is reformation worth it?

reformation sent me these two dresses in exchange for a review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

lately, i’ve been trying to get into sustainable fashion. for the most part, it’s been GREAT. i’m being conscious of the brands i support; i know the clothes i wear are not (completely) destroying the planet. one of the top brands that came on my radar was reformation. it’s a brand i’ve been seeing on my instagram feed for a while and i always admired its feminine style. but hop onto the website and i see tops, dresses, everything in general range from $70 to nearly $300(?!!). so here’s the big question:

is reformation worth it?

i know there’s a reason why places like forever21, shein, or romwe have so many styles of clothing for such low prices. even though you can buy a shirt for $5, there’s a different price to pay. sustainable brands (like reformation) are transparent about 1) where their clothes are sourced from, 2) the conditions of their workers, 3) how their clothes impact the environment, 4) the pay of their workers, and so much more. because of this, these brands are typically priced higher. for me, i’d rather invest on a really well-made, ethically-conscious item than buy ten poorly made pieces. so in that sense, yes, i think reformation is worth it. BUT. i know that’s coming from a place of privilege. i know sustainable brands aren’t easy to support if the price margin is that much higher. (but cheap clothing has a higher price imo JUST SAYIN)

but is this nearly-$300 dress worth the price????

reformation sent me two of their dresses, the Loulou and the Dolci. (thank you!!!!!) i feel like the brand is known for their *flowing dresses* and these two styles really step it up.

let’s start with the loulou:

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this is a mini-length dress with a square neckline (my latest obsession due to this brand!!!) and a flowing skirt. i like how the bodice of this dress is elastic; because of this, i think the fit was REALLY good. the elastic also makes it very comfortable and less foreign. because the material is viscose, it can appear/seem very delicate and i-can’t-do-anything-must-avoid-ruining-dress vibe, but it doesn’t feel like that at all when you’re actually wearing it. you can easily dress it up or down and it’s very versatile. wearing this dress makes me feel more confident about myself, which is how i think clothes should make you feel. this is a summer dress i adore and would wear all the time, if not for the only con – it’s dry clean only. SIGH. so yes, you do have to be super careful to avoid spills while wearing it.

verdict: VERY WORTH IT!!

what about the dolci?

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the dolci is a midi length linen dress with a sweetheart neckline. because it’s linen, i don’t need to dry clean so YAY. the linen feels heavy in the sense that it holds its own weight and shape. it doesn’t feel flimsy. i can wear booty shorts underneath and you wouldn’t be able to see. it’s the perfect white, summer dress that feels timeless. the style is really simple and there’s almost nothing special to it. but because of that, you can wear almost anytime. i can imagine myself wearing it for years to come. for me, the straps were a little long so i had to sew in a good inch or two; maybe i should’ve sized down. the fit wasn’t perfect and if you didn’t know you can easily mistaken this for any other dress. this could be a pro or con, depending on what you want. for me, i had higher expectations and probabbbbbly wouldn’t have paid as much as it was. BUT it’s a closet staple!! i got like five compliments on it that day!! it makes me feel put together!! and i imagine i would wear this more often than the loulou because the linen fabric is great.

verdict: IT DEPENDS.

“i love reformation but can’t afford it!!!”

i feel you. so, to acquire all the amazing pieces and support all the sustainable brands, i recommend two things: go thrifting/second hand shopping OR invest.

my first reformation pieces were purchased off of poshmark and depop. after a LOT of internet digging, i found two dresses i really loved. if there are pieces that you really want, i’d recommend scouring the internet for second hand versions of it. if you’re not too picky and enjoy the hunt, you can try thrifting at your local thrift store! you never know what you can find. there are its own pros and cons to this like: you usually can’t return, it might’ve been used or damaged, or something along those lines.

as for investing, there were some things i really wanted to get. so i saved a little for a bit and splurged. and honestly, the feeling of getting your purchase in the mail is so good. trying on the clothing and realize it’s as cute and wonderful as you imagined makes it so worth it.

more ways to live sustainably, via reformation:

so maybe you don’t want more clothes (very valid) or don’t think reformation is your style (also valid). luckily, the brand does more about it’s sustainable practices. one thing that stood out to me was that they have a carbon neutral campaign. the brand has been carbon neutral since 2015, but are making things easier for you to create less carbon. if you switch to wind energy, you can get $100 of reformation credit. you can also purchase climate credits on their website.

they also have some helpful blog posts:

• smarter ways to wash your clothes
• fashion’s impact on the planet
• sustainable travel guide
• an interview with the founder

do you have a sustainable fashion brand you adore? let me know in the comments!!