Fashion, Evolved

1. Cha Cha Dress by She-Bible – $90

Sweet 100% organic cotton jersey mini dress with detailed smocking at empire waist and puffed sleeves. Belt ties in back from side seams for a great fit.

2. Octopus Cuff by Alkemie Jewelry – $190

Forged from 100% reclaimed metals, husband-and-wife design team Ashley Lowengrub and Dara Gerson’s striking, one-of-a-kind designs are equal parts art and accessory.

3.  Fauci sandal by Earth Shoes – $150

Invite sophistication into your casual wardrobe with the Fauci sandal from Earth. This gladiator-style sandal has a strappy washed or glossy leather upper and a smooth leather lining for durability and breathable moisture-absorption.

4.  NYC Subway Map Routes Limited Edition Pochette by Ecoist – $54

Ecoist has been making brightly colored handbags from old candy wrappers, juice boxes and other post consumer waste for several years.  But I fell in love with this understated limited edition bag made from recycled NYC subway maps.  The ultimate urban accessory!

5.  Pure Cream Stain by Suki – $40

The unique 100% pure pigments in this multitasking color delicately hydrate while creating a natural looking pop of color on lips and cheeks. Rose Wax, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E protects, soothes and moisturizes while aromatheraputic Chamomile gently calms. Ideal for all skin types and tones, the lip-quenching, complexion-smoothing formula is easy to blend and can be applied for a natural look or layered on for a powerful pop of color. Available in seven nature-inspired shades.

1.  Girls Night Out Dress by Convoy – $112

This dress is an investment.  Its one of the most versatile pieces you’ll ever own.

Deliciously draped jersey material cut in a flattering drop waist and gathered bodice. This slinky mid-calf number is great for an evening out when paired with a pretty clutch and rockin’ heels.  64% bamboo, 28% organic cotton, 8% spandex. Made in Southern California.

2.  Melissa by Cri de Coeur – $260

Strappy, zip-front ethical sandals will add low key sex appeal to hundreds of outfits.

3.  Triangle Handbag by Zut Design – $55

A cool, functional handbag in a rarely seen shape made from recycled rubber.  It will last you for centuries!  Made in Canada.

4.  DRUNK Leaf Necklace – $42.00

Once the wine had been drunk the empty wine bottle glass is hand cut, wrapped in copper then soldered with lead free silver alloy to create this amazing green leaf pendant.  Stainless steel curb chain measures 18”.  Pendant measures approx. 1/2” x 1 ½”  Reclaimed wine bottle glass.  Lead free solder.  Handmade in the USA.

5.  Ethical Cosmetic Brushes by Afterglow -$15-35

Luxe vegan professional cosmetic brushes are super soft and ideal for applying loose minerals evenly to quickly create a flawless finish. Brushes are made of the highest quality taklon to give you the optimal results when applying  mineral makeup.  They are easily cleaned with shampoo or gentle soap to keep them beautiful for many years.

I love rock n’ roll.  It has the ability to energize and inspire me and it helps me get through even the worst days. It is an American institution; a celebration of youth, freedom and rebellion. And it sounds good when it’s really, really loud.

That’s why I was stoked when I got an email from the folks at WearYourMusic.org, a righteous company that makes bracelets out of used guitar strings and sells them for charity.

That’s right.  You can get a bracelet made out of the used guitar strings of Ani DiFranco, Eric Clapton, Avril Lavigne, Roger Waters or Elvis Costello (to name just a few).  The New York based group collects the strings that would otherwise be thrown out, adds 100% recycled silver clasps and packages them in used DVD boxes.  Proceeds from the sale go to the artists’ favorite charities:  Unicef, Make-a-Wish, Rock the Vote and others.

Prices start at $75.00 and go up.  If you’re tight on your budget but still love the concept, you can pick up one of the regular guitar string fashion bracelets that start at $9.99 and come in a wide range of colors.   A portion of the proceeds of these bracelets go toward non-profit organizations that support music.

The generous folks at WearYourMusic.org have offered to give away one of the fashion guitar string braclets to one of my lucky readers!  To enter for the random drawing, simply go to their site and come back here to leave a comment about your favorite artist or bracelet on the site.  [CLICK HERE]

Entries will be accepted until midnight, July 22, 2009 (CST).  Winner will be chosen using Random.org.  The winner may choose their favorite color among the fashion bracelets as their prize.

Rock on, my friends!

I don’t often go off on a tangent on this blog.  Mostly I try to stay true to the subject of green fashion and beauty and the amazing people working to establish them in mainstream commerce.  But today I want to take a few minutes to talk to you about LOVE…and about the sweet little company called Lovemore that has made it their mission to promote LOVE in everything we do.

Love isn’t just about red hearts and chocolates.  Nor is it simply about Hallmark cards, romantic holidays, babies, puppies and kittens.  Love is widely recognized by every faith tradition and culture as the most powerful creative force on the planet.  It is what inspires us to sacrifice our own selfish instincts for the good of our families, our communities and our country.  Love inspires great art, music and literature.  It is what allows us to fully enjoy even the simplest moments in our day…a cup of tea, a few deep breaths, or holding hands with our child as we walk across the street.

The greatest men and women throughout history have been sent to us to remind us of how important love is, and why we need it.  So many of the problems in the world today could be solved if we started from a perspective of love and let that guide our negotiations, decisions, and interactions.

Two sisters–Andrea and Angela Crossman–have founded a small company called Lovemore to promote a better world and a better quality of life:

The company offers several reusable, eco-friendly items including apparel, shopping bags and other useful but attractive items bearing their logo.  Proceeds from the sales of these items go toward two excellent non-profit organizations:  Earth Birth and Farm Sanctuary.   The Crossman sisters also keep a blog to inspire love and keep their friends updated on the company’s latest efforts.

Ok, the pragmatist in me says that maybe love isn’t really ALL you need in life…but the fact is, it is the absolute cherry on top of an already amazing existence.  Let’s cherish it, experience it fully and pass it on.

A couple months ago I wrote a post about the Vivo Barefoot shoes from Terra Plana in which I interviewed the company’s president Galahad Clark about what he calls the “Barefoot Revolution.”  Basically this means going along with millions of years of evolution and not cramming your foot into a shoe that keeps you disconnected from the surfaces on which you’re walking.

Instead, Vivo Barefoot shoes have thin, flexible soles which allow the nerve endings in your feet to send the correct information to your brain helping you stay balanced.  This, in turn, relieves your spine, hips, and the rest of your body from stressful,unnatural postures that can lead to serious health issues.

It all sounds well and good; but the proof is in the pudding, right?  So Terra Plana kindly sent me a pair of their Vivo Barefoot Lucy shoes (pictured above)to try out and review. Since I am not the type to shy away from controversy, I decided to really put these shoes to the test.  I wore them for the first time on a day that I knew I would be on my feet for more than 12 hours.

I am pleased to report that they are (and I do not exaggerate) the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had on my feet.  They are literally so comfortable, I don’t even remember I have them on even when I am standing or walking for hours at a time.  I’ve tested them several days for 12+ hours at a time and they only become more comfortable each time I put them on.

Granted, these are not haute couture shoes–but you don’t wear Miu Miu pumps to school, the park, or grocery shopping.  (Unless you’re a moron). That means you need something comfortable and cute to wear with your jeans and shorts as you’re running around. And for that, I highly recommend Vivo Barefoot.

One word of caution:  The sizes run a little small (Euro sizes), so consider buying one size up–especially if your feet are wide.

Many thanks to Galahad Clark, Sabra Ellingson and Claire de Boer of Terra Plana for their help.  AND!  As an incentive to try these fabulous shoes, Terra Plana has provided a discount code for 15% off all VivoBarefoot styles for men and women through June 30, 2009.  Simply use the discount code:  EVOLVEDFASHION at the check out!

I leave you with more images of Vivo Barefoot!