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Posts with tag do good

Handmade Jewelry by Helene's Dreams

Filed under: Accessories, Interviews, Style for a Cause

handmade jewelry earrings by Helene's DreamsToday we're chatting with jewelry artist and mother, Helen Sanderson, of Helene's Dreams. In addition to creating beautiful jewelry, Helen is also working to raise money for Blood:Water Mission. For every sale of her handmade jewelry, Helen donates $1 this organization, which is dedicated to creating clean water and serving the severe poverty of children and women in Africa.

Continue reading Handmade Jewelry by Helene's Dreams

For your heart, wear red today

Filed under: Stores We Love, Celebrities with Style, Style for a Cause


wear redNot that they should have to "market," of course, but if the American Heart Association is going to pick one month out of the year to focus on heart health, they sure did the right thing with picking February -- we've got nothing but hearts, uh, on our brains. Not only are we pounded from left, right and center with heart-shaped things, but everything is pink and red. It's quite perfect actually, because today is National Wear Red Day, in support of Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association's effort to wipe out heart disease in women.

And, just in case you needed any more reason to recognize the American Heart Association's effort, Macy's is doing a one-day sale today in support of National Wear Red Day. All you have to do is wear red into their stores and you get 15% off!

Saving women from heart disease and saving money at Macy's -- how awesome is that?

Homeless Get Handmade Shoes Courtesy of the Pope

Filed under: Accessories, Style in the News, Shoes, Celebrities with Style, Style for a Cause

Pope Benedict XVI is known for his love of luxury, especially expensive shoes. In fact, for his 2007 pope-a-month calendar, Benedict sported several pairs of red Prada loafers, so you know the Bishop of Rome has got to come correct!

The pope recently shared his love of fine Italian shoes with the homeless in Minneapolis. After giving Vatican representatives a tour of Sharing and Caring Hands, a homeless mission, the nonprofit received two large boxes containing several dozen pairs of handmade Italian shoes from the pope. Mission director Jo Copeland described the papal charity as "Just grand! This is just the best gift. That Pope Benedict, wherever you are, God bless you!"

Now I don't want to sound like a crank here, but what is up with giving a homeless shelter a bunch of pricey shoes? At best, it's impractical. At worst, it's insulting.

Seriously, if the pope really wanted to do something for the poor of Minneapolis, why not finance some health insurance or pay for a little workplace training?

After all, if you give a man a pair of expensive Italian shoes, he'll look stylish for a day, but if you teach a man how to earn his expensive Italian shoes, he'll look stylish for a lifetime.

Say goodbye to your milk cartons

Filed under: Fashionable Food, Style for a Cause

With retailers like Wal-Mart and Home Depot offering shelf-space preference to green products, it's no wonder that companies are clamoring to redesign their packaging.

But earth-friendly packaging for the milk industry? In what other than a carton or a bottle could you possibly sell milk?

Apparently, you can sell it in a bag. Calon Wen, an organic dairy co-op in Wales, now packages milk in polythene bags, which can then be transferred by consumers into reusable milk jugs made from glass. Compared to a plastic milk jugs, which account for 100,000 tons of trash a year in Wales alone, polythene bags use 75% less plastic.

Sure, polythene bags make environmental sense, but will it catch on with consumers? My guess is yes. Milk in a bag is oh-so-astronauty. And if there is one thing that sells stuff it's astronauts. The exception to this rule would be adult diapers, which I imagine will never recover from the PR disaster they took earlier this year.

Swishing: the end of shopping

Filed under: Handbags, Accessories, Style in the News, Clothing, Style for a Cause

A few months ago, Jonathon wrote a post about the environmental impact of fast fashions -- inexpensive, trendy items that you toss out after a season or two of wear.

The wave of awareness about the tolls of fashionable consumption has led to the development of a number of anti-shopping groups ranging from the "Buy nothing day" people to the freegans (people who buy nothing, including food). Somewhere in between is the Ethical Fashion Forum, which promotes among other things, swishing parties.

Swishing parties are clothing swaps in which participants bring their castoffs in exchange for other people's castoffs. These events encourage people to stop shopping, reduce waste and recycle while still allowing a little room for indulgence.

[via London Times]

Do good when you Build a Nest

Filed under: Haute Home, Accessories, Clothing, Style for a Cause

build a nestThough a trunk show in Venice, CA this weekend might not apply to the majority of our StyleDash readers, the fact that Build a Nest does sell their wares online does.

Build a Nest is a non-profit organization that supports women artists and artisans in the developing world. The foundation does this by providing loans to these women to be used toward building their entrepreneurial art or craft businesses. The products from these artists and designers are available for purchase from the Build a Nest website, and will be available in a "trunk show" this weekend, February 17 and 18, 2007 at 1461 Abbot Kinney Blvd. from 12-5 pm.

Most of the products are geared for home, but Build a Nest also offers clothing that feature the Build a Nest logo, as well as jewelry, which are my favorite items on the site. If you happen to be in Los Angeles, you can stop by the trunk show, but if not, the online store is always open.

Wear the clothes off celebrities' backs

Filed under: Celebrities with Style, Style for a Cause

teri hatcher at golden globesWhile we're talking about red carpet style here at Styledash, let's talk about what these celebrities do with the outfits once they've sashayed around the event for a few hours. They could potentially wear it again, but we know how much of a faux pas that would be (for a celeb, that is. I've worn the same cocktail dress three weekends in a row to different parties!).

Rather than letting the dress gather dust in the closet, many celebrities are donating their duds to The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, which hosts charity auctions of celebrity attire, then gives the proceeds to children's charities. Currently, the hottest auctions are for clothing from the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, but I'm sure very soon we may see some things from the Grammys.

Earth-friendly energy clothes

Filed under: Clothing, Style for a Cause

ireneTalk about high-tech clothing! Yesterday we saw the Hug Shirt, a shirt that lets you wirelessly transmit a virtual hug to someone on the receiving end using Bluetooth technology. While that's certainly cool, it seems a bit like frivolous use of technology. However, Irene seems to be a slightly more useful and conscientious use of technology.

Irene is a two-piece top and bottom outfit. The top has a cluster of film-thin flexible Solar cells that capture the required energy to power the outfit. Why would you need to power the outfit? The pants are embroidered with environmental sensors and the top has a display that connects wirelessly to devices that allow the wearer to check information while on the move. I'm not sure how much easier or more efficient having the display is on the clothing, but it's pretty cool to see the use of solar energy.

A bag kind of like a hobo, for real

Filed under: Handbags, Accessories, Style for a Cause

posch bagsWe're all fairly familiar with the "hobo bag" -- the big, slouchy bag that often takes the shape of a deep crescent. However, if you think about what a hobo's bag really is, the image you should get is a vagabond carrying a long stick over his shoulder that dangles a small pillowcase tied onto the end.

The smart little handbags by Posch are more like a real hobo's bag than the overpriced designer leather bags we know. Posch's bags are made from recycled bedsheets and pillowcases. Sure, it sounds strange, but just call them "bags made from vintage fabrics" and you'll feel better. Though some of the designs really do look like a string attached to a pillowcase, I am quite fond of the Unique Midnight Forest Bag (shown) as something to carry while running around town doing errands. And how can you not like the fact that the designer is recycling?

The bags are available from The Natural Store.

Real Steps to Resolution: Low Impact Living

Filed under: Haute Home, Men, Kids and Babies, Style for a Cause

low impact livingI am all about striving toward a more environmentally responsible 2007 today! First, we outfitted the bedroom with sheets made from renewable source bamboo, and now we're outfitting ourselves!

Low Impact Living is a destination website that shows visitors how to reduce their impact on the environment. They cover everything from specific products like Air Filters to service/product providers like Architects who can help design environmentally friendly structures. Of course, we here at Styledash love that Low Impact Living also provides an area where you can find clothing for Babies, Kids, and Adults. If one of your grander resolutions for 2007 is "reduce my environmental impact," then a good step is to shop responsibly for clothes at Low Impact Living.

Real Steps to Resolution: Eco chic sheets

Filed under: Haute Home, Style for a Cause

cuddledown eco sheetsSo you told yourself that you'd try to "tread more lightly" on the earth this year. You put recycling bins in your kitchen for aluminum, glass and plastic, you bought a Prius, and you're buying locally-, sustainably-grown organic produce. Nice job.

In your home, you can also go a little more eco-friendly with bamboo bedding. Bamboo, as we have mentioned before, is considered eco-chic because it's a renewable source (it grows very very fast). Bamboo is also a bit of a luxury (is that an oxymoron?) because it's as soft as cashmere. Cuddledown has bedding made from 61% bamboo, 32 % cotton, 6 % cashmere that creates a very durable, highly absorbent and breathable set of sheets that also has a luscious, graceful drape. Do good, and sleep good!

The sheets and pillowcases are ivory with chainstitched embellishments in ivory, garnet, or gold.

Dayna Decker's Chandels are eco friendly

Filed under: Haute Home, Style in the News, Style for a Cause

dayna decker chandel exoticBy looking at the home and interior furnishing from DayNa Decker, you'd never guess 1) that the designer herself used to be, of all things, a model, and 2) that the products are "green." Pretty cool, huh?

I am particularly fond of the Chandel products from DayNa Decker, which is a line of beautifully designed candles. The candles, which currenlty come in three different styles, are made from a botanical wax and feature EcoWood wicks. The Flora candles are simple white, the Couture chandel has a small silver design at the base, and my favorite is the Exotic (shown), which is encased in a deep, rich brown glass.

These are great gifts, whether someone else, or yourself.

Your shoe addiction can aid in breast cancer research

Filed under: Accessories, Shoes, Style for a Cause

ffany and zappos.comOkay, so maybe my shoe addiction can aid in breast cancer research and education.

FFANY (Fashion Footwear Association of New York) has teamed up with Zappos (one of my favorite online destinations!) in an effort to raise funds that will go toward innovative breast cancer research and initiatives at hospitals and research centers around the US like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) and the Gillette Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For every order on Zappos that originates from the fundraising site (ffany.zappos.com), Zappos will donate 15% of the net sale. What a great a reason to shop for more shoes!

Seven Days of Style: Give the Gift of Green

Filed under: Holiday Style, Haute Home, Men, Style for a Cause

green giftsSo, you're trying to tread a little more lightly on the land. You recycle all your plastic bottles and soda cans. You drive a hybrid car. You even power your cell phone with a solar cell. Good for you! But for the Holidays, you can't go back on all the good work you've done by gifting others with the same old stuff that tromps all over the environment. You can give green, and thankfully, giving green doesn't mean you have to fork over a wad of cash, and neither does it mean it has to be ugly hemp sandals. Styledash has seven ways (+1) for you to give the gift of green this season.

Sunday - Every year, you give Dad something classy for his liquor cabinet. Instead of another bottle of Glenlivet 25, why not try a bottle of Square One Vodka. It'll make a sophisticated martini a la James Bond, but is a double agent because it's organic.

Monday - Mom, like you, is a Beauty Queen, so give her "clean" products to clean her hair. Simply Organic makes shampoos and conditioners that are good for her hair, and good for the air. And it's not like you're getting her Pert from the drugstore. These are luxuries at $60.

Continue reading Seven Days of Style: Give the Gift of Green

Shop "good" at Global Girlfriend

Filed under: Handbags, Accessories, Clothing, Jeans, Dresses, Style for a Cause

asian silk toteIt would be fabulous if we could convince the world to wear plain, organic cotton, carry bags made of recycled materials, and ride a bike or walk every day, wouldn't it? But in this highly consumption-oriented world, social responsibility is just not possible.

Or is it?

Global Girlfriend seems to think it is possible. The online store calls itself a unique, fair trade boutique that sells "specialty hand-made gifts and goods made by women's non-profit programs, women's cooperatives worldwide and products that benefit women's human rights."

And it's not just strange, ethni-exotic things that you could never wear or use. The hand-crafted jewelry is gorgeous. The bags, though made from recycled materials, are cute and fun. The clothes are things you can wear every day.

Take a peek. I love the Asian silk tote, which I am hoping, is large enough to hold a laptop.

How You Voted

    Curly or Straight?
    While 30% of you think she's so beautiful that her hair doesn't even matter, 49% of you prefer her curls. Get the full story here.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images | Jon Furniss, WireImage

    Offensive or artistic?
    Just over 50% of StyleList readers said they weren't offended by this shirt, but didn't know if it was totally appropriate to wear in public. Unfortunately, that wasn't the opinion in Dubai. Get the full story here.

    Photo: eBay

    ebay

    Strapless dresses on 13-year-olds
    StyleList readers think strapless dresses should be saved for older girls -- 41% of you think the look is too mature. Get the full story here.

    Getty Images

    Is Megan the new Angelina?
    Half of you think Megan needs to get her own identity and quit copying Angie, but more than a quarter said Jolie doesn't stand a chance against this Fox. Get the full story here.

    Getty Images

    Did Calvin Klein respond to public's outcry?
    The controversial "threesome" billboard in Soho has been replaced with this one, but 51% of you believe it was just to keep people talking about the brand, not because CK caved. Get the full story here.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Calvin Klein's Racy Ad
    Is it art or practically pornography? About 40% of StyleList readers found this billboard obscene. Get the full story.

    Maggie Coughlan, AOL

    Palin's Pedi
    Do you think Sarah Palin's funky pedicure was appropriate? If so, you're in good company -- 68% of you said it was fun and fabulous. Get the full story.

    Getty Images

    Bright, Light, or Dark as Night?
    How do you like your toenails painted? Over half of StyleList readers prefer their piggies with bright, perky polish. Get the full story.

    Getty Images

    Nipple cream as lip balm?
    StyleList readers are willing to try anything! 80% of you either love the idea or, at the very least, think it's worth a try. Get the full story.

    notsogoodphotography on flickr

    Skip the skinny jeans
    Skinny jeans might be bad for you, but more than 50 percent of you never wore them anyway! Get the full story.

    Getty Images

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