slow fashion brand

4 ways to style a minimal black dress -- late summer to early fall /  by Candice Tay

Oh hey, it’s been a while since I’ve written a long form blog post. I’m slowly making my way back here and sharing some fun styled photos of a cute dress I received recently from slow fashion brand, Tradlands. They are an ethical, sustainable brand that I’ve had the pleasure of working with since the very early beginnings of my time as a creator on the internet. Today, I’m sharing 3 very easy ways to style the Birdie Dress for late summer days to early fall because I’m tired of summer weather and am so ready for fall fashion. I am itching to pull out my cozy sweaters again.

I have tried many Tradlands dresses in the past, like the coveted Nico Dress and the super fun Nell Dress and I can attest that their dresses are so comfortable, easy, and low maintenance. The Birdie Dress is no different. I love the easy-to-care for crinkle cotton material that can be machined washed and does not need to be ironed, because I’m at a stage in life where if I have clothing that needs to be ironed, I will most likely not be wearing it often. It’s also reversible and like all the other Tradlands dresses, it has pockets!

*This post is not sponsored but does feature gifted product and affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, when you shop some of the links, I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Look 1

Here is look one — styled simply, as is, with the ties in the front. I threw on a beige baseball cap and matching beige socks (like a little sandwich) and then I did the socks and crocs thing. It’s comfortable, perfect for a summer day and easy enough to chase my kids around in.

Shop Look 1:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal, Le Bon Shop Ribbed Socks, Beige Baseball Cap (similar linked)

Look 2

When the weather starts to cool down, all you need is a good cardigan. That added layer just pulls together an outfit so easily. Another wonderful staple from Tradlands, is this beige cardigan that I’ve had for so many years. I love a ribbed, cotton cardigan that has just the right about of warmth for those early fall days. I kept the crocs for ease and I’ve really been liking that chunkier footwear style lately.

Shop Look 2:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), Cream Shelter Cardigan (Size S), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal

Look 3

I feel like early fall is the best time to wear knitted vests because it’s not too cold yet and just warm enough to have bare arms. I opted for this cozy knitted vest from Christy Dawn with the most beautiful button details and intricate knit pattern. To keep things casual with the footwear — crocs again. There’s a trend here.

Shop Look 3:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), Christy Dawn Dagny Vest (use code “CDCANDICE_TAY15” to save), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal

Look 4

I’m actually really excited to sport this look when it’s cold enough. I love the casual, laidback vibe but still really delicate and feminine with the dress and layered cropped blouse on top from Harly Jae. I love the different waffle texture it adds to the outfit even though it’s also a black piece. I went with the same beige ribbed socks and comfy New Balance 530s.

Thanks for reading my first post in a long time. I hope it offers some ideas for the next time you’re styling a black dress or maybe it’s getting you excited for fall?

Review: Everlane 90s Cheeky Straight Jean /  by Candice Tay

Today I’m putting my 90s Cheeky Straight Jeans to the test. I’ve had my original pair for over two years now so let’s see how they’re holding up. These are my most frequently asked about jeans and my most worn pair as well. I will be comparing my original pair to a new pair, which I received postpartum, that’s in a different size and wash.

Quick Thoughts

As a quick overview, you might have guessed it, but yes, I still love these jeans. They have held up so well and I love the overall vintage feel of them. I think the straight-leg fit is a very classic cut and will definitely be a staple in my closet for years to come. There are a variety of washes to fit your style as well as two different length options which contribute to an overall better fit.

Fit & Sizing

I get questions regarding fit and sizing the most, and understandably so. Buying anything online is hard and we want to make sure that we have the right size, especially when it comes to denim. I think these jeans fit quite true to size but with wear, like most jeans, they do stretch out a bit and mould to your body, giving off that “lived-in” look. If you’re looking for a more figure-hugging fit, I would size down. For my original pair, I went for my usual size, which is a size 24 and went with the ankle crop length. For height reference, I am about 5’5”. I have a longer torso compared to my legs so I do love the high-waisted fit of these jeans which make me look visually taller when worn with tops that are tucked in. Postpartum I was gifted a new pair of these jeans and this time around I sized up to a size 25 and kept the same ankle crop length. My new pair definitely runs a touch larger than I prefer, as I think I am currently in between sizes. It gives off a baggier fit than the 24 but is definitely more comfortable for me around the hips. Length-wise I think the cropped length is perfect for me because they hit me right at the ankle and pair nicely with boots, sneakers, and sandals. See the two images below for a side-by-side comparison.

Fabric

Let’s talk fabric! I love that these jeans are 100% cotton which really gives off that vintage-inspired denim look. The feel of the fabric is a nice rigid denim that gets softer with time and wear. I did notice that my newer pair are 100% organic cotton, but the original pair I have only say 100% cotton. So if that is something that is important to you, I would look out for that when purchasing. I’m not sure why it’s different, but it may be different depending on the wash you select. I also find that the pair that is 100% organic cotton has a softer feel to it.

Wash

I think it’s great that there are so many different washes — five blues, one black and one white. They’ve pretty much covered all your staple denim washes. My original pair are the Medium Blue wash, which I think is a great classic jean wash. It has really filled my closet gap as my go-to classic denim. I do find that the wash is more blue in person than displayed on the website. For my second pair, I went with the Vintage Mid Blue which is captured pretty true to colour on their site. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison to see the difference in the washes.

Design Details

Some other fun design details I love are the button-fly and the overall minimalistic look of the denim — no stitching on the butt pockets and the leather patch at the back is very simple and clean.

Have they held up?

After wearing my original pair consistently for over two years, I can confidently say that they have held up and I’m really excited to have a second pair of these jeans. The only kind of wear and tear I can see are in high touchpoint areas like the belt loops and button holes where there is a bit of fraying in the material. Styling-wise, I personally find that this style of denim pairs seamlessly with many of the pieces in my closet and I have found them to be a really versatile piece.

Style Ideas

Here are a few ways I’ve styled these jeans in the past and I hope it inspires you and gives you a good idea of how these jeans might work in your wardrobe.

Outfit Details

This post is not sponsored but contains some gifted items and affiliate links (marked with *). If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Black Friday 2021 /  by Candice Tay

Pause. Read This First.

It’s here, the season of sales, giveaways, and more sales. It’s exciting but it can also be very overwhelming and easy to get sucked into all the deals. My goal here is always first to encourage you to style before shopping. So before you dive into the sales, take a peek at what you already own. Make a list of things you have been wanting or need, and while you shop, don’t get veer off your list! Black Friday and Cyber Monday often get a bad rep for being a time of overconsumption, which it definitely can be, but it’s also a great opportunity to support small businesses and invest in some good quality items at a lower price point.

So this year, I’ve listed the BFCM sales from a few of my favourite small businesses and brands. I’ve chosen the brands based on the products or pieces I use/wear the most. I’ve included products from a variety of categories ranging from ethical fashion, mama and baby essentials, to a few home goodies!

Tradlands — 11/25 - 11/28 (code bf30 for 30% off sitewide)

Tradlands has many options when it comes to timeless closet pieces. Tradlands is also a very size-inclusive brand, with sizing up to 5X. They are passionate about sustainability and also have a great pre-loved section on their site that allows you to sell and or shop pre-loved pieces.

Everlane — 11/25 - 11/29 (no code needed)

I find that Everlane is an excellent place to start for more affordable minimalist pieces. I like that their styles are very classic and simple, which make for great core closet pieces. Many of my closet staples that I wear frequently are from Everlane and have held up really well over time.

Kotn — 11/26 - 11/30 (code ‘candice10’ for 10% off), Canadian brand

Kotn always does something different on Black Friday and I’m here for it. For the 5th year in a row, 100% of proceeds from orders (up to $250, 000) will go to their initiative of funding the building of schools to encourage literacy and give back to the community in rural Egypt. Click here to learn more.

Sundays Furniture, 11/13 - 11/29 up to 20% off (discounts applied at checkout), Canadian brand

If you follow me over on Insta, you may have seen my recent collaboration with Sundays where they helped me out with completing the breakfast nook of my dreams! I love the simplistic designs and the quality of Sundays Furniture pieces. When we moved into our home, one of our first furniture purchases were the Take The Edge Off Counter Stools!

My Faves: Form Bench, Tuck In Dining Chair & Movie Night Sectional (if we had space for this haha)

dear frances — 25% off sitewide (bf25 auto-applied code)

My favourite boots are from Dear Frances and they are definitely investment pieces. If you’ve had your eye on a pair of shoes from Dear Frances, now is a great time to grab a pair at 25% off!

Solly Baby — 20% off from 11/23 - 11/28 (no code needed)

Solly Baby is a definite favourite of mine when it comes to baby essentials. The pieces are not just cute to look at but are super functional. All the materials used are the absolute softest which are so great on baby's skin. In addition to their sales this year, on Giving Tuesday, Solly Baby will be partnering with The Superhero Project to provide wraps to families in the NICU. For every wrap purchased, one will be donated to a NICU family. What an awesome initiative

Storq - 20% off 11/26 - 11/29 (no code needed)

I love this small, woman-owned business so much. Storq pieces have been lifesavers for me during pregnancy and postpartum. They made me feel comfortable while my body was changing and growing and now during my breastfeeding journey, their nursing staples have been such a game-changer.

Fable — from 10% - 20% off 11/22 - 11/29 (no code needed), Canadian brand

I adore this ethically and sustainably crafted dinnerware from Fable, a Canadian-based brand from Vancouver. They have the most beautiful, handcrafted dishes and cutlery, perfect for all those holiday dinners coming up! They really elevate dinner parties and simple home-cooked meals enjoyed with loved ones. They also recently released a super sleek set of durable glassware pieces!

Shop in Canada. Shop in the US.

the mugs

flatware set

glassware set

Harly Jae, 20% off in-stock items (discounts applied at checkout), Canadian brand

Harly Jae, an amazing slow fashion brand designed by Laila. I had the privilege of meeting her and visiting the Harly Jae studio during a trip to Vancouver a few years ago. Harly Jae’s pieces are vintage-inspired with a modern touch and are intentionally crafted to stand the test of time. I have a pair of wide-leg trousers from Harly Jae that are of superb quality and I really love that the brand is completely designed and MADE in Canada as well.

My Faves: House Blouse, Pierott Pants & Reversible Coat

Vetta Capsule — up to 50% off

I’ve been a fan of Vetta Capsule since the start of my exploration of sustainability and slow fashion. They were also one of the first brands that I ever worked with so this small brand is very dear to my heart. If you’re looking for versatile, ethically-made closet heroes, look no further. Vetta Capsule’s pieces are creatively designed to be worn multiple ways and are sure to become wardrobe staples.

These are just a few of the brands and sales that I wanted to highlight this season and I’ve also listed some of my favourites from each brand. These are tried and true pieces that I personally own and a few are just ones that I love! I hope it helps you shop smart and intentionally during this time as I know it can be overwhelming. As always, thank you so much for supporting my content and shopping through some of my affiliate links. As a part-time digital creator, it really helps keep my blog and social platforms running and I’m so appreciative of you guys for sticking around with me!

P.S. Some sales have not started yet so I will be back to update those details once everything is live!

This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!