What I Wear

I was raised to be very fashion-conscious. My mother was very beautiful and had been a "career girl" in the fashion world of New York before she married, so fashion and glamour were just things I took for granted as I grew up. Even after moving to casual California, my mother continued to be fashionable, and encouraged me to read fashion magazines and dress in the latest styles--so much so that for my sixteenth birthday she co-signed for me to get my first credit card at my favorite clothing store. For many years, I only cared about how a garment looked and never read a fabric content label.

That all changed when I became aware of the effects clothing can have on our health and the environmental effects of its manufacture and disposal.

The most natural and healthful clothing in the world can be found online--many links are on the textiles page of Debra's List (scroll down to clothing).

Here I'll share with you my own personal choices I've made about clothing, and some thoughts on the subject that go beyond the choice of fabric.

Fabrics

All the clothing I wear is made from natural fibers--mostly cotton and linen, very little silk, and some wool. I never purchase synthetic fibers--ever, for any reason. I don't like the way they feel against my skin.

Though I know organic natural fibers are available, and some even with natural or low-impact dyes, I usually purchase just regular natural fiber clothing like you would buy in any department store. Occasionally I have purchased organic fibers and natural dyes when I have come across them while traveling or at a trade show, but most of my clothing is just run-of-the-mill natural fibers, carefully chosen to not have permanent-press finishes.

Appropriate to Lifestyle

One of the first issues I had to face many years ago was having the right clothing for my activities. At the time, I was working in offices and needed to look "professional." Employers expected me to wear dresses or suits and nylon stockings. This was fine as long as I was wearing synthetic fibers and could take silk blouses and wool skirts to the dry cleaner.

But when I decided to wear natural fibers and wash all my clothes at home, maintaining a professional wardrobe became more difficult. This was one of the reasons--among others--that I decided to develop a home-based business. I wanted to be able to wear whatever I wanted that would be most healthful for me, and to create a working environment of my own choosing.

Appropriate to Place

I have also had to make clothing choices appropriate to the places in which I have lived.

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the weather was fairly mild most of the year, we could wear almost anything. I have to admit that it was easy to fall into the casualness of cotton jeans and t-shirts and sweatpants. For many years, that was mostly what I wore, adding plaid cotton flannel shirts and sweatshirts in the winter.

Here in the South, I need an entirely different wardrobe. Because it is so hot and humid, I have to wear clothing that is easy to wash and wear. Some days I have to change clothes twice if I go outdoors in the heat instead of staying indoors in the air conditioning. So most of my clothing is cotton knit tank tops that I don't have to iron, which I have in every color and wear with either cotton shorts or cotton or linen pants. At home, until I get dressed to go out, I wear these little sleeveless catton gauze dresses from Greece, that I bought in a shop in a little town up the coast that celebrates it's Greek heritage by recreating a Greek village along a seaside street.

But also, because we are in the South, people dress more formally than in California. If we go out in the evening, restaurants expect us to dress nicely. We are invited occasionally to events that require formal attire. And so I have a few "nice" linen ensembles for these occasions and for professional appearances, and long silk gowns for the formal affairs.

I keep in mind, though, that once upon a time people wore clothing that was not only appropriate to their activities and the weather, but were also made from the fibers native and appropriate to the place. I haven't lived here long enough to do the research to know what those fibers would be or what type of clothing would be made from them, but I long to wear something as authentic as an Irish sweater knit from the wool of the local sheep. The closest I can come right now is to wear flowered prints in bright Florida colors--a little local flavor even if not local materials.

Where I Shop

I buy most of my clothing at discount stores such as Ross and TJ Maxx. I know that may sound surprising, but remember, I live in Florida, and all we have are chain stores. I find a lot of natural fibers at these two stores and the prices are much lower than department stores. And in a way, it's kind of recycling because these are all clothes that have been rejected by department stores--mostly because they are removed from display to bring in the new fashions for the next season.

I also watch the sales at some of the nicer local department stores that I like. I purchased a beautiful Ralph Lauren hand-embridered handkerchief-quality linen blouse and shirt at 75% off. And when our local Lord & Taylor had their going-out-of-business sale I bought half a dozen pairs of linen pants and half a dozen sleeveless linen tops to go with them at an 80% discount.

Clothes are expensive nowadays and natural fibers even more so, but I really watch out for great deals and so end up spending very little on clothing. I just found cotton tank tops at an end of season sale and was able to pick up a whole new set on a 2 for 1 promotion. I was just going for a walk in the cool air-conditioned mall because it was too hot to walk outdoors...

When I travel, too, I'm always looking for clothes. I have a gorgeous hand-beaded full-length silk jacket that I bought at a flea market in New York, brand new. The designer needed some money and was selling her samples. Again, it was an 80% discount. You never know where you are going to find things.

Of course, I know I can purchase organic natural fiber clothing on-line, but I've found that doesn't work for me. Without exception, every piece of clothing I've ever purchased through a catalog I have had to return because the item didn't fit my body properly. I don't want to discourage anyone from purchasing clothing from catalogs by making that statement, it's just the truth for me. I really need to try on articles of clothing to see how they fit and how they look on me. I know many people are very happy purchasing clothing from catalogs. It just hasn't worked for me.

I also sew some of my own clothes. I made my own wedding dress and a formal gown because it is very difficult to find formal clothing made from natural fibers. But I also like the creative freedom that is possible when making one's own clothing. You can wear literally anything you want.

Fashion

I want to say a few words about fashion, because it is so integral to our consumer culture.

Clothing has a function--to cover and protect our bodies. Simple shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses provide this function. Around the world, a rich heritage of native clothing styles have developed from the needs for clothing specific to a place. In times past, clothing was made and worn until the fabric itself wore out, then it was patched or replaced with another similar garment. Though clothing styles changed over time, the rate of change was very slow.

In today's consumer culture, however, the fashion industry designs and manufactures new garments for us to wear every season--winter, spring, summer, and fall. They design new fashions and market them so we will have a reason to purchase new clothing whether we need new clothes or not. Fashion is based on keeping the factory machines running and making profit--not on our actual need or considering the environmental and social impacts of the clothing produced.

I've given up pursuing fashion. I've noticed that over time, more and more I just want to dress "plain"--in the spirit of the Amish and Quakers, solid colors and plain or classic styles. I'm not strict about it, but these are the clothes I feel most comfortable in. I wear no jewelry except for my wedding rings. I rarely wear accessories such as scarves or belts. Just plain clothes. I like clothing that is loose and free and easy to move in. I think people should look like themselves, not like they stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. We should wear what is comfortable for us and what best expresses our own personalities. So now I wear what pleases me.

Beauty

What is most important to me about clothing is to choose clothing that makes me feel like I look beautiful. When someone looks at me, I want them to think "She looks beautiful," not, "What a beautiful dress."

Part of what makes me feel beautiful is the comfort of natural fibers against my skin. I also feel connected to the web of life as the natural fibers embrace and protect my body. And the aesthetic of the style of the clothing and how it complements my body contributes to the feeling of beauty as well.

When we present ourselves to the world, we have an opportunity to make the world a more beautiful place with our presence, or be an eyesore. I prefer to bring beauty, grace, and lovliness and I think about that when I choose my clothing. Though, for example, around the house I wear cool cotton gauze dresses from Greece, they have beautiful embroidered necklines that have a flattering cut and soft, flowing fabric. I truly feel beautiful and feminine when I wear these dresses and my husband loves to look at me wearing them, too.

How I feel in clothing is really my criteria for choosing a garment. Simple, natural fiber clothing makes me feel beautiful inside and out.