This year, we resolve to be abnormal.

“Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.”

— Ellen Goodman

Seeking simplicity

We've all done it before. In fact, I've done it three times; I remember each day as a triumphant overhaul of bags and bags full of tacky flats with worn-out soles, free school event t-shirts, and ill-fitting, impulse online buys. It was hard to part with my old belongings, but with the last heaving lift of oldies/not goodies into the Salvation Army bins in my local supermarket, I always felt just a little bit lighter.

Spring cleaning, back-to-school, or start of summer - I love(d) any reason to clean up shop, get rid of my hoarded possessions, and replace them with shiny new toys for me to enjoy. It seems like a win-win for all. I donate my old clothing, accessories, and shoes, to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, etc, and they donate it to the 'needy'. Typically, I liked to envision malnourished, naked children in African villages receiving my then-cool pink Hollister & Co. t-shirts and jumping for joy in response.

Guest Post: Allen

Happily introducing Allen; a wonderful blogger at People of the Urban as well as a close personal friend. Avid traveler (FYI - he might have lived in more places than some have traveled to), lover of fun times, a kind heart if we ever saw one, and sealing the deal, easy on the eyes (wink). Here, Allen shares with us how he treats his good lookin' self while staying as real as possible.

"I had my first realization regarding the potential long-term and visible short-term damage my personal care products were doing to my body back in High School. You know, when you realize that the main ingredient in your shampoo that gives it a great lather and leaves you hair with a great unnatural shine is the same ingredient that’s in the detergent used to clean your canteen floor or wash your car?

A glimpse into Ghana

Measure Up

In our personal quests to become more conscious consumers, we have found that most of the challenge lies within finding more information about the products and brands we support through our purchases.  Where are our new strappy stilettos being made?  How are the workers being treated in the factory that produces our maxi dresses and clutch handbags?  Up until now, we thought it impossible to make informed decisions based on the lack of information available to the public.

Enter MeasureUp, a small initiative started in the UK, dedicated to providing consumers and competitors with a snapshot of the production methods and conditions of various fashion goods.  What impresses us most about the effort is its influence on not only consumers, through education and awareness, but also on producers- the key players in efforts towards ethical fashion and production processes.  We are ecstatic to hear about the progress and impact the site has already made -- Eve, the co-founder of the website (and the mom of a baby boy!), clues us into the history, motivation, and future goals of MeasureUp.

Shop with us

Introducing The Meré on tumblr -- it will serve as a visual diary of what we are currently eyeing and lusting for. Along with the brands and products we all know, love, and trust, the site will also showcase designers, brands, and products that we stand by for their efforts at furthering social good. All listings on the tumblr will all fit the same criteria, though: visually stunning, inspiring, and unique ways to make our lives just a little bit better.

xx

Lost in Translation

Every so often, we come across a movie that we fall completely in love with. Lost in Translation, directed by Sofia Coppola, boasts understated humour, beautiful cinematography, but above all, a genuine yet discrete portrayal of the loneliness of life, and the solace we can find in connecting with another kindred spirit. Several awkward moments in the movie made us cringe and chuckle, reminding us of the oddities of Asian culture that may seem bewildering and curious to outsiders. Still, Bill Murray is quite good at playing along. The blue, melancholy tones of the movie made Scarlett Johansson's skin glow, and her toussled blonde hair and perfectly pouty pink lips made us shudder throughout. 

xx

Istanbul, Part II

more food & fun

Earth Day - Live Responsibly

Happy Earth Day, all!

To celebrate, The Zoe Report says to dress responsibly, and Modelina tells us to stock our wardrobe with "eco-friendly finds", but we say live responsibly, and stock up your life with products that fight for the environment. If you're looking to shop this Earth Day, think about replacing that MAC brush or Michael Kors watch with one of our earth-loving alternatives:

Istanbul, Part I

Given Goods: Part 2

Aside from fashion and retail goods, Cammy loves hot yoga, French films like The Intouchables, and sifting through her daily blogroll. Learn a little bit more about the powerhouse behind Given Goods:

Given Goods: Part 1

Dynamic, innovative businesses are usually led by powerful, passionate people. This couldn't be truer for Cammy of Given Goods, who we got to catch up with a few weeks ago.

We were initially attracted to Given Goods for their incredible, hand-picked selection of fashion, beauty, gift, and home products. Now that we know more about the thought behind it, it's harder not to resist the site. It aims to create educated consumers, especially with a new feature (that we're obsessed with)- the Good Graph. The graph helps you figure out how much of your shopping is doing good, what it's doing good for, and where in the world the magic is all happening.

But enough of our gushing- we'll let Cammy do the talking on behalf of Given Goods.

Foodie fridays

inspired by milk & mode

xx

Rainy day inspiration

"Fashion's ability to bestow confidence without doubt one of its most powerful asset."

Image & quote courtesy of The Edit Magazine

On this dreary Tuesday (on the east coast, at least... stay dry, everyone!), in between exams and projects, we were ecstatic to stumble upon this issue of Net-a-Porter's weekly magazine, themed "The Power Issue". It's no secret that we are advocates of fashion as a source of empowerment, whether it be through the influence of design, or the by-product of production. This time, however, Net-a-Porter shows us that fashion, when paired with passionate, confident women, can be empowering to a different effect.

The Reformation

Whenever we have time, we love thrifting and hunting for those one-of-a-kind pieces, whether it be in person or online (Etsy, where we can easily spend hours and hours procrastinating). There's something thrilling about these purchases. In today's times, when trends go viral within hours and everyone has access to the same brands online, it's hard to find items that you feel unique and cool in. Especially when you're dressing with a relatable budget.

That's why we love the Reformation.

Reds

Maybe it's because the day of love is soon upon us, but we're loving little pops of reds - or whole collections of them - in NYFW photos. As usual, Tommy Ton's street style photos have become our go-to, and we've been refreshing style.com religiously to keep updated from our favorite shows. 

Prabal Gurung, Jill Stuart 

Photos from Style.com

Cameron Russell x TED

"The thing that we never say on camera, that I have never said on camera, is I am insecure. If you ever are wondering, 'If I have thinner thighs and shinier hair, will I be happier?', you just have to meet a group of models because they have the thinnest thighs and the shiniest hair and the coolest clothes and they are most physically insecure women probably on the planet."

An important reminder that looks aren't everything. 

xx

Design with benefits, Pt.II

The faces behind Design with Benefits 

After speaking to Eunice, Tania, and Ida about the genius behind Design with Benefits, we became interested in their personal stories, on their stories of travel, and their current musings and inspirations. To no surprise, these women as people are no less exciting than their creative e-store and website. 

Design with benefits

Move over, Etsy- there's a new online shop in town. If you're looking for personally-curated boutique with unique, design-focused items, we've found you your match. Shop at Design with Benefits for clever, beautiful products that keep social good in mind. But the good doesn't stop there. Each month, users vote for a cause (design-related and socially-conscious, of course), and the winning one receives a percentage of all online sales. It's a complex, brilliant idea, so we thought we'd let the team behind the site do the talking. Meet Tania, Ida, and Eunice- the brains (and beauties) behind Design with Benefits.

Movie monday

One of us recently watched Amélie (the other had seen it long before)... and fell in love. The French scenery is beautiful, and I'm still thinking about the movie's quirky, subtle, chuckle-to-yourself humour. Amélie and co. also teach us how to enjoy the little things in life. Like peeling dried glue off our fingers, sticking our hands in barrels of rice, popping bubble wrap, and drinking casual shots of bourbon in the afternoon.

Meet Amélie, France's very own Carrie Bradshaw.

xx