Sunday, March 2, 2014

Kellan Lutz and Olga Kurylenko wear eco-couture at Oscars 2014

Actors Kellan Lutz and Olga Kurylenko donned eco-couture at the 2014 Oscars as a part of showcasing up-and-coming designers' winning works for a contest created by Red Carpet Green Dress.

Image: dailymail.co.uk.

Quantum of Solace star Kurylenko wore a coral gown with a ruffled shoulder. The sustainable gown was designed by contest winner Alice Elia, a student at ESMOD fashion school in Paris, France who specializes in women's couture.

Image: people.com.

Beyond Skin, a U.K.-based vegan footwear company, provided Kurylenko's shoes, which were comprised of Dinamica, a faux suede made entirely of recycled polyester from plastic bottles and polyurethane fibers. Beyond Skin partnered with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to start selling the metallic-trimmed evening shoe on March 3.

Twilight star Kellan Lutz wore a textured black eco-tux with cerulean accents by New Zealand-based H Brothers designer Jomnarn Dul. H Brothers created a limited edition line of eco-tuxes each made of up to 25 recycled plastic bottles from an eco-fabric known as Repreve. It's a part of a partnership with EKOCYCLE, a joint venture from musician/eco-tech enthusiast will.i.am and the Coca-Cola Company to help brands make sustainable products from post-consumer recycled materials.

Image: people.com.

Red Carpet Green Dress is an organization founded by actress and philanthropist Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of famed director James Cameron. For the past five years, the organization has held a worldwide contest for fashion designers to create formal attire with eco-fabrics for the Academy Awards. 

Thursday night, Red Carpet Green Dress celebrated its fifth anniversary with a few celebs like Lutz and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom actress Naomie Harris, who wore the winning gown at last year's Oscars.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Oscars nominee Lupita Nyong'o talks natural beauty

This year's Oscar it girl Lupita Nyong'o talked about discovering her natural beauty at a recent Essence video shoot.

The 31-year-old actress is nominated for her supporting role as Patsey in 12 Years A Slave. Born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, Nyong'o earned her award-winning role a few weeks shy of graduating from the Yale School of Drama.

On her natural hair:

"At the age of 19, I just got really fed up of always going to the salon, and it taking so much effort to look presentable before you leave the house," she said. "I just one day decided to cut it off. And I cut it all off."

On her skin:

"I don't wear makeup when I'm not working on the red carpet," she said, "except for a night out here and there."

Friday, February 28, 2014

Global Green USA holds annual pre-Oscars party

Eco-conscious celebrities gathered on the green carpet at the 11th annual Global Green USA party at the Avalon in Hollywood Wednesday night as one of the major events leading up to the 2014 Academy Awards this weekend. The party raised $20,000 for the nonprofit's ongoing programs.

Hollywood environmentalists Orlando Bloom, Ed Begley Jr., and Dylan McDermott helped host the zero-waste party, where guests feasted on a gourmet plant-based dinner by Akasha, a Culver City-based restaurant known for using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Event sponsor Cadillac also brought its newest plug-in ELR electric hybrid coupe to the event.

Vegan musician Moby and electronica duo The Crystal Method performed at the party while eco-friendly singer Michelle Branch modeled a conflict-free, lab-grown diamond ring by eco-jewelry company Gemesis, which sold at the event for $12,000.


The best fashions of the night included sleek gowns and midi-dresses, along with the color emerald fitting the theme of being green.

President and CEO Caren Brooks of the Brooks Family Foundation dazzles in a violet gown.

Actress Tehmina Sunny from FOX's The Following wore an Adrianna Papell Grecian-inspired silver gown.
 
Actress and eco-living expert Rainbeau Mars, also on the hosting committee, modeled a loose-fitting sparkly emerald pantsuit.

DJ Shy, who performed at the event, also decided on emerald with a chic party dress by Sue Wong.

Actress Malin Akerman, currently starring on ABC's Trophy Wife, wore a Wes Gordon light lemon midi-dress.

Actress Maggie Grace of Taken fame wore a vintage 1920s silk nightgown with a vintage beaded clutch and pendant necklace, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards. Vintage fashion equals eco-fashion with the recycling or repurposing of old clothes and accessories.

From Global Green USA's Twitter timeline, there was more eco-fashion at the event.
 All images from Global Green USA's Flickr photostream