You never know whom you might run into at the yoga studio these days. My recent move to the West Coast brought me into constant contact with yoga fiends. I quickly learned that I needed to step it up in the exercise apparel arena.

As any yoga lady knows, Lululemon is the Chanel of spiritual fashion. Hailing from Vancouver, this brand’s manifesto is to live a longer, healthier, exuberant lifestyle as organically as possible. Their wear is a little pricey but a lot worth it. The Oqoqo line makes use of sustainable fibers such organic cotton, hemp, boolux (a bamboo-based fabric), organic merino wool, and soyla (made by extracting protein strands from low-impact soy crops). And Oqoqo uses low-impact (read non-Azo) dyes, without compromising color and style. As an added bonus, the company itself is sustainable – they mandate reclaimed wood flooring, zero-VOC paint, and recycling at all facilities.

From now on, do your plank and downward dog, eco-style.

San Francisco, you confuse me. Last week I thought I was back in the middle of a New York summer; Saturday night I shivered my way through the evening as the weather apparently found it hilarious that I had donned a sun dress for the night; and today it's warm and sunny again.

Good, lightweight knits are sometimes hard to come by, but I found this great set by Stewart + Brown online, and I think it's just the thing for the current situation. (Although by the time it arrives, who knows what the skies will have in store for me.)

This set is not just organic and eco-friendly - it's tailored to show off your figure while keeping you comfortable. And it’s so soft that you will think you’re wearing cashmere. The beauty is in the details - contrast decorative stitching, empire ribbed waistband, and bubble sleeves. The set comes in chestnut or graphite. Buy them together or separate, depending on how warm you want to be. Skirt: $185, Sweater: $165.

A girl can never have enough wraps, especially a girl who always finds herself chilled to the bone. To me, the wrap is a stylish and essential choice. When it comes to wraps, I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity shopper. As luxurious as a high-end eco cashmere wrap is, I value my vintage sidewalk purchase just as much. This Azuri Sparkle Wrap looks and feels indulgent in terms of quality, but it’s a steal right now in terms of price. They’re on sale for $80 from an original $240. The collection uses the finest natural fabrics including cashmere, wool, and silk - no petroleum-based synthetics or conventional fibers.

Image/purchase: Nimli

There’s no need to shiver through chilly mornings when all you want to do is wear that pretty bamboo or silk camisole you've been wistfully eying in your closet. A stylish shrug never goes out of style and will keep you toasty warm when the temperature drops to morning-frost levels.

This cap sleeve shrug by Ciel is hand-knitted in Peru of 100% alpaca wool. It’s lightweight but warm and comes in a season-perfect shade of grey. The cable detailing and subtle sleeve make this a timelessly chic classic. Throw it on over that cami, add a colorful scarf, and the chill will bounce right off of you. At $414, it’s a bit of a splurge, but quality alpaca lasts a lifetime.

Another look from one of our favorite eco-designers, Kelly B, this ruffle vest is great for late afternoon when the fog rolls in. Puffy vests are too sporty for my taste, making this a great pick if you’re looking for something a bit more refined and feminine. Made from organic wool, you’ll keep nice and toasty while maintaining a great sense of style.

And because it’s part of Kelly B’s Fall 2007 collection, this ruffle vest is on sale. Grab one now on Hip & Zen for $165 (originally $280).

Image/purchase: Hip & Zen

When I think of felt - I think of 5th grade. That’s the year my best friend, Eden, and I created a 2-foot-high UCLA basketball player out of papier-mache. We captured him mid-stride with an orange Styrofoam basketball hanging from his hand. The light blue and yellow uniform, socks and shoes were made with felt.

Back then, I had no idea I was working with an organic textile. (We won’t discuss the Styrofoam ball or the loads of toxic glue). I also didn’t think of felt as aesthetically pleasing in any way.

But times have changed. And Selina Rose has changed the way I see felt. The British designer runs her own design studio, working with industrial and 100% wool felt colored with environmentally-friendly dyes. Her intricately-designed textiles - rugs, window panels, table runners, room dividers and more - are created using an innovative watercut technology, non-PVC decals and water based non-toxic inks.

Check out her newest collections - Bloom and Botanica. Simply spectacular, stylish and chic. I adore the panels (available by commission) - I’d hang one or two to break up my open space plan apartment in a subtle way.


The bloom rug with floral cutouts measures 4’ x 4’ ($900). There’s also a 4’ round botanica rug ($900). See her cushions ($150), table runners ($195) and lampshades ($168) at the online shop.

Selina Rose textiles can also be purchased in person at Eco Age, the new London eco-shop owned by British actor Colin Firth, his wife and brother-in-law. Their online store is coming soon. Or order by telephone +44 (0) 7803 147898 or via email.

I've never felt so green.

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My older sister was the epitome of preppy-cool. She was blessed to have been named after my Dad's favorite college professor, Dr. Britt, and was therefore left a trust fund to use towards her education. So off she went to boarding school in Connecticut while my younger sisters and I waited with bated breath for her return. On her visits home, she would grace us with her presence and invite us into her closet. She taught us about all things preppy, like L.L. Bean moccasins, barn jackets and the quintessential preppy handbag: the Bermuda bag with its removable and reversible covers. 


These handbags by Dutch designer Tineke Beunders reminded me of those great summertime bags with their bright colors and fun patterns. Inspired by her fascination with wool blankets and the large collection she was amassing, Tineke turned them into handbags made from her re-used wool blanket collection.  Each unique bag has a colorful cotton lining and a smooth birch wood handle. I believe Britt might say these bags are very eco-preppy. I couldn't agree more. (Available through Ontwepduo for €75.95.)

Image: Le Souk

I’ve heard of sewing and embroidery, knitting and crochet - I’ve even tried my hand at a few of the aforementioned crafts. (Didn’t your grandmother enforce the “you should know how to mend, sew a button and knit a scarf” rule, too?) But felting is new to me.

I've been delighted by Etsy's  Made by Moxie, one sassy and inspired artist known for her needle felted art. She explains her craft as the “…process of turning wool fiber into felt using barbed needles that force the fiber to attach to itself.” Luckily, I don’t need to understand the how in order to enjoy the what.

Check out her rings and bracelets and finger puppets and necklaces. If you ever needed a reason to smile, look no further than the mod pendant I'm ordering in orange ($28).

A landscape of seemingly infinite lush, golden, rolling hills has always been one of my favorite vistas in the wilderness. Now, thanks to artist Angela Adams, we can decorate bare wood floorboards with a pattern reminiscent of such breathtaking natural scenery.

Adams, who says that her occupation title is dreamer, is inspired by the beauty of her home state, Maine, when creating her designs. Her Rolling Meadow rug, hand-tufted with 100% wool by affiliates of the international non-profit organization RugMark, not only brings a small piece of the majestic Maine countryside into our homes but also supports the fight against child labor in textile manufacturing. (Available at sponsor VivaTerra for $185.)

Felt is, without a doubt, the hottest artisan medium around these days. There’s something about the lush colors, raw wool or silk fibers, and malleable shapes that make felt pieces both cozy and dramatic.

Artist Jenne Giles does felt brilliantly, and her Harlequin Feltworks scarves and shawls are collector’s items. You can find Harlequin Feltworks pieces at the gift shop of the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design, select California boutiques, or at Giles’s Etsy store, where her Rose Collection scarves sell for $200. The Rose scarves envelop your neck and shoulders in luxuriously fine merino wool and tussah silk, hand-dyed in vivid shades.

The Hibiscus Rose (pictured) is a stunner.