UNDER THE CANOPY DEBUTS SPRING 2008 COLLECTION

by Bonny Osterhage

Spring is a time for new growth and premier organic lifestyle company, Under the Canopy, is doing just that by introducing its new Spring 2008 collection, featuring some of the most feminine and wearable tunics, sweaters, tees and dresses to spring forth from organic materials, including linen, cotton voile and bamboo. We are crazy about the Madeline organic linen cropped jacket in acid green that will have you right on the pulse of the mainstream spring brights trend. We also love the Carrie organic cotton voile white tunic and the silver organic cotton Pearl sweater (available soon) with its bell sleeves and flared shape. On the sportier side, there is a vast assortment of soft tees, tanks and pants that look and feel so perfect, you will never want to take them off.

Under the Canopy will be showing the new spring eco friendly clothing collection at the second annual thinkVitality Fashion Show, taking place in Anaheim this week as part of the Natural Products Expo West. The event will bring together 20 of the world’s top natural industry executives to spread a collective community message about illness and disease prevention through healthy living. The goal of the show is to raise $200K to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization. Finally, look for Under the Canopy to show up in several major retailers and catalogues this season including Macy’s, CB2, Origins and Red Envelope. It’s an exciting new season for this leader in the ECOfashion® industry. But what else would you expect from the company that coined the term? www.underthecanopy.com

If the fragrance of products is very important to you (like it is to us), then have we got a skin, body and hair care collection for you!  We had several of our best “snoots” check it out and use body washes and shampoos from Sea Chi Organics and the consensus was unanimous…some of the most enticing fragrances we’ve come across. And, the amazing thing about these Kombucha-based organic body, skin and hair care products is that they are all synthetic fragrance-free, made from all organic and wildcrafted ingredients.  So, the basis for the scents we now lust after is all natural. Try the South African Lime, the Lemongrass or, for those who like floral, the Rose Geranium body washes. We’re also fans of the Peppermint shampoo and Tasmanian Lavender shampoo (love the name!). On another note, the Sea Chi Cream, which we also tried, absorbs quickly into the skin without any oily residue feeling and pore clogging and is formulated to work on whatever happens to be ailing you…blemishes, brown spots, wrinkles...and it smells good too. Check it out at www.seachi.com.

WE THINK YOU'RE PERFECT!

This bright tangerine dress is so simple, so easy to wear and so “perfect!” It’s from Perfectly Imperfect Organic Cotton Knits. You can wear it alone or put it over a pair of jeans to change the look. The designer, Jadie Kadletz, was the creative director and head designer at Three Dots for eight years, so she knows her cotton knits! And, at $117, the price is also perfect! It's called the Pocket Baby Doll dress and you can get it at www.greenwithglamour.com. You can see more of the line at www.pi-tees.com.

THIS FACE CREAM IS SIMPLY DREAMY

When you first put on Sensātia Botanical's Blossom Facial Dream Cream, it might feel a little thicker than what you're used to from a face cream. That's because it is... Made in Bali of 100% natural and organic ingredients, it qualifies as probably one of the creamiest and richest face creams we've tried and has a wonderful aroma. And, wow, do we love the result! It feels so good gliding on and can you say soft healthy skin to the max?! Sensātia says that each concentrated jar is filled with the essential oils of 200 tiny Neroli blossoms and 90 Red Roses. The entire water portion of the cream is pure aloe vera juice, used for thousands of years as a healing plant. It also has an essential oil blend of Italian Neroli blossom, East Indian sandalwood, Rose Damask and Ylang Ylang. www.sensātia.com

BRACELET OF THE MOMENT

So, the other day, while shopping at Fred Segal and checking out the jewelry, my sales person told me that I had to see this bracelet, which was the hottest thing going and they kept selling out. Turns out, it was something right up my socially conscious alley…the “Green Bracelet” from The Simmons Jewelry Company, owned by Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons of Def Jam Records and Baby Phat fame. Inspired by a diamond fact finding trip to Africa a little over a year ago, the Green Bracelet was born to raise funds for D.E.F.(Diamond Empowerment Fund), Simmon's organization that supports education programs in Africa where diamonds are a natural resource. Made entirely from African materials, it is a simple stretch bracelet with green malachite beads and a conflict free diamond, loosely housed in a gold alloy cage. It’s quite striking. 50% of the net profits from each $125 bracelet go to D.E.F.  Of course, there is a big celebrity following, including Beyoncé Knowles, Forest Whitaker, Eddie Murphy and Penelope Cruz. Even President Bill Clinton has sported one. You can get yours at www.redenvelope.com.

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