Equipment sleeveless silk pocket blouse
So. This was a long time coming. I’ve been adding and subtracting to my wardrobe for so many years that nothing I’ve owned has ever truly looked a little worse for wear.
The whole notion of conscious or conspicuous consumption is that you re-wear your core wardrobe pieces to the point that eventually you will need to replace them. They’ll start looking a little sad; the colour will fade, stains will become permanent, fabric will stretch, and holes will appear where they shouldn’t.
I’ve had it happen before. The skirt I wore almost every other day even though the fabric was worn beyond salvaging, or the shoes which I scuffed to oblivion as I couldn’t bear parting with them; it’s the favourites of the bunch, the ones you don’t ever really want to replace.
The latest victim to constant wear? My white Equipment sleeveless blouse – a piece that has proven to be tremendously office (and weekend) friendly, and has formed a part of my summer and winter uniforms. If there’s anything that I’ve learnt from this, it’s that white silk and bleach do not mix – not only does the fabric loose its inherent silkiness, but the colour permanently changes into something that can only be described as a muddy clay tone.
While I’d initially planned on buying a replacement from Everlane (a brand for which I only have good things to say), one of the things that appeals to me most about the Equipment design is the dual pocket detail. I also find that the silk is just slightly heavier and it appears to be a little longer through the body – something of a neccessity at my height (about 5’8″).
But… the price tag can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for a piece that you’re planning on thrashing day in and day out. I got a little lucky (for the second time) and managed to pick mine up on sale for about 40% off, so I’d recommend waiting for a discount code if you’re on the fence about it. The other option is to have a look on eBay where you can often snag a (brand new) Equipment blouse for less than $100, with change to spare. Now there’s a happy thought.
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