Green Cotton

Emma Cook Collection featured in NYMag.com

Autumn is underway, and the change in temperature has me reaching for cardigans and hot lattes, replacing my summer-light scarves and iced coffee. But with Spring ’09 Fashion Week in full swing, I’m already looking ahead to warmer weather.

New York Fashion Week provided us with plenty of inspiration. Last week, we showed you how to rock a heavy metal trend with eco-friendly pieces that are transitional enough to wear now and this coming spring. But this week, after glimpsing the London collections, I’m all about bright, light and frothy: London’s playful spring looks will have you dreaming of seaside vacations, summer carnivals, and triple-scoop ice cream cones in your favorite flavors.

Citrus Explosion
Betty Jackson, Nathan Jenden, Eley Kishimoto and Ossie Clark all showed gorgeous clothes in mouth-watering, tutti-frutti hues.

Candy Confections

Jenny Packham’s sweet pastel dresses smacked of cotton candy. Erdem (see below) and Jasper Conran both unveiled daring sheer designs that were still on the shy side.

Caught in the Rain

Erdem Collection, featured at NYMag.com

In London this is a daily occurrence, but don’t worry—Emma Cook, Erdem and Paul Smith showed us what to wear so we’re always prepared for a little spring shower. Why not stand out with sparkle and sequins?

Polka Dots and Prints Galore

House of Holland Collection, featured at NYMag.com

You’ll feel like a kid again if you wear Issa or House of Holland. Both sent out dizzying arrays of polka dots and playful prints.

Prim, Proper… Party Princess!

Luella Bartley Collection, featured in NYMag.com

For little girls who just have to grow up, Luella Bartley, Basso and Brooke, Jaeger London, Giles Deacon, Nathan Jenden and Temperley London all showed us how to do what Brits do best: look lovely and ladylike—but still funkify a fussy frock!

Eco Me Over!

Of course, we wouldn’t be doing our job at Green Cotton if we didn’t suggest some eco alternatives to these London looks:

For flirty style in a fresh hue, try the Wave dress by Kelly Lane. Available in three colors (Ocean, Sunset and Coral), you’re sure to find one to match your mood. This dress is from the Spring ’08 collection, and Kelly Lane’s Fall collection is currently available at Jute & Jackfruit!

Kelly Lane Spring Dress

Add an unexpected splash of color with Form & Fauna’s Peacock shoe in yellow, similar to the yellow zippered shoes shown at House of Holland.

Form and Fauna Peacock Toe Shoes found at formandfauna.com

Made from biodegradable synthetic materials and recycled wood, these heels are fashion-forward and eco-conscious. And not only does the sunny hue complement an equally bright dress—it will also perk up an all-black ensemble or everyday jeans.

Jute & Jackfruit has the perfect earrings for this look: try these Anna Built recycled tin drop earrings in turquoise and gold.

Finally, in tribute to the citrus shades at London Fashion Week, complete your look with the Nahui Ollin Ritual bag in, of course, “tutti-frutti.” It’s made from recycled candy wrappers and structured to hold your wallet, cell, i-Pod, makeup and other goodies! It’s the perfect fusion of grown-up girl sensibility with the childhood fun of a trip to the candy store.

Have fun trying on eco-friendly fashions in the latest trends, and let us know what you think about London and New York Fashion Week!

By Erin Dale

Vera Wang Collection at NY Fashion Week, 2008

New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and Green Cotton has been tracking the trends. Last week we showed you how designers have embraced the haute hippie with earthy, sixties and seventies-inspired looks. This week we’re zeroing in on another hot runway look, but we’re not going to just discuss the trend— we’re also going to show you some awesome eco-friendly clothes and accessories that will help you rock the latest runway styles in greener, guilt-free fashion.

As evidenced in several collections, the boho-chic trend is still thriving this coming spring season, but some fashion experts think “boho-rock” is this trend’s second life. Fusing the bohemian free spirit with a heavy metal attitude, this tough-yet-girly look is a fun way to shake up an otherwise basic wardrobe.

Check out these looks from the following New York Fashion Week designers:

Rodarte Collection, NY Fashion Week

Rodarte displayed classic rock-and-roll style with short leather jackets and skinny black pants, a major standout from their funky shredded sweater dresses.

Rag and Bone, NY Fashion Week, 2008

Rag & Bone’s blazer, skinny pants, studded belt and shiny flats gave rock star glam a little preppy polish.

DKNY Collection, NY Fashion Week, 2008

DKNY also paired a blazer with punky accessories: a pink rock t-shirt dress, chains and high-top sneakers.

If you want to flip-flop the pink and black color combo, try this look from Alexander Wang (featured below): a sparkly black top with gauzy black shorts, an oversized pink blazer, and some of the coolest shoes from all of Fashion Week.

Vera Wang (collection featured top), who favors gothic romance, sent a gorgeous glammed-up rocker look down her runway: a silver silk tunic with a long black vest, black cigarette pants, chains and crystalline embellishments.

If you think you can’t rock this look with eco-friendly wares, think again. Eco-fashion tends to be branded as anything but on-trend, but eco-fashionistas know that “organic” and “sustainable” doesn’t have to mean crunchy or boring! So grab your favorite vintage band t-shirt and try these on for size:

Edun’s “Sage” straight leg jeans in “Raven” (featured above) deserve star status in any eco-conscious closet! Founded by Bono, his wife Ali Hewson and designer Rogan Gregory, Edun is a socially conscious clothing company that specializes in organic style. These jeans are perfect for a night out with a vintage bomber jacket.

Try teaming them with a pair of wedge heels from Mohop (featured above). The black ribbons on these add a touch of gothic glamour. These shoes would also look hot with a frayed denim mini and black sweater tights, or these studded bamboo leggings by Covet (featured below):

Of course, no rock star outfit would be complete without awesome accessories. This sterling silver filigree butterfly necklace by Catherine Weitzman echoes the gothic romance-esque jewelry seen on Vera Wang’s models. It’s available from the Brooklyn boutique Sodafine, which features vintage, handmade and eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

Finish your look with Matt & Nat’s Tate (featured above) tote in grey. It’s made from recycled materials but has the look of leather, sure to please nature-loving and vegan fashionistas alike!

And have fun searching for your own eco-fashion finds, whether you want to follow the trends or express your unique style. Please let us know what you think of this trend and others from New York Fashion Week. And be sure to check back at Green Cotton as we track London looks from their Fashion Week!

All pictures in this post are from NYmag.com

Post By Erin Dale

Above: Diane Von Furstenburg Collection

Here at Green Cotton, we look at fashion from an eco-eye, discussing sustainable fabrics, fair trade practices, and eco-friendly options for the most discerning fashionista. New York Fashion Week, hardly an all-green event (yet), gives us an opportunity to spy the trends and find “greener” ways to rock them.
I’ve been peeking at the collections all week, and my favorite designers have not disappointed. While there haven’t been any eco shows since last week’s Be EcoChic event, plenty of designers have been showing boho-chic looks that unite the “haute” and the “hippie.”

For a brief fashion history lesson, the term “boho-chic” was coined in the early 2000s to describe the style of British It-Girls Kate Moss and Sienna Miller (fashion lovers to this day continue to dispute which one actually started the trend). Some sources (including a Wikipedia entry) claim that this trend reached its height in 2004-5, and the derivations we’re seeing now can be classified as “boho rock,” even “goth-rock.”

You’ll notice hints of gothic in this fall’s fashions, carrying over from the Fall 2008 collections shown this past spring. But the free-spirited boho look was even more prominent on the runways. Badgley Mischka and Just Cavalli took a trip to the 1970s with relaxed fits and floppy hats. D&G showed tartans, checks and plaids that had a playful, down-home feel. But Gucci best embodied the “haute hippie” and elevated her to rock star glory: right at home with earthy prints and flowing scarves were fringed boots, black skinny pants, bare shoulders and chunky chains.

Despite the debate over its dwindling relevance, boho-chic is clearly still alive and well on the Spring 2009 runways!

Diane Von Furstenburg (featured above) showed plenty of bright colors and dared to mix prints, giving her line a flower child vibe that she dubbed “Rock Goddess.”

Photo: Charlotte Ronson Collection

Charlotte Ronson’s flowy dresses and floral patterns are simple yet chic, exuding peaceful, natural beauty.

Photo: Miss Sixty’s Collection

In Miss Sixty’s very 70s spring collection, scarves, sunglasses and denim onesies abound, with loose silhouettes and bright patterns reminiscent of groovier times.

Photo: Jill Stuart’s Collection

Jill Stuart used a pastel palette to transport the wearer back to the 70s, complete with butterfly sleeves, asymmetrical hemlines, draping scarves and the occasional chunky knit.

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Photo: Anna Sui’s Collection

Anna Sui’s boho girls were sweet as Swiss misses, but still had a rock-and-roll edge. The collection displays a wide range of shapes, from prairie blouses and skirts to sheaths and caftans, along with a dizzying array of colors (orange, fuchsia, royal blue and more rainbow brights compete with a few all-black ensembles) and patterns (floral, geometric shapes, beaded embellishments, even a paisley “peacock” look). There are so many looks, it almost appears the designer couldn’t make up her mind, but the overall bohemian spirit makes the collection feel cohesive.

Photo: Nanette Lepore’s Collection

Nanette Lepore gave the earthy girl a new level of sophistication. She’s grounded her in floral patterns and earth tones but dressed her up in blazers and high-waisted shorts, giving her polish and a slimmer silhouette. This collection shows, perhaps, where the boho-chic trend is headed, but not without a nod to the past: a few baby-dolls and crocheted knits peeked out from bright trenches and slinky silks.

What do you think of the boho-chic trend? Do you think it will still be going strong next season? How do you think it coincides with (or not) the eco-fashion movement? Let us know your thoughts….

Post By Erin Dale

Kenneth Cole pumps at Dig N’ Swap
By Erin Dale

With fall fashion looks hitting stores now, it’s tempting to pop into the Gap, H&M or Anthropologie and supplement your current wardrobe, even create a whole new one. Sure, if you’re craving something new, you can go eco and buy something organic from a more sustainable store. But before you go hunting for brand new pieces, take a peek at Dig ‘N’ Swap.

Trading clothes with someone is an easy way to clean out your closet and give yourself a whole new look. But if you don’t have a trendy friend nearby who’d let you raid her wardrobe, Dig ‘N’ Swap makes life a little easier. First, you gotta dig: find things in your own closet that you’re ready to part with; then take digital photos of them and upload them to the Dig ‘N’ Swap website. Next, browse until you find something you love. The site is simple to navigate: you can search by keyword or click on the type of clothing or accessory you need. You can also click on the brands listed, from DKNY to Prada. Place a bid using one (or all) of the items you’d like to trade. Then, if your bid is accepted, voila! You’ve successfully swapped. Now you can feel great about scoring new fashions without negatively impacting the environment.

That’s the mission behind Dig ‘N’ Swap: to put less strain on natural resources “by allowing an item to go through several lives.” So what are you waiting for? Ready… set… swap!

A few highlights from my “digging”:

“Like new” Anne Taylor heels

Marc Jacobs pink winter coat

Vintage black Prada handbag

Kenneth Cole black leather rosebud heels featured top.

Growers of traditional, chemical dependent cotton would like us to believe that pesticide and fertilizer residue do not persist in the clothing we wear.  However, when gallons of chemicals are used on cotton plants – the oft-quoted ¾ pound of chemicals to grow enough cotton for one pair of jeans…not surprisingly some chemicals are absorbed by the cotton and then into our skin.

Is it possible to remove every trace of these toxic chemicals? And what effect do these chemicals have on our skin and bodies? While we know the answer the first question is yes, through the advent of certified organic cotton production and textile manufacturing, the latter remains to be answered. In the meantime, if you could eliminate harmful chemicals from any of the clothing you currently wear, which would you choose first?

Given the above information, I would have to choose intimates. Worn next to our most sensitive skin day and day out– bras, camisoles, underwear… well, they seem like a good place to start.

So here’s a round up of organic intimates: from the staples to the sublime

Faerie’s Dance carries plenty of well-priced basics. They have ethically sourced and manufactured hipsters, thongs, boyshorts and classic panties. Stock up on three-packs of bamboo/organic cotton panties here, plus a selection of bras and camisoles.

Rawganique’s is another good place to purchase basics. As well as panties, there are camisoles and a selection of bras like this lightweight gathered bra.  For guys, they carry hemp boxers, reportedly exceptionally soft and comfortable.

Ecoland’s soft bras and hipsters are undyed organic cotton, available in underwire and wireless styles. And for guys, Ecoland also offers men’s boxers and briefs.

Spirit of Nature, a UK based company, has a huge range, from basics, in bamboo and organic cotton, to silk, and even organic maternity and nursing bras.  They cater to men with boxer shorts too.

For something a little more special, Ciel make silk and cotton lingerie, like these lace-embellished boyshorts and matching cache coeur bra which are ethical with zero style sacrifice.

Ciel boyshorts featured above.

Enamore’s organic silk bras, panties, camisoles, and bridal lingerie are sure to cause a sensation!

The Oko Box has custom-made vintage style undies, made from deadstock vintage and new organic fabrics, like these darling paper bag waist bloomers.

And speaking of bags… Triumph created a bra for the Japanese market which converts into a shopping bag. The bra’s padding unfolds into the bag, which is hooked together by the underwire. The No! Shopping Bag Bra is actually quite pretty, but I’m not sure I grasp the concept… undressing in the grocery store? It’s really designed to highlight the 30 million plastic shopping bags thrown away in Japan annually.

I’m staying with my conventional reusable shopping bags, and hoping that someone special will treat me to something from Stella McCartney’s organic lingerie collection!

Photo top: Stella McCartney’s lingerie collection

Post by Brit