#buy some rope and make straw sandals

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

Omg i just had a certified liu bei moment. so i was at a club meeting, and we were prepping for our macrame event (learning to tie rope into a net) so we could teach it on the night. Prior to this i had made FOUR FRICKING PAIRS OF STRAW SANDALS (fanfiction research) and the moment that rope touched my hands it was like a sleeper agent hearing their trigger word.

Anyways, i think its really cute that luo guanzhong and i both took one look at liu bei and was like, screw the historical record, what if he liked his old job, actually, and found satisfaction in simple repetitive work. What if he got a sense of accomplishment from the labour of his hands and the knowledge that he was stepping up to help his mother. Single women at the time often formed “craft circles” and weaved/sewed/ect in big groups at each others houses, so they could save money in heating, raw materials, and have protection and companionship. Did he and his buddies have a weaving circle where they gossiped, griped and told tall tales while they sat on a kang? How many times has he wanted to ask zhang fei, guan yu and zhao yun to all sit down and shoot the breeze for a bit, but held his tongue, knowing that there was simply too much to do, and not enough time in the world to do it.

#and everyone clapped and i got a glass of warm milk AND an extra hour in the ball pit ect ect #san guo #liu bei #ok fr my best art tip is to just make as many physical references as possible. make robes out of old bedsheets. #buy some rope and make straw sandals #notice how different clothes change your moment and behaviour

[talesofedo]

Image and text from this page.

Throughout the Edo Period, Japan was largely closed off from the rest of the world, relying solely on its limited domestic resources. As a result of this, reuse and recycling were a natural part of life with almost all daily items experiencing multiple life cycles. At the forefront of this 250-year period of sustainability were professions that centered around repairing and repurposing everyday goods and materials, giving new life to items that would today end up in landfills. In his book, “Just Enough,” Azby Brown introduces a number of the professions that led to this period of sustainability and we’ve listed some of our favorites below.

Tinkers

Tinkers were local craftsmen who repaired damaged pots and kettles. Often found carrying portable forges and bellows on their backs, they used scrap metal to repair holes and cracks that would otherwise render these essential household items useless.

Scrap metal dealers would purchase unrepairable items from tinkers and exchange candies and toys with local kids for nails and other usable metal scraps they found while playing.

Paper lantern and umbrella repairmen

While most umbrellas in modern-day Tokyo are quickly lost or broken and disposed of, the raw materials that made Edo Period umbrellas often saw multiple lives with umbrella repairmen carving out a fairly lucrative niche for themselves.

These repairmen would buy used umbrellas, assign a price based on the condition of the bamboo frame then disassemble, repair and resell them to new buyers.

Discarded materials, such as the waterproof oiled paper would pass onto local butchers for wrapping fish and miso.

With umbrellas and paper lanterns sharing essentially the same materials, umbrella repairmen would also cross over into the realm of lantern repair and often sub-contract this work out to low-level samurai.

Used clothes dealers

If you thought Shimokitazawa was overrun with used clothing dealers these days, Brown says there were as many as 4,000 of them in Edo.

With new clothes being unaffordable for the average family, when it came time to update the wardrobe, old garments would be washed and taken to a dealer to be exchanged for refurbished items at a small fee.

These dealers would take apart kimono, dye them and reassemble them for resale, a task made easier due to the way kimono are designed.

As clothes would begin to wear out, they found new life as aprons, diapers, pouches, cloths and eventually kindling before becoming ash which would also be repurposed.

Barrel repairers and recyclers

If you knew your way around a bamboo barrel hoop in the Edo Period you could make a steady living for yourself repairing the various types of shoyu, sake, miso or vinegar barrels found in the average home.

The more experienced itinerant barrel hoop makers could also find work as barrel recyclers, a specialized craft that saved reusable barrels and casks from early disposal.

After collection, recyclers would inspect, grade, refurbish and resell them onto brewers and liquor shops who would choose from new, new-looking, slightly used or worn barrels depending on their intended use.

Ashmen

Most daily items in the Edo Period were made from burnable plant-based materials such as wood, bamboo, straw and cotton.

Rather than have worn-out rope, sandals, hats, raincoats or baskets end up in landfill, these items could be burnt to provide heat and turned to ash, which is where the ashman comes in.

Rather than discarding of ash, households and businesses such as public baths would collect their ash and sell it to local ashmen.

With ash from straw and cotton cloth containing large amounts of potassium, it was in high demand as an additive for fertilizer or for use in ceramics, dyes or sake production which created a lucrative business for motivated ashmen.

#shared #history notes #historical notes #history reference #historical reference #history research #historical research #Edo period #sustainability #recycling #article

[edenfalling]

[Fic] “Between the Saltwater and the Sea-Strand” - Naruto

Summary: Yukiko and Kakashi run an undercover mission in the coastal port of Asase during monsoon season. Rain can make anyone philosophical. Part of the Apartment Manager AU, set after The Guardian in Spite of Herself and before An Unorthodox Pedagogical Approach. (3,515 words) Note: Written for warriordrgnmage, in response to the prompt: Naruto: Hatake Kakashi/Ayakawa Yukiko set in the Way of the Apartment Manager Series Timeline. For the Bingo card: Monsoon. It is also a fill for the genprompt_bingo square monsoon. For obvious reasons, Yukiko and Kakashi are using fake names while undercover. Yukiko is Aoi, and Kakashi is Hyoujin. Also, you may notice that this is gen! See, while I am perfectly cool with people shipping Yukiko with Kakashi, that is 100% never going to become Apartment Manager canon, for many, many reasons. If anyone wants a shippy AU, you are welcome to write it yourself, because I flat-out CANNOT. Seriously, even if I tried, you wouldn't want the results. They would be awful. Trust me on that. --------------------------------------------- Between the Saltwater and the Sea-Strand --------------------------------------------- Kuwa Natsume looked up as Yukiko slung herself in through the office window in a spray of rain, raised one eyebrow, and then looked back down to her account books. "Misplaced your shadow?" "Does anyone have a shadow in this weather?" Yukiko said wryly as she shut the window, reducing the sound of rain from deafening to merely incessant and inescapable. "I thought I was used to rain, but coastal monsoons are something new, yeah?" "We get that a lot from inlanders," Kuwa-san said as she drew a sharp line under a column of numbers and wrote a sum. "You get used to it, and it's easier for shinobi -- you have all that fancy ninpou and whatnot. But in all honesty, Aoi-san, where is your partner? I can't finalize your supply contract without both of your signatures." Yukiko made a face as she combed water out of her black-dyed hair. "Is it that important to be fussy when this is all ninety percent illegal anyway?"

"The more illegal, the more important to nail down all the details," Kuwa-san said. "What court would adjudicate the case if you sign alone and Hyoujin-san decides next week that he won't pay for his share?" Yukiko personally agreed with Kuwa-san's caution, but her cover persona would probably make one further push. So, "Oh, don't worry about him. Hyoujin trusts me completely--" Kuwa-san raised her eyebrow again. "--nearly completely when it comes to contracts. What's the point of having a partner if you can't split your responsibilities?" "I would say partners split focus, not responsibility. If you don't maintain some degree of joint liability, what's to stop one of you from turning on the other?" "Ethics?" Yukiko said with a winning smile, and allowed herself to laugh at Kuwa-san's carefully calculated answering smirk. "Fair enough. Let me look over the terms and I'll drag him over here to pretend he knows how to use a brush sometime before-- when do you close today?" "Six." "Before six. Actually, let's say before five, yeah? He's not that hard to track or sweet-talk if you know what you're doing." Yukiko held out her now-dry hand for the supply contract and wiggled her fingers until Kuwa-san passed it across her desk. She retreated to the broad windowsill and began flicking through the pages. It wasn't complicated, just a dead drop of miscellaneous dry goods in neutral territory that would hopefully establish her and Kakashi as reliable clients and Kuwa-san as a reliable supplier -- a standard way for missing-nin and gray market merchants to feel each other out. If the goods wound up as a cache for a long-term Leaf-nin mission, well, nothing in the contract specified that Yukiko and Kakashi had to be the ones to make the pickup. And their cash was perfectly legitimate Fire Country tender, so as far as Kuwa-san was concerned, there was nothing to worry about. (Yukiko was fairly certain there was nothing to worry about on Konoha's end of the bargain either. Kuwa-san had a rock-solid reputation for following through on her contracts. Nobody survived twenty years in the gray market without either keeping their word almost religiously or spending a fortune on bodyguards, and Kuwa-san barely bothered to pay for warehouse security.) "Where do you source kunai?" she asked as the rain's intensity kicked up a notch, beating against the windowpane in a nearly solid sheet of water. "Wind Country," Kuwa-san said without looking up from her accounts. "Earth Country's metallurgy is better, but the border tariffs aren't usually worth the slight increase in quality. I could change that if you're willing to pay the difference." Yukiko feigned consideration. "I don't care, but Hyoujin can get picky about steel composition. What would the increase be for this number of kunai and senbon?" Kuwa-san named a figure. Yukiko made an exaggerated expression of disgust. "No thanks! He can whine and make do. I'm not paying that much more for what, a half percent less chance of flaws? It's not like anyone expects kunai to last anyway. Use 'em and lose 'em and buy some more, that's what I say. Or steal whatever's left from your targets! That's economy, yeah?" "Officially, I can't encourage any behavior that would reduce my chance to sell you more equipment, Aoi-san. Unofficially? Yes, that's very economical. If only all my clients were equally practical." "Eh, there's all kinds of ways to be practical. What we're good at is mostly spying and killing -- it's more efficient to hire a ninja than do that stuff in-house, yeah? Just like you're good at moving stuff around to where we need it, so it's more efficient to hire you instead of us trying to figure all that stuff out from scratch. It's win-win, is how I see it." Yukiko tapped the papers to shuffle them into a neat pile, then handed them back to Kuwa-san. "That looks fine on my ends. Me and Hyoujin will be back sometime this afternoon to sign and pay the next installment." "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Aoi-san," Kuwa-san said. Yukiko grinned and dove backward out the window, into the pounding rain. --------------- Kakashi was lurking in one of Asase's numerous quayside bars, most of which were run out of the back doors of warehouses and also did a brisk side business in assorted seafood dishes. Rain pelted down on the roof tiles in a clattering racket that Yukiko found personally soothing but professionally irritating -- it was a lot harder to eavesdrop through the constant noise, not to mention the complications it added to genjutsu. She and Kakashi had spent their first night in Asase mutually grousing about the unpredictability of electric ninjutsu in waterlogged conditions and the difficulty of filtering ambient sounds out of illusions. Today Kakashi was sipping a bowl of lobster broth through a long, curved straw that vanished into the deep blue folds of the scarf he'd used to shroud his face. To the casual eye he was staring out an open window toward the rainswept harbor, his oversized gray hood restricting his range of sight and hearing, but Yukiko followed the combined angle of his feet and chopsticks to their targets: a trio of young missing-nin drinking in the far corner, defaced forehead protectors proclaiming their renunciation of Kiri. They were small-time, only a few months out on their own each with barely a name and one line of description in the latest bingo book editions, but anyone willing to go against the Bloody Mist was worth a second look. Whether this particular investigation would conclude in a job offer or an assassination was still up in the air. "Heya, Hyoujin. Thinking of roping in some new blood for larger contracts?" Yukiko asked as she dropped into a seat across from him (back to their targets) and set her ramen down on the unsanded wood of the table. Kakashi shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Three's better than two for flexibility, but more than four on a mission gets awkward without ranks and a chain of command. Nobody who leaves a village wants to go back to those kind of restrictions." Yukiko tilted her hand. "Eh, there's assholes on power trips and there's division of labor -- not necessarily the same thing. I let you take the lead in a fight and you let me take the lead on retrievals. That's just practical, yeah? But we wouldn't throw each other away. Shinobi are tools, sure, but if you don't look out for your teammates, how can you trust they'll look out for you?" Kakashi shrugged again and continued sipping his broth. Targets hear? Yukiko signed under the guise of snapping apart her chopsticks. Yes, Kakashi signed back as he lifted his bowl and drank the last of his broth under the shadow of his hood and scarf. No bite. Yukiko slurped a mouthful of noodles and nicely salted broth. "Grouch. Well, whatever we do for future contracts, today we have to sign off on the supply contract with Kuwa-san. We'll need the goods for that thing in Tea Country and she wants both of our names in writing." "Sign for me," Kakashi said "Tried that. She won't bite." "So fake it. Illusions are your thing, Aoi; pretend I'm there and forge my seal." Yukiko slurped another mouthful of noodles in her best imitation of Naruto's sloppy manners. "Oh, sure. Lying is the best way to establish trust for future contracts, yeah?" "She's a civilian, how would she know?" "Not the point. C'mon, Hyoujin. You won't melt in the rain. Let's go make nice with Kuwa-san and I'll make it real worth your while." She ran the edge of her sandal up the side of Kakashi's shin and gave him her best imitation of her cousin Yura's flirtatious smile. Kakashi twitched. Yukiko slapped the table and let her smile shade into a more genuine grin. "Ha, I win." "Fine. Finish your soup and let's go drown ourselves. Again." "Eh, getting soaked's not that bad. Especially when you've got a partner around to help you peel out of all your soggy clothes and warm up when you get home, yeah?" Kakashi twitched again, then rallied and let a tiny arc of electricity jump between two raised fingers. "And then get wet again?" Yukiko held onto her cover persona by the skin of her teeth. "Now you're talking my language. All right, I'm done. Let's go give a little now so we get more back later." --------------- Signing the contract with Kuwa-san took all of twenty minutes -- half of which was entirely for show, as Kakashi lived up to his cover persona and whined about the kunai quality until Yukiko overruled him -- after which they had the afternoon and evening entirely to themselves and a conveniently established reason to retreat to their rented room and lock themselves inside Yukiko's best privacy genjutsu. "We can't stay longer than another day now that the contract's signed," Kakashi said as he flashed his hands through the seals for a quick and subtle bit of ninjutsu that left their clothes and skin completely dry without spilling any excess heat. "Do you think the targets will be receptive if we approach them openly?" Yukiko shook her head, grimaced at the awkward motion of her still-tangled hair, and began working the tie out of her ponytail. "No chance. I don't know if they'd even be open to a joint mission with Aoi and Hyoujin at this point. Sumire wants security and Kenichi likes profit, but they're still raw enough to see tigers in every other shadow, and Eriko's almost too paranoid to make deals with someone as solid and non-threatening as Kuwa-san. On the bright side, they're wildly unlikely to join up with anyone else." Kakashi slumped back onto the futon with an annoyed set to his eyebrow. "And since they haven't moved against Fire Country assets, there's nothing to justify an assassination without a contract. I hate leaving loose ends." Yukiko dropped down to sit cross-legged beside him, fingers slowly working through her tangles. "Think of it as a guaranteed vacation in a few months. Our agents will send word the next time our trio pass through Asase, Aoi and Hyoujin turn up to sign a new contract with Kuwa-san, and we sound them out for a joint mission. They ought to be the right balance of calmer and hungrier by then, and we'll get a better reading after a week or so of close contact." "Ugh." "Yeah, yeah, talking to people is terrible and scary." Kakashi rolled over onto his stomach and buried his face in his arms, the soft, voluminous fabric of his hood blocking all apparent lines of sight. "Only the living." Yukiko froze, then sighed and flopped onto her back with her arms above her head. "Yeah. The dead talk back just as much, but it's still so much easier." "Sometimes I wonder how many people in Konoha would qualify for a 'Lone Survivor of My Genin Team, Including My Teacher' club," Kakashi said into the futon. "Then I stop wondering because the math is too depressing. But we could start a private chapter just for us." "Sometimes I hate that you trust me enough to say things like that," Yukiko said to the ceiling. "Then I tell myself not to be an idiot, because it means I get to say equally horrible things to you. Like that I'm pretty sure if we recruit our targets, at least one of them will be dead within two years, and I'm not sure that balances the odds that all three of them will die within one year if they keep working as missing-nin. After all, there's always a chance they might retire and start a farm." "Says the woman who got so bored with civilian life she jumped into a chuunin exam the minute Sandaime offered her a chance." "Says the Anbu assassin." Kakashi snorted. "We're all so fucked up." "Yeah." "Might as well be fucked up with other people who understand." "Yeah." They lay in silence for some time, listening to the steady thrum of rain on the roof tiles above. The air was warm and sticky, and the breeze eeling through the open window smelled faintly green beneath the ever-present fish-salt-rot odor of the sea. "Let's accidentally-on-purpose bump into the targets tomorrow morning, buy them breakfast, and float the idea of a joint mission later in the year," Yukiko said eventually. "Might as well plant seeds when the ground is soft." "You pay." "It's all mission funds in the end." "To clarify: you handle all the human interactions. I'll stand behind you and look vaguely menacing so they'll think at least one of us is competent." "To clarify: you'll look vaguely constipated, while I impress them with my social competency. Networking is an important skill for missing-nin." "I object to that assessment." "Which one of us has experience making business deals directly with civilians instead of through the mission office?" Kakashi flicked a gust of wind at her, re-tangling her hair. Yukiko pulled out Aoi's grin as she kicked Kakashi gently in the ankle. "Ninjutsu isn't a valid argument, which means I win. Your forfeit is fixing my hair." "Having teammates and friends is a terrible choice and I should never have made it a second time," Kakashi grumbled, but he sat up and tapped Yukiko's shoulder. "Turn around and hand me your comb." --------------- They hadn't been able to slap any chakra tags on the targets -- Eriko's paranoia was too thorough for even the subtlest of genjutsu threads to make it past her guard longer than a couple hours -- but Yukiko had gotten a decent sense of their chakra signatures over a series of not-quite-encounters during the past week. It helped to have rooms in the same lodging house, of course. Kakashi took first watch, leaving Yukiko to spend the back half of the night with a manual on steam heating systems and the interminable patter of rain. Eventually the sky began to lighten from matte black to flat gray and her spider-light sweep across the building and surrounding streets caught movement from their targets. "Time to go," she said as she stood. Kakashi remained unmoving until she nudged him with her foot, secure that he was actually awake and wouldn't strike her in reflexive defense. "I remember pretending to be a morning person when I was too young to know better," Kakashi grumbled into the futon. "It was a terrible idea then and it's a terrible idea now. Nobody should be awake before the sun is halfway up the sky." "Unfortunately the targets set the schedule," Yukiko said as she tucked her book away into a holding scroll. "Come on, put on your face and let's get to work." Kakashi flicked a minor wind jutsu in her direction as he rolled to his feet, but Yukiko had braided her hair so this time it stayed secure and untangled. "I wonder if I should switch to bulky scarves as an off-duty option. It's easier to eat and drink through the gaps between layers than to yank a mask up and down very fast or while people are looking away, and people have been much less interested in Hyoujin's face than they tend to be in mine." "That's because Hyoujin doesn't have a reputation. There's no glory in pulling down some random missing-nin's scarf." Yukiko grinned at Kakashi's affronted eyebrow and slipped out the window ahead of another wind jutsu. It wasn't hard to find their targets today: apparently Sumire's morning grumpiness had won over Eriko's paranoia and the trio of former Mist-nin were huddled near a breakfast yatai, half-sheltered from the incessant rain, and haggling over prices with the male half of the married couple behind the counter. Yukiko couldn't have asked for a better opening if she'd tried. She eeled her way up to the counter and grinned at the woman scraping down the stove from whatever she'd last been grilling. "Two miso and two fish on rice -- salmon for me, mackerel for my partner," she said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder at Kakashi, who was standing, smugly dry, under a wind jutsu shaped into an invisible umbrella. "Oh, and how much extra for nori with the salmon?" The woman named a price. Yukiko rolled her eyes. "I hate bargaining on an empty stomach, so I'll just pay nine tenths of that and we'll all pretend you're not robbing me blind, yeah?" She glanced sideways to where the three young missing-nin were still arguing with the other cook. "I hate listening to arguments on an empty stomach, too, so how about I cover these loudmouths, too? Or at least the difference between what they're willing to pay and what you're asking." "Deal," the man said, interrupting the mockery of persuasion Kenichi was currently attempting. "Pay up and thank the nice lady for making sure I don't turn you away unfed." Eriko slapped her hand over Sumire's wallet. "No. It's poisoned." Yukiko rolled her eyes again. "There's a difference between reasonable caution and paranoia, yeah? I want a peaceful breakfast and our last mission went well, so I'm willing to pay a little extra to smooth things over. It's not like it's that much money. And hey, if it'll make you feel better, consider it a-- a-- Hyoujin, what's the word I want?" "Why would I know? You handle contracts," Kakashi said as he slipped a bite of mackerel through the folds of his scarf. "Ugh, why are we still partners?" "Because I'm very good with knives." "Point!" Yukiko slapped the yatai counter and turned back to the trio of missing-nin. "Anyway, breakfast. You're right that nothing comes free, so let's say that I'm paying for you to consider a joint mission sometime in the future, if me and Hyoujin have a line on a job that needs more than three people and we're kicking around the same market, yeah?" Sumire blinked. Kenichi looked like she'd slapped his face with a whole salmon. Eriko scowled and said, "That's not how contracts work." "Yes it is. It's called a-- a-- it's an option, that's the word! You can ask any of the suppliers in town, they'll tell you. I'm paying for the chance to run a job past you, because anyone who makes it out of Hidden Mist is worth a trial run, yeah? You don't have to accept. You just have to listen. And now I'm done with this conversation because I don't like having arguments on an empty stomach any more than I like listening to them. Don't die, and me and Hyoujin will see you around." She grabbed her rice bowl, her cup of miso, and her disposable bamboo chopsticks and kicked Kakashi's ankle to make him turn around and stop staring creepily at the trio of missing-nin through the folds of his scarf. Bite? she asked in handsign masked by a low-level illusion -- the chakra for which ought to be covered by Kakashi's own completely explicable umbrella jutsu. Maybe, Kakashi signed back, then added aloud, "What do you want to do for our next vacation, if this job goes as well as the last one?" Yukiko shrugged elaborately as she swallowed a mouthful of fish and rice. "Eh, there's worse places than the ocean. And by then, the rain should be over for the year. I like water a lot better when it stays flat on the ground than when it's trying to crawl up my nose and into my ears, yeah?" "That's because you have no imagination," Kakashi drawled. Yukiko considered countering with her own innuendo, but no; they were leaving Asase. They could leave Aoi and Hyoujin behind with the rain and introspection and return to more familiar ground. So she poked Kakashi with her chopsticks instead, and laughed when he neatly dodged the strike. As they walked past Kuwa-san's warehouse, bickering companionably, a watery ray of sun pierced briefly through the clouds over the storm-wracked sea and laid a path west to the green reaches of home. --------------------------------------------- End of Story --------------------------------------------- Well, that took significantly longer than it needed to, but I won in the end. \o/ Also, Kuwa Natsume (from Whose Allegiance Is Ruled by Expedience) is now officially part of Apartment Manager continuity. You're welcome. :D

#liz writes stuff #mini ficlet prompt meme #naruto manga #apartment manager au #ayakawa yukiko #hatake kakashi

[kentonramsey]

R29 Style Picks: Everything We Want To Wear In July

As temperatures start to soar, it’s only natural that we begin looking at the contents of our wardrobes with a mental checklist. Is it too clingy? Is it too heavy? Will you visibly be able to see my sweat stains through this? The average list of summer fashion criteria might seem endless, but lockdown has now given us even more to things consider, with the number one question being ‘can I easily wee behind a bush in this?’ But despite summer presenting us with its fair share of fashion challenges, it also provides us some of the best pieces of the year. Whether it be a perfectly fitting loose linen dress or a dreamy pair of vintage '70s shades, summer gives us the space to shed our structured winter wardrobe and emerge into the sunshine in a string of easy, breezy pieces that work both indoors and out. Now that pubs and restaurants are set to re-open from July 4th, this month feels like the right time to invest in some staple pieces to see us through the rest of the summer. Whether it’s a killer outfit for your first socially-distanced pint or alfresco pizza of the year, team R29 have got you covered for fashion inspiration this July. From sustainable sundresses to straw sandals, click through to see what R29 staff are wearing this month…

Georgia Murray, Junior Fashion Editor

If lockdown has taught me anything, comfort comes first, and what's more important than comfy underwear? Innovative and sustainable brand Allbirds just launched its first in the category, and I’m keen to try the shorties, coming in minimalist neutral hues and made of the brand's patented super yarn TrinoTM: a blend of eucalyptus tree fibres, ZQ-certified Merino wool and a dash of elastane. They look easy as they are eco-conscious, perfect for lazy lockdown days. Allbirds Women's Trino™ Shortie, $, available at Allbirds

I’m in the market for a decent sundress now that the weather is set to improve, and this ditsy number from Tea & Tequila, handmade in Mexico by artisans paid 5x the living wage and delivered in biodegradable, planet-friendly packaging, will do just nicely.  Tea & Tequila Daisy Salsa Dress, $, available at Tea & Tequila

I’ve been looking for alternatives to be trusty Dr Martens Gryphon and Birkenstock Arizona sandals, which I’ve had on rotation for the past few years. I discovered Of Origin on sustainable retailer Reve En Vert and was pulled in by the label’s eco-credentials. 100% handmade in Spain from jute rope and a rubber sole, I was worried the natural material would rub, but no! The moulded footbed makes them super comfortable, and they’re made wide for roomy toes. They’re the perfect romantic reminder of holidays in contrast to my fairly utilitarian DMs and Birkies, too. Of Origin Salines Jute Sandals in Natural, $, available at Rêve En Vert

Anna Jay, Art Director

I bought these a week ago and have worn them almost every day since. They are really comfortable and cool for hotter days. Uniqlo Linen Blend Shorts, $, available at Uniqlo

This colour! The full set of sweatshirt and shorts is very tempting... Pangaia Lightweight Recycled Cotton Sweatshirt, $, available at Pangaia

This dress is pure sunshine and because of its bias cut, it will fall beautifully. I love the colours - the perfect way to bring holidays to my back garden. Solid & Striped Bias-Cut Checked Linen Midi Dress, $, available at Matches Fashion

Jessica Morgan, Staff Writer

Because I, like many of you, love a Zara sale. And this skirt is EVERYTHING.  Zara Voluminous Midi Skirt, $, available at Zara

Okay, it’s not quite Jacquemus’ La Bomba, the ridiculously oversized straw hat that broke the internet two summers ago (where has the time gone?), but it’s the next best thing and in my price range.  Arket Wide-Brim Straw Hat, $, available at Arket

I actually rented this dress from On Loan, a sustainable fashion rental service trying to make us all kick the habit of buying too many clothes, but I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. The shape, the floral print, the square neckline, and it fits me perfectly. I really, really, really want to buy it, and though I guess it defeats the purpose of signing up to a rental service, it’s a great way to try before you buy. Olivia Rose The Label The Manon Dress, $, available at On Loan

Sadhbh O'Sullivan, Health and Living Writer

I really like the simplicity of these huggie earrings. Except for special occasions I only really wear silver hoops, and these look to be my new go-to. Orelia Simple Huggie Hoop Earrings, $, available at Orelia Jewellery

Ok technically this is a £6 knitting pattern and not a fashion purchase up front. But given I also have to buy about 10 balls of yarn to complete this at around £8 a ball, it adds up to quite a hefty purchase. I love everything about this, from the design to the potential colour combinations. Plus I get the genuine joy of making it myself. Ravelry Mega Lara Sweater, $, available at Ravelry

When I saw these on YMC’s Instagram page I did a little gasp, I felt such an immediate pull towards them. They currently only stock them up to size 40 which I interpret as a personal affront. But I’m waiting patiently for them to make them up to a 41. I live in hope! You Must Create Martiape Mule, $, available at You Must Create

Alicia Lansom, Editorial Assistant

No matter how many sites I have scrolled through during lockdown, I haven’t been able to find a summer dress that fits my needs. Who knew it was so hard to find a short loose fit dress that didn’t look like a paper bag? Thankfully this Urban Outfitters number is exactly what I have been looking for. So long, trousers!    Urban Outfitters UO Pepper Plaid Mini Dress, $, available at Urban Outfitters

It’s only since I started trying my hand at nail art that I realised that I own exactly 0 rings. So, to compliment my artistic work, I am looking to slowly start building a collection of plain(ish) rings I can wear on the daily. This twisty creation from July Child is at the top of my list. July Child Dori, $, available at July Child

The last pair of blue and lilac trainers I owned were Clark’s Cica’s which lit up when I walked. It is perhaps my fond memories of wearing these shoes to the school disco that made me fall in love with these Axel Arigato trainers as soon as I saw them. Hopefully I can save up enough pennies to make these running shoes my staple summer footwear.  Axel Arigato Marathon Runner, $, available at Axel Arigato

Vicky Spratt, Features Editor

I have long been a Birkenstock wearer but I hate the feeling of putting them on with wet feet after I’ve emerged from a pool/lake/the sea. They squelch, it’s gross and the leather gets ruined. Enter these super affordable waterproof guys! If you need me I’ll be down by the river near my house pretending I’m Ursula Andress on a beach as I exit said river and survey sweaty crowds of people doing balloons and pretending they’re at a festival.  Birkenstock Arizona Eva Sandals, $, available at Birkenstock

Because sunbathing in the park is the new going on holiday, swimwear now needs to double up as a nice top for post sunset tinnies...this fits the bill. Hunza G Honor Belted Seersucker Bandeau Swimsuit, $, available at Net-A-Porter

How many pairs of sunglasses is it acceptable to own? I’m asking for a friend who can’t really justify buying any more but would definitely be adding these to basket if they were in the market… Loewe Anagram Cat-Eye Tortoiseshell-Acetate Sunglasses, $, available at Matches Fashion

Kristine Romano, Photo & Design Assistant

I wear my hair up a lot in the summer - not because I necessarily prefer it that way but mainly 'cause I get too warm otherwise. Regular scrunchies are a great added accessory, but I especially love the look of oversized ones.  shophoneyclothing Red Giant Scrunchie, $, available at Etsy

I’ve been on the lookout for a pair of sports style elasticated shorts and was instantly drawn to these ones by L.F. Markey in this towelling material. I love the feeling of being wrapped up in a towel and can only wonder if that’s what it would feel like to be wearing these? L.F.MARKEY Basic Towelling Shorts, $, available at L.F. Markey

If I get to enjoy even just a day at the beach or the pond this summer, I’d love to be swimming in this. Although on the pricier side, this swimsuit is both ethically made and fits seven sizes in one meaning I can get plenty of long term wear out of it! You Swim Aplomb One-Piece, $, available at You Swim

Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Editor

Inspired by Dua Lipa, I feel as though it’s time to ditch my failsafe scrunchie collection in favour of something a touch more grown up. Silk scarves are everywhere at the moment and look like the perfect accessory to help keep my long, thick hair off my face. I’ll fashion a low ponytail, secure with a headband and tie this around the base for a super quick hair update. Weekday Draco Scarf, $, available at Weekday

I’ve always gone for really dainty, pretty sandals but I’m feeling the chunky vibe this summer and I like the tough buckle detail on this pair. I’m 5ft nothing, so hope they might give me a bit of height! I’ll pair them with mom jeans and a cute crop top. Dr. Martens Black Blaire Slide Sandals, $, available at Schuh

After four years, my trusty Valentino shades gave out on me (I sat on them) so it’s time for a new pair. I love the exaggerated cat-eye shape of these and the tortoiseshell frame is similar to my glasses, so I know they’ll suit me if I decide to shell out on them. Dolce & Gabbana Cat-Eye Tortoiseshell Acetate Sunglasses, $, available at Net-A-Porter

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Behind The Seams: What Exactly Is Greenwashing?

From Cherries To Lemons, Fashion Is Feeling Fruity

The Irresistible Appeal Of A Yellow Dress

R29 Style Picks: Everything We Want To Wear In July published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

[yesterdaysdreams]

February Favourites

Hey guys! Ready for another monthly favourites?

I really enjoyed putting together a list of my discoveries last month, and it was lovely to see so many of you checked out the links that I shared! This month I’ve been deep into home renovating and decor ideas, which has to be one of the most enjoyable things around (as long as you don’t think about prices or budget!). Ben and I are back in Australia now, I’m running an event in Sydney next week and working on the house in the meantime. It’s coming along really quickly. Here are some things I loved in the month of February.

Wearing

Never one to miss an opportunity to dress the part, I’ve been buying more overall dresses this month! These ones are perfect paired with a striped long sleeve top. Throw on some high vis and steel cap boots and you’re demolition ready (kinda).

You know when you find something online and you just havvvve to have it? This romper made do a double and triple take. It’s waiting in my cart!

The last restock of the nude Simple Sandals sold out super fast, but we’ve got a few back in for those of you who’ve been wanting to get your hands on them. Run, don’t walk!

Did you hear? Beaded bags are the new straw bags.

Going

Discovered this gorgeous hotel in Sri Lanka, which is soooo my vibe. I definitely recommend a visit to SL if you’re on the hunt for your next destination. You might want to check out this guide first which gives you all the basics.

Visiting Hong Kong? Don’t miss pretty Lantau Island!

Making

Wahhhhh so many ideas in my head about DIYs to make for the new house… I adore the amazing safari inspired curtains at The Now and feel like they need to be incorporated in some way… But how?! Also, for the first time in my life I may or may not be getting a walk in wardrobe.  This is no small thing and requires plenty of planning – we’re going for something simple and off the rack but with a few designer/mid-century touches (designer inspired without blowing the budget – it’s the theme of the reno!).

This month we got down to business showing you how to master a few simple macramé knots, and then made this gorgeous chandelier! In the outfit department, you’d be crazy not to grab yourself a pair of scissors and make this easy DIY wrap top. And because we’re all about wrapped styles at the moment, you might want to check out this DIY dress too!

Feeling peckish? Make this guilt free blueberry ‘cheesecake’.

Absolutely loving the whole dried flower trend… I spotted it everywhere when I was in Japan last year so not surprised it’s going global. Stay tuned for a bunch (tehe!) of ways to make your own.

Reading/Looking

Have you guys read any Ask Polly? I’m such a fan! I first read this column a while ago and it really resonated with me, and then downloaded her book and read it in, like, a day. Her no bs approach to life has me sold!

This made me lol. She always does!

Influencers vs Enablers. Tres interesting (and kinda reflects my thoughts on the online space).

Mesmerised by the colours of Stella Maria Baer.

Nesting

We’re full steam ahead on our house renovation… In case you missed it we talked about How to Plan Your Renovation and How to develop A Renovation Budget. Might not sound super sexy but these steps are so important to the whole process!

Because of this, I’ve been doing soooo much inspiration gathering, it honestly never stops. I love the vibe of this cool co-working space in San Francisco. How cool are those planters?!

I’m all about adding the finishing touches right now (which is hilarious given our renovation isn’t finished) but totally drawn to these amazing gem fruits… Heart eyes!

Structural planters are everywhere right now, why not make your own? And invest a little time in decluttering and then make a simple woven box using rope and a recycled cardboard box!

Moodboard images via Tess Guinery, Domino Magazine, Free People, Pop & Scott, Coming Soon NYC, Stella Maria Baer.

The post February Favourites appeared first on A Pair & A Spare.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265713 http://ift.tt/2FddzsA via IFTTT

#IFTTT #RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265713