And so it was with this in mind that I curated a selection of essential pieces from VIDA, which creates ethically sourced clothing and decor designed by independent artists.

You can shop this look and others that I curated from VIDA at the end of this page and at their site shopvida.com

As a bonus to all my readers and subscribers, VIDA has generally offered the discount code tenkeypieces to take 15% off your order !!

“Paris is always a good idea”. Audrey Hepburn

It was definitely a “pinch me” moment when VIDA reached out to me to curate a collection on the site. I was truly honored to be included in the global conversation of ethical manufacturing, as many posts on this blog feature sustainable and slow fashion.

What better location to shoot this collection than the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, built as a replica of the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris. The museum holds the largest private collection of sculptures by Parisian sculptor Auguste Rodin, creator of The Thinker.

Now, I don’t know about you, but Paris feels like a world away. So in selecting this location and the theme for this shoot, I thought “why not bring Paris to me?”

VIDA’s pieces that I selected for the shoot captured the essence of this museum location. VIDA specializes in collapsing the distance between artists and manufacturers around the globe, to bring one of a kind pieces to life and into your closet. Much like a visit to your local museum.

From a Designer in Paris to a producer in Karachi, and consumer in San Francisco, VIDA covers the distance for you.

Best of all VIDA’s pieces are manufactured on demand so there’s no stockpile of unwanted garments relegated to landfill or disposed of in other environmentally harmful ways.

For this look I reached for versatile pieces that can be worn in several different ways and that take you from day to evening. Imagine that you have a 24 hour layover in Paris. The itinerary zigzagging across the Seine, from the Louvre museum to riding the Metro to Pigalle. Dinner with expat friends in Montmartre, and dropping in on a Jazz set at Hotel Costas. Everything needs to fit into a stylish tote. And most important, exude that French girl chic.

Day at the Museum

For those chilly Paris mornings I layered my favorite vegan leather trench over the Essential Top Paris print. The design is from Canadian photographer Amy Smart. The Silk Square Scarf from the VIDA Black Collection, is tied handkerchief style at the neck. Grab my metro pass and the Statement Bag (toss in a pair of sneakers because high heels will come in handy much later) and I’m out the door.

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Dinner with expat friends

I let the Essential Top be the focus and loosened the scarf for a relaxed and drapey look. I’m not afraid to look the American in Paris part!

Jazz Club with my favorite Parisian bloggers

One of my favorite tricks for elevating a blouse is to wear it backwards. The tailoring on the back of the Essential Top creates a structured and elegant line when worn in the front. The deep V in the back elongates the neck and draws attention to the Paris street scene.

Continuing with this jazz club theme I twisted the Silk Square Scarf into a turban-esque head wrap. The look is so Josephine Baker glam plus another trick I learned to make the cheek bones appear higher than they really are!

In all, with the range of designs you can choose from on the VIDA site, you can curate a look to go with any vibe you’re feeling. Obviously for me, it was Paris. But I also included some pieces in the curated collection below that are off-duty, such as the Foundation Muscle Tank, and functional like the Empire State iPhone case. The Carry All Pouch (available in leather and canvas) holds all your essentials and can double as an evening bag.

Whatever you choose every purchase has a purpose. For every product made, VIDA offers education programs to their workforce.

Thus, checking all the boxes for today’s conscious consumer.