Amour Vert’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection is the perfect blend of sailor chic and tropical-inspired casual wear to pack for your summer vacation!

Amour Vert, one of our favorite eco friendly fashion labels from San Francisco, offers up yet another collection of effortlessly cool dresses, skirts, tops, slacks and cover ups. Nautical and tropical prints mix with with just the right amount of Parisian elegance in this Spring/Summer collection, which is made out of natural, recycled and organic materials.

All of Amour Vert’s garments are designed and manufactured in the United States, proudly representing the growing list of awesome fashion labels made in the USA. Check out some of our favorite pieces from the collection and tap into the sailor in you for your summer wardrobe!

Sexy and sleek, but totally understated and easy to wear, the A-line Scarlett skirt is made from silk and so versatile. It works for any occasion depending on what you pair it with.

If you’re going for a cute look for a night on the town or a day of shopping, choose the Ruth top made from 100 percent silk and the super sweet Cindy skirt in organic cotton. Dress it up with strappy stilettos or keep it low key with a pair of leather flats.

The Daisy shorts are perfect for a day on the boat, or pretty much any relaxing summer day. Comfortable and easy to pair with a tank, tee or long sleeve shirt (depending on the weather) these Modal fabric shorts are a fantastic wardrobe basic in a classic nautical design.

The Rosie pant in 100 percent silk is the ultimate summer slack – breathable, flattering silhouette and a tribal pattern. What more could you ask for? Maybe a pair of cute sandals!

The Art bomber jacket is the perfect over up for the chillier nights and rainier days of summer. We love the unique Ikat print and luxurious feel of the silk!

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Images: Amour Vert

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If the key to personal style is knowing yourself, identifying with someone whose style you admire is a great way to figure out whether something is “you.” Even Princess Grace’s off-duty dog-walking style (above) captured in 1969 shows why she’ll always be one of the world’s fashion icons worth emulating.

Of course, style inspiration can – and should be – found anywhere and everywhere. Art, books, the colors of a sunset, even the innocence of a little girl’s hand-assembled school outfit that caught my eye recently is fodder for sartorial creativity. Her back-to school denim blue dress paired with red-wo0llen tights sparked an idea to revisit the fresh combination of color and textures as soon as the weather gets cooler. 

In light of the news that the industry’s most forward-thinking designers are deciding to opt out off the traditional fashion calendar this season, and that the best of the rest sent models down the catwalk in thousand-dollar crop tops, finding inspiration outside of traditional fashion media seems well, sane.

Choosing looks from icons from the hallowed halls of style history provides a solid reference for putting together outfits with balanced proportions or recreating an inspired use of a belt or scarf. Taking inspiration from the style greats is more than opting for vintage glamour, it’s identifying with an attitude that icon had towards getting dressed. Whether its classic, eclectic, bohemian or a minimalistic approach, choosing your style inspiration is all about making it your own.

Classic Style: Grace Kelly

Image: Wikipedia

Was anyone more appropriately named than Grace Kelly? Her perfectly cut clothing in demure pastel shades set the standard for graceful, ladylike style that remains an inspiration more than 50 years after she first burst on to the Hollywood scene in High Noon.

 Image: Beklina

If you want to emulate Kelly’s always-calm-and-collected demeanor, take a look at Rachel Comey’s nude Olto dress (above) available at Beklina. A classic staple, modeled after a timeless trench-coat silhouette, it’s sleeveless and fully lined and features a double button wrap front with panel flap detail, a collarless boat neckline and delicate pintucks at the waist. Worn with a long-sleeved turtleneck for season-proof style, it’s a solid investment in an enduring classic style.

Eclectic Style: Kate Moss

Image: Ecosalon

Mixing references is the genius of Kate Moss’ much-coveted cool-girl style. While a leopard print may intimidate most of us, Moss knows that introducing a slightly offbeat element punches up neutrals and turns basic skinny jeans and boots into a glamorous, but laid-back look.

Image: Amour Vert

Amour Vert’s Grace Peasant Top in leopard printed silk (above) is made in California and instantly creates an eclectic sense of style with simple separates—and if you fancy taking a walk on the wide side, it also pairs brilliantly with red and green.

Bohemian Style: Stevie Nicks

Image: Wikipedia

Along with her raspy voice, Stevie Nicks’ iconic bohemian style is part of her sultry allure. A free-spirited outsider, her signature hippie beads, fringe and billowing sleeves revealed an individualistic and romantic take on fashion.

Image: Beklina

For the dreamers among us, Ryan Roche’s stunning 100% cashmere cardigan sweater (above) injects some bohemian luxury into an everyday look. Warm and cozy, the cardigan doubles up as the perfect early fall coat. A detachable braided belt and hidden buttons secure the front.

Minimalist Style: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

The 90s are fashion’s latest craving, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was the decade’s ultimate minimalist muse. A gift for taking avant-garde design and wearing in an effortless way endeared her to the era’s designers and style commentators. Her taste for wearing all-black outfits with clean lines and sleek styling means that photographs of her look as relevant now as they did then.

Maiyet’s Full Sleeve Short Jacket with hand hooked ari embroidered detail on the cuffs of the sleeves (above) is striking for its high concept and sophisticated cut. Made in New York, it’s a surprisingly versatile piece. Teamed with jeans or a pencil skirt, its understated simplicity doesn’t scream for attention, but rest assured, everyone will notice how you are inspired by fashion icons like these.

Related on Ecosalon: 

The Eye Has to Travel: Sustainable Style Lessons from Diana Vreeland

20 Best Quotes on Style

Top Image: Wikipedia

The post 4 Fall Looks Inspired by 4 Fashion Icons appeared first on EcoSalon.

Today, we celebrate the 4th of July and the USA by highlighting some of the great design that is also made here on our home turf.

This week is all about celebrating the United States of America (and BBQs, of course), and we do that by highlighting some of the great design that is done here on our home turf. Manufacturing in the U.S. creates jobs and cuts carbon emissions from shipping, so be a patriot and support your local designers. Here are a few of our stars and stripes-themed favorites.

Amour Vert Paquerette Navy/White Stripes Tube Top
We never thought we’d wear tube tops again, but suddenly they feel kind of right, especially on a hot summer day, paired with a high-waisted skirt. This striped one, by Amour Vert is made in the USA from soft bamboo.
$34, Amour Vert

Amour Vert Audrey White Buttoned Skirt
This sailor-inspired mini skirt goes perfectly with a striped tube top (see above). The fun button-detailing in the front give it that slight nautical feel, while the side pockets and clean silhouette keep it classy. Made in the USA, from organic cotton.
$99, Amour Vert

Hovey Lee Stella Stars Necklace
If there are stripes, there must be stars. This dramatic statement necklace features large metal star charms hanging from a large brass chain, all made with reclaimed metal. The charms are hollow to make it easy to wear. You can make it work double-duty by wrapping it around your wrist as a bracelet. Hovey Lee jewelry is designed and made in Los Angeles, always from natural, reclaimed and fair trade materials.
$158, Hovey Lee

PACT Bikini Handpainted Stars Bikini
OK, so these star-spangled organic undies are not actually made in the USA, but in a fair trade factory in Turkey. PACT’s new stars and stripes-themed collection was, however, inspired by a hunky Texas farmer named Mason Arnold, with proceeds benefiting the Sustainable Food Center, which provides families in low-income communities with access to healthy local food. That just seems kind of patriotic to us.
$20, PACT

American Apparel Unisex Swim Trunk
American Apparel has been the mainstream poster child of bringing local manufacturing to downtown LA, which we think is pretty cool. We just wish they would commit to organic fabrics too. These mid-length unisex swim shorts have vented legs, a drawstring waist and come in a variety of different colors.
$34, American Apparel

Giant Dwarf Astral Crown
Celebrate independence day by channeling lady liberty with this headpiece made from German glass glitter (which is pure silver and real glass shards). There’s no way you can avoid having fun wearing this. Astral Crowns are an original Giant Dwarf design – each piece is carefully crafted and assembled by hand, with lots of love and sparkles.
$48, Olivine

Edith A. Miller Cotton Boatneck Striped 3/4 Tee
This classic boatneck tee is as timeless as it is all-American – a perfect summer wardrobe staple. The versatile knits by Edith A. Miller are all made in a 100-year-old mill in Reading, Pennsylvania, which originally specialized in making men’s undershirts. In late 2010, former investment banker Nancy Gibson and designer Jennifer Murray convinced the mill to start making women’s shirts, which have ever since been a favorite of stylish women everywhere.
$70, Bird

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