Greta Guide

Anna Kendrick was stunning at the Oscars, and her make -up was...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:34:24 -0500

Anna Kendrick was stunning at the Oscars, and her make -up was literally as natural as her look. Check out the details on Fashion Me Green.

I couldn’t agree more- at the TEDxEast conference in New...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:03:00 -0500

I couldn’t agree more- at the TEDxEast conference in New York this past fall, a speaker made the same point. At first it feels a bit strange to accept that creativity flows from that which has already been created. But, once you wrap you head around it, you realize this truth and your mind begins to spiral off of this thought to imagine so many wondrous things inspired by the very things and people before you. Happy ‘stealing’!

(photo quote via artpixie)

Fake fur- no longer a hairy situation.

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:05:00 -0500

At the Chanel Fall 2010/2011 Preview, Karl Lagerfeld shocked the fashion world by showcasing a collection chalk full of fake fur. “Fake fur has changed so much and has become so great now,” stated Karl Lagerfeld.

A trend that is all to familiar to PETA spokeswoman and designer, Stella McCartney- the faux fur trend seems to be gaining momentum. Lagerfeld took it one step further, building a set of glaciers to highlight what he is calling ‘global cooling’. Not so sure about the ‘global cooling’ statement- though his head is in the right place. The less we ‘harvest’ animals the better use of our resources and less green house gases we produce- thereby decreasing global warming. I knew I could come full circle and go beyond a pretty set to explain Lagerfeld’s vision!

Check out the presentation video on Fashion Me Green to see the glacial set and fantastic faux fur designs.

Model On Duty: Market Publique Spring 2010 Look Book Photo...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:05:00 -0500

Model On Duty: Market Publique Spring 2010 Look Book Photo Shoot.

A behind the scenes look at one of the hippest online vintage marketplaces- Market Publique. Follow me to the shoot and get a sneak peek of what they are offering for spring as well as an insider’s tour of their Brooklyn studio. Vintage has never looked so fresh!

Must have Moxsie.

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:29:00 -0500

What is better than shopping a well-curated group of indie designers…? Shopping them on a site that takes a percentage of the profits and donates it to a charity of your choice. And it gets better, not only does Moxsie do all of these things, but they are quickly becoming an eco-conscious label destination with their eco-shop. That means you can shop designers who are producing their collections with organic cotton, like Everyday or Eternal.

Discover independent fashion, and take advantage of my 15% off code to do it! Just type in CHIC at the check out, and don’t forget to choose a charity. ;)

Time to Get Smitten!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:14:00 -0500

I have to take a minute to rave about the super sweet and sustainable accessory line: Get Smitten. Skillfully crafting uniquely embellished bobby pins, called hair candy- this line stole my heart. Using re-claimed fabrics, the line is everchanging and insures that you get a limited edition piece.

Visit Get Smitten now to shop their spring sale and maybe store something away for Mother’s Day. Enter code: BIGFAT50 at the check out to get 50% off.

Photo

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:44:00 -0500

Cause sometimes, you just need to be told- the secret to life...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:40:00 -0500

Cause sometimes, you just need to be told- the secret to life and happiness is to have fun and find joy. This video gives you eight irresistible principles for having fun. Go out there and get it!

(via thesquink)

And the bride wore... organic cotton and hemp.

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:36:32 -0500

Spring and summer weddings are right around the corner and if you are in the market for a unforgettable and eco-friendly dress, I have just the one for you!

Leanne Marshall, the winner from Project Runway Season 5 has an eco flair I never knew about. Apparently, she sources mainly sustainable fabrics for her line and is moving towards a fully eco-label. Brilliant!

It gets better. She is having a sale on her Etsy site, featuring a customizable 100% eco-friendly wedding dress. Made from an organic cotton, hemp and silk blend- the dress is as ‘good’ as its fabulous design. So, if you want a dress that keeps your guest talking for weeks afterwards, this one definitely hits the mark.

Check out the versatile looks of the romper and get the beta on...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:49:17 -0500

Check out the versatile looks of the romper and get the beta on going green with this look from Fashion Me Green.

How Nowness.

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:37:35 -0500

An essential reference point and resource, setting a new standard for experiencing high-end fashion, culture and global events digitally, Nowness is a new site dedicated to an evolving online experience.

Curated by an international team of contributors and editors, Nowness is an exciting new way to experience luxury lifestyle online, featuring daily content from the most respected and innovative creatives working today.

From Lili Donaldson swinging her hair in slow motion to designer sketches, art installations and artistic short films, Nowness is an online destination that satisfies a creative thirst with a daily dose that is very now. Love or don’t love the daily selection and Nowness will better curate to your taste. Now that, I love.

Photo

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:08:00 -0500

The NOW Showcase, NYFW A/W 2010. A well appointed and...

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:44:00 -0500

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.

www.nowshowcase.org

Brighten up: natural skin peels for fresh faces.

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:46:04 -0500

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. Now.

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:56:00 -0500

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.

Pareto's principle: the 80/ 20 rule.

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500

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%.

New York Notable: Sakura- organic & non-toxic nail spa

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:38:13 -0500

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.

Dear GretaGuide: How do I break a habit?

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:44:00 -0500

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.

Curious about Couturious?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:02:12 -0500

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: 23 February 2010

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:37:00 -0500

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.