I love a good article about curating unique, rad personal style. But this recent piece on “dressing weird” to stand out didn’t deliver.

Don’t get me wrong — it was well written and edited — but the headline and the content didn’t match because the writer of the piece goes on about dressing weird, but I saw nothing weird in the article. I just saw an attractive woman who was wearing un-flattering (her word), over-sized pieces of clothing. That’s not weird, that’s this chick’s personal style! And that’s totally fine, but really — she should cool it with the weird classification because she’s essentially saying that personal style means being weird. And while there may be some people who think your personal style is weird, it probably isn’t “inherently” weird unless you’re gluing action figures all over your person.

I mean, my personal style (I’d say I’m one part cartoon character, two parts Halloween fiend, and another part astrological) may be considered weird to some, but to me, it’s who I am. I love mixing patterns, and pairing a frilly outfit with clunky black boots, and I’ve been doing it for years. Do people think I’m weird for this? Maybe some do, but I’ve got to say that more often than not, I get compliments about my statement pieces and that makes me happy, because I’ve been curating my monster-filled closet for years.

And it’s those years of curating that lead us all to our very own personal style. Through those years, we learn the following:

1. What we feel good in: I firmly think that no one looks bad in anything unless that “thing” doesn’t fit.

2. What we think is fun: I bought my vampire fang dress because it’s fun. It’s probably not fashionable, but it makes me smile.

3. What we know we will really regret it we don’t buy before it’s gone: I learned this lesson about vintage finds a long while ago. If you love it, get it before it’s gone.

How do you classify personal style? Do you think that some of your clothes are weird, or do you just think that you rock at putting together an outfit?

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Shutterstock image of fun personal fashion

The post Finding Personal Style: It’s Not About Being Weird It’s About Being You appeared first on EcoSalon.

Whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall, fresh food art is always in season. From juicy fruits to earthy acorns, we’ve got you covered with five delectable pieces to incorporate into your closet this season.

1. Lemon Print Pointed Hem Skort by Topshop, $68

A little sweet, a little bit tart, this adorable skort (pictured above) is the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Its color palette harmoniously complements any season with pops of sprightly-hued yellow and muted shades of green. Edgy  but tasteful, the chic pointed faux-wrap hemline gives the wearer all the sass and none of the worry that can come from a gusty breeze. When life gives you lemons, wear them.

2. Apple of Abundance Charm Bangle by Alex and Ani, $28

Fruit charms on jewelry never seem to go out of style. Year after year, we see these cute, little fresh foods dangling from earrings and necklaces, adding just the right amount of sweetness to an ensemble. This Alex and Ani bangle is no different. It’s simple and versatile enough to be worn with any outfit either alone or stacked with multiple bracelets. It has a super easy adjustable clasp that slides for the perfect fit and is available in a silver or gold tone. Be sure to rock this bangle on a trip to the apple orchards this fall!

3. After 5 Clutch by Mary Frances, $285

Grapes are inherently fancy. They were fed from the vine to gods and goddesses of millenia past and they’re the main ingredients in most bottles of wine today. So it’s only appropriate that they would be highlighted in a food art design on this most lavish clutch by Mary Frances. Embroidered with floral accents and heavily embellished with prestigious, three dimensional bead-work, this clutch is the absolute perfect accessory to take out on the town á la Carrie Bradshaw. It features a clasp closure, is fully lined inside, and also comes with a beaded shoulder chain for hands-free comfort.

4. Cold Shoulder Print Dress by Jean Paul Gaultier, $550

This sleek, sophisticated dress has all the makings of nature’s bounty: fresh foods and florals. Made in Italy, it’s graceful silhouette is balanced nicely with the modern shoulder cut-out detail and sheer overlay. It’s fully lined and slips right on which is ideal if you need to look sharp and are in a rush to get out the door. The flashy yellow of the lemons and roses accompanied with deep tones of red and slate-blue make this dress an amazing transitional piece to have in any closet.

5. Cable Collectibles Acorn Charm with Pearl by David Yurman, $150

Nothing says fall quite like this stylish acorn necklace charm. Wear it and bring on the nostalgia of total coziness and pumpkin spice everything. The humble acorn has been given a major makeover in this charm featuring a bleached white cultured freshwater pearl set in sterling silver. With great adaptability, this charm is a clip-on and can be worn on any chain to complement any style or outfit choice.

Browse and shop all of the foodie inspired pieces here:

What’s your favorite way to incorporate food art into your wardrobe? 

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Top image via Nordstrom

The post 5 Food Art Inspired Stylish Wardrobe Ideas to Bring the Table to Your Closet appeared first on EcoSalon.

The carry-all gets an upgrade: vegan backpacks are all the rage and for good reason.

Out of the way simple, basic bags! Backpacks are taking over the world and we’re totally jazzed about it. The past few seasons have been boasting some pretty stylish, inventive, and functional designs, proving to be much more versatile than a purse. Can you say “hands free?!”

And now, you can wear it in style and without any guilt as these vegan backpacks are gorgeous and functional.

1. Vegan Convertible Backpack by Free People

Nothing says biker babe chic quite like this backpack (pictured at top)! Constructed of black vegan leather, free-flowing fringe and studs, this one is an absolute showstopper. With its removable and adjustable straps, it can alter into a backpack or a purse to fit whatever mood you’re in with perfect storage inside for the essentials of a night out: id, money, phone, and lipstick. Throw on your favorite pair of distressed denim jeans and a white tee and hit the town looking super badass.

Free People, $108

2. Prim Lady Backpack by French Connection

For the girl who’s more of a minimalist, you’ve just found the perfect mate in a backpack. This vegan backpack is perfect for on-the-go purposes without sacrificing style. With its “top-down” zipper closure and flat based bottom, you can toss your iPad, some fashion mags, and a notebook in the main compartment and drop your phone and keys into the two cotton slip pockets located inside. You can run about town, coffee in hand, and take the world by storm without missing a beat. Choose from colors white, black floral, and hazel.

Check it out here. $88

3. ‘Betsy’ Faux Leather Backpack by Emperia

If you like to travel, be sure to bring this little gem as your companion. The smooth cognac shade of brown vegan leather and zipper tassels add a cool western vibe while the scalloped detailing and metal hardware in the studs and carrying handle make it a bit more savvy. This backpack contains tons of storage with interior and exterior pockets and a zipped enclosure on the front. The easy-access side pockets located on the outside make it perfect for temporarily storing your phone or passport. Why would you ever leave home without this amazingly convenient backpack?!

Available here, $48

4. Super Embellished Convertible Backpack Purse by Rusty Spur Couture

Ever wonder why your crazy grandma kept a box full of random buttons in her drawer? Maybe she wasn’t so crazy after all because this button embellished backpack/purse combo is pretty marvelous. Shying away from the typical, grittier studs we normally see on everything, we get a daintier version of edgy. Made of super soft vegan leather, this cool contraption can change functions in a snap! It can go from a backpack to a purse with just one slide of a strap. It has a secure closure with a drawstring and a flap that folds down and even has a pocket inside perfect to fit a phone in. It can be purchased in a sleek black or creamy white color. Don’t go stealing grandma’s buttons now…

Open Sky, $89.99

5. Rosalind Backpack by Free People

This backpack is all about the free-spirited, gypsy wanderer. Comprised of an indigenous printed fabric with vegan leather accents, the overall essence is a true boho vibe. The gunmetal hardware and toggle clasps make it a great accessory for adventure whether you’re hiking a trail or hanging around a bonfire with your best buds. It’s an amazing carry-on for travel as well because of the side cargo pockets and a hidden zippered pocket on the back. So grab this backpack and go exploring in style!

Free People, $298

6. Nosis Backpack by Aldo

Most of us are always looking for clothing and accessories that can easily transition our ultra busy lives from day to night without a hitch. This sleek and stylish backpack achieves just that, all the time, every day, every night. You can easily go from the office to happy hour without delay. Oh, and the compartments are endless! The drawstring closure opens to reveal interior zip and slip pockets and is equipped with a flat base to neatly hold your belongings. Then on the outside you have two buckled front pockets and the fold-over flap doubles as storage as well! Also extremely versatile, this is another backpack/purse blend complete with a top carrying strap and removable arm straps. It is available in either black or brown. This backpack was made for flaunting and that’s just what it will do!

Get it here. $50

7. ‘Cynnie’ Sling Backpack by Elizabeth and James

Those Olsens always know exactly what they’re doing. The design concept behind this creation is imaginative and super cool. You can wear this backpack three different ways: as a purse, slung over your shoulder, or the obvious, as a backpack. There’s something simple yet so originative about this backpack. The structure and drawstring closure emit chic simplicity, but then you have the folky woven print and the vegan leather tassel that pulls down to reveal a whole front exterior pocket… It’s just too cool in the best sort of way. You also don’t need to worry about quick wear and tear of the backpack because it comes with protective metal feet on the bottom. Olsens, you’ve done it again. And we’re so glad you did.

Check it out. $545

Check out and shop all of these cool vegan leather backpack packs below. Happy shopping!

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The post 7 Gorgeous Vegan Backpacks You Probably Can’t Live Without appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnChivalrous mens fashion highlights top eco designers for our male counterparts.

Ninety-eight percent of fashion is geared towards women and our love for clothing, our desire to express without words. So, what about men? Without leaving our handsome counterpoints out of the conversation, On Trend this week celebrates courageous menswear designers. Below are great brands that tailor a keen ethical stance by living out sustainable and eco-conscious values in their work.

Foundry Ikat Shirt by Kuyichi

A company as cool and confident as Kuyichi has nothing to hide up their sleeves. Baring a completely transparent production process, Kuyichi is dedicated to minimizing negative environmental and social impacts at all steps. For example, all fabric waste is recycled and used in new garments. “Being conscious is all about development, collaborate and thinking forwards so sustainability is not the next generations job,” the brand claims on its website. This foundry Ikat shirt is made with organic cotton, so it’s softer both on your skin and the land where it was grown.

We Three Leaves, on sale for $86

The Ginsberg Jacket by Uniforms for the Dedicated

As all chivalrous gentlemen are wont to do, Uniforms for the Dedicated submits to always striving for better. By promising the highest-quality, ethical production methods and the use of environmentally responsible materials, the Swedish label continues to reach upward while holding a strong foothold in classic men’s style. This casual suiting jacket embodies a little stretch for comfort and ease to pair with slacks or your favorite jeans.

Uniforms for the Dedicated, 272 euros

Standard Issue Utility Chino by Apolis

Brothers, Raan and Shea Parton founded Apolis, meaning global citizen, a decade ago to create “advocacy through industry.” Today the Certified B Corp is continually progressing towards a more sustainable business one relationship at a time. “Becoming a Certified B Corporation helps us clearly communicate our standing as a social enterprise and learn about ways we can make our company more socially and environmentally conscious,” says the brand. The slim tailor fit of these classic chinos are made under fair labor conditions in Los Angeles.

Apolis, $158

Lover Shoe by Brave Gentleman

“Principled attire and smart supplies,” Brave Gentleman is a fiercely ethical brand upholding the highest morals for people and the planet. Every Brave Gentleman piece is one hundred percent vegan, and outshines ecological standards, fair labor conditions for the hands that create each piece and definitely style. These beautiful Lover shoes match their name: Made entirely of vegan material through fair labor conditions in Portugal, the sleek shoe ties into any occasion.

Brave Gentleman, $285

Falsterbo in Mint by Gässling Falsterbo

Searching for an organic underwear brand is not a terribly grueling challenge (well, with all the lovely examples of wear) but it certainly is not an easy one. Yet, Gässling Falsterbo no doubt comes out on top as a favorite men’s organic underwear brand. Using ninety-five percent certified organic cotton from India (adding five percent elastane for better fit and longer lifespan), the fabric is never bleached and each dying process is also eco friendly. Made in Estonia, the label prides itself in overseeing all steps of production “down to the smallest button.” The result is a final product they are proud of. These supportive but breathe-easy, underwear in mint green is an absolute favorite for comfort and style.

Gässling Falsterbo, 35 euros

Keep in touch, follow Juliette @spadesandsiLK

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images: featured image photo by Christian Gustavsson for Uniforms for the Dedicated, collage by Juliette Donatelli and images from the brands

The post The Absolute Best Mens Fashion Eco Designers: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnEver since the art of American blue jeans sprang up in San Francisco during the gold rush of 1849, blue jeans have stood as a solid symbol of American contemporary style, freedom, and quality. This week’s On Trend features 8 of the absolute best made in America blue jeans companies. Each brand has its own special characteristic, but they all embody domestic manufacturing and quality that lasts. 

1. Tellason, San Francisco, California — Menswear

Designed and produced in the birthplace of American blue jeans, San Francisco, Tellason jeans are American made to the core — 99.9 percent of all denim used is from the White Oak Cone Denim mill in Greensboro, NC, pocketing is sourced from Tennessee, threading  from North Carolina, and leather goods from Oregon, using all Northwest sourced vegetable tanned leather. “We’ve become friends with our suppliers and feel it is the right thing to do to support them and their businesses as we build our products,” says Tellason co-founders, Tony Patella and Pete Searson.

2. Baldwin Denim, Leawood, Kansas — Womenswear and Menswear

Founded on modern design, quality textiles, and American manufacturing, Baldwin is a hip lifestyle brand producing the best quality jeans for men and women. “Baldwin’s growth has been fueled by its approachability, functional design, attention to detail, and inclusiveness,” says Baldwin. Their deliberate execution throughout all steps of the making process is as foundational to their brand’s signature today as when the label was founded in 2009.

3. Rising Sun, Pasadena, California — Menswear

Take a trip inside the Rising Sun headquarters in Pasadena, CA, and it’s as if you’ve stepped back in time: Rising Sun prides themselves in using period antique sewing machines for manufacturing all their goods. The entire pant is stitched with the same machine — a single needle stitch that dates back 80 years! Using all American made fabrics, founder Mike Hodis, former creative director of Lucky Brand, was recently named The Hardest Working Jeans Maker in America

.

4. The Stronghold, Los Angeles, California — Menswear

First established in 1895, Stronghold was the first brand ever to manufacture denim in Los Angeles. In 2004, Michael Paradise and Michael Cassell reopened the label after it had been shut down for nearly fifty years. The duo kept the authentic backbone, but added on a modern contemporary feel.

5. Left Field, Queens, New York — Womenswear and Menswear

Cut and sewn in the Garment Center, Left Field is a company with a hard edge for denim that lasts. “Although the brand has been through many phases over the years, making quality, American clothing that our grandfathers would be proud of has always been my number one concern,” says Christian McCann, founder of Left Field.

6. Raleigh Denim, Raleigh, North Carolina — Womenswear and Menswear

Perhaps one of the hottest made in America jeans right now, Raleigh Denim uses “old school methods and modern fit.” Husband and wife team, Sarah and Victor Lytvinenko, design, develop, source, and create their jeans by hand using a small and dedicated staff in their Raleigh workshop. Recently accepted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Raleigh Denim + Workshop symbolizes the craft of American jeans production.

photography by Sully Sullivan

7. Ruell and Ray, Blacksburg, Virginia — Menswear

Using high-quality deadstock denim from around the world, Ruell and Ray manufacture’s jeans that are “one of a kind… forever.” All threads, buttons, and work labor are sourced from within America, and founder Ashley James inspects and stamps each pair of jeans herself before they reach the consumer.

8. Imogene + Willie, Nashville, Tennessee — Womenswear and Menswear

Imogene + Willie started making jeans in an old gas station, which still stands as their headquarters today. Rising demand for their goods have pushed some production out of their tiny space, but they support a dying denim industry in America’s south by keeping production within the region. Imogene + Willie’s specialty lies in the cut and immaculate fit of the jeans.

 featured image flag from ilmungo and jeans from Rakuten, images from the brands

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The post 8 Best Made In America Jeans Brands: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnBlack is brilliant. Its neat and easy sophistication is timeless, it goes with anything, and yet, always somehow reflects a hint of rebellious attitude. Black is just plain cool. Here are five eco fashion pieces that take black to a new frontier full of personality.

Robe Droite by Kami Organic

This sexy dress by Kami Organic is a great timeless piece with a hint of sexy sheer. Started in 2008 by avid sailor and entrepreneur Didier Willard, Kami Organic always feels great on your skin for their uses of all GOTS certified materials. “KAMI Organic Collection, is a very stylish proposal for the women of the 21 st century, a sense of details for an authentic and sustainable luxury.”

Place des Tendances, on sale for 95 euros  

Accelerator Booties by Mandy Coon

These boots would totally kick some ass in a great, and of course, stylish fashion. Extremely well made in NYC by legendary Mandy Coon, I’d rock these bad girls any day.

Helpsy, $360.50

Galaxy Star Clutch by The Sway

The Sway shows up a lot in On Trend, but their designs and ethics are so on point, it’s impossible to resist. Featured in top fashion press like Vogue, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and Amber Valletta for YOOX.com, their sustainable practices are paving the way to prove edgy style doesn’t have to be sacrificed for an eco-lifestyle.

The Sway, $364

Fruit Pigment Mascara by 100 Percent Pure

Colored with black tea and berry pigment, this light weight mascara is great for sensitive eyes or contact wearers. Entirely natural and vegetarian, this mascara performs great too, promising smudge and water resistance.

100 Percent Pure, $21

Pendant in Obsidian by Efants Perdus Encircled

This badass obsidian piece is entirely hand carved into the stone. Enfants Perdus started in 2006 by a group of silversmiths in their Brooklyn-based studio, they source all materials through ecologically and ethically friendly practices, including recycled refining, conflict-free trading, and responsible mining.

Helpsy, $210

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images from the brands, top collage by Juliette Donatelli

Keep in touch with Juliette on twitter @spadesandsilk

The post Beyond the LBD, it’s Eco Fashion With an Attitude: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Black and white is always the heart of classic trends. Even Ms. Coco Chanel herself knew it! Keeping our style simple prevents closet clutter and the dreadful question of “What will I wear?!” Then we are more free to ask more grounded questions like, “What will I read next?” This week’s On Trend is a round up filled with sophistication and style from our favorite responsible brands in classic black and white.

1. Sequoia Dress by Reformation

Fun, sexy, and sustainable style is what you always get with any Reformation garment. Made with 100% viscose, a fiber produced through a closed-loop process and with little water, and produced in Los Angeles, this dress is professional and still fresh and playful.

Reformation, $188

2. Chaye Clutch by Freedom of Animals

Freedom of Animals is brand on the rise, and this vegan handbag makes you look read twice (yes, I said vegan). It’s made with 100% EPA-certified sustainable materials, including faux leather produced from recycled materials. Not only is the textile innovative and eco-friendly, the faux leather is then vegetable dyed, so no toxic chrome-tanning here. Lastly, the inside of the clutch is lined with organic cotton. I know, incredible. Go ahead and take another look–we certainly did.

Freedom of Animals, $300

3. Mini Shark Earrings by Brandy Pham

Named after their resemblance to shark teeth and a nod to designer Brandy Pham’s father who used to be a fisherman, these studs are modernly feminine and elegant. Handmade with love in New York City. And when you purchase the pair through Zady’s you can read the full story of how Brady went from celebrity designer to trusting her instincts.

Zady, $90

4. Black and White Heel by Olsenhaus 

This 100% vegan shoe will turn any outfit into a sophisticated look.  Olsenhaus is all cruelty free and made with all environmentally friendly materials.

Olsenhaus, $45

5. Eden and Pear by Voluspa

Not only will this scent have any space smelling fresh in no time (even when it isn’t burning!), Voluspa candle are made with coconut wax and cotton wicks, so you don’t have to worry about this scented candle poisoning your indoor air with VOCs. Plus, once you are indulging in the luxuries of its smell, you can turn the candle holder into a flower vase!

Candle Delirium, $18

6. My Ex’s Heart Nail Polish by Bondi New York

Cleaner nail polish is on the rise, and thank goodness! Bondi nail polish, prides itself in being ‘the five free nail polish,’ always free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, toluene and DBP–yes, those ingredients are in most conventional nail polishes (gross).  Let’s stay away from those nasty chemicals and keep our nails strong while still looking hip.

Bondi, $12.50

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images from the brands, top collage by Juliette Donatelli

Keep in touch, follow Juliette @spadesandsiLK

The post Classic Trends in Dichromatic, Black and White Sophistication: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

The sensually mysterious French Woman is idolized around the world. What is it about these ladies that conjures up the idea of la femme fatale? How do they achieve that mix of womanly strength, style, and substance? They embrace their femininity.

There are plenty of “How French Women Are Perfect” guides, but this is not one of them. Like women everywhere, French women have their good and bad days. But after having recently spent some time in Paris, I figured out some of the small ways (that add up), that make the alluring French woman so appealing. The good news is, it’s not difficult or complicated and it’s all about natural beauty (something we love to champion at Ecosalon). 

1. It’s not the size of the heel, but the spring in your step

Dressing comfortably in clothes that flatter and fit your body is the first skill to master. Although French women understand the sex appeal of a great pair of pumps, they would rather wear a walkable stylish shoe over a towering heel. Forget about architectural confinement in clothing, like bulging cleavage or tight fitting clothes, and wear whatever brings you a sense of natural ease and comfort.*

*Comfort doesn’t equal sweatpants. Even if you are going to the grocery store, you don’t parade around as if you are going to work out.  Throw on a dress or a skirt, something feminine, but still relaxed.

2.  Once you’re out, don’t mess with it

Don’t constantly reapply your makeup in the bathroom or fidget with your hair at the table. Leave the house feeling as you want to look, and carry that feeling with you. Confidence in yourself and your style is beautiful. With this idea in mind, you’ll spend less time worrying about how you look, and focus more on just having a good time—which is the most attractive accessory.

3. Wear flattering basics

A small, but well-curated collection of basics will take you far.  For example, a personally stylized V-neck silk blouse will last longer than the latest runway knockoff look. Plus, you aren’t a slave to trends, which is very budget-friendly.  And don’t be afraid to wear the same pieces over and over again. Trust me, no one will notice.

4. Go easy on the makeup

Natural beauty comes from the inside and always shines through.  Style icon Audrey Hepburn said that beauty is within the eyes. Those windows to the soul don’t need to be caked in glitter and glam to be sexy.  Blush, mascara, soft lip (and sometime a little eyeliner) is all you need.

5. Don’t strive for perfection

Embrace your femininity through natural beauty, and be content with who and what you are now. As Yves Saint Laurent said, “Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”  What French women seem to have achieved is owning their beauty comfortably and being happy with momentary perfection, a quality I wish à toutes mes amies.

image: twm1340

The post French Women’s Real Style Lesson: Embrace Your Femininity appeared first on EcoSalon.

Could embracing a spiritual approach to style motivate consumers to choose more sustainable fashion?

The fashion industry is fascinating. On one hand you have businesses that create obsolescence and insecurity, and on the other, products that offer tremendous potential as a creative process to make people feel more secure by expressing who they are, or who they’d like to be. And from Oprah to Deepak, yoga classes and meditation seminars, this country clearly has a rapidly growing taste for all things spiritual.

Truth, fairness, interconnectedness and non-violence are values found in all major spiritual paths, and, if you think about it, they’re also embroidered in the sustainable fashion movement. As a writer and environmentalist fascinated with what motivates humans and keenly curious about how to inspire more environmentally-friendly consumer behaviors, I wonder if the trend for turning within could make greater inroads with how we choose clothing, jewelry and accessories than green activism ever managed.

When I came across Buddha Style: A discussion about the Buddha’s radical teachings on fashion and forgiveness, a recently released book about approaching fashion from a Buddhist perspective, I was intrigued.

With its punk-rock illustrations by award-winning sculptor and installation artist Jesse Bercowetz, the book is an engaging and easy-to-follow perspective on both Buddhism and the fashion industry. One purchase (just one more) that might bring some peace for those of us who struggle with our fashion appetites. Recording a discussion between Otto von Busch, a fashion scholar at Parsons the New School for Design in New York, and Josh Korda, a Buddhist teacher at New York Dharma Punx, the small tome speaks to how we can reconcile our relationship to consumerism and begin to live more skillfully with fashion:

We are aversive to pain. We are restless. We are craving for pleasure. And we all want more. It is easy today to look to fashion for salvation. We feel fashion can give us what we need. We can be beautiful. We can be seen. We can be popular. We can become our better self. And it is so accessible. It is everywhere.

Can there be any liberation?

Image: seyed mostafa zamani

The post Buddha Style: Do Spirituality and Style Have to be Mutually Exclusive? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Eco Fashion Book Over-Dressed

In the age of the iPad, instant messaging and digital dreaming, it’s easy to overlook the value of the humble book. But who doesn’t love turning over the well worn pages of a classic, scribbling notes in the margins as thoughts tumble out at whim, and having a tangible treasure to hold on to through generations?

Eco-fashion, once seen as the sidebar of the fashion industry, is now a literary subject in its own right, and there are a range of new titles to keep you sustainably stylish. Whether you are after a history of the good and green elements of the industry, a how to guide on DIY fashion, or a personal account of how fashionistas can transform into conscious consumers, these gems will have you covered.

1. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline

Author Elizabeth Cline turns her own consumer habits on their head in this journey of personal discovery and wardrobe revamping. A self confessed fast fashion consumer, Elizabeth questions what she  is doing with all her cheap clothes and what social and environmental impact they are having on the world around us. Through following Elizabeth’s journey to the factories of China and beyond, you learn just how easy it is to break the consumer driven cycle.

2. Sustainability with Style by Lisa Heinze

This book says it is part autobiography, part eco guidebook and part cultural exploration. That’s a lot of jam-packed green goodness from Australian-based American author Lisa Heinze, who lets us sneak a peak into how she marries sustainability with style. After years of being a self proclaimed image obsessed fashion addict, she inspires us to make changes in our own life through her candid honesty, personal experiences and bag full of tips and tricks.

3. I Spy DIY style: Find Fashion You Love and Do It Yourself by Jenni Radosevich

If the academic angle isn’t your thing and you are looking for a more practical approach, then this book is the perfect pick me up. With a few easy to learn skills and some basic supplies, it takes you through 30 step by step projects inspired by the world’s runways, celebrity red carpet looks and timeless classic cuts. It even includes top tips from fashion favorites Rachel Roy, Olivia Palermo and Rebecca Minkoff.

4. To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World by Lucy Siegle

Unlike some of the personal accounts of eco conscious living, this title is more of an expose on the industry, penned by The Observer’s ethical living columnist. Providing thorough detail on fashion and fabric production, it argues that it is possible to become an ethical fashion lover, with just a little bit of information and conscious questioning. It clearly advocates a new case for change and sets an ambitious agenda for the future of the fashion industry from an experienced and eco obsessed journalist.

5. Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Revolution by Safia Minney

Written by founder and CEO of the famous Fair Trade fashion label, People Tree, Safia Minney provides inspiration and advice on how to make a difference through decision making. It also includes accounts of well known celebrities from creative industries talking about what they are doing differently to reduce their environmental impact, including British actor and Harry Potter heroine Emma Watson along with industry icon Vivienne Westwood. As an added bonus it also contains an ethical brand directory.

Top image: Zitona

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