Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Polished Beauty Bar: Indulge in a Healthy Mani and Pedi

Sneaking away from work for 45 minutes to do something nice for yourself every once in a while is the best. In fact, it keeps me sane! I find it to be a terrific way to recalibrate my thoughts and recharge so that I’m at my best the rest of the day.

In between a flurry of meetings on the Upper West Side recently, I welcomed the opportunity to toss off my heels and treat myself to a healthy pedicure at Polished Beauty Bar, a cozy and chic UWS salon.

I found the service to be impeccable, the staff as friendly as can be, and more importantly, I really liked the products they offered. A wide selection of non-toxic Zoya nail polishes (free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor) made it fun to select a color (I wound up going with this pretty number).   I savored every minute of my leg and foot massage with Pharmacopia’s paraben-free and vegan Citrus Body Oil.

While my toes were drying (I know, tough life), I caught up with Polished Beauty Bar’s co-owner, Susan Nam. She explained that she and her sister Micki were inspired to create the salon after feeling like second-class citizens at their local nail joints, where a lack of cleanliness and customer appreciation were the norm.

Susan and Micki longed for a charming and clean UWS salon that delivered high-quality and long-lasting manis and pedis. Both of them being seasoned beauty-biz professionals, they decided to collaborate on a dream salon that’s well worth a trip uptown, no matter where you live or work.

 

Who Made YOUR Pants? (Or, Shall We Say, Undies?)

Victoria’s Secret drove me nuts even before they were accused of their most recent child-labor scandal. With high prices for low quality, their kinda-cheesy designs that have to be dug through to find anything cute, and their puke-pink-overload stores (hey, I like a little pink, see above but VC takes it to a level that’s just insulting to the color), I finally gave up on the retailer a few years ago.

I know I’m not the only one looking for alternatives.

Enter Who Made Your Pants, a British project (but they ship worldwide) that upcycles unused lace from the garment industry into new undies. And they benefit refugee women.

And I’m so into the way they talk about their company: C’mon, this just sounds like they are directly addressing all the unethical lingerie companies out there: “We also think that it’s not really on for anyone to be made to work in bad conditions just for a cheap pair of pants. Who could feel lovely in something made in a bad place? So we make our pants in a great place.” LOVE!!!

And these undies aren’t just making the world a better place – they are making your butt a smoother place too. They are designed to have no visible panty line (VPL), stay in place, and (GOOD GOD) be comfortable all day long. I’ve died and gone to underwear heaven!

“Who Made Your Pants is structured as a worker co-op, creating jobs and training for refugee women in Southampton. Who Made Your Pants was set up specifically to empower women. The women it employs and works with are primarily refugees, from Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sudan – often places where there have been wars. They may have been educated or worked, they may not, so their needs are all different and Who Made Your Pants’ training and support varies in relation to need.”

More Great Green Undies from Eco Chick:
Artful Undergarments: Rio Wrenn’s Eco Lingerie
Collection
Lovely Lingerie That Just Happens to Be Eco
Under the Root: Sexy Eco Lingerie

Funnytime: Portlandia’s “How to Recycle Everything”

I was raised in the great state of New York, but as a teenager in the 90′s, I totally idolized the Pacific Northwest – everything from the music (Temple of the Mother Love Bone JamGarden!) to the clothes (plaidplaidplaid) to the beer. I even thought the guys from there were cuter. (The fact that my boyfriend today is from Oregon is no random thing – when I first heard about him via our mutual friend I remember being really excited about the detail that he was from the Northwest).

In the last year or so, I’ve gotten to travel to Portland and Seattle, and it’s pretty much as awesome as I was expecting. (I even had a ‘dream achieved’ joy-meltdown in a bar in Eugene, OR). So I was really worried when I first heard about the IFC show, Portlandia. I knew and liked Fred Armisen, and I thought I recognized co-creator Carrie Brownstein from somewhere….. but I was concerned the show would be stupid and everyone would laugh (or, not laugh, I guess) at it.

How wrong I was! While not every sketch is full of unicorn-popsicle-awesomepower, many of them are fall-off-the-couch hilarious. Both my grew-up-near-Portland boyfriend and I enjoy it muchly. Watch it!

A fun Eco Chickie-ish sketch below about recycling will whet your palate. (Oh, and Carrie Brownstein? She was the lead singer for Sleater-Kinney, a band I have been listening to, on and off, since I was 17. She must be the coolest girl in the world, sigh.)

Haley Chats with Lauren Conrad: Sustainable Resolutions, What’s Blue Avocado, and More

I love Lauren Conrad, so I was thrilled to have the chance to interview her a second time! Most known for her chic fashion line, Paper Crown, as well as famed books Style, LA Candy and Sugar and Spice, Conrad recently collaborated with BlueAvocado on an eco accessories line that’s due out this summer. You can follow Conrad @LaurenConrad and keep up to date on laurenconrad.com. Below she dishes all about her new eco accessories line and how she lives a sustainable life.

Haley Sherif:  It’s such a treat to be interviewing you again! How were your holidays? Did you get some time for well-deserved rest and relaxation?

Lauren Conrad: Thank you! This holiday my family did something fun and went on a cruise. We try, every holiday season to spend time as a family. My mom, dad, brother, sister and I all get together and just spent quality time. It is the best.

Haley Sherif: Tell me about your “green” resolutions.

Lauren Conrad: For me it is about starting small and inspiring others to do the same. I think that people should find resolutions that are right for them. It isn’t about changing your entire life in one day, but taking steps daily to make better choices.

HS:  I love Blue Avocado. It looks adorable. When did this collaboration come about?

LC: I was first introduced to them last Spring when I went down to Texas to meet the founders. For me, the partnership represents a synergy of all the things I love to do—design great products and do something cause related.  I just loved BlueAvocado’s mission of inspiring a reusable lifestyle where looking good and doing good can co-exist. I was also really inspired by the company as a whole. It is founded by women and it has always been important to me to teach young girls that as females we can come together and live out our dreams.

HS: What’s your favorite thing about your new eco line?

LC: In general, I love the idea that the entire collection is made from reclaimed plastic bottles, so we are keeping them out of landfills and oceans. I am also excited about some of the beauty carrier products, which is an entirely new line I helped inspire. Each of the products will include an impact label so people can see the carbon footprint of the product, how many plastic bottles were upcycled, and the waste avoided with each use.  It is the ultimate in reuse and recycle. Plus the bags are super cute!

HS:  Why did you decide to do a green accessories line? What inspired you?

LC: Growing up in California, I grew up with an appreciation for the natural beauty of our beaches, which were my playground. It is heartbreaking to learn about how the build up of garbage in oceans is compromising marine animals and their habitats. I really wanted to make it easy for people to do something without sacrificing style or function and understanding the impact of conscious design. Taking just the smallest first step can create a ripple of awareness where greater change can take place. I think that lifestyle accessories are a great way to take that first step.

HS: How does this line differ from Paper Crown?

LC: This line is accessories and mainly bags. Paper Crown is clothing.

HS: How do you live a healthy green life? 

LC: I start by first and foremost being aware of the environment. Recycling is a first step that really is easy. I also use recyclable materials such as reusable bags rather than plastic.

HS: Do you have any favorite eco lines?

LC: I think it is still such a new space that I am learning about, but I am fascinated by all the innovative options available.

 HS: Any other green collaborations or projects on the horizon?

LC: We definitely have some great new collaborations in the works. I am learning so much from my collaboration with BlueAvocado regarding everything from sustainable fabrics, to micro-enterprise, to the importance of social impact businesses and entrepreneurs. I am just excited to launch our first collaborative line this summer!

Thanks Lauren! For more dishes check out the fashion dish!

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Conscious Style Inspiration at Fashioning Change

Fashioning Change is intent on, well, changing the face of fashion. Users select the name-brands they’re familiar with, and their recommendation engine serves up sustainable and ethical alternatives, based on price point and style.

Ahhh, someone finally bridging the gap effectively between consumers and the great green brands we love.

If you fancy following celeb fashion, the San Diego-based company will help you land the looks better with their just-launched “Get the Looks.” Now you can easily one up — ahem … I mean recreate — some of your favorite fashion-forward celebs’ looks with the site’s eco-chic recommendations.

Jessica Alba will have nothing on you.

The site’s co-founder, Adriana Herrera, is a young, driven, tech-savvy superstar who has set out to revolutionize the fashion industry.

“We’re all about using top emerging technology for social good.”

Watch their newest style video:

 

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