Fibers


How often do you look at what a garment is made of before you purchase it? I always look, if for no other reason, to see how the garment needs to be cared for. Mostly, I want to know if it has to be dry cleaned. Also, whenever I see that an item is made of natural fibers, I view it more favorably. I know from online reviews/forums that others feel the same. Somehow wearing an item essentially made of plastic (polyester) doesn't hold the same appeal as wearing something that comes from nature (wool, cotton, cashmere, etc.). But are natural fibers actually better than man-made fibers?

Obviously, the answer to that question can vary from person to person. Here are my comments on different fibers, which are of course, subjective and based off my own experiences. Although I comment on the durability and care instructions for the different fibers, these often vary based on the quality of the garment, whether or not it has a lining, how it was constructed, etc.

Daylight Apparition Ruffled Top, ThreadSence.com, $32
Daylight Apparition Ruffled Top, ThreadSence.com, $32

Polyester (man-made): As I said above, the thought of wearing plastic makes me shudder a bit, but really, some polyester fabrics feel very nice. It generally keeps its shape, which is why it is often mixed with cotton (poor quality cotton can become misshapen over time). It can easily be machine-washed, as well as machine-dried and ironed, but don't dry or iron it on high heat -- it can burn/melt.

Indie Darling Dress, ModCloth.com, $54.99
Indie Darling Dress, ModCloth.com, $54.99

Rayon (partially man-made): Rayon is an amazing fiber. It feels smooth, flows over your body and drapes very well. It is reasonably durable as long as it is cared for well; however, caring for rayon garments can require a bit of work. While it's sometimes okay to put them in the washing machine (I'd at least put them in a garment bag), do so with caution! I've had some rayon garments never be the same again after a trip through the washing machine. Many rayon dresses I have state right on the tag that they are dry clean only and because I really like them, I don't mess with that.

Sparkle & Fade Crisscross Back Sweater in Teal, Urban Outfitters, $59
Sparkle & Fade Crisscross Back Sweater in Teal, Urban Outfitters, $59

Acrylic (man-made): Acrylic is a man-made fabric that is designed to resemble wool. If you buy a sweater that's heavier than a cotton one would be, but not very expensive (think most Urban Outfitters and ModCloth sweaters) then there's a good chance that it's acrylic. I've come across many acrylic sweaters that feel amazing and some that feel gross and cheap. The main problems I have with acrylic (and some Googling showed me I'm not alone) is pilling and static. To keep your acrylic garment looking decent, I'd recommend washing it in a garment bag on the cool cycle and avoiding the dryer. I've done this with acrylic sweaters that claimed to be hand-wash only, and they turned out fine. An acrylic sweater certainly won't last as long as wool sweaters, but they are easier to care for (most don't require dry-cleaning!)

Shirley Sweater Dress in Cream/Black/Mustard, ShopDearCreatures.com, $78
Shirley Sweater Dress in Cream/Black/Mustard, ShopDearCreatures.com, $78

Cotton (natural): Cotton is one of the most universally loved fibers. Part of the appeal is that it can be machine-washed, because who wants to be constantly running to the dry cleaner? Cotton is great for summer because it is very absorbent and breathable. The only downsides would be that it sometimes wrinkles easily and can shrink if washed improperly and/or it's not pre-shrunk. Shrinking can generally be avoided by washing items on a gentle cycle with cooler water and not putting them in the dryer.

Tippi Cardigan in Crushed Grape, J. Crew, $59.50
Tippi Cardigan in Crushed Grape, J. Crew, $59.50

Wool (natural): One of the first things that wool brings to mind is an itchy sweater, because, hey, we've all had one (or two or three…). However, not all wool is itchy. I find Merino wool to be less scratchy than other types, but some people still find it to be uncomfortable. Wool is great for the winter because it's extremely warm. It is also very durable, so even though wool garments cost more, they are generally true investment pieces that you will have for years. Caring for wool garments can be a bit annoying. Wool either needs to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. Machine-wash at your own risk because if something goes wrong, you might end up with clothes for your old Barbie doll!

Cashmere Hat in Charcoal, everlane.com, $40
Cashmere Hat in Charcoal, everlane.com, $40

Cashmere (natural): Everyone loves a cashmere sweater! And it is easy to see why. Cashmere is soft and warm. Even people who don't want to invest in a sweater, will buy some cold-weather cashmere accessories like a hat or scarf to keep them cozy during the winter. The only downside of cashmere (besides the price) is that it can be annoying to care for. It doesn't always have to be dry-cleaned, but it can't just be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of the clothes. It sometimes can be hand-washed or washed in the machine on the coldest, gentlest cycle possible (plenty of people swear this works, but I wouldn't risk it on a new $100+ sweater).

Silk Boyshirt in Transatlantic Blue, Madewell, $110
Silk Boyshirt in Transatlantic Blue, Madewell, $110

Silk (natural): Nothing feels quite as luxurious as silk. It is beautiful and feels great against your skin. Like wool garments, clothing made from silk is often more expensive, but silk is a pretty durable fiber so again, you should have your purchases for many years. You should plan on either hand-washing or dry-cleaning any silk garments you buy (check the label for instructions). Also, it needs to be kept away from direct sunlight when it is wet, as that can make it yellow.

I certainly didn't cover every type of fiber here because that would be an encyclopedia instead of a blog entry. And really, I can't provide a conclusion about whether natural or man-made fibers are better. Even in terms of the environment, it is not obvious which one is better (for example, although bamboo itself is natural, it has to be broken down and processed with many chemicals before it can be made into an item of clothing). So basically, you'll just have to look at the information above and do some research on your own to decide which is best for you.

Resources Consulted: Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4

Graduation Gift Season: Bookworms Rejoice


I am a self-proclaimed book nerd. I am an English major, work in a library, and am rarely seen without a book on my person. Yes it is a little Rory Gilmore of me to be so obsessed with books but I cannot understand why people don't read. As I hunted for the perfect graduation gift for my cousin, a fellow English major, I was thrilled to discover there is an entire jewelry market that I have left untapped. Book jewelry! Now I can combine my love of jewelry with my love of books. I can wear my favorite books as chains around my neck. There are a variety of titles available online to try ranging from classics like "The Great Gatsby" to new books like "The Fault in Our Stars". They make perfect gifts for English majors, teachers, and book lovers, in general. Most necklaces range in price -- starting at $10 -- so they are affordable for the poor struggling college student such as myself.

The Great Gatsby Book Necklace sold by LittleLiterature, etsy.com, $11
The Great Gatsby Book Necklace sold by LittleLiterature, etsy.com, $11

The Fault in Our Stars Necklace with Cloud Pendant sold by LittleLiterature, etsy.com, $12
The Fault in Our Stars Necklace with Cloud Pendant sold by LittleLiterature, etsy.com, $12

Sheer Madness


Sheer clothing has been a huge trend, and it's not slowing down this Spring. Sheer chiffon clothing can be very fun -- if it's done right. Here are some examples of sheer clothing done right, and the same look gone horribly wrong.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez (or her stylist anyway) can do no wrong -- she looked great on her Spring Breakers publicity tour. This look works because there's only a hint of sheerness. She's showing cleavage, but there really is nothing too revealing about this top.

Ashley Greene

Ashley Greene is a beautiful woman, but although there is actually a lot more coverage of the bust here. She is showing far more skin and the end-resut simply isn't flattering. Sheer tops also look better when they are more voluminous, not skintight.

Gift Time!


It's really fun to give gifts, especially when they're free! I was recently introduced to the Wrapp app through an online magazine at my school and it has since become one of my favorite apps. The premise of this app almost sounds too good to be true. You can gift free or paid gift cards to friends as long as they have a Facebook account. Some of the free gift cards include $6 to H&M, $5 to Office Depot, and $10 to Shutterfly. At first, I was a little skeptical. But I gifted some to some of my friends and stores gladly accepted them!

Wrapp app

Here's how it works: you can either make an account through your smartphone or their website, Wrapp.com. You choose the store and the person you want to send the gift to. Then the app will send it to either their Facebook, mobile phone, or both. The person then has a limited amount of time to redeem their gift card. However, you can also send paid gift cards from a large selection of stores which do not expire.

Wrapp app

How are companies able to give out free gift cards? That is definitely something I asked too. It turns out that this app is great advertising for them. It's a win-win situation for everyone. We can exchange gifts with friends, and they get exposure for their company. I have definitely been having a lot of fun with this app recently and can't wait to do some shopping at H&M with my gift card!  Hope you find some great things and have fun sharing gifts with friends as well!

Back in Blue


I always considered blue eyeshadow to be a bit of a fashion throwback, retro in a tacky way rather than a cool touch of vintage. But the mainstream institutions of fashion seem to believe otherwise: blue shadow is back in a big way.

Rihanna

While I was reluctant to embrace the trend at first, I'm coming around to it. You don't need to color your entire lid, but a bold streak of blue beneath the crease is a refreshing alternative to the typical smoky eye. Plus, this color really makes brown eyes pop. Just make sure that you go more neutral on the cheeks and lips to avoid the dreaded clown face.