ColumnWhite is synonymous with a lightness and ease associated with summer; it is flattering with every silhouette, looks fresh against sun kissed skin and never goes out of style. Wear a summer white dress casual or dressy–it’s always a blank slate to accessorize. On Trend this summer, here are seven of our favorite white dresses.

1. Ingalls Dress by David Peck

Houston-based designer David Peck is a champion of impeccably tailored feminine garments, with the ease of American practicality.  This dress’ inward-collar neckline extenuates the shoulders for a subtle sexy touch.  Made from the light and luxurious 100 percent Raw Silk Noil. Socially responsible manufacturing add to the strength of this summer white dress.

$395, David Peck

2. Sheer Layered Shirt Dress by Carrie Parry

This dress is fashion forward, and the epitome of a simple staple garment you’ll want to keep forever (and even wear past summer). Made of 100 percent Bemberg Cupro and 100 percent handwoven Silk Georgette Overay, the dress is produced in New York City.  For every garment purchased a tree is planted through the non-profit Trees for the Future.

$385, Carrie Parry

3. Dickson Dress by Rae Francis

Designed and produced in New York City, this light summer white dress is effortlessly chic and fun for any occassion.  It’s made from 100 percent cotton and lined with white silk. Ariel Lilly and Christina Coniglio of Rae Francis describe their collections as ‘Desk to Dinner,’ classic and elegant for an easy going boho-lifestyle summer trend.

$281, Rae Francis

4. Scallop Dress by Loup Charmant

As if from a dream, this garment’s delicate and flowing silhouette is light and just right for summer.  Crafted with a deep V-neckline in the front, its structure was inspired by a found Victorian children’s dress.  Made with organic cotton in New York City.

$490, Loup Charmant

5. La Rambla Lace Dress by Nanette Lapore

Long time designer and advocate in New York City’s Garment Center, Nanette Lapore, mixes lace fabric with a mod silhouette for this cute summer dress.  The Mondrain-esq, asymmetrical detail adds a sense of fun to the charming lace.  Whether it’s afternoon tea or strolling on a city street, this dress gives a rich dimension of texture to the summer trend.

$378, Bergdorf Goodman

6. Clifton Pleated Dress by Lavuk

This dress’ playful drop waist and pleated skirt give a nod to the flapper of the ’20s mixed with the simplicity of modern design. Made with 100 percent cupro, a fabric with a delicate appearance but embodies a durability like cotton, it’s ethically manufactured in Los Angeles. For every Lavuk garment sold a tree is planted through the American Forest Releaf Program.

$260, Modavanti

7. Gianna Dress by Rag and Bone

Made in the US, this dress is a form-fitting take on the classic t-shirt dress.  The fabric is perforated, but it’s fully lined, so no added fuss over what slip to wear underneath. Made with 72 percent viscose, dress is up or down, it’s a sure staple for summer.

$395, Rag and Bone

Images courtesy of the brands featured

Lavuk Clifton Dress photo credit: Urban Outfitters via Wanelo

Nanette Lapore La Ramba Dress photo credit: Bergdorf Goodman

[Editor’s Note: On Trend columnist Johanna Bjork is on vacation and will return later this month. We welcome Juliette in her absence!]

The post On Trend: The Sustainable Summer White Dress 7 Ways appeared first on EcoSalon.

Designer David Peck shows the many colors of his Spring/Summer 2013 collection.

Fashion, David Peck makes clear, is more than just the clothes we wear. With his eponymous CROP by David Peck Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Peck shows that fashion is both transformative and character defining. (Translation: You are what you wear.)

Underpinning Peck’s “Once Upon a Dream” collection is a stream of narratives, both deeply personal to the designer and profoundly universal. The artistic fish motif, for instance, that swims across silk organza dresses, organic cotton sateen shifts and linen chiffon shirts, is transported from the characters of “Wynken, Blynken and Nod,” a popular poem by American writer Eugene Field.

The designer’s starting point for the seasons’ fish motif began as a stylized cardboard cutout.

His floral origami prints, radiating across pieces like the silk chiffon Arable Top and Laurie Trouser (below), traveled from Peck’s yesteryear love for the Child Craft Encyclopedias—the place from where he began his artistic pursuits.

Other garments speak from journeys later in life. His geographical dresses, skirts and shirts, imprinted with a historical Parisian map from 1850, hail from Peck’s love for his home of six years, where he studied fashion design at École Parsons  Paris. As Peck and I tour the garment and its subtle French centerpiece, we catch sight of the Louvre and the Seine en route to his former apartment.

Beyond the artistic magnificence of Peck’s designs—down to the careful back cutouts and the meticulous placement of seams—is the diversity of all he creates in a single season. Wearable for women across ages, passions and pursuits, he gives his wearer the ingredients to make the piece her own. Classic twists like the racer top Attonia Dress (below), the Havisham Gown from locally sourced viscose jersey (below) or the striped and plaid Elinore dress, made from entirely hand-woven cotton from India, bring playful sophistication to the forefront—day to night and year to year.

For Peck, though, the greatest fashion statement of all is the one he wears proudly: Made in the USA. Each collection is designed and stitched in his namesake production facility in Houston, Texas. There, he works to create his own collection stateside and produces for four other brands who also see the value in local. Through collaboration with the Greater Houston Partnership, Peck hopes this will only continue to grow, as companies take advantage of domestic skills, the large port that Houston offers and the efficiency that local manufacturing can create.

To further support local communities throughout the United States, 10 percent of profits from the complete Spring/Summer 2013 collection will go directly toward caring for homeless youth through the charge of Covenant House. Through such initiatives Peck upholds his founding vision to promote “Creative Opportunities,” abbreviated as CROP.

Dreams, Peck shows, really do come true.

Some more looks we love:

Images: Jennifer Barckley

The post NYFW: CROP by David Peck Takes on Literature and Place appeared first on EcoSalon.

A list of the top sustainable designers currently on the fashion scene.

Sustainable fashion has come a long way since its humble beginnings with more and more designers taking chances with fabrics, silhouettes and collaborations. Here we offer you an extensive list of what we consider to be the top designers in the sustainable fashion field.

A.D.O. Organics, New York, NY: GOTS (global organic trade standard) certified fabrics, chemical-free herbal dyes, Fair Trade.

Afia, New York, NY: Sustainable women’s clothing line sourced and sewn in Ghana, West Africa.

Ajna, New York, NY: Certified organic and sustainable textiles, collaborates with indigenous textile artisans.

Alabama Chanin, Florence, Alabama: Slow design, organic fabrics, recycled materials, minimal waste, made by local artisans in Florence, Alabama.

Alder, New York, NY: Part of the Pratt Design Incubator, all made in the U.S., materials sourced locally.

Allison Parris, New York, NY: Recycled materials, end run fabrics, organic silks, made in Manhattan.

Ambika, Catskills, NY: Made from shorn and brushed Angora rabbits on Ambika Conroy’s own rabbit farm in upstate New York.

Auralis Herrero, New York/Puerto Rico: Organic fabrics, promotes sustainable economies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Avery by Wang, Vancouver, Canada: Recently launched, organic cotton, hemp.

Awamaki Lab, New York and Ollantaytambo, Peru: A Peruvian non-profit working with impoverished Quechua women weavers.

Carrie Parry, New York, NY Produced ethically and locally in the New York Garment District, sourcing environmentally conscious materials and textiles supporting artisanal communities worldwide.

Christopher Raeburn, London: Christopher Ræburn has become known for his utilization of re-appropriated military fabrics to create garments that are functional, intelligent and meticulously crafted.

Clary Sage Organics, San Francisco, CA: Clary Sage Organics is committed to using 100% organic or ecologically sustainable products.

Costello Tagliapietra, New York, NY: Uses AirDye waterless technology to create all their prints, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Crop by David Peck, Houston, TX: Manufactured with textiles dyed in the United States and select fabrics imported from fair trade co-operatives in India.

Curator, San Francisco, CA: Made in San Francisco, organic cottons, hemp, minimal waste.

EcoSkin, Los Angeles, CA: EcoSkin uses only environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics woven, dyed and sewn in the U.S.

Eko-Lab, New York, NY: 100% organic materials, natural vegetable dyes, all made locally by New York City artisans.

Elroy, Vancouver, BC: Uses organic cotton, bamboo, tencel, linen, hemp, wild silk, pineapple, wool and upcycled fabrics, manufactured by a small, family-run cottage industry in Indonesia, designed in Canada.

Eva Zingoni, Paris, France: Made in France from recycled materials, limited edition, surplus fabrics from Parisian fashion houses.

Feral Childe, New York City/Oakland, California: Organic textiles, recycled textiles and accessories, made in New York City.

Frei, Chicago: Organic cottons, natural dyes, and locally manufactured textiles.

Gretchen Jones, New York: Sustainable fabrics, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Harricana by Mariouche, Montreal, Canada: Recycled fur, recycled materials.

H Fredriksson, New York, NY: Silk, made in New York City.

Honest By, Antwerp, Belgium: 100% transparent company from production to sales, organic fabric, certified organic wools.

Indigenous, Santa Rosa, CA: organic fabrics, Fair Trade, low impact dyes, free range alpaca.

IOU Project, Tamil Nadu, India: The IOU Project makes unique, handmade, traceable apparel, Fair Trade.

Isoude, Newport, Rhode Island: Made in the U.S.A., silks, hand dyeing.

Juleselin, San Francisco, CA: Created from organic cotton and recycled fabrications, sweatshop free.

Kelly Lane, Pittsburgh, PA: Created from sustainable fabrics, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Koch, Dallas, TX: Sustainable fabrics, made in Dallas and LA.

Lara Miller, Chicago, IL: Multi-functional clothing, organic cottons, hand-loomed bamboo, hemp and vegan silk, made in Chicago.

Lavuk, Los Angeles, CA: Sweatshop free and made locally in Los Angeles with sustainable materials such as organic cotton, tencel, hemp and dead stock silks, multi-functional clothing.

Lina Rennell, Northern California: The Rennell line is an art brand with a heavy focus on original print work, U.S. production, sustainable textiles, craft and high-end tailoring.

Loomstate, New York, NY: Organic cotton, tencel, reduced water consumption, reduced waste, pursuing a closed loop product life cycle.

Loup Charmant, New York, NY: Organic cotton, natural dyes, silks, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Made By, Peruvian Highlands: Eco-friendly Alpaca yarns, hand knit by the local highland Artisans of Peru, Fair Trade, organic colorants.

modaspia, Placerville, CA: Organic fabrics, end run fabrics, made in San Francisco.

Nau, Portland, Oregon: Organic cottons, silks, tencel, recycled materials, cruelty-free wool, partners for change with Ashoka, Ecotrust, Kiva and Mercy Corps.

100% NY, New York, NY: Organic, recycled, and ethical materials, produced entirely in New York.

Organic by John Patrick, New York, NY: Handmade metallic lace, sustainable recycled wool, organic cotton, biodegradable cotton cupro, vegetable-tanned leather, hand-loomed Angora, digitally printed silks,

M. Patmos, New York, NY: Eco-friendly merino wool and alpaca, faux fur made from wool and alpaca, and vegetable tanned leather, handwork techniques from women’s artisan collectives in Nepal and Bolivia, as well as zero-waste seamless knitting technology from Japan.

Portland Pendleton Collection: Portland, Oregon: Pendleton fabrics are woven exclusively in Pendleton’s Northwest Mills and all of the apparel is sourced and produced in the U.S.

Partimi, London: Digitally-printed silks, organic wools, modals, milk fibers, and luxurious cashmere.

Piece x Piece, San Francisco, CA: The fabric used in each piece is selected from a changing stock of luxury discards.

The Podolls, San Francisco, CA: 100% organic Supima Cotton, made in the U.S.

Popomomo, Los Angeles, CA: Organic cottons, Cupro, recycled materials, made in Los Angeles.

Prairie Underground, Seattle, Washington: Organic cotton, hemp, designed and manufactured in the U.S.

Raleigh Denim, Raleigh, NC: Handcrafted denim on vintage machines from the 1920s, sustainable cotton, organic cotton for Fall 12.

RESTORE Clothing, New York, NY: Repreve® Recycled Nylon, made in the New York City Garment District.

Rogan, New York, NY: Silks, organic cotton, alpaca, wool, bamboo, made in the U.S.

Samantha Pleet, New York, NY: Organic cottons, silks, Made in the U.S.

Soham Dave, New York, NY: Soham Dave focuses primarily on using biodegradable fabrics, recycled materials, and hand embroideries.
 

Stewart+Brown, Los Angeles, CA: Organic cotton, organic pima cotton, hemp, surplus fabrics, Mongolian Cashmere produced through a sustainable supply chain, Fair Trade.

Study NY, New York, NY: Organic cotton, linen, recycled materials, zero waste, made in New York.

Suzanne Rae, New York, NY: Silks, organic cottons, other sustainable materials when possible, made in New York City’s Garment District.

Thieves, Toronto, Canada: Soy, hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, Tussah Silk, organic wool, Seacell, tencel.

Titania Inglis, New York, NY: Japanese organic cotton, French vegetable-tanned leather, and dead stock wool from New York’s garment industry, made in New York.

Vaute Couture, New York, NY: Vegan, fair trade.

Did we miss someone? Email amy@ecosalon.com with your tip!

The post The Ultimate List of Sustainable Fashion Designers (From A-Z) appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s time to give peach a chance. This color complements most skin tones and goes really well with denim.

Fall is all about bright color. If you’re not into hot pink, fire-engine red or Kelly green, give peach a chance — it’s one of those hues that go well with most skin tones. It’s also a perfect complement to denim blues, which is what really makes it one of our current faves. Try a pretty tie-neck blouse or a highly versatile vest/dress as your base, then toughen up the look with a brightly patterned blazer, a sparkly stone, some deceivingly sweet moccasins and some peach-colored bamboo sunnies. If you’re just feeling like adding a touch of peachiness to the mix, try a patterned bag with peachy details.

Alea Duo Multi Boxes by Collina Strada
Handmade in New York using eco-conscious materials, Collina Strada‘s bags are a unique combination of architectural minimalism, street-savvy toughness and a sweet playfulness.
$250, junoandjove.com

Trin Blouse by David Peck
Stunning blouse with a very on-trend tie-collar that can be worn open or in a bow. Made in the David Peck factory in Houston, TX, from 100% crepe de chine. Ten percent of the profits from this collection benefit the Gulf Restoration Network.
$195, kaightshop.com

Recycled Silver Fire Citrine and Diamond Pendant
The combination of a Fire Citrine and a Canadian diamond dazzle in this classic double bail pendant style. Set in recycled sterling silver, it adds a subtle touch of sparkle to your neckline.
$160, brilliantearth.com

Manimal Suede Ribcage Flats
Designer Kristen Lombardi’s interest in traditional costumes and animal forms influence the design of each moccasin and accessory. Driven by a deep appreciation for artisan crafts and craftsmanship all pieces are handmade by a team of no more than three craftspeople in Brooklyn, New York.
$180, save-the-manimals.com

Rachel Comey Garon Blazer
This double-breasted Peach Flame Blazer will take any outfit from simple to spectacular in no time. Made in the USA from 100% silk, which is highly durable and feels delicious on your skin.
$620, beklina.com

Kayu Gaya Bamboo Sunglasses
Face the autumn sun in these stylish frames, handcrafted from bamboo. They come in natural or dark bamboo and feature 100% UV gradient lenses for protection.
$200, kayudesign.bigcartel.com

Vicarious by Nature Yerba Mate Vest
This slouchy vest, made from 100% organic cotton, is the perfect layering piece. It can be worn in infinite ways, so it’s time to get creative. Falling mid-thigh it could even work as a dress.
on sale for $66.95, shopfuturestandard.com

The post On Trend: Just Peachy appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s easy to rush around department stores with our girlfriends, feasting our eyes on sale items while rarely consciously connecting with the items we’re buying. After all, we’re Americans and we just want the most we can get with our money, right?

Conscious choices require conscious shoppers and new online shopping venue FashionStake intends to make you think before you buy.

With a tag line that reads “The Fashion Democracy,” we can’t say enough about how they do make shopping fair for all, interpreting fashion in how we look at our purchases and how designers fill our orders.

FashionStake is essentially a designer trunk show with you, the shopper at the helm, having control over whether the designers actually produce. You shop, you pre-order, you wait for the masses to help make the maximum order threshold and when met, the piece goes into production, your credit card is charged and you get something you really want. By using this pre-order model, the site is able to access designs before they hit stores and only make exactly what has already been ordered – and at a lower price point than what other shops will be offering in spring.

Fashion democracy!

The FashionStake website says the idea was born out of founder Vivian Weng’s personal frustration.

“After spending her life working with major designers such as Elie Tahari and ESCADA, as well as emerging designers such as Jeffrey Monteiro, Vivian knew first-hand how difficult it was for designers to reach their target audience, no matter how amazing their collections were. Moreover, as a fashion-lover, she was frustrated at paying sky-high prices at department stores for relatively uninspiring items. The fashion industry seemed broken.”

So Weng is fixing it and we are more than elated she’s pulled in four top notch sustainable designers for her “Holiday Showcase” roster including amazing (really, read his story) silk scarves by  David Peck, dresses (and the above rad jumpsuit) from Tara St James of Study, jewelry by Mociun and eco-friendly hand bags from Collina Strada.

All sales end December 20th so get on it and order!

The post Fashion Stake Democratizes Shopping appeared first on EcoSalon.