Eva Mendes debuts fashion line inspired by thrift shop finds

Actress Eva Mendes added another title to her résumé: fashion designer. Today, she did a media blitz for her new line The Eva Mendes Collection with New York & Company.

On today's Good Morning America, she said her line was inspired by her own thrift shop finds like vintage dresses that would cost $6.

"I love a bargain, so I'm always shopping at thrift shops," she said. "I'll buy a six-dollar dress, then I'll go get a coffee and there'll be women like, 'Where can I get your dress?' And I'll be like, 'Oh, thrift shop.'"

The line will sell exclusively at select New York & Company stores and online.

Riviera Fit & Flare Dress
Vintage Rose in Grey Dusk,
$79.95,  nyandcompany.com.

Bow Blouse Eva Dot in Amber
Glow, $49.95, nyandcompany.com.

Soft Pant City Leopard in Amber
 Glow, $64.95, nyandcompany.com.

Goodwill hunting #12: leather sandals

Three-day weekend holidays mean money-saving shopping trips at Goodwill thrift stores. Because of my day off, I headed to my fave local stores and sought bargains reduced to ridiculously wonderful prices.

In a blue bin marked with the 50% price tag, I found a pair of Donald J Pliner leather sandals. What caught my eye was the leopard print, which is my timeless fashion staple, so I had to have them. I also noticed the authentic leather and label claiming they were manufactured in the mountains of Italy, and I fell for the romanticized location imprint.

I'm not obsessed with labels, but my sister convinced me to look online to measure the extent of my bargain. And it turned out the $2.50 I paid was worth it since a similar, plainer pair runs up almost 100 times that price.

Donald J Pliner Sandal in Black Vachetta, $215, donaldjpliner.com.

I also noticed my sister bought two great Jessica Simpson items: a pair of pumps and a wallet. The shoes probably ran around $100 at one point and the wallet $45, so it pays to support recycled fashion, especially after a thorough cleaning process.

Fashionable faux fur vests @ Buckle

Fall's here, and a great accessory to have that's making a seasonal comeback is the faux fur vest. 

Daytrip Leopard Vest, $69.95, buckle.com.

Some are fancily cute for a day-to-night affair, some are made with the ever-trending animal print, and some are perfect for those laid-back times. 

Daytrip Faux Fur Vest, $64.95, buckle.com.

Buckle, a clothing store staple at many malls across the country, offers a few choices to complement every fashionable mood at a decent price for the latest must-have.

Daytrip Faux Fur Vest, $79.95, buckle.com.

Goodwill hunting #6: fuzzy leopard loafers

Earlier this week, I finally bought a pair of adorably suave leopard-print, fuzzy-skinned Steve Madden loafers at Goodwill that I had eyed for some time but was too cheap to fork over ten bucks for. 

Then, while surfing the celeb and fashion news, I noticed my shoes happened to be in style. I found a strikingly similar match with an extravagant price tag...

Christian Louboutin Dufferin Embellished
Calf Hair Loafers, $1,295, net-a-porter.com.

Then I saw chic celebutante Nicole Richie wearing another similar pair...

Image: popsugar.com.

I totally saved so much money.

Kardashian Kollection hits Sears stores

The Kardashian sisters officially launched their clothing line at Sears stores this week. 

Though it's not exactly eco-fashion, it gets an honorable mention due to its variety of using leopard print, which I absolutely love for every occasion.

Most of the attire is made from synthetic fabrics such as polyester and elastane, but some items have the leather look without the leather like these hot leggings. 

Save 30% on all items until Saturday online and in-store. 

Angel Jackson python eco-leather handbags

With press coverage in the September issue of Marie Claire, U.K. eco-fashion label Angel Jackson produces überglam handbags, clutches, and totes from ethically sourced leather and products. The facets of eco-fashion are widespread, but some companies use animal resources like feathers for hair accessories without taking note of the mistreatment of the animal, including a shortened lifespan, to start a fashion faux pas trend. 

Large Foldover Clutch, $170, angeljackson.com.

Sisters Katie and Millie Smith found Angel Jackson six years ago with the plan to only create vogue pieces with ethically sourced products. Dannii Minogue (Kylie's sister) and Anna Paquin are just a few celebs who have been spotted with the eco-clutches.   

Killer Satchel in Yellow, $505, angeljackson.com.

Animal print handbags gone wild

Once I entered through the doors of TJ Maxx this morning, I was immediately bombarded by the latest handbag fashion: animal prints. 

Cynthia Rowley, $99.99, TJ Maxx.

But it was animal prints to the extreme, and since this trend never leaves the scene for too long, a leopard-printed or python-inspired handbag may be the perfect holiday gift. 

Kathy Van Zeeland, $49.99, TJ Maxx.

Some were made from faux leather materials such as polyvinyl chloride, which can be recycled into new uses. And some were made from leather, but faux leather wannabes can be easily found. Also, check inside tags to see if the choice material is recyclable.
 

Enzo Angiolini, $29.99, TJ Maxx.

Jessica Simpson, $49.99, TJ Maxx.

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

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.