It’s a bird…it’s a plane…

it’s my new favourite piece of multi-way clothing perfect for when I travel, and for my workplace wardrobe! (and for any other time too.) And by multi-way, I mean it converts into many things, making it a fabulous way to pack lightly.

Do you travel for work, too?

Lately,  I have been working on downsizing my closet in an effort to minimize. Why? Because…

minimalism is my dream.

I KNOW that less is more. It’s just hard to do.

Less clutter, less choice, less stuff to look after…less to look after and clean…

and all of this “less than” adds up to more breathing room and a life that is less stressful and more calm.

So I decided to begin.

(Please note, I did receive compensation for this post and the link below is an affiliate link, meaning if you decide to purchase anything from this company, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you…which would be wonderful, and I thank you in advance! I am also happy to answer any questions I can for you about this product…I seem to be wearing it a LOT!)

 

Firstly, my lovely daughter Katie got an amazing pair of “dressy sweatpants” from a place in Toronto called Encircled. And every time she came over (she’s a grown up…so is adulting at her own house), she had them on. And they looked amazingly soft and comfy and versatile. So I asked her about them, and thus began my Encircled adventure.

This scarf turns into 8 different outfits!

Seriously. It was the perfect item to begin with. With some birthday money I was given, I decided to order my first piece. Before I get to that though…let me tell you more.

A big reason I was so taken with Encircled  is that the clothing they make is sustainably sourced, and made with fair labour practices…locally…right in Toronto! No sweat shops where workers suffer or horrible earth-damaging materials to be seen. The ethos of the company fits how I like to spend my money, and the fact that this was a local company (ok…local as in here in my own country instead of from some place across the globe which would increase my carbon foot print) was a huge plus.

So I ordered the Chrysalis Cardi.

Chrysalis…as in cocoon. That’s all I want to do is cozy up in this thing! It makes a great scarf and airplane blanket, (and I’ve seen people use it as a yoga blanket on a beach, or to sit on for a picnic…but wait…there’s more:

The Cocoon Cardigan

A few twists and the infinitely scarf turns into a soft cardigan! It took me a while to get used to how it sits on my shoulders and what to do with the product tag, but once I did, I didn’t want to take this off. It was perfect for lunch with a friend, for a casual office day and for an evening meeting that I didn’t need to get fancy at.

Then I got adventurous.

The first dress I tried was the easy one…called the Grecian Tunic. It involved snapping some snaps cleverly hidden in the hems of the large loop of material, throwing on a belt and presto! I had a dress that I wore all day (with a red sweater) to work as I facilitated a wellness lunch and learn, and then in the evening to my father-in-law’s 95th birthday party.

I liked the ease and comfort of this dress so much that I will be wearing it often I think. Because it’s the easiest dress to make, I can see why I might use it most for travel. The Chrysalis Cardi comes with a soft cloth belt too, but for this look I chose my own elasticized wide belt. Either would look spiffy. And THEN…I wore the Chrysalis Cardi as The Wrap Dress. It’s a little more adventurous (basically all in how you twist your hand up behind to do up a snap or two) and feels comfortable and elegant. I think for now this is my favourite way to wear this garment…but then…I have not yet tried the other four ways yet:

The Cape, The One Shoulder Dress, The Wrap or the X-Back Halter.

I WILL try these, but for now, these first four ways will keep me busy this Fall I’m sure.

 

Front steps of this morning’s workplace…

I did wear a jacket over this today, but wanted you to see what it looks like on its own. This would be really great in the summer or warmer climates. I was a little chilly standing outside with bare arms, but only for a moment.

…did I mention how soft the material is??

Paired with My Hot Pink Jacket…

this was office or workplace worthy.

I can see why I might want to order it in another colour sometime too. I chose black because it’s versatile and I wear a lot of it already, and because I can punch it up with accessories and colours on top.

This would be PERFECT for a job interview!

Topped with a jacket or sweater…you would look professional and put together.

Not only did I recently take half my closet to a thrift store, which I was pretty pleased about, but I also  traveled for a working weekend presentation by plane with only a backpack, which is a first for me.

If you have to travel a lot for work, this multi-way outfit might make a lot of sense.

Minimalist Wardrobe…here I come!

With mixing and matching of extremely well-made basics, I know I can do with a lot fewer pieces, and again, can make basics look fresh and different with some well-chosen accessories.

Ethical Choice

The peace of mind I have from knowing that I have supported a company that creates beautiful, ethical clothing in a sustainable way is huge.

If you want to do more with less, are concerned about human rights in the fast fashion industry, and are wanting to stock your workplace wardrobe with a new, and very versatile piece, then I do highly recommend this little ditty! The Chrysalis Cardi from Encircled.ca.

Thanks for reading!

~ Jenn

(Please note, I did receive compensation for this post and the links on this post are affiliate links, meaning if you decide to purchase anything from this company, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you…which would be wonderful, and I thank you in advance! I am also happy to answer any questions I can for you about this product…I seem to be wearing it a LOT!)