Ah, fashion. Just when you’ve sorted out what trends to ride for the current season, it’s time to look forward and incorporate a whole new wave. Luckily, there are some key accessories this spring that will help smooth out your transition.

Moving into spring provokes a sense of fresh intrigue and a renewed energy to be daring and perhaps a little bold and bright.

1. One of the biggest trends for S/S11 is to politely retire the black bag and put into play a colorful counterpart, like a blue bag from Matt & Nat.

2. Geisha Gem Dangle Earrings made with eco-friendly Argentium sterling silver add just a hint of color.

3. A multi-colored scarf from Edun is perfect to introduce color and warmth.

4. Stella McCartney’s Eco Cotton Multi Botancical Print Wallet with exaggerated chain trim is a little something special.

5. A vibrant statement necklace from Lizzie Fortunato gives you a uniqueness that is admired and coveted.

If the cold has got you down, or if you are just ready to move your wardrobe forward into spring fashion, incorporating these accessories is a great way to keep you feeling inspired and on trend.

The post 5 Accessories to Warm You Up for Spring appeared first on EcoSalon.

Holiday shopping is almost as exciting as the post-holiday sale shopping that comes on in full force during the month of January. I’ve scooped up beautiful handbags, shoes, jackets and jewelry during this time of the year that I would have never been able to afford otherwise.

In the first week of January, sales are running across the board, and I took the liberty to sniff out my three top picks to buy now and wear later.

1. A Sequin Organic Jersey Kimono Dress from Elsom. Layer it with a pair of leggings, boots, a cute cropped blazer and a vibrant scarf and you’ve got one hot outfit this winter. In the summer, pair it with flats and maybe an oversized boyfriend cardigan for a relaxed look.

2. Skinny Blazer by John Patrick Organic. Every girl needs a good blazer. It’s the LBD of daily wear. You should have a go-to black one, and if you have graduated to a more risky style sense, pretty in pink is the perfect palate for transitioning from winter’s beiges to summer’s whites!

3. NeuAura Plum Heels. Open-toed shoes with layered tights and socks this winter keeps you thick with the fashion pack. When the temperature warms up, lose the layers and go for bare legs.

If you didn’t quite get what you wanted from Santa this year, take it upon yourself to get what you deserve at a discount, and let those pieces carry you through the winter into spring!

The post 3 Pieces to Buy Now (On Sale) to Wear Later appeared first on EcoSalon.

I love celebrating the big countdown on New Year’s Eve. Wherever I am, I make it a priority to pull out the sequins, the colored pumps and some flashy accessories. Call me girly, but the truth is I know I am not alone in pre-planning my December 31st wardrobe.

New Years is kind of like Halloween for fashion-forward individuals. Lace, sequins, mesh, wild prints and exaggerated makeup are the norm. So, when perusing through some of my favorite eco-fashion designers’ sites, I decided to highlight my top three frocks to ring in the New Year with.

The first is a body con dress by Althea Harper that exudes mega confidence. If you need a boast in attitude to turn out for the night’s festivities, this one has your name all over it!

Next, you can never go wrong with a print dress done right. The Bassike brand has a cult following and with effortless fashion made functional, I can certainly see why.

My final option is made for the star-studded event – as it was designed by a star herself, Project Runway winner Gretchen Jones. A classic velvet dress pushed stylishly into the limelight with designer details!

All you need now is some liquid liner, platform shoes and a boy who you can steal his jacket from to complete your look. Happy New Year!

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My collection of big woolly sweaters sure does get a workout during the holiday season. Unfortunately I can’t stay indoors and hibernate, as there are festive parties to attend – parties that prefer glitz and glam over warm and cozy. I may follow EcoSalon’s fashion editor Amy DuFault’s lead this winter and invest in a cape. How can you go wrong with a timeless piece that’s both trendy and keeps you protected from the elements?

Wondering you can turn up the heat on your own? Sans cape? I suggest going for a naughty and nice look. Piggybacked on the leather and lace trend that swept the scene earlier this year, choose a classic lace dress that has a bit of a body con shape and balance it with a hip leather jacket that acts as an edgy indoor layer. Finish off the look with over the knee platform heel boots.

This look is urban chic and sure to get checked off Santa’s list, as well as a few fashionistas who will be lusting over your confident cocktail attire.

The post Naughty and Nice appeared first on EcoSalon.

An old proverb states that it is better to travel well than to arrive. There are many interpretations of that profound statement, but the most literal one is also applicable. So, as we gear up to make the trip home for the holidays, it seems appropriate to focus on just a few items that will make your trip that much more comfortable (regardless of the airline you are flying).

An ethically sourced and produced scarf from The North Circular keeps you stylishly cozy when the cabin temperature starts to drop. Of course, you will need a carry-on bag that fits all your snacks and gadgets. For this we recommend the upcycled leather top handle oversized satchel from The Sway NYC.

A long day of traveling can be hard on the feet, but not when you slip into a pair of Kuyban loafers. Every pair offers their signature insole supports which transform any pair of shoes into a walking dream. And when you are relaxing in flight, don’t forget to pull out a pair of socks to keep your toes warm. We are fans of the recycled cotton pair from Socksmith.

Finally, what would a travel bag be without a balm for your lips, hands and face? Not to worry, the folks over are Lush have the just the thing- the Ultrabalm!

Holiday travel can be hectic, but with a little forethought and some signature luxuries – including a newly downloaded book for your iPad or Kindle, the traveling may very well become one of the best parts of your trip.

The post Holiday Travel Airport Essentials appeared first on EcoSalon.

Winter is finally setting in, but if you are fortunate enough, you may have a warm weather escape on your horizon! It turns out that I am the aforementioned lucky duck who writes this post from the middle of the Indian Ocean on a set of exquisite islands off the coast of India, just west of Sri Lanka.

Getting here was a bit of a journey (four different airplanes and five time zones later!) – suffice it to say, there were all together too many changeovers, and I arrived in paradise without my luggage. So, I made a list of the essentials and went shopping. It turns out, you only need a handful of items to live quite well on an island. Here is my list:

1. Edeline Organic Cotton Stripe Dress by Jackpot.

2. Olga Olsson Rose Rio Bikini – luxury swimwear with environmental consideration.

3. Melissa Cute flip flops by Melissa’s Plastic Dreams.

4. Juicy Couture’s Choose Green Jasmine Sunglasses – created from 55 percent bio-based renewable plant materials.

5. Kid Safe Screen in SPF 25 from Marie Veronique Organics.

So, while I hope you do not encounter the missing luggage dilemma I did, I do hope this gives you guidance for a lighter more free-spirited tropical holiday. Because the truth is, less really is more.

The post Beach Retreat: 5 Essential Items for a Tropical Getaway appeared first on EcoSalon.

You know those lazy Saturdays when you borrow your boyfriend’s jacket to grab brunch with friends, and your outfit winds up being the talk of the table?It seems this relaxed trend is taking center stage! Embracing the masculine and feminine balance can be tricky at times, but when you add a men’s style jacket to your otherwise girly attire, you achieve the perfect mix.

Here are a few options to get your menswear style up and running:

1. Stella McCartney Wool Mix Indus Coat. Leave it to Stella to create a simple yet wonderfully elegant jacket with strong menswear lines. Pair it with skinny pants, heels, a nice blouse and a dash of red lipstick and you are Katharine Hepburn incarnated!

2. Nixxi Pea Coat. A hat’s tip to the sailor pea coat, Nixxi offers this style in organic wool with silk and hemp lining.

3. Izzy Lane A/W Collection 2010. Wensleydale and Shetland sheep comprise the Izzy Lane line and are mainly of animals that would have been sent to slaughter for being male, missing a pregnancy, being a little lame, being too small, being too old or having imperfections such as a black spot in a white fleece. This line is ethical with a strong heritage.

Bottom line: boyfriend jackets compliment feminine frames and with these options, hang with a purpose!

The post Fashion Cues from the Boys: The Boyfriend Jacket appeared first on EcoSalon.

You may already know that Julie Gilhart is the Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Barneys New York. What you may not know is that she also takes on the role as a mainstream eco-fashion advocate. In a sustainable fashion focused conversation hosted at the Fashion Institute of Technology last week, Gilhart shared the various ways that she – and Barneys – are striving to be more eco.

Gilhart opened the discussion by stating that just two-years-ago, you would never find her talking to FIT students about social responsibility in fashion. She quickly segwayed into the various campaigns that Barneys New York has been running since about 2007 with social responsibility at its core. Through designer collaborations including upcycling, ethical outsourcing to developing countries, organic cotton initiatives and sustainable fiber production, Barneys is quickly becoming a green beacon for the fashion industry.

Enthusiasm for eco-fashion awareness is high, yet Gilhart tempers that consumers are still learning about sustainable fashion. “We asked Stella McCartney to do a line and source only organic cotton. The label read: ‘Stella McCartney Organic’ and it really turned the customer off. They thought that since the garments were produced with organic cotton, their quality was less than,” stated Gilhart.

There is a fine line when educating the consumer. If a brand boasts about its green credentials too loudly, consumers are put off, yet they simultaneously need those green flags to go up, otherwise they don’t know what they are buying. “It is important to get the consumer to understand that what they are buying has an impact,” asserts Gilhart.

Perhaps what we need are a few role models to show us the ropes. So how does Gilhart incorporate eco practices into her lifestyle? She shared a few tips:

– Be proud of your clothes and wear them over and over. It is okay to wear the same shirt or pants two days in a row or multiple times in a week.

– Buy expensive pieces that last and are of higher quality.

– Take good care of your clothes. Have them dry cleaned, and repaired when needed.

– Don’t buy cheap clothing that you have to keep replacing.

– Buy less.

– Know where your clothing comes from and support locally, or even domestically, produced brands.

Julie was quick to admit that based on her job and involvement with designers, it is quite easy for her to make educated purchasing decisions. Luckily, for the rest of us, we can head to Barneys and shop eco-fashion that is seamlessly integrated into their fashion offerings. “You have to put design and style first,” says Gilhart. “Start with the front story and then you can share the backstory.” When you shop at Barneys, the staff are trained on the different lines and will be able to share those backstories of a more eco-friendly nature with you. The idea is that you will pick out a piece because you like it, and then learn of its eco-added bonus. At the moment, this is Barneys working an eco-fashion integration model. What do you think? Should designers and stores clearly advertise their eco-backstories or let the consumer passively discover them through their shopping?

Let’s continue the conversation.

The post A Candid Conversation with Barneys NY Julie Gilhart appeared first on EcoSalon.

1. Gunas produces urban bags that are inspired by the architecture of the city, and ethos of sustainable fashion. These luxury vegan bags adapt from formal to casual and come in colors and styles for both sexes – a definite must for the city dweller!

2. Envirosax has been on eco-fashionistas’ radars for quite some time, but with the new graphic series their stylish workability has stepped up a notch. These bags are great for stuffing into your day bag to offer additional space for when you stop by the grocery store on your way home.

3. When you need a stylish bag you can rely on, Maggie Bags are one of the best options out there! Made from durable seat belts that are upcycled into different sized totes and messenger bags, Maggie Bags won’t let you down.

4. In a recent collaboration with Alicia Silverston, EcoTools launched a new cosmetic bag collection that includes an overnight bag. Made from hemp and recycled plastic lining, this super sweet bag may just seduce you to take that long weekend!

(Street style image in photo from Mr. Newton.)

The post Totally Totes appeared first on EcoSalon.

The line for the CFDA and Lexus sponsored Eco-Fashion Challenge event in New York City, wrapped around the building and continued down the block. If that is any indicator of what is to come (which I fully believe it is) sustainable fashion got a major boost from this eco-fashion integration challenge!

“Designing a Lexus is a complicated and sophisticated process that requires putting many pieces together, and the same is true of fashion,” stated Loomstate designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn. “Step by step we are learning a new language for sustainable and eco awareness and bringing it into the fashion story.”

(Marcia Patmos of Leroy & Perry)

Inside a packed skyline loft, floor to ceiling posters presented the various designers in the running for the CFDA and Lexus package which includes $25,000 towards their next line as well as support for their Fall 2011 show or presentation during New York Fashion Week in February.  Words like organic, air dyed, recycled, handmade, fair, local, upcycled, and sustainable lined the posters and defined the designers’ eco-focus. This must be the new language Mackinlay Hahn speaks of. What is reassuring is that slowly, but surely, the general public is learning this lingo and looking for it on the garments they purchase. As a result, “…more designers are asking for it now too, and demanding eco-versions of fabrics from their suppliers,” says Marcia Patmos, the designer from Leroy & Perry who was one of the competing ten designers.

(Maria Cornejo, Jeffery Costello, Monique Pean, Robert Tagliapietra)

And speaking of supply – which of the ten designers will be applying supplying us with their eco-fashion creations next Fall? Drumroll please! The three labels that were awarded the eco-challenge CFDA and Lexus package are:

Monique Pean

Costello Tagliapietra

Maria Cornejo

“The fact is, we are all trying to be eco-friendly,” asserts Maria Cornejo. “These are little steps that really build into something.” Cornejo went on to advise other designers to ‘be creative’ and think of other ways of being eco than just sourcing, such as being local in production or using non-toxic dying processes.

(Reed Krakoff, Monique Pean and Scott Mackinlay Hahn)

For fellow winner Monique Pean, eco-fashion translates directly to slow fashion, which she describes as, “…designing pieces that are high in quality and passed down from generation to generation.”

Going back to Mackinlay Hahn’s statement about utilizing a new language to talk about fashion, I think we are definitely there and as Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra so eloquently put it, “This communication is immeasurable.”

The post The CFDA Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge Winners Are… appeared first on EcoSalon.