So you don't have a lot of cash to pick up new outfits, but you're feeling bored and uninspired by your wardrobe. The key to solving this conundrum is detail. Put on your fave (organic perhaps?) denims, and a man's white button down and dress it up with great boots and a chunky scarf. Or pull on your most flattering black top and a black skirt, and add funky tights, a cool pair of flats and a jewelry-inspired belt. Without spending as much, you will have a whole new ensemble.
Take a look at my top picks below, which are all reasonably priced (well, at least cheaper than a new outfit!) and very Earth-friendly. The best part? When someone compliments your belt/bag/shoes, you can tell them how it's recycled, reused or made from sustainable materials. Spread the word!
Tights...
Maggie's Organics
One of the easiest ways to wear autumn skirts into winter is to pair them up with tights. Try a fun pattern like these organic cotton cuties from Maggie's Organics; they come in opaque, patterned and even striped versions!
Peau Ethique
For something a little more subtle, try Peau Ethique in black, brown or natural, to add a bit of funk while still keeping it streamlined.
Belts!
Designed by Feral Childe, this huge, sparkly belt is all you need to take a plain dress out partying for the night.
Betty Belts
Betty Belts are ocean-inspired and unique creations by Donna von Hoesslin, a Ventura, California-based surfer and designer. The turquoise Talia belt is made with vegan leather, recycled glass beads and polished ceramic stones. The Selena belt is simply satin cord and mother of pearl beautifully combined for a necklace-like hip decoration. These belts can be worn on the hips or the waist (order a size down if you plan to wear them on higher).
Big Bags...
Ashley Watson
If you're feeling splurgey, Ashley Watson's gorgeous recycled leather handbags (made from old leather jackets!) can dress up the most boring ensemble. They come in black and red too.
Mad Imports
Mad Imports' gorgeous Drift bag is made from the bark of the Baobob tree, which besides being featured in everyone's favorite kids'/adults' book, The Little Prince, is revered in Kenya for its contributions of shade and water to local communities. The bark is only harvested in small amounts and quickly regenerates, making it a local, sustainable resource. Mad Imports works with artisans directly and is a member of The Fair Trade Association.
The new, very cool banner totes from Bazura Bags are made from used advertising banners in Vietnam, where they're made by a women's co-op that collects banners, food packages and drink containers and makes all sorts of useful stuff out of them. The ultimate in recycling, and no two are alike!
Scarves!
This Tammam scarf is a great every-day Fall-Winter-Spring piece. The scarf is hand-knit from wild Himalayan hemp, banana fiber and wild (not farmed or caged) Tibetan sheep's wool.
Bake Sale Designs
Bake Sale Designs' totally unique neck warmer has a specially curved middle panel to snugly cushion your neck and is made from recycled felted wool and angora from what once were sweaters.
Hiroko Kurihawa
If modern design is your thing, check out the Branch scarf by Hiroko Kurihawa. Handmade in California from EU-certified wool, buying this beauty also gives back. For every one sold, a tree is planted in the Los Angeles area.
The truth is none of us are getting any younger. And while I can think of a zillion better ways to spend my money than getting crazy plastic surgery to make me look 20 again, I’m also willing to spend just a little to at least minimize some of the life experience that’s showing up on my face, and especially around my eyes.
One lesson I’ve learned is that synthetic chemicals aren’t sustainable; they pollute the environment, so why would I want to put them on my face? I can’t believe that the long-term result of artificial colors, scents and preservatives wouldn’t be bad for my skin, even if chemistry can make me look like a teenager again short-term. So I went looking for some organic and natural eye-wrinkle minimizers, and I had no trouble picking a few to try.
Collective Wellbeing’s Category 5 Maximum Strength Eye Cream really works wonders (they don’t call it maximum strength for nothing!). Made with eyebright, a pretty yellow herb, and pomegranate seed extract, after I’d used it just a few times, there was a definite difference in the skin around my eyes. I looked as if I’d just gotten a really good nights’ rest. I’m now addicted!
Desert Essence’s Organics Pomegranate Eye Serum feels slippery and gooey upon application, but once it absorbs into the skin it warms, tightens and smoothes. Great for emergency use, I keep it in my makeup bag for an on-the-double pick me up. I don’t know if it’s the antioxidants in the pomegranate, or the horse chesnut seed oil, but it works.
Avalon Organics Lavender Revitalizing Eye Gel smells like lavender, which is relaxing in itself, hopefully leading to fewer wrinkles down the line (stress is a leading cause of facial lines). Other ingredients include arnica, licorice root and tumeric, all of which promise to calm under-eye skin. Hyaluronic acid reduces puffiness and dark circles.
Dr. Hauschka's Daily Revitalizing Eye Cream is the stuff my preternaturally young-looking best friend swears by. Always looking like she just got home from a week-long cleanse and meditation retreat, she says Dr. Hauschka’s holistic approach to all the products they make, which includes zero artificial preservatives, and a commitment to the communities from which their products’ ingredients come from, makes all the difference. Made with avocado oil, pineapple extract, rose distillate, mango and macadamia nut oils, this stuff sounds practically edible!
The primary ingredients in Juice Beauty’s smoothing eye concentrate are organic grape and carrot juice, which are then blended with lots of vitamins: B5, C, E, K (potassium) and more. Juice claims that it has the highest organic content of any skincare line. The eye concentrate also includes organic green tea leaves, cucumber, avocado, aloe, evening primrose and sunflower extracts.
There's nothing like a chilly Autumn day to remind you that Winter is just around the corner, and what could be cozier than a fabulous coat to keep you toasty? Make sure your core is warm while helping to keep the temperature down by buying a new coat that’s made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, or surplus, all of which help prevent global warming and keep pollutants out of our air and water.
For a winter coat that will make you smile every time you put it on, check out Loyale’s Costilla jacket. This fun and funky jacket is unlike most faux fur; instead of being made from planet-polluting acrylics and polyesters, this one is made from 100% organic cotton grown in Texas.
Loyale
Trenches are called classic for a reason; they go with jeans on the weekend or over a suit during the workweek. Anna Cohen’s organic cotton denim trench comes in winter-white and hits mid-thigh. A big, face-framing collar flatters and keeps the wind from your neck, while the double-breasted style puts another layer between you and the elements.
Anna Cohen
If winter in your part of the country means rain but not necessarily freezing temperatures, the Moth coat from Undesigned is the ideal way to always be ready for a dousing. This coat comes in its own carrying case and can be thrown in a purse, so you’ll always be prepared!
Undesigned
For the ultimate super-feminine coat, Rebe’s empire-waisted, shawl-collared version is perfect for a trip to the farmers' market or for date night. With a vintage fabric trim and belt, and recycled cotton sweater-like fabric (lined with fleece), it is an Earth-friendly and pretty alternative to another boring black peacoat.
Rebe
If your style is more casual and sporty, Patagonia’s Free Box Jacket will keep you warm and dry (it's water-repellent) on a hike or when running errands. Made from an environmentally friendly, 100% recycled polyester shell and insulation, this jacket has a keep-you-warm rib-knit collar and cuffs and zippered handwarmer pockets on the front. To top it off, Patagonia donates 1% of its profits to the planet.
Patagonia
Even the neck labels are screen printed for lower environmental impact in Stewart + Brown’s organic cotton fleece coat, which will keep your bum and legs warm (due to the above-the-knee length). This super-soft and snuggly coat has big vintage buttons to do up the front, and with its defined waist won’t make you look like a giant puffball walking down the sidewalk. On sale for $160 at Beklina.
Also from Stewart + Brown, the surplus wool Khara coat has buckles and embroidery, creating a look that yodels "Mountain Girl" across the valleys (or the street). Surplus materials are those that would have been thrown away and are instead used to create new designs, keeping fabric out of landfills and giving them a useful life instead.
With Fall's nippy breezes, hot toddies and layered dressing comes a new formality to evening events. While in the Summer you can add a pair of glittery sandals and sparkly earrings to a simple sundress for a warm-weather appropriate fiesta outfit, Autumn is definitely dress-up time. Investing in a great party dress or blouse that you can wear to more than one event will carry you through the season in style.
Habitude
This strapless dress from Habitude can be worn loose and free as shown here (with jacket), or cinched with a thick belt to give you a more feminine shape. The combination of tough hemp fabric on the bottom with a soft and light silk sash on the top makes this dress easy on the Earth and your figure.
Grace and Cello
Grace and Cello's floaty layered top is made of 100% Tencel (a low-impact fabric made from sustainable wood pulp that's also wrinkle-resistant), and is perfect for those evenings when you want to be comfortable but still look a little sexy. Pair with a loose jacket and dark skinny jeans for a very of-the-moment look.
Passenger Pigeon
A night of dancing would be the perfect place to wear this full-skirted dress by Passenger Pigeon, and the halter top is almost universally flattering. The adjustable top is made of Lyocell, the sash is a silk, soy and bamboo blend, and the skirt is soft and easy (and low-impact) bamboo.
Linda Loudermilk
For a party dress that will grab all the attention, check out Linda Loudermilk's Autumn collection. This high-fashion line is rightly called eco-couture, and Loudermilk has even established her own research group called the Loudermilk Institute for Sustainability to document and establish agreed-upon low-impact standards for fabrics, dye processes, and clothing manufacture.
Edun
Edun's grey-and-blue Fleur dress just needs a pair of strappy heels and a vintage wrap to make a subtle splash at your next black-tie event. If you're looking for an LBD (Little Black Dress), check out the Flora shift, a super-versatile frock you can wear from Halloween until Christmas and beyond. Edun was started by Ali Hewson and her husband, U2 frontman Bono, to bring sustainable and fair-trade produced high fashion to the world. They're hoping that Edun's example will encourage fashionistas and designers alike to think of the impact of clothing on the people who make it and the Earth.
Ciel
If you want to keep covered up but still want to exude a little sex appeal, this tunic from Ciel (made from whisper-thin organic cotton) is a versatile piece that can go with black jeans, a miniskirt and tights, or even just a pair of extra-thick cabled or textured leggings. Funk it up by layering a ruby-red or shiny gold tank underneath.
NaturevsFuture
Another entry in the LBD category is this simple, elegant dress from NaturevsFuture, which is made from cotton and Seacell, a fabric derived from seaweed that's low-impact and biodegradable. This dress would look super-chic with a pair of jewel-tone tights in verdigris or aquamarine and black patent-leather heels
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