Conscious by Chloé

Chloé Lepeltier - Conscious By Chloé

Bonjour & Welcome! Conscious by Chloé is a Sustainable Lifestyle Blog focusing on Zero Waste, Slow Living, and Ethical Fashion.

    Portland Flea Market Finds

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé
    Photos by Octave Zangs

    Sometimes the vintage stars align and you find the perfect outfit for a bargain in less than half an hour.

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé
    Note to self: Stop shooting pictures on trash collection days.

    Last Sunday, I had planned to go to the flea market early, wander, eat at a foot cart and visit the neighboring shops.

    But something else kept me busy and only arrived at the Portland Flea Market 30 minutes before closing time.

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé

    So I took a quick look at inspiring booths, and scored 3 new to me pieces.

    One of the vendors had so many gems. I tried on a couple items but ultimately stuck to my color palette and bought this blue jacket and a skirt I'll wear in the spring.

    The jacket is the perfect weight and color. I only wish it had pockets. Maybe one day I'll feel adventurous and open some. I prefer massive outside pockets but doubt I'll find the right fabric and don't want them to stand out if I don't.

    An adrenaline rush even pushed me to bargain. And it worked!

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé

    Then I tried on this dress on top of my clothes while the owner was already packing out and snuck into a neighboring booth to look at myself in one of their beautiful vintage mirrors.

    It was exactly what I was looking for. I love the construction at the waist. The dress is 100% linen and was even made in the USA!

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé

    I rarely get that lucky in such a short amount of time, and also rarely shop that impulsively. But sometimes, it's fun to go on a little shopping spree, and I never get buyer's remorse when I purchase second-hand pieces and support small vendors.

    Portland Flea Market Finds by Conscious by Chloé
    Dress, vintage from Wild Flower Vintage | Jacket, vintage | Clogs, Nina Z

    What's the last vintage piece you added to your closet?

    What's in a Name?

    Everlane Wide Leg Crop Utility Pant Golden Brown by Conscious by Chloé

    When I was a kid, a teacher would come to my school to teach us English once a week.

    I have two memories from her class:

    1. She leaves the school crying because we forgot to do our homework (mean little 10 year olds!).

    2. She randomly picked British names for us. Mine was Barbara... I hated it.

    Everlane Wide Leg Crop Utility Pant Golden Brown by Conscious by Chloé

    Jacket, vintage | Tank, North of West | Pants, Everlane (click here for an invitation) | Bag, vintage - it was my mom's! (similar) | Clogs, Nina Z

    About 5 years later, I decide that if I could choose, my name would be Sam, just Sam - probably short for Samantha, though I did not like that name either (oh teenagers!).

    Everlane Wide Leg Crop Utility Pant Golden Brown by Conscious by Chloé

    Fast forward a couple more years, I'm living on the campus of the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, England. Two Chinese students share a room on my floor. We introduce ourselves, and I realize that they adopted Western names. I'm surprised, but quickly realize that it's a pretty common practice.

    Everlane Wide Leg Crop Utility Pant Golden Brown by Conscious by Chloé

    It's 2008, I work in Beijing for the Olympics. We take Chinese classes. Some of my colleagues earn Chinese names, based on either physical characteristics or traits of personality. I discover a new common practice. Full circle - though I'm sad I did not stay long enough to be able to earn one.

    consciousbychloe-everlane-wide-leg-crop-utility-pant-golden-brown-10-2

    Last week of August 2018 - I'm thrift shopping while waiting for a friend before we get dinner. I try on a jacket and get an instant crush. I text my friend and tell her that because she's late I'm gonna get myself a jacket (oh the excuses I find to justify a purchase!). I leave the store, to come back 10 minutes later after my friend asks where the jacket is. I try it on a second time and finally take it home.

    Everlane Wide Leg Crop Utility Pant Golden Brown by Conscious by Chloé

    You can now call me Brooklyn Welch...

    Now tell me. Did a foreign language teacher ask you to choose a name? What was it?

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé
    Photo credits: Octave Zangs

    I love supporting local makers, but I don't necessarily always have the budget to add their pieces to my closet.

    And then, sometimes, the universe conspires in my favor.

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    Worn / Jumpsuit: Lauren Winter (made in Portland, OR), Shoes: Rachel Sees Snail Shoes (made Portland, OR), Bag: DIY.

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    I've been a fan of Lauren Winter for a couple years now. I wear her pants weekly, no matter the season - do you remember them in my fall capsule?

    The quality of her linen is perfect, the cuts are very flattering and her aesthetics and mission align perfectly with mine.

    I'd been eyeing her wraparound jumpsuit and waited for the right oppotunity (i.e. sale) to make a move.

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    The jumpsuit is everything I expected. The linen is the softest, the color complements my skin tone and hair color just like I wanted it. The fit is great though I might have been able to size down (I chose a medium). I feel like it's a little bulky on the bust and shoulders.

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    Now let's talk about my shoes!

    I was following Rachel online, first met her IRL at the Sustainable Fashion Forum and again at an Airbnb Experience hosts meet-up here in Portland (she teaches shoemaking workshops, I host tours of my "Zero Waste" Home). She later organized an open studio event where I got these samples for a steal.

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    The rubber soles are very comfortable and the leather is buttery soft. They are now my go-to summer sandals.

    If you're not able to come to Portland to take a shoe-making workshop, you can order a kit and make your own at home! How cool is that?!

    A 100% Portland-made Outfit with Lauren Winter and Rachel Sees Snail Shoes by Conscious by Chloé

    I consider myself very lucky to be able to get to know the people who made items I wear on a daily basis.

    How do you shop for a somehow pricey piece? Or do you save your bucks for the right time and splurge? Do you wait for a sale and "risk missing out"?

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    Spring in my Step

    Open Air Museum Ballard Jumpsuit Black

    You Can't Go Wrong with Neutrals

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé
    Photo credits: Octave Zangs

    Last night was a good hair night, so I bribed Octave with the promise of dinner at our favorite taco joint in exchange for a quick photo session on the way there.

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    I had thrown this outfit together before heading to an event at WM Goods.

    Create + Connect is a monthly gathering where a small business owner shares her journey and opens the discussion on a subject of her choice. Last night's host was Stefani Padilla of La Tierra Sagrada (hence the good hair day, I had actually washed and blowdried it as I knew I would feel self conscious if I showed up with messy and dirty hair at an event hosted by a hair stylist).

    We talked about self care, the full moon, and crazy people.

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    I'm currently letting my bangs grow. Is this a good or a bad idea?

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    Worn / Trench: Only Child (made in Oakland, CA), Top: second hand, Jeans: old American Apparel (made in Los Angeles, CA), Shoes: Everlane (made in Val D’Arno, Italy).

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    This trench was my paren'ts birthday gift to me. It took me hours to decide between the cotton canvas and the linen version and then to chose a color. Camel and rust were close contenders, but I ended up sticking with a neutral palette and ordered the oatmeal. You can't go wrong with neutrals, right?

    The same had happened to me a couple weeks earlier with the shoes. I have not regretted that decision, but did feel a little stupid when Andrea - who's got them in cognac - mentioned that she would never buy light-colored suede shoes in rainy and muddy Portland.

    I did inadvertenly pour a drink on these shoes the first night I wore them, so I suppose the universe just wanted me to realize quickly that they'll never stay perfect.

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    This reminds me of something. When you were a younger, did kids at school also step on your brand new shoes to "baptize" them (aka make them dirty) or was this just a ridiculous custom/bullying tradition in my school?

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    You've already seen this top here, those jeans here and this necklace here.

    I still have some weight to lose to be back to where I was when I felt great in my skin, but I'm on the right path and already feel comfortable in those high-waisted mom jeans (even while seating! Woop woop!).

    I usually wear this top under a jumpsuit since it's a crop top, but can now also pair it with high waisted pants.

    I stopped wearing this necklace for a while as I had taken it and worn it almost daily during a month-long trip to Europe last year. Now that I've missed it I'm happy to wear it again.

    Only Child Trench and Everlane Day Heels Look by Conscious by Chloé

    Do you also stop wearing items altogether only to be happy to find them again after a while and enjoy them again?

    My Fake Commute

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    Working from home can be a bit of a challenge.

    Yes, there’s the freedom to sleep in, work in your PJs, take a shower at 1pm if you feel like it, and take some time off kinda whenever but how much freedom is too much freedom?

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    Pompom Hat (similar) Vintage coat (similar) - Leggings (similar) - Clogs (Sandgrens) - DIY Tote (Klumhouse)

    I’ve worked in offices, had part-time jobs, been a consultant and I am now my own boss, so I can safely say that I know what I’m talking about. But even more so considering that I’m spending this month of March in Geneva, working at one of my clients' office for a one month long 40-hours a week contract.

    I do this every year, and, besides it being a great opportunity to connect with fellow translators, it’s a perfect way to take inventory of my work habits.

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    It’s going to be 4 years since I quit my job at a creative agency to fly across the world and become my own boss. 4 years of testing the waters, making decisions, changing my mind, and trying again.

    I can now look back on these experiments and figure out what I would totally do again, and what I would avoid at all cost.

    And amongst those revelations, the freelance hack I’m the most proud of to this day is… my fake commute.

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    On some days, I get up, get dressed and walk to my neighborhood coffee shop for a warm cup of chai, to-go and sip it on my way back home, sometimes making a little detour through the park (and even listening to the latest episode of my current favorite podcast). It’s the perfect way to transition from home life to work life. The fresh air chases away the last drops of sleepiness and the exercise energizes and motivates me to get started.

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    What makes it even better is the fact that I now have a commute buddy.

    It wasn’t too hard to convince Octave to get up a little earlier if it meant getting coffee and his favorite financier.

    When he comes with me, we usually seat down and take some time to catch up. It's actually really interesting to see how those conversations can be so much different from the ones we have at home (you might remember that we also meet at the coffee shop do do our accounting).

    I actually received a text from him one afternoon (it was Wednesday morning in PDX) last week in which he said he missed me and wanted to meet me for coffee!

    Vintage Ethical Look Shot in Front of a Portland Mural by Conscious by Chloé

    Do you work from home? Is there a secret hack you want to share with us?

    Pictures by Octave Zangs for Conscious by Chloé.