APPAREL

According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, 12.4 million tons of textiles were generated in 2008. That equals 5% of all solid waste in the U.S. The recycling industry recycled 2.5 billion pounds of textile waste (10 pounds per person), and 61% of clothes recycled for second hand use are exported to foregin countries.

If you’re the kind of person who has to try to buy, then consider second hand stores. The mixed bag of Spring 2010 style (rocker chic, boho, leather, lace, dresses and prints) make this the season for vintage stores, and vintage denim is comfy and cool. Manhattan stores can get pricey, so consider a trip to the BK to pick up low-priced duds whilst lowering your carbon impact on the world. Last week at Buffalo Exchange – Williamsburg, I scored a mint condition vintage pair of Diane von Furstenberg gold flats and an antique turquoise necklace. Beware that the items you are buying are indeed reused as they tend to slip some mass produced newbies in there (especially jewelry).

If you just can’t handle worn clothing, consider denim from R.E.U.S.E. (Recycle. Environment. U. Save. Earth.) R.E.U.S.E. denim wanted to lessen consumer’s carbon footprint by offering spring’s styles in recycled denim. With clever names like reBORN and reNEWED, R.E.U.S.E. denim is made from 80% post-consumer recycled denim, 18.5% new cotton and 1.5% spandex. The result is a wearable, comfortable denim short, skirt, or jean – skinny, straight leg and destructed – that no one else has worn before. R.E.U.S.E. denim can be purchased on their website. And for events and celebrity sighting, check out their fun blog.

It’s Earth Day. Save It.

Emma Dinzebach

Not one for hemp sandals and dreads, I was momentarily resistant to the boho revival until I tasted Proenza Schouler Spring 2010 tie dye, Love Shop maxi dresses, and Rika scarves. Then I thought maybe there is still something fashion can derive from hippies.

Boho, a style that Sienna Miller made famous and Kooba made into a Sienna handbags, is a nickname for bohemian – a person who lives and acts free of regard to conventional rules and practices. Like the varied print combinations that pranced down the Spring 2010 runways, for fashion, being boho means mixing and matching like it’s nobody’s business. Denim with lace, tie dye t-shirts and skirts – you name it, it goes. Anything goes! Well, almost anything.

To pull off boho, you have to embody boho’s spontaneous style and attraction to comfort. If you love your Madewells or live all summer in your Vince cuffed jean shorts, this is the season for you. Everything boho goes with denim – denim dresses, denim bibs, and vests. Flouncy, printed shirts and soft pima cottons can be worn alone or layered. To pull off this look the style is in the details. Necklaces, bracelets, rugged boots and headwraps make your boho look your own. Don’t be afraid to mix and match (with some purpose) you’re favorite pieces. And while you’re busy coloring outside the lines, have fun.

Peace, Love & Proenza.

Emma Dinzebach

So we know Rhianna and Lady Gaga dualhandedly raised the sale of lingerie like a million percent, and this spring our recent investments will be well worth it since it’s, once again, time to flip our underwear to our outerwear. Fashion devotees watched in awe last spring as designers joined Dolce & Gabanna and Jean Paul Gaultier trending exposure. Models in loose tops and sheer shirts showed off their brassierers, and in our humblest of opinions, they looked quite fabulous.

Antonio Berardi paired a nude corset, covered on the bosoms, but sheer in the tummy with a cream neutral skirt suit. Christian Dior used the look for evening pairing a long red stain skirt with a maroon, sporty looking bra and a short sleeved, neck tied sheer red blouse. Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi used more feminine, lacey bras under sheer button up shirts paired with pants. The message: pair sheer tops with a more conservative bottom – long skirts, pants or knee length skirts to offset the reveal. The look takes an edgier tone when paired with black booties, thigh high stockings or leather and a softer look with neutral colors and girlish detail.

Some lingerie designers that make the transition easy – The Lake and Stars (pictured above), Agent Provocateur, and Biatta. Short on cash? Pick up styles with a little less detail at your neighborhood American Apparel or H&M.

Emma Dinzebach

Line averse shoppers need to get thee to the last day of the Hermes sample sale. The avenue-long lines have now disappeared along with their supply of H-logo enamel bracelets and heels but a few gems remain. I had a relatively short wait (no worse than a checkout line at Trader Joe’s) to get into the sale. Though the sales girls told me those much coveted H-logo bracelets had long gone, there was still a small supply of floral and ivy printed bangles ($267 small, $297 medium, $306 large). The small leather goods section was filled with lock and key diaries for $705 (a less expensive journal sits in the back for $35 though it sports a flimsy plastic cover stamped with a Hermes logo). The shoe section mainly consisted a table filled with unwanted boots ($800) covered at the calves with curly fur and bare shelves dotted with oxford heels and geometric cut out sandals. (Please someone with size 39 feet take these gorgeous brown oxfords marked down from $10000 to $400.) Though be sure to get there early. As I exited, those in line around 5pm were told by the staff that they might not get inside even though it officially closed at 6pm.