eco chic

Wedding dress resale is becoming more and more popular among Eco-chic brides who want to save money and the planet. So why should you think about buying a gently used wedding dress, or selling your own pre-loved gown?

Wedding dress resale is one of the most budget smart and Earth-friendly things you can do to reduce the cost and the consumer waste associated with your wedding. When a you buy, sell, or trade a gently used wedding dress, you’re helping the environment by conserving resources,  and creating more financial stability in your marriage!

So how can you be an Eco-chic bride?

Recycled Bride is a free marketplace for Eco-savvy brides and their friends. Members recycle everything from designer wedding gowns to table decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and even wedding gifts. If you have ever been part of a wedding, or plan to be, buying and selling on Recycled Bride helps minimize your carbon footprint and maximize your budget.

Related Article: Eco Wedding Ideas

While those who are passionate about Eco-fashion often scout every nook in order to find the perfect duds, a full wardrobe leads to one outcome-lots to do on laundry day.

I advise Eco-women to use greener detergents, especially those that are phosphate-free. In addition, switch entirely to a cold wash, which will save hot water-and decrease one’s bill at the end of each month.

Also, cold water decreases wrinkles in your clothes which means less ironing. Save energy in the long run by using the least amount of water as possible.

There’s no better time than the present to adopt an entirely Eco-chic lifestyle. After folding one’s laundry and hanging up one’s clothes, consider heading out to an organic restaurant to enjoy some locally-grown food.

Earth Day is April 22, what will be your gift to Earth? Remember my previous post of sustainable jeans; well most people don’t understand that although organic denim eliminates the use of pesticides, it consumes much more water and land.  It can also cost as much as 50% to 100% more than traditional cotton and consumes more than 30%-50% land.

By recycling of regenerating the cotton, we limit the need to grow new cotton. We don’t have to plant or harvest raw cotton, therefore eliminating fuel for machinery, the use of pesticides and herbicides and wearing away of the land through tilling and watering the new cotton fields.

The land can then be converted to other productive uses like planting trees for oxygen or grain to feed the hungry and ultimately lessening our carbon footprint on the planet.

Denim is made of cotton, which causes great harm to our environment both in terms of water consumption and in terms of poisonous substances and insecticides. Cotton fields stand for 25% of all insecticides worldwide, more than any other single major crop.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated more than 11.8 million tons of textile waste in 2006 alone, amounting to a remarkable 10 pounds per person. In our world of overflowing landfills and global warming, recycling is more relevant than ever. Recycled jeans help offset the human effect of the disposable fashion industry, while contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable Earth.

Remember, a pair of organic and non-organic jeans is equivalent to running a garden hose for 106 minutes, driving 78 miles and powering a computer for 556 hours.

Now can you see that organic denim is not so Eco-chic? As your fashion consultant, let me share with you a wonderful alternative.

Recycled, describes the material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product and then brought back to the consumer as a new item.

Reuse Jeans is one of the first companies to do so; by no means are they perfect. They have experienced some issues on their quest to be green; their CEO is having trouble searching for recycled or Eco-friendly zippers and buttons.

This is an issue now, but in five years from now, it won’t be an issue at all if we all do our part. Our part is to support both recycling and recycled products. This creates a demand for more Eco-fashion goods, which decreases waste and makes a healthy Earth.

As your Eco-friendly wardrobe stylist, I have a wonderful gift for you; Reuse Jeans is offering all VOF readers an exclusive offer for Earth Day…..for a limit time, April 19-25 get 50% off everything with the promo code EARTH.

Thank you Reuse Jeans for that great offer and for leading the fashion industry the right Earth-friendly way!

I would love to hear from all of you Eco-women, please leave your comments! Happy Earth Day!

Many people see jeans as a wardrobe staple. As your fashion consultant, I must confess that I’m not a jean lover. Even though I’m a wardrobe stylist, I only have two pairs of jeans.

Do you know why?

In WWD was an article by Ross Tucker that shared the results on what went into making one pair of iconic Levi’s 501 style.

According to Tucker, Levi’s found that making one pair of 501’s requires almost 920 gallons of water, 400 megajoules of energy while expelling 32 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Levi’s said, “this was equivalent to running a garden hose for 106 minutes, driving 78 miles and powering a computer for 556 hours.”

OUCH!

That’s what it take to make a pair of jeans regardless of the name brand! Now you know!

If you want to be more Eco-chic and be part of the Eco-women movement. My fashion advice is to wear jeans that are sustainable. One of my favorite Eco-fashion jean lines is REUSE!

Eco-friendly fashion considers and respects the environment, consumer health, and the working conditions of its manufacturers. The clothing is comprised of sustainable fabrics such as organic raw materials, recycled or reused textiles and fair-trade practices.

Eco-friendly merchandise may be costly to consumers because it can be more expensive to produce, comprised of more expensive materials, and made within the U.S. The budget friendly solution?

Eco women are Eco chic by choose secondhand or affordable vintage pieces to be Eco-fashionable without being cruel to your wallet!

Thank you for leaving your comments!

During this time of economic turmoil, be green, save money, and have fun! The best way to freshen up your wardrobe is swapping clothes, its fun, its free, and its green!

With clothing consumption hitting an all-time low, the clothing swap concept has taken off. As your wardrobe stylist, let me tell you this will satisfied your urge for new fashions without braking your wallet nor destroying the planet!

Here is how it works: SWAP (exchange) clothes, shoes and accessories you no longer need or wear, for other clothes you like! Imagine a never ending wardrobe, finding a new outfit weekly or a hang bag! It’s convenient, saves time, and offers so much more variety.

What you gals think? Please leave a comment!

We all talk about organic cotton and bamboo fiber as a green alternative to conventionally grown or petroleum-based fibers. But sharing clothing is a thrifty way to keep up with trends and reduce consumption-which also makes your wardrobe green.

As neo-grunge and menswear settle into women’s fashions this fall. My fashion advice: be Eco-chic this fall, head to yours boyfriend’s or husband’s closet and borrow rather than buy.

Here is my fashion secrets to the hottest fall trends without hurting your wallet!

1. Lumberjack Shirts
You know those shirts Al Borland wore on Home Improvement? Well plaid is hot this fall. Grab an over-sized, flannel plaid button-down and throw it on with skinny jeans or leggings. Add a belt at the waist to give yourself a figure, and you’re good to go.

2. Weathered Jeans
Boyfriend jeans are a hit this season but forget buying boyfriend jeans-use the real thing. Snag a pair of jeans and secure that baggy waist with a wide belt at the hips. Bonus if the jeans are ripped!

3. Blazers
Strong shoulders are hot this fall, so your boyfriend’s blazer is a great alternative to buying a boyfriend-style blazer. Women’s boyfriend blazers are cut for the female body, but you can avoid a boxy figure by leaving the jacket open for a casual look or cinching it at the waist with a skinny belt in a contrasting color.

4. Chic Chapeau
Hats on men and women are big this fall, and borrowing your man’s fedora or bowler is a great way to bring a little edgy menswear style to your look.

If you are Eco-chic on the street, send us your pictures and you might be feature here on VOF! Stay tune, follow us on Twitter or Myspace!

Giveaway for Eco-women who are Eco-chic and endorse Eco-fashion! Enter to win an Eco-elegance Tova Batik Bracelet!

Personal Accents offers Eco-Elegance: a unique, exclusive and planet-positive collection of jewelry crafted from recycled metal finished in white gold, genuine mother of pearl and hand-selected batik.

Enter to win by one of the following ways:

1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. Follow VOF on twitter (www.twitter.com/voiceoffashion)

3. Be our friend on myspace (www.myspace.com/voiceoffashion)

You can enter three entries to this giveaway by doing all of the above! You must leave a comment and tell us why you would like to win!

A winner will be contacted on November 30, 2009 and asked for full name, along with their mailing address. If no response is given within 48 hours, a different winner will be chosen, so please be sure to check your email. Must be 18 or older to enter. Contest open to USA and Canada!

Before you lose yourself in a maze of thigh-highs, velvet and sequins. As your fashion consultant,let me give you a fashion tip; wardrobe extenders which will direct your new-season fashion in a different direction.

Lurking on the basics rails at a high-street store near you, they are the unsung heroes of autumn fashion. Key garments that, when layered over, under or paired with some of the summer’s prettiest pieces, take your summertime wardrobe and make it wintertime fabulous.

This is eco chic & easy on the wallet;helping breathe new life into your old favorites, making them wearable way past their seasonal sell-by dates. Here’s a couple of fashion secrets:

• Summer dresses have a shelf life that lasts longer than your tan lines. Pair them with a three quarter sleeve tee-for extra value, warmth and texture. Then invest in a long cardigan and studded belt to layer up further and complete the look. Keep your accessories tough, and you have a dress that will work through until Christmas.
• Invest in lace pieces to cover your modesty in plunge-necked dresses, glam up your knitwear by layering it with your shorter-sleeved sweaters, and sport it with jeans, over a cami for a sexy take on denim.

Wardrobe extenders are eco fashion, giving clothes a longer mileage and its easy on your wallet! Thank you for leaving your comments and stay tune for more fashion advice!