making conscious choices, sometimes.
but also having a winter-heavy wish list 5 days into summer
so summer is here…and has been since mid-August, and ever since The Row released their infamous, comfortable yet easily breakable jelly flat, analytics show that the search for “jelly flats” as of recent months have increased over 100%. sure enough The Row hit the market just before the start of north-americas summer so great timing there. it was then seen on every single celebrity, stylist and influencer who could afford the $1,000+ plastic shoe which made the need for the jelly flats even more urgent amongst consumers - including me.
have i snagged myself a pair of these jelly flats yet you ask? no. do i want them? absolutely. will i be buying a pair for myself? absolutely not. the reason being is that these jelly flat - as much as i want them on my feet for the summer - is not sustainable. unless otherwise advised, these jelly flats are solely made from pvc which is essentially plastic, and therefore is contributing to negative environmental impacts and ending up in our oceans. this is extremely important to me as this is the base for my new business (launching 2025) and over the last few years have been making more mindful and ethical purchases for this reason. i’m not going to do too much of a deep-dive, but just know, i will buy these jelly flats if proven that they have been made ethically, potentially using recycled pvc (which is incredibly hard and costly to do) but i’m sure mary-kate and ashley can afford this.
all i can ask is if you are thinking about buying a pair, that you do your research and look for sustainable options. however this is such a trend-driven piece i doubt brands are taking the time, effort and expense to ensure these are not going to end up in landfill. if you love The Row and really love the idea of the shoe, suggest considering their mesh flat or the Christopher Esber mesh flats or even the Alaia ones which aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. if you’re looking to be a bit more cost effective, whilst incorporating the style trend and a colour trend that is for summer, i would suggest these red mesh ballet’s from Dear Frances. hot.
whilst i’m on this sustainable path, i recently purchased a stunning bag from rylan studios, made from recycled PU leather which i am all about (but also heavily love the smell of leather - but we’re trying to make conscious choices).
you may have seen the following styles all over social media, as we enter the summer meets winter must-haves but try to merge the current trends to make it work. of course everyone is frothing over the square toe havaianas, and when i posted my pair to socials last month, i had 8 people ask me how i’d snagged them as they weren’t back in stock on the website. i found them here. thank me later. for those who don’t know what they are, please exit from under your rock and see below.
whilst we’re on thongs, these christopher esber cola’s (sensing a theme with his footwear today) has been added and removed to my cart about 10 times now. i just can’t make up my mind. for this price and the material its ridiculous, but then you think how cute these would be with a flowy white or linen piece/set for dinner somewhere along the adriatic sea and i immediately add to cart, again.
the next few images are of accessories that i wish i could buy so bad, but coming into summer they would honestly just sit in my closet and not be used for a solid 7-8 months. if you are heading to a colder climate and want to be bang on trend but not have to line up at hermés and hope that an SA looks your way, then these bags are for you. these are some of my favourite pieces that i have no doubt are going to blow up - if not already - so snag them whilst you can…if you’re into this aesthetic (corporate girl with a creative side hustle).
this bag with this bag charm is the cutest combo and you can’t change my mind.
going to pilates can be a whole wardrobe stress situation, and this bag helps you pack all your shit and them some.
finally, this shoulder bag with the polished gold hardware is giving office to after hours dinner and drinks in the most chic form. don’t hate on the colour, it would be stunning against a crisp white or creamy-beige look.
last but not least on my rollercoaster wishlist dump which started with every intention of making earth-safe choices, is this gorg eyewear brand i’ve recently been stalking that’s giving paula’s ibiza (loewe - if you know you know) and would be a very cute and fun summer eyewear option to add to your eye-drobe. this pair in particular is speaking to me, and those that know me, know i love a good fragrance, bag, and sunglasses. again, thank me later when you have it before everyone else does and you’re looking absolutely cute AF.
Ciao for now.
R x
