Never too broke for bespoke!

by Naomi

Up until this point my quest to find and bring to you stunning dresses for the party season has...well...drawn a bit of a blank! There are some great day dresses and a few classy LBDs but nothing showstopping and - lets face it - we all want to look a million dollars at this season's celebrations.

With a serious lack of affordable and stylish party dresses available, I have decided to seek out something vintage or second hand for this season. I know there are some beautiful and fun pieces out there, so my new challenge is to scour the internet and local chairty shops for something with the WOW-factor.

If vintage isn't your bag, then fear not, I have found an exciting alternative solution! Whilst trying to find out where the stunning 1940's style ivory satin gown that Cheryl Cole sported on this week's X Factor was from (yes X Factor is my guilty pleasure!) I discovered StyleShake.com. If you have ever wanted to design your own clothes and not have to make them, then this is the site for you; design your own dresses, tops and skirts and have them made for you. Once you have designed your garment from a wide range of customisable templates and a selection of fabrics and colours, Style Shake makes it in the UK - so low carbon footprint and no child labour - and sends it out to you within 10 days!

Fabrics include silk taffeta, pure silk, cotton and a new Eco-jersey, made from Lyocell (cellulose from wood pulp) which is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Whilst jersey isn't as easy to pull off for party-wear, the opportunity to add features with a bit more oomph means you can create a design to take you from dinner to the dancefloor.

I love features such as the body-con body and the sixties-inspired bell sleeves (pictured). With prices starting at a mere £34 these dresses mean you can finally treat yourself to something bespoke and say you designed it yourself! 

For more information visit www.styleshake.com

Facts; Style Shake, Made in the UK, sustainable, Eco-jersey, Lyocell, eco-friendly party dresses.

Turning green

by Naomi

When Vogue announced that green was the must have shade of nail varnish for the season I was...well more than a little dubious. Having been morphed in a Saved-by-the-Bell style flashback to age 13 when the variety of my experimental nail colours was enough to scare small children, my initial thoughts were that this was not a colour I would be attempting.

But when the kind people at Nubar sent me a sample from their new Going Green range, launched just in time to celebrate the brand's arrival in the UK, I figured - well anything once in the name of fashion! Particularly given that it dropped onto my doormat just before a night out on the town - always good to road test things with friends first.

Nubar specialise in eco-friendly nail varnish, so of course testing it was something of an environmental quest as well as a style experiment! If you are wondering what eco-friendly nail varnish consists of, well it's more a case of what it doesn't consist of; Nubar's polishes are free from formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene and carcinogens. They are also vegetarian and vegan friendly!

The aptly-named Going Green range consists of six different shades, ranging from yellow-tone greens to deep emeralds. I tried out Reclaim (pictured left), an iridescent mid-green shade. I have to confess that I was really pleased and not just with the nail polish, which glided on and dried in no time. The shade looked really pretty on and I received lots of compliments from friends and colleagues. I was impressed with the polish's performance, which clearly hasn't been compromised by its green credentials; with two coats and a clear top coat it lasted all week!

 
The bright and bold Forest shade (pictured right) is ideal for those after something a little closer to the Chanel nail varnish featured in Vogue, and is perfect for banishing the winter blues. They are also a more pocket friendly price, at £8 each.

Nubar offer a plethora of shades that will have you unable to just pick one. Visit www.beautyshed.co.uk


Facts: Eco-friendly nail varnish, formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene and carcinogen free, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, Nubar.

TRAIDremade.... rockin the fringed leather look!

by Lorna

Another amazing ethical bag find!

I have just found a KILLER edgy, tough-look fringed SLOUCH BAG! Its from fashion-conscience and is part of a TRAIDremade collaboration they are doing with the charity TRAID.

The bag has long handles for wearing across the body but is adjustable to sling over your arm as well. It has zip closure underflap and back zip pocket. These bags exude a LUXE RECYCLED vibe as they are lined in rescued silk fabric. Each bag is unique and may vary slightly as they are made from rescued garments!

At £99 from www.fashion-conscience.com , the bags only come in black but when the black version looks this good, who needs colour!?!

Facts: Handmade in the UK, Sustainable & Recycled, TRAIDremade

Bring on the cold!

By Naomi

So quickly the long lazy days of summer are gone and autumn arrives. Wait a minute. Where were the long lazy days of summer!? I think we were cheated somewhat!

Whilst I am a sun-worshipper I have to confess the onset of winter always gets me excited. Christmas lights, outdoor ice skating, fireworks mince pies and the prospect of a fresh AW wardrobe! Note I use the word fresh, not new. Although there have been a few new purchases, I am trying to steer clear of the creeping temptation to buy a whole new set of clothes.

I have bought a long creamy vintage fake-fur coat for when it gets frosty and am planning to fix my tweed trench coat from last year with some crafty stitching (I hope!) and some new buttons. There are some wicked second hand coats out there, particluarly on ebay where I have been shamelessly lusting over vintage Burberry trenches. Plus I always find coats on the high street a bit...uninspired?! They are often either boring and bland or so trendy they a) won't go with most of your wardrobe and b) won't last more than a season. By contrast the cropped vintage fake-fur jacket that my mum wore in the 80s is so well made and luxurious I get excited every time it is cold enough to wear it!

If you are after something new, Ascension (formerly Adili) has launched this sublime creation of a jacket:

Yum.

Its glam enough to wear out at night, smart enough for work, classic enough to sport through the seasons yet with an ode to this season's statement shoulder, this is a jacket masterpiece! It is fully lined and with a 3/4 length sleeve which is perfect for showing off your jewellery on festive nights out.

Fairly traded from Nepal this is certainly one of the most guilt-free ways of adding to your wardrobe and a true investment piece. It comes in at £109. visit www.ascensiononline.com to buy.

In the meantime, I will be digging out my hats and coloured leather gloves, and looking out for second hand boots & jumpers, so let the weather do its worst!

Send in your tips for and pics of eco and ethical AW fashion to ecogoddess@live.co.uk and we will share with the world.

Naomi x


Featured jacket is available from  www.ascensiononline.com

Facts: Fair Trade, cotton, cropped, Ascension

Matt & Nat Handbags- Recycled bottles never looked so good!

by Lorna

Whilst I generally try and avoid jumping on a bandwagon, I have just done what any self-respecting young designer should do and invested in a macbook pro (yes it is as awesome as they say!). But this essential work related purchase left me with the (modern)age old dilemma... what is the perfect answer for a fashionable, stylish and ethical tote/laptop bag to cart it around in???

After a few late nights spent trawling the web, I have found the eco-friendly and stylish-as-hell answer to all future carrying needs! Introducing Matt & Nat....  

Matt & Nat is a collection of design focused, eco friendly and vegan accessories. Vegan leather is used in the majority of the collection and all linings are made from RECYCLED PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES. A message inside of each bag tells you exactly how many bottles were recycled to produce your bag of choice!

This season Matt & Nat have developed even further in their pursuit of total environmental responsibility and for AW 09 have launched the‘ MATT & NAT’S 21 WATER BOTTLE INITIATIVE’- a range of stylish bags where the shell is also made using recycled plastic water bottles (see image above). Up to 55 water bottles are recycled to make each bag. I'm not sure I can think of a better use for old water bottles than making and lining these lush bags!!

The bags range purses at £40 to overnight luggage bags at £195 and are available from  www.mattandnat.co.uk 

Check out a few of my favs from their collection below...

Lorna x

Andrea Garland beauty - New into Liberty this week!

by Naomi

This. Is. Perfection!

Andrea Garland's beauty products combine organic and botanical ingredients with kitsch vintage compacts that are divine! She sources vintage tins and compacts herself and then fills with either Lovely Lip Balm or Rose Beauty Balm (after sterilising naturally. :D)

I often feel guilty at the amount of packaging and redundant bottles etc that result from my pampering routine and Andrea has come up with a solution that isn't only eco-friendly but will add glamour to my handbag and dressing table. What's more, they are refillable at a heftily-discounted price - bonus!

The Lovely Lip Balm (right) is made with 100% natural ingredients including cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, beeswax carotene and essential oils of lavender, lime and benzoin. (Prices from £15, refills from £5.) Rosy Beauty Balm (below) is made from Jojoba oil, organic Shea Butter, Hemp Seed oil and Sweet Almond oil amongst other lovelies. (Prices from £28, refills from £12.)

I am so excited that these are being launched in Liberty, in perfect time to add to my Christmas list! They will make perfect presents for my girlfriends as well.

Visit http://andreagarland.co.uk for more.

Sublime party hairwear!

by Naomi

I have just stumbled across Helena Jewellery, a gem of a website offering Fair Trade, handmade and upstyled accessories.

Super-cute fascinators are the perfect way to restyle an exisitng outfit, particularly if you are a fan of vintage glamour like me! Helena's collection includes vintage pieces and those recycled from brooches and pins found in charity shops.

My favourites include this pretty purple orchid and rose fascinator which comes in at only £18.20!

There are also some darker designs, like this comb with dark red flower, glass pearls and veil, which are perfect if you are a Vintage Vixen planning your winter party wardrobe (I will be seeking out the hottest party outfits in coming weeks so watch this space!)

For more see www.helenajewellery.co.uk

Ethical thigh highs!?!?

by Lorna

Whilst on the hunt for the PERFECT pair of ethical thigh high boots.... (yes I know I’m a sucker for the trends!!) I discovered Thigh High stockings by g9.8 made of recycled wood.

How AMAZING is that!? Tights made from re-cycled wood pulp that look mega soft and sexy!

If you can comprehend that they are even cleverer than that, get a load of this.... the fibre has amazing properties as it regulates temperature so that you are never too hot or too cold and it won't lose its shape. It is also biodegradable and anti bacterial. This means that they wash well and dry quickly!

Whilst my search for ethical flat thigh high boots continues (watch this space!), I think I’m got my leg attire covered for the near future! They come in a lush blackcurrant shade and a rich black with a hint of navy blue. You can hook urself up with these ace stockings by logging onto...

Their ethical credentials go way beyond recycling... in production they use limited water consumption, all of their products are certified under the OEKOTEX STANDARD 100 and all manufacture is based in France, in a small village of 1500 people, maintaining local development, sustainable employment and preserving local knowledge!

www.organiclingerie.fr/ or www.eco-jewel.co.uk/product/4/20950001/Thigh-Highs.html

FACTS: Recycled wood fibre; 6% spandex (elastan); made in France; Oekotex 100 (low impact dyes) and sexy as hell!

Bringing back the sparkle!

By Naomi

I was really shocked to learn how bad metal mining is for the environment. Research shows that only 0.00001% (one hundred thousandth of 1 per cent) of ore is refined into gold and the rest is wasted. Metals mining was identified as the top polluter in the US, creating 46% of all toxic waste of all industries combined, 96% of arsenic emissions and 76% of all lead emissions.*

Thankfully there is a company out there working to educate people about these problems and creating some really beautiful jewellery from recycled silver and vermeil. Avasarah offers its own range beautiful creations alongside those from ethical designers. Their pieces offer a super-chic take on natural patterns, textures and motifs and have been seen in the likes of ELLE, Grazia and Marie Claire.

I spoke to co-founder Michelle, who explained, "Very few people are aware of how destructive the processes and industries behind all the beauty of jewellery are."

Films like Blood Diamond are playing an enormous role in shocking the public into actions, however few realise that diamonds are only the tip of the iceberg. All metals, not just precious platinum, gold and silver are part of a toxic industry that destroys not just the land but the lives of the people on it."

Most importantly, te pieces are totally lust-worthy! I am in love with Catherine Weitzman's range which includes the timelessly romantic interpretation of the rockabilly icon of the swallow in the Vermeil Olive Branch Necklace (£108) and the Silver Bird on a Branch earrings (£56).

The Double Heart Necklace (£121) on a long chain is perfect teamed with an LBD for evening glamour and over a simple t-shirt for a daytime look.

Find them both and many more online at http://www.avasarah.com/

*www.avasarah.com

1001 Nights… Regenerate’s new collection!

By Lorna

"Regenerate Clothing was established with the mission to make the world a little happier and a lot better dressed by ethically invigorating its wearers."

Regenerate specializes in hand printed, designer, ethically made organic clothing and have already become a closely followed brand, with a large online fan base. The clothing is being stocked across Europe, online and with a large celebrity fan base with the likes of 'The Teenagers', 'African boy', 'Shychild'(Klaxons DJ), ‘Light Speed Champion’, 'Ighlu and Hartley', ‘Kap Bambino’ and ‘The Holloways’ all wearing Regenerate products.

 

Regenerate clothing was founded and launched in Feb 2008 by May Cortazzi, who had previously worked for Marharishi, Boxfresh and Maria Chen before deciding to step out on her own and create her own unique label. May says that 'the Regenerate look always remains unique from the mainstream by taking inspirations from: the music industry, historical archives and through traveling the world and undressing it!'

In the wake of the new collection launch '1001 nights' I asked May Cortazzi, the creative director,a few questions, to find out what is was all about!

Lorna: May I’m loving the new collection, where do you find your inspiration?

May: Our latest collection, 1001 nights is all inspired by journeys, road trips and adventure. The Smashing Pumpkins music video 1979, Punk Dandies and their hippy punk girlfriends, breaking the rules, travelling by VW through a bustling, busy, urban city, filled with excitement, Rushing through the outskirts, finding that special place where the world stops, getting back to nature, through poetry, art, and music.

Lorna: For those eco goddesses that are new to Re-generate, how would you describe the style?

May: Unique, hand illustrated, artwork, incorporating

Art Nouveau styled illustrations with Regenerates irregular dark and edgy handwriting, using our signature Metallic Gold, Bronze and Monotone coloured prints with flashes of electric Neon.


Lorna: The new collection has just launched... What are the best sellers so far?

May: The Key statement prints ‘Music is my Religion’ and ‘Love is my Religion, have both gone down really well. The label started as purely Menswear but the Womenswear has built up a real following now which is great!

All Regenerate clothing is made from ethical fabrics include Tencel, Organic Cotton, and Organic Bamboo. These clothes are all ultra soft, light weight, distressed, burnt out and ethically made; in fact pretty much perfect for any aspiring eco goddess!’

You can find Regenerate online at...  
www.regenerateclothing.com 

Skincare and bees - a bee-autiful combination!

By Naomi

I have to confess that my cosmetic-purchasing behaviour has been less than eco-friendly over recent years. I used to get sucked in by the joy of trying the latest thing; products that I truly believed would somehow change my life for the better, but which usually ended up relegated to my ‘maybe one day I will need this again’ box. Hairsprays, mousses, body sprays, soaps, cleansers, moisturisers, make-up – you name it and I’ve got a redundant one. To make things worse, I have problem skin, for which I am perpetually trying to find a solution. Buying skincare for problem skin can be a headache. Do you go natural? Astringent? Expensive? Cheap? Do you stick with one product in the hope that it will eventually calm your skin, or change as soon as you think it isn’t working? And that is before you even get to the ecological and ethical aspects!

I am increasingly becoming converted to the ‘buy less, buy better’ school of thought. Skincare is now a considered purchase, rather than a lunch-hour splurge. I consider what the products are made of, where they are from, and how long they will last. It often feels as though you need a degree in chemistry to understand what is put into many products, even those that are supposed to be eco-friendly options. In my view, ingredients should be clearly labelled, in terms that make it easier to assess how eco-friendly and natural the product is. I was shocked to read that research shows that 60% of the ingredients we put on our bodies are absorbed into it.* Suddenly products that are loaded with chemicals and synthetic ingredients seem to lose their appeal!

Thankfully there is a brand out there that thinks the same! After being given samples of some Burt’s Bees products recently I have since become a huge fan of the brand. They are an ‘Earth Friendly, Natural Personal Care Company,’ that make products from beeswax, botanical and essential oils, herbs, flowers and minerals. They never use Petroleum (not renewable and potentially toxic), Sodium lauryl sulphate (a harsh and aggressive ingredient) or Propylene glycol. Furthermore, they never test on animals, work with many community projects and use recycled packaging. To help on your mission to be an Eco Goddess, each product’s ingredients are clearly explained and a little bar shows the percentage of natural ingredients – genius! Equally importantly, the products are fabulous!

My favourite is the Beeswax lip balm (100% natural). It smells of peppermint and the beeswax and oils keep my lips soft for ages. It’s also a bargain at a mere £3.42!

I was initially dubious about using the face products, as I thought they would be too rich and oily for my complexion, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Peach and Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub (98.45% natural) - which utilises finely ground peach stone, sea algae and ginger extracts - left my skin feeling soft and deeply nourished rather than oily. It smells gorgeous too. Another favourite is the Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream (98.8% natural.) It thoroughly cleansed my skin and left it soft enough to skip moisturiser!

Other products I tried include:

Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion – a light moisturiser that smells like holidays.

Radiance Day Cream – with royal jelly and retro-glam packaging.

Orange Essence Facial Cleanser – a rich cleanser that is great for normal to dry complexions.

Find Burt’s Bees products in John Lewis, Debenhams and Waitrose, as well as many independents.

Visit www.burtsbees.co.uk for more information.

*www.burtsbees.co.uk

Do you experience similar problems buying skincare? Have you tried these products? What did you think? I would love to hear your stories!