Sunday, April 4, 2010

"Green" Friendly Fashions






Wow!! It's been a long time since my last post. I promise to never leave you like that again...I was having technical difficulties, however the computer geek in me has prevailed!


OK so, it's Springtime yet again. For those of us in the Midwest, this is a very exciting time!



Springtime is the manifestation of all things new so what a perfect time to redo your wardrobe. In the spirit of going green, it is very trendy to recycle. Lets face it, if you're not at least pretending to go green, there should be a bit of guilt on your conscience...no worries though, there is hope =) So what are some ways we can achieve a new look without breaking the budget or better yet, touching it at all- at the same time, being "Earth Friendly"? Now that's what I'm talking about, new fashion, using old pieces = $0 spent, feeling great cuz you look great and you can brag to all your friends that your ensembles are completely "green"!




Now, if you're unlike me and have a clue on how to use a sewing machine, this ability can come in handy for achieving your new "green" wardrobe. The spa that I work at just had an "Earth Month" fashion show fundraiser and the fashions had an element of recycling in each piece. For instance, a wedding dress made from a bed skirt, a bustier top embellished completely with safety pins or skirts made of candy wrappers, just to name a few. I would of never thought of something like that on my own and when I first heard of it, I wasn't impressed...until I saw the finished piece, SUPER COOL, LOVED IT!







Begin by shopping at your local thrift store. Allow a couple of hours though cuz you're going to have to go through each rack and sift through to find the perfect piece. Once you've found that skirt or top, begin thinking about it's potential and how you can revive its existence. This could mean, shortening the length of the skirt, adding ruffles or sewing on those candy wrappers you've saved, be creative!






When your creation is complete, pair it with an understated piece...so, if you have that skirt with ruffles made out of candy wrappers, wear it with a simple tee or tank and then accessorize (that's my favorite part)!

You can do this with the pieces that are already in your closet and for those of us that don't know how to use a sewing machine, find someone who can or just pair old pieces with new pieces and add accessories like a belt, a long necklace or a shoe in a super, hot shade.



Here's a few guide lines to follow:
  • Pair a vibrant, bright color with a practical neutral





  • Don't over accessorize... one bold piece and one bold accessory, no more
  • mix it up-edginess paired with girliness...so no big, curly hair with that ruffled top; a messy pony with a few flat-ironed pieces will do.
  • Don't forget to be confident and smile, smile, smile =)

So that's it! Now go into your closet and start imagining what that 5 year old skirt can be...have fun!