Nerd: /nurd/ a single-minded expert in a particular field.

In "old-fashioned" terms (aka when I was younger, aka the late 90's/early 2000's) a nerd was an anti-social outcast who liked books more than they liked people. A nerd was not something you wanted to be and you definitely didn't hang out with them, or at least you didn't if you cared about your social standing - which, unfortunately, at a younger age I did. 

But within the last few years, being a nerd has become vogue. Reading books, listening to remixed underground jazz and having an overall love for knowledge now makes you cool. I'm especially overjoyed at this because the older I get, the less I care about where I fit in the social scale and have been able to learn more about whatever subject interests me. 

At this current time, sustainable fashion and the slow fashion movement are my passion. I've started following and learning from sustainable fashion bloggers, I listen to the Conscious Chatter Podcast and I have an ever growing list of companies that have started initiatives that benefit their workers, their companies, the planet and their consumers. 

Some may call me a nerd, some may call me a tree hugger, but I'm proud of my new-fashion ideals. It inspires me to make the world better for the future and it's a challenge to find places that fit to my ideals. 

So nerd alert, the new Kaylie is here to stay and I'm wearing this sweater loud and proud. 

When I say the words "clothing swap" what do you think of?

If you had asked me a year ago, I would have answered with something along the lines of "ugly hand me downs" or "pieces no one else wanted."

Looking back on that opinion now, I see that that was not my personal mindset on the topic, but was/is a societal view on what makes items valuable and what kind of shelf life your clothing has. In fact, thinking back to when I was little, I loved getting hand me downs from my cousins, it was exciting to get new clothing without having to pay for it.

 If you take a snapshot look at American homes today, we have walk in closets stuffed to the brim with pieces we've worn once and shoes that haven't even gotten dust on them. This isn't what clothing is made for and you do not have to have a negative connotation about pieces you want to wear over and over again or pieces that others have given you. 

For this post, and future ones, I want to change the view on clothing swaps and hand me downs. I want to make sure that my readers want to participate in them and that they see that items from clothing swaps are not your home-schooled friends old sneakers and "mom jeans," but that you can create put together outfits that look brand new. 

During a clothing swap at St. Kates in the fall I picked up this mustard colored, lace dress and plum colored booties. I never anticipated putting them together, but after returning from India with this hand made scarf, the whole outfit fell into place. I can mix and match all of these pieces with other items in my closet and they can all be dressed up or dressed down so that they are suitable for multiple occasions. 

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Participating in clothing swaps and accepting hand me downs can be a strategic move for many fashionistas. Adding pieces that compliment your wardrobe is a win whether it's from your closet or a gift from a friends. 

It truly has become a Minnesota winter the last few weeks. Between the inches of snow and sub zero degree weather, all I want to do is stay inside and cuddle up on the couch. 

Even when I do go out, all I seem to want to do lately is wear an old man sweater, boots and leggings and put comfort over style. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not as consistently stylish as this blog or social media portrays me to be (no one is) but I've found myself in a rut and I need to get out of it. 

What's nice about this Kokoon ensemble is that it gives me that comfort and warmth that I need and has a stylish, cohesive look to it. 

The Switchback Tank perfectly pairs with the Almost Gone Girl: Sharpie Pencil Skirt (which is on sale by the way!) and the Reversible Poncho Cape is not only trendy, but it is multi functional and, as the name says, reversible so you can wear it with multiple color schemes. Even if you are not living in a frozen tundra, all three of these pieces are perfect for a cool day or a dressed up fall look. 

 

Please stay safe and warm out there and keep an eye out for my final Kokoon post coming out this week. 

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