'Thrift Shop' song takes #1 spot

With an infectious tune backed by lyrics bragging about only having $20 to get a fly look, Seattle hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis hit the #1 spot on the Hot Singles list with an ode to thrift shopping.

After hearing 'Thrift Shop' a few months ago, I think it's pretty awesome a song about searching for recycled and vintage fashions overtook the charts.

This Entertainment Weekly article profiles the group and its love for thrift shops: Macklemore interview: Seattle rapper talks pizza parties, social change, new video for 'Thrift Shop'

Thrifty treasure #1: copper-sequined tank

As a part of my last weekend in Seattle, I decided to enjoy my University District neighborhood filled with vintage and consignment shops. One of my faves became the Buffalo Exchange, where I found a dark olive green tank top with copper sequins by Ann Taylor Loft. 

From first glance, it seemed like the perfect top for professional and unprofessional night-outs, the versatile pieces needed to be the career girl and the off-the-clock girl. Some of the sequins were lying in the opposite direction, but they're easy to smooth them down, so I dished out the $15 (originally a lot more) and supported recycled fashion.

Vintage shopping: the Seattle exploration

For the past few weeks, I've been adjusting to Seattle, my home for the summer. So finally found a place to stay, and it's in the University District, the trendy area for the students of the University of Washington. This weekend, I spent time exploring the neighborhood and found myself in the center of a vintage shopping haven.

Red Light Vintage Clothing is unique to the Seattle area with two locations. I enjoyed seeing clothes, shoes, and accessories that I would never thought would have been in season years ago, or perhaps decades ago. I couldn't believe I still wanted to wear a lot of that stuff because sometimes vintage shopping goes a little too deep into history where I wouldn't wear certain things. I was really feeling the shoes, but I knew I should wait for the perfect pair begging to come home with me.

So Goodwill is everywhere, especially here in Seattle where there are almost 20 locations throughout the city and the outskirts. But I noticed this location tried to fit into the block with having a vintage aura compared to its counterparts elsewhere. I bought three tops that probably look like my other stuff, but I couldn't help it since it was cheaper than the stores back home in California.

While walking up the street, I checked out the Buffalo Exchange, which is a chain of stores in several states, but I never heard of it. I was curious to see what they offered, and it was a mainstream vintage shop. That may sound insulting, but it's incredible because their inventory rocked. They even made their own jewelry. Interesting pieces, but the nickel metal makes my skin itch. I did find a J.Crew gray cardigan since I'm a sucker for those. It looks more fashionable than it sounds.

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.

Fashion reality show promotes recycling clothes

Amidst all the new midseason replacement fashion reality shows like NBC's Fashion Star and Style Network's Confessions of a Fashionette, I found VH1's House of Consignment where a company buys designer duds from consumers and sells them for profit, also known as the thriftiness of recycling. 

Consignment shops can be a goldmine for unique vintage and designer clothes and accessories that can't be found anywhere else because the owners buy or accept donated items from  a variety of consumers. So a consignment shop transforms to a candy shop where the perfect items are confectionery sweet.  

House of Consignment centers around the Chicago-based luxury online shop, eDrop-Off, where they take this concept of only purchasing the finest, gently used designer garb and placing the newly discovered items online where they are auctioned off. Though eDrop-Off pays the original owners for their items before they go online, owners still get a cut of the check when the items sell. 

The eco-friendly process keeps clothes and accessories in the loop of recycling, especially with the major designer labels such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada using tons of leather, animal fur, and other not-so-eco-friendly materials. Even in the first episode, an owner sold a heavy fur cape to eDrop-Off where a consumer bought it online to use as a throw on her sofa.

Recycled prom dresses

Earlier this week, I was excited to get the chance to write an article and produce a video for an eco-fashion story. 

Since prom season is here, local organizations are giving away recycled formal dresses to help teenagers enjoy their prom without the financial strain. 

Check out my story and video here.  

Popular companies launch eco-fashion initiative

Wal-Mart, Target, H+M, Gap Inc., and countless other companies and environmental organizations like the EPA announced today the launch of Sustainable Apparel Coalition to address the environmental and social challenges in the clothing and footwear industry.

Minimizing energy and waste and reducing the use of chemicals and hazardous materials are some of the goals the coalition plans to conquer in the near future. 

The extensive partnership may lead to more eco-fashion pieces available at everyday stores at reasonable prices.

Goodwill hunting #4

After a relaxing holiday break, I'm still trying to get back on my regular schedule. But while hanging around home last weekend, I found time to venture the local thrift shops.

J.Crew Yellow City Fit Pants, $4

This pair of hot yellow short pants is perfect for the warm spring and summer days that will hopefully appear sooner than later. And the 'city fit' title actually makes me imagine myself sashaying in these pants on the glamorous city sidewalks.

Banana Republic Martin Beige Slacks, $4

Beige business slacks match pretty much with everything, so having a trendy pair in the closet is a plus. The multi-lined waistband sticks out since the detail is fun and classy at the same time. Cute back pockets do matter.

Vintage Purple Bead Bracelet, $3

Purple is my power color, so when I peered at this number in the glass case, I had to have it. The light purple beads from large to small definitely made the piece look timelessly dramatic. It's a stretch band, making the bracelet conveniently stick to the wrist.

Stone Charm Bracelet, $3

I love real stones as much as the next girl, and this piece may look cheap from the wire, but the coldness of the stones awakened my interest. I'm thinking of removing the tiger eye and garnet stones off the chain and maybe place them in a bracelet or necklace or a pair of earrings. Creating new masterpieces with old pieces keeps your style stay original.

Vintage Butterfly Earrings, $2.50

There's something about butterflies. These vintage earrings seemed like a fun piece of jewelry that could go with any outfit. In fact, I debuted them today. The gold wire, pearl-like beads, and detailed butterfly charms give the earrings a nice old-fashioned yet current flair.

Rummaging for good deals is not always concentrated on the search for clothes and accessories. A retro eco-activism book is still technically in style. Rik Scarce's 'Eco-Warriors: Understanding the Radical Environmental Movement' from 1990 is now on my never-ending list of must-reads.

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. 

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

Goodwill hunting #2

Clothing made from organic or recycled fabric is a dime a dozen, so thrift shopping is an easier way to go for eco-fashion.

On today's trip, I found a vintage '80s desperate housewife turquoise robe. For some odd reason, I always wanted one, so I'm glad I found it. 

Now I'm burdened with the task of disposing of the terry cloth robe I had since I was 12 years old. The environmentalist inside of me says, "Don't throw it away." But it's so old that my shampoo neck rings are not washing off anymore, so I can't donate it to Goodwill. 

It got me thinking about clothes you shouldn't donate to the thrift store or throw in the trash because of tears, holes, stains, etc. even though there are parts that can still be  recycled. Stay tuned for information on that. 

Also, I found a form-fitting black and white business dress. It's Merona, so I can easily get it from Target, not exactly vintage (it may be circa 2004) but still cheaper than buying it from the original source. 

And there was a high slit in the back that could give you a reputation in the office, but the former dress owner neatly sewn it shut. Clothes already tailored to your needs happens to be another advantage to shopping thrifty.

Recycle your jeans and get money!

Gap, the emporium for the best-fitting jeans I've ever worn, just announced the Recycle Your Blues campaign. The rules from gap.com are as follows: 

Bring us any of your old denim and get 30% OFF men’s and women’s 1969 jeans. Make that 35% OFF when you use your Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy card. Now through October 20.

*Applies to regularly priced merchandise. Discount taken at register. See store for details.

Image: Ellen M. Reed Photography

In celebration of this cause, Ecouterre and Inhabitat joined forces with Gap 1969 Stream to create their own recycling challenge. 

If you tore the back pockets off an old pair of jeans and made into a handbag, which I had done when I was a teenager, then they want to hear from you! 

Snap photos of your own trendy creations from dingy denim to eco-fashion, then send them to: 

http://www.ecouterre.com/recycleddenimchallenge

This contest also ends on October 20, and a $200 Gap gift card could be yours! Check it out!

H+M using sustainable materials

My favorite shopping adventures usually take place in an H+M store. Whether I'm in Paris or NYC or San Francisco (yes, I've been to all these stores), I get excited about buying the essentials: clothes, shoes, and nickel-free jewelry.

Image: static.flickr.com

But since the news of the NYC flagship store disposing of torn garments broke last year, I was devastated to learn my shopping haven has been contributing to textile waste. After the controversy, H+M has stepped up in being more environmentally responsible as a corporate clothing store. 

H+M uses more sustainable fabrics such as recycled polyester, recycled/organic wool, recycled/organic linen, and recycled/organic cotton, the most eco-friendly fabric used in producing the company's clothing. 

Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides. Pesticides are known for polluting nearby air and water sources, so a major benefit is there's cleaner air and water. Using organic cotton also benefits the agricultural economy since farm workers will not be replaced with machinery.

Since 2004, the company has been committed to using organic cotton and increasing its use every year. Learn more here.   

Fall fashions in, old fashions out

Silky pajamas. Denim vest. Business blouse. These are some of pieces of clothing that had to be sacrificed to welcome fall's new fashions. 

It's hard to depart from clothes that I would still wear, but after the summer, I had to reexamine my closet. Spring cleaning swept through my closet before the summer, so bags and bags of clothing were recycled, but a new season means another cleaning.

I like cleaning out my closet because I'm technically recycling them by giving the gently used items to a donation center. It also helps with decision-making, especially if you have a slight tendency to hoard. 

If you're trying to convince yourself that maybe you would need that tangerine party top someday, think if you've worn it in the past year. If not, get rid of it. I recycled plenty of clothes that I liked, but I didn't see myself actually wearing it anytime soon. 

If you have something in your closet that's nice but doesn't fit right, get rid of it. I'm recycling a sea green dress perfect for a wedding, but it just wasn't fitting my body right. I kept it in my closet for years for those "just in case" scenarios, but those moments never materialized, so I have to give it up for someone else to actually wear it. 

So as fall is approaching us, clean your closets and recycle your clothes.