Wow, its September already! Let’s see what the autumn ECW will bring…

Fashion, Evolved
Interviews Fabulous (and Glamorous!) Fitness Guru, Lisa Johnson.

Ecco*Eco
Are all eyes on Ada Zanditon

Eco-Chick
Has had a make-over and is looking good!

Eco Diva
Dr. Alkaitis holistic organic skincare giveaway

Ethical Style
Vogue editor Anna Wintour and why she doesn’t really shop much.

Feelgood Style
Vapour Organic Beauty: Weightless make-up

Girlie Girl Army
Must-have boots for fall / winter 2009

Green Grechen
Tells us how to buy vintage shoes.

Green Lashes and Fashion
Eco fashion finds for a sweet soiree.

Greenopia
Extend your sun-kissed look into fall

Inhabitat
Top 7 Favorite Eco Shoes for this fall

Planet Green
Flea Queen’s Guide to Thrift Shopping.

The Alternative Consumer
Defy – Recycled billboard bags with killer style

The Thrifty Chicks
Say faux (vintage) is foe!

Treehugger
Features 7 Hot Models Who Are Also Environmentalists!

This weeks eco fashion roundup from those in the know….

Fashion, Evolved
The Life and Times of Victoria Klein.

Ecco*Eco
Frei Designs opens shop

Eco Fashion World
Interview with Pivot shop owner Jessa Brinkmeyer.

Eco-Chick
Its love at first sight with Teich bags.

Eco-Diva
Organic Essence Vanilla Lip Balm review.

Ethical Style
Glamour Runs Unretouched Photo of Plus-Size Model

Feelgood Style
Kazam Natural Body Care.

The Girlie Girl Army
At Home Facials for the Broke Glamazon.

Green Grechen
Eco Fashion Deals and Steals.

Green Lashes and Fashion
Ten Vintage Vegan Bags

Inhabitat
Save the world with your underwear at PACT.

Modern Hippie Mag
Spotlight on McFarland Designs.

Organic Beauty View
Eco Tools’ bath and body collection

Planet Green
Five free ways to reverse summer skin and hair damage.

Alternative Consumer
Enamore’s 2010 eco undies.

The GIN Lady
Ruby London: Style led ethical fashion.

The Green Girls
Green-Minded Skin.

The Thrifty Chicks
Thirft stores: Do you shop where you drop?

Treehugger
Nau bags – they’re completely different.

Eco Chic Weekly is coordinated by the fantastic ADQ of Fashion Evolved.

This week’s round up of everything stylish and green…

Eco-Chick
Check out the 2009 Collection by Samantha Pleet

Ecco*Eco
Leblas collection Filigree Chic.

Eco Fashion World
5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Green Your Wardrobe

Eco Diva
Review of Flip & Tumble shopping bag.

Girlie Girl Army
Pinups for Pitbulls. An original way to raise awareness and funds for pitbulls!

Ethical Style
iWood Sustainable Sunglasses is on their wishlist.

Green Grechen
Vintage Week: How to Shop for Vintage Clothing.

Green Lashes and Fashion
Looking for the Best Vintage Skirts!

Greenopia
Natural make-up by Suki.

Organic Beauty View
Introducing Sabon NYC new organic skincare line.

Feelgood Style
Osea, new organic skincare from the sea

Eco Chic Weekly is coordinated by the fantastic ADQ of Fashion Evolved.

Influenced by the talented dressmakers and crafters that I meet at our Nottingham Stitched Up Group and The Textile Workshop I’m about to embark on ‘proper’ clothes making and creating my own accessories.

I’ve dabbled here and there, making few things that I do actually use, including a couple of bags, a bit of jewellery and a summer top but now’s the time to get serious. Why? Well for two reasons really. The first being that I love the idea of creating exactly what I want, something that expresses how I feel and actually fits me. The second reason is because making things myself means I can decide where I source the materials, doing it as sustainably as I can.

The thought of trying to learn the many many techniques that go into transforming fabric, beads, threads, buttons, yarns and zips into something that I would be seen outdoors wearing is both daunting and thrilling. I’m excited by the idea of one day being able to picture an item of clothing and then make it a reality. I don’t know whether I’ll be any good at turning my hand to this skill but I will start as I mean to go on. I want to conserve energy, reduce waste, support ethical manufactuers, be more independent AND be inspired.

So here is my hand made statement.

I can’t pretend that this is my idea, actually I’ve shamelessly pilfered it from one of my favourite blogs, Crafting a Green World. The timing was so right when I read their ‘A Green Crafting Manifesto‘ post that I decided to apply it to my clothes making (and crafting) plans. So here goes:

• If I know how to make an item of clothing or accessory I will opt to do that before buying a similar brand new item.
• I will always aim to use vintage, second hand and recycled materials first. As an alternative or where these are not available I will seek organic or fair trade fabrics, yarns etc.
• Other than dowloading online patterns I will aim to use second hand paper patterns or books or loan these from the library or friends
• I will continue to learn new skills and techniques and share these new found skills with others.

OK, a teeny-tiny step in the self-sufficiency direction. Watch this space for updates on how it goes!

Everyone loves a bargain – and there’s nothing better than being able to boast that your fab new dress/skirt/jacket cost a £5 from your local Oxfam -“yes I look great and yes I’m going to heaven”.

Some of my favourite clothes come from charity shops (my best buy ever is a pair of vintage pink butterfly YSL sunglasses for £2.50 which still makes me smile to this day) and I’m always happy in the knowledge that not only did I spend pocket money on a fab item of clothing and had a friendly chat about the weather with the lovely old lady behind the counter, I also gave money to a good cause.

Here are some of my snippets of good advice for the best bargains:

1. Head out of big towns – after all that’s where everyone is and betcha-bottom-dollar all the vintage shop owners/professionals are clearing out the shelves of all the best bits before us mere mortals can get to them. Seaside or rural towns tend to be best – and I find the richer a place is, the better the pickings. You can find all the charity shops in your area (or if you’re out of town) by searching online at www.charityshops.org.uk.

2. The best buys to go for are scarves, belts, bags and jewellery – buying these means you don’t have to worry about sizes, and are the cheapest and easiest way to update your look. But when you do buy second hand clothing the clothes will be smaller – so don’t run out of the shop screaming if you end up in a dress 2-3 sizes bigger than you normally buy.

3. At the moment I always make a beeline towards the dress rails – vintage dresses are so easy to wear – you can take them up if they’re too long – and there’s no dress that doesn’t instantly look fantastic with a great belt. And they’re an easy thing to translate from Summer to Autumn too – add a blazer and pair of tights and you’re well away.

Charity shops pretty much rock really, which is why I was horrified to read in the Guardian the other day that due to the current economic situation, people aren’t donating as much to charity shops as they used to, instead preferring to try and flog their castaways on e-bay and the like.

This is bad news for us charity shop lovers, so give your karma a boost – give your wardrobe a good clean out, get a bin bag together (even better fill one of those charity bags that come through your door – they’ll then pick it up for you) and get donating, happy in the knowledge that someone just like you is going to find your no longer wanted dress/skirt/jacket for £5 and feel and look fabulous.