Here is a classic maxi dress that will never date. The blue hue with white polka dot print makes the dress ultra flattering and classy. Oldage (Etsy) - $48
2. Beaded Halter Neck Dress - Beaumont Organic (On Sale) Made in UK or Portugal / organic cotton
This dress is half price and I have featured it (and it's twin top) before but it deserves a second showing, right? Beautiful beaded neckline and long flowing organic loveliness. Love it! Beaumont Organic - £50 (was £100)
3. Evening Dress - Convoy Made in California / organic cotton knit
Ah, the long black dress. A must-have for any girl! This elegant dress is classic, complimentary and ideal for both dressy and casual occasions. It also has an amazing cross back detailing. You will always look sophisticated and stylish in a dress like this. BTC Elements - $136
4. Vintage Deep Coffee Grecian Maxi Gown A delicate maxi dress in a soft coffee colour with sheer fabric and cream and floral lace detailing. So stunning! Sugar Skull Vintage (Etsy) - $58
5. Organic Cleo Long Dress - She Bible Made in San Francisco / Japanese Organic Cotton
This lovely dress is ideal for summer with its shirred top and tie which can be worn in a bow or around the neck. She Bible - $132 (was $176)
6. Colour Block Maxi Dress - Beaumont Organic Made in Portugal or UK / organic cotton
With white, green, natural and brown colour blocks, this unusual and striking maxi dress would suit any earthy kinda girl. Perfect for those times when you want to relax and be comfortable in style. Beaumont Organic - £75 (was £150)
7. Vintage Sparkly 60s Silver Dress I adore the glamour infused, retro decadence of this silver dress. I just can't decide if I would keep it long or shorten it to a little mini dress to wear over black stockings! This is certainly a stellar dress to snare as you could alter it in many ways to suit your style, figure and needs. Lola Vintage (Etsy) - $40
8. Leticia Dress - Raw Earth & Wild Sky Made in LA / organic cotton
Do the summer hippy look in style with this wonderful dress with drop waist, sporty tank top and corset detail at the back. Choose your favourite colour from either orchid, banyan leaf, bark, white or black. BTC Elements - $224
9. Vintage Queen and Roses Maxi Dress Who said dresses had to be serious and practical? Why not bring out your fun and frivolous side with this adorable cream dress featuring a fancy, green leafed Queen and pretty rose print? Great price too! Lola Vintage (Etsy) $28
Where to Buy 1) Vintage 70s Blue Polka Dot Maxi - Oldage (Etsy) $48 2) Beaded Dress - Beaumont Organic £50 (was £100) 3) Convoy Evening Dress- BTC Elements $136 4) Vintage Coffee Gown - Sugar Skull Vintage (Etsy) $58 5) Organic Cleo Long- She Bible for $132 (was $176) 6) Colour Block - Beaumont Organic £75 (was £150) 7) Vintage Silver Dress - Lola Vintage (Etsy) $40 8) Raw Earth & Wild Sky Leticia Dress - BTC Elements $224 9) Vintage Queen and Roses Dress- Lola Vintage (Etsy) $28
1) Check your labels Grab five items out of your closet and check the labels to see where they are made. If they are clothes from the high street or mass produced labels, I bet the tag reads 'Made in China' (or PRC). I did an audit of my old clothing and shoes about 18 months ago and I was shocked to see that 80% of it was made in China! While we should be ever so grateful to the people in China who do work hard to make our products, I don't know how grateful we should be to the companies that choose to manufacture in countries where they can:
pay staff less
make staff work extraordinarily long hours
employ or use children
use hazardous work environments
I make sure the labels on my clothing come from a country I am confident has more laws in place that monitor factory working conditions. I will not buy clothing made in countries where factory working conditions are shady and unlikely to be enforced. If I do buy any clothing made from countries such as China or India, I make sure it has been certified fair trade by an organisation such as the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO, formerly known as IFAT) or Made-By.
ORGANIC COTTON Did you know your 'regular' jeans contain about 2/3 of a pound of pesticides and your t-shirt contains 1/3 of a pound? - Del Forte Organic Denim website
'An estimated 1 million to 5 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur ever year, resulting in 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers and at least 1 million requiring hospitalisation' - Environmental Justice Foundation
These statistics were enough to convince me to immediately switch to organic cotton purchases. There are so many stunning fashion items being made today from organic cotton that there is no need to keep using normal cotton.
SILK Another natural fabric, I'm ashamed to say I hadn't stopped to think about was silk. I don't like to list disturbing and gruesome information about the way some animals (or living creatures) suffer for things such as fashion, so if you want to learn more about silk, you can read this information provided by PETA. You can buy Peace Silk or Ahimsa Peace Silk instead, which is just as beautiful but is 'made from the cocoons of caterpillars who have completed the moth stage and flown away.'
BAMBOO I've started to limit the amount of bamboo derived clothing on Green Lashes and Fashion after reading articles such as the following:
Treehugger featured an article, 'Is Bamboo Clothing Truly Green?' in which Michael Lackman of Lotus Organics stated, 'the growing of bamboo is environmentally friendly but the manufacturing of bamboo into fabric raises environmental and health concerns because of the strong chemical solvents used to cook the bamboo plant into a viscose solution that is then reconstructed into cellulose fiber for weaving into yarn for fabric.'
Your Resources: Environmental Justice Foundation - information about organic cotton and the problems within the cotton industry.
3) Check where you shop I used to enjoy popping into H&M and finding cute pieces at cheap prices but I no longer visit high street, big name shops due to where the clothing is made and the fabrics used to make the clothing. It wasn't too hard to end this retail relationship once I saw the benefits such as:
less chance of running into another girl wearing the exact same outfit as you (the ultimate fashion nightmare)
increased fashion creativity. Interpreting fashion trends and outfits I see in magazines or on the street with clothing I already own (and a vintage accessory or two).
the thrill of finding a designer item or high street label at Oxfam for half the price and in excellent quality (perfect for moments when you may be tempted back to the high street).
supporting ethical labels by shopping at their sites and parading in their eco clothing looking simply fabulous, will increase the popularity and profile of ethical fashion which will then increase the market and lower the prices! It's a win / win!
Your Resources: If you haven't checked out ethical shopping online, you may want to check out the following stores (which are also featured on a longer list of shopping sites I have on the side panel of Green Lashes and Fashion). Adili Fashion Conscience Nimli Greenloop Beklina
4) Check what you really need Before you reach for a pair of harem pants or other 'must-have item this season', ask yourself the following questions:
Will I still be wearing this in a year's time?
How often will I wear this?
What other items in my wardrobe will it go with?
When shopping for new pieces, it's important to purchase invaluable pieces that will suit your lifestyle. It's also better to spend more money on one good quality item than several cheaper pieces that will date, loose their shape and / or colour or fall apart.
Your Resources: I've written a series of posts about the key wardrobe pieces we all need, which you can view here: Building the Perfect Eco Wardrobe
5) Check out vintage and second-hand stores This is the greenest option by far because you are using fashion that already exists and not creating a demand for new items to be produced which can impact negatively on the environment and the people making them.
For anyone that thinks vintage is expensive (yes, it can be in big fashion cities) but I'm sure you will find some cool vintage stores in your town or online vintage sellers at Etsy, who will all prove just how affordable vintage can be! You can put together a whole new, fashion forward outfit from Etsy's vintage sellers for less than $50.
Your Resources: Etsy (vintage section) Oxfam (shop online)
6) Check out your sewing abilities Upcycled clothing (clothing made from reclaimed fabrics, vintage clothing, end of line fabrics) is exploding in the fashion world right now. What better way to save the planet and look stylish and unique whilst doing it? If you or someone you know can sew, your fashion creations will be limitless but if sewing is not your thing, you'll be pleased to know you can look online and find many sites and labels are producing some stunning upcycled pieces (see below for listings).
Check you have have a pretty reusable shopping bag for your ethical fashion purchases! You probably have your reusable bags for your groceries but why not keep an extra one solely for clothing purchases in your handbag?
Perciatelli with Roasted Tomatoes and Eggplant (Martha Stewart Living) Perciatelli is similar to spaghetti, which you could also use in this recipe. This is a robust and flavour packed pasta with red and yellow peppers, basil, cayenne pepper and lots of tomatoes. See recipe at Whole Living
Ditalini with Pesto, Beans and Broccoli Rabe (Bon Appetit, image:Susan Gentry McWhinney) Ditalini or 'other short tube-shaped pasta' is the way to go with this dish containing cannellini beans and broccoli rabe. This recipe calls for store bought pesto so UK or European peeps may like to try Zest pesto (vegan or vegetarian options) which is my favourite. See recipe at Epicurious
Eggplant Pasta Salad (Sara Quessenberry, photo: Anna Williams) This tasty pasta can be enjoyed hot or cold and would be a popular dish to take to a picnic or BBQ. The capers, white wine vinegar and pine nuts elevate this pasta from 'blah' to 'can I have some more mama?' See recipe at Real Simple
Spaghetti with Olive and Pine Nut Salsa (Gourmet, image: Romulo Yanes) This recipe has a short list of ingredients and is super easy to prepare. The capers and dried hot red-pepper flakes add extra oomph also. See recipe at Epicurious
Pasta with Beet Greens (Melissa Roberts, Image: Stephanie Foley) Pepper your penne with some new ingredients such as beet greens (spinach or silver beet), black olives, pine nuts and golden raisins. See recipe at Gourmet
Beany Pasta Pot (Good Food Magazine) Here is a highly nutritious and filling pasta made with red pesto, borlotti beans and even an apple! See recipe at BBC Good Food
Courgette 'Pasta' with Cashew Mint Cream Any raw food enthusiasts or those looking for a new twist on pasta will enjoy this healthy and flavoursome dish! I'd love to know what you think of this courgette pseudo pasta. See recipe at Waitrose
Armour Sans Anguish is the perfect name for this enchanting fashion line designed by Tawny Holt, who only uses 'salvaged and recycled materials' when creating beautiful garments in her Californian studio. The use of vintage fabrics really infuses a charm and elegance from stylish and romantic eras of the past. All the dresses manage to capture a dash of the 'The Great Gatsby' or 'I Capture the Castle' and a sprinkle of the 1920s and Parisien decadence. Every piece made from Armour Sans Anguish is one-of-a-kind, which makes these dresses even more covetable and special.
The Botanist's Dream Dress This is the dress that had me immediately questioning, 'who made this delicious dress?' and 'where else can I buy their clothing?'. I don't know if its the vibrant summer colours or the fact the dress manages to look both 1920s flapper fantastic and thoroughly modern. Either way, this dress is simply spectacular! Purchase at BTC Elements $190
Peaches and Cream Dress I wouldn't be surprised to see some fresh faced, young Hollywood starlet wearing this soon on the red carpet to rapturous applause from both the fashion world and green world. The vintage beading around the bustier, soft draping and apricot orange and white makes this dress completely sublime! Purchase at BTC Elements $235
The Afternoon Latte Dress If only I could look this vintage chic and fancy every afternoon I sipped on my soy chai latte! The nude colouring of the upper dress is such a big hit right now but this dress also has 'timeless' written all over it. It's gorgeous, frilly, frou-frou, femininity at its best. Purchase at BTC Elements $180
The Sunken Treasure Dress This dress certainly does resemble something a mermaid would have crafted together from a bling laden treasure chest from beneath the sea! The clashing of two luxurious vintage fabrics with their sheeny, metallic-ness, ruffle detail at the front and glorious bow at the back, will let everyone know the belle of the ball has definitely arrived! Purchase at Etsy $190
The Early Harvest Dress A sweet bustier in a romantic peachy, pink hue with a playful plaid skirt. Who would have thought these two fabrics would create such an adorable dress when sewn together and garnished with an antique-adorned belt and a little lace?Purchase at Etsy for $265
The Orion Across the Sky Caplet Could there be a cuter, more stylish and more unique way to stay warm during a summer evening out? The delicate colour and addition of sequins, lace and a 'vintage millinery flower' combine to create a wondrous and whimsical caplet. Purchase at Etsy for $78
Visit Armour Sans Anguish today to learn more about their beautiful upcycled clothing.
If you've been scouring stores for eco-friendly jewellery that will convey an abundance of style and an inspiring story each time you wear it, why not try jewellery made from rainforest seeds? A green girl couldn't ask for more! Classic Tagua Bracelets - handmade by Christian $20
Founder, Amanda Judge (who has previously worked on projects for UNICEF Nicaragua as well as microfinance projects in Ecuador and Peru) initially travelled to Ecuador 'researching rural women's survival strategies in the face of extreme poverty for her master thesis.' Fortunately for the local artisans who make the jewellery and fortunately for us, the lucky wearers of these rare and exotic materials, the Andean Collection was born.
Jabon and Acai 3 Strand Necklace - handmade by Olga Lucia Moran $50 The female artisans in Ecuador who make this beautiful jewellery by hand, are now able to reach a wider market through the Andean Collection which ensures they are paid fair wages (more than suggested in the World of Good's Fair Wage Guide) and are also able to 'share in the profits of the company as partial owners'. The Andean Collection has applied for membership with the Fair Trade Federation and will be eligible after their 'first sixth months of sales'.
Many jewellery items made today come from dubiously derived synthetic beads, plastics and metals but eco-savvy women can adorn themselves happily with the Andean Collection because their materials are 'sustainably harvested from the rainforest and low lands of South America.' Using exquisite acai, tagua, pambil, jabon and huayruro seeds is an 'alternative way to make money from the rainforest, other than logging or selling their land to those who profit from the oil industry'. Half Moon Coconut Bracelet - handmade by Nancy Moran $19
I find it exciting to think you can wear these little gifts from nature (many of them are collected from the forest floor once they fall) and I really love learning about how the indigenous people regard the seeds also. Apparently the Huayruro seeds have 'been used by Peruvians for generations as charms to attract good fortune and wealth.'
Acai Necklace - handmade by Olga Lucia Moran $49 'A cascade of acai seeds' is how the Andean Collection describe this enchanting necklace. I personally love this necklace in fire red which would look great with an organic black singlet and jeans for summer or over dresses for an eye-catching evening look (there are other gorgeous colours to choose from also).
Classic Tagua Bracelets - handmade by Christian $20 I cannot decide which Classic Tagua Bracelet is my favourite as each colour is so utterly beguiling and I'm also loving the fact the Tagua nut does not require any trees to be cut down in order to gather the pod (which makes me want to buy more than one bracelet now). I'm torn between the multi colour and fuschia colours but visit the AC's website to pick your perfect shade from an array of tantalizing colours.
Acai Hoop Earrings -handmade by Olga Lucia Moran $21 Many girls love a good pair of hoop earrings but if you haven't yet got yourself a pair of eco hoop earrings that look striking and unique, then you must check out these undyed Acai seed hoop earrings (also in multi colour and pollen / natural).
Jabon and Acai 3 Strand Necklace - handmade by Olga Lucia Moran $50 'Ooh, ooh, ooh', I think were the highly intelligent words I squealed when I saw this necklace. If every woman could have a necklace like this in her jewellery stash, she would be quite content indeed. The black jabon and ivory tone acai seeds ooze sophistication and make this the perfect necklace to glamify any dressy or casual outfit you are wearing!The indigenous people of the Amazon also believe the Jabon seeds can 'shield wearers from negative energy and evil spirits'.
Acai Bracelet - handmade by Olga Lucia Moran $22 I thought Acai berries were just for eating, drinking and topping up your antioxidant levels! Who knew you could wear the seeds of these wonder berries as well? This earth green bracelet stopped me in my tracks when I saw it but you can also choose from colours such as deep purple, harvest orange, fire, pollen, natural or multi colour. I could happily wear this bracelet every single day!
Waterfall Necklace - handmade by Nancy Moran $49 Named after the 'sacred Peguche Waterfall of Otavalo', this stunning glass and silver coloured beaded necklace is positively dripping with beauty and one of my favourite pieces from the Andean Collection. The style and colour range of this necklace is so 'on fire' right now and will continue to look incredibly stylish and unique and will probably require you to respond to numerous inquiries from fashionable friends and strangers as to 'where and who' you got your jewellery from. Just point them in the direction of the Andean Collection. You will feel both stylish and satisfied knowing you are wearing fashion made from nature and made from the hands of talented artisans who have been rewarded for their beautiful work.
The Andean Collection of jewellery ranges in price from US$18-98 and can be purchased online. You can also learn more about the Andean Collection through their website.
Bee Cleansed The day I learned I could cleanse my face with honey was a happy day for me (slightly sad, I know). I love beauty treats that are edible and that are already in your home. I thought honey would leave me in one big sticky mess but you just need to splash your face with a little water before applying a dollop of organic honey to the face and then carry on as you would with a normal cleanser. Honey is wonderful for the skin due to its antibacterial properties and it is often used to heal burns and wounds. Image: Manuka Honey - Daylesford Organic £5.95
What Kate Said... Kate Beckinsale reportedly uses a hot towel with a few drops of lavender oil on her face as a soothing treat for the skin (and a little pore pampering) - as mentioned in InStyle.
Eye Makeup, Be Gone! You don't need a special eye make up remover to wipe away stubborn mascara, eyeshadows, concealer and eyeliner residue. A swipe of sweet almond oil or coconut oil will do just as good a job, if not better and it is much more gentle and nourishing for the skin. You could apply the oil to an organic cotton pad to remove eye makeup or to be even more eco-friendly, apply the oil to the eye area with your fingers (careful not to drag the delicate skin under the eye) and then gently remove with a moist flannel or cloth. Image: Organic Sweet Almond Oil - Culpepper£5 - 100ml
To Tone or Not To Tone That is the profound question many girls ask themselves as they go through their daily beauty routine of cleanse, tone (will I, won't I?) and moisturise. Some people think toner is like bottled water in a restaurant (completely unnecessary) while others believe toner is great for removing the last traces of makeup or grime. Whatever your thoughts, there can be no harm in trying organic Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner and seeing the benefits it has on your skin. This is potent and rather 'on the nose' stuff but hey, us girls are used to suffering in the name of beauty and this product is so pure and beneficial to the skin, that it is worth it. Just dilute the Apple Cider Vinegar with equal parts distilled water or green tea and then apply as you would a normal toner. Image: Higher Nature Organic Apple Cider Vinegar - Goodness Direct £6.30
Mist Before Moisturising This a new beauty tip I recently picked up and it will help your moisturiser absorb better into the skin and basically help your moisturiser, 'do it's thang!' Just spritz your face with your own spray bottle filled with distilled water and favourite essential oil or the chilled peppermint tea, as mentioned last week.
Moisturise with Oils You may think oils will leave your skin too shiny or greasy if you use them as a moisturiser but try and experiment with various skin-friendly organic oils such as:
Pomegranate
Argan Oil
Sweet almond oil (apparently a favourite of Liz Hurley)
Coconut oil (which I heard was a wrinkle fighter so I've started applying this to my eyes, mouth, neck and decolletage).
As I've written before, I've been loving Akamuti's Raspberry Seed Oil of late and have found it to be a great day moisturiser for my skin. Once you find an oil that suits your skin, you'll realise you don't always need a store bought moisturiser with numerous ingredients when a pure and simple, organic oil can be just as beneficial.
Fuss-Free Masks One area of your beauty routine that you can really save money on is your weekly face mask. You can be resourceful and use what is already in the kitchen but I like to keep it super simple, as I don't have the time or inclination to blend exotic fruits, nuts, oils with a sprinkle and a dash of 15 essential oils I do not own! So here are two easy masks for dry and oily skin.
Dry: Mashed avocado Oily: Mashed banana (honey and / or lemon optional)
Before you toss the avocado and banana skins away, remember to swipe them over your face. I've tried this with a banana skin and your face feels really taught and terrific afterwards.
Exfoliate with Three Ingredients! You should ideally exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week to remove dead skin cells and all that lovely stuff. This is another simple, easy to whip together beauty recipe that only calls for organic oats, honey and an oil (such as sweet almond oil). These three ingredients create an ideal exfoliant that is gentle, moisturising and nourishing.I have also heard of using bicarbonate of soda as an exfoliant but I have yet to try this one!
Feeling Spotty Rather than reaching for a teeny bottle of spot-zapping liquid with an ingredient list that is usually bigger than the bottle it comes in, try something simple, natural and equally effective - lavender oil. I usually apply a bit of this neat to the offending area and it helps sort things out. Image: Organic Lavender Essential Oil - Akamuti £6
Eye Spy... 'Puffy' and 'dark circles' are not the words you want to use to describe your eyes but if these two traits are problems for you, you may want to try some natural remedies.
Tea bags Before you toss your teabags into the compost bin (I know you have), whip them into the fridge to chill and then place them over the eyes for a de-puffing delight! Try chamomile for soothing or peppermint for cooling. Image: Clipper Organic Chamomile Tea
Cucumbers An oldie but a goodie (especially when you've just tossed together a delicious salad and have leftovers). A slice or two feels lovely and cooling for sore, irritated eyes.
Potato, Avocado and Aztecs I believe potato slices are good for reducing redness under the eyes, while avocado slices are used to reduce puffiness (a treatment reputedly used by the Aztecs). I also read an Ayurvedic recipe and idea that suggested applying sweet almond oil and honey nightly for several weeks to improve dark eye circles.
Ice is Nice Here I go again, rattling off something I read or saw in a magazine. This time, my beauty tale comes from O Magazine where I read how this lady plunged her face into a sink of ice cubes each morning. As fun as that sounds to someone like me who can still feel chilly during a hot summer's day, the picture of this ice-loving lady's face was proof enough. Her skin was positively sparkling! I've also heard of people sliding an ice cube all over their face and loving the results. Either way, I think it's safe to say that ice is nice.
Sweet Lips If you need to exfoliate your lips, try some brown sugar and honey!
Healing Hands If like me, you are queen of the dish washing in your house, you may find that your hands are beginning to look like they belong to someone 'more mature' than you. If that's the case, try and exfoliate your hands several times a week with a bit of olive oil and sea salt. It's so easy to quickly reach for these two ingredients after you've done the dishes and your hands will look and feel lovely afterwards!
