally broke down and purchased her Kava Oil blend and it is wonderful stuff. Not only does the Kava oil smell super pretty, it makes my neck and shoulders feel like I'm not a stress-fueled, knotted-up, hunched-over Goblin person. You can follow her on Instagram, here. 

Janna Tew - I found this make-up artist's Youtube channel by accident and I am so glad. I love an unconventional approach to beauty. My favorite video tutorial of hers illustrates how to achieve the effect of having cried glittery, lavender tears. It is most excellent. You can follow her on Instagram, here.

 

I hope you all have better luck falling asleep than I do, but if you don't, feel free to check out all of my recommendations for making your sleepless time feel less fruitful.