According to T Magazine’s Sally Singer, her nail art design inspired by taxi cab beaded seat covers “would look good with Burberry’s spring collection.”

When one of fashion’s most cerebral and analytical figures, the New York Times’ T Magazine editor Sally Singer, admits to a passion for elaborate and decidedly unconservative nail art – its clearly time to rethink the basic clear polish. In her NOWNESS collaboration with nail artist Maki Sakamoto, Singer recently unveiled five avant-garde manicure designs featuring decorative 3D patterns with themes that include Powdered Violet Nails, Céline Orange Nails, Mexican Sugar Skulls Nails, Taxi Driver Seat Nails and Kate Middleton Nails.

Nail Art from Tokyo’s world renowned  Nail Expo

Theories abound at the switch, fashion forecasters contend the growing popularity of elaborate nail art is due to our nails being more on show now because of widespread use of smartphones, the influence of Japanese nail art pop culture – the Nail Expo in Tokyo attracted nearly 190,000 visitors last year – and advances in both nail techniques and new products.

The 30’s inspired V French manicure sported by Lana Del Rey in the March 2012 issue of Vogue UK

The first modern manicure in the 1930s was known as the “moon manicure.” Sported now by retro style stars, Dita Von Teese and Lana Del Rey, red polish is applied to the nail but not to the moon and tip, in some cases, edges were filed into points. Red nails continued to be desired by women until the 1960s when the focus moved away from reds and turned to paler, pastel shades to match modish nude lips. The 1970s saw the introduction of the French manicure, the 1980s welcomed bright fuchsia and neon nails and in the 1990s, the hottest accessory was Chanel’s “Vamp.” Created to be the same color as dried blood, the polish went on to gross $1 million in sales in its first year alone and became the most in-demand product in the whole of Chanel’s history.

Chanel’s black-red color, “Vamp” was released in 1994 and sold out world wide

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The post Now & Then: The History of Nail Polish appeared first on EcoSalon.

Eco-Fashion Superhero?

Alicia Silverstone’s recent bestseller, “The Kind Diet,” tempts its readers to embrace a healthy, vegan lifestyle that will have them “feeling great, losing weight, and saving the planet.” Silverstone divides the diet into three levels: flirting, going vegan, and superhero. Offering up three non-judgmental pathways appealed to me as a great reference point for how to buy eco-fashion. As we get more conscious about how the production of our clothing impacts the environment, more women are turning to eco-labels for their latest fashion purchases. Most of us are flirting, checking out what is available in the eco fashion world and perhaps buying the occasional eco-friendly piece. Then there are the superheroes – we salute you! – who are buying everything in green – from their lingerie to their workout wear.

I find myself going eco at midlevel. For the last few years, I’ve been shopping in my closet, thrifting, rummaging around vintage stores, buying from local eco designers, skipping by fast-fashion, and generally keeping my clothing wantonness in check. But, the point at which I get a little stuck is wardrobe basics. I’m talking about the basic tees, leggings and simple knitwear like a black turtleneck, V-neck or long cardigan. These pieces are indispensable stalwarts in my wardrobe working hard to anchor my more adventurous attempts at flair.

As someone on a tiny clothing budget, my strategy used to be saving money for the more exciting stuff by skimping on the basics. When I heard Sally Singer, the features editor of Vogue, agree it’s best to save your money for the wild purple chubby and buy your basics at Club Monaco or H&M, I figured I was on the right track.

That was before I committed to a low-impact lifestyle and declared that my look should be elevated by this new focus. So, no more cheap basics for me. Not surprisingly, I found myself frenziedly flicking through a fast-fashion outlet’s sale rack today.  Hoping to find long black cardigans and plain white tees to get me thru until summer. Before long, I caught myself and remembered my pledge to sustainable fashion. While it’s true that there are far greater eco-friendly clothing lines than ever before, they just can’t compete with fast-fashion prices. Isn’t this getting down to the nitty-gritty of the green consumer dilemma?

In a recent study, despite economic woes, 35 percent of survey respondents say they would pay more for “˜environmentally-friendly’ products. But is paying $2 more for laundry detergent the same as justifying a plain black tee priced $30-50 more than the one in H&M. Or, the leggings you can buy at express for $26 for two pairs? It’s in this sticky, uncomfortable place that you find your defining moment as an ecologist.

Thanks to people like Annie Leonard, who invites us to trace the true cost of our belongings, we now know the true price of something made unbelievable cheap – hello H&M seven buck tees – is paid for quite literally by the environment, by the low paid worker tolling in bad conditions and the third world countries forever struggling to get on their knees.

The path to committing to the environment is a process that doesn’t have to take superhero strength, but perhaps, small acts over and over again. Luckily the leading edge of the industry is giving the green light too. What’s hot now is dressing with integrity in belief and action. While the eco design community produces pieces that have to be more expensive there are positive trade-offs to turning conventional wardrobe strategies on their head. Eco-basics are artfully designed and generally crafted better, making them cost-efficient because they won’t fall apart as fast. Think “Investment Basics.” Not just investments for your wardrobe, but for the planet too.

Check out my Investment Basics picks

Soft supple tees and leggings from SUST-their Disco tops are cut oh so flattering.

Edun’s plain and patterned leggings are cut in fabric that is long wearing and has great appearance retention (no sagging!)

Loomstate for simple knitwear such as hoodies and long cardigans.

Image: Bernhard Willhelm spring and summer 2006 by Christopher Moore

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