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“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”

–Yves Saint Laurent

Image: ClickFlashPhotos

The post Clothing as Expression appeared first on EcoSalon.

Drawing attention to our waists, wearing a belt is a simple way to pull together a figure-flattering outfit.

It’s a little accessory that can make a major impact. The belt was seen widely on spring’s waist-focused runways, most memorably at Alexander McQueen and Burberry Prorsom. Doing wonders for most women, a seemingly pedestrian belt has the power to creates curves where there might not have been before and add polish to even the most casual of outfit. While last year’s belt of choice was the skinny, the waist-cinching wide corset-styles were unquestionably this season’s pick to pull together a look and add a pop of color to an outfit.

Burberry’s s/s 2012 pleated green midi dress with standout beaded woven belt

The need to hold one’s pants up has made belts indispensable for men since the 16^th century. Military girdles – bands worn around the waist to hold weapons in place – are considered the first belts documented in clothing history. By the 1850s, the concept had infiltrated women’s styles when dresses were adorned with sashes made in matching fabrics. By the 1920s the lowered waists of the flapper fashions meant belts were dropped too, but by the time women embraced pants in the 1930s, women’s belts were back.

Yves Saint Laurent and his muse Betty Catroux, both wearing low slung belts with their safari styles

Whether it’s a cowboy, gaucho, obi, ribbon or belly chain, certain kinds of belts can instantly signify a time and place in fashion history: prim and proper, the skinny belt secured the ladylike shirtwaists of the 50s housewife; the low slung hip belt accentuated Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic safari jackets in 1968 and chain belts gave the appropriate amount of bohemian swagger to the disco divas of Studio 54.

70’s Style icon, Ali Macgraw wearing a popular chain belt

Some women take an accessory and make it all their own. Inspired by her favorite J Crew styling, Michelle Obama has been known for wearing various widths of belts over shift dresses, cardigans and even coats. And while it seems impossible to imagine, some belts have the ability to reveal everything. Just ask Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen. As the designer rumored to be designing Kate Middleton’s top-secret royal wedding dress last year, she was identified at the last minute as she arrived at the Goring Hotel by her distinctive studded leather belt doubled through the belt loops of her cropped pants.

Michelle Obama sported a wide plastic belt by designer Sonia Rykiel for her Oprah cover

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The post Now & Then: The History of the Belt appeared first on EcoSalon.

Kick start that spring feeling with fashion’s best new films.

Fashion lovers are generally a visual lot. As the growing interest in Pinterest, Tumblr and other image-based social tools demonstrates, more and more of us like to absorb information visually. So if you’re thinking its time to turn your winter wardrobe into spring style, take a look at fashion’s best new films for color trends, silhouettes and fabrications to look out for as the warmer months slowly approach.

Above. In the captivating 16mm film entitled, “She Builds Domes in Air,”  by acclaimed artist Catherine Sullivan, Kristen McMenamy stalks the intricate inner and sensory worlds of the Alexander McQueen spring/summer collection – designer Sarah Burton’s third and most celebrated yet.

Burton tells AnOther Magazine: “The McQueen woman doesn’t want to feel casual. It’s not that kind of world. When you put on the clothes, they make you stand differently, feel differently. It was about how to do that but make it feel light. I’ve always been part of Lee’s romantic side, that’s what I love. Although there are elements of this collection that are quite dark, even sinister, there’s always a romance to it, a delicacy. Empowerment and protection: Working here, you always have to bring it back to Alexander.”

Geren Ford Spring 2012 Fashion Film from Geren Ford

For those dreaming of clothing suitable for a springtime spent outdoors, check out the first in a series of fashion videos featuring the spring 2012 collection of lifestyle brand, Geren Ford.

Ford describes the film to Racked : “Echoing the line’s wanderlust for life and as-chic-at-noon-as-at-midnight ethos, the film is a visual recap of ‘the night before,’ a peek into late-night mischief of a get together where decorum and good manners went home hours ago and with each step unfolds epic house party lore, mischief and chaos, and the blossoming of young love.”

Lane Crawford: High Style on Nowness.com

A meditation on the ephemeral qualities of fashion, luxury store Lane Crawford’s “The Pinnacle of Style,” takes us behind the scenes of its spring 2012 campaign. Shot by powerhouse photographic duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and starring China’s biggest stars Li Bing Bing and Chen Ran, the animated short presents the store’s latest collections from the likes of Azzedine Alaïa, Céline, Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Lane Crawford Fashion Director Sarah Rutson explains to Nowness: “The power of fashion to help an individual express themselves is central to the store’s ideology. As Mark Twain said, ‘Clothes make the man, naked people have little or no influence on society’. Clothing is an outward expression for someone to show their individuality, as the essence of who they are.”

The post Fashion Feeling: Spring’s Best Fashion Films appeared first on EcoSalon.

Is it just us, or does that red carpet look a little greener?

Tonight, while most people will tune into the 69th Golden Globes to see if The Help will beat out Moneyball for Best Picture, our eyes will be trained on the red carpet pre-show coverage to see Livia Firth kick off her annual Green Carpet Challenge. What can we say? She has us hooked.

Firth, who runs Eco-Age and is married to actor Colin Firth, started the Green Carpet Challenge in 2009 to bring attention to her work in ethical and sustainable fashion. That year, she pledged to only wear upcycled, vintage, and eco-friendly outfits while accompanying her husband on the red carpet during awards season. The following year, the challenge picked up speed when Colin was the Best Actor pick across awards shows for his performance in The King’s Speech. Livia was by his side the whole way through, notably in a gorgeous upcycled Gary Harvey dress at the Oscars.

This year, Firth has recruited an impressive roster of designers who will dress her for awards season in accordance with GCC’s strict ethical and sustainable standards. The list includes Tom Ford, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney.

Tonight’s gown was designed by Giorgio Armani with eco-friendly materials, and Firth has been involved in its creation from day one. Firth described the process as “unreal” and writes on her blog:

To work with Armani was a real lesson in the design process. Everything begins with the material. Fortunately, Giorgio loved the eco material and knew he could work with it. The passion and efficiency of Giorgio’s team has been infectious.

Just before the show kicks off, Livia will release photos of and details about her dress on her Green Carpet Challenge blog at VOGUE UK. We’ll be there too.

Images: VOGUE UK.

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Yves Saint Laurent recently unveiled “New Vintage,” an eco-friendly capsule collection that is made up entirely of remnant fabric from archived YSL collections.

Unused fabrics from fast fashion houses are a common source of waste for many designers and not only beef up landfills with perfectly usable textiles, but amount to an incredible waste of money for designers who have to buy minimums of fabric for their seasonal collections.

Kudos to French fashion house YSL for making good environmentally with their focused recycling efforts (using their own extra). Their limited edition collection will feature dip-dyed bustier dresses, embroidered trench coats, separates made in plasticized cotton, a Downtown Bag and sandal.

Once again, Barney’s New York will play host to a green collection by being the exclusive venue for the line. Recent Barney’s collaborations with eco-design house Loomstate (Loomstate For Barney’s Green) as well as a Keds, Loomstate and Barney’s partnering has put eco-chic collaborations at the forefront of the higher ended green movement.

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