All of the fashion world was looking forward to see what Olivier Theyskens could do at Theory, and, of course, he didn’t disappoint; he took Theory’s classic-contemporary vibe and elevated it, creating beautiful, elegant work AND after-work pieces. But I was surprised (and pleased) to see some hemp accessories.
(I’m personally dying for these shoes!! I love the pointed toe; they balance out the heaviness of the wedge)
This large messenger bag is also available in white, which would be beautiful for Spring (and easy to clean!). And I love the crisscross detailing with the straps.
Of course, the cost is prohibitive, but perhaps they’ll end up on sale in a few months. Overall, I’m happy to see a luxury designer use hemp to create beautiful things (he also uses velvet for shoes – clearly he’s interested in alternative fabrics!). Even if they’re not accessible, it’s a step in the right direction.
What do you think?
If I was doing a gift guide (which I’m not), this organic cotton scarf by Rubyzaar at Totokaelo would be top on the list of things I’d like to receive 
Love the colors, love the price ($58), love the company’s ethics…
about Rubyzaar’s scarves (from their website):
Our Organic Cotton Scarves are delicatley hand-spun & hand-woven by
skilled weavers in the northern Chiang Rai region of Thailand.
The color is extracted from 100% natural botanical sources, from
roots, herbs, vegetables, fruits and other organic sources.
The careful process involved in creating each woven piece results in a unique
& gorgeous work of art, so that no two scarves are exactly alike.
Production & distribution of these organic cotton scarves not only
helps to keep traditional crafts alive, but also supports
local crafts-people in Thailand through fair-trade practices.
They also support Heifer International with every purchase via their website – and they have TONS of color options available.
I don’t usually watch videos on blogs or websites, but a reader over at Grechen’s Closet recommended I take a look at the new CP Shades website and the video on their homepage. And I’m glad I did.
I’m human, and while I do try to shop consciously, paying attention to where my garments are made, and what they’re made from, I sometimes don’t. I forget, or I’m so smitten with the piece, I don’t WANT to know where it came from. Not terribly enlightened, I know, and I’m not proud of it, but it happens. Watching the video at CP Shades reminds me of WHY I should care about who makes my clothes, and where. I WANT to buy my clothes from people like the Weinstein’s from Sausalito, California. They have such a passion for the clothing, the designs, the manufacturing and for the people who will wear their designs. Like me:
(me in my CP Shades linen dress)
If what you wear is important to you, you cannot ignore your clothing’s history and the journey each piece took to get to you. I love it when what I wear has a story; I just need to take better care from now on to make sure that story is one of sustainability, passion and quality.
One of my FAVORITE online boutiques, Sodafine, recently launched a newly re-designed site and is offering 20% off all orders over $100 with code “grechen20.”
In the vintage department, I am TOTALLY smitten with this floral dress (I’ve been wanting something pretty and feminine to wear with jackets this Fall):
And I LOVE this leather wallet made from scraps/reclaimed leather pieces:
Also check out the great selection of jewelry – both vintage & new pieces – it’s never too early to start thinking about holiday shopping 
I posted about these first over at Grechen’s Closet when I found them on No6′s blog, but now they’re for sale at Baggu.com and I snagged a few
My Baggu bag is my FAVORITE reusable bag EVER. I carry it with me all the time and use it for everything from groceries to splurges at Barney’s Co-Op I lost my carrying bag for it almost as soon as I got it, so I’ve been carrying it in a zippered bag (which sometimes gets caught), so I’m looking forward to having new ones with their own pouches again. I got the constellation print and the fuschia animal print. What are you getting?
