Smashbox = love

I went to Sephora yesterday, and somehow managed to leave empty-handed (shocking!). Normally, I would congratulate myself for having the restraint to save money, but today, I'm actually having a little non-buyer's remorse. Next time I have the opportunity, I am so buying Smashbox's vegan eyeshadow palette. The picture make it look good, but in person, it's fantastic. The earthy tones are completely wearable, but the shades are still very elegant and sophisticated. The green one, though, takes the cake. The neutral is a perfect neutral base--it would look gorgeous and dewy on its own, it would draw light when layered with other colors, and it would work as a highlighter, too. I would actually use the pink color as a blush (in tiny quantities!), since most blushes contain carmine (crushed beetles--just a little bit gross, right?). The green is the showstopper. Here at my summer employment, I don't have many opportunities to glam it up (though a few will definitely present themselves, but when I next do, I would love to wear a color like this. In the picture, it looks a bit like a khaki color, but in person, it's a deep olive full of gold and bronze-y flecks.

I'm kicking myself for exercising restraint. Next time I'm at Sephora, I'm thinking that this palette will be well-worth the splurge.

WAY belated shoes of the week

Okay, I know that Thursday is unacceptable for a post that I usually do on Sundays. Do you forgive me? On Sunday, I was in tears because half of my friends graduated, and will now be leaving me in favor of the world-at-large.

So, to make it up to you, I offer you several shoes of the week. And, just for the fun of it, they're all leather-free and guilt-free. 'Cause, y'know, cows need their skin. And without further ado:

I've wanted a pair of plaid shoes since middle school. I have no idea why I've waited so long to get them. Get your fix here.

I like mini-wedges so much. They're as comfortable as flats, but they can look a little more formal, too. I also like all forms of grey. Maybe not in huge quantities in the summer, but you need something to offset your bright green dress, right?

Have these, love these. Here.

I need several lucky pennies...

To say that this has not been a lucky week for me would be the understatement of the year. I finally finished writing my heinous French paper (bringing my grand total of pages written in final papers to a whopping 86) and. . . promptly got a nasty case of tonsilitis, complete with such sore muscles that I didn't want to move and a fever to boot. After three days of misery, I finally admitted to myself that I must be sick, and hauled my ass to the campus health center, where I waited and waited and waited to be prescribed some antibiotics, and dragged myself home.

While I was reading, watching movies, and whimpering about how much my throat hurt to anyone who would listen, the boy in my life was completing his finals and preparing to go home. So, for his last week here, I was pretty much too sore to move, and too bacterial to make out with. Fun.

Then, since I was taking eight-hour naps while I should have been rehearsing, I had to pull out of the show I was in, which was disappointing. The antibiotics worked within a few days, but I had to keep taking them (only just finished, in fact), rendering senior week just about useless. Explanation: the purpose of senior week is to hang out and party with your friends who won't be around for too much longer (graduation is Sunday, and I would say that just under half of my beloveds are graduating--I'm going to need some waterproof mascara). It is not wise to drink while you're taking antibiotics. Not only have I been hanging around my friends and watching them get increasingly drunk at parties, I've also been eyeing my own liquor cabinet with resentment--I have most of a bottle of gin, and unopened bottles of shiraz, vinho verde, and pink champagne. It has not been consumed. To try to consume it all between tonight and tomorrow would not only be stupid, it would also probably kill me. Unfortunately, it kills me to see them go to waste.

So, to reiterate: not my week. So, what would make my week? This dress!

It's lovely, summery, and best of all, organic and sustainably made, and therefore, completely guilt free! Unlike, say, consuming three bottles of wine in one night.

Yet another reason that I'm moving to England (eventually)

I do adore shoes. I've never considered myself specifically a shoe person, but other people certainly do--my freshman year roomate forbade me from buying any more shoes sometime in March of our freshman year (and I don't blame her--they were taking over the room), a good friend of mine once christened me "Imelda," and one day in rehearsal, when our director mentioned a former student who had 200+ pairs of shoes, amidst shocked cries of "excess!" and the like, one voice rang out, "How many pairs of shoes do you have again, [Principessa]?" Ouch.

So, I've tried to cut back on the shoes. It hasn't been too difficult. Were I back in London, however, I might be having worse problems. Topshop, Office, and Faith were all frequent indulgences for me, and now, I'm regretting having missed Terra Plana. Terra Plana is a sustainable, innovative shoe company that tries to be ethical in all levels of production, and uses completely earth-friendly materials in its production (think recycled material, chemical-free, etc.) Furthermore, their shoes are awesome. The pictured pump reminds me of Marc Jacobs petal-heel shoes, but more creative (sorry, Marc!). The flat makes me think that I just might need another pair of black flats. Plus, it's just awesome that, through buying shoes, you can help save the planet.

But then, the fact that they don't seem to be available stateside is saving my wallet.

Maybe I need an "unethical" category, too

You know, I'm all for irony. In fact, in highschool I was known both for my sweetness and my sarcasm. Ironic, right? And I promise you, this blog would be far more cynically bitchy and sarcastic if it wasn't that those things don't really read well over the internet. Still, even for my taste, the new Diesel ads are a bit much. I mean, "Global Warming Ready?" Do we really want to glamorize the apolcalypse? Don't get me wrong, I love Diesel's controversial photography, and I know that the intent is not to glamorize global climate change. But regardless of weather or not that's the intent. . . doesn't it do so, just a little? I expect Diesel to be controversial and ironic. But I know a hell of a lot more about branding than most people do. I don't think most peopel are subtle enough to pick up on the paradoxical element of it. Let's face it: most consumers aren't English or Media Studies majors. Most people just aren't gonna get it. And therefore, since most people are going to take it in a straightforward sense, I don't like the message "Global Warming Ready."

Fashionably Green

I have no time. But I would never let earth day pass me by without a blog entry about sustainable and ethical fashion. So, a quick overview of the delightfully responsible and ethical:

Converse All-Stars: so stylish, so vegetarian. Raising animals for slaughter has a hugely negative environmental impact. The fewer animal products you consume, the smaller your environmental impact will be. Plus, the fabulous above slip-ons are made with hemp, which is pretty damn sustainable as textiles go. The awesome texture is a bonus.

American Apparel is doing an organic cotton line. The quantity of pesticides that gets used on conventional cotton crops is shocking. Organic cotton is, well, organic, and doesn't use any environmentally damaging pesticides. Plus, American Apparel is sexy.

Also in the organic cotton vein are sexy Del Forte jeans.

Edun, another Bono creation, is a line of clothing that isn't always made with organic cotton, but they do always have an eye toward environmental impact. They're also ethically produced--I need to be doing Shakespeare, so I can't fill you on the the details. Google it. Or, just look at the pretty dress.


Loomstate is one of my favorite brands of all time. They do use all organic cotton, and all of their designs are simple, unassuming, original, and gorgeous. Their jeans are amazing, but be sure to check out their beautifully printed tees.

And, of course, when you want to shop ethically, there's always Thrifting!

Happy Earth Day! Maybe I won't work on my projects, as a form of protest against the mindless and gratuitous consumption of trees in paper products. . .

And finally. . . without further ado. . . THE THRIFT SCORE CHALLENGE!

My, my. Was it really so long ago that I first announced and solicited photos for the Thrift Score Challenge? It was, it was ages ago, and I do apologize for the delay (blame my academic schedule). Still, I appreciate everyone's submissions more than I can say, and now, it's time to share them!

First, we have a written submission. Lauren writes: "I got an adorable pair of 1970's mens wear pants at a thrift store called the Cat's Eye, and they were $2.oo. Can you believe that? Anyway, I am obsessed with them. They are brown tweed with a silver clasp thingy where the button should be, and they are soooooo comfy! Nothing good has happened in them yet, although I've gotten many compliments!" Well, here's to hoping that something good happens in them soon!

Next, it seems only right that the first picture I post should be from Bits and Bobbins whose blog and Wardrobe Remix Flickr Group were part of the inspiration for this challenge in the first place. Like me, she found it tough to choose just a few favorites, but she rose to the challenge. Regarding her favorite (recent) thrift score, she writes, "around the winter holidays, my husband and i usually travel back to florida, where both of our parents live. my husband's parents reside in jacksonville, florida, where my husband and i also lived for a couple years in the early '00s. whenever we go back for a visit, i thrift like a madwoman. the thrifting in florida is the best i've ever experienced, hands down. lots of vintage abounds, especially in the past when thrifting wasn't as trendy as it is today, because many old folks retire and die down there and leave much behind in their wake. many of my favorite pieces have been found in florida. i found this tiny little acid wash jacket on one of those holiday visits, i think it was 2005. it's a children's size, but the armholes and back fit me perfectly. it cost about $4 or so, i believe. i wear it like a little bolero, and i have found it goes with EVERYTHING. it was, hands down, the most worn item in my closet in 2006." I wonder if it will hold the same place of honor in 2007. . . I wouldn't be surprised if it did, because it's adorable!

Next, regarding this fabulous tote bag, she writes "this handmade needlepoint tote is one of my favorite finds ever...up there with the best. this one was also found on a trip to jacksonville, florida, to visit my husband's parents, probably in 2005. i had been thrifting all over town over a couple of days, collecting about 10 bags worth of finds. it was pretty sick! toward the end of the visit, i decided to go back to one of my favorite thrifts, very close to my in-law's house, for one last look. i rooted through the purses and totes, and unearthed this gem. i don't use it all the time anymore lest i wear it out, but i love it because of it's patchworky aspects, it's handmade feel, it's mix of riotous colors. it is ME and my fashion philosophy expressed in the form of a purse."

I can't even imagine what my fashion philosophy in a purse would look like. . . but maybe I'll find it sometime in a thrift shop! Next, we have submissions from KF of Life in Neon. He had so many things that I had to edit his selections down so that this post isn't as long as my Shakespeare final will be. First off, we have some most fantastic sunglasses that I honestly wish I had found first:

So shiny and unique! Next up is a peacoat that fits him damn perfectly and looks more like Marc Jacobs than a thrift shop score. I'm especially digging that massive collar:

And finally, a black denim guess jacket. How is it that a black denim jacket can simultaneously be so 80's and so now? One way or another, I love it.

Next up is Brittany, fashion student AND blogger of Memories Into Oblivion. Lucky Californian (I miss the sun soooo much out here in the Northeast!) that is she, her first submission is a beach cover up. She writes, "The dress is awesome because I wear it to the beach all the time. It's like just below the butt so it's perfect, and last summer, I think it was in style." Still looks stylish to me:

Next--and this is so cute that I'm almost squealing--a band sweater! She writes, "The band sweater was "thrifted" from my dad's closet. It was his middle school band sweater. awww! It doesn't really fit anymore, but I waer it to make him happy, and I love the emblem." Seriously, this makes me wish that I had been a band nerd in highschool:

Lastly, like KF, she has a fabulous pair of sunglasses, regarding which she writes, "The sunglasses are big and bold. Love em, just got em the other day actually." I love 'em too:

Then, from S. of Do This Don't. . . a whole lot of things. Once again, for the sake of length, I had to edit down a bit, but they were tough calls to make. These shoes are beyond awesome. I LOVE the diagonal strap. She writes, "I usually have great luck with shoes. These Mary Jane's are the most recent. I think they've never been worn."

Next up, regarding this gorgeous green dress (which actually looks a lot like a shopbop dress that I posted recently. . . lucky!), she writes, "This dress is the most lovely dress in the world. Very feminine and kinda 1940's. I'll wear with thrifted peep toes."

Lastly, some people really do have all the luck. About these last shoes, she writes, "I had wanted a pair of yellow patent pumps and there they were!" And here they are:

Finally. . . me! I agonized for ages over what to post, but I finally narrowed it down to two things. One is a thing that gets a lot of play in my wardrobe, another was just a complete shock to find at a thrift store. These mauve-y pumps are such a soft, easy neutral color that they go with everything--which is pretty nice, considering that they were $4. The swirly decorations on the front are actually detachable shoe clips(!), but I like them so much that I never take them off. These go with everything: dresses, pencil skirts, skinny jeans. . . I'm strongly considering wearing them to a concert Saturday night, but what would I do if one of the clips got lost in the craziness? DIE, probably!

Lastly, this amazing little printed shift dress is kind of difficult to see in the picture, but it's a dark blue silky fabric with a huge, bright red poppy print. It was--are you ready?--$1. No joke! It was right there are my local Salvation Army, out on the rack with the rest of the dresses. Now, most of the dresses there are, I believe $5. That includes ugly little shapeless corduroy shifts from the 90's, plaid schoolteacher jumpers, long, slumpy sweaterdresses, etc. Somehow, wonderfully, unbelieveably, miraculously, this little beauty rang up as $1! I rarely get to wear it now--it's a bit formal--but when I was living the swingin' London life, I actually got to wear it quite a bit. It's gorgeous with black tights (and yes. . . the shoes in the picture of the very same vintage yellow pumps that are getting so much air time in my blog right now).

Once again, thanks to all contributors! Thrifting is fun, and a fantastic way to shop ethically and find unique clothes. Missed out this time around? Anyone who wishes they had participated too, or anyone who did contribute and now has new thrifted finds to show off, can go ahead and email thrifted finds (with the heading "Thrift Score Challenge") to principessdeipazzi@hotmail.com. If I get enough submissions, I'll do a second round. For now, happy thrifting to all!

The Indie Kids

Know what's awesome? Small businesses. Know why? They tend to be more ethical, do more for their communities, and give the consumer a better idea of where their money is going. Know what the fashion equivalent is? Independent designers!

I love indie designers, not only because I have more confidence in their business ethics, but also because you get far, far more unique pieces from them. Because they're not the mainstream trendsetters, they don't spawn mainstream imitations. Furthermore, they're not mass-produced on the same scale as that adorable Marc Jacobs dress you want. So, without further ado, here's my pick o'the independent designer litter:

I do even need to say that I love Built by Wendy? Well, I do. The shapes of her pieces are modest and even a little conservative, but still somehow ridiculously sexy and stylish. Her clothing isn't trendy, and in my humble opinion, it's all the better for it. Her spring season is almost too good to be true--unique, well-cut, simple, interesting, and cohesive despite a lot of variety. I can't buy it all--dammit--but I probably would if I could. Check it out at her online store, and see my picks below.


Imitation of Christ is a way cool one-off line by Tara Subkoff. Now, you could argue that she's not technically an independant designer because of her collaboration with Easy Spirit, but then, you could also bite me. I don't mind at all that she does the collaboration, because her clothing is stellar anyway. Obviously, it's pretty hard to find her revamped vintage line, but her denim line, Imitation Jeans, can be found online, as well as at Barney's Co-op. And even the shoes, which I admit are not so independently produced, are pretty awesome, so. . . fine. You can find her clothes at Kirna Zabete in NYC, and the jeans and the shoes should be easy to find just by googling "Tara Subkoff," or "Imitation jeans." I could link you, but it's Saturday, and I'm feeling so lazy. . .


If I could afford it, I would live quite a bit of my life in Grey Ant. I would have to leave room for Built by Wendy, but I adore Grey Ant's quirky, unique, clever pieces. Unfortunately, Grey Ant does cost a chunk of change, but I'm hoping that I can save up for one of their tops (on sale!) soon. Why? Well, as I said before, Grey Ant's clothing is quirky and unique, and it just doesn't look like anything else. Things like off-kilter buttons and strange, almost ugly (but not!) prints are just perfect in Grey Ant's pieces. It's always eye-catching, but it's never too much. Catch them online here, and also at a quite a few other retailers!

Awesome!

H&M is using organic cotton! They obviously can't afford to use it in all their garments (well, actually, they probably could--but it'd take a long time to make the transition, I know), but I quote from the magazine, "Organic cotton collections are now included in the women's lines at city shops and in the Mama, &denim and Newborn Baby lines." Count me a customer! I'd be happier if they were using all organic cotton, but that's a distant dream, and still, for a mass retailer, this is awesome. Awesome!

Thrift Score Challenge

Every time that I read Bits and Bobbins, I'm inspired by the amazing items that its blogger, Tricia, thrifts and recreates. Don't get me wrong, retail is wonderful, but there's something to be said for buying something that no one else has and giving it a new life, not to mention the environmental benefit of buying preloved clothing--not only is it recycling, but it also discourages, to some small extent, new clothing production. So, I've been reflecting on my own fabulous thrift store finds, and wondering, what the best thing you've thrifted? If you haven't yet ventured into the wonderful world of vintage, can you challenge yourself to find something fantastic? If you care to share, email a jpeg photo of the item, or even better, of you wearing it (you don't have to include your face in the picture if you don't want), to principessadeipazzi@hotmail.com, and let me know how you style it, how much you scored it for, and any other stories that may be attached to it. Sometime in the next two or three weeks, I'll post everyone's shots and stories (with a link to your blog if you're a blogger, of course) along with my own, and we can all admire each other's fabulous bargains. Sound good? Good!

Tom's shoes

You've probably heard about Toms. You've probably read about Toms. You've probably seen Toms in every fashion magazine and blog that you've checked out this month. But, just in case some of you haven't, I'm going to fill you in anyway. Toms are very simple shoes that come in awesome colors and patterns and, as far as I can tell, look good with just about anything.

But you can tell all this from the pictures. What you might not be able to tell is that for every pair you buy, the creator donates a pair to a child in need. No strings attached. This isn't one of those "charity" shopping events where the retailer is the really benefitted party. This isn't one of those BUY TO SUPPORT AN IMPORTANT CAUSE deals where it say in the fine print that 3% of proceeds from one particular item will go to some charity. This is a really, honestly good deal, where someone else benefits from the purchase as much as the purchaser does.

So go buy some! I like the stripes, myself.

A bit more social responsibility

You know, my posts used to have an environmental, sustainable, or ethical bent all the time, and lately, those posts have tapered off, and I apologize to all of my readers who look for that. Actually, I apologize to everyone, because I think we all need more exposure to the slightly less superficial side of fashion. So, what happened to my interest in socially responsible clothing? Nothing happened to my interest, but part of the reason that my posting on it has diminished is that I'm trying to lessen my environmental impact by simply buying less clothing. I'm doing pretty well, too--this year, all I've purchased is a skirt, a tank top, and a dress, and I've donated more than that to charity (please note that I donate old clothing rather than throw it away).

One of the best ways to lessen your environmental impact in terms of clothing is just not to get things that you don't need. An ironic thing to read in a fashion blog, I know. Sometimes, however, you do need (or just want) new clothes, and it doesn't have to be detrimental to get them Thrifting is probably the most environmentally and socially responsible way to do that, because it doesn't involve any new clothing production, and proceeds often go to good causes. American Apparel is another awesome choice. They have an eye toward sustainability, but they're also very ethical--probably the most ethical large-scale clothing business in the USA right now--and produce all of their items in the US, paying a fair salary and giving good benefits to their employees. Plus, they crank out some pretty cute stuff. I'm really liking the two dresses pictured. Boatnecks are always flattering, and I love the trapeze-ish shape of the first dress. Also, can you imagine how easy dressing on a cold day must be with the second dress? Pull it on (over a pair of skinny jeans, and with some cute shoes), and you're not only ready to go, but warm to boot. I linked American Apparel's website in this post, but they'll always be a mere click away on my link list to the right as well.

The trials of vintage

Tear. I love vintage for many reasons. I love it for being unique. I love it for having a story. I love it for being interesting. I love it for preventing new clothing production (hey, we all know I'm an eco-nerd). I love it for being lovely. I hate it, however, for its sizing. When it comes to clothes, I'm pretty lucky--I'm a size 4, but I have a pretty small waist (proportionately to my hips, anyway), so vintage dresses, skirts, etc., fit me pretty well. With shoes, however, which are ironically possibly my main fixation, I have no such luck. I've just been searching for vintage Maud Frizon shoes on eBay, and happily, there's actually quite a selection--all in about a size 6. I'll suffer a little for fashion, but I wear an 8.5 sized shoe, and I'm not willing to suffer that much. If you ARE a size 5 or 6 though, buy some of these shoes and think of me:






LINKS: size 6.5, size 5.5, size 6, size 6.5, size 5.

Loyale environmentalist

Those of you who read Elle already know this, but for those of you who don't, I'm going to pass on the good news. I (and by I, I mean Elle) have discovered another eco-designer! Now, I imagine that you all already know that green fashion interests me, since I love loomstate, and care about clothing with a conscience, so I hope you guys will also be happy to know that FIT graduate (maybe--Elle is unclear about whether or not she graduated--one way or another, she was there) Jenny Hwa is expanding her green line, Loyale, into ready-to-wear (it was previously just yoga wear). She uses sustainable materials (think organics, bamboo modal, etc.), and only produces clothing at fair-wage factories within the country. Basically, she is the ultimately conscientious businessperson.

Oh, and her clothes are pretty stylish, too. She makes soft, drapy, simple, feminine pieces that look as comfy as their are trendy. Apparently, her stuff is available at Calypso, but I'm not near a Calypso, so I'm going to have to track her down online somewhere. I'm up for the challenge.

Stylish things come from people named Coco

Blah blah blah, yeah, Chanel, whatever. Right now, I'd like to talk about a different fashionable Coco. Coco's shoppe is an internet boutique that I heard about recently that stocks only products that are sustainable, fairly traded, and/or environmentally friendly. Ethical, sustainable fashion? Count me in!

The stock is relatively small, probably due to financial constraints as well as general choosiness, but it's still definitely well-chosen. I already knew about most of the lines of clothing (and organic beauty), but they also sell a few lines I'd never heard of: Ananas, a line of bags made with easily renewable sources (pictured), Burning Torch, a line of clothes made from eco-friendly or recycled fabrics, and Deborah Lindquist, a line of clothing made from recycled cashmere and vintage textiles. Better yet, they've alerted me to the fact that several brands that I already love are at least somewhat sustainable! The pictured dress is Velvet (which I so love), and apparently Park Vogel and Spring & Cliffton use environmentally friendly material, too. The best thing though, I think, is that there's a description for each item of how it's eco-friendly, so you have a distinct idea of how your clothing is affecting the environment.

So, go shopping at Coco's shoppe. It's cool and it's responsible, and it's a lot cheaper than shopping at Coco Chanel's atelier (that was a bad joke. Sorry).

Wasn't being anti-designer the point?

American Apparel has been getting awfully designer-y lately, in almost a late 80's, early 90's we-love-stretchy type way. I mean, they've always made fabulous basics, but their basics have been getting, shall we say, cheeky lately. Check out the rocking stirrup tights (I wear those for ballet, AND on the street--I am SO ahead of my time!), and in an even more individualistic, original move, their cable-knit leggings. Cable-knit leggings? Huh? They're weird, but I'm actually probably going to buy a pair--I'll wear them as super-warm tights with boots in the fall (I have my fingers crossed for going abroad and studying somewhere rather cold in the fall. . .).

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with American Apparel carving out more of a design image for themselves. I'll continue to be a fan and a customer, so long as they keep up their stellar business policies. It's just a drastic change from the generic way they were promoting themselves eariler.

Check out more pics of the two mentioned items, and even more design innovations, in the "Coming Soon" section of the website.

Why not make them all green issues?

The "green issues" of Elle and Vanity Fair are on the shelves now. While this is definitely cool, Vanity Fair didn't manage to print the issue on recycled paper. I mean, as with all causes, awareness is the most important thing, but if you don't ever actually take any action, what's the point? I mean, I suppose a symbolically green issue is better than nothing, but props to Elle for actually printing their issue on recycled paper, and hiring an environmentalist guest-editor.

I bought the issue, and it looks good--I don't think they've sacrificed any quality in order to use some recycled paper in the issue. I'm looking forward to reading it, since I really like the idea of a green issue to begin with, but I also might fire off a quick letter to the editor suggesting continued use of recycled paper. It just seems like a good idea.

It's also a good idea to get your fashion news online, where you don't waste any paper. . . not that I'm self-promoting.

Because I love you

Lately, I've realized that quite a few people find this blog by searching for sustainable clothes, and are curious about what clothing companies use sweatshops as well. I think that it's pretty cool that people are interested in this kind of stuff, and if anyone wants to ask a specific question, feel free to email me (principessadeipazzi@hotmail.com) and I'll do my best to find and answer.

Oh, and it goes without saying that I'll gladly answer any other fashion questions as well. I like feeling important. Just kidding. But I kind of do enjoy it when people ask my advice, so if you want to know, ask!

Sipping Stylish

Most of the time, fads in cocktails don't interest me. I'm very happy with my Mimosas and Shiraz, thank you very much. Also, they're pretty ridiculous sometimes--I mean, I remember when the New York Times ran an article about cocktails made with super rare liquor and bejeweled swizzle sticks that ran in the neighborhood of $700. You could buy couture for that! One trend in the drinking world that does strike me as trend-worthy, though, is that of organic cocktails.

First of all, they're unique. How often, when someone asks what you're drinking, do you get to say "Oh, it's an organic champagne cocktail" rather than "Oh, it's just Jack and coke"? Second of all, because of already-high standards for production, the amount of attention that goes into organic products is usually huge, so I feel like you're guaranteed a good drink. It's inherent to the product. Thirdly, limits in the availability of organic booze mean that, when concocting an organic coctail, creativity is a must. I've heard about some pretty damn original organic cocktails out there. I'd love to try vaguely-smokey-flavored liquor distilled from organic pears. Lastly, organic farming is a lot more sustainable, and the longer we preserve the planet, the longer we can enjoy delightful lives of thrilling conversation, good cocktails, and interesting, challenging fashion.

Read more about drinking organic here, and learn about mixing organic here.

Brand review: I'm sure that their looms are state-of-the-art

Forgive me the tacky pun. I couldn't resist. I think it runs in my family or something.

Ok, so I've really been enjoying this theme of sustainable/socially responsible clothing, so I thought I'd take a moment to tell all you delightfully stylish and ethical people about Loomstate. Loomstate is the line of organic denim (and t-shirts) by the legendary denim designer Rogan, one of his many side projects (I swear, every time I open a magazine, there's something about what Rogan is working on next--he's like the second coming of Levi Strauss or something). Like all of Rogan's lines, the jeans are expensive (I believe $160 and up), but at least you know that you won't be sacrificing stylishness for sustainability.

My own experience with Loomstate is disappointingly limited. I got one of their t-shirts for my last birthday, and I'm very happy with it--it's a gorgeous but ever-so-slightly-loved shade of teal, the fit isn't overly constructed and overly girly, but it's still flattering, and the image never fails to garner comments (mostly compliments). Actually, second to the organic cotton, what attracted me to Loomstate's shirts was the abundance of interesting, unique prints. Mine has the silhouettes of two horses drinking, and the silhouettes of their shadows in the water. You have to look at it for a moment to figure it out, but it's really beautiful. I'm also a big fan of their buffalo print (I keep telling my brother that he needs that shirt), and their "beautiful breathe" design, which is actually a print of the interior of human lungs. It's not creepy, I promise. The images are somewhat loosely oriented around a nature theme, but there's nothing crunchy about them.

A month or so ago, I went shopping, armed with far too much cash, and completely prepared to spend a large portion of it on Loomstate jeans. Annoyingly, I learned that day that Loomstate jeans are frustratingly difficult to track down. I didn't find a pair. Argh. Of course I know that, with a little creativity, just about anything can be found on the internet, but I had set out for a day of shopping, and I was going to have one, dammit, so I spent my money on other (lovely) things that day. The friend with whom I was shopping remembered what I was looking for though, and when, a few weeks later, she found a pair of Loomstate jeans deeply discounted, she brought them to me, but they were a size 25 (for those of you who don't speak waist sizes, that's a size tiny--like, a 0 or a 00), and they didn't want to zip (or come anywhere close to zipping) on me. What I can tell you is that the denim is a nice texture, very soft without being insubstantial, and that the distressing is enough that they look casual in any situation (if it's an issue, I think you'd be really hard-pressed to dress them up), but it's not so ridiculous that they look like they're about to fall apart. They're also very well-made (and they damn well better be, for what they cost).

I'm not going to go to the trouble of making up some stupid rubric and rating system for clothes that wouldn't mean anything anyway, so I'll just say that I like Loomstate a lot. In fact (even though I have yet to track down a pair that I'm going to buy, ironically), I think that they're one of my favorite denim brands. They're usually pretty available at Revolve, and if sustainable clothing is specifically something that interests you The Green Loop has a small but nice selection, and lots of other green fashion as well.

Remember, sustainability (especially Loomstate) is sexy!