Eco-suede fall boots

Since suede boots can add substance to the more laid-back outfits in the fall, then eco-suede boots can give any outfit that eco-friendly edge.

Terra Plana Free Lyn Brown
Leather Suede Knee High
Boots (vegetable tanned suede),
$141.56, fashion-conscience.com

Eco-suede can be either faux suede or vegetable-tanned suede. Both versions are considered to be ecologically favorable compared to conventional, chemical-tanned suede. 

Lucky Gray Suede Belt
Around Over the Knee Boots
(faux suede), $49, lulus.com

Eco-suede boots are also easy to find at many stores specializing in fashionable fall boot wear. 

Casual fall ensemble #1

Long tunics come back in style with a vengeance in the fall, and lucky for us, organic cotton tunics are a popular eco-fashion trend. Since leggings haven't left the scene yet, we still like to match them with the tunics and some knee-high boots.

An organic cotton tunic with organic cotton leggings and faux leather boots with a low heel (this more comfortable choice is preferred than sky-high heels) makes the ideal eco-fashion statement. And a matching vintage handbag or eco-tote wouldn't hurt.

Komodo Organic Cotton Flower
Tunic, $86.20, us.asos.com

Organic Cotton Long Legging, $40, gaiam.com

Women's Silver-Wedge Boot in Black, $44.50, oldnavy.com

Get the eco-look: classic red dress

Halle Berry wears an Yves Saint
Laurent red gown at Carousel of
Hope Ball in Beverly Hills. Image:
people.com/Ann Porter/BroadImage

The classic red dress always make you stand out at evening events. 

Eco-fashionably speaking, we're used to hearing about organically made clothing just pertaining to T-shirts and jeans, but companies do make formal evening dresses from organic cotton, bamboo, and silk.

Many eco-formal dresses are about the same price of regular dresses from stores. But since these dresses can be rare to find, it's just one item easy to find at eco-friendly online stores. 

If online shopping's not your thing, you might find nice gowns and dresses at department stores like Nordstrom and Dillard's. And vintage shopping can heighten your chances of finding that one-of-a-kind eco-formal dress.
  

Jonano Asymmetrical Hem
Bandeau Dress in Chili Red, $65,
jonano.com

Sash Prom Dress, $72.81, peopletree.co.uk.

Stella Drape Dress, $64.81, peopletree.co.uk.

Organic Bamboo Cowl
Neck Dress in Red, $77.76,
turninglife.com.

Organic cotton trench coats

For a possibly early winter, trench coats will have to appear on our shopping lists soon. To brave the cold weather and support the green movement, an organic trench coat could keep you warm and toasty this year.

Coachman Coat in Brown Tan Herringbone,
$179, naturalclothingcompany.com

Although eco-fashion can be expensive, especially in larger items such as coats, there are a few companies out there selling warm trench coats for about the same price as a non-eco-friendly one. 

Organic Cotton Trench Coat, $148, us.hessnatur.com

It may be difficult to find an organic trench coat in the mall with an affordable price tag. Checking out eco-fashion online stores may help ease this problem.

Colonel Coat in Charcoal, $140, faeriesdance.com

Eco-spotlight: Common Threadz

'Cherish' by Budi Kwan, $38,
commonthreadz.org

Finding eco-fashion is always a great thing, but eco-fashion for a cause is even better.  

Common Threadz is a nonprofit organization that helps orphans in third world countries achieve their dreams by giving them the resources to be successful in school. 

Organic cotton T-shirts and other pieces are designed by some recognizable celebrities, up-and-coming artists and fashion designers, and even the orphans. 

Look for the recycling symbol to see if the T-shirt is eco-friendly. Proceeds go to the orphans to aid with getting school supplies, providing uniforms, and other activities. Also, the T-shirt purchases fund the livelihoods of local seamstresses. 

Natural skin care: cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is the essentially the fat extracted from cocoa beans and used to add flavor, scent, and a creamy texture to chocolate, ointments, and cosmetics.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter products, $4-$10,
available at drugstores

Though it has a faint chocolaty aroma and a soft cream color, cocoa butter is mostly known for its moisturizing properties that helps give our skin a healthy glow. 

At room temperature, it may be hard, but once on the skin, it melts at body temperature and easily absorbs into the skin.

Naturally, it contains Vitamin E, which is known for balancing and hydrating the skin by adding collagen. With the vitamin, cocoa butter can lighten the appearance of scars, blemishes, and wrinkles. 

Cocoa butter also helps restore skin overexposed to the sun or wind, meaning it's a good resource to have during the sweltering hot days as well as the bitter cold days.

Pure cocoa butter is generally found in the cream version, but there are also moisturizing sticks for people who want to use it for spot treatment.

Fall florals

Floral fashions are not only for spring anymore. Fall is a time to still flaunt flowery patterns in a way that still keeps you warm. 

Floral Long Blazer, $99.19,
anniegreenabelle.com

Wear floral designs surrounded by fall colors such as brown and orange or darker colors such as black and navy to give off the appropriate look for the weather.  

Long Handled Rose Floral Shopper Bag,
$13.95, anniegreenabelle.com

Organic cotton and recycled polyester are two major fabrics you will find in the floral designs this season. 

Jeffrey Campbell Charli Pink Floral
Woodie Clog, $128, lulus.com

Because we don't see as many flowers, we shouldn't be afraid to wear them.

Eco-friendly rain boots

Capelli New York Cowboy Solid
in Purple (vegan), $38.90,
whatapair.com

Though umbrellas complete the outfit, rainy season is really for the rain boot. They could be made of rubber, leather, and other materials not exactly contributing to the environment in a positive way. This season, there's more of an eco-friendly selection of rain boots.

Vegan rain boots are easier to find since many companies don't use animal by-products such as leather or fur to make the boot. But on the other hand, some still do, so check the label for its contents. 

Chooka Rain Boot in Turquoise
(natural rubber),$59.99,
whatapair.com

Natural rubber is an eco-friendly material. It's extracted from plants and trees without destroying the source even though it's still affected. With synthetic rubber, chemicals create the substance, and it's more widely used. Now, rain boots using natural rubber have a larger availability than before. 

Infamously, the rain boot is popular for its crazy designs, favoring the younger crowd, but you can still wear a sturdy, fashionable rain boot for school and the workplace. 

Cougar Cutie Rain Boot (vegan),
$49.99, whatapair.com

Solid colors, a mixture of dark colors, or two-color designs are great choices.
If you feel safer without the splash of bright color, try the solid black, brown, or beige rain boot. 

Also, unique designs like the shorter ankle boot and the cowboy style above can make your rainy day shoes stand out even more.

Nickel-free, recycled jewelry

Since costume jewelry can be more fun than real gold and silver sometimes, more companies are greening jewelry by using recycled and natural materials and staying away from common metals. 

Claire Fong Santa Fe Fringe
Earrings (recycled leather), $38, lulus.com

Jewelry designers want to join the eco-fashion movement with opting for real fair trade gemstones rather than plastic pieces, using recycled materials instead of newly made materials, and finding alternatives to nickel and lead. 

Nickel-free jewelry is a green option. Nickel is a metal that, in recent years, has become a skin allergen and irritant for many people, hence the widespread availability of nickel-free jewelry. 

H+M Bangles (nickel-free), $9.95 each, hm.com

Nickel is a common metal in cute costume jewelry, but it's easier to avoid since companies usually label jewelry with a nickel-free certification or with a nickel warning. Nickel replacements like white bronze and stainless steel are from milder metals that are not harmful to the body.

If neither label is on the piece of jewelry, generally this means nickel and possibly other harmful metals were used in the manufacturing process.

Jewelry is another top item chemicals can seep into, so look into the substance (harsh metals can be present) and background (blood diamonds vs. fair trade). 

Get the eco-look: vintage insect jewelry

Fashion it girl Blake Lively wears a
Lanvin insect brooch at
Spike TV's Scream 2010 Awards.
Image: people.com/Scott
Kirkland/AFF-USA; Flynet

Some fear certain types of insects, but the vintage insect jewelry trend should not be feared.

Since ancient Egyptians made jewelry of sacred scarab beetles, insect jewelry has stayed around for centuries and still remains in demand. 

A classic vintage piece of insect jewelry can spice up any bland outfit. Brooches happen to be one of the more popular choices in wearing insect jewelry. 

Vintage jewelry is a part of eco-fashion since they are old, recycled pieces going through the periods of time.  

Etsy, the online vintage interconnected superstore, offers many different pieces whether you prefer honeybees, butterflies (my personal preference), or even spiders. Also, you can find great pieces at local thrift shops, vintage shops, and consignment shops.

Green and Purple Butterfly Vintage Brooch, $16.99, waalaa.etsy.com

Bees in the Grass Earrings, $17, miskay.etsy.com

Black Onyx Butterfly Necklace, $32, etsy.com/shop/Bellota26

Eco-must-have: faux fur leopard coats

As the wind picks up the leaves in our fall days, keeping warm after a long summer is the number one priority. Fur coats make us toasty in cold weather, but the eco-fashionista prefers the faux fur, and leopard print is in. 

AE Faux Fur Leopard Coat, $99.50, ae.com

Celebrities sashay down red carpets with the heavy leopard coats every year, making it a trend that's not going out of style anytime soon. Keep warm and current by investing in a possibly timeless piece such as the faux fur leopard coat. 

Gianni Bini "Camilla" Jacket, $158, dillards.com

Smell delicious with eco-fragrances

Perfumes and fragrances envelop us in a delightful scented aura, but they shouldn't contain so many chemicals to achieve that special scent. After Harper's Bazaar found bacteria, urine, and antifreeze inside counterfeit fragrances last year, people have focused their attention on finding a more natural fragrance.

revert eco, $9.99, rue21.com

Look for natural ingredients
Flower and fruit extracts, musks, and oils are major fragrance contents, so check if they dominate the ingredient list. 

You should be able to pronounce and know of most of the ingredients inside the fragrance for it to be considered natural. 

Stay away from harsh chemicals
Chemicals are used to dye color and retain scent in fragrances.

EPA has named several chemicals that frequent our beauty products, especially fragrances, that can cause respiratory distress, be possible carcinogens, and depress the central nervous system. 




Some are listed below:

• acetone  
• formaldehyde
• toluene
• ethanol
• camphor
• ethyl acetate
• benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol
• musk amberette, musk xylene, musk keytone (natural musk is fine)

Compare prices and scents

If there is a particular fragrance you want that is not natural or not in your budget, compare scents and prices with more natural options to still get your ideal scent.

The Environmental Working Group created a report on the chemicals found in commonly used fragrances:

http://www.ewg.org/notsosexy

Remember fragrances will still contain some chemicals, but the fewer the better. And watch out for the particular chemicals in the list above.

Eco-must-have: faux python

Volatile Shania Faux Python Boots, $19.95, 6pm.com

Animal print officially never goes out of style, and this fall season belongs to the python. Although real leather may be alluring, the faux leather choice benefits the environment a little more. 

Since leather undergoes several chemical processes to be made suitable for our consumption compared to other materials, faux leather is greener and cheaper. 

Stone Mountain Python Tote, $19.99, jcp.com

Look for faux python skin that seems authentic and feels authentic. Sometimes faux leather products have a weaker texture, which can make it vulnerable to tears and snags.

Find fun python prints from handbags to boots at an affordable price with a larger carbon footprint than their leather counterparts.

Natural skin care: beta-carotene

Sometimes we get blemishes and scars that we hope will disappear as fast as they appeared. But how do you go about that? Buy products promising results that you'll probably never see?

Well, the answer is to try natural beauty products that proved throughout history to deliver results. One of those products is beta-carotene that can help reduce the visibility of blemishes and scars and improve overall skin care. 

Beta-carotene is classified as a carotenoid, which is a group of highly pigmented red, orange, or yellow, fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, vegetables, oils, and grains. 

Beta-carotene is a provitamin since it can be converted to active vitamin A, which helps improve and maintain skin. 

To make a beta-carotene facial mask or spot treatment, you must first purchase a bottle of the vitamin available at any drugstore. 

Then by using a needle or pin, prick one vitamin until the thick red substance trickles out. 

Glide the pierced vitamin onto your face until the desired area is covered. You may have to pierce a few more vitamins to cover the entire face. 

Since they are soft gel capsules, ingesting them according to the directions on the bottle will lead to the same results.

Beta carotene can be another homemade alternative to brightening and strengthening your skin.

Eco-spotlight: Liya Kebede's organic Lemlem line

Ethiopian supermodel and humanitarian Liya Kebede has dominated runways all over the world, but she wanted to help her country's economic well-being. With this goal, she created Lemlem, an eco-fashion line that uses organic cotton and supports local weavers. 

Lemlem, which means 'flourish' and 'bloom' in Amharic, uses the traditional organic cotton style attire of Ethiopia and gives it a twist that anyone can appreciate. 

Check out how the handcrafted pieces come to life: 

http://lemlem.com/process.php

Liya Kebede in a striped scarf, ~$80, lemlem.com

Organic & natural mascara

Ultra Black Organics, $9.95, ulta.com

Mascara defines the eyelashes perfectly, and since we like to bat our eyes whenever our heart desires, we would like a more natural option. 

Chemicals taint mascara to the point we get stinging eyes or tingling noses from the smell. 

Now with a surge in eco-friendly cosmetics, natural mascara is hitting the scene with fewer or no chemicals. 

Common ingredients include fruit extracts and oils, which can be found in various other beauty products, but we don't necessarily think of these inside our mascara. 

Some companies even use ingredients grown organically without chemical pesticides or fertilizers and include recyclable brushes. 

Natural mascara also is a product that can be the same price as regular mascara, so price is usually not a factor. And it might be more prevalent in specialty cosmetic stores rather than the local drugstores.

Eco-spotlight: Aoki organic cotton jeans

Aoki jeans, aokijeans.com

The Aoki Denim collection, created by former model/boutique owner Starr Dailey-Webb in 2005, supports eco-fashion by producing raw organic cotton jeans. 

Aoki, which means 'green tree' in Japanese, jeans even come with a stamp of a tree logo on the pocket. 

The line has expanded to include skirts and T-shirts still made with organic cotton and natural dyes.

Check out aokijeans.com. 

Organic cotton jeans under $40

Wearing organic cotton jeans is one way to show devotion to eco-fashion, but they can break the bank at times. So a new pair that's at least the same price as regular jeans is ideal. 

Top brands and places to find organic cotton women's jeans ~$40:

Eco Midnight Sheen, $19.90 (sale), levis.com

• Wal-Mart
• Gap
• Levi Strauss + Co. (on sale)
  
• Zara
• H+M
• Quiksilver (on sale) 
• Arizona Jeans @ JCPenney (post-consumer recycled cotton)
  

Eco-denim secret #1: Eco-denim is usually cheaper for men, children, and juniors, so if you're willing to try out men's jeans or squeeze into juniors, it would make the search easier.

Eco-denim secret #2: Although you can find organic/recycled cotton jeans easier online, the major stores that actually sell eco-denim like to have more choices in their stores.

Eco-denim secret #3: Most companies that use organic cotton find it easier to incorporate it into smaller pieces (i.e. T-shirts) rather than larger pieces (i.e. jeans). So maybe buying regular cotton jeans with an organic cotton top can still ease your eco-consciousness.

A true recessionista wants eco-fashion at an affordable price, and even though it might be difficult, there are bargains for everything involving organic and recycled clothing.

Marie Claire natural beauty product spread

Just received the November issue of my fave mag, Marie Claire, and there's a whole section on natural beauty products!

Marie Claire, Nov. '10, Victoria Beckham

They even tell you about the harmful chemicals to stay away from that can be found in many cosmetics!

 Natural beauty product spread

Eco-must-have: cute clutches

Clutches are a girl's best friend on a special night out. Wearing a bulky handbag with a chic ensemble rarely works, so the clutch is an important accessory to have.

Mad Imports Opal Raffia Clutch, $59.99, terratrendz.com

With eco-fashion, the clutch can be worn with stylish consciousness. Organic cotton, faux fur, and natural plant dyes are just a few of the ingredients that can create a fashionable clutch. 

Also, fair trade (sound trade agreement between two or more countries) and agreeable working conditions (no dangerous sweatshops with low pay) are a plus since they benefit the local environment and economy.

Deana Bracken Leopard Clutch, $99, greenwithglamour.com

To see if you found the perfect green clutch, check the tag inside to see the list of materials used to make it.

Or you can do pre-research before shopping by looking at a company's website and seeing which products are considered eco-friendly. But also make sure there's an explanation on why it's eco-friendly.

If it's difficult to find a green clutch in a store, there's always the online shopping route where there are countless up-and-coming companies selling handmade clutches with organic and recycled materials. 

Even vintage clutches are on the eco-fashion level since they're being recycled. Check out vintage clothing websites and consignment shops for your unique clutch of the past. 

Natural teeth whiteners

A glistening smile always grabs attention, but with so many products that allegedly ruin enamel, irritate the gums, or simply don't work, it's time to find natural remedies that promise healthier and whiter teeth.

SEA SALT

The table fixture doesn't only spice up your food, but it could transform your yellow-stained teeth to pearly whites. 

Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt onto your toothpaste and brush. Sea salt helps remove plaque from the surface, but be careful about the amount of salt. You don't want too much to overpower your toothpaste.

Some use baking soda with the sea salt, but baking soda alone may be too abrasive and deteriorate enamel over time, so if you plan to try this, use it sparingly. Mixing baking soda with other ingredients is fine and will help whiten teeth.

OLIVE OIL

This oil is probably the most versatile in the world of beauty, and one of its properties is it can help lift unwanted plaque from your teeth. 

Instead of pouring olive oil onto your toothbrush, get a washcloth, hand towel, or sturdy napkin/tissue and place a dab on it, then rub the oil across your teeth before brushing. 

Afterwards, brush teeth and gurgle mouthwash to get the oily taste from your mouth. 

Tom's of Maine, available in drugstores 

MAKE OWN TOOTHPASTE

• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin 

These dosage amounts will make one or two servings of toothpaste just so you can try it first. If you want to make more, multiply the amounts. The toothpaste would only need to be at room temperature. 

MAKE OWN MOUTHWASH

• 2 cups of water
• 4 teaspoons of glycerin
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil

Shake well in a small mouthwash bottle or container. The mouthwash will help whiten teeth and kill germs in your mouth.

Some natural remedies such as lemon juice, peroxide, and wood ash are advertised as great natural teeth whiteners, but they can harm your enamel and pollute your mouth.

Fluoride toothpaste works the best in strengthening teeth enamel, but some natural toothpaste companies take it away for those who do not want the chemical compound in their products.

A badge from American Dental Association is also a stamp of approval for selecting an effective whitening toothpaste.

Natural facial cleanser: African black soap

With so many products promising to repair blemishes and zap pimples, you want a mild cleanser that not only makes the promises but does the job. One little known natural beauty secret is the African black soap.

Nubian Heritage African Black Soap, $3.79, The Vitamin Shoppe

Used as a major beauty product in West Africa, black soap is known as a gentle and effective cleanser for the face and body.   

Black soap could be made from banana leaves, palm tree leaves, and various other parts of trees and plants. The ingredients are then burned in a kettle or pan. 

To solidify the soap, water is poured over the mixture with shea butter, palm oil, and other oils. 

The soap can help ease acne, relieve eczema and psoriasis, and moisturize dry skin. Also, the soap leaves you with a softer impression than other soaps that may be too harsh and drying to your skin. 

Black soap can be found at many local natural food markets, health stores, and drugstores. Be aware of some bottled liquid black soaps that can be too watered down that you wouldn't benefit from its natural properties.

Eco-leather jackets

Leather jackets are a trend that will never disappear, so might as well have one hanging in the closet. At least every year, the trend is updated to a hipper and cooler version for us to wear. But there are eco-leather jackets out there waiting to become a part of your latest ensemble. 

Eco-leather is leather that does not use chemicals during the production process or it could be recycled from old leather to reduce waste. Eco-leather can also be other fabrics that are made to look like leather and have a lower impact on the environment.

Leather Quilted Shoulder Jacket, $68.60, express.com

SYNTHETIC
Synthetic leather is eco-friendly and vegan. And it's easier to find in a fashionable design you would wear.

Synthetic leather is usually made up of polyester, polyurethane, or polyamide. These fabrics weigh better in environmental impact than leather which goes through harsh processes to become the leather we want to wear.

Remember to buy synthetic leather that may be confused with real leather. Some synthetic leather can appear too fake and the fabric can fall apart easily.

The Hooded Leather Bomber Jacket, $178, poptheshop.com

RECYCLED
What's better than new leather? Recycled leather! 

Some companies support eco-fashion by using recycled leather from old jackets, handbags, and other accessories to create a whole new jacket. 

If there's a budding fashion designer inside, you can always turn your old leather into new leather or support waste reduction by purchasing old leather. 

Goodwill hunting #3

Today was Columbus Day also known as a great sale day at Goodwill. Since I'm embarking on my journalism career soon, I wanted pieces that made me appear more professional since I'm transitioning away from my overworked college student wardrobe. 

Since blazers are one of the more expensive pieces at the thrift shop, I headed to the blazer aisle and found a Worthington greenish teal velvety blazer just in time for the cold weather. I already had too many comments on this blazer before I even reached the register, so that means it was a great buy.










To heighten the young career woman effect, I then found another business dress. It's a sleeveless Isaac Mizrahi black dress, but I can wear it with a blazer or cardigan this season. Every girl needs a black dress for every occasion.











 
Lastly, I found another pair of The Limited slacks in olive. I already own the beige, black, and gray versions of the slacks. I thought it would be an interesting color to add to my collection. Now I think I need olive heels to match. 

Recycle bras for breast cancer awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and women all over the country bought the wrong bra at one point or another and still have it in the shopping bag with the price tag. 

But now you can recycle the unwanted, unused, and gently used bras for a good cause. Charities will either sell or give away these bras to breast cancer survivors and women living in transitional shelters. 

This is a way to avoid textile waste building up in your local landfill and help someone who can't afford basic needs during the current economic climate.

Learn more about the drive and where you can drop off your bras at: 

http://brarecycling.com/index.shtml

Organic cotton T-shirts at 99¢ Only stores

If you live in California, you know about the wonders of 99¢ Only stores where you can get almost anything for under a buck. 
On Sundays, I make the shopping trip to buy the Sacramento Bee since I still support journalism in paper form. 

While cruising the aisles, I found T-shirts made from transitional or organic cotton with environmental messages on them. 

I was glad to see eco-fashion in a place where I wouldn't expect it and with an extremely affordable price tag. 

Even though the Faded Glory shirts would only be considered fashionable to children, at least they're sustainable.