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.

Goodwill hunting #7: leather tote bag

Holidays equal sales. This year, I barely shopped because of a lack of funds, but I was still able to bargain shop. 

As a chic career girl, I've wanted a leather tote for some time that would match my brown and tan-tinted outfits. 

My black leather tote bag is great, but I needed another one, so I was happy to find a Kate Spade one for four bucks.

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.

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.

Eco-must-have: Navajo style

Gwen Stefani, Ashley Tisdale, and Blake Lively fashioning
the Navajo style. Images: people.com.

The colorful, intricate designs of the Navajo style, which represents the design for most Native American groups, make an entrance in the fashion world at different times, and these are one of those times.

Eco-fashion choices in this trend seemed to be a skimpy list, but luckily there are many vintage choices available through different companies as well as thrift shops.  

Some items will be made from upcycled or recycled fur and leather, so more of these not-so-eco-friendly materials will not be used.

Ryan Alpaca Cape (vintage), $264, shopnastygal.com.

Gypsy Love Vest (vintage), $58, lulus.com.

Vintage Woolrich Navajo Blanket Jacket (vintage) by BLACKMAGICVINTAGE, $45, etsy.com.

Truly Madly Deeply Navajo Print Tunic (made by eco-friendly company), $14.99, UrbanOutfitters.com.

Handmade Turquoise & Bamboo Necklace (fair trade), $24, tenthousandvillages.com.

JADEtribe Nicole Messenger Bag, $175, junoandjove.com.

Mosaic Magnified Bag (upcycled leather), $134.99, modcloth.com.

JADEtribe Nicole Tote Bag, $128, shopbop.com.

Glossy eco-leather tote bags

Carrying lip glosses and sunglasses is a daily job that our beloved bags have to endure. Leather is supposed to be the ideal material to have in a durable tote bag, but these days designers are making it easier for us eco-fashionsitas to have options. 

The glossy look never gets old and gives a bag the gift of versatility from wearing to an impromptu soiree or to the post office around the corner. Faux, upcycled, and recycled leather can be just as strong and long-lasting as chemically tanned leather; it all comes down to how you treat and care for the bag.

Shiraleah Arkansas Bark Brown Vegan Tote, $87, alternativeoutfitters.com.

Vegan Leather Tote Bag, $44.50, fairindigo.com.

Cherry Vegan Billie Handbag, $129, mattandnat.com.

Black Vegan Boheme, $225, mattandnat.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.

Recycled leather doctor style handbags

Dooney & Bourke and Louis Vuitton perfected the doctor style bag, and any brand can satisfy our taste, especially an eco-friendly one. This includes vintage and recycled leather bags.

Small Sora, $375, ashleywatson.ca
 (recycled leather)

And remember doctor bags are practically timeless, so shelving out a lot of cash on one may turn out to be an investment in the long run. 

"Lily" in Fawn Brown Purse, $100,
fashionandearth.com
(recycled microsuede)

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). 

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.