Week Of Outfits Series: A Week Of Self-Expressive Outfits With Aja Duran From Aja With Love
A Week Of Outfits With Aja Duran From Aja With Love
The Good Trade’s Week of Outfits Series highlights women that have personally inspired us to shop and live with intention! Each woman takes her own unique approach to slow fashion and demonstrates how beautifully sustainable fashion can come to life. Today we’re excited to share a week of outfits from Aja Duran, the conscious blogger behind Aja With Love!
// ABOUT AJA //
Age | 21
Location | Los Angeles, CA
Occupation | Advertising Student and Content Creator
Where To Find Her | Her blog and Instagram
Favorite Brands | Crossroads Trading, Everlane and Madewell
I have always had an immense passion for style and the world of fashion. Ever since I was a little girl I remember designing clothes and creating lookbooks for my friends and family to flip through. As I grew up I had my sights set on a fashion blogging career and eventually creating my very own label of clothing. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I actually realized all of the injustice and harm that was going on within the industry.
I started to do more research about the industry and when I found out how much the fashion industry alone was responsible for negative environmental impacts, I wanted to scream and hide. I tried for a long while to turn a blind eye and I continued to buy into fast fashion and blog about the latest Forever 21 collections, but every time I posted a new blog post or Instagram photo, I felt like I was lying to myself and to my readers. I felt SO guilty for doing something that I knew was wrong. So I decided to finally make a change.
“I realized that wearing the same three shirts everyday only made me feel very sad inside because I was unable to express myself through clothing anymore.”
I took a social media break for few months, which is when I really began my sustainable fashion journey. I had done little research and thought that minimalism was the only way to be eco-friendly. So I donated 90 percent of my wardrobe and felt amazing that I finally got rid of what I was no longer using. That was until I realized that wearing the same three shirts everyday only made me feel very sad inside because I was unable to express myself through clothing anymore. Despite the fact that I was slowly losing my sense of self, I kept at it because I thought it was the only way to be reduce my carbon footprint.
“Sustainable fashion means being conscious of your decisions and trying to make the effort to minimize your consumption.”
After a month or two of pure frustration, I decided that I had to find another way to do this. Minimalism wasn’t for me, so that’s when I decided to launch my blog. I wanted to create a community where I can share my journey with other gals trying to get into the conscious lifestyle and to inspire them and myself that you can 100 percent be stylish AND sustainable.
I know that sustainable fashion is such a broad and vague term that means a lot of different things to many people. To me, sustainable fashion doesn’t mean you have to have a capsule wardrobe and it doesn’t mean that you have to spend your hard earned money on high priced sustainable brands either. It means being conscious of your decisions and trying to make the effort to minimize your consumption. This means not buying into fast fashion and not purchasing items just for the sake of filling up your wardrobe. The key is to have high quality items that will last your for a long while, whether you bought them secondhand or saved your money to buy one Reformation dress.
“The key is to have high quality items that will last your for a long while, whether you bought them secondhand or saved your money to buy one Reformation dress.”
// Find Aja Online //
Website // Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest
Monday
Mondays are my fun days. I usually go out with my siblings to brunch or explore new cafes with my friends, but today my boyfriend took me out to lunch to our favorite brunch spot. I decided on wearing something comfortable and easy to walk in as we usually end up walking into the local thrift shops and bookstores. I love wearing my favorite Madewell denim jacket on my casual days because it is so comfortable and is great for this LA weather. It honestly goes with so much and when it starts to get a little cooler, you bet I’ll be wearing it almost everyday!
Today’s Featured Pieces:
Madewell Denim Jacket
Tuesday
Tuesdays I have class, so I try to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to walk all over campus in and an outfit that is comfortable to sit in but still stylish enough to make me feel confident. Today I chose to wear my favorite Dr. Martens boots. These are honestly so comfortable and great for school days and days when I go out with my friends. My skirt and top are thrifted from a few years ago, and they’re still in good shape!
Today’s Featured Pieces:
Dr. Martens Boots
Wednesday
Wednesdays are my blogging and social media days. My boyfriend and I usually do our photoshoots on these days, but today was a little crazy, so we spent most of our time photographing looks and then I met up with my family for lunch. After lunch I had to finish some projects and answer emails, so when I planned this outfit I knew that I had to wear something stylish yet comfortable enough to run around in. My outfit is entirely thrifted from my favorite second hand shop, Crossroads Trading Co. I was so excited when I stumbled across these jeans because not only were they a perfect fit; but they were also name brand jeans, that retailed for $225, but I only paid $23! Yay for thrifting!
Today’s Featured Pieces:
Similar Straight Leg Jeans From Everlane
Thursday
Another school day, but I got out early and went to my favorite lunch spot in Pasadena with my siblings. We go to Urth Café at least twice a week, I love their matcha lattes so much! Anyways, I decided to wear this thrifted look and my favorite Madewell denim skirt (admittedly, I probably wear this skirt three times a week… it’s a beaut!) with these comfortable boots that my mom gifted me a few years back.
Today’s Featured Pieces:
Similar Madewell Denim Skirt
Friday
Fridays are usually my catch up days! So if I’m not studying at the library I’m probably writing another blog post. I find that doing my work outside of the house helps me stay focused and also gives me a reason to get dressed! I decided to wear this super comfy cotton button up blouse with these fun velvet Madewell kick flares that I thrifted. I’m a huge fan of kick flare pants so when I spotted these at Crossroads Trading, I knew I had to have them!
Today’s Featured Pieces:
All Thrifted!
Saturday
Another 100 percent thrifted look! I absolutely love this blazer that I found hidden in a pile at one of the local thrift shops. It has such a nice structure and is also very breathable! This is one of my go to looks for a Saturday afternoon. Blazer, simple top, skirt and boots! Comfortable, versatile, and chic.
Today’s Featured Pieces:
All Thrifted!
Sunday
Ahhh the lazy Sunday outfit. Slouchy tee, my favorite skirt, and a pair of chunky boots! Sunday’s are very uneventful for me, so my outfits are very casual. I recently purchased this Everlane tee and I never want to take it off. It’s so soft and has the perfect slouchy silhouette—it’s one of those tees that you can wear with anything!
