Bras Not Required | This Ethical Loungewear is Made to Live & Sleep In
 
ACS_0571.jpeg

This post is sponsored by JJ WINKS. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the fashion industry a better place!

JJ Winks

A couple months ago, this brand sent me a few of their pieces and I have worn them A LOT. You probably have already seen their Hygge Robe in other posts :D psst.. here and here. But now it’s time to learn more about what makes this slow fashion brand so great…

Three Reasons to Love JJ Winks

You Can Go Braless: YES! They have built-in bras!! And they aren’t restricting at all. What they call their ‘light hug,’ each top comes with a built-in bra that gives the right amount of coverage yet is ridiculously comfortable. As a breastfeeding mama, I’ve loved this feature. I can quickly put in my cotton pads, which stay in place just great. It’s also rare to wear bras, and I now wish all of my clothes had this! 

Perfect for the Home & Around Company: Not only is JJ WInks the most comfortable to wear at home, but you can also have some friends over and not feel the need to cover up or ‘get dressed.’ Or be like me and leave the house to run some errands. I’ve worn my JJ Winks to the grocery store several times, and I like to wear them to the beach and pool - if only I had these types of pjs in college! PJs you can get away with in and out of the bedroom is what I’ve always wanted! 

Total Comfort with the Planet in Mind: This brand uses one of my favorite fabrics - Lenzing Modal. It’s a fabric, in my opinion, that offers the comfort cotton can’t while still being mindful of the planet and harvesting from sustainably grown Beech trees. I also always suggest this type of material to my friends who prefer not to wear silk - it has that smooth and sheen-like appearance, and it’s hard to find anything softer! Also, something very important to me is the way a garment washes. This modal washes very well, and the product feels just as smooth as when it arrived at your door. Plus, all their pieces are made fairly right in the USA {Los Angeles}! 

What I’m Wearing

The Weekender Top in Charcoal with Waffle Panel: I love two features of this top: a built-in bra and easy to slide off the shoulder to breastfeed! While this tee can pass as a basic, it has a few extras to make it much more special, like its criss-cross back and flattering flutter sleeves. 

The Walk of Fame Short in Charcoal: I like it when a pair of shorts sits slightly above the waistline so you can avoid that pesky muffin top. Especially after having a baby, I feel more confident when clothes flatter the waist. 

Hygge Robe in Grey Rib: This robe! I can’t tell you how perfect this piece is for the home. As I said, this is my go-to around the house {and I bring it when shopping to combat the AC}. 

Girl Trip Short Nightgown in Olive Rib: Olive is one of my favorite colors, and this nightgown is so comfortable to sleep in! I can roll out of bed, throw the Hygge Robe on, and go about my day like I tried ;)

sustainablelougewear
 
FashionNatalie Costello
A Boutique with a Conscience, Green Roost is Thoughtfully Curated for the Mindful Shoppers
 
ecogifts

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Green Roost. Thank you for supporting the brands who are working to make the world a better place!

Green Roost

This week's feature is special to me... Green Roost is nestled on the same street where my mom owned a fabric and sewing machine store for over a decade. Coming from a small Virginia town, I was so excited when Culpeper got its first 'green' store! I didn't have that growing up there, and it may have sparked my interest in sustainability at an earlier age, so I can only imagine what it has done for the current community and their mindfulness!

Three Reasons to Love Green Roost

They make gift-giving green. It all began with a local entrepreneur, Sharon Clark, who wanted to provide Culpeper with a unique gift shop full of kind-to-the-earth gifts. What started in a 250-square-foot space is now located in a space 10 times the size of the most charming street. Kelsey Carlson Settle, Sharon’s niece, is now the owner and operator of this beautiful and thoughtful space. 

No sacrificing of style or quality. From the beginning, Green Roost wanted to prove to the community that you could make conscious choices when purchasing gifts for others without sacrificing quality or style. I repeatedly hear that purchasing ‘green’ doesn’t appeal to someone because they haven’t had an aesthetically pleasing shopping experience. Most towns aren’t as lucky as Culpeper to have such an excellent spot. Since most of you can only shop online through Green Roost, you won’t have the hands-on experience {you should see their windows during the holidays}, but it would make any conventional shopper turn green!

Their beautiful range of mindful brands. Products are carefully handpicked, always with the consumer and planet in mind. They have everything from women’s clothing to home decor and some great gifts for men {who can be so tough to buy eco-wise}. I have a handful of great things to share with you today! 

What I’m Using

Comfy Knit Throw: Officially our snuggle blanket go-to, this throw is made with GOTS-certified organic cotton for ultimate comfort. Elliott and I have enjoyed cozy nights in this ethically made, fair trade-certified blanket. It’s one I highly recommend to add to your living room! 

Fox Zipper Pajamas: He’s too cute in these organic cotton pjs! They are made with an excellent eco fabric and empower former child soldiers and orphans from DR Congo and Uganda to heal and become peace leaders through Exile International. 

Combat-Ready Baby Wash: With a name almost as adorable as Elliott during his bath time, this safe & non-toxic baby wash is handcrafted from plant extracts and organic natural oils. It works well on all skin types, including eczema and other skin issues. I know Elliott’s skin loves it! 

Combat-Ready Balm For Babies + Kids: Made with quality organic, natural, and locally-sourced ingredients, this baby balm is a natural skin cream that helps sooth an array of irritants like diaper rash, eczema, bug bites, and dry skin. Elliott tends to get dry around his eyebrows, and this stuff works great at moisturizing the area safely yet effectively.

Relaxing as Hell Bath Salts: Elliott isn’t the only one getting pampered here ;) I’ve genuinely enjoyed my baths since he was born. They are few and far between but appreciated. The name says it all: the Relaxing as Hell Bath Salts are natural and scented with essential oils. They come in a pretty little glass bottle I’ll be sure to reuse after.

Guac Star - Soothing Avocado Hydration Mask: This magical fruit does so much for the body! I’ve been starting my mornings with this guac mask {it’s great chilled in the fridge} because the avocado butter, extract, and oil deliver key fatty acids to the top layer of my skin, helping protect it from environmental stresses. Plus, my skin feels so moisturized and soft afterward! 

Sarah Houston Photography

Sarah Houston Photography


 
Natalie Costello
Fair OOTD | Weekend Wheels
 
sustainableathleticwear

It’s been a while since I’ve taken my beach cruiser out of storage. My pregnant and postpartum body has needed a little break from biking, but I think I can get back into the swing of things in the next month. For now, it’s long jogs {okay, fast walking} on the beach with my fantastic Speed Stroller and some excellent fitness wear perfect for Florida weather.

Shop the Look:

Barbara Essential Multi-Sport Tech Capri, Perspective Fitwear $100
These comfortable workout pants come equipped with SPF 50+, a back pocket, AND extra seat padding for when I take my bike back out. I love how the Barbara Essentials come up around my waist to support yet flatter my post-baby figure. They are made here in the USA with a signature fabric and a four-way stretch for ultimate comfort. The COOLMAX® fabric is breathable, moisture-wicking, fast drying, and feels like butter. Unlike other fabrics used for fitness wear, this kind is biodegradable. The average pair of workout pants will take about 200 years to decompose, while this takes 3-4 years. Now, that’s something we can all jump up and down about! *bonus points for new mamas: the bike padding can help with that postpartum leaking*

Neven Low Sneakers, Yatay $222

Speed Stroller, Bumbleride $569
 

sustainablefitnessclothing
 
Natalie Costello
Fair OOTD | Digital Girl
 
DSC_0490-3.jpg

If any dress can get you more questions of ‘WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!’ - it’d be this one! Every time I’ve stepped out of the house in this sweet number, the Mario-inspired pockets have grabbed everyone’s attention. & bonus points - it’s also been an excellent piece for breastfeeding with the front buttons.

Shop the look:

Mustard Flower Pocket Dress, IKKIVI by Yogi $97
Probably the cutest dress I own, this IKKIVI piece {by designer Yogi} is made from handwoven organically dyed cotton. The pixel lotus motifs {from your favorite 90s Mario} are hand embroidered and have a unique touch to this quarter-sleeve-button-down-shift-like design. Quality is seen through and through; the hands that created the fabric have been doing so for a long time. The Yogi focuses their sustainable collection on reviving raw fiber and indigenous textiles. Their Spring/Summer 2018 Collection, ‘Life in Technicolor,’ contrasts the 90s, 8-bit pixelated video games with natural cotton and old weaving techniques. It’s the coolest balance to see the local and digital worlds combined.

IKKIVI is a curated online clothing store dedicated to slow fashion and Indian designers. See all the collections, here.

{sandals for day}

Double Strapped Sandal in Green, October Jaipur $66

{boots for rain}

Minimalist Olive Ankle Boot, Alice + Whittles $96

slowfashion

This Fair OOTD has certainly made me want to take out my Mario Kart again :P How about you?

 
FashionNatalie Costello
Authentic Turkish Towels and Beachwear Ethically Handloomed for the Conscious Homes & Getaways
 
turkishtowels

This post is sponsored by QuiQuattro. As always, views are genuine and products are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the world a better place!

QuiQuattro

As someone who lives very close to the water, I’ve done my fair share of trying out different towels. Hands down, I’ve found my new favorites! Not only are QuiQuattro’s towels beautiful, but they are absorbent and ethically produced. It doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to soft goods for the home {& outside by the water}!

Three Reasons to Love QuiQuattro

Handmade by local artisans each season. QuiQuattro partners with Turkish artisans and women who need work but cannot leave their homes. The name QuiQuattro translates to ‘Four Here’ in English and celebrates the colors and aromas of the four seasons. All their products are hand-loomed, hand-poured, hand-knitted, and hand-stitched for the season! You can meet some of the artisans here

Very absorbent and great for travel. I used to think a terry towel would be more absorbent until I started using these Turkish towels last month. They work much better than my other conventional towels. Plus, they are incredibly easy to travel with and don’t take up nearly as much room. Besides being able to dry you off well, they make for wonderful little blankets!

Beautiful & minimalistic designs that give back & empower women. A product is so much more beautiful when it does more than bring value in our lives but adds value to others. Each purchase contributes 10% of the proceeds to women’s education in Turkey.

What I’m Using

Pebbles Towel in Blue: Definitely one of my favorite towels I’ve ever owned, this striped Peshtemal towel is hand-loomed with 100% natural cotton with hand tied fringe for a nice finish. I love the delicate stripes, and you can find them in multiple colors! 

DSC_1398.jpg

Where to Purchase

You can find QuiQuattro’s entire collection online - here - & I’m super excited for their bed covers coming soon! If it’s anything like these gorgeous towels and cover up, I know I’ll be a happy sleeper ;) 

Join their newsletter to receive 10% off your order {find the signup page at the footer of the website}. 

Are you passionate about empowering women? Their Brand Ambassador program may be perfect for you! Click - here - to learn more. 

Enjoy soaking up the rays or treating yourself to a bath with your QuiQuattro towel on hand!  


 
LifestyleNatalie Costello