EcoSalon’s Managing Editor Amy DuFault shows us how she plans to accessorize her favorite red jeans and freshly thrifted top this spring.

Ever wondered how our editors channel this season’s trends to complement the favorite pieces in their own wardrobes? Well, look no further. Here’s how our managing editor Amy DuFault is planning to accessorize her favorite red jeans (thrifted!) and a top she found at a Goodwill in Maine last weekend for $5. Her style is simple, with a tough-girl vibe and she likes pieces she can play with and mix up with other pieces already in her wardrobe. Amy lives by a solid cocktail ring and always wears either stud earrings or plain hoops, like these stunners by Kyler by Joy O. She loves braids and you will probably see her pairing this outfit with a funky wrap braid of some kind.

Brilliant Minimal Hammered Hoops in Rose Gold
These handmade hammered hoop earrings by Kyler by Joy O are made of recycled rose gold fill and the shape is inspired by the outline of a brilliant-cut diamond. They’re simple, yet modern and I love that they have a handmade feel. If you’re going for only one pair of earrings this spring, these should be it.
$68, Kyler by Joy O

Seamed Pocket Tank by Stewart + Brown
When I don’t feel like rocking the monochrome red look, I’ll swap out the tank for this one, which is made in the U.S. from 100% organic lightweight jersey cotton. The asymmetric cut is universally flattering and works well with jeans. Despite what your grandmother may have told you, pink goes great with red.
$78, Stewart + Brown

Klucia Coat Heels by Coclico
Jeans require a good pair of heels. These peeptoe oxfords from Coclico have a great sculptural wooden platform heel that is not too high to actually be able to walk on, and the laces and ebony piping are great details that add a lot of interest. They’ll also be great for adding a tougher edge to a light summer dress.
$398, Coclico

Large Blue Bronze Crystal Rings
Nothing pulls an outfit together like a big show-stopping cocktail ring. The stone is naturally formed in Arkansas, and the colors are attained by the stones being bonded with titanium, which actually enhances the crystal’s healing properties, if that’s your thing. The bronze alloy is 100% reclaimed and comes from United metal. It is widely used by jewelers as a prototype for 14k gold, and is resistant to tarnish.
$295, Beklina

Octopus Sweater by Koch
Sometimes I think we take fashion too seriously. This crew neck sweater from Koch is the antidote to that. The funky octopus print is not only cool, it’s also hand painted in Texas.
$90, Future:Standard

The post EcoSalon Editor’s Picks: Amy DuFault appeared first on EcoSalon.

We’ve picked out five perfect tees that work with anything from jeans to dressy skirts.

The T-shirt is one of our most beloved closet staples. You can wear it year-round, and it works as well with jeans as it does with a dressy skirt, so investing in a really good tee is something we all should make a point of doing. Why have ten T-shirts that you kind of like when you can have one you absolutely love? Paring it down by making smart choices is one of the pillars of sustainable style. To help you along, we’ve picked out five consciously created tees we adore.

The Perfect V-Neck Tee by PACT
Aptly named, this T-shirt by organic underwear brand PACT is made from a proprietary blend of premium organic cotton and super-soft modal. It features raw-edge hem detailing and is perfect for everyday wear.
$30, PACT

Essential Lyocell V-Neck by Covet
Basic, but definitely not boring, this tee by Covet has a v-neck and buttoned pocket on one side of the chest. It’s made from lyocell, a sustainable fabric made from wood pulp. Like all Covet’s pieces, it’s made in a socially and environmentally conscious factory.
On sale for $39.95, Future:Standard

Easy Scoop by Topo Ranch
Made from a luxe blend of 50% organic supima cotton and 50% organic modal, this tee by Venice, California-based Topo Ranch comes in a light shade of blue that is a great alternative to white. A pocket and sleeve detail give this tee a more polished look, perfect for pairing with tailored pants or a patterned pencil skirt.
$44, Topo Ranch

Urban Tee by Groceries
If you like a slouchier fit, this tee by LA-based Groceries is a perfect option. Made from a blend of 60% hemp and 40% Organic cotton it’s also easy on the environment. Pair it with more fitted bottoms to avoid looking shapeless.
$26, Future:Standard

Lyle Tee by Koch
If you’re more of a minimalist and like your pants and skirts to be dark in color and simple in style, try a tee with a few simple details that add visual interest and personality. This graphite stripe tee in a light gray color, from Dallas-based label Koch is a great alternative, featuring rounded side-slits and a flattering scoop neck.
$112. Juno & Jove

The post On Trend: Five Perfect Tees appeared first on EcoSalon.

A curated selection of ethical wedding wear that you’ll want to wear for the wedding season and beyond.

Thanks to William and Kate, what the British wear to a wedding is getting a lot of attention as of late. One thing is for sure – we love a good hat. Deservedly considered an art form across the pond, master milliners Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy are household names, (we dare say institutions). Treacy’s fame has now reached epic proportions since he created this notorious hat.

But beyond the battle for the best topper— and that’s what’s really going on in the pews as Mendelssohn in C major strikes up—the dress code at a wedding has become more formal and restrictive. What this means is, in spite of your best green efforts, you might be considering a rather starchy-looking outfit that will sit in your closet unworn forever. While British weddings have some old time charm, if I had my druthers I’d be an American wedding guest every time.

We have it easy here in comparison. On this side of the pond, we don’t have to consider the hullabaloo of hat wearing nor the sleek coiffure they demand. The look is a little less tailored, a little more casual. You can even get away with wearing smart separates thanks in part to the many weddings here that are outdoor and often in the evening. In the U.K., you still can’t get legally wedded outside and while weddings can be set at any hour, many like the recent royal nuptials, begin mid-morning (the better to drink all day).

My favorite thing of all about American weddings is that you can wear black. As the color of mourning, it is strictly out of order in the U.K. As someone who dresses like they are permanently on the way to a funeral, it’s exciting I might actually be able to wear what I buy again, let alone incorporate the piece into my regular wardrobe.

With wedding season soon to be in full swing, deciding what to wear is a great excuse to spruce our tee-and-jean-clad selves up, an opportunity to marry color and luxe fabrics, and to leave a single ply, mono-hued wardrobe behind for an evening.

Naturally you’d want to avoid anything too flowy or romantic looking, but this is the time for wearing dresses with feminine details like draping, pleating and ruffles that while in ordinary life seem a little cloying, are perfectly pitched to the ceremony of the occasion.

In the spirit of wardrobe conservation, nix the conventional idea of having to find a bolero, wrap, or some such frippery for your shoulders once it gets chilly. Instead, temper the girlish flounces of your wedding guest look with a mannish vintage jacket—which is such an easy piece to find at a thrift store—and once home will help carry the look into everyday.

Take a look at my sustainable picks, a curated selection of ethical wedding wear that you’ll want to wear for the wedding season and beyond.

From left to right: Shutter Dress in taupe by Linda Loudermilk, organic cotton denim

Colette Dress in Seal Gray by Koch, organic cotton.

Goddess Dress by Fin Oslo, 100% fair trade, organic bamboo.

Top: Scalloped Dress by Mociun, 100% Silk Georgette

The post Consciously Wedded to Style appeared first on EcoSalon.

Dallas based designer Koch fuses materials to make sustainable chic.

Linen and rhinestone come together to make the prettiest jacket for spring and summer from Dallas based Koch. Designer Nicole Musselman’s beach girl meets city vibe shakes hands “Looking effortlessly chic while living a busy, sometimes chaotic, occasionally glamorous life,” a goal we all want to strive for.

Editor’s note: We are proud to bring you original columns and feature editorials at EcoSalon on a daily basis. But sometimes, nothing’s more pleasurable than admiring a beautiful, innovative or special sustainable product or idea. Throughout each week, look for “lustables” in the mix here at EcoSalon. And if you have a product you think readers should see, drop us a line at tips@ecosalon.com.

The post Lustables: A Dallas Darling appeared first on EcoSalon.

From deep in the heart of Texas, Koch designer Nicole Musselman is starting to build a fashion brand that we can’t help but get heart palpitations from.

Floaty caftans made from silk and hand-printed with Egyptian Beetle graphics, buttery linen shifts with fishermen striping and beading, and organic cottons with delicate gold origami birds – breathtaking. The best part? Each item is getting prepped for spring deliveries at a boutique near you.

Musselman says working out of Dallas is inspiring, with so many creative fashion industry women working both alongside and for her.

“I feel like the city of Dallas for years only worked with large companies pushing out high volume designers so it’s been great to be here and able to work with such great people and be in the workrooms with them as much as possible,” says Musselman whose line is all sewn and hand printed in Dallas.

In her workroom, a team of six women sew her collection which features statement pieces like layering jackets paired with loose sexy tops and boy shorts, dresses that can be worn off the shoulder or belted with shell belts and hand-stitched bags that tie around the waist to show a little leg.

“I love the idea of pairing the very dressed up crystal trim with the more casual fabrics like burlap linen and fisherman stripe linen, a juxtaposition of seriousness and playfulness, a way to look dressed up without trying too hard. Essentially, this is what the brand is all about, a lifestyle that encompasses an eclectic outlook, travel and the everyday,” says Musselman.

When asked about whether moving forward she’ll be incorporating more sustainable fabrics into her line, Musselman, who recently joined the True Collaborative Showroom based in Portland, Oregon said thanks to the help of the showroom which houses lines like Prairie Underground, Clary Sage Organics as well as PI, she thinks she’s in good hands.

“Right now we’re at about 50 percent for sustainable fabrics but for fall we’re looking at more like 75 percent. I think people are just becoming more interested in how and where their clothing is made and taking interest in it which makes using more sustainable fabrics for designers like me, easier to incorporate.”

The post Dallas Based Koch: A Label to Watch appeared first on EcoSalon.