If you’re ready to mix up your daily denim, then we think you’ll adore these jeans, each of which features their own special flair and flavor.

We have the scoop on daring denim—or at the very least, jeans that aren’t boring! A staple in every woman’s wardrobe, they’re arguably a piece of clothing that we just can not live without. For a departure from the normal skinnies, and even distressed looks, we have a selection of unique denim that we think you’ll love.

1. High-Rise High-Lows

For a practical piece that also strays from the ordinary, look no further than these high-waisted jeans. With an easy feel, and flawless fit, this denim is perfect for pairing with a variety of tops and shoes. Not only will they look great with nearly everything, but they will add a little extra something to all that they’re teamed up with. The sweet patch-like detail around the ankle is just enough to garner you plenty of compliments without looking like you’re trying too hard. Wear with sweaters and loafers for an easy weekend look. Priced at $148.   

2. Black Tassel Jeans

Black denim definitely has a place in your closet. And when they look like this pair, then it’s love at first sight. A great closet staple, yet still trendy and unique, these deep, dark jeans have an edginess to them. If you’re feeling rebellious, pair them with ankle boots, burnout graphic tees, and a leather jacket. If you’re feeling glamorous, try a chic pointed toe pump, bodysuit, and a wide brim hat. Either way, these are a super-versatile pair you won’t want to pass up. Priced at $265.

3. Vintage Southwest Denim

Vintage denim is hot this year, and these southwest-inspired jeans fit the bill. With a heft to them that you oftentimes can’t find in thinner, stretchier types, these will give you that authentic feel. In fact, this style is extra-special thanks to the manufacturing process. These call for actual upcycled vintage denim, complete with original distressing, making each pair slightly different than the next. The design detail is embroidered, so you don’t have to worry about fading or flaking. Pair with boots and a poncho sweater for a seriously good-looking outfit. Priced at $298.

4. Sparkly Applique Jeans

If you’re looking for a pair of jeans that can take you from day to night, then these could be the missing link in your wardrobe. Sparkly, fun, and versatile, the gold sequin applique turns regular cuffed jeans into statement makers. You could easily pair these with slides or sandals and a tank for a casual daytime look. Or, you can dress them up with a pair of strappy stilettos and a beautiful blouse. Priced at $178.  

5. Embroidered Floral Skinnies

This gray-black pair of jeans is unique in color and design. Although the skinny, form-fitting silhouette looks familiar, the lived-in gray wash and beautiful floral embroidery makes these special. Like some others on this list, these can be dressed up or down, and worn with edgier accessories and accompaniments, or with ultra-feminine details. Whether you choose a moto jacket, or a sheer lace blouse, they’ll surely pair well with either look. Priced at $198.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Everybody needs a trendy pair of jeans in their closet this summer. And the trendiest cut right now is flared. But not every pair of flared jeans is the same. We’ve rounded up 5 pairs of unique flared jeans that are perfect for summer outings.

1. Highrise flares

Flares come in all rises and styles. One cut we are really digging right now is highrise. This throwback fit is perfect for women who like to wear pants that hug their curves. This pair of highrise flares is fitted tight to the knee and flare out into a “true flare” at the base. These jeans also feature a vintage-inspired chevron detailing on front and back pockets. We’d pair these jeans with ballet flats or sneakers, and a vintage band T-shirt. Priced at $98.

2. Slouchy flares

We’re thrilled that tight fitting jeans aren’t the only stylish option in 2016. This pair of jeans has a loose fit through the leg and a high rise with zero stretch. The wide flare is ideal for rocking a pair of cork platforms. Pair with a tucked-in, button-down shirt for the office, or a crop top for after-hours. Priced at $128.

3. Extreme flare

If you want to make a statement with the flares you wear, this is the pair you need to add to your closet. These high-waist jeans feature a funky, patchwork design that would look amazing with a sheer, v-neck top and chunky sandals. Priced at $168.

4. Overall flares

Yup, overalls are still popular. If you choose to embrace the overall trend, we suggest buying this pair that crosses in the back. They aren’t too flashy—the pockets and color are subtle. You could opt to wear a blouse under the overalls—like the one pictured above at the office. If you’re going on a date, change up the look by wearing a sexy bralette. Priced at $278.40.

5. Classic flares

These classic flares are sleek. We love the piece’s simple style and fit. The pants feature a mid-rise, are leg-lengthening, and have a bold flare. While some of the other pairs of flares on this list are more trendy and flashy, this classic look will remain stylish for years to come. Priced at $175.20.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman in flared pants via Shutterstock

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Levi Strauss & Co. CEO Chip Bergh says you don’t need to wash your Levi’s jeans. How’s that for sustainability?

Designed to be durable—jeans were never created to be fashionable; they were always meant for hard labor—it’s not a huge surprise that Bergh told attendees at Fortune’s Brainstorm Green conference earlier today that the pair of Levi’s jeans he was wearing had “yet to see a washing machine.” He’s apparently had the pair for a year.

“We are the ultimate in sustainable apparel,” Bergh told the audience. “If you buy [our jeans] they will last a lot longer than most people’s waistlines will,” Mashable reports.

Levi’s jeans have begun to take sustainability as seriously as the company takes button flies. The brand’s Waterless jeans use a considerably low amount of water in production and the recently launched Wellthread Dockers products also require less water and energy. And, reports Mashable, “Bergh’s comments regarding laundry are nothing new.” Levi’s has apparently promoted the “no wash” method for years, “sparking a fad of freezing jeans (yes, like in the freezer) to cut down on bacteria growth.”

That recommendation is not exactly sound science though. “While some of your jeans’ germs might not survive the freezer, some will, because they’re hardy like that,” reports Gizmodo. “They mostly come from you, and thrive at body temperature.” The germs can apparently repopulate once your body warms up your frozen jeans.

Still, what kind of germs are we really talking about here anyway? Even if you’re not going the year-plus like Bergh himself, you can at least forego the wear once and wash rule. Not only do jeans (and most other clothes) not require immediate washing after wearing (barring any serious stains), but they also look better a little broken in. They feel better too. And the color is going to last a lot longer the less often you wash your jeans.

But now I’m really curious. How long can I go without washing the pair of jeans I’m wearing? They’re now on day two of no washing, and I’ll let you know when (if!) I throw them into the washing machine again. Here’s to a greener planet that feels as cozy as a pair of broken-in jeans.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Image: glassghost

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What are we reading this week? Link Love dives into spring with the best jeans to wear, gardening tips, how to really clean your yoga mat. Plus fast fashion gets called out and Julia Louis Dreyfus strips down for Rolling Stone.

Get growing your garden–here are 35 ideas to get you started. [via Eat Drink Better]

When was the last time you did it? How to really clean your yoga mat. [via Well+GoodNYC]

Zady blasts fast fashion in a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal. [via Ecouterre]

The 30 best jeans to wear for spring. [via Vogue]

Finally. Julia Louis Dreyfus is naked on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. At age 53. Go girl. [via Huffington Post]

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Image via Rolling Stone

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ColumnHow to dye your clothes using natural indigo.

Indigo is one of the oldest forms of natural dye, and its rich color still mesmerizes us today. Plus, it’s extremely easy to use. Perfect for redying your jeans to make them dark again, or repurposing a faded or stained shirt, here are step-by-step instructions on how to dye using natural indigo.

Materials

Indigo Starter Kit from Earthues, $45
Long Latex Gloves
100% natural fabric, clothing or yarn
Five gallon bucket for dye bath
Five gallon bucket for water rinse
Drying rack

Method

1. First, place fabric in water to soak.

2. Follow the Indigo Starter Kit directions to prepare dye bath.

3. Remove fabric from water, and wring out.

4. Gently place fabric into indigo dye bath, and stir with stick or glove-covered hand. Depending on the dye strength, the length of time the fabric sits in bath will indicate the shade of the color. About 3 minutes is sufficient time for fabric to be in dye bath.

5. Next, carefully push fabric to the side of your bucket and gently lift out guided by wall of the bucket (so as not to add air bubbles to the mixture).

6. Place fabric on drying rack or tray until completely oxidized–you will see the fabric change from yellow-green to blue. Repeat dip process for darker shade of indigo.

7. Place fabric on drying rack and allow to dry completely. Voila!

Wash separately from other clothing, just to ensure the dye does not run onto your other clothing.

Recipe adapted from Kinfolk  and Hand/Eye Magazine.

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featured image background: Phyllis W. Hedrick

The post DIY Dye with Natural Indigo to Revamp Your Clothes : On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

There is an undeniable beauty in simplicity. This week in On Trend, we highlight burgundy and basics by eco fashion brands — setting in motion a new foundation of standards within their areas of specialty—from shoes to jeans to nail polish. 

1. Wine Bi-Color Crew Neck Sweater by SVILU

This sweater is a perfect example of why NYC-based brand, SVILU is crazy about their eco-textiles and we’re crazy about their designs! Constructed from past season and deadstock fabric that was carefully rewoven into a new blend, the sweater is a new take on luxurious goods. The label recent won runner-up for the CFDA Lexus Eco Challenge for their work towards building a sustainable and beautiful line. Plus, all their clothes are made in the USA.

SVILU, $380

2. Union Rise Jeans by Raleigh Denim

There aren’t many fashion pieces that represent basic US style better than a pair blue jeans, and one domestic company earnestly designing is Raleigh Denim. Based in North Carolina, where the jeans are designed and manufactured, Raleigh’s Union Rise jeans are built as tough the tradition blue jeans were born out of. “Home to our team of non-automated jeansmiths, who craft denim the old school way + take great pride in making the best jeans in the country.”: Now that’s a brand motto I can get into.

Raleigh Workshop, $215

3. The Port of Call by Lizzie Fortunato

We absolutely adore this clutch! Its linear pop of colors are produced on hand looms, within a fair-trade production center in the heart of India. And although this is an small fortune of a buy, a true culture of craftsmanship and care is exemplified here. A carry-all for a day or night out, it’s a classic and versatile piece worth saving up for.

Lizze Fortunato, $495

4. Japanese Rose by Priti NYC Nail Polish 

Every now and then I love a deep nail color. But just by nail polishes’ smell, anyone can infer they are blended up with some seriously yucky toxins. Although this nail polish is still made with many ingredients I can’t pronounce (a nod to Michael Pollan’s Food Rules: They can apply to fashion right?) Priti NYC is made with the “Five Free Nail Enamel” blend, which leaves out the five most toxic nail polish ingredients. So if you are looking for an equally luxurious nail color but with an added eco-consciousness, you’ve met your match!

Priti NYC, $13.50

5. Violet by Coclico

Like all great eco-conscious fashion companies, Coclico’s shoe design are timeless, and yet under the surface lay conscious steps towards sustainability. Coclico uses vegetable tanned leathers, and the shoe’s heels are made with wood and cork. Their production facility is in Mallorca, Spain where workers are provided with living wages in the modern and safe production facility. Conscious creation can also be found in sourcing organic linens, and lead-free and nickel-free hardware for all their shoes.

 Coclico, $390

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Images from the eco fashion brands, collage by Juliette Donatelli

keep in touch with Juliette on twitter @spadesandsiLK

The post Eco Fashion Brands Prove Beauty in Simplicity with Burgundy and Basics: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Five sustainable denim favorites for spring and summer.

A good pair of jeans will last you the rest of your life (or until you wear them to shreds). It’s important to pick a good pair, made from organic or recycled denim. Cotton production pollutes soil and waterways, damages wildlife habitats and accounts for over 10 percent of the global use of pesticides. Now that spring seems finally here to stay, it may be time to invest in a new pair. Here are five of our sustainable denim favorites for spring and summer.

1. Kuyichi Denim
Kuyichi was one of the first brands to make denim from recycled and organic cotton, grown completely free of pesticides. These are made from 98 percent organic cotton and 2 percent elastane. We love the faded effect, distressed look and contrast stitching.
$99, YOOX

2. Nudie Jeans Tight Long John Org. Twill Rinsed
Although the brand markets exclusively to men, many of Nudie’s style fit women just as well. The Tight Long John is one of them. Last year, the Swedish label managed to transition its entire high end denim line to 100 percent organic. The darkness in the shade of this pair comes from sulpha that has been added to give it a less red cast. The copper trims are also organic.
$179, Nudie Jeans Co.

3. Levi’s Water<Less Classic Rise Demi Curve Boot Cut Jeans
All the styles in Levi’s CurveID line are specifically designed for different body types. They fit in all the right places—no more pinching, pulling, or bent-over backside reveals. The effect is an overall smoother silhouette and jeans that look like they were made for you. This particular pair is also part of Levi’s Water<Less collection, an initiative designed to significantly reduce the amount of water needed to produce denim.
$50, Levi’s

4. The Remy by Big Star Denim
The all classic boot cut is always in style. The medium blue wash of the Remy is very versatile and easy to pair with anything in your wardrobe. Big Star Denim uses special ozone technology to create their washes. This uses less water, less energy and less chemicals.
$98, Kaight

5. Mid Rise Trouser by Reuse Jeans
The perfect shade of medium blue of these flares bring to mind the carefree attitudes of the ’70s. Channel your inner flower child and pair them with fringe and florals for festival season, or dress them up with a fitted navy blazer and simple whit tee. Reuse Jeans are sustainably made in China, from pre-consumer recycled denim.
$95, Reuse Jeans

Images courtesy of the brands featured

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Have you got the blue jean blues?  A new competition aims to turn your denim trash into treasure.

When Levi Strauss created the first pair of blue jeans in 1873, little did he know that there would one day be more pairs of denim jeans on the planet than people. The irony is that the iconic durable workwear item originally designed for gold rush miners (the denim fabric was dyed blue to reportedly hide stains) is now owned in designer multiples by women (and men) everywhere.

If you have a drawer or two full of jeans that you can’t bear to throw away – and have an inkling to show off your crafty skills as a denim visionary, check out Jake & Maya Collective’s latest competition, The Upcycled Denim Challenge. The British sustainable line for children has launched a competition appealing to budding textile designers and creators to submit their own innovative upcycling ideas. One lucky winner each month will score vouchers along with the chance to join the team as a celebrated upcycling designer.

For more details about how to enter, click here.  Take a look at some our favorite ideas so far and get inspired to make your own:

Wall Mounted Fabric Deer Head.

Wallet.

Ruffle Vest.

Drawstring Duffle Bag.

 Images courtesy of Jake & Maya

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This spring, you might be wearing the latest in denim fashion trends courtesy of Levi’s: used plastic bottles.

“These jeans are made of garbage” is the pitch line Levi Strauss is using for its latest denim line, Waste‹Less, which uses eight brown or green plastic bottles to make every pair of the jeans. Unveiled last fall, the jeans are hitting stores as part of spring denim collections and range in price from $69 to $128—quite a bit for wearable garbage, but still a comparable price for a pair of good quality jeans.

Twenty percent of every pair of the Waste‹Less jeans are made from entirely recycled plastic materials, and store displays will feature crushed soda bottles to help illustrate the brand’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

Levi Strauss was once known as the workingman’s brand of durable denim capable of standing up to hard labor, whether on the farm or in the factory. The company now wants to be known as the sustainability brand, working awareness into every aspect of the business. And as the biggest jean maker in the world (sales in 2011 were nearly $5 billion)—the impact Levi Strauss can have in fostering a green message is immeasurable.

Changes started happening for Levi’s in 2007 when it assessed an environmental impact on Dockers and 501 jeans, reports Businessweek, “Levi’s found that 49 percent of the water use during the lifetime of a pair of 501 jeans occurred at the very beginning, with cotton farmers.” The company joined the Better Cotton Initiative in order to help farmers in countries including Pakistan, India, Brazil, and Mali to reduce the amount of water used in growing cotton. While growing organic cotton has proved too expensive for the brand to continue at this time (they killed their organic jean line in 2008), the low-water cotton is proving to be just as beneficial a pursuit as water scarcity, particularly in the cotton-growing countries, is a very serious issue.

The first low-water cotton was finally harvested last year—and made its way into more than 5 million pairs of jeans at a rate of about 5 percent per pair. By 2015 the goal is 20 percent per pair. To further encourage better resource management, Levi’s also ran a marketing campaign suggesting people wash their jeans less often, using only cold water, and line-drying them instead of putting them through energy-draining dryers.

Now, as the new Waste‹Less is hitting stores, 3.5 million plastic bottles have avoided ending up in landfills, or the ocean in the company’s first run of about 400,000 items (including jean jackets). While only a small drop in the plastic bucket—Americans consumed 33 billion bottles of soda in 2011, reports Businessweek—it’s certainly a good starting point, setting an example for industry and making consciousness affordable and fashionable. “Is turning eight bottles of plastic into a pair of jeans worth it? I think so,” James Curleigh, president of the Levi’s brand told Businessweek. “Some things are more for making a point than a purpose. We want critical mass.”

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Image: Levi Strauss

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Look beyond traditional jeans and make things more interesting by finding new ways to wear this beloved fabric.

If you ask anyone, male or female, what their favorite outfit is, there’s a good chance it includes denim. This fabric, originally designed for cowboys in the late 1800s has become a closet staple like no other. Besides jeans, there are lots of great items out there made from denim — like these bleach-splattered shoes, a sweet dress, bodega bag and pendant. Complement your blues with an updated version of the perfect trench coat, and a cool upcycled necklace.

Bleach Splatter Denim Women’s Cordones
If plain denim is just too boring for you, check out these Bleach Splatter Cordones, that work just as well with or without laces. For every pair sold, TOMS donates one to a child in need.
$69, Toms

Jesse Spanos Flare Jeans by Pray For Mother Nature
These super soft flare jeans by Pray For Mother Nature are the perfect medium-blue shade of denim. The Pray for Mother Nature collection is entirely designed and made in California by Chip Foster, formerly of Chip & Pepper (whose jeans were coveted for making your bum look amazing). A percentage of proceeds benefits Heal the Bay.
on sale for $59.95, Future standard

Pray For Mother Nature Cuts Like a Knife Ruffle Dress
If jeans, or pants, are simply not your thing, you can still be a Blue Jean Baby by trying out a denim dress. This scoop-neck one – also by Pray for Mother Nature, features tiers at the front, worn edges, and a pulled bottom hem.
on sale for $108, Shopbop

Study NY Pipe Necklace
Made in NYC by designer Tara St. James, this gorgeous necklace is crafted using reclaimed copper pipes and vintage silk. It’s the perfect way to add some interest to a simple jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble.
$180, Juno & Jove & Study NY

Remade USA Bodega Bag
Did you ever wonder what happened to all those tie-bleached jeans from the 80s? Well, some of them have been remade into cute bodega bags by designer Shannon South. Every bag is unique and completely made from upcycled denim.
$55, ReMade USA

Jen Abrams Vintage Denim Pendant
Jen Abrams creates simple, statement-making jewelry that is very much designed to go with your favorite pair of jeans. Maybe because it’s made using pre-loved denim. $96-$136, Jen Abrams Collection

Edun Trench Coat
The classic trench gets an update by Edun designer Sharon Wauchob. The frayed edges and powerfully simple details make this the perfect trench to wear with any kind of denim.
$398, Edun

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