Ready for Fall with Mata Traders

We love a brand that does some good. 

I've talked before how much I love Mata Traders, so I was so excited to work with them again to share one of my favorite pieces from their new fall line. In case you're unaware, Mata Traders is a fair trade company that partners with organizations in India and Nepal to create gorgeous handmade clothing and jewelry. The company focuses on gender equality and women empowerment (I highly recommend reading their story here), so it makes sense that all of their pieces are flattering and comfortable, in addition to being cute. 

It's definitely a little too hot to be wearing sleeves right now, but I didn't want to let that stop me from wearing this adorable dress. I'm obviously a sucker for anything rainbow and striped, so I was immediately drawn to this multi-colored dress. It's so comfortable and it has pockets - which I am required by law to mention any time a dress I wear has them. 

Because I wear so so much vintage and reproduction, I'm always trying to find pieces that are a bit more comfortable and easy to throw on for work without sacrificing my personal style. This dress is definitely one of those pieces. I had fun styling it up with some chunky earrings and a straw bag here, but I also know that I can wear it with little no accessories on a day when I'm running late, and I'll still feel good in it. 

Ethical Plaid

I'm pretty sure if you could look up "perfect summer dress" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of this dress. It's essentially everything I've ever wanted, and it doesn't hurt that it's from one of my favorite brands, Mata Traders. In addition to creating some of the cutest and most flattering dresses around, Mata Traders also practices fair trade. So as if this dress being absolutely perfect wasn't enough, I can also wear it knowing that it's ethically made. Win-win.

I wanted the dress to stand out on its own, but I paired with some neutral accessories and a red thrifted bag. I'm getting really into wearing ascots and neck scarves lately, and I picked up this darling one at the Dapper Day Expo last weekend. I also scored these Lotta From Stockholm clogs that I've been wanting forever on eBay recently. I may have to buy them in every color because I never want to take them off. 

This weekend was relaxing and filled with good friends. Jon and I went to the beach yesterday morning, but it was a huge mistake. I really wanted to go because my nephew had sent me a Flat Stanley in Illinois that I needed to take a picture of, and I thought it would be cute to take one at the beach. Of course it was ridiculously hot, and Jon was miserable, so we didn't stay for too long. If anyone has any suggestions of where to buy a cheap beach umbrella, let me know, because that's probably the only way we're going back anytime soon.

Stripes and Pie

I wore this yesterday to hang out with my friend's mom, which is a thing I'm not even embarrassed to say. I'm sure I've mentioned Kyle, one of my best friends who is in the Air Force traveling the world working tech for Tops and Blue, which entertains the troops. Because Kyle is awesome (don't tell him I said that), he sent a box to his parents' house with some gifts from Japan for me and Adam. Even better than the souvenirs, though, was the chance to visit his parents. His mom invited us over for pie, ice cream, and coffee, and we ended up sitting and talking with her for a couple of hours. Basically, she's great. I became friends with Kyle when we were 13, so I practically grew up with his family and seeing them is always a delight. Plus, Kyle sent me a gorgeous fan that he got from a castle in Okinowa. So yeah, I spent the night hanging out and eating pie with my friend's mom. You know, like the cool kids do.

But let's talk about this dress. Tieka of Selective Potential has been one of my favorite bloggers for years, and her blog was one of the first ones that really inspired me. I fell in love with this dress when I first saw it on her, so when Tieka had it listed in her shop for incredibly cheap, I knew it had to be mine. I'm obviously a sucker for stripes, and that low open back and the slits by the shoulders are perfection. It's such a great summer dress, and I love it with this Mata Traders necklace and these peach Modcloth sandals. I can't wait to remix this for the rest of summer and layer it up when fall comes.

Don't forget to enter The Braided Bandit's giveaway that I'm participating in to enter to win $50 vintage shop credit, a flower crown, and a necklace!

Almost Sailor Moon

I've been having a little love affair with Mata Traders lately, and I'm pretty sure it's mostly due to Marisa. I've always loved the brand (especially that it's fair trade), but I've never had the money to buy any of the gorgeous pieces. Luckily, this is the second Mata Traders dress that I've borrowed from Marisa via Flock Together, and it's making me yearn for more of these dresses of my own. This one in particular caught my eye with its fantastic sailor-esque collar, which feels like something my closet desperately needs. I mostly just say that because I want to feel like Sailor Moon, but can you blame me? I had a little bit of trouble styling it because the collar is so eye-catching on its own, but I didn't want to cover it up with a sweater or jacket. Both Marisa and Sammi styled tops underneath it, which I adore and almost did as well, but I decided to just keep it simple for summer. A few cute accessories is really all any summer dress needs. See how Marisa styled it for all four seasons here and Sammi's take here. 

My favorite part about this outfit is that it cost me $0. I've been getting back into the swap Facebook group I'm part of (where we swap clothes permanently), and I got this fun bag from a swap last year. These flats were waiting for me when I got home a couple weeks ago, and they're definitely one of my favorite items to come from a swap ever. I had been lusting after these on Modcloth for a while, so when someone agreed to send me these (which are like new) for two of my thrifted items, I almost couldn't believe it. This necklace was also a freebie, this time given to me from my wonderful friend, Lexi. Lexi had a ton of jewelry she was looking to get rid of, so she let me, Katie, and Mary raid her collection, and I ended up with this seriously awesome fan necklace. It even folds up and expands like a real fan, and we all know that practicality is the mark of killer accessory. 

Flock Together: Trade You

Wondering where I am today? Of course you are. Well, to answer your question, I'm posting over on Flock Together about this dress I borrowed from Marisa of The Shades of Monet Chronicles. If you're anything like me, you're drooling over it already. See you there!

Dress: Mata Traders, borrowed from Marisa

Sweater: Old Navy

Boots: H&M

Ring: Vintage

Necklace: c/o Born Pretty