Though I am a PR major, I realize the best designer tip-offs come from other bloggers and not the designer’s individual publicists. To be honest, this actually helps the designer, because as you can guess, we’re more likely to pay attention to a brand if a peer suggests it rather than a gusher-for-hire— no offense to my, hopefully, eventual colleagues. Browsing other blogs is how I found accessory designer Ashley Watson.
While reading the blog Couture Salope in October, I stumbled across a post featuring some of the most subtly-beautiful leather handbags I’d seen in quite some time. I became even more intrigued after reading that all of Ashley Watson’s accessories were made of recycled leather. The recycled leather gives the bags the soft feel and perfectly worn look of your favorite, old leather jacket.
To me, recycled leather is something like vintage fur. No extra animals were murdered to make the specific bag so it is almost 100% okay. Plus, the bag is eco-friendly without being completely made of hemp.
Though you may not be able to get the Spring ‘09 collection including the red version of the ‘Thrush’ Bag until February, you can get the ‘Thrush’ bag in black for $250 at shopfatal.com or for a bit more at their other stockists.
The beginning of my day usually consists of me dropping my sister off at the train station around 8AM then heading back home and napping until 9:30 or 10 in the morning. Today however, I took my father to work instead of my sister to the train station, causing me to be up much earlier, and when I returned home, I couldn’t get back to sleep— so I got an early start. This meant, I was able to gorilla glue the hair straightener that somehow broke, change outfits numerous to settle on the outfit above, and then take pictures of it (I highly doubt this will be a regular occurrence).
I was completely psyched because it looked really pretty outside, and I would finally be able to wear a skirt. Unfortunately, as soon as I stepped outside, heading to class, I realized I was not dressed for the weather in the least. I hoped a cardigan could solve this problem, but it was a no go— so, I sped inside and changed into my handy-dandy black skinnies and threw a gray tunic and creme belt over them. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I was left with no time to take pictures of it, so your imagination will have to do.
I hoping next week might be warmer, but I highly doubt it. Real Spring can’t come soon enough.
In other news, the National Jean Company stores in New York are having a denim drive from April 9th to April 13th. This event formed out of the partnership between National Jean Company, Earnest Sewn, Madison Harding, and Cotton Inc. The denim will go to Cotton Inc’s initiative, “Cotton. From Blue to Green”, that “recycles old denim into UltraTouch environmentally friendly insulation for homes for communities in need”. So if you happen to be in the New York area and have a pair of old jeans or two make sure to donate. Visit the National Jean Company website for store locations.
Last year I was impressed and weirded out by the antics of the 4th China Reproductive Heath New Technologies & Products Expo. To stress safe sex in China, the put on a fashion show with all the clothing made of condoms. I mused about this being a great idea, and apparently I wasn’t the only one with this frame of mind. “Dress Up Against AIDS” had a fashion show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where more 30 student designers from the International Beauty & Make-Up Academy created kooky rubber-wear for the models to strut their stuff in.
Oddly this still fascinates me. It’s such a fantastic idea, yet it hasn’t been implemented in the US. Yes, sex education is important, but you have to have a little fun every once in a while. There isn’t much the fashion industry does to encourage safe sex other than talk, but it’s obvious they can make their point by educating the public about HIV/AIDS and safe sex, then proceed to have a bomb condom fashion show. I’d love to see a Diane von Furstenburg wrap-dress made of condoms!
What do you think? Is this taking HIV/AIDS awareness to an extreme or is just enough to make a statement?
[via Yahoo! News]
Its October, and that means its officially Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I already told you about the extra adorable Marc Jacobs Breast Cancer Charm bracelet, but MJ isn’t the only person showing their pink pride on Shopbop.com. Splendid has created a Pink Camouflage Tank for all you pink lovers and advocates of breast cancer awareness.
The tank is $42 and 25% of the precedes go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Moise Emquies, the founder of Splendid says, “The pink camouflage tank is an icon that represents the battle women face when waging the war on breast cancer. We hope this symbol raises awareness of this issue and ultimately helps in finding a cure for this devastating disease. ” So whether you are battling/ have battled breast cancer, know a someone who has breast cancer or has beaten breast cancer, or just like camouflage, this pink tank is cute and for a great cause.
Have you seen any breast cancer related products? Leave a comment or send us an email so we can feature them all October.
Looking for a way to justify those $300 shoes you just bought? Stuart Weitzman gives it to you on a platter, well, an auction block is more like it. SW is putting on his seventh annual Celebrity Shoe Auction, and this year the auction will benefit ovarian cancer research. Each pair of shoes are designed by a celebrity and represents their personality and style. Some of the celebs participating are Oprah (hey O!), Sharon Stone, Courtney Cox, Glenn Close, Hayden Panettiere, Charlize Theron, Molly Sims, and Kelly Ripa; even some guys got in on the action with shoes designed by Mario Lopez, McSteamy Eric Dane (and his wife Rebecca Gayheart), and Kyle MacLachlan. Each pair of shoes come with and autographed sole and glossy photo of the designing celeb. The auction ends on October 4th, and you can start bidding on these gorgeous and sometimes wacky shoes here.
See all the different shoes below.
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