Category Archives: Ethical

February 21, 2015 · 11:19 pm

Going Boho with Jeans and a Jacket

Do you ever start creating an outfit from a single piece? In this case, I started with my shoes. I loved the sage green faux suede boots when I saw them online. They might not be the most neutral color but I’m determined to fit them in with my existing wardrobe.

Blouse: Bébénoir
Jacket: Forever 21
Jeans: Swapped
Shoes: Michael Antonio via DSW
Necklace: Brooklyn flea market
Cuff: The Base Project
Purse: Freedom of Animals

Jeans seemed like a safe bet. When I added my blouse, with its tone on tone embroidery, I felt slightly bohemian. So I embraced that boho feeling and added a peace sign necklace and PVC pipe cuff with a tribal vibe.

My velvet moto jacket has made an appearance here before, and it’s such a classic style, that you can bet you’ll see it here again. I like pieces that I can wear in many different ways.

I can’t forget my purse by Freedom of Animals. I’ve wanted one of their bags for a while and jumped at the chance when I visited a Nordstrom eco pop-up shop on its last day and saw this on sale. Score! Freedom of Animals makes quality animal-free bags with great structure.

Another Lois Eastlund Dress

I can’t get enough of Lois Eastlund’s designs. Imagine the stroke of luck I had a year and a half ago when my mom and I met her at her pop-up shop in the Chelsea Market in NYC. I bought two of her dresses that day, ordered another online later that year, and bought another dress when I saw her at The Seed last summer.

That would be this color-blocked number:

I love these mod, cotton dresses, and I appreciate that they are made in the US. Supporting a vegan-designer is the icing on the vegan cake!

Dress: Lois Eastlund
Tights: Fred Meyer
Faux suede booties: Old Navy

I liked this dress because it has long sleeves (my others by her are sleeveless). It’s perfect for winter in Seattle.

If you like Lois’ designs, you might want to check out the new online fashion magazine she launched recently: La Fashionista Compassionista. It’s a fantastic look at the latest from the world of cruelty-free fashion and beauty. And it’s free–so get your subscription today!

I’m joining Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet and Fun Fashion Friday at Fashion Should be Fun. Check out what everyone else is wearing!

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as dress, fashion, Lois Eastlund, style, tights, vegan

December 28, 2014 · 8:34 pm

Anniversary Date

It’s hard to believe that December 24th marked my 8th wedding anniversary to hubby.

It’s a busy week, with Christmas and New Year in the mix, but we made time to get downtown to ride the Seattle Great Wheel, a 175-foot-tall waterfront Ferris wheel.

hubby

The views it offers are spectacular.

After riding the wheel, we wandered around downtown, peeking in storefronts and watching last-minute shoppers trying to complete their lists.

It’s hard to find places to eat dinner on our anniversary, because a lot of restaurants close early on Christmas Eve. Luckily, hotels are often the exception. We ate in the Boka Restaurant in the Hotel 1000. They had a great chickpea burger, which surprisingly went well with champagne!

After dinner, we crossed the street to another hotel, the Alexis, and had a celebratory drink in their bar, called, oddly enough, The Bookstore.

I wouldn’t be a very responsible fashion blogger if I didn’t at least mention my outfit. Under my cozy pink scarf and warm, wool-free coat (by Vaute Couture), I had on this outfit.

Blazer: Bebe via Goodwill
Top: Swapped
Leggings: Fred Meyer’s
Pleather boots: Diba
Vegan purse: Stella McCartney
Necklace: Swapped

I hope you had a great Christmas. Happy New Year!

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Filed under Ethical, Events, Fashion

Tagged as anniversary, blazer, boots, fashion, ferris wheel, marriage, Seattle, Seattle Great Wheel, stella mccartney, style, vegan

November 24, 2014 · 7:17 pm

Monochromatic Look with Paisley Pants

While I was wine tasting in Walla Walla this past summer, I popped into a neat clothing store in the center of the quaint city center and found these paisley jeans.

Top: Gifted
Jeans: Boutique in Walla Walla
Shoes: Beyond Skin

They’re a neat twist on white jeans black paisley is actually velvet. Paisley is a classic pattern, and black and white is a chic color combo so I didn’t think I could go wrong. Plus, they were on sale.

I paired my denim with a simple black top that my mom bought for me. I like that it’s a knit but it has shirttails like a woven, button-up shirt.

I thought adding a pop of color with my yellow and white Gunas bag would be fitting. Gunas is an all-vegan line of quality, stylish purses. I’ve lusted after a Gunas bag for a while now so when I saw their booth at The Seed in NYC this past summer, I bought one (in fact, you can see the purse in the background of one of my photos–I was holding the red bag, but I settled on the yellow and white one).

Are you a fan of purses, shoes, or both?

4 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as denim, fashion, jeans, paisley, style, vegan

November 2, 2014 · 12:28 am

Splurge vs Steal: Boots Edition

A few years ago, I found a pair of black leather Louboutins at a consignment shop. They were still expensive, but much more within reach than a new pair. I bought them. I also liked that since they weren’t new, I could buy them (I’d been staying away from new leather since I went vegan in 2000).

Well, I’ve had a change of heart. I don’t even wear used leather now because there are so many alternatives and I prefer to support vegan companies like Cri de Coeur and Novacas.

So I sold my Louboutins, along with my pre-owned Manolos, a couple of pair of Jimmy Choos, and some Fluevogs. With my windfall, I started replacing my shoes. The first pair I found were dead-ringers for the booties I’d sold. Have a look:

Audrey Brook might not be a coveted brand or household word, and they don’t have a trademark red sole, but they fit well, are made of synthetic material, and cost 5% of a pair of new Louboutins. Yes, they were $50 (the Louboutins were $995 new).

The new ones aren’t quite as high, but that’s fine with me. Weather you stay away from leather or are just looking for not spend all your rent money on a pair of shoes, these will do the trick!

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Tagged as boots, DSW, ethical, fashion, faux leather, leather, Louboutin, shoes, style, vegan

October 2, 2014 · 6:40 am

Black and Gray Tunic and Leggings

Here’s another #tbt (Throwback Thursday) post. It’s an outfit I just wore last week, but the picture was taken last fall. Sometimes my posts-to-pictures ratio gets out of whack and I find myself with a surplus. And since this I still a look I like, I’m sharing it today.

Top: ecoSkin
Leggings: Victoria’s Secret
Boots: DSW
Purse: Susan Nicole

I got this tunic when I was in New York last year. It’s by ecoSkin, a “green” clothing company from California that uses environmentally friendly fabrics and strives to be earth-conscious and minimize their carbon footprint. I’ve seen people wear this as a top, but I think they might have been shorter than me. For me, this is the perfect tunic, so I paired it with black leggings and tall boots.

My boots are half pleather and half neoprene (scuba material) so they have a nice, snug fit without being tight. I’m always on the lookout for great vegan shoes and boots–surprisingly, there are lots (just look into my shoes closet and you’ll see).

I won–yes won–this amazing Susan Nicole bag at last year’s Walk for Farm Animals. Of all the raffle items, this was my favorite and as luck would have it, I won! Susan Nicole makes an amazing line of vegan leather, eco-conscious handbags.

I do love the comfort of leggings and the look of boots, even though I’m not one of the people who can’t wait for fall. I mourn the end of summer each year. But fall is a good time to start plotting a winter getaway!

9 Comments

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Tagged as boots, ecoSkin, fashion, leggings, style, Susan Nicole, TBT, vegan

September 16, 2014 · 10:52 pm

The Perfect Dress

This really is The Perfect Dress–well, that’s what it’s called on Betabrand, where I bought it.

Dress: Betabrand
Shoes: Payless
Belt: Steve Madden
Sunglasses: Old Navy
Earrings: Shirazi

I have a few things from Betabrand, but this is the first piece I’ve posted about so far. Betabrand is a company in San Francisco that designs and manufactures clothing based on what their fans choose. Through crowdfunding, new designs enter the market. Betabrand has really neat ideas like work-appropriate bikewear, reversible blazers, and this perfect dress.

It even has pockets! And I’ll be able to carry it into fall. But what drew me to the dress was the pattern. The turquoise, blues, and reds reminded me of Santa Fe. It also comes in other really cute patterns. When the dress arrived in the mail, shortly after funding was complete and the dresses were made, I thought it might be too long. I debated chopping a couple of inches off. Then I remembered that I already have a lot of short, summer dresses and this length might just be, well, perfect.

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Tagged as Betabrand, dress, fashion, made in America, made in the USA, style, thrifty fashion

September 10, 2014 · 9:30 pm

Chevrons and Gold

I’m drawn to Missoni-style pattern (despite not having any Missoni myself–well, not counting the Missoni for Target dress I got at a clothing swap). This dress, however, reminds me of a Missoni: colors, chevrons and all.

Dress: Bebenoir
Belt: Steve Madden
Clutch: Shiraleah
Shoes: Cri de Coeur
Necklace: Herbivore Clothing
Cuff: Citizen Rosebud on Etsy

Now, what you don’t see is the texture of the dress. It’s a printed woven material, not a knit. So there are differences. I like it all the same. Plus, it reminds me of my fabulous trip to NYC last year, because that’s where I bought it.

I wore the gold cuff I bought from Citizen Rosebud’s Etsy shop. One-of-a-kind, I’m afraid. But Rosebud always has great things in her shop, so check it out and see what you can find!

My Cri de Coeur gold platforms worked well with the dress, and I threw in a bit of brass with my vegan sailor-style pendant from Herbivore Clothing. Who says vegans aren’t stylish?

I’m joining Style Elixir, Pleated Poppy and Transatlantic Blonde for linkups. See what everyone else is wearing!

8 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as dress, fashion, style, thrifty fashion, vegan, vintage

August 10, 2014 · 9:08 pm

Floral Dress for a New York Day

I’m in New York again! I’m having such a fantastic time and I’m so busy that I’m almost forgetting to blog! I’m here with my parents and so far we’ve gone to dance performances, flea markets, jazz concerts, museums, and vegan restaurants–I even got my hair cut here. We still have Shakespeare and comedy on the agenda.

Today we went to a fantastic event in Soho called The Seed. It’s a plant-based experience complete with vegan food, cooking demos, beauty products, clothing, animal rescue organizations, and fabulous speakers. I got to see Lois Eastlund again too–she’s the designer I met last year. You might remember her name from the mint dress I posted. In fact, Lois told me about the event. I’m so glad she did! I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this!

Dress: Forever 21
Shoes: Reneu
Purse: Crystalyn Kae

I was in heaven before I even entered the building. The Cinnamon Snail vegan food truck was selling scrumptious sandwiches outside.

Once inside, I posed on the red carpet before checking out the booths.

I found one of my favorite handbag companies–Gunas–and they were having a sale!

I got to meet Jenny Brown of Woodstock Animal Sanctuary, and Tha Vegan Dread, a professional bodybuilder (who’s as nice as he is strong).

After looking at all sorts of products and learning about great animal organizations, we headed over to Mooshoes, a vegan shoe store that happened to be having a shop-up event with baked goods and other vegan product from local vendors.

The Seed is yet another reason why I love New York!

I’m linking up to Visible Monday today. See what all the other bloggers are up to.

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Filed under Ethical, Events, Fashion

Tagged as ballet flats, Crystalyn Kae, dress, fashion, style

August 3, 2014 · 5:22 pm

Unbleached Cotton Dress

Last fall I bought two dresses at The Natural Clothing Company in Snohomish, WA. The first, my color-blocked dress, is a bit dressier than this one. I like this one because it’s natural, unbleached cotton with a bit of a prairie flair.

Dress: The Natural Clothing Company
Boots: Qupid
Belt: Wet Seal
Sweater: Old Navy

I wore it with tall, brown, lace-up boots, but it will look good with a nice wedge-heel sandal too. I’m thinking red! For now, I stuck to neutrals. My wide belt added an interesting touch, but I’ve worn this without a belt and it works.

My gold cardi is dressier than the original prairie feel I thought I was rockin’ but I think it’s a nice high-low effect. As a sleeveless dress, I thought a cardi would help carry this into fall–not that I want to think about the end of summer just yet!