It’s awesome that so many online shops are featuring “eco-chic” boutiques. But why do they have to put those ridiculous headbands on the models? All the kids at SXSW were wearing those things. Maybe I’m just getting old but they make me think of dressing up for Halloween as Sacagawea.
According to this article, headband sales at Goody increased 52 percent in 2006. Let’s hope that means the trend is on its way out!
The Budget Fashionista did a poll last week to find out whether her readers had purchased “Green/Eco-friendly fashion.” The results say that 48 percent have, but 51 percent think it’s “too granola.” I’m not that surprised by the results, but I am surprised by the granola categorization. I think most fashionistas these days know that most eco-fashion is no longer made of burlap-like materials, but gorgeous, soft fabrics like bamboo and tencel (although arguments exist about how “eco” these fabrics really are. let’s face it, fashion is by definition not a very earth-friendly pursuit). And there’s plenty of evidence out there that modern eco-style is anything but hippie-dippy. Case in point here is Lara Miller’s bamboo “silvia blouse,” made of bamboo and available at Style Scene.
I have so many happy things to blog about I didn’t know where to start. So here’s an arbitrary item: eco-conscious designer Rogan Gregory is creating a line for Target! He heads up Edun, Loomstate and Rogan. An inexpensive eco-line answers my complaint that eco-friendly clothing is too damn expensive. The clothes will cost between $15 and $45. Nice. Here’s hoping the clothes are too. These shorts will come no where near my body. But I heart the sweatshirt and all tops with off-shoulder potential.
If you’re lucky enough to be in NYC May 9-11 or in
These Golden Goose boots are available at ShopBop for $1,050. And they are dirty. No joke, they come with real dirt, which apparently you pay extra for.
I really want to embrace eco-friendly clothing. I spent more than $600 on earth-friendly clothing in one sitting in November. But I can’t pretend I completely love my purchases. The denim of the Loomstate jeans is a little too flimsy in some areas and too … whatever the opposite of flimsy is in other spots. They also stretched out so much I had to have them taken in. The Edun jeans are cute, I still love the pockets, but the denim is too thick and hard. They feel like they need about 100 more washings — not an eco-friendly thought (you can actually tell in the picture here how stiff they are). I also bought a Loomstate panda t-shirt on Ebay, and the cotton doesn’t hold its shape for any amount of time. But I blame myself because I may have noticed these flaws had I not been so overly eager to love the green stuff.
I hate to log complaints about clothing designers who are trying to make the earth a better place by using organic cotton and other innovative materials. I’m totally down with that. But the fact is that this stuff is more expensive than conventional clothing, and if these designers are going to convert consumers who might not be willing to make sacrifices to save the earth, the quality has to be even *better* than conventional clothing.
One notable exception is the bamboo sweater I bought from Lara Miller. It’s fantastic; no complaints. Also, the Avita bamboo sweater: love it. Other designers: study and learn!
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!
So, they are really cute, but I have to warn you, they hurt a little. The leather is a bit stiff, and I twisted my ankle (just minorly) a couple times. Don’t get me wrong. I’m willing to suffer a little. I just wanted to let you know.