It's Easy Being Green

{Image courtesy of TreeHugger}

The other day I was walking downtown and there was a man shouting out, "Learn more about green fashion!" and handing out leaflets. I took one. And it wasn't about "green fashion" at all. It was thinly veiled animal rights activism with really disturbing pictures of dead sheep on the front. My friend, Cristy, got really mad and called the guy a liar. He just smiled.

Don't worry, I would never do such a thing to you. My interest was sparked, though, so I did a little research of my own.

The first thing that came to mind when I started thinking about green fashion was recycling old clothes. Donating your little-worn items to a thrift store or consignment store is obviously an easy, green way to go. I also like passing on old favorites to people I know will love them and wear them as much as I have. You can even get some friends together for a closet swap, with everyone bringing a pile of old, but fashionable, good-conditioned clothes that are ready for a new home.

Another one of my favorite ideas is cutting up a few different favorite items and combining them to make something new. Maybe you love the design on a certain T-shirt, but it's too threadbare to wear in public anymore. Cut off the design and sew it into a new T-shirt, or even onto a collared shirt or a hoodie for something old and something new. Do you have a cardigan that just doesn't get you as excited as it used to? Sew some lace around the hems, or spruce it up with a couple handmade rossettes. And, voila! You have something new without buying something new.

If you are buying something new, but still want to limit your fashion impact, there are plenty of ways to do that, too. Stick with organic fabrics, like cotton, and companies, like Fair Indigo that provide fair trade merchandise. You can even get vegan shoes designed by Natalie Portman!

Still skeptical? Take a little trip over to TreeHugger for 7 Reasons Why You Should Care About Sustainable Fashion.

I bet you feel like a better person already.

Long Weekend, Long Savings

Confess.

Not everything, just what you're doing for the long weekend. I am going to the Outer Banks (they're in North Carolina, you know), or as I have been told people refer to them around here (here being Washington, D.C., my new home), the OBX. Now we can all be in-the-know together.

Whatever it is that you have planned, I have just one more thing to add to your list. It is simple and it will make you happy! It is to shop at Shabby Apple!

Because through May 27th you can get a patriotic 10 percent off any Shabby Apple order by using this coupon code: memorialday10off.

That's it. Just choose which fabulous dresses you want, type in that code and save.

Your country will be so proud, and I will be, too.

Got Widget?

I am sure you are all up-standing, patriotic citizens who are, like myself, willing to take one for the team and do a little (or a lottle) shopping to keep this poor economy of ours afloat. I have said it before and I'll say it again, it is our patriotic duty!

But I also know that money doesn't grow on trees, or even small shrubs, and sometimes finding the cash to get what you need, what you want and still have some leftover for stimulus packages can be a little tricky.

And you know that I think you're pretty great, right? Which is why I am going to let you in on this little secret. It's a widget, and it will help you find all kinds of stellar deals on all kinds of things your little heart desires.

Don't be shy.

Check it out!

Uncle Sam will thank you.

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