No, no….things ain’t what they used to be….oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas…fish full of mercury…oh mercy, mercy me.

The loosely fitted, romantic looks coming down the Spring/Summer 2011 runways were reminiscent of the time that – almost forty years ago – ushered in a new era of soul music. It seems, like Marvin Gaye’s masterpiece, some old ideas are new again because they still resonate. As Motown’s main man asked, What’s Going On?

After a brief flirtation with the Mad Men and women of the 1950s, fashion’s role as a cultural mirror instead reflects the silhouettes and stylings of the 1970s. The parallels between then and now are obvious – concern for the environment, a challenging economy and an unpopular war. It seems the issues are all too sobering to lose us – for more than a Sunday evening – in the façade of full-skirted perfection.

Interestingly, eco-fashion first emerged during this time. As environmental journalist, Lucy Siegle writes, “If we were to do a ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ of ethical fashion, we’d trace most of its DNA back to the 1970s eco movement; it’s a direct descendant. Back then eco style consisted of a lot of sack and tent-like shifts, woolly leggings and rugged tie-dyed fabrics that were hessian-and hemp-based.” Shapeless and crunchy ethical fashion – What a quaint idea! And some progress – for a change – to feel good about – Right On, Right On.

The era has a wealth of subtler details – forget the stereotypical disco party costume – to incorporate into your look without buying a thing. Layering a sleeveless sweater over a flouncy blouse and defining the waist with a belt is a simple, easy-to-emulate look. Another key is embracing maxi proportions. Choosing a long dress or coat this holiday season, is a guaranteed standout in a sea of short styles.

This revisit isn’t overly ornamental or garish. With a nod to the concurrent trend for sophisticated minimalism, it’s about simplifying the free-flowing silhouettes of the vintage looks. Swap crochet for lace, folksy embroidery for paisley prints, burnt orange earth tones for color-blocked tropical-hues.

These items are great to find by rummaging in your closet or your mom’s, or at thrift and vintage stores. For online, eBay searches under vintage for “Halston,” “Thea Porter,” “Biba“ will turn up some fabulous stuff. Eco designers such as Emily Factor, Azuela, Gretchen Jones and Rosel are doing fluid, 70s reminiscent pieces brilliantly to fill in the bits you can’t get from low impact sources.

Are you ready to hop aboard the soul train to 70s inspired fashions? Or does it feel like nothing more than the relentlessness of the fashion treadmill? Perhaps. But I like to think by engaging in the themes Marvin Gaye soulfully sung to – our awareness, engagement and consciousness – we’ll have a better chance this time around if we’re wearing the romantic, vivacious clothes of the era of great soul.

The post Soul Train: All Aboard for 70s Fashion appeared first on EcoSalon.

As the clocks get turned back for another winter, getting dressed in the morning can be a chore. Now is the time you can be forgiven for not wanting to trade your nice warm blanket for clothes. Luckily, fashion has cozied up to the idea of chunky knits this season, so you can keep your blanket and wear it too.

Cable-knit sweaters, floor-scraping hand-knitted scarves, thickly woven skirts and woolly tights. Before telling you how to put this unlikely lot together, think back to the last time you wore any of these things. Unless you grew up in Greenland, you were probably in pre-school. Thus hinting at both fashion’s emerging nostalgia for all things seventies, and the synonymous bohemian, gypsy attitude you’ll need to channel to pull the look off. Referencing the relaxed, folksy style that emerged from the disco and hippie era is the best route to styling this season’s handcrafted and patterned knits.

You can get on board with this look easily from low-impact sources such as thrift and vintage. Look for anything that looks graphic and hand-knitted. If you’re looking online, include the search terms Fair Isle, Peruvian or Aran to find traditional patterns and motifs. A pair of rosy cheeks is all you’ll need to accessorize.

Prints and heavier knits can be tricky, because they make such a bold statement. If you’re afraid of looking too wild and woolly, there are some tips to keep the look modern and streamlined. While the models at Prada showed chunky-knit sweaters paired with woolly skirts and tights, it’s one of those many runway examples that miss the mark with regular bodies. I think it’s nice to contrast the bohemian style of your chunky knit with something that has structure – a tailored pant, classic blazer or crisp denim – no fading, holes or fraying. Pair your knit with neutral basics in shades of black, winter white, gray or brown. A turtleneck is the perfect retro underpinning. Wear a substantial shoe to balance the bulk of the wool. If you are confused about what shoe color show to wear, pick any color that is in the print and it will probably work. Adding a narrow belt to give you a waist defines a too loose silhouette.

I don’t need to tell you to steer away from anything that looks like it belongs on a Christmas card, but if you don’t have the time to rummage and want to buy new – here are some good eco options.

Opening Ceremony Pendleton Military Coat in Red from Creatures of Comfort.

Granted Knit Cardigan in Blue from Beklina.

Julie Park Batwing from Beklina.

Image: Neiman Marcus

The post Baby, It’s Cold Outside: The Chunky Knit Is a Winter Classic appeared first on EcoSalon.