<![CDATA[GlamBoulevard]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/feed/4e816495de5821d251fbd70fff6579c2 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:02:28 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Green is the new black vs. New, old treaures.]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1f2a92db8160fea4bab7d9f339d267f5 http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1f2a92db8160fea4bab7d9f339d267f5  

All over the fashion world, people are saying, “green is the new black.”

On the streets of Toronto a new kind of It girlis in town - and you won’t find her in Holt Renfrew. She is the recessionista - the thrifty woman with a killer sense of style.

With the global movement to “go green” in full swing, with everything from Earth Hour, to organic produce, it was only a matter of time before the fashion industry followed suit.

Major brand names like, H&M, as well as designers like Katherine Hamnett, are taking a step into living harmoniously with the hip, tree-huggers of the world, with their snazzy, new, green threads.

According to Katherine Hamnett’s website, organic cotton – one aspect of eco-friendly clothing – is cotton grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers in soil that has been chemical-free for at least the last three years. Besides being pesticide-free, organic cotton can also help farmers get as much as a 50% increase in their income, as it costs less to produce than conventional cotton, which is responsible for using 25% of the world’s pesticides.

“The difference is ethical. By choosing organic cotton t-shirts you’ll feel how soft, stylish and luxurious they are. More importantly, you’ll help change thousands of lives for the better,” said Hamnett on her site.

“I will always try to pick the organic over the regular product, even though the price difference can sometimes be silly. I know no pesticides were used on it, and that helps me sleep better at night,” said Holly Jackson, who is in charge of a sustainability committee at the University of Maryland. “I think if people knew the bad effects of pesticides, they’d be a lot more inclined to pay the extra dollar for an organic item.”

The idea of ‘green living’ attached to organic clothing is supposed to be a key feature that should appeal to most fashion-conscious folks. However, with an average price of about $110.00 to let designers like Hamnett bring a little more ‘green’ to your closet, it’s no wonder the trend of the recessionista which is sweeping the city like your new, organic blush brush has come out to show us all how to look like a million bucks without actually spending that much. Amanda Reyes, a second-year arts and contemporary student at Ryerson Universityprefers the path of the recessionista over what she says is the sometimes, “expensive and sketchy,” ways of organic clothing in mainstream brands. Reyes uses the scandal surrounding Lululemon and their “seaweed t-shirts.”

In November, last year, a front-page expose in The New York Timesreported that its independent testing laboratory didn’t detect any seaweed in a randomly selected ‘VitaSea’ Lululemon T-shirt. “Personally, I would rather go to Value Village, CTS, or Black Market, and pay six bucks for a really cool, vintage-y blouse – as opposed to paying a ridiculous amount of money for a plain t-shirt,” said Reyes. “And besides, who wants seaweed in their clothing?”

At H&M, organic cotton t-shirts costs about twice as much as a regular t-shirts. This is why Brittany Schein from Oklahoma City, Okla. thinks that the ‘green movement’ is nothing more than a carefully-crafted marketing scheme. “Caring about the environment is the trend right now. They know that if people see a regular shirt versus an organic one, they will buy it – even if it is a little more expensive,” said Schein.

Nina B, a student from Boston, Mass. said, “I have one ‘organic cotton’ dress from H&M, but I would have bought it if it was regular cotton. The fact that it had a special tag didn’t influence my decision to buy it.”

Another online magazine that has set its sights on creating a greener closet for us all is treehugger.com, a website that “sympathizes with the fact that most people aren’t willing to compromise their current lifestyle in order to improve our shared environment,” and understands that by living green through “education and action … you don’t need to run off to live with the wolves to contribute to the betterment of Mother Nature.“

Though it may be true that most of us aren’t looking through Craigslistfor a new, howling roommate, it may just be a little unfair to say that we won’t budge to save our planet. The movement of the recessionista takes on a ‘Fashion without victim’ approach – one shared by Katherine Hamnett, only with a lower price tag.

“I do think that it’s [thrifting and buying vintage] exponentially more ‘green’ than ‘organic’ garments. Producing more clothing still uses more resources – even if some are ‘organic,’ still pollutes,” said Nina B. “To me, it just seems like a way for people to spend money and then pat themselves on the back for being ‘green.’”

Even some firm believers in the ‘green movement’ remain cautious when it comes to buying into ‘buying green.’ Jackson said, “A lot of brands ‘greenwash’ people now. By making an item seem environmentally friendly, when really, they only care about the profit.”

In the battle between seemingly eco-friendly corporations and savvy recessionistas, it is unclear which side is “greener” (pun most definitely intended). For one, buying more things – even if they are organic – isn’t necessarily ‘green,’ as valuable resources are still being used up. And, although it would appear that refraining from over-consumption of brand-new, fabulous threads is significantly greener, some used, vintage items like real fur and leather don’t exactly spread feelings of ‘eco-love’ to some of the Earth’s creatures.

So, just some friendly advice from one self-proclaimed ‘couture connoisseur’ to another – go ahead, shop new and organic, or shop vintage. Just remember to stay informed, stay thrifty, stay stylish, and try not to get caught up in all of the corporate hype. The choice is always yours. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:18:51 +0000 organic organic cotton dress organic garments organic produce organic cotton t-shirts organic item organic blush brush organic cotton launch organic garments Green is the new black vs. New, old treaures. <![CDATA[Fashion sCares]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/37d36a8e5b304889ce4a19321688abca http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/37d36a8e5b304889ce4a19321688abca After last year’s chilly Distillery District stint in May, the 22nd annual Fashion Cares, changed things up. The event took place last night, Nov. 1st at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, with a spooky new theme, “Fashion sCares”. For this years theme, imagine haute couture meets Alfred Hitchcock films like Birds, Rear Window and Vertigo, all hosted by the fabulous local filmmaker, David Furnish.

The model’s strutted their extravagant costumes down a gorgeous, spooky runway to a live performance of wonderful Katy Perry and Kreesha Turner.

All of the money raised for and at fashion cares through buying tickets and a silent auction, is donated to the AIDS committee of Toronto which was founded in 1983 and provides information as well as emotion and social support services to men and women and youth living with HIV in Toronto.

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]]> Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:40:05 +0000 fashion scares fabulous local filmmaker calvin klein underwear dior phone line unable line wonderful katy perry spooky runway imagine haute couture Fashion sCares <![CDATA[Christina Aguilera to design for TopShop?]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/e20d6eb7adb48c4f47c7f1feb7bb331c http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/e20d6eb7adb48c4f47c7f1feb7bb331c Uh Oh, something doesn’t seem right?

Miss Christina Aguilera was spotted leaving the TopShop head offices in London after her performance at the Africa Rising Festival.

No confirmation yet, but really…… from Kate Moss to Christina Aguilera?

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]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:51:33 +0000 christina aguilera miss christina aguilera topshop head offices sergio rossi glamboulevard loves karolina kurkova agyness deyn movie news kidrobot launches Christina Aguilera to design for TopShop? <![CDATA[Catherine Malandrino turns 10]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/ae063fdd43289396c856fbd2ffab02f2 http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/ae063fdd43289396c856fbd2ffab02f2 Fashion designer, Catherine Malandrino turns ten this year. The France-born designer who now works in New York, has a high-profile clinetele, with wearers like Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Heidi Klum and Sandra Bullock.

Malandrino started off designing for Dorothee Bis, Emanuel Ungaro and Diane von Furstenberg.
She founded Catherine Malandrino in 1998.

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]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:33:47 +0000 catherine malandrino malandrino york york warehouse sale diane von furstenberg lady carla bruni fashion designer angelina jolie vanity fair Catherine Malandrino turns 10 <![CDATA[Britney Spears to release 7th perfume: Hidden Fantasy]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1aecf45eabd18468cf09b64ee5b8d8f5 http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1aecf45eabd18468cf09b64ee5b8d8f5

Now you too can channel your inner (hopefully sober and unaltered) Britney Spears with the realease of her seventh fragrance, Hidden Fantasy.

Described as a “seductive scent that is all about expressing the many mysterious sides of a woman,” Spears’ scent will be released in Januray 2009 - just one month after her 27th birthday and the release of her sixth album, appropriately titled, Circus.

Hidden Fantasy a mix of cherry scent with a hint of vanilla,” and will also be encased in the same spherical bottle as previous perfumes: Fantasy, and Midnight Fantasy - with the exception of a new, red colour.

Call it a get-well-soon / birthday / glad-to-see-you’re-sane-again present, and pick one up for you or one of your train wreck-y, or Britney-esque friends. They’re sure to love it.

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]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:19:08 +0000 fantasy midnight fantasy hardy launches love britney spears love seventh fragrance ryoko perfumes collection fragrance lexington avenue perfume Britney Spears to release 7th perfume: Hidden Fantasy <![CDATA[Preview: Kate Moss Christmas TopShop collection]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/9d432a59db67cfe58e1363fac9716f3e http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/9d432a59db67cfe58e1363fac9716f3e Kate Moss’ TOPSHOP collection has been crazy successful since her first launch last year. Now, designing her Christmas collection, we can expect “vintage-inspired blouses, brocade trousers, and floorsweeping sequined gowns,” so Kate obliged the Sunday Times Style Magazine.

My favourite piece is the dress she designed inspired by a panther t-shirt she wore a lot at a teenager.

It is amazing.. check it out.

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]]> Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:55:30 +0000 moss collection moss unveils topshop christmas collection moss graces moss topshop collection topshop launches breast cancer care Preview: Kate Moss Christmas TopShop collection <![CDATA[Victoria Beckham does Vogue India (November 2008)]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/277bebb7c856534dd3b0739b8de4351a http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/277bebb7c856534dd3b0739b8de4351a The style chameleon, other wise known as Victoria Beckham nabs the cover of Vogue India for next month. Dressed in traditional Indian bridal wear, Mrs Beckham wears a red sari, and wig.

In the interview, Victoria candidly says  “I’ve never played safe with my image”, and it reflects in her many fashion, beauty, more specifically hair changes in the past decade.
I’ve attached the photos for your enjoyment.

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]]> Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:36:06 +0000 victoria beckham victoria beckham nabs victoria beckham unveils fashion vogue india design fashion line traditional indian bridal eva longoria parker past decade Victoria Beckham does Vogue India (November 2008) <![CDATA[Is Gisele Bundchen planning a wedding?]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/24c808463815b56f282fd7fd6cb3df82 http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/24c808463815b56f282fd7fd6cb3df82 Rumours have it that Bundchen was talking to party planners at Tavern on the Green in Central Park to plan the reception there after they take their vows.

Well, here are some more rumours for you! Rumours are rife that Supermodel Gisele Bundchen is planning a wedding to boyfriend Tom Brady. Rumours started swirling after she reportedly planned a wedding reception at a New York restaurant.

 

 

They pair have been dating since Bundchen’s split from actor Leonardo DiCaprio in 2005. It also followed the split between the New England Patriots quarterback from his ex, Bridget Moynahan. They have a one-year-old child together.

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]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:07:34 +0000 gisele supermodel gisele rumours split boyfriend tom brady bundchens split england patriots quarterback actor leonardo dicaprio reception Is Gisele Bundchen planning a wedding? <![CDATA[Canadian fashion designer returns to the catwalk]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/2bced9961435a23688ffc69231141551 http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/2bced9961435a23688ffc69231141551  

 

 

 

 

After a 15-year absence, Alfred Sung made a grand entrance back into fashion during Toronto Fashion week. While Bridal wear usually closes the event, yesterday was an exception with Sung opening Fashion Week with Alfred Sung Bridal, which took place at Nathan Phillips Square.

 His ‘White Collection’ included many exuberant gowns in white, bone and cream. Some were strapless gowns of taffeta while others had Swarovski crystal trims. His gowns range in price from $1,000-$3,000.

The Canadian design legend has everyone in mind when making his designs. His lines are affordable and this stresses his motto that it’s easy to afford timeless elegance in this day and age and you can achieve it at any price point.

The 60-year old designer had 32 models for 32 gowns at his Fashion Week show. He didn’t want models rushing around backstage to change into another gown. His strategy for this was to stay away from creating flustered models, instead keeping them feeling calm and therefore showcasing his designs by making a grand entrance.

Sung has a signature ‘modern classics’ taste that he tries to keep themed to all his products.

His other enterprises include Alfred Sung eyewear, Alfred Sung menswear for Moores, Alfred Sung Home, and Alfred Sung fragrances.

Moores now carries an Alfred Sung tuxedo and Alfred Sung Christmas ornaments will soon be available at Zellers.

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]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:38:03 +0000 gowns toronto fashion week strapless gowns fashion week gowns range designs john galliano designs line grand entrance Canadian fashion designer returns to the catwalk <![CDATA[Jewelry of the day: The garden ring by Hafsteinn Juliusson]]> http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1480c142b0a398c2f1d3520df0b19c6a http://mobile.fashionratty.com/article/1480c142b0a398c2f1d3520df0b19c6a

Check this out! A combination of jewelry and gardening… mixed into brass knuckle-like ring(s). Jewelery designer, Hafsteinn Júlíusson has brought an element of nature into everyday fashion.

Before you run out to get one of these little garden gems, you must keep in mind that the moss-like plant is real, and requires to be watered daily in order to make sure the jewelery looks it’s best.

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]]> Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:02:28 +0000 jewelry launch jewelry line launch contemporary jewelry twins jewelry collection free jewelry line jewelry designer jewelery designer jewelery Jewelry of the day: The garden ring by Hafsteinn Juliusson