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.

EcoSalon’s top bathing suits for summer ’11 are made from sustainable fabrics, locally sourced or fair trade.

Warm days are here and it’s that magical time where we prance around in our underwear and call it a bathing suit. Yours a little worn, tight, faded? Well, we’ve compiled an up to date list of what we consider the best (sustainable), summer ’11 bathing suit lines going.

You can thank us now or later.

Kelly B

Kelly B attacks environmental and social consciousness via her line’s flattering silhouettes and subtle sexiness. “Clothing is a form of art that everyone can relate to. Everybody wears it. It’s a platform to get everything that is important to me out there,” says Kelly. Looking stunning in her bathing suits beach side is another way to further carry out her green views.

Mociun

Caitlin Mociun of Mociun has niched out our closets already with some of the more graphic and forward thinking styles available in the eco fashion world but she’s pushing us into a deliberate love for her bathing suits too.

Karla Colletto

Karla Colletto is a luxe swimwear line that combines high fashion with figure-flattering cuts. The result is runway-ready swimwear that will make women of all ages wish they were as style savvy as you. She offers lots of different suit options but her cut-out suits are a sure standout from the rest.

Emobi

Emobi prints are all original and designed in-house, using a range of environmentally friendly water based dyes, that minimize the impact on beaches and waterways combined with premium breathable UPF 50+ fabric.

Olga Olsson

Each Olga Olsson bikini is totally unique and hand painted by fair trade artisans in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All bathing suits are made to order so the line can create as little waste as possible.

Lina Rennell

Sure you could have a traditional bathing suit as you bask on the beach but then what fun would that be? Lina Rennell’s swimwear line is always full of surprises from vintage cuts to graphic prints that meet to form the world’s cutest bathing suit.

Meadow

All of Meadow’s designs are proudly sewn in Miami, where the brand focuses on local production and sourcing. Meadow only works with sustainable materials such as bamboo, soy, organic cotton and upcycled fabrics. Her entire line features a coastal vibe for laid back luxe pre and post beach.

Niksters

Nikster’s bathing suits are made from soy, organic cotton, bamboo, and other natural fibers to further promote your sustainable lifestyle.
These exotic bikinis are accessorized with shells, pearls, stones, bamboo, coconuts, and other hand-selected elements from tropical destinations around the globe. Some of the designs are also carefully hand-finished through macramé stitching, embroidered beads, or hand-painting.

Top Image: Cali Dreaming

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Favorite t-shirts from designers around the world.

T-shirts. They tell the world what we think, offer up artistic canvases, and make people laugh when they pass us by.

We have drawers full of them, our favorites worn beyond repair, each one imbued with a story that makes us love them even more. Because at some point you’re going to need another, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite graphic tees to replenish stock. Small, indie brands and well known sustainable designers are all here, with the common thread being they’re organic and graphically pleasing.

We know you’ll like.

FluffyCo’s premium apparel line unites organic cotton and eco heather blends printed with FluffyCo’s signature graphic prints. Printed in small batches in the Bay Area, some using water–based inks. All styles have a fabulous soft, luxe feel and hand–printed hangtags. Yes, these are alligators.

FIN is a Norwegian high fashion label producing designer womenswear in a sustainable manner. When we caught site of this fairy tale-based organic tee we were more than smitten.

L.A. based Stewart +Brown have a few great t-shirts like this Tipi Tee. Designers/founders Karen Stewart and Howard Brown are “inspired by their love and respect for nature and a passion for design.” Hard to pull off great collections and infuse them with a few great tees but we can always count on them for it.

Meow. This digitally printed t-shirt from Wiloh combines not just the pairing of cats and space, but bamboo and organic cotton in a deep scoop neck.
Designed by London based fashion and lifestyle blogger Mademoiselle Robot. Wiloh was launched in July of 2010 as a way to promote environmental and social awareness through sustainable street wear and has teamed up with Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), a charitable organization that reaches out to help children affected by natural disasters and poverty, to form a “Tee For Tee” initiative. Every t-shirt sale is matched with the donation of a specially-designed t-shirt to a child in need.

Famed for her high-impact slogan tees, Katherine Hamnett is best known for her political t-shirts and her ethical business philosophy. Having a Hamnett tee is like having a piece of history in your wardrobe.

The Orphan’s Arms is an English label “That harks back to a time of gin, palaces, poor houses and executions. King George IV is on the throne and Paris Hilton upon the public tongue.” Though not a 100% sustainable line, they have a fun selection of hand printed organic t-shirts to peruse.

Loomstate celebrates 41st Earth Day with a limited edition run of super soft graphic tees that includes this one. Launched in New York City in 2004 by designer Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn, Loomstate was founded as a casual brand dedicated to creating demand for certified organic cotton using socially and environmentally responsible methods of production. They do an amazing job.

Boa is an Istanbul-based eco fashion label that stands out from their pack thanks to their commitment to organic cotton, and their whimsical hand-drawn illustrations.

Look For Fiddleheads is a Chicago based line that inspired by the art and writings found in very old books and bound newspapers from 1832-1845, that belonged to designer/illustrator Lee Tracy’s grandmother. We love all the witty designs that are as artistic as they are thought-filled.

Mociun says on their site that they “Explore and integrate the ever-emerging technologies and critical conceptions of sustainability; environmentally healthy production; and, as a type of de facto jouissance, the role of, and the products available to, the individual consumer in society at large.”

We appreciate their gift of supplying us with interesting product.

Blondes Make Better T-Shirts is one of the funniest lines I’ve seen in branding, admittedly at the expense of us brunettes and redheads. This one reads: “Help Global Warming. Donate a Swimming Noodle to a Polar Bear.”

The post The Best Graphic, Organic T-Shirts appeared first on EcoSalon.

Mociun’s mix of soft fabrics and graphic prints make them a label always able to surprise their fan following.

Made from 100% black, silk georgette, this skirt by Mociun will have everyone confused but enchanted. Is it formal or funky? We say a little bit of both and sprinkled with a whole lot of charm.

$425

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com.

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The best eco-friendly boutiques online.

Eco-boutiques are popping up all over the web thanks to visionary retailers willing to take risks. While the debate over green consumption asks tough questions (is marketing lots of green stuff the answer to our consumerism woes?), it is clear that when it comes to eco fashion, the mantra is quality over quantity.

While some sites carry tried and true lines we’ve been following for years, others are peddling cutting edge sustainable fashion – making conscious consumption more provocative than ever.

Here’s an updated list of what we consider the top online eco boutiques going.

Start your shopping engines…

Annie Novotny, the designer behind Frei, opened Workshop in 2009 in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Her boutique’s 100 year old building houses her own line as well as lines like Brooklyn’s Loup Charmant, Shades of Gray vintage jewelry, D.S. & Durga perfume and a great selection of vintage leather handbags and belts for accessorizing.

Novotny’s shop also serves as a gallery and an actual workshop space for sewing classes.

In Roman mythology, Juno and Jove ruled as the divine queen and king of all gods, online they rule as a fantastic source for shopping over 70 designers. This online boutique (and store based in Sarasota, Florida), is massive but never overwhelming. Owner and buyer Olivia Bono has done well balancing high fashion with wardrobe staples including clothing, shoes, body care, home and even a nice section for men.

Whenever I want something totally different and inspiring, I click on over to Beklina. Not only is owner/buyer Lina Rennell one of the best online site curators, she designs an eponymous (eye candy) line featured on her site. Here is where you find architecturally and artistically pleasing clothes infused with all the glamor and femininity a site can offer. An additional bonus is Rennell selling fabric yardage from her own line and sustainable sweetheart, Caitlin Mociun’s of you guessed it, Mociun.

Joslin Van Arsdale’s Eco Citizen is a San Francisco staple for lines including The Podolls, Stewart+Brown, Feral Childe and more. Van Arsdale caters to women more than men but still has some fun organic pieces for your significant other you can quickly purchase before checking out with a cart full of your own new duds. We love the Jade Tribe and Collina Strada bags.

Everything at Olivine is special, (their tag line of “Atelier” says it all). With plenty of beautiful clothing, trendy beauty products and the healthiest dose of Swedish Hasbeens and Prairie Underground around, Olivine is a source of sustainable inspiration. Did I mention there’s cute baby gear too?

Three core passions inspired founder, Shana Yansen to start Jute and Jackfruit and now tie into the company’s core mission: to be smart, sustainable and chic. She accomplishes all three in her Boston based online shop filled with flattering Kelly Lane dresses, Turk+Taylor tops and Indigenous’ Fair Trade clothing.

Super girl Kate McGregor of Kaight is always on trend with her role as buyer and owner of New York City’s premier brick and mortar shops as well as having a major online presence via her blog and Facebook. McGregor can often be found working with leading sustainable designers, housing shops within her shop (Melissa shoes and a vintage section), as well as hosting fun store events. Kaight is the complete package.

In 2008, a conference speaker told Future:Standard owner/buyer Jessica Althoff  “You do not have to choose between your passions. If you want to combine them, you should.” Two years later Future:Standard was born from Althoff’s desire to support the environment, promote fair labor practices, and spend her days looking at (and wearing), beautiful clothes. We love all her indie lines that aren’t so frequently seen in other online boutiques.

Cow Jones Industrials’ owner Donna Oakes runs her vegan boutique from upstate New York as well as online with an eye for the pretty and playful: Think Popomomo tunics and dresses, Feral Childe frocks and a wide array of vegan shoes and hand bags by top designers. Vegan paradise fulfilled.

Label Gazer gives you a snapshot of socially responsible, ethical and eco-friendly fashion, then links you to where you can immediately buy it. Thieves, Elroy, The Uniform Project, Studio Jux and more, all presented so stylishly and clean with additional links to sales, sites and a designer database.

In early 2008, Mission Savvy founder Jennifer Miller picked up her journal and began writing, documenting careless acts of
animal neglect. From this introspection, Miller realized a way she could fuse both her love of clothing and animals was to open a vegan boutique (online and brick and mortar in Charleston, West Virginia). Not so strange a jump seeing as each collection of clothing is based on themed animal rights or “Missions.” Her clothing, footwear and accessories highlight not only a raised consciousness in fashion but of our furry friends.

Kate Morison and Andrea Barrett, founders of Arboretum hail from Sonoma’s wine country where the living is easy and the clothing, organic perfume and shoes coming out of this brick and mortar (as well as online eco-boutique), is refreshing. We love that they offer staple capsule collections for both men and women and only wish we lived in the same town to shop and see more!

Enjoy the pretty sounds of chirping birds as you shop. Not kidding.

Did you know that Tobi had a whole Eco Tobi section? A great selection of Matt and Nat handbags, wallets and clutches, tons of Melissa shoes, Prairie Underground and Alternative Apparel, make Tobi a perfect destination spot for those stylish staple pieces that never grow old.

Another great online boutique, Embodies also has a shop based in Larkspur, California. Owner Kenlynn Wilson bases her criteria on a few things: What fabrics are used in the clothing, where the items are manufactured (and under what conditions), what types of dyes are used in the clothing as well as the packaging the clothes are being shipped in. Curating with a careful eye, Wilson’s due diligence yields a great stable of fashion-forward eco-designers. Look for Alabama Chanin, Calleen Cordero cuff bracelets and select Linda Loudermilk.

In 2007, inspired by the fashionable direction green and ethical designers were taking, A Green Wardrobe decided to launch promoting all the organic, sustainable, or recycled and repurposed material clothing they could find from top designers. Look for Juleselin, Kris Nations jewelry, Numanu and Les Fees de Bengale.

UPDATEd 4.27.11: This post has been updated with more amazing boutiques since the original publish date.

BTC Elements combines smart style with sustainability, hand-selecting each item in their boutique’s collection of clothing, gifts, and accessories with an eye to the environment and social justice. The result: fresh, inspiring designs that are both earth friendly and ethically sourced.

Look for lines including Raw Earth & Wild Sky, Kelly B and Feral Childe.

Kathleen Rowan and Deana Bracken, run Green With Glamour from both Los Angeles and Chicago, building and curating the Green with Glamour® collection. Founded in 2007, the duo has always operated sustainably whether it’s buying for the shop or running the site on a certified carbon neutral webhost. GwG reaches eco-chic shoppers worldwide and continues to promote the concept of living with style while passionately caring for our beautiful planet.

We love that they carry Dallas based Koch, as well as a lot of L.A. based Popomomo and EcoSkin.

Equita, (Italian for fairness), is a design-conscious shop showcasing the finest in green, sweatshop-free and Fair Trade essentials for the body and home. Each item is hand-selected and thoughtfully edited to ensure a mix that is design-conscious, functional, eco-friendly, and socially conscious. In addition to ethical fashion and footwear, Equita carries green home decor, sustainable furniture, fair trade handbags and jewelry, organic and fair trade body care, ethical baby clothing, fair trade sport and wellness gear, and specialty gourmet treats.

Is that it?

Top image: Annie Novotny of Workshop, from Chicago Magazine

The post Top 15 Online Eco-Boutiques appeared first on EcoSalon.

Before Pendleton met Opening Ceremony and made heritage as seemingly cool as it is, mid-70s moms with feathered hair – including bombshell Farrah Fawcett – were becoming inspired by Navajo prints and ethnic designs. Seems like a reasonable trend for winter, right? I mean, I love the idea of hipsters parading around city streets trying to be cool with what people normally wear in the burbs. Add to that the men scruffy in teen wolf beards trying to look lumberjacky? It’s a look! (Side note: please go away teen wolf beard trend).

And Farrah? Well, go here to see just what her latest legacy popped out.

Back to Opening Ceremony and Pendleton.

Collaborations like theirs brought to light our love of all things culturally correct and yes, Navajo inspired like this little romper above – the newest birthing of season three’s wooley reunion of Pendleton and Opening Ceremony. $233

Sustainable label Mociun had their own southwestern moment when they produced these blanket jackets for fall 10 that screamed “I’m not your mother’s jacket!” On sale for $390 at Kaight.

Private Navajo? This Woolrich Navajo Indian Blanket Sweater is in great condition. Think slouchy cloche hat and chunky scarf to accompany the vibe.

Currently $10 on eBay! (Amy screams and rips her hair out at the price).

Tribal patterns and slouchy boyfriend style make this Navajo inspired sweater an amazing find. And it’s currently $16.50 on eBay! (More hair ripping)

This is certainly a trend that’s hanging around, so what are you going to do about it? Neglect it or grab a piece?

The post I’m Living in My Own Private Navajo 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!

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Ever thought of yourself in a jumpsuit?

Probably one of the most versatile pieces you could ever have in your wardrobe, the jumpsuit has been worn by aviators, Nascar drivers and almost as many edgy fashionistas as toned Olympic swimmers. However, the trick with wearing it is to make it look current (and hopefully not Nascar).

For this week’s Stylish Steal I found this one at Beklina that is perfect in all its silken glory. The Raasta Palua silk Jumpsuit is fully lined, has side pockets, a wide and comfortable elastic band along the top neckline and my favorite, a silk patched removable and fully adjustable neon pink, lime and navy tie belt. On sale at Beklina for $90.

You could wear lots of different shoes with your Raasta Palua jumpsuit including strappy, metallic heels, but these chunky heels from Olsen Haus are great too, and give you a little lift to lengthen the look. On sale at Endless for $110.52.

To make the look a little sweeter, try these Olsen Haus metallic flats on for size. On sale at Endless for $77.52.

Though not on sale, I love these Sun Earrings from Mociun to wear with this outfit (try hard to disregard the berry stained fingers holding them). Priced at $260.

Depending on where you live, you might be needing something to wear over your shoulders. I suggest grabbing your favorite cropped, maybe sheer, navy cardigan or blazer. Not to stay so matchy matchy would be to play with the brown in the heels, or the pink or green in the belt.

Fashion is all about what you make of it, so have fun!

The post Stylish Steals: The Versatility of a Jumpsuit appeared first on EcoSalon.

“Mind over matter, dears,” admonished our Headmistress. Mrs. Olive was slightly past her prime but practiced the same dogged dedication to turning out poised young ladies as the fictional Miss Jean Brodie. As my classics class were lead around the ruins of Pompeii in the roaring Roman heat that rendered us as limp as the lettuce in our cheese picnic rolls – I was neither glowingly ladylike nor merely perspiring – I was sweaty, sulky and feeling downright screwy.

Years later, nothing much has changed. I’m the classic English gal wilting – decidedly unlike a rose – beneath the Californian sun. The idea of focusing my mind enough to manipulate the physical is beyond me on a good day, when the temperature rises above 80 degrees – “I’m sorry”¦erm”¦ What did you say”¦?” When it gets hot and heavy outside, my own self-help mantra rests in more solid science – I simply lighten my gravitational load.

As the heat beats down I don’t tend to change my basic style – it’s taken years for me to figure out the silhouettes, colors and necklines that flatter me – but keeping my cool as much as possible is all about lightening up. Simple tricks such as adjusting fabric weaves, weights and tones can make all the difference. Here are some quick and easy styling tips for staying buoyant and fresh – without the need for telekinetics.

Try A Gauzy Top
Put away ribs and knits: to keep cool go for loose fitting 100 percent organic cotton voile. Lina Rennell smock top from the “Triangle Gardens” collection. Made using green fabrics and sewn by hand in California.

Add Sheer and Whimsical Extras

A scarf can accessorize the simplest of summer tanks and tees. For the lightest weight choose a scarf made from plain weave silk chiffon. An unfussy look affords you a little whimsy; the tassels inject a dose of levity to any summertime outfit. Mociun silk and tassel scarves. In 100 percent silk and 100 percent bamboo.

Glide Like A Swan

This season’s color serene white is just right as a gracefully tailored shirtwaister (also available in berry). The throwback lines wax nostalgic for simpler, carefree times. Play with bold accessories if the look feels too saccharine. Jackson, Johnston & Roe portrait dress. In Italian woven 65 percent cotton and 31 percent silk. Light as a feather details include French seams and hidden pockets. Made in Brooklyn using natural, sustainable and recycled fabrics and trim.

Stop Shouldering the Load

Downsize your stuff and carry less, keeping your load lighter and close to your body to avoid extraneous exertion. Hip bags slung loosely below the waist seem cool again and leave hands free to enjoy a well-deserved sorbet treat. Ashley Watson swift hip sack made by hand in Vancouver from reclaimed leather.

All items available from beklina.

Image: La FruU

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Warm weather begs for bright colors and statement prints. The tribal trend is going strong and offers exotic intrigue in any setting – this is the trend where print on print thrives! So, take a bold pattern print top like the zebra half topper from Mociun and pair it with an equally attention seeking bottom. Short minis, loud leggings or pleated skirts should do the trick, or opt for a cut-out detail dress from LA based designer Brigid Catiis.

And as you take your layers off for warmer temps keep the accessories piled on! An all organic fedora in teal and a multi-color accented oversized handbag are the perfect accomplices to complete the urban tribal look. Even subtle details like the print on the heeled sandal by Stella McCartney create interest and make any outfit a bit more playful. Don a urban ethnic piece and be prepared to join the tribe!

This is the second installment in new fashion writer Greta Eagan’s column, Trending, on seasonal fashion trends and how to green them up. Say hi to Greta!

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