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

On Trend for Spring: Five Vintage Graphic Looks with Indy Flair

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by Starre Vartan · 03/06/12

Guest post by Barbara at Chronologie Vintage.

Sometimes it’s hard being a “green” fashionista. We love expressing ourselves with clothing, but we worry about the impact that clothes—even organic ones—have on the earth.

I started Chronologie Vintage Clothes in 2011 because I wanted to share my vision with other women. I believe all of us deserve to feel good in our skin and our clothing: When we take care of ourselves in this way and other ways, we have more to give the world.

Vintage clothes offer endless ways to express our individuality, and feel good doing it. Vintage (which is generally defined as at least 20 years old) is often better made than newer clothing, usually fits better, and is a whole lot less generic than much of what’s sold today.

Vintage clothing is more than just “used” stuff, though. In my shop, everything has to have some outstanding feature—a terrific color, fantastic fabric, unusual style, etc. I know what I like, and that’s my guiding principle in everything I buy.
Here are a few current favorites from my shop.

I found this one-of-a-kind dress last summer at a vintage market in Brussels. I got lost trying to find my family when I was done in the market. With no cell phone, I had to figure out a solution with a few euros and some bad French. This dress rode back to the US clutched in a bag on my lap…and I think it was worth all the effort.

This black silk blouse came from the same vintage market (yes, as I was lost in Brussels I was toting around a huuuge shopping bag). This blouse is so beautifully handmade by a tailor for some unknown European woman. It dates to the 1980s, but I think the cute tulip print looks like something you’d find at Urban Outfitters—very indie/hipster.
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60's, 70's, chronologie vintage, clothes, eco fashion, eco friendly, reuse, upcycling, vintage

10 Simple Ways to Reuse That Gift Wrap this Holiday!

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by Lindsay E. Brown · 12/23/11

I don’t know about you but I find much of the traditional gift wrap sold in stores to be – how to say this – tacky. But what’s even tackier is all of the waste that’s created from people opening up a gift, crumbling the paper into a ball and then tossing it in the trash.

You’re better than that.

Since you’ll likely be given gifts wrapped in a number of ways, many of which won’t be green, keep these very practical and easy ideas in mind for re-purposing the gift wrap you’re given this season.

1.) Store the wrapping paper and re-use it. You can iron out any kinks on low heat.

2.) If it’s crumbled beyond repair, keep it anyway! You can just shred it and use it as the filler in gift bags.
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Christmas, holiday, Recycling, reuse, upcycling, wrapping paper

Heroines for the Planet: Upcycled Bag Designer Monica Ralli

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by Lindsay E. Brown · 04/19/11

She’s a certified nutritionist, eco-entrepreneur, author and the reigning Queen of Green in the twitterverse. It’s no surprise that Monica Ralli, founder of Urthbags, is a Heroine for the Planet. Her wildly popular eco-bags provide jobs to underprivileged women worldwide as old, discarded objects are cleverly transformed into statement-making arm candy.

With her new book to be released this spring, I talked with the eco-chic bag extraordinaire about the fair-trade womens organizations with which she works, sustainable sourcing, and why she chooses to be a mouthpiece for the do-gooders in our world.
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accessories, bags, eco fashion, Fashion, heroines for the planet, upcycling

Jewelry for Eyebrows: Highbrow’s Haute Recyclage Looks Up

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by Alicia Lubowski-Jahn · 01/19/11

Accessories for eyebrows? Alicia Lubowski-Jahn says ‘Yes!’
Photo by: Kevin Kwan

With so many fashion and accessories designers working with recycled materials, it comes as a surprise that we’ve all ignored something right before our eyes…or I should say directly up above them.

HIGHBROW + CHROMEO WILLIAMSBURG WATERFRONT MIRRORRORRIM

Therein comes the designer Jessica Sapick, who recently launched Highbrow. Highbrow is Sapick’s line of handmade upcycled eyewear with signature clip-on eyebrow ornament.
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eyeglasses, eyewear, upcycling

Susan Harris Recycled Textiles Offer One-of-A-Kind Style

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 01/18/11

I first met Susan Harris four years ago at her studio in Toronto, and I was like a kid in a candy store as I sorted through recycled sweaters, gorgeous-pieced sweater sleeves (one of my favorite accessories of all-time), cashmere/woolen wraps, and cozy leg warmers. Susan’s effortless style and chic cuts make her fashion accessible and appealing.

Everything Susan makes is one-of-a-kind, though she does repeat themes and embellishments in her work. Contrast stitching, silk-screened nature-inspired images or text, and rough-hewn seems punctuate the aesthetic of Susan Harris fashions.
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creative reuse, eco fashion, Fashion, Recycling, upcycling