Green Options

In celebration of their two year anniversary today, the ethical, environmentally conscience and eco fashionable Equita is offering a whopping 40% off all eco-fashion today and tomorrow only.  Its no secret that we’re all holding onto our wallets a little tighter these days and trying to plan for Christmas without overdoing it.  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great sale and cross some items off your list while you have a chance at a huge savings.  They carry eco-fashion brands FIN, EDUN, Stewart+Brown, Loyale, Autonomie, Del Forte Denim, Perfectly Imperfect, Loomstate, Ecoist, Vega, Tom’s Shoes, Josh Jakus and more. 

Back in September, I shared a brand new organic cosmetic line coming to market and now all five products in various shades and colors are available for purchase online.  Designed to work synergistically with the skin, it is food for the face, highly concentrated pure skin care with mineral pigments and the only cosmetic line that pure skin care guru Dr. Alkaitis endorses.  Rose-Marie’s philosophy {from the site}:

“After many years in the fashion and makeup industry, I’ve learned a lot about the impact of daily exposure to chemicals in beauty care products.  I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t live up to its promises.  I see the results of taking a quick-fix approach to looking good.  I know first-hand the price our health can pay in the pursuit of beauty.  I realized that what women need is a cosmetics line that is as pure as possible, one that creates a solid foundation for anti-aging and long-term beauty.”

As if to outdo themselves, the already fabulous Suki skincare line has just turned it up a notch.  Launched at ISPA this past weekend and online today, the brand-new bioengineered cosmeceutical grade skin prescriptions “spa line” boasts the culmination of breakthrough scientific advancements with pure organic botanicals, creating a high-powered line of potent & pure skin care.  After years of research & development, Suki Kramer continues to challenge industry standards of purity and efficacy.  Designed to target some of the most stubborn of skin issues with high doses of cutting edge actives, this line will combine the same philosophy of suki advanced. organic. science.™ with even more advanced cutting edge ingredients.  The six new sukispa™ products include:

Recently featured on MSNBC, model and student of art & cosmetology, Spirit Demerson has long been concerned about the environment and interested in beauty.  She used to concoct her own natural fragrances, lotions & scrubs in her kitchen and she’s been the “go-to” beauty girl in her circle of friends, family & colleagues for years.  Frusterated about having to send them in a dozen different directions, she decided to open up shop online.  After years of research (and obsession) her dream of opening her very own “beauty lounge” came to fruition last month. 

Gracing the covers of over 700 magazines, posters, calendars and videos, Carol Alt has been referred to as “The Face” by Life Magazine and named “The model that started the supermodel trend” by John Casablanca, owner of Elite Models.  Ten years ago her health began to decline.  Carol explains: “Ten years ago, I was feeling bad…really bad.  I had chronic headaches, sinusitis, stomach ailments; I was tired and listless.   Eventually, I got very sick and tired… and tired of being sick and tired. I searched for a real solution…not just a band aid. That’s when I started eating raw - and it changed my life - FOREVER. Over the last decade, I’ve spent countless hours studying health and nutrition from the best doctors…on my own quest towards true, lasting health and vitality.”

Just today, Payless ShoeSource announced plans to launch the first-ever affordable green footwear line expected in stores early next year.  They’ve also signed an agreement with Summer Rayne Oakes, Discovery Network’s Planet Green fashion and beauty expert, author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty, and model for many eco-fashion labels and was recently named “One Gorgeous Environmental Activist” by Allure Magazine, to serve as the green footwear brand’s Eco Consultant.

It seems to me there is an abundance of cozy sustainable T-shirts, sweat pants/shirts and general weekend lounge wear out there, but where does that leave the nine-to-fivers, cubicle and corner office dwellers; those of us who need to look crisp & collected during a presentation in the board room, court room or at that power lunch?    

Discover some great looks below made of sustainable fibers that will help you look pulled together, while also satisfying your desire to tread a little (or a lot) lighter:    

If you’re in NYC this week (or all the time), head over to Henri Bendel today through Sunday for absolutely free mini-makeovers by Suki makeup artist Melanie Isett.  As one of my favorite skincare and cosmetic lines, each bottle and jar comes chocked full of bioactive organic ingredients created for even the most sensitive of skin types.  I completely agree with Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green when she wrote ”Suki has developed one of my favorite skin care lines.  The products are every bit as wonderful as high-end products, but they are free of synthetics, GMO ingredients, petrochemicals, fragrances and dyes and animal ingredients“.  To register for your free makeover:

I must admit that upon landing on the Anjaly site I found myself wanting to grab my mat and find the nearest yoga class.  I adore yoga and years ago during my very first class I wondered how I’d lived without it. It amazes me that it can simultaneously be one of the most strenuous of workouts and yet the most peaceful.  I don’t practice nearly as much as I’d like to but whenever I do I feel refreshed, revived and rejuvenated.  

This feminine and graceful collection is created by yoga practitioners and teachers with us in mind. Designed for comfort and flexibility, none of the pieces contain any buttons, zippers and the labels are printed on high quality organic cotton with the intention of being able to easily wear the pieces before, during and after class.  

A couple weeks ago, Kelli announced that Chicago’s fourth annual Fashion Week kicks off today, but not without the absolutely brand new addition of MoSS.  Curated by Pivot Boutique, Chicago’s first boutique dedicated to eco-fashion, this event will “features clothing, accessories and furniture that inspire and respond to current form and function necessities, without compromising our environmental abilities to meet future needs“ .  Featured designers and collaborators include Annie Novotny of Frei Designs, Lara Miller, Alice Berry, Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks of Noon Solar, Joshua Height of Brickermade and Michele Fitzpatrick of Verde Design Studio.

Stay tuned next week as Fashion Week hits Portland…