The NOW Showcase, NYFW A/W 2010.
A well appointed and intoxicating selection of eco-conscious designers showcased during New York Fashion Week. Catch the recap in this video with previews of the A/W 2010 collections from Linda Loudermilk, JAI, Rebecka Froberg, SUST and Feral Childe.
Do you feel like your skin is looking a bit dull or ashy?… You are certainly not alone, but you don’t have to go spend loads of money on products and treatments to brighten your skin, and you can do it naturally.
A lot of products out there that are designed to help you with skin cell turnover- to reveal a more vibrant and youthful skin underneath- use natural plant based ingredients, but they are produced to have a shelf life and that is when you get the not-so-natural preservatives that stabilize the mixture.
By making up your own concoctions you eliminate those nasty ingredients and still reap the benefits of natural exfoliation. Here are a few foods to feed your skin.
1.) Lactic Acid- buttermilk and yogurt
2.) Tartaric Acid- grapes and wine
3.) Citric Acid- lemons and oranges
4.) Glycolic Acid- sugar cane
All of these foods have a naturally occurring acid property that can be used to off a layer of your already dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin. All you need is about half a Tablespoon of any of the above listed foods- apply it to your face, let it sit for 10 minutes and rinse off. You can do this once a week to help with cell regeneration. Be careful not to do this before or after extended exposure to sun, and use a good moisturizer to quench those new skin cells’ thirst when you are done.
Think Act Vote is a campaign recently launched to inspire people to think about what they believe in and how they use their vote. Bridging politics, ethics and creativity this newly appointed campaign is searching for a winning design for its carbon-neutral t-shirt, to help support and bring awareness to the initiative.
“Thousands of people have died and are dying all over the world for the right to vote. It is one of our most precious possessions. Use it before we loose it, ” advises Katharine Hamnett.
So, start the voting process now and either get in on the voting for the winning design or put your creative juices to use and make a submission. Submissions are accepted on the Think Act Vote website now until 12 noon on Sunday the 7th of March. A public vote will determine the shortlist of 10 designs that will then be presented to a judging panel consisting of some of the best known faces in ethical fashion, including Katharine Hamnett, Daisy de Villenueve and Cyndi Rhoades.
The winning design will be announced at a launch party in April. Go. Create. Now.
Time really is our most valuable asset. When we are young summers last forever and that akward age of 13 seems like it will never end. Yet, as we get older time goes faster. Have you noticed that? It isn’t long before months and then years have gone by in what feels like a blink. It goes without saying that usually our lives fell like they are going faster because they also become fuller. You have more people you connect and interact with, events to attend, meetings to hold, emails to write, and the list goes on and on. It is easy to take on the superhero approach and think, “I can do it all!” The truth is, you can- but then you would have to give up sleep.
A better tactic is to implement Pareto’s Principle and the rule of 80/20. Basically, you identify the 20% that gives you 80% of your profit. So, if you are focusing on getting EVERYBODY on board for a project you are working on, realign to focus on the 20% that generate 80% of the results. This typically translates to honing in on the big players. Or, if you are selling a product or service, identify the top 20% of your target market, they are usually the ones that give you an 80% return.
We don’t have to be everything to everyone. Instead, we need to pinpoint where our 80/20 relationships are and focus our energy on the manageable 20%.
Having changed over to a non-toxic beauty regime I thought that my nail spa days were forced behind me. That was until I stumbled upon Sakura and had the option of selecting their organic nail care- manicure and pedicure.
A sweet little spa tucked into the East Village on 1st Street, Sakura lures the passer-by in with an enticing setting complete with wood floors, deep green walls and a Japanese humidifier blowing out a thin steam in the corner.
Using the Priti natural nail polish line and the soy-based nail polish remover, the entire spa smells like an aroma therapy spa rather than a nail salon. There are no loud TVs blaring at you, instead they create the spa setting with relaxing music and an offering of green tea upon your arrival.
One of the best manicures I have had period- let alone in NYC- for a very reasonable $15. Be sure to call and book though, this little gem is quickly being uncovered.
I recently received this question from a reader and am really pleased that I feel I can offer some advice on the matter.
The first thing, after you have accurately identified that which you would like to change, is to make up your mind with unwavering will power that you are going to change this habit. The good news is, as humans, we are creatures of habit- so to go from one habit to another is more easily done than one would think. This is really useful if you can shift a ‘bad’ habit to a ‘good’ one.
So, look at what you are trying to change and replace the ‘bad’ with a good habit you want to cultivate. An example would be, “I don’t want to overeat anymore” so you replace that thought with, “I drink a glass of water before each meal to help regulate my appetite.” The important thing here is to replace the thoughts associated with the bad habit with new ones corresponding to a good habit you want to develop.
It comes back to the law of the Universe- where you put your mind and attention is what you will reap. So, even if you are thinking “I don’t want to do that” you are affirming it by putting energy there.
I am really an advocate of making up your mind and just doing it! However, if you find this too difficult at first, you can start small and work your way up to the bigger goal of some of these very routine habits we all form. By exercising your will power, it will grow and so will your ability to quickly re-focus your energy and create the habits that are healthy for you.
Finally, environment is the strongest influence. So, if your habit is contingent on being around a certain person or people, you may want to spend less (or more, depending on which way you are going) time in their presence. Once you have built up your new habit you can go back to your normal schedule.
The internet is increasingly becoming a great way to share ideas, communicate, shop, organize, etc. One of my favorite new sites combines all of the above in a really stylish way. Couturious is an online outfit building site that allows you to compose outfits choosing different models and backgrounds with integrated applications like ‘tuck jeans into boots’ or ‘layer dress over shirt’. I have tried a lot of these style building sites out and this one takes the cake!
Ease of use with a very well curated selection of labels to choose from- including one of my new favorites, California chic eco-brand SUST- under distinct dressing genres make this site a staple in my online wardrobe exploration.
I did this outfit as an example of what I will be wearing at Aspen Fashion Week in two weeks time. Beyond a fun way to compose outfits, it is useful tool to communicate a certain look or style idea and when you are finished you can ‘check-out’ and purchase what you’ve put together- brilliant!
It is not yet open to the public- I got a sneak peek! Go to the site and sign up with your email to be notified when this style site goes live.
The Weekly Wear is a post dedicated to showing sustainable fashion in action! This week I am wearing the CFDA ‘To Haiti With Love’ tee. The shirt is part of a relief effort to help rebuild the infrastructure in Haiti through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. The tee is sustainable to me because it contributes to something I believe in supporting and goes beyond simply being a piece of clothing.
The rest of my outfit is pre-owned, as in, it was already a part of my wardrobe:
Leggings- Arden B.
Blazer- J. Crew
Coat- BCBG
Boots- Tory Burch
Tote- Longchamp
Sunglasses- Marc by Marc Jacobs
Don’t forget that you can enter the ‘To Love With Haiti’ customize your tee contest here on GretaGuide! I am getting ready to break out the scissors myself and give this tee some signature style.
The Green Shows in NYC, A/W 2010.
After the huge success of the first Green Shows put on during New York Fashion Week last year, the second bi-annual Green Shows last week were a mark of how eco-fashion is here to stay. The runway shows exhibited 10 eco-minded desingers with collections inspired by edgy quartz, to 1940’s post war sentiment to the simple beauty and representation of nature.
An amazing display of talent exhibiting designs that make your heart beat faster and at the same time fill with joy from how they were produced.
Watch the video for a recap of this fantastic event and scroll through the list of designers below to view their lines.
Some days I feel like I am fighting the beast of this wonderfully instantly interactive technology driven world we are now living in. It prompts me to sync my schedule and coordinate my contacts. To broadcast where I am and check-in for points. To shout out what is happening to me throughout the day and send cute emoticons to my friends.
The truth is, I actually really enjoy all of these ways of interacting and crossing over. Lately though, I have started to feel like I need to make sure I am running them and not the other way around. See, as humans we are creatures of habit, so it is easy for us to fall into a habit and stay there. It isn’t until someone or something breaks into that habit formed space that you step back and start asking questions.
Do I really need to check my twitter feed every spare moment? How about I just enjoy sitting in the sun and let my mind rest or think about something that brings me joy. Or, am I really reliant on my Google Maps to get me from point A to point B? What about exploring a new street while walking in the right direction?
I guess it really comes down to finding a balance. I think there a saying that states: “Everything in moderation is the surest way to happiness.” I really believe this, and I also believe that sometimes you need to be pulled out of your routine to see where and who you are.
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