CultureFeast » Fashion

It’s Possible to BE Green Without Looking Green

Sarah Toler — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:12:01 +0000

By Sarah Toler

March 26, 2009

I get totally depressed when I go shopping and I’ve come to realize lately that I don’t think that’s the desired effect. (Shopping is supposed to make me feel good, right?) Every time I find something I totally adore and just HAVE to have, I check the label and it’s either made from some animal product, something toxic or in a sweatshop in China. So, I’ve continually fallen on my fallback wardrobe of tees, jeans and canvas sneakers.

But one can only tolerate so many years of dressing like a boy and I just can’t do the hippie/hemp/tie-dye thing, so lately I’ve taken more time to get to know fashion, what I really like about it and where I can find the looks I like that are made in a way I can support. Here’s a list of four of my most recent favorite finds:

Deborah Lindquist is a celebrity favorite and has been referred to as a “trailblazer in green fashion.” I love sustainable fabrics just as much as the next greenie, but what gets me really excited about eco fashion is reused objects, and Deborah Lindquist has this art down to a science. She recycles a variety of posh vintage materials like kimonos, saris and silk scarves and throws in a dash of organic hemp and cotton here and there. Her look is a little Urban Outfitters meets Delia’s meets Anthropologie, which makes it totally wearable. She also designs a green wedding line (a totally underserved market) that would get me excited if weddings did it for me.

ecoSkin is a California-based label with a name that doesn’t do it justice. The name ecoSkin brings to mind Whole Foods hemp dresses, but that’s definitely not the case. Wrap dresses and tops, cocktail dresses and hooded wraps are all very “Stevie Nicks,” but in updated, streamlined fabrics. ecoSkin’s designs are made from environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics that are all woven and sewn in America. Sandy Skinner, the founder of ecoSkin, aims to make sustainable living mainstream, and with these chic designs, mainstream is definitely possible, though with prices in the triple digits, maybe not entirely affordable.

Chlorine might just be my favorite eco brand right now, because although I totally hate to admit it, I secretly LOVE handbags. I’ve tried to suppress my love for handbags in the past because I don’t buy leather (vegetarian principle number two) unless I buy it vintage. This little principle makes it hard to really go as die-hard for handbags as I would like to, but Chlorine’s totally adorable refurbished vintage handbags bring my bag fetish to the surface big time. Too bad I would NEVER be able to afford one of these clutches or totes (prices run from about $400 to $800), but if you can afford it, hats off to your good taste and thanks for not buying that ghastly Gucci bag all your girlfriends have.

Sophie Young and her g=9.8 label totally stole my heart when I discovered her through some silly Valentine’s Day ad. The French designer created a line of lingerie that’s American Apparel meets Mary Greene (which just so happen to be my two favorite undergarment lines) made from Lenpur, a fabric made from pine tree clippings that is completely biodegradable. I haven’t had a chance to feel the fabric (once again, out of my budget), but reviews say it’s as soft as silk, much like bamboo.

For more sustainable eco fashion, including designers, labels and a great blog, check out Eco Fashion World.

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Is Bamboo the New Cotton?

Daniel Dessinger — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:06:22 +0000

By Daniel Dessinger

January 26, 2009

The first few times I came across bamboo sheets, the thought of panda snacks rubbing against my skin didn’t seem especially velvety. I was interested, though, and took the bait. Upon first touch I was shocked… bamboo fibers are surprisingly soft.

In fact, the bamboo sheets I felt in Oak Cliff’s Bishop Street Market were silkier than standard cotton sheets. Since my first encounter with bamboo fabric a few months ago, it seems to be popping up everywhere.

Tees from New Balance. Tops from Gap. Even linens from Target.

But people aren’t breaking up with cotton and switching to bamboo based on texture alone. Bamboo fabric has all the qualities of cotton that Americans have grown to love, but the cultivation and harvesting processes of bamboo are much easier on our planet (in most cases, harvesting is the general equivalent of mowing your lawn). Like many crops, cotton needs oceans of pesticides to be productive and profitable. Most bamboo is organically grown and naturally irrigated. In the right climate, bamboo can literally grow like a weed — up to three feet per day — and the plants can reach 100 feet tall.

There are over 1,000 different kinds of bamboo and some are stronger than steel. In certain parts of the world where bamboo grows on every corner, it’s used as a substitute for steel when building homes, boats and even bridges. So it’s strange then, that fabric made from bamboo can be as soft as cashmere. And unlike cashmere, no goats are harmed in the process.

Bamboo fabrics are more porous than cotton and because of this, they don’t require as much dye in order to become your sheets, towels or tees. The fabric also has a natural moisture wicking property that keeps moisture out. This not only means a more comfy night’s sleep and a quicker dry-off, but it also makes the material antibacterial and odor resistant… qualities cotton simply can’t compete with.

Like all green products, there are still questions to consider before you go refitting your entire home linen collection or wardrobe with bamboo:

Bamboo is greener than cotton, but still less green than soy.
Not all bamboo is green! Question if the bamboo you buy was grown sustainably. (A concern is that bamboo farming might lead to deforestation in China.)
Not all bamboo is organic! It’s usually a perennial crop that can grow naturally without fertilizers, pesticides or irrigation, but unless it’s from a certified farm, it’s not organic.
Like cotton, bamboo fabric will shrink the first time you wash it, just not as much.
Bamboo fabric is sturdy, but is still best washed on the delicate cycle. Fabric softeners and chlorine bleach are no-nos.
The fabric is best air-dried or put in the dryer on the “fluff” cycle. No need to iron since the fabric is wrinkle-free.

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Sarah Palin: Fashionista or Poseur?

Daniel Dessinger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:43:05 +0000

By Daniel Dessinger

October 31, 2008

This past week, everybody and their dog have been up in arms about Sarah Palin and the controversy over her brand new wardrobe. Spending $150,000 on suits, shoes, boots, even a makeup artist and hair stylist is not sitting too well with the population. Spending that money from the Republican National Committee, some from Republican supporters, is not the best way to promote oneself.

Looking back at photographs of Palin from when she was campaigning in Alaska, anyone can see the difference; it is like night and day. Frumpy sweaters, and dull coloured suits; Sarah Palin was less appealing than she is now.

I’m torn on this issue. Part of me disagrees with what the Republican Party did. Spending that much money to try to make Sarah Palin more appealing, more beautiful, and less terrifying (she kills moose for heaven’s sake!) probably seems like a good idea at the time. I think the Republicans were trying to appeal to the Hilary Clinton supports by making Palin more colorful, attractive and all around better dresser.

The other part of me is disgusted knowing that one suit cost over $6,000, and that her people were dropping over $75,000 in one place. Just think of the other things that money could do. Feed lower class children and families, put clothes on people’s back, even help homeless shelters across the US, or even send that money as aid to Africa. The opportunities were endless, just nobody ran with it.

This “scandal” reminds me of a story that appalled many people in Ontario, as many politicians were caught sending taxpayers’ money on high-end lunches and dinners, first class flights and pricy hotel rooms. I do not recall anything ever being resolved, and the story ultimately faded away like old news.

To make matters worse, entertainment shows like The Insider and Entertainment Tonight are taking the Sarah Palin-wardrobe story and running with it. The anchors are offering examples to how the average woman can have Sarah Palin’s clothes, for less, by shopping at Walmart or Target. The only problem is that the audience for these shows are already transfixed with Palin’s new threads, and want what they see, designer goods, not a knock-off.

Will this new Sarah Palin keep up wit the trends or go back to her fuddy-duddy fashion ways? Only time will tell, but I’m sure she has caught the eye of one or two fashion designers.

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Style A to Zoe: A Fashion Book Review

Daniel Dessinger — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:17:57 +0000

By Daniel Dessinger

May 6, 2008

I have never thought of myself, by any means, as a fashionista. However, I do like to keep up with what the latest styles, trends and “it” whatevers are. I never identified with one style icon, but rather took aspects from different women in the fashion and entertainment world that stood out to me. As I have matured, so have my fashion and style sense. I know how to coordinate outfits, add accessories, match shoes and even offer my opinion to whoever will listen; but I am not a professional.

Rachel Zoe, the famous celebrity stylist is. I made a recent trip to my local library and stumbled across her book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty & Everything Glamour, purely by accident. The colour of the cover did not jump out at me, but the words “Style A to Zoe” did. I inquisitively picked up the book, leafed though the pages, and saw that it was more than just your regular picture book of celebrities.

Reading this book, I was extremely surprised at how talented and knowledgeable Zoe is. The tabloids and gossip blogs have obviously done her no justice. For the past few years, all the information I was getting about Rachel Zoe was from online tabloids that only associated her with Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton and their “not so great” fashion selections. This is far from the truth. Zoe offers personal photographs of how she works and whom she works with. Included are personal entries from top designers, including Valentino and Frank Zambrelli who praise Zoe’s talent and eye for all things style related.

Zoe’s book is made up of eight chapters, including a detailed introduction of her life and the reasons why she became interested in the fashion industry and why she became a stylist. Included in her stylebook is a glossary of terms (A to Zoe), something that I thought was a cheeky way to finalize her work. Throughout the pages, Zoe dishes about how to properly accessorize (or as she puts it, “excessorizing”), how to pair chunky jewelery with smaller pieces, selecting the right shoes for the right outfit, selecting a classic bag over the “It” bag, how to correctly apply makeup, and even offers tips on how to design and style your home by incorporating art, fabrics and functional furniture.

What I enjoyed the most about reading Rachel Zoe’s book was the fact that she related to every female in every age demographic and every salary bracket. Zoe insisted throughout to explore vintage and thrift stores in search of jewellery and signature pieces that make you the fabulous woman that you are. She encourages everyone reading to host their own red carpet event and not to be afraid of getting dressed up and looking (and feeling) great.

Rachel Zoe’s expertise with style and fashion was a great and easy read. Her tone was set as if she was sitting across from me as we chatted over lunch or coffee. Her tips were fabulous and any woman who thinks of herself as being fashion forward (or not), should pick up this book because they will find at least one piece of advice to take home with them to use over and over again.

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Dressing for Church

Daniel Dessinger — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 12:17:20 +0000

By Daniel Dessinger

July 9, 2006

It occurred to me the other day that I wear different styles of clothing to church based upon my expectation of the service. When I first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior ten years ago, I began attending church in a t-shirt and jeans because they were all that I owned. I found that I could engage more completely in worship because I had no expectations of being viewed by other people as cool or attractive. I was able to leave my self image at home and participate with total focus.

As I should have expected, that reality did not last very long. I inevitably gained more clothing through birthday gifts and sheer necessity, and Sunday morning church became an opportunity to attract the opposite sex. Honestly, if one is to look for a partner, there is no better place to look than one’s own church or university (as applicable). But the simple truth is that the moment I dressed in nice clothes for church, I knew I would get more attention from people. I expected more attention. I could no longer worship at the front of the sanctuary because I was sure that I was being watched and I worried too much how I looked – if my hair was in place, my shirt tucked nicely and unwrinkled, etc. Even after marriage, self image wasn’t automatically thrown out the window.

Image consciousness morphs a little to make sense (hence the soccer mom image in the nice SUV). We no longer try to send out the message to the opposite sex that we are both available and desirable, but there is still something within us that wants our peers to know we are living a good life. We want their respect for our lifestyle choices and even their admiration for our tastes in fashion, architecture, art, decor, and music. The question remains: What is your primary purpose for attending services? Is it to mingle? Is it to walk the runway? Is it to worship?

There will always be exceptions to every rule. While this is true, most people will always be self conscious in public if they spend too much time and attention preparing their clothes, hair, makeup, etc. No one wants to spend a lot of time getting ready only to have their hair flop over or stick up, or to have their shirt bunch up at the sides. We want what we took the time to make right to stay right. Unfortunately, that means we often are too distracted to participate in corporate worship. How can we really focus on the majesty of God when Guy X or Girl Z two rows back may be wondering why we chose this outfit? I’ve found that for me personally, it’s best to go au naturale… No, not without clothes. I just go to church wearing the same normal clothes I wear each day.

It may be a little boring, but I don’t dress on Sunday to entertain. I need that corporate time in worship. I don’t have time to waste on what other people think of me, and the best way to avoid that problem is dress in such a way as to guarantee I won’t draw attention.

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