Elegant Options That Are Sustainable.
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO
I’m obsessed with Sarah Jessica Parker’s style in HBO’s Divorce. Her character – Frances DuFresne – goes through the worst time and yet still manages to look amazing in every scene. Think longer patterned dresses, with coats and stiletto heels. I want her PJs too but that’s for another day! SJP looks put together but also effortless, and not overly fancy. I did a little research about the costumes for the role and they are mostly vintage and second hand that has been altered to fit her perfectly. Her style was brought to life both by Sarah and the shows costume designer Arjun Bhasin.
A point to note is the outfit repeating. This alone makes it a worthwhile watch for me. It is virtually unheard of in an American TV show for any character to wear the same coat twice. Essentially a character, especially women will only wear the same outfit more than once if she is depressed otherwise it’s full outfit changes every day.
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO
My first point of call for vintage dresses is always Etsy. In short, Etsy did not disappoint! I found this beautiful dress from the ’70s in the same colour palate as Sarah Jessica Parkers. It also has a similar midi length which is a key element in the outfit. One of the reasons her style works is that she is feminine without showing a lot of skin.
For sustainably made options this peace silk dress from Kitty Ferreira is an investment piece. Kitty Ferreira produces beautiful clothes sustainably for people who want to dress elegantly. No hippy clothes here! The dress has full-length sleeves which are hard to find on patterned dresses, they are often kept for the warm summer months. Kitty Fermakesa makes their clothing up to a size 26. For more plus size brands check here.
People Tree have some pretty print dresses too. Their V&A archive print collection is stunning. This dress is made from tencel and is a favourite. Midi length with a pretty pattern and could be worn with a layer underneath in the winter and worn right through summer too.
For a sustainable option at a lower price point, secondhand is hard to beat. For secondhand designer clothes, I often check Vestiaire Collective. Etsy usually has great options too, this coat looks quite similar to the coat SJP wore in the first photo above.
Not everyone can get on board with vintage shoes but these blue strappy sandals don’t even look like they have been worn. Often clothes and accessories can end up for sale years after they were initially bought, having never been worn. Also, shops donate stock that has never been sold.
Another option is these sustainably made kitten heels from Veerah. Not only do Veerah use sustainable fabrics in their shoes, but they also sell accessories to change up the shoe design. The shoes can have extra straps or a bow to sit on the front which means they can be worn loads of different times instead of buying many different pairs.
The Accessories
On the show, Sarah wears silver and turquoise jewellery. Type ‘turquoise jewellery’ in Etsy and a lot of options pop up. I use the bar at the left to make sure I’m looking at the vintage things on offer although there are a lot of pretty handmade ones too. 
No one in the north during winter is going bare legged. Swedish Stockings are perfect for those days when you want to get your legs out. They are sustainably made but more than that, they are high quality. I’ve been wearing mine all winter and don’t have any snags. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Divorce Style deserves these fancy ones!
Whatever style of clothes you choose to wear, there are ethical and sustainable options available. Sometimes it just takes a little bit longer to suss them out!
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About Me
The Green Edition is a journey to help slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life. With tips for shopping more consciously and simplifying your life.
About Me
The Green Edition is a journey to help slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life. With tips for shopping more consciously and simplifying your life.