How to knock off Charlize Theron’s effortlessly elegant outfit, in true eco-fashion. 

Charlize Theron is one of those girls we all want to be or be friends with. She chooses her roles well, often portraying strong women who blaze their own paths through life. Through the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, Theron’s also helping reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and sexual violence among African youth. She also happens to look gorgeous in just about anything, but we particularly like the effortless elegance of this outfit, worn to a talk at the Times Center in New York.

Simple Black Blazer
This velvet blazer by Lavuk is made in the USA entirely from deadstock fabric. The simple cut makes it highly versatile and elegant. Dress it up with black pants and heels like Theron, or create a more casual look by paring it with jeans and flats. Eco-bonus points: Lavuk plants a tree for every item you purchase.
$215, Green With Glamour 

Black Skinny Pants
Every girl needs to have a pair of simple skinny black pants in her closet. These, by Prairie Underground, feature cool pocket details and stitching in the front. Do like Charlize and dress them up with heels, or tuck them into your favorite pair of winter boots — the possibilities are endless.
$105, Juno & Jove 

Loose-fitting Patterned Top
A top with an eye-catching pattern livens up this otherwise all-black outfit and gives it more personality. This one, by Threads For Thought, is ethically made from 50% Organic cotton and 50% recycled poly. The loose fit is key to giving this look that perfect balance between elegance and effortlessness. Eco-bonus points: A portion of sales goes to an environmental charity.
$38, Future:Standard 

Cross-strap Sandals
These strappy wedges by Cri de Coeur are a great mix of easy and dressy. Wedges are always more comfortable to walk in, and the cork ones on this pair contrast really well with the criss-cross elastic straps. Like all Cri de Coeur shoes, they are completely animal-free.
On sale for $110, Cri de Coeur 

10 denim designers prove that organic denim has a place in your wardrobe.

When it doubt, turn to your denim. Jeans have been hanging in our closets since the 1800s, donning the likes of painters, farmers, artists, lumberjacks, gardeners, and everyday people. Above all, each pair represents the All-American classic character who exudes independence, sex appeal, strength, and work ethic. Whether you like them casual or dressy, for lounging or a night on the town, jeans make our world go round. Here are our top 10 picks for brands that make our favorite jeans with the planet and people in mind.

M2F
Today, jeans come in all the colors of the rainbow. Boasting 12 hues, M2F’s skinnys are made for comfort – perfect for riding horses or riding your bike. Either way, they’ll make a statement wherever you rock them.

Second Clothing
Go organic or go home. Second Clothing’s flare pair are completely on-trend and flattering for all. Pair them with your favorite top and channel your favorite 70s tunes for a flashback fashion statement.

Loomstate
Feeling hip today? If so, the Revelation Jean may be over qualified to fit that bill. A creamy, dreamy sky blue, these skinnys can set the tone for any youngster-inspired look.

Monkee Genes
No monkeying around here – these jeans fit like a gem. Organic cotton with a bit of stretch, the navy skinnies are not only style-packed, they were undoubtedly constructed with comfort as another key ingredient.

Pray for Mother Nature
This denim embellished top can turn heads; it works as a companion to a high-waisted skirt or a darker pair of jeans. Donating a portion of all their proceeds to Heal the Bay, Pray for Mother Nature says it all in their name.

Nudie Jeans
Hike ‘em up, retro style in these high-waisted super dark denims. Fun fact: for best aging results, you should wear and tear this pair for six months before throwing them in the wash. Now, there’s a way to literally document some history on your denim.

Reuse
With color-blocking still on the radar, these skinny jeans can inspire a neon palette to brighten your winter-wear. Get creative and pair these knickers with bold statement hues or tone them down with earthy shades for a more subdued play on the trend.

Prairie Underground
In a versatile and soothing dusty blue, these slacks won’t be getting any slack when it comes to wear. A nontraditional color gives these denim duds a fresh, modern look.

IOU Project
Telling stories is the IOU Project’s forte. Every one of their items has a tale, and they know the details and background first-hand to tell it. From the fiber to the final product, their Slim Pant is a force to be reckoned with. These trousers radiate vibrancy – in style and ethics.

Kuyichi
While these skinny pants can’t compete with the 80s extreme acid wash interpretations of denim, they’ll suit for rocking out to your favorite hair bands. An ideal pair for when you’re in the mood to flaunt some faded frocks.

How to knock off Alexa Chung’s style, in true eco-fashion.

We love this casual cool ensemble worn by TV personality/model/all around “It Girl” Alexa Chung to a Stella McCartney holiday party in London. Here’s how you can copy her look, with all sustainably savvy pieces.

Washed-out Gray Denim
For obtaining that perfect washed-out gray denim look you can either wear your black skinnies until they fade into perfection or pick up a pair of these Denim Street Girdle jeans by Prairie Underground. Made in Seattle by designers Davora Lindner and Camilla Eckersley.
$145, Juno & Jove or Prairie Underground

Navy Blue Knit Sweater
This silky merino wool sweater from Stewart + Brown strikes the same perfect balance between delicate and tough and is Fair Trade made. Do like Alexa and wear it over your favorite white tee.
$178, Stewart & Brown

Textured Nude Clutch
This limited edition clutch bag by designer Lina Rennell is ethically made by hand in Northern California, from recycled leather.
$145, Beklina or Lina Rennell

Parka with Attitude
This cool jacket is really the detachable inner of a parka by British designer Christopher Raeburn. It’s made from reappropriated German parka liners while the outer part that comes with it is made entirely from dead-stock cotton (i.e. factory waste).
Approx. $1557, Christopher Raeburn

Alexa Chung photo: Zimbio

Eight eco-friendly dresses, in flattering shades of red.

The holidays are here and that means a lot of parties. This year skip the standard LBD and put on a LRD (Little Red Dress) instead. Dressing in brighter colors just seems more festive, doesn’t it? But, instead of Santa-red, go for a darker shade, such as ruby, bordeaux, rust or maroon this year. Here are our top eight eco-friendly LRDs, in no particular order. Of course, you can also use them year-round.

1. Feral Childe’s Goldbird Shift
Elegant with personality, this shift dress by Feral Childe will take you through any day and night with great style. Made in New York, from 100% hammered silk, this lovely piece works just as well as a dress as it does a tunic.
$242, Embodies

2. Prairie Underground’s Fringe Tribe
This one is for those nights you know you’ll end up dancing to the wee hours. The three tiers of fringe in front (and two in the back) will move with you. Made in Seattle from 100% Organic cotton.
On sale for $185, Embodies

3. Prairie Underground’s Basque Dress
Sweet and flirty, this dress by Prairie Underground will carry you through the seasons in ethical style. Features a soft draped neckline and close fit. Made ethically in Seattle from 100% organic cotton.
On sale for $79, Equita

4. Clothes by Majestic’s Button Down Charlie Dress
For the more casual family gatherings, this comfy dress from Clothes by Majestic is a perfect fit. Made in Portugal from a fabric made up of 40% Linen, 40% Lyocell, and 20% Cashmere. The check pattern gives it a hint of that Lumberjack Girl style we talked to you about last week.
On sale for $185, Juno & Jove

5. H. Fredriksson’s Drip Dress
Featuring a great pattern and skillful draping, this dress can easily take you from a day at the office to a night of festivities. Designed by Helena Fredriksson of H. Fredriksson, it’s made in New York from 100% silk.
On sale for $260, Juno & Jove

6. Indigenous Designs’ Organic Cotton Little Knit Dress
Perfect for a holiday party, or a hot date, this pretty little dress is hand knit by a women’s weaving cooperative in Peru. Indigenous Designs has a longstanding commitment to the environment and to the communities in which they work, which means everything they make is Fair Trade. This dress is made from organic cotton and tencel and dyed using certified, eco-friendly dyes.
On sale for $89, Jute & Jackfruit

7. Suzabelle’s Alexandria Dress
Suzabelle creates timeless pieces that are guaranteed to make every woman feel a little bit more like a lady. Each piece is ethically crafted by hand and to help offset the impact of production and transportation, designer Suzanne Jaberg donates a portion of all profits to Conservation International.
$189, Olivine

8. Stewart + Brown’s Jersey Gown
The simple, elegant draping in front and back and a subtle side slit makes this maxi dress by Stewart + Brown a good choice for the most glamorous of holiday parties. Made from 96% hemp and 4% spandex jersey it’s also insanely comfortable. Stewart + Brown are members of the 1% for the Planet Foundation, which means that 1% of total sales is donated to charity.
$210, Beklina

10 Holiday dresses that will take you from the company party to year-round glam girl.

Holiday dresses can be the bane of our December existence. If you’re lucky, you’re able to swap frocks with a friend or know of a fabulous consignment boutique that helps justify buying something new for a single party. Why not think even further with your purchase this year and how you could wear it year round? We’ve found 10 dresses that can do just that and with just a spark of creativity, can be the dress that keeps on giving.

Carrie Parry’s Red Bow Dress

Carrie Parry’s Red Bow Dress made from 100% organic wool is a feminine, shift dress with a removable bow collar that “transitions easily from a day at the office to a night on the town.” We love the festive red tights for the holidays as they add a fun style element to what could otherwise be a boring shift with safe, black tights and shoes.

(Also available in black.)

Camilla Norback’s Butterfly Sleeve Dress

If you opt for a LBD this year, try stepping outside the straight and narrow you’re seeing in popular department store windows and add a little flounce and flair. Swedish designer Camilla Norback offers up this lacy dress that is just as much country as rock and roll.

Feral Childe’s Pleated Prokofiev Dress

Known for their graphic prints and seamless melding of color and shapes, Feral Childe always produces collections with at least one truly  stand out dress. This Prokofiev Dress in their Orchestra Print is that one. What can’t you do with this dress for a holiday party or, better yet, year round?

Dahl by Alison Kelly

Alison Kelly’s dresses are just as pretty as she is. Feminine, playful and at times glamorous, Dahl dresses come in a variety of colors (see site for more), and with 10 styles to choose from, you’re bound to find a style just for you.

Kelly Lane’s Galaxy Dress

Kelly Lane’s Galaxy dress is part funk, part lady. While the top part of the dress echoes the lines of a built in shrug, the rest of the dress is a basic shift that flatters. Worn with black opaque tights for a holiday party or teal tights for a night out, this dress will shape shift its way into your style universe.

Popomomo Palazzo Pantso

H

It’s not a dress or a skirt, but these Palazzo Pants from Popomomo are a perfect fill in for holiday parties with a sexy cropped top and statement piece of jewelry or, just kicking back. The drawstring waist is an additional selling point for those holiday parties don’t come without their fair share of eating (and stomach expansion).

H Fredriksson’s Drip Dress

H Fredriksson’s Drip Dress drapes where it should and is made from a buttery soft silk. Contrast the shine of the fabric with a knitted tight post-party, add boots and a fitted black t-shirt and you have a whole other date in your Drip Dress.

Prairie Underground’s Austen Blouse

Not all parties you go to this holiday season are going to be under dim lights with a live band playing Duke Ellington. This Austen Blouse by Prairie Underground is actually long enough to wear as a dress (albeit mini), and looks great with patterned tights and a pair of shimmering flats or after your holidays are over with purple tights and heeled brown booties. This is also a great neckline to show off your favorite necklace.

Allison Parris’ Sammi Feather Dress

This is the dress that is made specifically for everything fun and fabulous that you do. Made from a raw organic silk, the Sammi Dress from Allison Parris will elevate you to a new level of sustainable with a fashion-forward feather crinoline skirt to balance out the industrial, exposed zipper on the back. Can you wear this dress again? Of course, but it better be in another state.

Lina Rennell Check Cocktail Dress

You didn’t wait all year to make a New Year’s resolution to start working out or intensifying your yoga practice, no, you did it faithfully – all year. Slip that toned body into Lina Rennell’s Check Cocktail Dress and watch how the other party goers keep using you as a gauge for how much they shouldn’t eat. This dress is for year-round and has so many possibilities for cardigan sweaters and boyfriend blazers, sandals and platform heels, this dress just brings it.

Top image: Allison Parris

Prairie Underground strikes again with a sweet summer duster.

A “Duster” might sound old-fashioned, but some dresses are just perfect for comfort, like this Hemp Cleo Dress from Seattle’s Prairie Underground. The cap sleeve shift dress features contrast stitching at the neckline and pockets and, true to its name, is made from 100% hemp linen.

Dust, lounge, have a long talk over coffee with a friend – whatever you do in this dress, it most certainly should not be a high stress affair.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

Prairie Underground’s iconic Cloak Hoodie turns out in impermeable style.

The Prairie Underground Raincloak ($230) would not only shield the wearer from heavy precipitation, it would turn ill-prepared women clad in permeable coats green with envy.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

From deep in the heart of Texas, Koch designer Nicole Musselman is starting to build a fashion brand that we can’t help but get heart palpitations from.

Floaty caftans made from silk and hand-printed with Egyptian Beetle graphics, buttery linen shifts with fishermen striping and beading, and organic cottons with delicate gold origami birds – breathtaking. The best part? Each item is getting prepped for spring deliveries at a boutique near you.

Musselman says working out of Dallas is inspiring, with so many creative fashion industry women working both alongside and for her.

“I feel like the city of Dallas for years only worked with large companies pushing out high volume designers so it’s been great to be here and able to work with such great people and be in the workrooms with them as much as possible,” says Musselman whose line is all sewn and hand printed in Dallas.

In her workroom, a team of six women sew her collection which features statement pieces like layering jackets paired with loose sexy tops and boy shorts, dresses that can be worn off the shoulder or belted with shell belts and hand-stitched bags that tie around the waist to show a little leg.

“I love the idea of pairing the very dressed up crystal trim with the more casual fabrics like burlap linen and fisherman stripe linen, a juxtaposition of seriousness and playfulness, a way to look dressed up without trying too hard. Essentially, this is what the brand is all about, a lifestyle that encompasses an eclectic outlook, travel and the everyday,” says Musselman.

When asked about whether moving forward she’ll be incorporating more sustainable fabrics into her line, Musselman, who recently joined the True Collaborative Showroom based in Portland, Oregon said thanks to the help of the showroom which houses lines like Prairie Underground, Clary Sage Organics as well as PI, she thinks she’s in good hands.

“Right now we’re at about 50 percent for sustainable fabrics but for fall we’re looking at more like 75 percent. I think people are just becoming more interested in how and where their clothing is made and taking interest in it which makes using more sustainable fabrics for designers like me, easier to incorporate.”

I work with many sustainable designers and one of the more common questions I’m asked is usually about who another designer uses for manufacturing or dyeing. I will never forget the loss of a U.S based non-toxic dyeing facility that one of the designers below regularly used – and eventually had to close its doors.

Another designer had asked me to ask her (as if we were in high school) where she did her dyeing and I suggested, “She’s really nice and will tell you. Just ask her.”

That designer never did and so the business went under.

I wonder how many more stories are out there where designers were too nervous to ask about production and so stayed mum.

Mom always told me, the dumbest question was the one that never got asked.

I caught up with six top sustainable designers to ask them a simple question: Do you think the more sustainable designers share their sources, the stronger their field will become?

Here’s what they had to say.

Nicole Bridger, I think it’s great for us eco designers to work together and help each other out. We are stronger as a collective for sure. The only thing to be careful of is that we don’t all end up using the same fabrics and colors, the different lines can end up looking the same. So for that reason it is important to keep your individual aesthetic. But I think its possible for us to work together and be mindful not to have the same fabrics.

Celeste Lilore, RESTORE Barriers for entry become points of “cooperation” when sourcing is shared. It takes a village and building community will help move sustainable fashion to mainstream.

Davora Lindner, Prairie Underground Most designers in this category share a short list of resources. Sourcing unique sustainable textiles is more about buying power than availability. Purchasing greater quantities increases your options and makes the price per yard less expensive. The ability to source overseas expands your options a good deal, but again these are custom production orders with high minimum yardage.  We focus on textile categories in our small collection to ensure that we can move forward with new fabrications in a manner that is realistic for production.

Alice Wu, Feral Childe Yes, if designers collaborate on sustainable sourcing, the field will be stronger. Currently the variety of sustainable fabrics available to independent and emerging designers is fairly limited since not only is there not that much variety in color and fabrication, it can be difficult to meet a 1,000 yard opening order minimum that some suppliers demand. If suppliers see that sustainable designers have staying power in the marketplace it may encourage them to lower their minimums and offer greater product variety. There is a golden opportunity out there for a U.S-based independent sustainable fabric sales rep to connect the dots – someone who’s got the relationships both with designers and suppliers who can help us pool together our needs for new fabric production orders as well as find takers for production overrun fabric.

Tara St. James, Study NY My short answer is yes. Absolutely. To elaborate, I am a huge proponent of open source material and transparency in manufacturing. Luckily most sustainable designers seem to agree with me and are very forthcoming with their resources and ready to share their contacts. It allows independent designers to share resources without the burden of production minimums, while affording them lower costs and share shipping. If only the rest of the fashion industry were to adopt the same philosophy, it would allow for not only larger exposure for sustainable textile vendors, but more demand on traditional manufacturers to implement sustainable practices.

Gretchen Jones Yes and No. Collaborations are all about the partners. Is each artist bringing to the table some new perspective and referential material?  Can the collaboration maintain each others individual voices, while supporting the complimentary elements?

To me, as a designer whom struggles with the connection to sustainability and ethical business practices vs. my high fashion, yet independent aesthetics. I believe the success of a collaboration would and will only be successful [and heighten the eco movement] by walking the tight rope between style and morals. I want to diversify, I want to diffuse. I know my strengths, and am very aware of my weaknesses. Collaborations are about building each other up. I think, when done thoughtfully and with intention to elevate, collaborations can certainly lead to progression for sustainability.

I personally believe the only way we will make a change, is to create and manufacturer competitive, forward and quality goods.  The sustainable design community must produce with the focus on ‘fashion first,’ after all, we are a part of the fashion industry, we will always be able to do so ethically, the challenge is in creating at the high caliber design of those competing with out their environmental in mind. We change minds through changing perspectives. Collaborations could and will, create opportunity to express with support, deliver with quality and produce competitively. In turn – we change minds and grow our community through shared experience and story – not just a dress.

Image by Pheezy

A perennial fashion archetype, equestrian-chic has long been popular among those with the dream or the means for horse ownership. With a new appreciation for all that’s classic in clothing, it’s only a matter of course that riding styles are a AW 2010 trend that is already off and running.

Revived this time around by John Galliano’s romantic vision for Christian Dior’s Fall 2010 runway, the standard components were masterfully made modern in a memorable spread in Vogue’s February 2010 ”Back in the Saddle” shoot by Raymond Meier and featuring Constance Jablonski.

And while the equestrian theme has been done many times before, it appears that fashion’s current shift from hungering for “it” bags to appreciation for simple and enduring classics is bringing out many of the bits and pieces necessary to assemble the look.

True and trusty wardrobe items like the knee-high riding boots, a single-breasted hacking-style jacket and turtlenecks alongside the recent return of jodhpur-style pants, saddlebag shaped purses and a trend for leather accented clothing.

All the ingredients are available to easily assemble the trend. And with the current color persuasion for restrained ivory, navy, black and caramel coupled with supporting trends for outdoor, rural looks that incorporate tweeds, herringbone and chunky sweaters –  its a look that’s champing at the bit for a shot.

Before saddling up, consider that bohemian, dandy, pirate or any other style archetypes worth plundering, aim to incorporate one element, maybe two, into your everyday wardrobe. Riding boots or Jodhpurs. A blazer, a turtleneck and skinny pants, instead of the jodhpurs. If you emerge from your closet flicking a whip against your thigh and wishing you had a top hat, it’s probably a clue you’ve trotted this trend too far.

Here’s some sustainable finds that are more than just good horse sense.

Feral Childe‘s beautifully-tailored (longer in the back, shorter in the front) blazer is made from surplus Italian stretch wool gabardine and is available October 1st. The inside is equally beautiful with classic Feral Childe print of emerald green scratch art.

Their Barringer Legging in silk and organic cotton jersey is a fun twist of equestrian and print.

Prairie Underground’s Carpenter jean with funky inner leg stitching are reminiscent of a riding pant, in an easy-to-wear-denim.

Cri de Coeur’s Ariel boot. Over-the-knee in textured faux leather.