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Paper or Paper $

Swimming pools, movie stars but no more plastic bags. In continuing with the trend of charging people for non eco friendly behavior California is moving forward with it's crusade to ban all plastic bags. Legislation passed Wednesday now prohibits stores from offering plastic bags to customers. In hopes that people will start to bring their own reusable bags the bill also institutes charges for those opting for the paper bags. The bag ban has been catching on all over the world - starting in Ireland and South Africa and finally spreading to the US in 2007 (Yay San Francisco!)

For those last minute trips to the grocery store try the compact reusable FEED 100 by FEED Projects totes which proceeds go towards feeding hungry children all over the world. The bag zips up for easy storage and toting around in case of a quick stop at Whole Foods (or wherever)  :)

Hello and Welcome to the Garbage Hotel?

Just when you think you've seen everything up pops a hotel made of trash? In Rome Corona (yes the beer company) has sponsored the building of the world's first hotel made from scattered trash. The project, called Save the Beach, was started to save Europe's beaches from becoming wastelands due to the enormous amounts of garbage filling the sands. Supported by such famous names as Jade Jagger and Helena Christensen (who will be staying at the hotel and blogging her experience) Save the Beach aims to clean up and save one beach every year. (The beach is chosen by user submissions and votes on the site.

I actually think this is a not a bad way to go getting help to clean up the beaches around the world (Hint  - EXPAND THE PROJECT SCOPE!). But I don't know yet about making my living accommodations out of it. Living in NYC is hard enough............ 

Book Review: Go Green:Live Rich

Go Green:Live Rich by David Bach

Want to save the Earth and make some money? Try reading Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach (Bestselling author of the Finish Rich Series).  While there's no guarantees you'll be a millionaire (is there ever?) the book has a lot of great advice on how to "go green" in simple ways and save some cash in the process. Even though some of the tips are more for the independent homeowner (grow your own veggies, add green additions to your home like solar panels) there's enough info to help the solo earth conscious person reduce their global trashing impact. There's even advice on how to "Green your mortgage" and pay less taxes by doing so. Perhaps they should be handing these out at every bank and H&R Block (provided of course that you can even find a lender these days)...............

Purchase Go Green, Live Rich

Fashion Embraces Film

In a time when a YouTube video or two can make you an almost instant world wide celebrity (I love you Justin Beiber) it seems that the fashion industry is doing some catching up media wise. Fashion's latest marketing scheme - films. Recently there have been a few figure profile films (The September Issue and Lagerfeld Confidential ) and many fashion houses have taken to creating short films to release along with the viewings of their latest collections. According to the NY Times "movies have become the hottest new fashion accessory" and have become a way for the brand to connect more with their consumers. I'm crossing my fingers for Chanel and Stella McCartney Blackberry Apps to come next........... 

Taxing to Stop Global Warming?

What's a good way to get people to stop engaging in a behavior? Charge them for doing it. According to Metro News The US Academy of Sciences has recently released reports stating "a carbon pricing system would be the most effective way to reduce emissions" In other words they'll be charging you for all the bad elements you release into earth's atmosphere. (Car exhausts, factory and machinery emissions, etc.) If this passes does this mean taxes and charges on products and non eco friendly habits are next? If you don't recycle your rent goes up and littering carries a $200 ticket?  I can already see the fall out coming for an extra tax on hair spray and fragrances.......

Eco Friendly Expo! :)

Hooray! There's an Eco Friendly Expo in NYC!!!! A step towards an all eco friendly trade show in New York the expo will feature sustainable design showcases for fashion, art, home and more! For tickets and more info visit their website.

The event is being held from May 25-May 27th at 7 W 34th St btwn 5th and 6th Avenues

FIT Goes Green :)

FIT 

FIT will be going green this spring with a special exhibition all about sustainable fashion. FIT Museum 's Eco-Fashion: Going Green will feature pieces from the 18th Century into some of today's eco fashion favs (including pieces from Edun, designer line by Bono with wife Ali Hewson ). Check it out!


Eco Fashion: Going Green will open on May 26th and be on display until November 13th, 2010.

Nordstrom Rack opens today!

The lower price version of the upscale department store chain opens (one of a planned 15 countrywide) in NYC's Union Square right next to the relatively new Best Buy. I was planning to attend the opening but I saw the line for the preview the other night and decided to wait a few weeks before braving the crowds......Check back for pics!

Tax Breaks for going green in Britain?

Are tax breaks enough to get people to go green? The British Fashion Council is pushing for legislature to be passed providing incentives for companies who engage in more eco friendly business practices and make sustainable fashion more accessible for the masses.  
With any luck this will pass and America won't be too far behind. With all the doom and gloom in the news these days I'm sure doing something good and getting something in return will appeal to a lot of people :)

British Fashion Council Press Release

Models over Celebrities in ads - I'm All for it ! :)

Madonna for Dolce & Gabbana   

 

(via Fashionista) the recent fashion house trend is to have models starring in the campaign ads rather than actresses. Hopefully fashion mag covers aren't too far from jumping on this bandwagon. It would be nice to not see the same person on every cover. Promotion is one thing but sometimes it's too much!!    

Fashionista - Models Over Celebrities

 Vanessa Paradis for Chanel

Fashion Collections on view now!

 Bonnie Cashin

Hooray! For your viewing pleasure The Met Museum and the Brooklyn Museum have two fantastic fashion collections on display. At the Met we have the Costume Institute's annual showcase  “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”  while over at the Brooklyn Museum is “American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection”. Both allow an interesting look back through America's fashion history including pieces from Hollywood movie classics and from groundbreaking designers like Paul Poiret. Definitely a must see!

NY Times - Fashion Exhibits


Photo via Huffington Post

Introduction

                                  I and the Village - Marc Chagall

                                                     

Hello All!!!!

Thank you so much for reading my blog! Here you'll find a little bit of everything from posts on fashion and animal welfare  to reviews of great haunts and pics of random sightings. Enjoy!