Outer Beauty Accents

The advice according to “Just Try It On” by Susan Redstone is to focus your shopping dollars on the following items:

• Seasonless Separates
• Holiday Gift Sets
• Shearling Jackets
• Lingerie and Pyjamas

November is the best time to find seasonless separates as they just arrive on the racks at this time and your selections will be better if you buy them now.

Towards the end of the month the stores will be filling up with Christmas Gift Sets and they usually sell out very quickly so try to take advantage of their availability before the end of the month.

Shearlings and fuax shearlings start to arrive int he stores now, as well, and if you are in need of a new jacket this is the time to buy!

Finally, lingerie and pyjamas can be found in abundance in the stores now, for yourself, or for Christmas gifts. This is an especially great time to look for warm, cozy flannal sets.

Wishing you a beauitful & magical November!

In love and light,

Dawn

Tags: Christmas, gifts, lingerie

And it’s not a Hallowe’en costume!  According to Susan Redstone, of “Just Try it On!” these are the items you should be looking for in October:

1. Holiday Outfits:  there will be many selections left from September as well as some pieces coming in to spice up the holidays. Glittery sweaters and blouses can add to your holiday look with any of your fall bottom purchases.
2. Parkas:  with winter just around the corner this is the time to invest in a very warm and fashionable parka.
3. Party Shoes:  even if you can’t but a new outfit, buying some shoes to go with the older outfit is a great way to make a new statement and the selections this month will be wonderful.
4. Belts:  what better way to create a fashionable to sweaters and jeans than with a belt.  The belt you choose will make a difference to a seemingly boring, yet very necessary warm winter wardrobe.
5. Costume Jewellery: when all else fails, if you shopped til you dropped in September and your budget is low, look for very fashionable accessories to create a new look to your wardrobe.  The selections will be divine at this time, with new pieces coming in for the holidays.

This is also a great time to start making your gift purchases for the holiday season.  The stores will be starting to stock up on the special holiday gifts this month and it is less stressful to buy a few gifts each month before the holiday season rather than leave it all to the last minute.

I wish you a beautiful & magical October!

In love and light,

Dawn

Tags: accessories, fashion, gifts, Shopping Tips

The stores are filled with fall and winter fashions by now, but what should you focus spending your endeniably hard earned money on?  Thanks to Susan Redstone, author of “Just Try it On” there are some tips for you consider this month.  The best things to buy are:

• Pocket Books and Wallets
• Fall/Winter Bags
• Winter Boots
• Party Dresses
• Sweaters
• Winter Day Dresses
• Winter Separates

These items all offer the best of the best right now, where selection is concerned and that is why it is the ideal time to buy them.  Even the part dresses should be considered now before the prime selctions are gone. If you have the resources, and you know you have that special holiday party coming up, go shopping!

Wishing you a beautiful & magical journey!

In love and light,

Dawn

Tags: beautiful, shopping, tips

Yoga is such an essential part of an inner/outer beauty regime that I though it was essential to include some of White Apricot’s top recommendations.  Not only are they beautiful but they are eco friendly as well.

1. Be Present:  this is a modern collection of high quality comfortable clothes that  re suitable on the street and on the mat. The main focus of this colorful collection is they focus on the seven chakras, or energy centers. www.bepresent.com
2. Bhakti Ware:  A collection of colorful cotton batiks leggings.  The leggings have a slight flared leg and the tanks feature a built-in bra for added support. You can check them out at www.bhaktiware.com
3. Blue Canoe Organic:  Pure and Non-toxic! This is  a collection of both fitted and relaxed organic cotton garments in soothing color palates. Find your outfit at www.bluecanoe.com.
4. Doce Vida:  This yoga clothing, from Portugal, is designed for every woman, regardless of size or shape. The pieces are designed to reduce muscle vibration and fatigue, while minimizing moisture to the body. www.docavidafitness.com
5. Gaiam:  The “Strike a Pose” organic cotton tee from Gaiam is sensational as the the Sophie Top. For more information go to  www.gaiam.com.
6. Hyde Yoga:  This a line of graceful yoga clothing for both men and women.  Available in many different styles and colors, the collection features shorts, leggings and drawstring pants along with tanks hoodies and long-sleeved thermal tops. Check it out at www.yogahyde.com .
7. Inner Waves Organics:  This wonderful collection of organic cotton yoga clothing comes from the shores of Maui. Waves yoga clothing is both durable and extremely comfortable. It is designed for both men and women and is available in many colors and styles. You can order your own at www.innerwavesorganics.com.
8. Jonano:  Jonano has created the ecoKashmere® yoga pant that, unlike real cashmere, never needs drycleaning and, due to natural anti-bacterial properties found in bamboo, it kills odor causing germs. www.jonano.com.
9. Lotus Blossom Style:  ”Transforming culture through clothing” is the motivation behind Lotus Blossom Style.  The Goddess Colection tees are all organic cotton or bamboo and perfect to pair with yoga pants.  www.lotusblossomstyle.com.
10. Yoga Tribe and Culture:  This is a “fresh and hip” look. Discover your inner yogi at www.yogatribeandculture.com.

Tags: eco friendly, fashion, shopping, yoga

Brought to you again from White Apricot (an amazing resource) are eleven top eco friendly handbags.

1. Ashley Watson: Ashley uses all recycled leather for her bags and each one is a hand made edition or one-of-a kind. Available at www.beklina.com or go to www.ashleywatson.net for retailers near you.
2. Beth Springer: Beth’s bags are made from reclaimed and vegetable dyed leathers.  Check out the “Ecovertible” limited edition tie-dyed bag in rose. It’s very bohemian chic and uses leather for the trim. Available at www.bethspringer.com. 
3. Ecoist: This is a sophisticated approach to using candywrappers! The Daily Bag in green with orange handles is very cute and the Diva Clutch in Brown is wonderful.  www.ecoist.com 
4. Ella Vickers: Ella makes an assortment of totes, duffels, messengers, backpacks and smaller handbags and wristlets made out of recycled sail boat sails. www.ellavickers.com 
5. Heather Heron: Heather uses organic European hemp as the backdrop for all of her bags. Her celebrity following includes reese Witherspoon, Michelle Williams and Alanis Morrisette. Some styles are available at www.greenwithglamour.com. Also available at www.heatherheron.com.
6. HER Design: Designed Helen E. Riegle these beautiful handbags have been inspired by nature out of sustainable materials since 2004. Available at www.her-design.com .
7. Kim White:  Kim uses the most innovative fabrics to create her eco friendly handbags. Kim’s bags are made out of predominantly car upholstery from the 70’s and 80’s and the result is a collection of bright whimsical bags that comes with a tag showing the model and year of the car it came from. Available at www.kimwhitehandbags.com.
8. Matt and Nat: These bags are vegan and very stylish. Each bag carries with it a “positivity”message, featured on its designs. The bags also have cell phone and PDA pockets. Available online at www. mattandnat.com. 
9. Passchal: This line of handbags does a very stylish job of incorporating recycled rubber into fashion. They are made from truck or tractor inner tubes and are available at www.passchal.com.
10. Teich:  This line is sophisticated, clean and modern. Allison teich uses vegetable -tanned and chrome-free leather up against vintage materials and fabrics, composed of eco friendly fibers, like hemp and linen. Go to www.techdesign.com to find a retailer near you.
11. Vegan Queen: These bags are very upscale , structured and elegant, with a little bit of a rock and roll edge. For more information go to www.veganqueen.com.

Tags: eco friendly, handbags, stylish

This month, courtesy of “Just Try it On!” by Susan Redstone you are being guided expertly as to what ideal items should be purchased this month. With fall just around the corner these are some of the items you should be thinking about to purchase:

• Winter Coats
• Back to School
• Winter Boots
• Winter Skirts
• Flats
• Denims

Tags: beautiful, shopping, tips

Courtesy of White Apricot I a mpleased to share with you 10 beauitful dresses that are also eco friendly and fabulous!

1. Ajna Caleigh Dress:  This is very chic and avant-garde with asymetrical gathered panels.  It is made of bamboo and organic cotton in raw white.  $425 at www.tobi.com .
2. Beau Soleil Beau Baby Dress:  This is a simple and strpless dress, with top-stitching across the chest and a tie at the back to keep it snug.  It iis made of bamboo in perla (heather grey).  It also comes in navy and black.  $225 at www.shopbeausoleil.com .
3. Burning Torch Recycled Scarves Tunic:  100% silk, recycled, vintage, one-of-a-kind scarves are collected, cut and re-sewn to make this wonderfully sophisticated tunic dress.   Each one is completley unique.  $350.00 at www.burningtorchboutique.com .
4. EcoSkin Amber Dress:  The perfect basic and mini dress.  Throw on a pair of gladiator sandals to run around during the day or dress it up with heels and a great necklace at night.  Made of bamboo, tencel and a little spandex.  Comes mellow yellow, black, carmine rose and cloud.  $136 at www.nimli.com.
5. Linda Loudermilk Bella Dress:  Cool, comfortable and chic, this dress isa lightweght organic demin.  $288 at www.shopenvi.com .
6. Perfectly Imperfect Halter Dress:  Simple, natrual and coffee striped, halter style dress ties in the back and has a stylized asymetrical hemilne.  Made from 100% organic cotton.  On sale for $82 at www.thegreenloop.com .
7. Popomomo Letter V Tunic:  These dresses have great unique shapes and happy vibrant colours. Made of 100% organic cotton.  $128 at www.sodafine.com .
8. Raw Earth & Wild Sky Willow Tree Tank Dress: This is a long dress that very simple and elegant. 100% organic cotton.  $292 at www.btcelements.com.
9. Rebe Miriam Dress:  Very simple straightforward style, this dress works effortlessly.  It has side pockets and gathering in the back.  Made from 100% organic Japanese cottonn.  $238 at www.myrebe.com .
10. Viridis Luxe Color Block Mini Dress:  A bright black, melon and sand colored mini dress in a great geometrical print. Made of bamboo and organic cotton.  $167 at www.revolveclothing.com.

You can learn more about these great dresses and also sign up for White Apricots newsletter at http://www.whitapricot.com/fab_finds/rm_summer_dresses.php .

Wishing you a beauitful & magical journey!

In love and light,

Dawn 

Tags: beauty, dresses, fashion tips

Once again, thanks to White Apricot, I am bringing you shopping tips on eco frinnedly clothing and products.  Today I would like to share with you denim brands that fall in to White Apricot’s top 10 ratings.  Denim is so essential to our wardrobe, we can dress ti up or down, it is acceptable to wear in most places and usually it is very comfortable.

Here are the top 10:

1. 7 for all Mankind:  They now offer a line made from 100 percent organic cotton in both men’s and women’s styles, all in a wash called Yosemite.  You can find out more at www.7forallmankind.com .
2. Aoki: Aoki jeans are made from 98 percent organic cotton with 2 percent of stretch.  The women’s line makes you loook long and lean with tthree different cuts to fit any body type. You can learn more at http://www.shopmodify.com .
3. Del Forte Denim: These jeans are made from 100 percent organic cotton and com ein classic and fashion forward styles. You can see the whole line and find a store near you at www.delforte.com .
4. Denim Therapy: This isn’t actually a clothing line but it’s a great copmany for re-furbishing those favorite, worn-out jeans!  Check it out at www.denimtherapy.com .
5. Good Society & Sling & Stones: Same designer, two different lines.  Good Society is the more “affordable” line, while Sling & Stones is the high end line at about $350.00 a pair. Sling & Stones demin is made of American-grown organic Supima cotton, one of the finest and rarest natural fibers on earth.  Good Society is also made of 100% organic cotton.  Both lines donate a portion of their proceeds to charities to help people in under developed countries. See the collections and find a store near you at www.slingandstones.com and www.goodsociety.com .
6. James Jeans: While the jeans are not made of organic cotton, the process that they go ythrough to achieve the different washes is green. Available at Barneys New York www.barneys.com and www.greenrohini.com .
7. Levi Strauss: Levi has two eco friendly lines: Levi’s Eco and Levi’s Capital E.  Both lines feature the same style and quality that made this brand famous.  www.levistrauss.com .
8. Linda Loudermilk Denim: This popular line is not only limited to jeans, but also inlcudes dresses, coats and more. All made with her signature materials including saswashi, bamboo, soya and other self-sustaining plants.  Available at www.kaightnyc.com . See the line and find a store near you at www.lindaloudermilk.com.
9. Loomstate Organic Clothing: These jeans are made of 100 percent certified organic materials and designed with respect for the ability of the environment to “balance, shape and color itself.” Available at Barneys New York www.barneys.com.  See the collection and find a store near you at www.loomsate.org.
10. Serfontaine: Not purely organic but good enough for Brittney, Beyonce, J Lo and Paris.  Find a pair at www.shopintuition.com .  Find a store near you at www.serfontaine.com.  

To find out more about these denim collections please go to : http://www.whiteapricot.com/fab_finds/rm_top_organic_denim_lines.php .

Wishing you a beautiful & magical journey!

In love and light,

Dawn

Tags: beauty, denim, organic, Shopping Tips

Thanks to Susan Redstone, author of “Just Try it On” which is a month by month guide to shopping and style I am bringing you the greatest tips for shopping in in the month of July.

Essentially there are three pieces of clothing that you need to focus on this month.  These are:

1. Long-sleeved tees
2. Denims
3. Lightweight sweaters

July is the month of sales in most stores and if you do end up shopping for yourself , likely all you are going to see in the stores that is new, and a preview for fall,  are the above items. As I mentioned for June’s tips, this is a great time to save on your shopping budget for fall items as they tend to be more costly due to heavier, more expensive fabrics. August should fing an influx of fall fashions for you to start choosing from.

Until then, I wish you a beautiful and magical journey!

In love and light,

Dawn

Tags: clothing, fall, fashion, Shopping Tips

Courtesy of www.whiteapricot.com I am sharing with you ten of the sexiest, eco friendly and vegan shoes available this summer.  Just to note the difference between eco friendly and vegan is htat with vegan absolutely no animal products are used, but the materials are not necessarily sustainable.  Eco friendly means the materials used are either recycled, vegatable tanned leathers or other sustainable textiles.

The top ten shoes are:

1. Beyond Skin “Eleanor”:  This shoe is very cotemporary and goes with everything.  It has a 4″ block heel, made out of tan faux leather with a faux stack leather covered heel.  $225 at www.mooshoes.com .
2. Charmone “Ginseng Expresso Bean”:  This sophistaicated shoe boasts a brown and white bold print with an open toe platform.  Laser cut faux leather over canvas.  $239 at www.charmoneshoes.com .
3. Cri de Coeur “Kate”:  This t-strap flat sandal is blue and taupe canvas with a faux leather lining.  It is very chic and great fro a daytime look.  $170 at www.ravinstyle.com .
4. Form and Fauna “Paris in Spring”:  This shoe is hand made from non-pvc synthetics and recycyled materials.  It has a 3 1/4″ heel.  It has a retro vibe with a black and white crisp look.  $295 at www.greenrohini.com .
5. Mink Shoes “Chick”:  This wedge sandal is a bright, very happy sandal, made from grass green and sunny-yellow linen on a heeled cork wedge with double ankle straps.  $355 at www.minkshoes.com .
6. Natalie Portman “Pana”:  This a very chic, sophisticated flat, made of blck faux snake.  Wear it with white skinny jeans and a beatiful top for night or a a simple organic tee during the day.  $255 at www.tecasan.com .
7. Neuaura “Dipper with Hardware”:  This a great shoe for the working girl; it looks great with a suit, made of synthetic patent upper on a cork platform and heel.  $104 at www.neuaurashoes.com .
8. Novacus “Claire” in Silver:  Metalics and embellishments are very hot this season and this sandal is ideal for both day and night.  100% free of animal products and made from synthetic microfibers that look and feel like leather.  $75 at www.mooshoes.com .
9. Stella McCartney Floral Print Platform Sandal:  All the fashion magazines have been featuring floral patterns this season, and this vegan wood platform sandal is a beauitful expample of what is hot.  Stella likes her sandals high.  We’re talking a 5″ high and a 1″ platform!  On sale now for $279 (reduced from $695) at www.stellamccartney.com .
10. Terra Plana “Acquila”:  This is a strappy bright red sandal made from all eco friendly materials, inlcuding vegetable tanned Napa leather, which is much better for the environment than traditional chemically tanned leather.  $160 at www.terraplana.com .

For more information and to view pictures go to http://www.whiteapricot.com/fab_finds/rmtop_10_sandals.php .

Wishing you a beautiful & magical journey!

Blessings,

Dawn

Tags: beautiful, eco friendly, shoes, vegan