A quickie sale alert from the Fab Green inbox: a Jacket and Coat sale at BTC Elements, my friend Summer Bowen’s online eco-chic boutique. Now’s your chance to save 20% on an in-season trench, hoodie, or captain’s coat. BTC Elements offers exclusively on eco-conscious, sustainable brands for women and men. It is a member of 1% for the Planet. Think good karma, great style.
View the entire coat collection at BTC. Sale code is COAT08.
Much has been abuzz about how “green is the new black” and yet, greening your personal style still ain’t easy. Over the next few weeks we’ll post some reviews of sites where you can find a range of designer brands offering “look good, feel good” fashion. You can also recommend us your favorite fab green shop here.
The Shop: EcoTobi
The Bottom Line: Nestled inside the Tobi website, EcoTobi is a micro world of high style for Sex and the City or Entourage types. Personal stylists are virtually on hand offers a boost to help your answer style questions.
The Skinny: Easy site navigation on both women’s and men’s sections. Excellent selection of organic beauty and skincare products, with a smaller but well-edited, established list of designer labels. At this posting, store leans more skincare than fashion for now, although we expect that will change.
We’d love to see fashion and skincare categorized separately to make shopping easier. Prices are high end, but occasional deals can be found in their sale section.
Brownie Points: Props to EcoTobi for pushing a skinny, zero carbon footprint in partnership with Carbon Fund, and for its use of packaging made from recycled materials, and soy ink printing.
Best bets for guys: A pretty deep selection of graphic tees. Organic, non-toxic denim options a plenty too, though price tags still run high.
Best bets for gals: Some cute dresses, tops at various prices.
For Fabulously Green Readers
Fab Green readers save 20% off your next purchase. To redeem it, just enter FASHION20 at checkout.
A piece of sad news just arrived in the Fab Green inbox: Pangaya, one of the first eco-chic boutiques to open online is now closing its doors. Pangaya co-founder Sean Bartlett writes:
I am writing today to let you know that after almost four years in business, Pangaya will be shutting down. An early pioneer in online eco-chic retailing, the company has realized tremendous growth and is proud to have served our loyal customers with products that combined style with substance. Operations will continue to function as normal until current inventory is sold out. During this time, the price of every item of clothing in the store will be reduced significantly (up to 80%) and represents a tremendous value for those looking to add to their wardrobe.
Thanks to Pangaya for introducing me to styling eco-chic brands like Stewart+Brown and Undesigned. We wish Sean and the Pangaya team the best.
Sarah Ratty wrote us from Ciel to alert London readers about a Christmas Sample Sale to be held this Friday and Saturday in Covent Garden. What you can expect to find: fabulous coats, shoes, frocks, boots and knits at up to 50% off regular prices. Oh-so-British style mulled wine and mince pies will be served to tickle the taste buds.
The Details:
Friday, Nov. 30 | 3pm-8pm
Saturday, Dec. 1 | 9am-7:30pm
Covent Garden
2nd Floor, 65 Neal Street
RSVP to the studio here.
The Fab Factor: Ciel fabricates its gorgeous collection using organic cotton certified by Skal, as well as hemp, silk and faux fur. According to their website, Ciel uses “only 100% Azo free dyes for fabrics, using fabrics certified by Oekotex and Confidence in Textiles labels, preferring recycled and recyclable fibres wherever possible, ensuring great performance along with eco-intelligent design made in accordance with ethical production.”
Wish I could join you all!
WHERE TO FIND THEM:
Cami Dress by perfectly imperfect
Made from super soft 100% certified organic bamboo, this summer number layers easily with a cardigan and textured tights to create a wear-it-now winter look. Spotted on sale for $70.20 at greenwithglamour.
Bravo to Chartreuse Chic for doing what Fab Green has only dreamed about: showing style-conscious gals how to flip runway looks into chic “green” confections. Some of her flips are quite ingenious like the inspired, alternatives to Zac Posen, Prouenza Schouler, and Vera Wang seen below. There’s even an occasional style for the straight guy with a queer eye.
RUNWAY REDUX BY CHARTREUSE CHIC:
1. Instead of Vera Wang >> Why not this?
What makes it fabulous: the Kimber Dress by Perfectly Imperfect is fabricated (according to the designer’s website) from organic cotton, applies low impact manufacturing techniques and makes their apparel locally in Los Angeles. I may just give them a ring to verify this week and find out more. Will report back!
2. Instead of Prouenza Schouler >> Why not this?
What makes it fabulous: this Skyline Sweater, like other pieces by Armour Sans Anguish is a one-of-a-kind garment designed from recycled knits, fabrics and notions, and handmade locally by the designers themselves.
3. Instead of Zac Posen >> Why not this?
What Makes it Fabulous: A more frothy, layered piece from Armour Sans Anguish.made from refashioned fabrics and trims.
One thought: We wish Chartreuse Chic would offer explanation as to what makes these conversions green or ethical. Not all designers featured are green for the same reasons, and some flips fall more into ethical or indie fashion. Overall, we love the site. For more flips like these visit Chartreuse Chic.
If you’ve been warming up to the idea of greening your wardrobe on a budget, here are a few ways to “chic up” your shoe collection and unleash your inner designer.
TIRED TURNED TRENDY
Mary Kay Newcomb generously shares how to turn those tired into trendy ankle boots. Her Shoe-torial is packed with instructions, sources for design-it-yourself inspiration and photos. Worth a click and a bookmark.
CUTTING EDGE STYLE
This one involves playing with sharp objects so proceed with caution. All you need is an exacto knife and a stencil design to create your own inspired style. Inspiration and instructions found at meandering.
For more tips on how to update your style check out Treehugger’s piece on how to Pimp Your Shoes.
Other fab green ideas anyone?
Madison Avenue, stand up and take notice. Barneys New York has teamed up with Loomstate to launch a green label of its own: Loomstate for Barneys Green.
Photo: Daniel Jackson/Barneys New York
According to Barneys New York fashion director Julie Gilhart, Barneys New York is the “first high-end retailer to start [its] own green label.” It paired up with established organic denim designer Loomstate to create “lineup of sexy slip dresses, short-shorts, tanks, hoodies, jeans and minis made entirely from certified organic cotton and vegetable dyes.” (via Dallas Morning News)
The collection shown online offers a sparse collection. Perhaps on-the-ground stores have more?At first glance, Loomstate for Barneys Green features sporty, form-fitting pieces. Simple patterns, clean lines. All sales benefit 1% For The Planet and are exclusive to Barneys.
Slip Dress by Loomstate for Barneys Green, $125.00
Slip dress with graphic flowers. 100% organic cotton.
Hoodie Sweatshirt by Loomstate for Barneys Green, $145.00
Hoodie sweatshirt with bird graphic. 100% organic cotton.
Hot Pant Denim Short by Loomstate for Barneys Green, $125.00
100% organic cotton.
