Lauren Conrad teams up with Blue Avocado for XO(eco) line

In my March issue of Lucky magazine, I read cover girl and fashion designer Lauren Conrad of The Hills fame collaborated with the eco-conscious Blue Avocado to launch the XO(eco) line.

The line consists of lunch bags, overnight bags, and makeup bags with reusable items like cups and towels. Depending on the product, it could be made from a post-consumer recycled plastic bottle fabric called Repreve or organic cotton with eco-friendly dyes.

They all lack everyday product toxins like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), bisphenol-A (BPA), and lead. And 1% of profits goes to ocean research and conservation. It may sound small, but it'll add up.

Lunch Kit in Tuxedo Stripe (PVC, lead, BPA-free), $29.99, blueavocado.com.

Oversized travel bag in Tuxedo Stripe (recycled bottle fabric), $69.99, blueavocado.com.

Reusable Hand Towels in Umbrellas + Mini Dot (organic cotton), $9.99, blueavocado.com.

Eco-fashion in oxblood

The fashion world has christened oxblood the color of the season.

Yes, the burgundy brown color earned an overly dramatic moniker, but there is a fierce campaign in place to promote it, and it's appearing in everything from leggings to handbags.

Oxblood has soaked into leather and other fabrics, but below are some eco-friendly options in following the trend.  

Medium Fur Collar in Oxblood (faux fur), $50, topshop.com.

Adamu Drape Dress in Burgundy (fair trade), $300, lemlem.com.

Legacy Leather Faux Leather Skinny Leggings in Oxblood (tencel), $176, nordstrom.com.

Big Buddha JCarlow Satchel Handbag in Burgundy (faux leather), $59.95, dsw.com.

Zoya Nail Polish in Anastasia (toxin-free), $8, zoya.com.

Valentine's Day eco-fashion gifts

Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate love. And the love for eco-fashion is strong this year with clothes, jewelry, and other accessories perfect for the holiday. 

For the week of Valentine's Day, check out eco-friendly sale website, Pure Citizen, for bargains. U.K.-based eco-fashion online store, Annie Greenabelle, also has a Valentine's Day special with several wardrobe choices appropriate for the day and anytime during the year.

Frankie Dress Rose (organic cotton), $52.70, anniegreenabelle.com.

Hovey Lee Allott Necklace (recycled metal/genuine shell), $76, hoveylee.com.

Find It In Your Heart Handbag (vegan), $47.99, modcloth.com.

365 Sinela Ballet Flats in Pastel Blue (eco-leather), $88, yoox.com.

Goodwill hunting #9: spring tote bag

Though I'm not in the sunniest part of California, the weather is already turning warmer, meaning more days outside at places like the flea market or the beach. So the time to carry a cloth tote bag is edging closer as winter comes to an end.

Last weekend, I found a cute Bijoux Terner cloth tote bag with faux green leather straps decorated with green flowers at a thrift shop. It was only $3 maybe because it's not warm yet, but I'm excited for the springtime, so I can flaunt the bag with my outfits.

Floral and patterned totes will bring life to any ensemble and be a convenient place to house the three lip gloss tubes and other paraphernalia we have to take everywhere. 

Below are a few totes perfect for the upcoming season from Etsy, the online shopping mall for vintage, handmade, recycled, and other eco-friendly goods.

Pleated Tote Bag, $39, etsy.com.

Citrine Jute Basic Tote, $72, etsy.com.

Classic Large Tote in Magenta & Creme Floral, $30, etsy.com.

Hobby-inspired eco-handbags @ ModCloth

The handbag is a must-have accessory, so if it can reflect our interests through design, we should definitely carry it. 

Below are some faux leather handbags from eco-friendly online retailer, ModCloth, where hobbies like traveling and writing come alive in an eco-handbag.

Traveling Translator Tote, $99.99, modcloth.com.

Sweet Music Clutch, $54.99, modcloth.com.

Shoulder Bag of Notebook, $54.99, modcloth.com.

Gleaming Cube Handbag, $52.99, modcloth.com.

Eco-holiday accessories

With 16 shopping days left, New Year's Day is quickly approaching and parties are already scheduled, so the must-have accessories are necessary for an eventful night. 

They include the pair of pumps to appear taller, the clutch to hold your belongings, the beautiful earrings, and the lip gloss for that midnight kiss. 

And the eco-friendly versions of these accessories can reduce your carbon footprint before the new year begins.

2b Alma Faux Suede Platform Pump (faux suede), $39.95, bebe.com.

Embossed Faux Crocodile Clutch (faux leather), $14.80, forever21.com.

 

Satin Gold Plated 3-Leaf Crystal Chandelier Earrings (handmade), $52, etsy.com.

LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint (paraben-free), $24, sephora.com.

Eco-fashion eye candy #7

Stella McCartney Alexa Eco
Suede Tote Bag, $965,
saksfifthavenue.com.

A tote bag is a girl's best friend, particularly an Italian-made Stella McCartney eco-suede tote.  

Yes, polyurethane helped create the piece but, at least, suede and leather was left out of the equation. It's rarely a win-win situation with eco-fashion, but a suave tote bag is a suave tote bag.

Give bamboo print an eco-boost

Though bamboo is an eco-fabric, many embrace it in a different way---by using the trademark bamboo print design rather than using the material. 

To give a bamboo-printed outfit a touch of eco-consciousness, add eco-friendly accessories like a vegan purse or organic cotton bottoms.

1. Orange Bamboo Jersey Top, $45, debenhams.com.

2. Koco Fair Trade Organic Leggings, $40, rapanuiclothing.com.

3. Big Buddha Ivy Bag, $90, shoostore.com.

4.  Speed Limit 98 Quarry Black Cuffed Cone Heels, $30, lulus.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.