Global Green USA holds annual pre-Oscars party

Eco-conscious celebrities gathered on the green carpet at the 11th annual Global Green USA party at the Avalon in Hollywood Wednesday night as one of the major events leading up to the 2014 Academy Awards this weekend. The party raised $20,000 for the nonprofit's ongoing programs.

Hollywood environmentalists Orlando Bloom, Ed Begley Jr., and Dylan McDermott helped host the zero-waste party, where guests feasted on a gourmet plant-based dinner by Akasha, a Culver City-based restaurant known for using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Event sponsor Cadillac also brought its newest plug-in ELR electric hybrid coupe to the event.

Vegan musician Moby and electronica duo The Crystal Method performed at the party while eco-friendly singer Michelle Branch modeled a conflict-free, lab-grown diamond ring by eco-jewelry company Gemesis, which sold at the event for $12,000.

The best fashions of the night included sleek gowns and midi-dresses, along with the color emerald fitting the theme of being green.

President and CEO Caren Brooks of the Brooks Family Foundation dazzles in a violet gown.

Actress Tehmina Sunny from FOX's The Following wore an Adrianna Papell Grecian-inspired silver gown.
 

Actress and eco-living expert Rainbeau Mars, also on the hosting committee, modeled a loose-fitting sparkly emerald pantsuit.

DJ Shy, who performed at the event, also decided on emerald with a chic party dress by Sue Wong.

Actress Malin Akerman, currently starring on ABC's Trophy Wife, wore a Wes Gordon light lemon midi-dress.

Actress Maggie Grace of Taken fame wore a vintage 1920s silk nightgown with a vintage beaded clutch and pendant necklace, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards. Vintage fashion equals eco-fashion with the recycling or repurposing of old clothes and accessories.

From Global Green USA's Twitter timeline, there was more eco-fashion at the event.

Love this dress on the right made from bamboo! #ecofashion #domoregreen #GreenPreOscar pic.twitter.com/dGd3bPM0Qe
— Global Green USA (@globalgreen) February 27, 2014

 All images from Global Green USA's Flickr photostream. 

Goodwill hunting #10: vintage chain necklaces

Vintage necklaces are standout pieces. Before the age of mass producing an accessory, jewelry designers made one-of-a-kind pieces that today are rare unless you shop secondhand.            

My mother bought me an interestingly designed green-and-blue chain link necklace made from glass beads for $2 at a local thrift shop. It made me reminisce about my other great vintage necklaces sitting in my jewelry box that I  found mainly at estate sales.

After finding a great necklace, I usually head to Etsy.com when I want to search for more unique jewelry pieces that I probably would never find in the real world. 

Vintage Wood & Bakelite Necklace, $4, etsy.com. 

Double Strand Chain Link Vintage Necklace, $23, etsy.com.

Vintage Necklace & Bracelet, $12, etsy.com.

Eco-jewelry gifts for Valentine's Day

The countdown to Valentine's Day starts now with only five shopping days left. Since it's a holiday about love, green girls like eco-jewelry, especially the ones that come with hearts. 

Eco-jewelry can be either vintage, fair trade, or my favorite must-have, nickel-free. Nickel is a metal that causes skin irritation for many people, so there are major outlets that sell nickel-free jewelry.

Key Necklace, $5.95, hm.com.

UltraFine Silver Polished Heart Charm Bracelet, $53, qvc.com.

Gem Avenue Flower Ring, $32.99, sears.com.

Rhodium Hoop Earrings, $44, lushcrystaljewelry.com.

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-jewelry eye candy #3

Seductive and strikingly elegant royal gem earrings with clear rhinestone accents set on an antique gold metal

Eco bridal jewelry for stylish green brides

Have a green wedding from head to toe with eco-friendly jewelry that is handmade, fairly traded, recycled, vintage, and uses eco-approved materials.

Eco Bridal Jewelry for Stylish Green Brides

Vintage jewels sell big at auction

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

This is an obvious moment that vintage jewelry never goes out of style. Exquisite jewel pieces belonging to Wallis Simpson, the wife of King Edward VIII, sold for $12.5 million U.S. dollars at a London auction. 

Dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, diamonds, emeralds, and rubies highlighted the collection of brooches and bracelets. 

Metal-free knockoffs hopefully soon to come to our fave chain stores.

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-blingin'

With my obsession with jewelry and newfound eco-consciousness, I wanted to see what made certain pieces of jewelry more environmentally friendly than others.

CONFLICT-FREE DIAMONDS This week, the news has been swirling about supermodel Naomi Campbell allegedly lying about receiving a blood diamond because, truth is, we all love diamonds regardless where they came from.

But knowing its origin may be an ethical issue. Because of conflicts raging in mostly African nations dealing with an illegal diamond trade system, more people prefer diamonds that come from a government- and industry-approved, fair situation. Before purchasing diamond jewelry, ask where it came from.

FAIR TRADE GEMS These are like blood diamonds with the illicit trade of gemstones, so still ask where they came from and make sure their birthplaces don't have issues with conflict over some sapphires and rubies.

RECYCLED METALS & JEWELS Recycling is usually always eco-friendly, so buying recycled metals and jewels to create your own pieces is green approved. In today's economy, people are taking their old gold and silver to those Gold For Cash places, so there is more recycled metals out there although they are hard to find as separate pieces.

Usually anything that can't be agriculturally grown from the ground is mined like gold, silver, etc., which has detrimental effects on the environment like erosion, water pollution, etc.

VINTAGE JEWELRY Vintage is always in. Old pieces can be found at garage sales, rummage sales, thrift shops, vintage shops, and other places. Reusing antique jewelry lets you have the luxurious metals and jewels without buying new pieces at generally higher prices.

Some eco-friendly jewelry websites like greenkarat.com and brilliantearth.com sell recycled metals and jewels, fair trade gems, and conflict-free diamonds and provide background information on the jewelry you want to buy.