ColumnBlack and blue is one of the hottest color combinations right now. Here’s how to wear it this spring.

We’ve talked about black and white earlier, but another of the hottest color combinations right now is black and blue. Mixing these two hues, previously considered a big fashion no-no, will give you a fresh on-trend look for spring. The great thing about this trend is that both colors are timeless basics, and you may just be able to put together a look from what you already have. If not, here are some suggestions on how to channel this trend.

1. Reuse Jeans Mid Rise Flares
If you’re buying a new pair of jeans this spring, make sure they are flares. This pair, from Reuse Jeans, is made from 80 percent recycled denim and dyed using low-impact dyes. Since water-saving production processes are used, each pair of jeans saves up to 2,500 gallons of water, compared to mainstream denim companies.
$95, Fashioning Change

2. Priti Flowers Nail Polish by Priti NYC
Nail art has never been trendier than it is now. The perfect way to apply the black and blue trend to your fingertips is to give yourself a reverse French manicure with non-toxic polish by Priti NYC. Use 652 – Swan River Daisy for the base coat and 369 – Magic Man Iris for the tips.
$13.50 each, Priti NYC

3. Baggu Medium Pouch
Made in NYC from soft natural milled leather, this cute little pouch is perfect for holding your phone, Metrocards, liptstick and other valuables when you carry a tote bag. For nighttime, you can also use it alone as a small clutch.
$40, Baggu

4. Stewart & Brown Swooping Half Sleeve
Every girl needs a few basic tees in her wardrobe. This asymmetric swoop tee by Stewart + Brown features pockets and seam details, and is made in the U.S. from 100 percent organic lightweight jersey cotton.
$92, Stewart + Brown

5. Rachel Comey Kinta Sandal
The perfect way to channel the black and blue trend is by rocking these open toe sandals by Rachel Comey. Ethically made in Peru, they feature a black textured stamped leather upper, slingback strap and a wood platform wrapped in blue leather.
$380, Beklina

Photos courtesy of the designers, top collage by Johanna Björk

The post On Trend: 5 Black and Blue Styles for Spring appeared first on EcoSalon.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than by wearing the color of love — bright red. It’s a hue that keeps coming back in style, year after year, making it good for investment pieces. It’s actually been shown that we are more attracted to people who wear red. True or not, February 14 would be the perfect time to put that theory to the test.

1. Patchuli Jelly Wedge Sandals by Melissa
These red-hot wedges by Brazilian label Melissa are made from sculpted, durable PVC. The navy blue ankle strap and sole contrast nicely with the bright red of the shoe. Wearing these, you’re ready for anything from a hot date to a walk in the rain.
$145, Saks Fifth Avenue

2. Priti NYC Nail Polish in Japanese Rose
A super easy way to incorporate some red into your life for Valentine’s Day is to simply change your polish. This color, called Japanese Rose, is a semi-sheer, fiery rose red that will look hot on anyone. Priti NYC’s polishes are all made without any nasty chemicals, so you can feel good about having that special guy kiss your hand.
$13.50, Priti NYC

3. Monogrammed Drawstring Jewelry Pouch by Clare Vivier
Treat your jewelry (and yourself) right by getting a nice case to store your favorite pieces in. This drawstring pouch by Clare Vivier is ethically made by hand in Los Angeles. Customizing it with gold-embossed initials adds that special touch that makes something a true keepsake.
$70, Clare Vivier

4. Peace Cord Hope Red Bracelet
Handmade with red braided parachute cord and a silver frosted button emblazoned with “ARZU means Hope,” this bracelet is a gift that gives twice. Your purchase directly helps create employment opportunities for the female artisans in Afghanistan who make them, under fair labor conditions. If you don’t love red, there are plenty of other colors to choose from as well.
$15, Peace Cord

5. Baggu Medium Leather Bag
Although if features the same simple shape as Baggu’s popular grocery bags, this version is made, in New York City, from soft natural milled leather. It’s a fancy version of your favorite carry-all, and comfortably fits over the shoulder.
$112, Baggu

6. Tomato Pointelle Ankle Sock by PACT
PACT’s spring collection is inspired by getting back to our roots and features designs symbolizing the heritage of farming. (And they’ve also launched a crowdfunding campaign for urban school gardens.) Made from single-sourced organic cotton in GOTS certified factories, these socks are as comfy and conscious as they come. Try wearing them with your favorite pair of heels.
$8, PACT

Images courtesy of the designers and labels featured. Collages by Johanna Björk.

The post On Trend: 6 Gorgeous Reds for Valentine’s Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

Show off your best color and shine like the sun in bright yellow hues this summer.

Fashion has been all about bright color for a while now, and that’s not going to change this summer. As nature blooms and shows off her best colors, so should you. Yellow is one of those hues that makes you instantly happy – it’s like wearing sunshine on your sleeve. Dare to be bright and don’t be scared of mixing different hues of yellow either. This summer, it’s time to shine like the sun.

H Fredriksson Fold Neon Dress
This simple, yet bright and fun, neon washed silk dress is just the perfect frock for summer. It’s elegant yet effortless, much thanks to designer Helena Fredriksson’s masterful draping. Made locally in NYC from natural fabrics.
On sale for $215, H Fredriksson

Yellow Translucent Spikey Necklace by Thea Grant
If you don’t want to go all in with yellow, try adding a statement-making accent piece, like this dramatic spikey necklace with bronze beaded balls and chain fringe by Thea Grant, a Brooklyn-based designer who decorates her pieces with vintage and antique objects, fobs, curios and charms found throughout New York and beyond.
$265, Juno & Jove

Organic by John Patrick Shirttail
A bright yellow tee will make for a great closet staple this summer. Wear it with everything from patterned skirts to denim cutoffs. This fitted short sleeve by Organic by John Patrick is a great choice. Made from 100% organic cotton.
$74, Conifer

Baggu Leather Tote
A simple tote bag is the only thing you need to carry your essentials around this summer. Choosing one in bright yellow ensures that no matter what you wear with it, you’ll look very on trend. Made in NYC from soft natural milled leather.
$160, Baggu

Sleeveless Belted Dress by Carrie Parry
This classic buttercup yellow sleeveless shirt dress by Carrie Parry has a feminine Peter Pan collar – button it all the way up or leave a few open – and flattering belt detail. Made in New York City from 100% Bemberg Cupro. 20% of the sale of this dress goes toward supporting the non-profit Trees for the Future
$285, Carrie Parry

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Your weekend bag for a stay at the Pantone Hotel — versatile basics in bright solid colors.

When packing for a weekend at the Pantone Hotel in Brussels, go with the theme and bring colorful basics that ensure that you blend well into the surroundings. It’s a bit chilly in Brussels right now, so versatile basics that will keep you warm is a must.

Organic Woven Scarf – Pantone 144
A big scarf is a must-have when you travel anywhere. This one, by fairtrade fashion company Indigenous Designs shines on a bright shade of orange (Pantone 144) and dyed using low-impact, eco-friendly dyes.
$19, Indigenous Designs

Organic Sweater with Tail – Pantone 3945
This lemon yellow (Pantone 3945) sweater by Organic by John Patrick is longer in the back and shorter in the front, perfect for matching with anything from your favorite travel tights to a fancy skirt.
$212, Otte

Braided Hat with Tassels – Pantone 290
With earflaps and fun braided tassels, this bright blue (Pantone 290) hat is a fun addition to your cold-weather wardrobe. It’s hand knit by formerly disadvantaged mothers in Njabini, Kenya.
$26, Njabini Apparel

Baggu Backpack – Pantone 184
This neon pink (Pantone 184) backpack is made from 100% recycled cotton duck. It’s great for carrying all those essentials with you while exploring Brussels. If pink is not your color, there are several more to choose from.
$34, Baggu

Olsenhaus Wedge Booties – Pantone 249
“Bring comfortable shoes” is one of the cardinal rules of traveling. But we think you should also pack something a little more suitable for evening pleasures, like these bright-purple (Pantone 249) vegan booties by Olsenhaus.
On sale for $150.50, Cow Jones Industrials

Merino Silkweight Crew – Pantone 570
This top from Patagonia combines the technical merits of merino wool with travel-savvy style. The lightweight fabric is designed to keep you dry, comfortable and odor-free — it’s a mix of chlorine-free merino wool from non-mulesed Australian merino sheep and 100% recycled polyester.
$65, Patagonia

Slim Color Pant – Pantone 172
Give those black pants you usually travel with a rest. This deep orange (Pantone 172) slim color pant is the perfect colorful travel companion. Each pair is handwoven in Romania and are absolutely unique (you can enter a special code located on the inside seam to find out how).
$145, Kaight

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10 stylish bags for your everyday lifestyle.

You’ve got tons of them in your car, looped around your bike handles and hanging from closet doors ready to be filled with farmer’s market produce and flea market finds. Come to think of it, you’ve got more than you ever use but when it comes to that special bag that stays close at hand, you want something stand out that says you can be stylish picking up groceries wherever you roam.

Our top 10 most fashionable and reusable bags will have you reconsidering your image and the fact that worldwide 1 million plastic bags are used every minute.

Artecnica

Made from 100% colorful advertising campaign billboards and a clever die cut, this no-stitch shoulder bag is inspired by the strength and symmetry found in nature. The minimal 2-D design stretches into 3-D to form the biggest bag with the smallest amount of waste. Stretch Bag can support up to 33lbs. It’s available in different colors of recycled billboard or in natural brown leather.

Baggu

Baggu’s collaboration with sustainable fashion brand Mociun is a graphically pleasing testament to eco fashion and reusable bag. Send back your expired Baggu and the company will recycle your old bag and give you a $1 credit towards a new one. Not likely you’ll be getting rid of this one for how great it is.

Flip & Tumble

Flip & Tumble’s wide-banded shoulder design feels a little softer than regular reusable bags and with stretch compacting, will fit lots of whatever you want to throw in it.

ECOBAGS

Made from certified organic cotton, this produce bag from ECOBAGS is a shopping necessity to shake the dirt from fresh from the field produce. Stuff away as this bag can hold up to 40 pounds. We love the sexy netting and the fact that it’s black.

PaisleyMagic

How can you not love this graphic from PaisleyMagic? Made from 100% Cotton, this durable, multipurpose canvas tote is great for hauling books, groceries or a change of clothes.

RuMe

Denver, Colorado-based RuMe was launched on Earth Day 2008 to meet the growing need of environmentally conscious consumers who don’t want to sacrifice style and functionality. The flat-bottomed bag stands easily for even the most inept supermarket baggers and with the metallic sheen, makes you the star of the check-out. We love this bag so much we’ll use it for anything really.

Alchemy Goods

Constructed from reinforced vinyl mesh, seatbelt, and inner tube, the Ad Bag is a strong and lightweight carryall. Durable and easy to wash, this bag just might last forever. Try figuring out what the billboard ad once was while you sit on the subway to occupy your travel time.

Envirosax

Envirosax is a pretty recognized name in reusable bags. These colorful, ethnic prints reminiscent of exploring bazaars and spice markets make us want to order more so we look fully sophisticated in a sea of people choosing plastic. That these bags fold up tight and can fit in your purse makes them all the more accessible and easy to carry around.

Sleeping Bags

Founded by social entrepreneur Andy Marks, Sleeping Bags takes retired hotel bed linen and makes beautiful yet practical bags, adorned with artwork from leading individuals in the arts and creative industries. We love.

Gecko Traders

Made from 100% recycled rice bags and handmade in small batches by a women’s co-op in Cambodia, these stylish bags are all one of a kind. The graphics will make you imagine shopping at a Cambodian floating fish market, picking up a sack of rice along the way and spices to create a culinary treat. At the very least, you can come and go from the gym in style.

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