Jeans that let you charge your phone, a documentary about British Vogue, H&M denim made from in-store clothing donations and more news that made headlines in fashion this week.

• Barneys and the CFDA have  teamed up for a “Made in New York” capsule collection to promote the city’s manufacturing sector.
• BBC Two is making a documentary about British Vogue that will tie in with the magazine’s 100th anniversary in 2016.
• In September, H&M is coming out with 16 new denim styles made from in-store clothing donations.
• Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo and Theory, plans to try out a four-day workweek for about a fifth of its workforce.
• Both Patagonia and Stella McCartney have cut ties with an Argentinean sustainable wool supplier after a PETA exposé.
• Joe’s Jeans has released a denim collection that allows you to charge your phone by way of a secret compartment that fits a battery.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the Cabat bag helped save the Italian luxury goods house Bottega Veneta from banktruptcy in 2001. This woven leather tote was the first bag Tomas Maier designed for the company when he took over as creative director. It is woven by hand from strips of double-faced leather, and takes two artisans two days to complete.

I pinned this runway look from Ralph Lauren’s 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection because the colour combination is inspiring. Olive paired with a shade of white looks fresh, but it’s the addition of the orange that kicks the whole lot up a notch. Modern and Sporty. Choose burnt orange or rust for a toned down version if bright orange is not your thing.

Think of any way to combine these three colours. Olive comes in different shades — sour, muted and dark — so take your pick. It ALL works with orange and white. I’ll start the ball rolling with three renditions. All four pairs of shoes are interchangeable with each of the outfits. 

Olive Topper, White Bottoms & Orange Bag

This version approximates the runway look. Combine white trousers, jeans or a skirt with a white layering top and an olive topper. Use a cardigan or vest if a jacket is not your thing. Finish off the look with orange footwear or bag. Use white or metallic footwear if you prefer a neutral foot. I chose a self-colour white sandal with a high vamp to create a longer leg line with the white ankle pants. 

Olive Dress, Orange Shoes & White Bag

Combine an olive dress with white bag and orange footwear. Or choose white shoes and orange bag. A white topper works well over an olive dress, as does an orange scarf or necklace and metallic footwear. 

Olive Bottoms, White Top & Orange Accents 

Combine a pair of olive jeans, pants or a skirt with a white top and orange scarf. Finish off the look with metallic footwear and bag. A tonal white topper works well with this rendition. Or change things up with an orange topper and white shoes. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

You could also combine a pair of blue jeans with a white top, olive topper, and orange scarf and/or bag. Finish off that look with metallic, white or orange shoes. Get those creative juices flowing.

In this WWD fashion flashback with great picture gallery full of retro photos, top designers reminisce about what they wore in high school.

I was intrigued by something photographer Ayla Hibri said about the pictures she took of the welders of Medeber, a metal market in the capital of Eritrea:

“What stood out for me is the DIY masks that everyone was wearing. Each [man] had his own unique mask created with their own hands based on their own need and sense of style. There was the square one, the rectangular one, the cardboard one, the coloured one, the plain one, the one that has built in goggles… She explains that many of the metal workers ‘go all out’ with their masks: “it seemed like an extension to their practice, as much of a tool to them as the equipment they use.”

Fab footwear and marvelous floor patterns come together on the Instagram account I Have This Thing With Floors.

Fab Links from Our Members

Marlene loves Melissa McCarthy’s comments about how creating categories like “plus-size fashion” is marginalizing people. Enough is enough.

HiggsMistress is intrigued by Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, who lives in a 240-square-foot trailer and has only 4 pairs of shoes. She also enjoyed this post explaining more about Llamapolis, the community he built.

Robin really likes the honest discussion in this article about what’s working and what’s not working around the fashion industry’s inclusion of people with different and disabled bodies.

Sally shares how and why she tweaked the tattoo on her leg, which was inspired by stained glass panels. Angie likes the new black outlines, which to her eye work well with Sally’s refreshed wardrobe made up almost entirely of dark colours.

Vicki would like to share this story on womenswear label Co, who have teamed up with French jeans vet François Girbaud for a line of no-stretch raw denim. Here’s a closer look at the jacket mentioned in the article, and the pants are great, too!

Alecia is trying to live her values of quality over quantity and to reduce waste. With regards to fashion, this BBC article on what happens to your old clothes was more food for thought on that topic.

A list published in 2014 on what not to wear after 30 has recently caused a lot of reaction among style bloggers, which Peri thinks is fantastic, especially given the recent forum discussion of knees. Have a look at Judith of StyleCrone and Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb defying the list.

One of my style goals this year is to add more tomato red to my wardrobe because the colour makes me very happy. I’ve added three items so far, and the latest one is this cocoon-shaped shirtdress from COS. I bought it while on holiday in London recently, but it almost didn’t follow me home! 

I tried on the dress when shopping with sister-in-law Keri, and we loved it. It was the perfect casual dress: colourful, woven, had sleeves and a high neckline, and just enough length. But I didn’t get it right away because I don’t wear breezy dresses all that frequently. I said to Keri that I would go back for it if it stayed on my mind. 

I was still thinking about it a few days later when I was shopping with Fabbers at the London gathering. Sadly, the COS on Regent street had already sold out of my size. Oh, well. On to the next fab dress. Then we headed out to Covent Garden for a drink and a Fabber suggested that I check a nearby COS store just in case. There was only one left and it was in my size. It was meant to be. 

Thanks to our glorious hot and sunny Summer, I’ve worn my new red frock multiple times. I love the combination of strict shirt dress detailing and playful cocoon volume. The volume does not overwhelm my slight frame, thanks to the tailored shoulders and sleeves, tapered hem, and above the knee length. The dress is made of a refined crinkle cotton that feels wet to the touch because it’s extra crisp and cool. The best part about the dress after the colour is the pockets. There is something about skirts and dresses with side entry pockets that makes them more fun to wear.

The casual dress needs a casual support act, which means flat shoes all the way. The shorter length of the dress lengthens the leg line when worn with flats. I’ve worn the dress most frequently with breezy white perforated oxfords and last season’s white upscale backpack.

The Sporty Luxe concept of the outfit is similar to the denim shirt dress and flag dress outfits I wore last year — just a little less Sporty. I prefer these perforated loafers to last year’s white sneakers because they’re a tad dressier. I wear them all the time because they’re very comfortable and versatile, just like a pair of fashionable white sneakers should be. I’ve also worn the dress with gold Franco Sarto Holts and light blue satchel or gold clutch, which dresses up the look a little more. But I prefer the dress dressed down like it is here. More fashionable and interesting. 

I had prescription lenses put into my new Ray-Ban sunglasses as soon as we returned from London. As much as I like the look of other styles of sunnies, I’m a Ray-Ban gal at heart. Their narrower frames fit my face and the Retro aesthetic is comforting. Silver watch and wedding ring to match the hardware on the bag and shoes are all I need in the jewelley department. 

Wearing a casual dress with flats on a hot Seattle Summer’s day is almost as good as it gets. The comfort and ease of this outfit combination is relaxing and therapeutic. As was the venue for this photo shoot at Shilshole Marina, where our friends Shyam and Thanuja moor their sailing boat. Best Summer EVER in Seattle.