HURRay for HURR, the AirBnB of Fashion

As I parade through the London canal in yet another gray day, I thought I would share with you what’s been cooking on my side lately.

You know a grey day won’t stop me from wearing colourful outfits so when I stumbled upon the beautiful Rainbow puff dress from Selkie, I was instantly in love. However, I had been postponing getting anything from Selkie because despite its gorgeous dresses would save animals, their garments do not save the planet. And as part of this years’ resolution I really have been trying to reduce my shopping consumption and living by the example of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. We need to help our lovely planet!

So, when I heard about Hurr, the self-proclaimed AirBnB of fashion, was renting these pretty dresses (and many other luxurious items), I thought it was about time to test this out.

I have just returned two of my first HURR rentals and I must say: I am in love.

From the customer service to its delivery, this is one hundred percent a service I will be using again. Why should you use it? You may be asking. I know that every fashionista loves buying new clothes. However, it’s time to love fashion with a passion and care for our planet at the same time. Only if we act together we will see real results. And I am here for it.

Let me tell you some added bits that made me fall in love with the concept:

• I rented a Giambatista Valli gown for 5 days and it only cost me 80£ - That dress alone is one, SOLD OUT; and two: more than 80£ worth. That Selkie puffer dress you see on my pics? That was 30£. I felt like a princess, didn’t take unnecessary space in my closet and now it’s gone to somebody else’s sweet home

• Hurr allows its members to rent from other people’s wardrobes as well as lending your own so it’s kind of a win-win for all

• By renting other people’s wardrobes we are giving those clothes another use, avoiding further sales from unnecessary and wasteful high-street fashion and monetizing from it. Plus, you are engaging in the circular fashion economy :)

• To top it up, customer service is beyond fab and the delivery comes in eco and reusable packages. Shall I say more?

HURR, HURR, my friends!

TCB xx

Spread The Love

Valentines (or Galentines) is around the corner, and whilst we think that this day can be seen as an excuse for consumerism, we value the concept of showing love to others.

This year is going to be harder for many of us, on many levels. Being away or unable to be with those you love is tricky. So here’s a thought: why not spreading your love to those you care about for the whole month instead of just a day? Smile to others, tell them how much you care about them, give them a hug (if and when possible) or just be there for one another.

If there is something that being in lockdown has taught us is that as human beings we crave social interaction. Let’s make it evident to others how much we care for one another. After all, that’s all we’ve got.

And if you are lucky enough to be with friends, family and loved ones around this time and you want to do or show them some love, we’ve got a few ideas in mind. Check those out here.

Stay safe careless readers,

TCB xx

Circular Fashion Ecosystem

Source: Vogue Business

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Seems pretty simple, right? Let’s make it happen. If there is something that has set in my head as I devote myself to fashion day after day is that it can’t continue the way it is. Not from a consumer point of view and even less so from a business point of view.

Every day that goes by, climate change worsens. Our beautiful Earth is sick and drastic measures need to be put in place to improve this situation. The fashion industry is responsible for around 5% of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions, and that percentage is set to grow, so what can we do to tackle this massive problem?

REDUCE your consumption of clothes - Let’s go back to the good all days of slow fashion. What was so wrong about that? We’ve got into the habit of the “I want everything and I want it right now” but the reality is that our planet suffers big time from that behaviour. I love fashion, and if you love it as much as you do you will still want to play with your outfits, but perhaps it is worth investing in better garments that will last us longer than buying cheap quality (mostly synthetic fabric) outfits that will not only last very little but you will get tired of very quickly?

REUSE clothing that needs some loving - Instead of buying a new piece of clothing, why not renting it or buying second hand/ vintage? There’s vast amounts of clothing that is donated to charity shops and second hand stores and these are in fabulous condition. I guarantee you that you’ll find every single trend in one of these places and is certainly fun to think you are going back in time by putting somebody’s old clothes as brand new into your wardrobe. What’s the big deal about it? Not to mention that these garments are usually better quality fabric than those that you buy brand new and at a higher price. Think twice on your next purchase! And if you need some recommendations, we are big fans of Vestiaire Collective and our beloved Thanks God I’m a VIP second hand store for all things luxe and vintage and HURR for clothing rental.

RECYCLE those clothes that you no longer love - I am sure as a good fashion lover you will have many things that you either don’t love anymore or want to get rid of in favour of the latest trend. Whilst that is totally OK, be wise in how to dispose of your clothes. First of all, can you pass them on to somebody else? They would probably give it as much love as you did and it’s a great way of recycling and reusing clothes again. If that is not available to you, then of course looking for charity shops or clothing banks to dispose of these would be your best option. Some garments will be more difficult to recycle than others (the biggest problem of this whole process, types of fabric!) but nevertheless worth it.

Change is difficult, but together, we can make great things happen.

This gorj hand bag and skirt are both second hand from a charity shop down the road and i love them.

Vintage Clothing For The Win

Are you looking to have a sustainable relationship with fashion? Then look no further, VINTAGE is the solution to your queries.

I feel vintage has been a thing for me since I can remember. I recall after school dates with my friends in Carrer Tallers in Barcelona, looking for the perfect Levis 500 to take to the beach bar.

Looking for a designer bargain in one of the many vintage shops in Le Marais in Paris.

These days, vintage shopping feels must. It certainly is for millenials like myself. All big urban cities have access to incredibly curated pieces from the likes of YSL, Chanel, Versace and more. The quality that you will find in these garments is, in many ways, much more delicate than those that you will find in new high street shops like H&M and Zara.

More over, the pieces you are buying are part of history. An item that lived in experienced different eras and many stories and yet, is ready to take on board a new owner. When you shop vintage, you are buying uniqueness, quality, and on top of everything, a better, greener planet.

It is undeniable that the fashion industry is continuing to damage the planet. As thrifted mentioned in a recent article, the fashion industry generates more greenhouse gases than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It is the second biggest consumer of water, and generates 20% of all wastewater. Evidence shows that as much as one third of all the clothes we buy, end up in landfill.

Big manufacturers claim better approaches to clothes making by 2030, but many are just using this as their new PR stunt. When you look at the small print, there is a lot of #greenwashing. In light of all this, why would one go for the new and worse quality outfit when you can get something unique to you?

Be part of the change whilst still loving fashion and choose vintage for the win. You will find anything and everything you wish for.

P.S.: The outfit you see on this post is entirely vintage, excluding the beads bag that i hand made during lockdown.

TCB x

Caring for the Oceans

Every second breath you take comes from the ocean

Take care of it.

Hello my dearest,

Today I come to you with a matter close to my heart, the ocean. For a girl who has been living 5 minutes walking distance to the sea almost all her life, the sea means a lot. And it was only recently that something that has been happening for decades reality hit me: we are (somewhat) killing it.

Did you know that there’s already around 100 million tons of plastic in the oceans around the world?

Or that each year more than 1 million marine animals are killed by plastic in the ocean?

Yup, neither did I, and it’s really worrying, cause it gets worse. More plastic waste gets into the ocean all the time. On average, one garbage truck per minute. Isn’t that crazy?

As I was paddle boarding a few mornings ago, I encountered a bottle of H&S Shampoo in the middle of the sea. There it was, in the middle of the sea. That just comes to show how much damage has been done and that we as a community need to do something about it.

We shouldn’t allow unclean waters in our local beaches. That is just not OK. We need better systems.

Oil spilling should be condemned. How things like this still happen is beyond me. But not all hope is lost.

Many organisations are committed to combat this massive problem. Ocean CleanUp is one of the most innovative, aiming to develop efficient tools to halt 80% of plastic from entering oceans (as garbage mostly come from rivers) as well as developing a passive cleanup method that will rapidly and cost-effectively clean up the plastic already in the ocean.

There are many others, some of them worth noting, not only because of their initiatives but also their education:

Parley For The Oceans has enabled us to learn more about the global problems around plastic pollution and ways in which we can help avoid it. The organisation has teamed up with big corporate to reuse plastic found in the ocean and give it another purpose. They host webinars and events and you can join your local facebook group to see how you can support them clean-up and take action locally

Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit organisation (US-focused) dedicated to protect water resources and prevent pollution, protect beaches and shorelines as well as to keep beaches free and accessible to all, contributing to the reduction of plastic pollution. There’s a whole network of volunteers that helps to respond to these threats as well as educational activities to raise awareness.

Balloons Blow opened my eyes to something I had never expected: the impact of balloons in the sea. Super fun to play with, specially for big occasions such as a birthday or a wedding, these ballons, even if biodegradable, will negatively impact the marine life. For starters, the ink on the balloon is toxic and takes maaaany years to dissolve and the string accompanying the balloons can strangle animals under the sea. We should avoid this from happening.

5 Gyres Institute is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution through science and education and have already successfully contributed to it with campaigns resulting in the ban of plastic in cosmetic products, for instance. They host webinars and events (mostly US) and their research has been published in several scientific journals

Plastic is a design failure. AVOID single-use plastics. INTERCEPT the plastic that is already damaging the environment. That is by helping cleaning your local area as well as supporting organisations that can achieve greater outcomes. And lastly, REDESIGN plastic into a new premium item. Instead of creating bigger amounts of trash that can’t be erased, recreate something with it. Give it a purpose.

Recycle and Upcycle, what else?

Hello careless readers, how are we doing?

It’s Sunday night and I must admit, I’m quite tired. It’s been a hell of a week and I could not be happier to be on my PJs right now. As I sip my cup of tea, I have started to think about what to wear this week (yup, I’m a big planner) and that made me wonder through my wardrobe.

As part of my new year resolutions, I’ve decided not only to get less clothes (less quantity and more quality is key) but also to re-use a lot more what I have. Don’t you feel you always end up wearing the same clothes despite having an entire wardrobe full of beautiful outfits?

It’s time to upcycle our game, and I speak for the both of us. If you pick up items that have been stuck in your closet for a long time and mix and match them, you’ll feel like you are wearing a brand new outfit. Not only that’s the cheapest way of getting yourself a new look, but also is free and good for the environment. Isn’t that amazing?

If you are feeling creative, you can actually get those unworn clothes and create a brand new piece. A bit of cutting here and a bit of sewing there and here you have a new piece. OK, that may require some crafty work and a sewing machine, but dreaming is believing! I’ve seen great creations coming this way. Repurposed clothing is the way to go guys.

I’ve become a great fun of second hand clothes. I’ve always been really, but recently I have found myself rummaging for good quality pieces on vintage shops and flea markets and I have managed to score a few good ones. One of my most recent gems was a red tartan tweed jacket. The details, the fabrics, the manufacturing (made in England!)… it screams quality out loud and yet it didn’t cost a fortune. Also the shirt I am wearing is second hand, a men’s GUESS shirt in perfect condition. Score!

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By re-using clothes or buying recycled clothes, not only you’ll get a one of a kind piece for yourself, but you’ll also be super Planet Friendly. The clothes that otherwise would have been discarded are now getting a new use, isn’t it lovely?

TCB x

Photography by Roz Alcazar

Caring for Earth, Still Loving Fashion

Hello careless readers,

How are we doing this week? From my end, it’s been a hell of a ride for the past few weeks. I just moved to a new place and, on day two, I found out that my room was infested with bed bugs. NO FUN. And all my pretty clothes had to be put in high heat or in the freezer, or even dry cleaned! It was intense, to say the least.

Aaaanyhow, this year has been quite transformative for me when it comes to my relationship with fashion. I feel I’ve become a bit more conscious of how the Earth is suffering by the way we live and I thought I needed to do something about it.

I love fashion, probably as much as you do if you are reading this. I love my clothes and my #outfitroles. I am a total fashion victim. I love reading the magazines, watching the fashion catwalks and being fashion police while brunching with my friends in the city. I love shopping too, of course. However, I feel my way of shopping needed to change for the better.

We’ve all been hearing about the damages of fast fashion to the Earth (if not, read this article), but we love shopping, right? It’s all about quality rather than quantity these days. Truth is, we all have plenty of clothes in our closet. Do we really wear it all? Or is it we just like to wear something new every now and then and then we forget about it. chuck it? I think we’ve become used to doing that and as a result the Earth is suffering from it.

My approach? Buy less and buy smart. Vintage is on a high and you can pretty much find any trend on second hand shops. You don’t even have to go thrift shopping if you don’t like rummaging through clothes, sites like Vestiaire Collective have incredibly beautiful and curated vintage/ second-hace pieces waiting for you online.

Otherwise, clothes-swaping is always a great idea. I recently went to a workshop about sustainable fashion in the current era and I discover The Nu Wardrobe, an app that pretty much connects you with other fashionistas to swap clothes. It’s like going shopping without spending any money! They do charge a flat rate of £35 to become a member, though.

Oh hey ho, it’s all about the quality, not the quantity. You may spend more beforehand, but the returns will be higher in the long run, for you and the beautiful planet you live in.

TCB xx

To Be Real

Hello my beautiful careless readers, long time no see, huh? I must admit, 31 is not proving to be as fun as 30. Can we rewind a year, por favor?

There’s been a lot of sad news and unexpected events over the past few months and that not only has shaken up my world but world of my net’s. We are growing up guys, and it kinda sucks? Reality checks have been thrown at us front and center and unfortunately, we can’t deny reality, even if we want to.

Truth is, I have been feeling quite sad lately and didn’t really feel up to writing much. I couldn’t really portray my happy self like usually do. But something changed in the past week and I thought: Life is hard, but only I can change for the better.

I feel these days people talk about mental health more openly and I would like to think that that’s the way forward. It is important to portray a happy picture of your life if that’s how it really is. But it should also be OK to raise your voice, digitally and offline, if you are not.

In the current social media era we live in, it is sometimes hard not to pretend we are happy all the time. That’s how it’s presented in front of us, right? Well, we all go through shit, we just purposely decide not to show it to the world.

It’s not the first time I hear somebody say how they feel their close friends are so happy all the time because they’ve seen it in pictures and videos but then reality it’s quite far from the truth.

Why do we do it? What’s behind of it all? I used to say to myself that I like to portray a happy image to the world because I feel I am not only encouraging myself to be that way but also, I hope I do so to others, and I stand by that. However, it is also important to show when I am not feeling OK, and I guess I’ve been a bit guilty of dismissing that.

It’s been a very difficult summer. I’ve been dealing with a sense of loss that I haven’t experience before and my anxiety levels have been off the roof lately. So much so I’ve been keeping an anxiety chart to track how I feel. I want to be better, but that also starts with me trying not to go stir crazy unnecessarily or going stir crazy but reflecting on it to understand what’s going on in my head and how to tackle it. Mental health is so complex. I’m just trying to make a bit of sense now and it is hard.

But hey, life is hard. And it isn’t fair. And it really hurts like hell sometimes. So much so you feel there’s no end to it. But if we focus on what is within our power to change for the better, we might.

I saw a quote that really inspired me today and I hope it inspires you too: when life gives you a hundred reasons to break down and cry, show life that you have a million reasons to smile and laugh. Let’s do that.

TCB xx