Today was so humid, my glasses actually fogged up on a morning walk. Despite the strange weather, I know fall is just around the corner, so I stopped by Old Navy yesterday to scope out the early fall offerings. From lightweight cardigans in the latest animal prints and popular polka-dots, to stretch cords and skinny jeans in updated hues like mustard, plum and gray, I found myself wanting a lot of these wearable pieces. Highlights include a dark denim jacket, the aforementioned stretch corduroys, and front pocket blouses in sleeveless and long-sleeve (although I have a feeling these rayon pieces will look like a used tissue after they're washed). I still have trouble with the fit of the Rockstar jeggings, otherwise I would have scooped up a pair in dark purple; next time I'll look for the Sweetheart as recommended by a couple readers. I ended up splurging on a striped faux-Crew blouse ($29.94) and a polka-dot chambray shirt ($24.94) which had a nice weight to the fabric and will go with just about everything.

More pics after the jump...what have you bought at Old Navy lately?

'Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion' by Elizabeth L. Cline is a book about the toll that the fast fashion industry has taken on the environment, workers, our wallets and our personal style. The author argues we'd be wise to think twice before buying a cheaply constructed $10 skirt from Walmart or Forever 21 and consider the following: Where was the skirt made and under what conditions? How was the skirt produced so cheaply? Do I need another $10 skirt? Does it make me look good? And where will said polyester skirt end up when I'm bored with it (which will probably be by the end of next week)?

I think Cline is absolutely right. We should think carefully and thoughtfully about all these questions. What we choose to buy and choose to wear matters, and the ramifications go far beyond the trite Instagrams we might post about the fashions we so often carelessly buy at a voracious pace (myself included).

At the same time, I tend to take a big picture view of the world and it looks a little something like this: Change and growth are almost inevitable in any industry. Cline recognizes this fact, too, citing many historical examples where technology and innovation fundamentally changed the garment industry, from the advent of the sewing machine to cheap labor in emerging markets such as China. I don't see this as inherently good or bad, just an inevitability of life.