Monday Musings on Personal Style and the Importance of B-Corps
The world looks bright and sunny from my spot on the couch today…just kidding; it’s gray and rainy. Cabin fever has set in pretty seriously while my husband and I continue to battle our latest case of COVID. Hopefully, we won’t kill each other before we can go out. Did I forget to mention that we returned from our cruise to our tiny apartment in Vancouver… rather than our normal-sized house in California? We’d still have cabin fever at home, but at least we wouldn’t be tripping over each other.
I’m not usually into thrillers, but I could not put this book down. It has a twist in the middle that kept me interested…just when I was starting to think a YouTube video would be fun. I do have squirrel tendencies, especially when stuck at home.
I spent far too much time scrolling the internet and social media last week. I want all-new skincare…I actually ran out of several things, so I’m making do with hand lotion on my face. I hate all my clothes, and my towels suddenly feel like cardboard. I’ve also been deep-diving into how companies do business and what it means to be a B-Corp, which, BTW, I like and respect.
What is a B-Corp
You may wonder what a B-Corp is and why we should be shopping from them. My deeper dive taught me that A B-Corp, or Benefit Corporation, is a company that’s taken a hard look at the cutthroat corporate world and said, “We can do better.” They’re required to go through a rigorous certification process that assesses their commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
They weave concerns like fair wages, community impact, and environmental sustainability into their very DNA. They show that you can turn a profit without sacrificing worker rights or the planet’s health. Eileen Fisher is a certified B-Corp, as is Frank & Eileen, Athleta, Sunday Riley, and a host of others, which I’ll be exploring further. Do clothes from a certified B-Corp brand cost more? They often do, but remember, it ensures that the garment worker who made it was paid a living wage.
OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
Eileen Fisher’s organic cotton gauze has arrived in some fun, unusual colors.
This Heliotrope color is so striking. I love it over a column of white accented with navy accessories in natural fibers and hammered silver earrings. This shirt also comes in Seaweed and Cascade blue.
Personal Style
A funny thing happened a few years ago. I stopped purchasing any clothes for my wardrobe that I couldn’t link for you. Some readers get really annoyed when I wear things I can’t supply the shopping links for. The upshot is that my style has taken a hit, and I’m missing some of the joy of fashion. I’m not alone in this because several of my blogger friends only buy what they can link too.
My style used to be an eclectic mix of pieces I picked up in fun boutiques, my travels, and have owned for decades. Most brands aimed at mid-life women do not speak to my taste, so I seldom wear them. When we were in Helsinki, my daughter had a blast trying on and purchasing a few unique pieces from up-and-coming small designers. I bought nothing because I couldn’t link to it. She thought I was crazy, and in retrospect, I agree with her.
Because here’s the thing: once my clothes are sold out, I can’t link to them anymore, which then reduces their value in my wardrobe. Since personal style is an expression of ourselves, it is unique to each woman. I don’t expect all of you would dress the way I do. In fact, I share tons of fashion here that many of you wouldn’t wear. My goal is to share style and fashion for many tastes and budgets and to show you how things can be styled to look modern. I will continue to share my real-life outfits but don’t shoot me if I can’t link everything.
What are your thoughts on supporting brands that are B-Corp and ensuring a living wage for their workers while helping reduce the impact on our planet?
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.
It was interesting to learn about B-Corps and I will try to be more aware of them and shop more wisely. I love your style and the inspiration you give us. I’ve learned to break a few of my fashion “‘rules” I’ve grown up with by seeing how you put things together, and I don’t care if something isn’t linkable. Wishing you and your husband a speedy recovery.
I can sympathize with your confined situation. We returned from a long European cruise only to end up with a bad respiratory virus. Not COVID, but we will be out of action for a few weeks. I guess the bright side is that we weren’t sick on vacation. Hang in there!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re sick and agree, thank goodness it waited until you got home to your own bed.It’s no fun to be sick while traveling
Very interesting information on B-Corp companies. I had heard about it in passing. I appreciate the more detailed information you gave.
It would be fun to see items from boutiques, even though we can’t buy them. We can learn from how you style them, and the look that you’re going for to fit your personality.
Hope you feel better soon.
I really enjoy your DRD days! Even if the item you are wearing is out of stock, I can often find and purchase an item on the site that I love. If we use your links and shop around you should still get credit when we purchase. Your unique purchases in small shops help to support small businesses. I live in a small town in Colorado and during Covid, all of our small clothing shops went under and have not come back. So did the restaurants but some new have started up. A unique piece worn with linked clothing is perfect fashion for me. Get well soon. I’m going to check out that book as I do love a good thriller. I hope it is on Audible.
I’ll be back to DRD soon 🙂
Thanks for the info on B Corps. Sounds like my kind of business to support.
My husband and I are recovering from Covid. You must feel better than we did. It was our first time getting it, after having every booster out there. Take care.
Ouch, I’m sorry. We only had it once before and I got hit badly that time. Feel better soon!
Thank you for talking about B corp businesses today. I am very interested in learning more about them, and I am going to plan how I can shop more from these businesses.
I understand why you would want to keep to linkable items with your business! From my own personal interest level, I think that if you are buying items in boutiques or during travel that don’t have links that’s ok and I would enjoy reading about it – I’d actually like to learn more about how to buy items that are not “mainstream,” and I’d be interested to learn what your process is. I hope that you and your husband are feeling better soon – take care.
That’s a great suggestion. Thanks
I hope your your bout of COVID is over soon.
I shop a Certified B Corp skincare company, Ursa Major. The products are terrific and the customer service is excellent. I purchase the Fantastic Face Wash and Golden Hour Recovery Cream on repeat!
Yay! I’ll check them out, thank you.
I love your style ideas, and have purchased many things from your links. That being said, though, I love to see your personal tastes come through too. It gives us all inspiration to find our own vibe.
(I recently discovered Frank and Eileen and am now kind of addicted!) Thanks for the deeper dive on B-Corp businesses.
The Cancer Charity we donate to is also a B-Corp. If we all did a bit better the world would have a fighting chance. Fast fashion is galloping ahead at an alarming rate.
Thank you for this article. It speaks to walking one’s talk. My parent’s modeled the way. During the Civil Rights era, my family did not shop, buy products or support service providers who failed to serve Black Americans and/or who did not treat their workers humanly. For the latter, think of the United Farm Workers boycott of specific types of produce. These practices stuck. And, they widened to include air, earth and sea and all that live on this blue marble. Sometimes, I fail. Still, the practices push me to live my values. What I buy, wear, plant, eat, invest in, give, how a resource is used is given thought. I am happier for it and thank my parents for the lesson.
Thank you for sharing that, Peggy. Your parents sound admirable.
I would love to see you wear what you love. Old, new, thrifted or from a boutique. I know you support yourself when we purchase from links – but I also like seeing how all kinds of clothes can be worn.
I’ll be sharing them more. Thanks Cathy
I look to you for inspiration. Although I buy many pieces from Eileen Fisher I also look for unique pieces to wear with Eileen Fisher or other brands. I like a mix of many things. I mainly shop at Nordstrom, JJill and when I want to hit the mall I go to Dillards. Post things that you love and things that will make a difference. You never know when that cute jacket from some boutique will go with an outfit from another store. My motto is be happy with what you wear. Always find joy!
Please include your unique and one of a kind purchases. That is what makes the blog fun. Sure we love it when we can see what you are linking to, but the un-linked items can serve as inspiration. And they usually support small businesses. I don’t have an opinion about B corporations but paying people a living wage is a great idea.
Hope you are feeling better soon. We are thinking of a trip to Vancouver because of your blog.
It’s a fabulous city to visit. August is gorgeous here
I just finished this book and thought it was great. The next book just came out – The Next Mrs. Parrish – Can’t wait to read it.
Jennifer, thanks for the information on the term B-Corp. i hadn’t heard the term before, but those values are important to me. Please shop for what you love, and share your discoveries with us, whether or not you can link them. I love the inspiration of unique discoveries and learning how to incorporate them into a basic wardrobe. The sunshine’s returning to the west coast in a few days, just in time for you to be free to get out again. Hang in there,
I will! Going to drag myself out for a tiny walk today. I was delighted to discover B-Corps for skin care and fashion. It breaks my heart to style an item I think was made by a child in a poor country.
I would much prefer seeing your unique style with items that you would choose, and you could link similar items, like when you cover different price ranges for something. Like maybe it’s your job to show us the latest at Talbots, but a peek at what you love and how you style it would be so refreshing, and you could be true to you, as we should all be. Hope you feel better soon!
Great thoughts! I would support B-Corp where possible. Feel better soon!
Thank you
Hope you feel better soon! Thank you for the reminder to shop ethically. I look forward to seeing some of the outfits you love and make you feel good, linked or not.
I look forward to seeing your unusual one of a kind pieces! Many wishes for a speedy healing.
Thanks Lisa
I am all for B-Corporations but products do generally cost more. I am alright with paying more if the product is higher quality. I think you should feel free to post items that cannot be linked. I follow to gain knowledge about fashion and to purchase. Get better and enjoy the view!
I feel pretty awful about the Covid/cabin fever story. As you recover and resume a more normal life, please mention it so I can feel more encouraged. Yes, absolutely I am interested in B-corp companies. And yes, absolutely wear what makes you happy. I love looking at those images, links or not. I live in coastal San Diego. May was 58°-68°, cold for me. I am still wearing turtlenecks with lightweight toppers. I haven’t worn a shirt sleeve tee since November.
I’m going to take a short walk today, rain or shine. I know it will help my mood and be good for my lungs. This is a weaker strain than last time but please be careful, it seems to be everywhere these days.
I’m in Seattle. Cold, windy and rainy. Still in down and gortex. Haven’t worn short sleeves since September. Had to shop summer.
I love that you have links to your fashion items but believe you are uniquely you so be that you! We will survive🤣