StyleMaven Blog - Shopping Inspiration

Fab Fair Trade Totes and Tips for Going Eco-Chic

When you think of eco-friendly fashion - do you think hemp ponchos and Birkenstocks ?

Virginia Dooley and Nicole Jones are working to change this. Rising Tide Fair Trade (RTFT) is the collaboration of the duo whose passion for exotic textiles and a vision to bring stylish and sustainable products to the American market was launched in earlier this year.

The debut "Kantha" collection launched with the limited edition carryall bag crafted by Indian artisan women part of a fair trade co-op where they earn a living wage. The bags are crafted from luscious colorful vintage Indian quilts and cruelty-free dark brown suede. Look for future collections with textiles from Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Senegal, and Bolivia.

>> See Virginia and Nicole's 5 tips for Going Eco-Chic.

Marc Does the Super Bootee

These boots seem almost like a magical fairy tale. Imagine if Tinkerbell were to sprinkle fairy dust onto Peter Pan's boots, the result -  these silver, sweet and summery Marc Jacobs cracked leather bootees. They are comfortable yet jam-packed with style. Wear with a Camilla and Marc Shannon shift dress.

See more ankle boots on StyleMaven's Ankle Boot StyleGuide

 

Road To Morocco - The Boho trend is back

Moroccan themed summer wear and accessories are back again. This time tunics are shorter more fitted and shaded in ombre.

The 33" long Seaton Peyton Batik Dress is shaded in a tie dye wash and embellished with gold metallic trim. The handmade simplicity and natural leather heighten the appeal of the Joie Flat Huarache Sandal ...tell everyone you bought them at the Medina of Fez. Finally top your look with a pair of dangly Lee Angel Papillion hoops or an embellished leather bag/rucksack such as the Kooba Waverly bag. But be warned use these accessories sparingly if you wear more than two at a time you could end up looking like a walking market bazaar yourself!

Kirna Zabete designs Limited Edition FitFlop Boot

New York based Kirna Zabete, the "fabulous fashion emporium" which also btw has an outpost in Tokyo (Now that REALLY is fabulous!) has collaborated with FitFlop the maker of fitness sandals. Due out in June 2008 the limited edition sandal is comprised of black kid leather or snake skin. The 'Aurelia' is a corseted gladiator inspired hybrid Fitflop boot. The Aurelia will be available in June at Kirna Zabete's NYC store and in July online at Net-a-Porter.com

Below the Aurelia are the original FitFlop Patent Sandals which claim to be comfortable and designed to get those hamstrings and blobby body parts in order before your trip to Kauai.

FitFlop Patent Sandals at Macys.com., $49.99

"FRED SEGAL Green" Brings Eco Chic Shopping to the West Coast

Fred Segal joins the eco-chic revolution with a new 1200sq foot store, Fred Segal Green, at the Santa Monica location. Built  with eco-friendly products from construction materials to finishes, the space promises to be a luxurious source for green living fused with modern design.

>>read more on Fred Segal Green

Superheroes don Fred Leighton Jewels at the MET Ball

At last night's MET Costume Institute Gala, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy", fashionistas were out in full super-hero style eager to save Gotham from any fashion disasters. Jeweler Fred Leighton was a buzz as starlets adorned themselves with his one-of-a-kind vintage estate jewels, upping the glamour quotient tenfold. Headpieces set the trend from broaches, to feathers and headbands. Dazzling starlets Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amanda Peet and Kate Mara looked stunning with Fred Leighton jewels in their hair. Fred Leighton  specializes in vintage jewelry from the  eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Fred Leighton website

See more photos of the stunning full-on glamour Vogue.com

Photos: Courtesy of Fred Leighton.

Which gowns were your favorites, and which were fashion disasters? Share with us in Comments!

Pixie Market - The Epicenter of Cool

Pixie Market has brick and mortar shops in locations renowned for cutting edge fashion. Located in NY's Lower East Side and LA's West Third Street, the Pixie Market now has an online shop featuring sublime, colorful and trail-blazing cool clothing and accessories.

The Denim Must-have for Summer

These Roberto Cavalli jeans are the ideal summer pant. The perfect shade of light blue and warm weather weight fabric are offset by contrast orange stitching. Imagine if you were on holiday on Capri...these are the pants you'd be living in while lunching on thin crust pizza at Aurora. These Cavalli 'hippie chic' pants were also seen on the runway and would look lovely with a puffy bell sleeve shirt and sky high wedge sandals.

Roberto Cavalli Lightweight denim pants

Mad About 3.1 Phillip Lim - Ombre Rope Belt

We at StyleMaven are mad about 3.1 Phillip Lim's Spring '08 Collection. Check out our editor's picks from the collection. New for summer '08 from 3.1 Phillip Lim is this 'Hombre' Rope Belt.

A play on words and on the ombre color trend. We love the graduated colors and we can see wearing this belt, perfect for cinching, over swinging summer dresses and long tunics.

See StyleMaven's picks - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Katherine Heigl's CCSkye Lucy bag and other luscious ORANGE accessories

ORANGE adds just the right touch of color this spring and summer with knock out accessories. In shades as sweet as our favorite fruits...think tangerine, mango and persimmon. Grey Anatomy star Katherine Heigl is an inspiration to shades of orange with her CCSkye Lucy Bag. Embellished with chunky gold hardware and a braided handle, it flaunts a classic design elements with a fresh edge.  Two other 'just squeezed' accessories include orange aviators MK Michael Kors sunglasses in mango and adorable locket embellished Miss Trish of Capri thongs.

Katherine Heigl photo: CCSkye

All things YELLOW

We are mad about YELLOW for sunny days ahead...add a dash of vibrant color to your beach-bound accessories.

Diane von Furstenberg Dot string bikini

Olympus Corporation Stylus 850 SW Yellow 8.0 MP 3X Zoom Digital Camera

Tod's Nuovo Matisse Flat Sandal, Yellow

Pa-Tou-Tou Canasta Tote

Marc by Marc Jacobs Logo Cuff