Comfy Chic (featuring URBN)

Culottes and jumpsuits are a great way to look chic while staying comfy.

Anchor your look in a neutral color and dress up with traditional piece, like this blouse.

When culottes first made an appearance in cool girl magazines and insta feeds, painful memories of gauchos from high school came flooding in. *Shudder* I remember feeling like I was walking the halls with two capes fluttering around my calves. Gauchos never fit quite right, not for lack or trying, or seemed to truly coordinate with any top or shoes I paired them with.
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Thankfully, culottes are a hundred times more fab than gauchos. And not just culottes, but everything about the comfy chic trend- I’m absolutely in love with harem pants, wide leg pants, palazzos, culottes, joggers, jumpsuits, and the list goes on. Looking like a boss while essentially wearing my PJs to work?! Sign me up! This minimalist culotte jumpsuit I snagged at the Urban Outfitters surplus store on a trip to Chicago (the only one in the country!) is one of my fav ways of looking like I’m way cooler than I actually am.

Accessorize your look with a bold cuff and strappy, chunky heels.

​The comfy chic look is incredibly easy to achieve. Here’s how-

1. Start with a core piece. Go for a minimalist vibe with a neutral color (like this grey) or a fun look with color or print. Pay attention to material- this is what’s going to make you look like you actually tried vs rolled out of bed in your PJs. I love the heavier weight of this jumpsuit. It’s super soft and looks a lot more structured, which is essential in wearing this style.
2. Pair with a traditional ‘business’ piece. I threw on a plain white blouse over the shoulders of this jumpsuit to take it from a night out to work/afternoon strutting-the-streets look. A blazer, long cardigan, or printed scarf over the shoulders would have worked too!
3. Wear the right shoes. Wide legged and other comfy pants don’t go with any shoes. For example, these culottes hit me mid-calf, and wearing any sort of straight ankle strap or closed bootie would have made my legs look super short. I love strappy heels, and the asymmetrical strap on these nude heels are perfect for this jumpsuit. Wider legs and longer pants look better with open shoes- chunky heels, wedges. Shorter leg and narrower openings look great with booties, flats, and sandals.
4. Accessorize. Use complimenting necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings to up the chic in your look. It’s the perfect way to balance the comfy vibe you got going on. Don’t be afraid of statement jewelry statements like the snakeskin cuff I’m rocking with this look.
5. Try an updo. A top knot, high pony, or low bun seem to work best for these looks. I love the teased look for my ponytails, and it went great with this ‘fit.

Do you have a go to comfy chic look? Leave me a comment! I want to hear about it/see it! And check out some amazing vintage comfy chic finds from The Vintage Twin, founded by recent college grads and killing it in NYC! #notsponsored

On another note, I love my grey jumpsuit from UO, and I decided to see how Urban is doing on the Sustainability Scale.

The first thing I discovered- Urban, Anthropologie, and Free People are all under the same umbrella company. Am I late to the party here? This was interesting to me since these stores have totally different vibes, from hipster to classy to boho-chic. The second thing I realized- this chain definitely has been in hot water when it comes to offensive products and practices. They’ve been accused of appropriating Native American culture, furthering Anti-Gay agenda, commercializing the death of students from Kent State, and ripping off artists. Eek.

They also lack transparency when it comes to their supply chain. Since the human rights issues behind fast fashion are a huge concern, this makes it hard to support them. They don’t have a supplier code of conduct that’s publicly available. To summarize, Good Guide, a service that helps consumers know how ‘green’ brands truly are, gave them a 4.5 out of 10 for their social policies, practices, and performance. They are among the worst 50% of companies rated by Good Guide.

But, Urban is getting there. I love that they don’t use plastic bags at their stores. I know, I know, it doesn’t seem like a huge deal today, but how many other brands do that? Close to none. I actually use their reusable bag to bring lunch to work, lol. I also love that they repurpose old buildings for their stores. Their Urban Renewal Collection uses recycled fabrics, vintage fabrics, organic cottons, and other sustainable materials and they have a vegan leather collection at Free People.
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I won’t be shopping UO, Anthropologie, or Free People anytime soon because I’m excited about thrifting and discovering brands completely committed to sustainable fashion. But, I want to stay informed of their efforts to reverse their bad rep when it comes to ethical practices and products. They actually don’t yet have a corporate sustainable roadmap on their website. Sharing their sustainability goals would be a great way to show us they are committed to becoming a better brand. Their website talks about what they’re doing today, but doesn’t give us a 5 year or 10 year plan and what they’re working towards.

How do you feel about Urban’s efforts to be a more sustainable brand?

Thanks for reading!
XO
Sameena

PS- Curious if your favorite brands are friends of the planet? Check out Project Just! 

Sources:
Project Just
Urban Outfitters - Huffington Post
URBN - Global Community Initiatives