This post was sponsored by Encircled. Opinions and styling are my own.
To be honest, I’ve never loved the concept of multi-wear garments. I don’t like puzzles and I don’t like my clothes to be a puzzle, so all those buttons and twists and turns seemed exhausting.
But I think Encircled has made me change my mind, and here’s why: the clothes are elegant, beautiful, and easy to wear.
Encircled makes their clothing out of eco-friendly, naturally dyed Modal, Tencel, and Bamboo, soft, luscious fabrics that drape like a Grecian toga. They’re made in an ethical facility in Canada. Many of their most popular products have a multi-wear element, but they also make classic tees, sweatpants, and leggings.
Ever up for a challenge, I chose to style two of their multi-wear items, the Chrysalis Cardi and the Revolve Dress II.
I chose the Chrysalis Cardi, shown here in Charcoal Gray, because I liked the idea of wearing it as a shrug.
In reality, it’s not exactly a cardigan. It’s cut like an oversized infinity scarf with several snaps around the edges and comes with a guide on how to turn it into different garments. This look takes one simple snap. Other looks, including dress and blouse styles, are a bit more complicated, but the How To Wear section on the site is a huge help.
This is really the perfect item for travel. When I road tripped to Florida over Winter Break, I managed to both overpack and not bring appropriate items for the weather. I wish I’d had the Chrysalis Cardi as an added warmth layer and to wear as a dress and long skirt. It would have saved me a lot of stress (not to mention room in my suitcase). I’ll make sure to feature this a few different ways in the coming months, so stay tuned.
The Revolve Dress II in this stunning Sapphire (my birth stone!) is great because it’s reversible. You can wear it with the cowl neck in the front or the back. I opted to wear it in the back for this look because I like how it drapes, almost like a cape. The hem and hip are slightly asymmetrical, which adds visual interest and makes it easier to drape for different looks (like if you want to wear it as a tunic instead of a dress).
While the weather’s still cold, I’ll be wearing this mostly as a tunic layered over jeans or leggings. But the length is perfectly appropriate to wear alone, and the color is so special I can easily wear this for special occasions.
The versatility of Encircled’s product line is definitely a selling point, but it’s important to me that things be truly wearable, as well. What I appreciate most about the garments I received for review is that the fabric is luxuriously soft but still substantial enough to hold up to regular wear. Plus, the colors are saturated and flattering.
Shop Encircled here.
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.