Days of Intention - Day Twelve: Speak Up

Scenario:

This past year has been big for transformations. We began eating vegetarian towards the end of 2008 but this really carried into 2009 on a deeper level. I feel we've really learned a lot and helped a lot of other people think of what they are eating and how they are eating and how easy it can be to think of food in a new way.

I'm so excited by this change and how much better we've felt on several levels, I want to act as a resource for other. We always speak about eating vegan in a very positive way... because it is! But we want to make ourselves more available. I know there are people out there, especially in our area, who are considering a change but not sure how or what are the best options or where to go. And we're pretty knew to it so we can remember those days.

One of my goals last year that I didn't get to accomplish was to create a group that would be somewhat about eating vegan or vegetarian but would be more of just a gathering. Less intimidating and more open for exploration and discussion. I trying to support this on The Daily Coop too by featuring more recipes and restaurant reviews. I need a good name for this group that sums up what I want to accomplish. I love Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's "Food For Thought" name. I wish I'd thought of that! I'll let you know what I come up with.

Ideal date:

July 17th

New Series on The Daily Coop - Recipes!

I'm starting a new series of posts over on The Daily Coop called "Friends Don't Let Friends..." and it is going to be sharing some of our favorite recipes. We're pretty good cooks around these parts and get lots of questions and requests about our foods and what we eat, so it seemed like a good fit.

The first installment is all about making real (as opposed to instant) oatmeal.

Check it out, let me know what you think, if you have any questions or want to make requests.

Graphic Elements - Stella McCartney Mesh Pump

I love a good graphic shoe and am now pining away for this Stella McCartney Mesh Pump.

I love the contrasting toe and how the heels is white and the sole is black. I want this for suits and for jeans. And I bet it would look really cool with solid colored tights too because the mesh is a bit see-through.

Stella, you are breaking my heart.

Stella McCartney Mesh Pump - $725 at Saks

Fashion Conscience

The other day I shared a Vogue report on how designers are calling for a moratorium on leathers from the rainforest. Well there are now even more ways the fashion world is looking to make a positive impact for animals and the environment, while helping us keep stylish.


Reported in Vouge:

Fashion-Conscience.com is a website which supplies shoes to shoppers who - like Stella McCartney and Natalie Portman - believe that vegan needn't mean lacking in style.

New York label olsen Haus was founded by former Calvin Klein and Nine West designer Elisabeth Olsen, an outspoken advocate for veganism. Her colourful, non-leather designs have found favour with the US fashion pack and retail from £170.

Neu Aura offers a range of styles crucial to every wardrobe but crucially without using any animal by-products. Wearable colourful mid-heel styles and classic brown and black riding boots are all 100 per cent vegan and are produced in a factory which adheres to eco standards in recycling. Prices start at £87.50.

Melissa's jelly shoe collaboration with Vivienne Westwood has made an impact on the fashion scene lately - not only for their use of recycled plastic and waste-free production, but for its fun and colourful approach. Prices start at £62.00.

All collections are available at http://www.fashion-conscience.com/ along with other vegan clothing, shoes and accessories.

I've liked olsen Haus for a while now and have a pair of the Melissa's, so these do seem to be great options for anyone looking for great design and fun shoes. I'm also glad to have an additional option on top of EcoStiletto.

As I evolve in my clothing and accessory purchases (I need a new black purse for one!), I'm glad to see sustainable, fair trade and vegan options available that are pretty and interesting and more my style. I'm seriously considering those olsen Haus green velvet booties right there.

If you have any great designers that fall into these categories, please share them in the comments.

Being Beautifully Green

As the desire to be more "green" becomes a mainstream idea in today's culture, I'm seeing more and more very fashionable options that are still eco-friendly and animal-friendly. My biggest challenge in the past, as I'm sure it is with most, is the availability of these products and, frankly, the lack of style many of them had.

Toms shoes in general are kind of odd to me, but I did think the wrap boots were funky and fun in a Princess Leia-kind of way. But apart from that, not so much.

I have found a few other designers and companies that are doing beautiful pieces that I would buy even if they didn't carry the "green" label. olsen Haus is one of my new favorites and, although pricey, the Natalie Portman line at Te Casan (sadly no more although I did see some pieces on Gilt Group the other day).

I was looking online for other options and came across this site - EcoStiletto. Of course the title caught my attention at once.

So who are they? Well according to the site:

EcoStiletto features green picks in Fashion, Beauty, Parenting and the Good Life and explains, in real-girl terms, how eco-friendly choices can help turn your carbon footprint from a ginormous Ugg into an oh-so-slender Manolo.

We're not about guilt, we're about information. We're not about forcing you to change, we're about giving you alternatives. Because everyone wants to make a difference, but no one wants to give up the little things that we love. Making a difference doesn't have to mean making a huge change in your lifestyle. Sometimes it just means considering the alternatives.

Perfect, right? And what's even better is "Nobody pays to play on EcoStiletto; if there's an ad on our site, you'll recognize it as such."

Integrity and providing a great service. I'm kind of in love with them already.

But then they said this: Enter to Win Free Shoes.

Ummm, okay!

Each month they are giving away shoes worth $500 or more and this month is a pair of these amazing ankle boots from Beyond Skin (another great shoe line that I've always liked for their style and their philosophy).

The site talks about celebrities, fashion, beauty and kids. Pretty much a great clearinghouse for fashion and eco-friendly. What I also love is that they have a list of Things That Suck, which is a list of things to watch out for from animal testing to product ingredients. And they tell you why it is bad, not just give you a big long list.

So if you are looking for a way to add style and, oh yeah, be a little lighter on the earth, this is great resource. I need to go back to it myself and see if I can find a new eye cream...

Designer Focus - Elizabeth Olsen of olsen Haus

The other day I was flipping through a new magazine and came upon an article featuring these really cool shoes. They were graphic and eccentric with a sexy, sometimes 80s vibe to them. I love the delicate shapes and unique use of color and mixed materials.

I hadn't heard of the designer before, Elizabeth Olsen, so I decided to check out her label olsen Haus. The site featured her online look book for Fall 08 - Spring 09 and I was smitten by a whole slew of her pieces.

Check them out:

Pretty neat, huh?

I really liked her "mixed media" techniques and the metallic paint splatter styles. The shoes appeal to my classic shape but unique materials style.

What's even better????

They're completely vegan!

Surprising I know. But it shouldn't be, right?

It's great that we're seeing more and more stylish cruelty-free options. I know this is something I struggle with as we've been changing our lifestyle. Either the shoes/accessories are too "casual" or they are kind of pricey. I applaud designers and companies like Stella McCartney and Te Casan with the Natalie Portman collection to bring a more designer look to this arena. But the prices have been exorbitant.

I still like pretty shoes and want pretty shoes. I'll probably still buy shoes that are not 100% vegan. But as the vegan options grow, I'm seeing more great styles I like. Like these.

And I feel Elizabeth is living her beliefs in an authentic way. She is committed to seeing and being a change in the world. How can I not want to support that?

So yes, these shoes support our beliefs (I like putting my money towards companies I am aligned with) but, heck!. these are just hot shoes.

olsen Haus shoes, these styles and more, can be purchased online and stores around the world.