April 2008

Happy (belated) Earth Day! Even though Earth Day was yesterday, it’s still the season to consider the environment and make earth friendly choices. In some arenas that’s easy- I’m happy to use biodegradable dish soap and not wash my car. But in other areas, like fashion, it’s traditionally been a little tougher. Fortunately, eco chic has come a long way in the last few years. You might want to add a little ‘green’ dress to your spring shopping list.

Move over emeralds, there’s a new green stone in town. When my sister and I were little we thought beach glass was from mermaid dishware and would collect it. Now, Coke bottles, wine bottles and lucky pieces of beach glass are being made into stunning jewelry.

Bamboo is getting a ton of press right now as the sustainable fiber of the future. And there are a number of things to love about – it’s naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic. All of which make it great for close fitting garments.

Cotton accounts for 40% of global fiber production and 18% of pesticide usage world wide. But the good news is organic cotton is gaining ground and showing up in everything from sheets to denim. The next time you’re buying jeans or t-shirts, consider looking for an organic tag.

As a stylist I am often asked how I got started. Thanks to my family I can honestly say I have had a life time of training. My dad taught my friends and me how to walk in heels and encouraged my love of textiles. As an entrepreneur, he taught me how to keep going, but not when to give up. Today is his birthday and in honor of that, I thought I would share some of his fashion advice. Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad’s worn Levi’s 501s for 50+ years and is a firm believer in the independence and optimism represented by denim. Miners, cowboys, movies stars and First Ladies were all dressed by Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant. From solitary confinement in a Havana jail to a night on the town, you’ll be perfectly dressed in a good pair of jeans. A bootcut leg is universally flattering and works with heels, flats or boots.

He was diagnosed with melanoma when I was in junior high and had big chunk cut out of his arm. The lesson was pretty clear: stay out of the sun or risk visible permanent scarring, not to mention premature aging and death. So slather on some sunblock and wear a hat if you’re going to be sitting outside. And take advantage of the free skin cancer screenings next month to get a quick once over.

According to my dad, side slit skirts and suicide doors are the sexiest combination around. Suicide doors are hard to come by these days, but you can easily pick up a side slit skirt. And you should- the side view of a leg is attractive on everyone. Plus, they offer a safe range of motion that allows you to get on the bus without flashing everyone in line behind you.