ECO FASHION JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!
It warms our little hearts when we can look at an eco friendly clothing collection and say that it is every bit as stylish and fashion forward as anything Shopbop or Fred Segal would carry. Meet Velvet Leaf. Developed by two sisters, who are passionate about the environment, the summer collection is 100% certified organic cotton and the silhouettes are simple, but so creative, a little bit edgy, yet also classical in many ways. There are wonderful touches, like the oversized, traditional silk bow on the back of the modern Audrey Razorback Jumper (above left) and the delicate, sexy, cut-outs in the sleeves of the classic deep v-neck Dylan Blouse (center). The Olive Bubble Dress (right) is simply whimsically chic. We can't wait to see what they do next! The best news is that the collection is now sold on the Velvet Leaf website, www.shopvelvetleaf.com.
FROM DAY TO NIGHT...
There are so many cute eco friendly summer dresses that, given the appropriate accessories, can take you from a day of shopping to a night out. We picked this 100% bamboo cotton, olive green dress from Elwood Clothing (just $40 at www.nimli.com - such a steal!) as our backdrop to show you what we mean.
OUR DAYTIME LOOK:
Earrings: Energy Muse black garnet and gold filled hoop earrings - $190 at www.energymuse.com 
Bag: Balanced Design Clarice Bag in black. 100 percent organic cotton, wool/felt appliques and removable bamboo handles - $190 at www.nimli.com
Sandal: Corso Como naturally tanned patent leather thong - $98 at www.shopbop.com
Bracelet: JaK Random Art Think Green Bracelet,
hand made from rescued
vinyl records - $20 at
www.nimli.com
OUR EVENING LOOK:
Bag: Kim White Purple Plush Floral Cut-Out Clutch, made from vintage textiles - $170 at www.kimwhitehandbags.com
Necklace: Recklace Joy Drunken Mustache Necklace, made from a vintage brass pendant and antique brass chain - $32 at www.recklacejoy.com
Bracelet: Verde Rocks vintage brass cuff with vintage butterfly fairy - worn by former Destiny's Child singer, Kelly Rowland - $149 at www.gwen-davis.com
Sandal: Natalie Portman vegan gold metallic fabric sandal - $275 at www.tecasan.com
Make sure you check out our "Seriously?" feature, where we bring you eco products & stories that are (how can we say) crazy, nuts or "over the top."
SEEING RED!
We love red...it's hot and fiery...bright and happy...sultry...great with jeans...perfect for getting noticed at a party...and a great transition color from summer to fall. If you're not a full on "red" person, just a pop of red can make an outfit come to life. We've picked some terrific red pieces, whether it's eco-friendly clothes or natural cosmetics or green products for your home. Want to see all the red we found?
URBAN RENEWAL PIECES FASHION TOGETHER
Everywhere you look, there is one more company loudly jumping on board the green train. And, while we celebrate and applaud the efforts of any company, who is eager to embrace a more conscious way of living, we like to occasionally stop and pay homage to those companies, who were quietly doing their part long before it was THE thing to do. The hip clothing company, Urban Outfitters, is one such pioneer. For the past 20 years, this famously cool company has offered the Urban Renewal collection to a devoted group of socially conscious customers.
Urban Renewal is not an organic line, but rather a recycled line, with one-of-a-kind pieces created from vintage clothing, rag houses and surplus materials that would otherwise go to waste. Instead, they are renewed and updated in signature Urban Outfitters style and turned into something fabulously unique. The line includes dresses, jackets, vests, tops, shorts and more. www.urbanoutfitters.com
Check out our Eco Friendly Fashion Exclusive
Offers page with discounts on clothes, handbags,
shoes, jewelry and more up to 70% off!!
LIP SERVICE
Summertime means serious sunshine, lazy days at the beach and seriously cracked dry lips. So, in the spirit of helping your poor lips back to a perfect pout, here are four lip balms we know will do the trick, from plain unscented to tinted to seriously tasty.
Kathleen Lewis Lip Balm
This is a new unscented organic lip treatment we recently discovered and we're so glad we did. Contains Camella Oil, Aloe Butter, Beeswax and Vitamin E for antioxidant protection. Feels great and doesn't clump. $11 at www.vickery.com
Better Botanicals Ayurvedic Lip Balm
The flavors offered in this collection of lip balms are exotic and yummy. Made with Kokum Butter, used in India as a vegan alternative to ghee, and a blend of organic Indian herbs. We're partial to the Ginger and the Mango, but other flavors include Passion Fruit, Nectarine, Cardamom, Fennel and Rose Mint. $4.99 each at www.betterbotanicals.com
Ganache for Lips
Okay, chocoholics everywhere, check this out. An all natural lip balm made with real Sharffen Berger chocolate! We're not kidding! Flavors like chocolate mint, chocolate orange, chocolate rasberry and mocha latte with ingredients that sound equally delicious, including sweet almond oil, shea butter, apricot kernel oil and hazelnut extract. $4.50 each. Rush to...you guessed it... www.scharffenberger.com. Learn more at www.ganacheforlips.com.
Eco Tints by Eco Lips
If you like a little color on your lips with the effectiveness and benefits of a lip balm, try these all natural tinted lip balms, made with healing organic herbs and moisturizing organic vegetable oils. Colors include Rose Quartz, Plush Red and Mocha Velvet or buy and 3-Pack and try them all! If color isn't your thing, the rest of the line includes a broad range of flavored and unflavored lip balms. $3.99 each or $9.99 for a 3-Pack at www.ecolips.com.
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