Fighting Fashionista

So this is going to be a bit of a cranky post. I got some pictures back today at work that made me consider Botox. Sigh. Let’s never speak of it again, shall we?

Anyway, I went to the Avita Co-op in L.A. on Saturday, since I was in Pasadena to visit my most awesome sister-in-law. I dragged her all the way to West Hollywood for a little eco-shopping adventure. Avita was having a half-off sale, which rocked. We each got cute bamboo tops.

However. I have to say, the cashmere was disappointing. It really wasn’t soft at all; it felt like any old itchy wool. Shudder. One other little complaint: the store did not have nearly the selection of eco-friendly fashions I’d hoped.

Still, I’m excited about my top. It’s a pale green version of the one here, and I’m obsessed with off-the-shoulder tops at the moment. Plus, the bamboo fabric is VERY soft and lovely.

I recently had this Anthropologie dress dry cleaned, and now the gold that was once threaded through the linen is completely gone, even though the tag TOLD me to dry clean it. So now it’s just kind of a bland khaki color. I can technically still wear it. But the gold stitching was the best part. Just sayin!

Eco-designer extraordinaire Lara Miller held a trunk show yesterday at Azalea, one of my favorite San Francisco boutiques. I tried on nearly every item in her line and wanted to by one of each. Alas, that would have ended in divorce so I picked one — much like the dress you see here before you, except mine is a lovely shade of blue. Love the color, love that it’s made of hand-loomed bamboo, and love how soft and comfy it is. So much love. It’s technically a “tunic,” but I’m a shorty, so it can easily be a dress. In warmer weather, I can wear a tank (or a bandeau top as Miller said she wears for dinner parties. Sexy!), and when it’s colder, a turtleneck would make it a toasty ensemble.

Miller was there, all the way from her home in Chicago, and I have to say she was THE NICEST fashion designer I have ever met. O.K. I haven’t met too many fashion designers, but she was a sweetheart, donning her designs to show my friend Jen and I the various ways they can be worn. And the ways were many! My favorite was upside down: most of her dresses and tunics could be flipped around for a Princess Leia drapey look. It made me want to try wearing all my tops upside down — easy way to double your wardrobe.

Her materials are soy jersey, recycled cotton knit and bamboo. Past collections have also included silk. All were soft and comfy as could be. Check out her gorgeous spring 2008 line here (.pdf).

P.S. Watch the spring 2008 collection in action here.

Organic Bouquet, which sells sustainable and organically grown flowers, bought the brand Organic Style, and now have launched OrganicStyle.com (is it me or are they using the same logo as the old magazine?) selling, in addition to flowers, gourmet food, gifts for gardeners and nature lovers, bed and bath products and — drumroll — apparel.

If my former favorite magazine had to be reincarnated in this way, I won’t complain too much. It might even be a handy site for holiday shopping.

Hopefully others will think so too. The design and navigation of the site is not bad, but clothing is not presented in the most compelling manner. Two sections, “designerwear” and “sportswear” are divided into “collections 1, 2, 3″ and so on. They could have gotten a little more creative. And the designerwear is a pretty yawn-inducing. I prefer the sportswear section.

They have what they say is the “the first-ever, natural and sustainable bamboo cotton Lycra velour,” which the pants here are made of. I’d rather spend my money on these rather than help Juicy sell yet another velour sweatsuit. Plus, these have a birdie. I believe strongly that JUICY should not appear on anyone’s ass, and that goes double if rhinestones are involved.

The wine in the gift baskets is even organic: McFadden, which although I’ve never tasted it gets a pretty good review on this blog.

Anyhoozle, the site stamps items with a standard: organic, fair trade, eco-friendly, and Veriflora for the flowers. The eco-friendly category is a bit weak, but overall I give the site an A for effort.

Have you ever seen so much cashmere for so little money? This recycled cashmere wrap from Avita costs just $165. UPDATE: Cashmere not so soft.

Recycled cashmere, according to Avita’s website, is the stuff that other factories throw out, and is just as soft as regular cashmere, but about half the price. The site says the designer, Amanda Shi, “devised a way to use the extra material as a way of preserving natural resources.” It’s not clear how exactly it works, and I hesitate to endorse the brand because the company’s factory is in China. I’ve been trying to avoid buying stuff made there because you never know what the labor practices are.

But there’s no question these garments are beautiful. Even though eco-clothing is catching on in a big way, it can still be challenging to find truly fashionable designs. Some of the stuff, while it might not be the hippie stereotype, is still pretty boring.

So I was excited to stumble upon Avita while browsing TreeHugger. Here are a a few of my other favorites:

A green bamboo top that’s surprisingly sexy despite the sweet bows at the collar for $130.

I’m obsessed with off-shoulder kimono sleeve tops. This bamboo number is purple and belted and costs $108.

This complex (in a good way) black top would be perfect for a casual New Year’s Eve or holiday party with jeans and big earrings. Click on the larger image to see all the crocheted details. It’s made of silk and cashmere and goes for $196.

That’s what I keep telling myself, because 20 percent of my purchase went towards rebuilding the West Side Elementary school in Healdsburg, California, which caught fire on October 7 causing major damage. And the rest of my money went to Arboretum (above), a gorgeous new store there that uses the tagline: Fashion. Conscious. Do you love it? I love it. But, the place is not cheap. I was not quite prepared for the grand total presented at the register. I mean, I could have bought a new iPhone. Yikes.

Nevertheless, I got pretty things that I of course above all NEEDED. I will love them and pet them and … o.k. here they are:

1. A pair of silvery-gray Edun jeans, which are made in Africa out of organic cotton. I love the one-pocket pattern (the other one is plain). They’re straight-legged and soft but sturdy enough to hold their shape and be really flattering. Check out how good these do-gooders are in this video.

2. A NatureVsFuture dress made out of organic cotton. I can’t find a picture of the specific dress, but it’s similar to this one, just not asymmetrical, (though I would not have minded that, and I love the obi!). It’s brown, cute, and really soft.

3. Another pair of jeans. These are dark blue Loomstate wide-leg trouser jeans. Also very flattering, although I’m not sure that picture does them justice. They’re super-soft and comfy. Definitely my new airplane jeans.

An epiphany I had on this shopping trip: big pockets work with more substantial backends, and small pockets flatter, well, flatter butts I fall into the former category, no doubt, and both of these jeans fall into the larger pocket category.