Finding good quality basics is surprisingly hard. Factor in ethical and sustainable practices, and you’re looking at a handful of brands, or going second-hand. But for a basic t-shirt, sweatshirt, or hoodie, I’d rather buy new. That’s why I’m excited to have recently discovered PLAINANDSIMPLE, a two-year-old sustainable fashion brand making clothes fairly, and designing them with circularity in mind. Here’s my review of their organic clothing, and some styling tips…
Who Is PLAINANDSIMPLE?
PLAINANDSIMPLE is a premium quality clothing brand that’s designing fashion for a better future. Their range of basics are made from 100% organic cotton, and all are made ethically in certified factories. And after trying their pieces, I have to add that they’re also really well made, and super soft too!
What sets PLAINANDSIMPLE apart is their approach to circularity. Circular fashion has become a bit of a buzzword in the last few years, yet it’s still rare to find a brand actually acting on circular principles. PLAINANDSIMPLE is leading the way when it comes to circularity, designing clothing that exclusively use mono-materials – in this case, 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton – so they can be easily re-made and recycled at the end of their life. Their clothes are made to last, and designed to surpass trends too. And, when they do come to the end of their life, they can be returned to PLAINANDSIMPLE with their take-back scheme. Returned garments will be re-made, recycled, or composted (and you’ll get a 15% discount on your next purchase too!)
Reviewing (& Styling) My PLAINANDSIMPLE Sweatshirt
PLAINANDSIMPLE’s current range includes t-shirts, crew necks, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and hoodies, all made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. They’re fairly priced, ranging from £15 to £37. In fact, these prices are less than half of what you’d usually be charged by traditional retail, and PLAINANDSIMPLE provides the cost breakdown of each piece in their product descriptions.
I really like PLAINANDSIMPLE’s designs as they surpass current trends and can be as everyday wear, activewear, and loungewear. Out of all their designs, it was the Soft French Terry Organic Sweatshirt that caught my eye. I’d been looking for a new sweatshirt to layer over my everyday uniform of black t-shirts and jeans, and also wear to and from the gym. This piece was perfect! I went for an oversized fit, choosing a Size L for extra room while layering (for reference, I’m usually a Size S or UK 8).
My sweatshirt is well made, super-soft to wear, and looks good styled with almost anything. So good in fact, that I wanted to share the four ways I’ve been wearing it!
How To Style A Sweatshirt: Four Ways
1. The Everyday Uniform
My daily uniform has always been a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. However, the older I get, the more I dislike wearing jeans. This here, may just be my new uniform! These black trousers from Ninety Percent have to be my most comfortable, and combined with my new PLAINANDSIMPLE sweatshirt, makes for a really clean outfit. On dressier days, I’ll pair it with a shirt – this frilly linen one a new vintage find from La MC Vintage – and my trusty vintage mules. I just love a white collar under a black top! Makes me feel like a long-lost cousin of Wednesday Addams.
2. With Wide-Leg Denim
For something a little more slouchy, I like wearing this sweatshirt with my wide-leg jeans. These are ‘faux’ jeans, as they aren’t actually made from denim, they’re 100% Tencel! These Baukjen Wide Leg Slouchy Jeans came into my life during Sustainable Fashion Week last year, and I love any chance to wear them. They’re super soft, slouchy, and have such great movement. I really like how they look when worn with the sweatshirt – casual yet still a little dressy with the right accessories.
3. Add A Little Cowboy
With Cowboy Carter now on repeat, the cowboy boots have come back out for another year. I had previously said these were a regretted trend but I’m finding new life for them with this outfit. The sweatshirt, paired with my silk dress by MOYE and the boots, make for a surprising sophisticated yet comfortable outfit. The design of the PLAINANDSIMPLE sweatshirt really does work well as a cover-up for fancier outfits, as it feels a bit more casual, while still being chic.
4. With A Classic White Skirt
Finally, an outfit that’s perfect for Brighton! Almost everyone and their dog owns a white linen skirt here, and I don’t know if this is a fashion trend or just the beach-town bubble I live in. Either way, I love them, and I love my white linen skirt by notPERFECTLINEN. It adds a bright, clean, pop to this otherwise black outfit, while pulling out the PLAINANDSIMPLE logo. I like to pair this outfit with my sneakers or my black ballet flats.
My Overall Rating of PLAINANDSIMPLE: 9/10
I’m a big fan of PLAINANDSIMPLE. They have created a range of basics that provide quality, sustainability, longevity, and all at an affordable price point. I like that they display all of their factories on their website. They also show where each item was made, and the cost breakdown per item. That is true transparency!
I love that PLAINANDSIMPLE is working with exclusively 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. They are implementing strong sustainable values I would hope all modern brands adopt. And they’re even going the extra mile with a take-back scheme.
The reason I haven’t given PLAINANDSIMPLE a stellar 10/10 is because I’d like the range to be expanded to cater for more size inclusion. Currently, PLAINANDSIMPLE provides clothing in XS to L, which is the norm for brands starting out, so I hope to see additional sizes added in due course. I’d also like to see more colour options (who knew I’d ever want more colour?!). I think the sweatshirts and hoodies would look especially nice in cream, navy, and dusky pink colour-ways, or maybe even some highlighter brights too.
Have you tried PLAINANDSIMPLE? I’d love to know your thoughts, and how you’re styling your pieces!
