Ethical Work Clothes Try-Ons with Brass Clothing and Everlane

I have a new job where I need to appear to be an adult. I have a new paycheck that opens a (small) gateway into buying nicer clothing items. And I have a wonderful Instagram community that has taught me through their everyday posts for the last two years that most clothing items are produced in ways that hurt the environment and the people making those items. So now, here I am, trying to adopt a “thift first, ethically produced second, fast fashion third” approach to buying clothes for my new job. I have purchased a few clothing items in the past month just for that purpose, so here are some mini reviews!

Everlane

Everlane is a good place to start for more consciously produced things at a lower price point, but I don’t have many items by them, so it’s been a bit rough figuring out what I like. Here’s what I bought from them in the past 8 weeks:

Straight Leg Crop Pant:

I already had this pant in khaki from a fortunate score at Buffalo Exchange. And I love them, so I decided it might be time to buy the only pair of work pants I actually enjoy in triplicate. Here’s my try-on of the Straight Leg Pant in white:

And here’s my original pair:

I don’t know if I’m fully justified in keeping two pairs in such a similar color, which is too bad, because I like the fit of the white pair more than the black pair, which feels a little wider in the leg, plus the fabric is less rigid. But they are soft and comfy and a good substitute for “real” black dress pants so that might be the color I keep.

I also tried them all on with the same shoes and shirt for science, so please weigh in on which color to keep 😉 I should note I’m wearing the tall size here, and, while I appreciate the gesture, Everlane, this is a pretty weak attempt at a tall inseam.

Japanese GoWeave Sleeveless Wrap Dress:

Oh man, I thought I would love this dress and I underestimated how much I do! The jewel tone purple is so perfect for Fall, PLUS there’s an extra tie inside this dress to keep it secure, PLUS the fabric somehow manages to be substantial without causing overheating. Shall I go back for it in the light blue or mint?

Poplin Belted Top:

Just for fun. This was a no for me, because, wow, sleeves. I’m sure someone else could make it look fashion 🙂 (This is the size 6, my usual size. I’m 5’11”).

Brass

I also purchased several things from faves, Brass Clothing. Everything on their website looks so understated but is totally amazing in person in feel and fit. Or it all has been so far! Here’s what I got!

The Best Tank:

I was like, damn, that’s (over) $50 for a tank top. But after seeing people rave about theirs for so long I finally caved when I saw this pretty blue color, and it’s just as good as everyone says. I’m usually a size 6 and got the medium. The reversible neckline (one side high neck one side scoop neck) is great and this looks excellent under blazers as well.

The All Day Set:

What a dream faux-jumpsuit! The pants on this are so great for hotter temperatures where you still need to actually wear pants. They are really drapey and look cool with all my pointed toe shoes and my (rare) pairs of heels. Here’s a link to the tank and the pants, sold separately but great combined.

The Essential Top in Wave Weave:

I’m not sure what I think about this color. I have another top in blush that I love but this one feels like it blends with my complexion a little too much. Nonetheless, the fabric is so light and airy feeling and the cut is just right for summer teaching. Keep or don’t?

The A-Line:

Ok I got this in ? May but never really talked about it, but now that it’s all-dresses-all-the-time weather I’ve been loving this dress! It has pockets (you know I had to lead with that) and it is very flattering. I’m wearing a size small and I’m usually a 6. The A-Line and the All Day Pant both come in a long size which is why I purchased them!

If you want $25 off your first Brass order using code REBECCA25.

This is a time of tumult in my closet–I’ve moved to a place with a different lifestyle (more professional, in a dressier city) and climate (currently pondering how to wear summer clothing for 6ish months of the year!). I certainly don’t plan to keep accumulating clothes at this rate but this month has been an interesting learning curve for merging my personal style, job change, and interest in ethical fashion.

Hope these reviews are helpful if you’ve been wondering what any of this looks like in person! Do you have any other go-to office pieces, preferably by ethical brands?

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