Outfit of the Day

I spent some time lake side on Labor Day weekend. For the hot, 90°F day, I wore a light and airy open-back dress with some beach-y straw accessories.

I would like to address the fashion ethics of this dress that I’ve worn a number of times now and own in two colors. I bought it from Shein and only recently found out that it’s a knock-off of a Free People dress. A brand I’ve loved since I was 18 and have splurged on a handful of times in the past decade and a half. I was so disappointed with myself that I didn’t know it was their dress. For me, this was the final straw and I have since decided to stop shopping at Shein (not to mention the unethical labor practices that have really come to light this past summer).

I have also decided I will no longer link their items in my outfit links at the end of my posts. For example, I have only linked Free People’s dress and not the page for the knock off I’m wearing at the end of this post. I plan on buying the real dress from Free People in time for next summer and can’t wait to compare a premium quality dress to that of the plasticky knock-off. I have a mix of fast fashion and premium quality brands in my wardrobe and have to say the fabric used in premium brands just fells nicer and last so much longer. Next, I want to try and quit shopping at Forever 21 and try to thrift more.

Forever 21 Oversized Straw Floppy Hat, similar Free People Wide Brim Hat/Ray-Ban Sunglasses, similar Ray-Ban 54mm Sunglasses/Aerie Mini Straw Tote, similar Etsy Mini Straw Tote/Free People 100 Degree Mini Dress/ASOS Design Flatform Sandals, similar ASOS Design Flatform Sandals