Sustainable Style

I've recently been interning with a fascinating woman who is a long-time environmental activist. She's made me so much more aware of the world around me and what it means to give back to the earth that we inhabit. Over the last three month that I've been working in this field, I have discovered so many exciting organisations and people who are sharing ideas and working on projects that focus on a positive environmental impact. I love this energy that has been born from all these sparking new ideas about regeneration, sustainability and community.

This transcends into the eye of fashion too. Livia Firth, Angela Lindvall, Laura Bailey and Kristin Davis are all sustainable fashion spearhead figures who help to promote designers with an interest in sustainability and the environment.

Livia Firth in Valentino couture made out of recycled polyester from plastic bottles for the GCC and husband Colin in his recycled Tom Ford suit.
Photo: GETTY

When I first think of what's called eco-fashion, I think of cargo pants, fleeces and crocs for some reason (perhaps because this seems to be a likely uniform of environmentalists). I definitely never considered that eco-fashion could be elegant, chic and feminine. These women and iconic designers like Vivienne Westwood and Katherine Hamnett, who use fashion to make a statement, have changed my (very closed minded and probably a bit snobbish) perspective on sustainable fashion and have helped to show me that style and sustainability can stand hand in hand.

I love Fibres of Freedom's  motto that 'simple style can be elegant AND good for the planet and for people'. They're right. We should care about what we put on our bodies- not just how it looks and feels but also where the material has come from and what the story of the garment is itself. Fibres of Freedom  design sleepwear and colourful scarves that are inspired by Ancient Indian patterns mixed with modern simplicity.

This classic woman's tunic is made from handwoven cotton which is bought at a fair price and is made at fair wages. The beautiful detailed stitching is based on an Ancient Gujarat pattern from India which adds a 'subtle touch of folklore' to the piece. I like the idea of wearing this tunic with colourful accessories and some brown leather sandals for a relaxed summer look. And fantastically, the tunic doubles as a sleep shirt so after a day out at the beach, you can slip into this easy-to-wear piece for a chic at-home outfit.

Fibres of Fashion's soft organic cotton scarves are a perfect accessory for their more simply designed tunic. Each piece is unique with a hand-drawn pattern. Fibres of Freedom empower the craftspeople who make the scarves and bring about a feel good friendly feeling to the fashion world. These special pieces can be bought online or at the wonderful ABC store in New York. I'm going to make sure I stop by there this summer to pick up one of these scarves to wear in the city. FoF's laid-back style is so versatile that I'm sure to throw on a scarf as a shawl after sunset in New York.

What do you think about sustainable style?

Is it worthwhile? Is it chic? 

What designers make an effort to be sustainable?

Love

Evie

x

Wow to The Minimal Clutch

Clutches can suddenly pull a whole outfit together, yet do we ever base an outfit around a purse? I suppose, yes, if the clutch is something extraordinary but usually its the last thing one thinks about when putting together an outfit after asking oneself: "where am I going to put my phone and keys?"

As an investment piece, people generally tend to gloss over the clutch- instead the focus is on 'The It Bag', 'Those Shoes' or 'That Necklace'. However, the clutch is a piece that is invaluable to an evening ensemble.

My new favourite type of clutch is the minimal clutch because its lightweight- you don't want to be lugging around a chunky purse when you're trying to hold a drink in one hand or dance the night away. I love this Jil Sander clutch because you don't even really have to clutch it, or worry about dropping it because it's handcuffed to you- there's something slightly naughty about that too even if it is super slim and sophisticated in its minimal design.

image via netaporter.com

This comme des garcon classic wallet really pops and is cut so it lies flat- you can't fit much in it but its easy to carry and the leather feels incredibly luxurious. You definitely won't lose this one either- it comes in real traffic light colours. In fact the comme des garcon wallets come in a variety of shades and patterns. I bought myself a limited edition all black wallet recently which was a great purchase because you can wear the clutch with just about everything because of its smart subtlety. It is perfect to put in a larger bag to keep your phone, keys and money all together and save all that rummaging that seems to occur if you're enjoying this seasons trend for over-sized totes and carry a bag as big as Mary Poppins'. Anyway comme have got it right with their wallets and they come in all different shapes and sizes too if you want something more specific.

image via dover street market

For a clutch that is more subtle, Marc Jacobs knows what he's doing. This two-tone clutch is feminine and chic. its made of lamb leather and feels very plush. This kind of clutch would look perfect with any outfit in pastel hues or with some lace and brocade for an outfit with a modern romantic mood. The squareness of the clutch means that its not overly feminine and instead the dusty tone and modern style makes for a versatile accessory.

image via netaporter.com

What do you think of minimal clutches? 

Are they something special like I think or is it just somewhere to put your phone and keys?

Love

Evie

xxx

Stripes and Checks

photo taken by Rachel Phipps at LACMA

It can be done! I love monochrome fashion. I even have a whole pinterest board dedicated to people wearing black, white and black with white. A monochrome look can be in any kind of style and so wearing black with white is defintely accepted as a trend everyone knows will work. So we can mix two opposite colours but can we mix two oppostie patterns? I wore stripes and check today and I'm now a convert to pattern combinations- even if I've turned into a walking piece of op art.

Bridget Riley- Movement in Squares, 1961

I actually love the artist Bridget Riley and maybe that's why I'm so taken by patterns in monochrome but mixing them is something that's been going on in the fashion world for the last few seasons. For some looks, the transition from catwalk fashion show spectacle to one's own spectacular life, can be difficult but innovation on the catwalk means that people become more daring with what they wear on the streets.

High street fashion stores like Topshop have taken on this trend too and American Apparel posted this collection on their website recently to inspire their clientele of style starters to make an op art look of their own.

image via American Apparel

Brave the style and try something new with your wardrobe every now and then. We're always looking of ways to wear whats in our closets in a new way to keep up to date with trends or our own identity instead of buying fast fix fashions that only suit one season. Each patterned piece works on its own and with its clashing counterpart so its not like you'd be investing in a one season piece. Polka dots, stripes and checks have been in fashion since forever and I doubt they'll be going out of fashion anytime soon. 

So as I said earlier: Brave the style!

Love Evie

xxx

It Thing: CALLA

Calla Haynes is a superwoman. She went to Parsons in New York, went to Parsons in Paris, worked with Oliver Thyskens, worked with Rochas, worked with Nina Ricci and then began her own collection: CALLA. She has an amazing eye for colour and pattern in her personal style too.

Calla Haynes featured on All The Pretty Birds wearing CALLA

Calla Haynes featured in ELLE JAPAN (February 2013)

Calla's trademark is print and texture amongst her designs. An array of illustrative prints splash across each of her collections but take on a different mood- this summer has soft moody blues as well as East Asian inspired pastel and orange lily-style prints on silk. These are collections were each piece is luxurious because of the quality of fabric used and the precise cut and fitting of the pieces.

On the CALLA website she says that her collection is based on the 'idea of “relaxed luxury” - a brand that is unique and crafted, while at the same time modern and easy to wear'. The laid-back tone of CALLA has a Parisian meets North American style because of Haynes' background being born in Toronto, then moving to New York and spending the last 10 years in Paris.

all images via the corner

You can buy the collection at The Corner, Avenue 32, Mode Trotter and Mode Walk.

The Spring Summer 13 collection would suit both those looking for a designer brand that is feminine and urban. Biker jackets in pastel florals and evening dresses with gothic netting teemed with a pattern that reminds me of Monet's natural landscape paintings. The collection has a romantic feel without being super girly and unwearable for day to day functions. Instead, Calla Haynes and her team have created CALLA- a luxury brand that balances alternative sophisticated luxury with the season's trend for off-duty chic.

Personally, I want this dress...

Robe Courte via thecorner.com

It reminds me of the Chanel boucle matching blazer and skirt suit but with the pocket and nude jacquard, fringed pockets and hems, CALLA has achieved texture, pattern, sophistication all with a modern twist. You can wear this with biker boots for a day-time urban look or for a more dressed up event then wear the mini dress with a pair of colour-popping eye-grabbing heels.

I can't wait for the Comptoir Des Cotonniers and CALLA collaboration- it'll be coming soon according their twitter page!

So go check out CALLA,

Love

Evie

xxx

That California Girl: Michelle Phillips

She's the Long Beach born member of The Mamas and The Papas.

I love her look: classic hair style, polo-necks and free spiritedness.

The Riviera Woman: Loulou de la Falaise

Yves Saint Lauren's muse- she inspired Le Smoking tuxedo

"the quintessential Rive Gauche haute bohémienne"- Judith Thurman in The New Yorker 

with Marisa Berenson

with Yves Saint Laurent and Betty Catroux

New Coat

...from the wonderful Zadig et Voltaire. 

I was missing the European fashion here in the States. This coat definitely got me my much needed French fashion fix. Its such a dreamy romantic coat and so wonderfully snuggly at the same time. Perfect for wearing to the new Zadig & Voltaire hotel that'll be opening up in Paris in 2014. Lets all hope for an invite to go and stay there! 

Another thing I love about Z&V: their clothes always feel so good on your body and to touch. This is the 'louisy' coat. Its from their fall collection. I love how it can work in two such different looks from their lookbook:

Here's the beautiful Camille Rowe charming us for a behind the scenes video of shooting the look book. 

Camille Rowe Pourcheresse, nouvelle égérie... by VOGUEPARIS

....and now I'm feeling loved up for Valentine's Day.

Listening to Francoise Hardy Qui Aime T'il Vraiment...swoon

Lots of love

Evie

xxx

Being cheeky with Celine

http://youare-different.tumblr.com

You must know by now that I am a huge fan of Céline Paris and their sophisticated approach to fashion. Tailored suits, stream-lined coats, gorgeously rich arrays of block colours, mix of futuristic bold designs and classic style. Phoebe Philo is brilliant no doubt. But its always good to have a bit of fun with fashion and take that serious edge off. Fashionistas or brand-inistas sometimes need to take a chill pill and realise that these designers are playful in their designs. Designers like Philo are forever being creative and thinking outside the box; and not being serious the whole time. This is why I love these t.shirts in the style of Céline's classic shirt. The minimal monochrome tee has had a re-design by Brian Lichtenberg with his 'Feline Meow' sweatshirt. 

His tongue-in-cheek approach to branding and logos is timely as Selfridges in London have just launched a room dedicated to this idea. The room is called No Noise and designers are de-branding for this room so logos and labels are completely banned from the concept pop-up store. Even the signature Selfridges yellow shopping bag has been de-branded in an attempt to show the importance of the quality of what you re buying rather than being distracted by the superficiality of dressing for a label. Although these Céline style t.shirts aren't trying to say anything so fashion-political, they are a fun way of showing that fashion and style are meant to be enjoyable and that although Phoebe Philo probably could run the world (and a very chic one at that!), fashion doesn't make the world go round but being happy and fun helps!

Some other cheeky Celine-y tees:

Michael Agwunobi T-Shirt parodying Céline

Céline Me Alone tee from nycparislondonhktokyola

Love Evie

xxx

A Week In L.A

Just recently I moved from London to North California and was never expecting my own personal style to change and adapt in correlation to my new location. Each city has its own style, look and character and even within the Bay Area there are mini groups of different fashion styles. The fashions I see in Oakland reminds me of Williamsburg with lots of beards, beanies, plaid shirts and broken-in leather brogues; whereas Berkeley is much sportier and preppy due to the student scene. San Francsico isn't the place to see fashionistas in all block colours and utilitarian looks. Instead the girls are wearing florals and don't shy from layering patterns, prints and different textures. The fashion here has influenced my own style too. When I arrived I was wearing lots of black: tight-fitting biker style leggings, androgynous blazers, baggy shirts, lots of silver jewellery and my favourite black leather lace-up boots. I always wanted to have a clean silhouette to work off the kind of urban grunge style I was wearing probably because of spending time in New York where everything is super tailored and fitted. But in the Bay Area I've been more open to a much more casual approach to dressing and a lot more layering due to our very changeable weather!

However, this week I went on holiday to Los Angeles where the sun is still out even in January. I feel very lucky about this when I know that back home in London people are shivering in -4 degrees weather and hiding away from the snow. So in a spirit of Londoner meets So Cal style, I've decided to post a week's worth of holiday outfits to show the mixed spirit of fashion that is infusing my wardrobe at the moment. This week I've worn simple minimal black pieces like my collarless jacket, ankle boots and wallet as well as more Californian laid-back look such as a khaki jacket. I've also created looks that mix East-Coast smart with Western American when I wore a vintage blouse, blue jeans and belt teemed with my sunglasses, boots and jacket that are have a more modern style. Californian style has a very sunny 70s feel and so I couldn't miss an opportunity to mix this with my London urban/grunge aesthetic and modern simple silver jewellery (no, I wasn't going to pull on a gold medallion and flashy gold pinkie rings). I wore a pink paisley flared sleeve blouse one day in another 70s inspired outfit, yet when I mixed it with cut-off shorts and boots, the colourful patterned piece seemed more 90s than anything. This just goes to show how personal style and character as well as location can create individual and different looks, and also how you can reuse the same pieces in your wardrobe to create different looks and styles that fit to your mood and environment.


Day 1:

Borrowed military jacket from Rachel's wardrobe (H&M), Grey swather (Sak's), Necklace (Kurt Geiger), Pink jeans (J Brand), Canvas Bag (Petit Bateau), Pistol Boots (Acne), Sunglasses (Diane Von Furstenburg)

An outfit for a sweet day for lunch at Toast, being blown away by the Isabel Marant, Rag & Bone and Balenciaga concept stores along Melrose and eating cupcakes at Georgetown.

Day 2:

Vintage black blouse (Buffalo Exchange), Blue Jeans (Urban Outfitters), Vintage Belt (Mixed Pickles Antiques), Pistol Boots (Acne), Sunglasses (Diane Von Furstenburg), Jacket (Gap)

An outfit for touring the UCLA campus, meeting friends for coffee at The Commissary, driving around the city and eating spicy spicy fusion food at TLT.

 Day 3:

T.shirt (T By Alexander Wang), Flared Jeans (Paige), Boots (Acne),  Silver hoop earrings (ebay), Silver Feather Necklace (Gorro), Long Silver Necklace (Kurt Geiger), All-Black Classic Wallet (Comme Des Garcons)

An outfit for enjoying the greatest carrot cake on earth at Joan's on Third, shopping at The Grove and the farmers market and being too excited at wandering through the wonderful emporium of Opening Ceremony's L.A store.

Day 4:

Skull vest (Zadig & Voltaire), Black lace-up shorts (Zara), Tuxedo blazer (French Connection),  Black pumps (French Sole), Vintage sunglasses, Silver feather neclace (Gorro), Silver chain necklace (Kurt Geiger), Rings 

An outfit for a day admiring the art at LACMA, another lunch at Toast and enjoying the sunshine

 Day 5:

Matching belly top and skirt (Vintage), Sunglasses (Vintage), Canvas bag (Petit Bateau), Silver feather necklace (Gorro), Silver chain (Kurt Geiger) 

An outfit for a day of riding the bus to Venice, brunch at The Tasting Kitchen, falling in love with the boutiques along Abbot Kinney, walking in the sand, running into the sea with Rachel and a healthy dinner at Native Food Cafe.

Love Evie

xxx

All photos of me taken by Rachel, other photos from both mine and Rachel's instagrams and twitter.