If you haven't heard before, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries on the environment, from production, waste, shipping etc. To help combat these effects, relatively new brand, Reformation set out to design a line of sustainable and fashionable clothing made locally in LA. (Read more about their sustainable practices here.) This brand has caught the attention of many celebrities and fashion it-girls as it has been a go-to for easy, pretty and fashionable sundresses. The vintage-inspired dresses truly are one of a kind from any other brand and Reformation does an excellent job in finding their "niche" in the industry, so what is not to love about the brand? One: the prices. To many women working in fashion, the prices are very reasonable, especially given the mission of their brand and being made in the United States. However, for girls my age, spending almost $200 on a sundress seems a little out of the price range. When I first heard about the brand, I browsed the website to see what they had to offer. My first thought: How are these dresses any different than a vintage 90's dress that you could cop at a thrift store for under $10? The silhouettes seem to be similar, the floral fabrics are like ones I've seen before, so why should I spend this much money on a dress that I could buy for way less? Since they first launched, Reformation has released many new fashion-forward styles that are unlike any dresses I've seen before and given the hype of the brand by other fashion-girls, I wanted to finally try it out. I decided to check out their end of summer sale to find something that I liked on my brand trial run. Many dresses caught my eye, some seemed a little short for my tall stature and others again seemed reminiscent of possibly cheaper vintage dresses, but I finally decided to buy a blue gingham wrap style dress with ruche sleeves. (The dress is now sold out but this one is similar.)
When I finally got the dress, I was very impressed. First, the fabric was beautiful and looked very expensive. It was thin and delicate but also lined so it was not too fragile or sheer. I worried about it being too short, but it fit me really well and the waist sat in the perfect place (hard to find when you're taller). I loved the shape too, very fashion-forward with a statement sleeve but also a classic wrap style that I can wear for a long time. I could definitely tell that this dress was made and designed with care. Would I purchase from Reformation again? Yes, of course, I think they have me sold! Not regularly, but I think the dresses are definitely worth the money for the perfect timeless dress that you will have for a while. So my advice to other college girls: consider splurging a little for the perfect fashionable and casual dress because I'm sure you'll wear it for a while. Get one versatile dress you absolutely love instead of five that are just okay. Experiencing quality is important for a fashion girl.
To style this dress, I kept with the vintage inspired theme. I wore a recently thrifted wooden beaded necklace and my new purchase, a vintage Fendi tote, from Treasures of NYC (a recent obsession btw). On that note, shopping "preloved" designer websites and stores is another way to be environmentally and economically friendly. Treasures of NYC is one of my favorite websites to browse through now. They have a very unique and fashionable supply of designer vintage and they can also look for items that you are dying to find. Be sure to check the website out here and take a look at my outfit below shot in film.
And shop my same bag here.
