One of my new favorite brands is designer Maria McManus. She produces a sustainable line of chic, simple pieces that are all foundational easy basics that do less harm to our world. Her ethos is simple: buy less clothes and wear them more often. Everything she produces is almost entirely from certified, responsibly, sourced materials. Most things in this collection seem hardy. Nothing is trendy, either, and each of her simple pieces feel luxurious.
Creating a sustainable wardrobe involves choosing brands that have a commitment to sustainability and starting with the eight basic pieces we have outlined below:
The 8 Basic Pieces
This is a great item for traveling and gives any wardrobe a bit of an edge. Perfect for city or country living and easy to layer. The split sleeve from the black hoodie by Maria McManus adds a fun style element not found in other “hoodies.” This sweater is made of a proprietary blend of Italian recycled cashmere certified by the Global Recycled Standard. It’s a 50/50 blend of cotton and cashmere to create a soft but durable, hard-wearing fabric that lasts. Click the image for the link!
This off-white hoodie on the left is from Ninety Percent. It is made out of organic cotton and a great athleisure staple.
This black sweater from Maria McManus is a great go-to black top that can be worn with a blazer during the day or with a great pair of earrings or a chunky necklace for the evening. It is made of 100% viscose which is biodegradable and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ensuring wood pulp comes from well-managed forests.
This top from NYNNE has padded shoulders with a gathering at the waist. It works well for a workday in the office but also for a weekend dinner.
This simple pant from Maria McManus is classic and easy to wear and sophisticated. It fits almost any size or shape and comes in a few neutral colors that make it great to combine with any more trendy wardrobe piece. This is made in an Italian wool mill that reuses 50% of its water purifying 2300 cubic meters of water per day. It also uses solar panels to provide energy to the factory.
These pants from The Odder Side are a mix of linen and cotton, which will keep you cool for the summer. You can wear them with heels for work, or throw on a pair of sandals to create an effortless weekend look.
The Maria McManus white shirts have been in multiple newspaper and digital articles for their signature details that make them more interesting than your basic Oxford shirt. It has great style elements like box pleat detail at the back yoke that creates a cocoon-like effect. The buttons are biodegradable and there is double needle stitching at the cuff.
This white shirt from Asket is very versatile with its oversized silouhette. As suggested on their website, you can pair it with jeans or tuck it into a skirt!
Hourglass
The goal: Repeat your curved shape and defined waist
- Subtle shoulder pads work well to slim the entire silhouette
- Darts, waistline tucks, princess seams
- Tucked in tops with belts
Oval
The goal: Strengthen the shoulder line to balance middle body fullness
- Straight lines, with no waist shaping & vertical design details
- Tops left out rather than tucked in
- Jackets fingertip length or longer
- Details close to the face draw attention away from mid-body (try using a contrast collar or bold necklace!)
Rectangle
The goal: De-emphasize waist
- Straight or semi-fitted styles
- Longer jackets: fingertip or longer
- Worn out tops rather than tucked in
- Low-rise pants
- Avoid belts, unless narrow and discreet
Triangle
The goal: Call attention to slim upper body, make the eye look up
- Slim skirts and pants, snug to the hip, even if you have to take in the waist!
- Bright, textured jackets, above the hip
- Tucked in shirts
Inverted Triangle
The goal: Minimize upper body and emphasize lower body
- Strong colors and patterns in bottoms
- Relaxed fit in tops
- Low-slung belt, worn asymmetrically
*Bonus! Click the links to learn more!
💕 Understanding and Making Use of Color In Your Business Attire.
👗 Our List of the Three Must-Haves for Formal and Business Casual Workplaces
✨ The 5 Rules of Pattern Matching!