Dear ESB,
I've loved reading your blog for the past few months-- it's such a breath of fresh air. You have amazing fashion sense, and that's why I'm writing to you now.
First of all: I'm a professional naturalist and a former park ranger. I spend my a big chunk of my life encouraging people to develop their connection to nature and the rest of society, to care for the earth, and to explore the wild. I try to teach people that what they buy affects the world socially and environmentally, and it's best to know how and where products are made before we buy them. I'm marrying an adorable woodworker (shameless plug here) who makes his furniture out of 100% reclaimed wood. He comes home wearing plaid covered in sawdust. Hot.
Second: I live in the middle of nowhere, up next to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a tiny little town that doesn't even have a signal light. And I LOVE it. But... there is almost nowhere to shop. LA and the Bay Area are a few hundred miles from me, so I'm reluctant to make the drive and aimlessly run around looking for dresses.
Third: I committed the ultimate sin and bought this BHLDN dress. The shame. But I was in Houston with all of my relatives, it was one of the few opportunities I'd have to try on a cute dress, and I bit. But now I want to return it because it was probably made in a sweat shop. And it's polyester. Ick.
Could you and your readers help me find another dress? Here are some basic guidelines:
1. I look a little bit like Botticelli's Venus: full thighs, small waist, small boobs, and curly blonde hair. So the dress needs to have a fuller skirt and a fitted top to be flattering. I'm about 5'8 and a dress size 4.
2. What I dislike: the bride-y cupcake look. I've looked at some of the eco dress posts on ESB, and they weren't really my style. None of the eco Etsy dresses I've looked at are appealing to me at all because they're either white and floofy or they look like a pile doilies stitched together.
3. What I love: natural, clean lines, embellished details that make the outfit pop. I love Alabama Chanin because the looks are simple but elegant, they use natural materials, the clothes are ethically made in the US... but it's crazy expensive. This is my favorite AC outfit. It's for the tune of about $6,000 in total, so sadly not an option. The cheaper, simpler AC clothes may be just a bit too everyday to be a wedding dress.
4. Designer or company needs to have a genuine environmental and workplace policies in place.
5. The dress does not need to be white. I'm happy with blue or earthy tones, just so long as it makes me look like a total goddess.
6. The dress needs to be made in the USA. It would be awesome if someone found a dress made in California because I think it's important to shop locally.
7. It's essential that the dress is made of natural materials, preferably organic, such as silk, cotton, hemp, etc.
8. It may be a little chilly during the wedding (50 - 65 F), so it needs to have a little bit of sleeve or have something to go over it, like a cute jacket.
9. I'd prefer a full length dress to impress the fiance.
10. My budget is under $1,000. $2,000 for something really amazing.
11. Something I could wear again would be huge bonus points, even if it needed to be dyed or altered.
I hope y'all (that's right, I'm from Texas) can find something. Thanks!!
*****
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Does anyone feel like helping this GODDESS out?
Because honestly I couldn't even get through her email.
