Our Big Fat Conscious Reading List: The Best Websites of 2011

What we read, and what you should read, too.

As purveyors of conscious culture and fashion, our reading list is long (and our reading is never done). But these are the websites we find ourselves drawn to again and again. They’re bookmarked in our daily reads, noted on EcoSalon’s Reading List, and are worth getting to know. From some of the most-beloved print publications online to rambunctious upstarts and indie standouts, you won’t find a more dynamic reading feast anywhere online.

BEST ONLINE READING IN: FASHION

WDD.com

WWD – Women’s Wear Daily

Tagline: “The Fashion Bible” (and it is).

Publishing since 1910 (print).

Refinery29

Fashion news from everywhere.

Ecco Eco

Ecco Eco

News on eco textiles and art farming projects from fiber artist and writer Abigail Doan.

Publishing since 2006.

Social Alterations

A platform for design educators to benchmark themselves against other educators not only within their own field, but across various design disciplines.

Ethical Fashion Forum

The EFF delivers support and ethical news for fashion businesses and conscious readers alike and serves as a resource for connecting to sustainable sources.

Publishing since 2004.

Coco Eco Magazine

Coco EcoMagazine is a digital multi-media lifestyle brand celebrating sustainable fashion, beauty, celebrity, and culture.

Publishing since 2008.

Ecouterre

Ecouterre

Tagline: “Green Fashion Is More Than A Passing Trend.”

Publishing since 2009.

Vogue.com’s Green Style Blog

It’s Vogue, what more is there to say?

Publishing since 1892.

Ecotextile News

EcoTextile News

News, comment and analysis on sustainable textiles and clothing.

Style.com

Style.com

Vogue’s original venture into the land of HTML.

Publishing since 2000.

Josh Spear

Josh Spear

The four corners of the world of design, and everything in between.

Publishing since 2004.

Organic Exchange / Textile Exchange

Organic Exchange

“Creating Material Change”: a non-profit committed to promoting sustainable textiles.

Publishing since 2003.

The Square Project

The Square Project

The blog of Tara St James, owner and designer for the clothing label Study.

Publishing since 2009.

Goodlifer

Inspiring news and articles on sustainable fashion, travel and food trends, shopping and living the good life.

BEST ONLINE READING IN: FOOD

CHOW

Chow

News, articles, recipe-hacking and the ChowHound online community.

Publishing since 2006.

Chez Pim

Chez Pim

Professional cook, professional eater and internet cult figure Pim Techamuanvivit’s food site.

Publishing since 2001.

 

Foodzie
“Taste Something Different” – an online marketplace connecting small-scale food producers & growers.

Publishing since 2008.

delicious days

Delicious Days

“I Eat Merely To Put Food Out Of My Mind” – home of a food-lover based in Europe (and one of TIME’s “50 Coolest Websites”).

Publishing since 2005.

Foodspotting

Foodspotting

“A visual guide to good food and where you find it” via user-recommended dishes.

Publishing since 2009.

TasteSpotting

Tastespotting

A user-built grab-bag of gorgeous images leading to recipes, articles, tips…anything goes. The ultimate in food porn.

Publishing since 2007.

Summer Tomato

Summer Tomato

Scientist and foodie Darya Pino shares nutrition tips, healthy recipes and farmers’ market finds.

Publishing since 2009.

Serious Eats

Sharing and celebrating food enthusiasm! (With some serious chef talent on the roster.)

Publishing since 2006.

Food News Journal

Food News Journal

Articles, essays, blog posts – the best in food current events.

Publishing since 2009.

Civil Eats

Civil Eats

Driven by the politics of food – and the need for a serious dialogue about the American food system.

Publishing since 2008.

Organic Authority

Organic Authority

Everything organic! (It’s right there in the name).

Publishing since 2004.

 

BEST ONLINE READING IN: SEX


JezebelJezebel

Tagline: “Celebrity, sex, fashion for women.”

Publishing since 2007.

Bitch Magazine

Bitch Magazine

Providing and encouraging an engaged, throughful response to mainstream media and popular culture.

Publishing since 1996.

Ms. Magazine

Ms. Magazine

The legendary feminist magazine in its online form.

Publishing since 1971.

Advertising Agency & Marketing Industry News

Ad Age

Advertising agency and marketing industry news.

Publishing since 1992.

Feministe

Feministe

“One of the oldest feminist blogs online designed by and run by women from the ground up.”

Publishing since 2003.

Feministing

Feministing

Tagline: “Bringing you brainy, bad-ass feminist news.”

Publishing since 2004.

The Hairpin

The Hairpin

Founded by Edith Zimmerman and Cassie Murdoch, Hairpin features writing by women for women.

Publishing since 2010.

Girl with Pen

Girl With Pen

Tagline: “Bridging feminist research and popualr reality.”

BEST ONLINE READING IN: SHELTER

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

Aiming to make homes more beautiful, organised and healthy.

Publishing since 2007.

Dwell

Dwell

“At home in the modern world” – promoting pragmatic, beautiful modern design.

Publishing since 2000.

desire to inspire

Desire to Inspire

A showcase for the beautiful side of interior design.

Publishing since 2006.

Remodelista

Remodelista

Tagline: “Sourcebook for the considered home.”

Publishing since 2007.

Wallpaper.com

Wallpaper

Tagline: “Designinteriorsfashionartlifestyle.” (Which rather says it all).

Publishing since 1996.

NOTCOT.ORG

Not Cot

A growing network of design sites including the famous NotCot.com.

Publishing since 2006.

Better Living Through Design

Better Living Through Design

Tagline: “Your guide to home, style, travel.”

Publishing since 2005.

Design Milk

A web magazine dedicated to design (and a favorite of Google’s engineers).

Publishing since 2006.

RUM magazine

Rum Magazine (in Danish)

Interior design with a Scandinavian twist.

Publishing since 2006.

BEST ONLINE READING IN: NEWS & CULTURE

The New York Times

The New York Times

Still the best.

Publishing since 1851 (print).

The New Yorker

The New Yorker

Commentary, reportage, criticism, essays, and fiction with a twist of wry.

Publishing since 1925 (print).

The Atlantic

The Atlantic

The literary and culture commentary magazine.

Publishing since 1857 (print).

The Daily Beast

Tina Brown’s Beast recently merged with Newsweek. “A fresh take on the news from around the world with sharp opinion.”

Publishing since 2008.

The Economist

The week in international politics, business, science and culture.

Publishing since 1843 (print).

TreeHugger

Treehugger

The most well-known green website.

Publishing since 2003.

Wired.com

Wired

Covering the impact of new and speculative technology on world culture.

Publishing since 1993 (print).

TechCrunch

TechCrunch

Technology news and analysis, and everything regarding online startups.

Publishing since 2005.

 

Hacker News

Hacker News

From Ycombinator, aggregating the best news.

Publishing since 2005.

Ecorazzi

Ecorazzi

Tagline: “The latest in green gossip.”

Publishing since 2006.

Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

Pop culture, fashion and politics.

Publishing since 1913 (print).

More Intelligent Life

More Intelligent Life

The must-read quarterly lifestyle and culture magazine from The Economist.

Publishing since 2007.

GOOD

GOOD

A magazine reporting on the people who are “moving the world forward.”

Publishing since 2006.

PSFK

PSFK

Providing inspiration for creative professionals.

Publishing since 2004.

Laughing Squid

Laughing Squid

Featuring the best in unique art, culture and technology.

Publishing since 1995.

Gawker

Daily gossip/news on celebrities and the media industry.

Publishing since 2003.

Fast Company

Fast Company

Progressive business media, ethical economics, leadership and design.

Publishing since 1995.

TED Ideas worth spreading

TED

Tagline: “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Publishing since 2006 (online).

Mother Jones

Mother Jones

The nonprofit magazine specializing in liberal and progressive values.

Publishing since 1976 (print).

The Awl - Be Less Stupid

The Awl

Tagline: “Be Less Stupid.” Culture commentary and humor.

Publishing since 2008.

Recommend your own required reading in the comments.

Image: liquene