Category archives: News+Features

NEWS | Calling All Designers: Next Gen Design Competition

05Oct08

Metropolitan Magazine is looking for a design superhero. Could it be you?

Rising energy costs present new design problems”

– Metropolis Magazine

It’s a competition challenging us to “redesign the broken models of the 20th century. Challenge our patterns of living and working in a fuel-hungry world…come up with solutions that connect us, make us more efficient, more humane.

Ask yourself…
How would I bring work closer to home?
Can a product help eliminate long commutes?
What can I do to revitalize old ideas such as living above the store?
What kind of interiors or furnishings does a telecommuter really need?
Or follow your own dreams…what calls out for a major redesign?

Focus on one area that needs fixing—products, interiors, buildings and landscape, communication systems, or anything else you can imagine—and develop your idea fully.

The competition is open to all designers in practice 10 years or less. For details on this and other design competitions visit Metropolis Magazine.

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INTERIOR DESIGN | Medieval Church Turns Bookstore

29Sep08

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Booklovers now have their own house of worship: the Selexyz Bookstore. Designed by Dutch firm Merkx + Girod, the Selexyz in Maastrict takes its Gothic aspirational feel from the medieval Dominican church that contains it.

The conversion of the church into a retail store centered around a simple, elegant idea: create a freestanding three-story bookshelf within the church so that architectural elements could be in view and preserved intact. The perforated steel contrasts the stone carved quatrefoils, arches and stained glass. On the ground tables, seating and display cases complete the look without major renovation required. Quite genius.

Choosing a church as a space almost begs you to design high, providing shoppers a unique, visceral experience of reaching loftier heights, the way a good book often does. Walk up the stairs and you get a rare glimse of the world from the top of a church looking down. Look above and you are almost arm’s length away from frescoes painted hundreds of years ago.

I can’t help but giggle at the irony of all this secular conversion. Metropolis Magazine goes as far to call these church conversions a trend for the Dutch city. Friars’ homes turned into capitalist “dens of commerce.” Oxymoronic though it is, the space really works. The inspirational and aspirational mood of church architecture with a space for reading and books? Maybe not so far fetched.

Photos courtesy of Metropolis Magazine

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To Barney's New York: What the F#*!?

24Dec07

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Sorry Barney’s, tricks are for kids. You earned my fashion rant today for using online greenwashing to tug at the social conscience of Vogue.com readers, and pull them into the Barney’s e-boutique. Click on its hard-to-miss “Give Good Green” banner and you’ll be sent to its Womens shop with nere a green item (nor mention of green) in sight. Greenwashing is sooo gauche.

Reversal of Fortune

After their public partnering with organic denim designer Loomstate to launch an exclusive, organic line of clothing Loomstate for Barney’s Green why does Barney’s now take two steps back? Sure projections for THE season of retail gift giving looks worrisome, but must Barney’s resort to Grinch-like tactics of deception.

I drove by a Barney’s billboard on Santa Monica Blvd. expressing the same green giftgiving sentiment. Style with no substance. Yabba dabba BOO.

Santa, Barney’s has been naughty this year. When making your list, please check it twice.

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Angelina Jolie Shows Off Her Green Side

20Jun07

Angelina Jolie created a buzz Sunday night when she wore a $26 vintage frock to the New York premiere of her new film “A Mighty Heart”. Jolie gushed on camera to Access Hollywood about the “G” fashion find–a black, crushed velvet gown bought on the cheap by a friend at Wasteland, the longstanding vintage mecca on L.A.’s famed Melrose Avenue. Anyone would agree that she looks like a million bucks–even if she hadn’t worn her $1000 Christian Louboutin heels.

Jolie’s televised confessional immediately sent style bloggers into a frenzy. Most were amazed and impressed that she dared to walk the Red Carpet in a Walmart-priced gown of unknown origin. But Jolie told Access Hollywood that she enjoys finding a vintage bargain now and again. Celebs gone thrifty and green–could this be the beginning of a Hollywood trend?

You can check out more pics of Angie wearing her hot, black number at Just Jared. California-based fashionistas looking to score a fabulously green bargain of your own may want to check out a Wasteland shop near you:

Wasteland-The Flagship
7426 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90046

Wasteland
1338 4th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Wasteland
1660 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Via my post at G Living

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

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Where Have You Been?

22May07

Yes, been a bit MIA of late. Lots of things brewing over here–all fabulous, all green. I officially joined the team over at G Living as Managing Editor (yippee) and the last two weeks we’ve been in heavy ramp up mode. Full-time position has taken on a whole new meaning–let’s just say I’ve barely opened my mail or switched on my TV.

G Living’s hip, green lifestyle shows (available in broadband) debuted last October. 20 million viewers have caught on into what’s hot in green fashion, food, health/fitness, architecture/design, entertainment and more.

Many green style bloggers, myself included, contributed our content (remember our adventures on the Green Carpet at the Roots pre-Grammy Jam?). Now we at G Living are formally redesigning and launching the website, and the start-up.

Would love your opinions on the shows, the features. What you’d like to see. Feel free to post your comments here, or drop me a line. I’ll still be posting here as often as I can!

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

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A Quick Shopping Tip on Craigslist

17Apr07

Taxes. Work deadlines. Press deadlines. You get the picture…I’ve been trapped under something heavy.

So as to not leave you empty-handed for too long, I’m passing on a tip I just discovered over the weekend. It will make your vintage, second-hand shopping much, much easier. And the reuse of pre-loved pieces is one of the best ways to express your personal style and go fabulously green. Are you ready?

Listpic.com – This is a real-time image browser of everything sold on Craigslist. Enter your location to whittle down the options. Choose your favored category like “furniture” and CLICK.

Drumroll please…


An instant feast of photos of sofas, chairs, sideboards, lamps each listed with a price and location. Mouse-over that Eames-period plywood chair and the actual text listing will pop up like a Pop Tart from a toaster.

This works everywhere…as an experiment I typed in “Israel” and in the Art category were some paintings.

You’ll never have to click through each little listing again. It’s like–magic.

Enjoy!

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

Filed under Budget Decor, Budget Fashion, Lifestyle Tips, News+Features, Sales+Shopping, Vintage| Tagged | No Comments

Domino's Green Launch Party

17Mar07

We’ve all had half a month to devour Domino’s Eco-Chic Design issue. Did you know they also threw an eco-style launch party? According to Brooklyn blogger Elaine Perlov of i am a fashion designer. gee, the Condé Nast folks and friends are sophisticated hotties, who wined and dined the night away in eco-friendly fashion.

See Elaine’s insider’s look at how Domino greened their fabulous fête. You’ll need to scroll down to the March 16 entry.

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

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N.E.E.T. Magazine Hearts Fab Green

02Mar07

It’s always nice to be loved. Thanks N.E.E.T. Magazine for giving Fabulously Green a shout out in their March issue:


“These days looking good doesn’t have to get in the way of doing good as Fabulously Green proves. This eco-friendly blog effortlessly rounds up style finds from vegan to vintage for those who believe the Devil wears Prada.” — Kirsteen Connor, N.E.E.T.

This month’s issue features some great vintage finds such as: a 1940’s Yellow Bakelite pin, an Adjustable Felt Necklace, and a vintage garden inspired tanktop:


N.E.E.T. Magazine is the brainchild of Stephanie J, who is based in the UK. Everything in the magazine is handpicked, designed and organised by her, the editor. We love that it showcases a global network of indie designers and vintage finds and is sprinkled throughout with illustrations by emerging artists. It’s also a non-profit venture run purely on passion for grassroots style creativity. Bravo Stephanie!

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

Filed under Fashion - Women, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, News+Features, Urban Style, Vintage| Tagged , | No Comments

Domino Takes a Fab Green Turn

20Feb07

One of my favorite style magazines Domino has gone fabulously green! Their March issue, out on newsstands today, showcases many green goodies to love in the world of design on their “green list”: furniture, accent pillows, fabrics, flooring, rugs, wallpaper, and toxic-free, color-rich paints. It is generously packed with things and ideas you need to go green and gorgeous.

Lifestyle goodies worth checking out include recommendations for an A-List organic vodka, fair trade coffee, pamper products for hair, skin and body, adventurous green retreats, and interviews and tips from such as model-turned actress Shalom Harlow, and Treehugger founder Graham Hill (who partnered with domino to unveil this eco-rich issue).

Domino also gives a thoughtful nod to cute-and-conscious fashion with a two-page spread of outfits dressed In Style style. The outfits in my humble opinion, could have been more edgy and exciting, it leans heavily on the current Victorian revival trend (three ruffled outfits?), but the designers they’ve showcased like Anna Cohen, Loomstate, Ciel, Noir, Agricult, and others are pretty spot on.

If there’s one misstep, it’s in that thorny area of advertising: tobacco. Granted, it’s a brand that’s natural and unprocessed, but does it belong in the eco world? Feel free to sound off.

All in all, if you’re looking to update your space with style and sustainability, run don’t walk to your nearest newsstand.

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

Filed under Eco Glam, Fashion - Women, Interior Design, Lifestyle Tips, News+Features, Skincare+Beauty| | No Comments

News Stand Flash: Introducing Sublime

30Jan07


It’s a British invasion and it’s called Sublime. This fresh and edgy looking magazine hopes to bring a bold take on creating an ethical lifestyle. Inside the inaugural issue: How the ONE campaign eviscorate poverty and Aids; How To Buy Happiness, a look behind the Diamond industry, and a photographic journey through the “Widest Crater on Earth.”

You can catch a preview of the magazine online. Reviews to follow. What do you guys think?

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

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