Having an outdoor wedding during the spring in New York can be like rolling the dice. Every year at this exact time you can find an infinite number of brides-to-be hoping and praying that it doesn’t rain, if not snow, on their special day.  During the few days leading up to March 31st, you would have thought I was a “Bridezilla” myself when each day I heard the weatherman increasing the precipitation percentage for the Saturday that Jill & I scheduled Compassion Couture’s spring photo shoot.

Come Friday and the percentage of rain forecast for Saturday was up to 80%!  The photo shoot was scheduled to be at the picturesque Long Island’s Oyster Bay Cove in order to bring to life my original vision of spring photos depicting sunlight, flowers and a light and airy mood.  My dreams had to take a back-seat to Mother Nature and we had to move on to Plan B, changing the photo shoot’s theme to depict contemporary and high-fashion poses and indoor backdrops.  Lucky for us, there was a nearby hotel that had recently been remodeled in a modern style that perfectly fit our models’ looks.  The hotel agreed to accommodate us just the night before the shoot.

Saturday arrived and the forecast was spot on.  It was chilly and raining but we actually took advantage of this by starting our shoot with some playful “Singing In The Rain” shots.  Our first model, Jen, took some fun pictures posing alongside budding trees outside in the rain with an umbrella that matched her classy, yet edgy look. Her black capris and short double-breasted white suit jacket matched perfectly with our Hearts of Darkness Precious black and cork heels and Cornelia Guest’s Teal Black Tote with gold studded embellishments.

We then moved on to the hotel location, where we took some more high-fashion shots of Jen in front of the houndstooth backdrop that matched her ensemble so great it almost looked like she was a piece of art.  Switching her handbag to the Cornelia Guest Remi Weave satchel in camel to provide some more contrast with the backdrop, Jen posed away on the black bench and made the whole look come alive – fashion-forward yet a wearable look for everyone!

Next up was Jess, modeling a chic and semi-preppy look.  Neuaura’s Aven Dark Brown strappy sandals complemented her striped white, orange and beige sweater, white shorts and faux brown leather belt perfectly.  She switched off between Matt & Nat’s Devo bag in Papaya and Matt & Nat’s Freida wallet because frankly, both of them went perfectly with this outfit!  Modeling in front of a backdrop of wooden branches, as well as on a comfy bench, Jess made this outfit look effortless for anyone on a rainy or (sunny) spring day!

Last but not least was our model Sharon wearing a deep pink party dress perfect for a spring day, along with Dialog’s Laguna satchel and Hearts of Darkness’ Cage wedges. Running out of locations in the hotel, we scoured the lobby for locations to match her look.  We “settled” on a couple of different backdrops including the gold hotel elevator doors, which actually tied the outfit and accessories together perfectly. Her high fashion posing worked wonders for this outfit. Who says you can’t be a little sexy and edgy a spring party dress?!

All in-all we had an extremely successful shoot!  Special thanks to our photographer Alex Storsberg for the amazing photos!  And special thanks as well to our models Jen, Jess & Sharon and our behind-the-scenes photographer Jess!

After the shoot, in our “studio” a.k.a. Jill’s house, we took some close ups of shoes against a white backdrop to hone in on the beautiful fit and features of our shoes including the olsenHaus Egypt shoes pictured below.  Special thanks to Mayo for letting us showcase her amazing legs for these pictures!

Check out our homepage to see which photos we chose for our main slideshow and stay tuned for some videos where Jill & I explain how we incorporate our/Compassion Couture’s vegan and eco-friendly accessories into our everyday wardrobes!

Spring started last week and with the unusually warm weather we have been experiencing in New York, it’s kind of been feeling like the middle of May, not the end of March.  The city is noticeably buzzing with spring fever – the streets are crowded with people just out for a stroll, the restaurants have their outdoor seating in full force and people are staying out later just because.  Good thing Compassion Couture’s spring and summer inventory is starting to pile in, including the items I’ve chosen to order one of for myself.  Here’s a list in no particular order of some of my top picks out of our new arrivals:  

Precious Pump by Hearts of Darkness

The Precious by Hearts of Darkness are first because these will be my new going-out shoes for the spring.  Cork is a huge trend this season and these shoes look amazing with my skinny jeans.  The heel looks pretty high but with the platform in the front, along with the thicker heel, I was surprised how comfortable they are.  Granted, I won’t be running any marathons in them but they are definitely wearable for a night out in the city!  

Pansie Clutch by Cornelia Guest

Cornelia Guest recently launched an all vegan accessories line and we couldn’t be more excited and proud to be one of the only retailers carrying her brand other than Bloomingdale’s.  If her name sounds familiar it’s because she is the daughter of American fashion icon Winston F.C. Guest and you may also recognize her from movies such as ”I Know Who Killed Me”.  Well, she can now add handbag designer to her list of accomplishments and her styles do not disappoint.  The Pansie clutch is the perfect accessory for spring and summer in a pale pink that is soft and feminine, and a compact size that will keep you traveling light.  The faux leather of the bag is extra soft and the interwoven chain detailing adds an extra touch to make the bag just a little unique.         

Sweetheart Bag by Gunas

I felt the need to get myself something to contrast the extra-classiness of the Pansie clutch, so I had to go with the Sweetheart bag by Gunas.  The funky and unique details and a little bit of asymmetry give this fun mid-sized bag a hint of rocker chick style.  Orange was starting to make an appearance last season but this year, the trend is in full force and effect and I love that the bag has just a hit of summery color.  As a bonus it can be worn two ways, hand-held or over the the shoulder, and the shoulder strap is detachable.  Even with an inner lining made of recycled materials and 2 inner cell phone pockets (one for my personal phone and one for my work Blackberry of course), the hanging tassels are still my favorite feature.  

Tame Sandals by Hearts of Darkness

My flip-flops are going to have to take a back seat this summer because the Tame sandals by Hearts of Darkness are going to become my everyday shoes.  I love that these are casual enough to wear with shorts or weekend jeans but can still be dressed up a little bit because of their unique mix between a t-strap and a thong.  And best of all, they’re flats so no need to worry about how far I have to walk in them.     

Maya Wristlet by Matt & Nat

The convenience of a wristlet never gets boring so when I saw the papaya color of the Maya wristlet by Matt & Nat, I knew it was a keeper.  It’s the perfect size to keep me organized but forces me to downsize.  Somehow I feel like the bigger my bag, the more stuff I end up lugging around – with this wristlet, I have no choice but to only take what I really need.  The strap is detachable too so it’s easy to slip inside a bigger bag without having to transfer my money and cards over to a wallet.  Definitely will be reaching for this puppy on days when I’m rushing out the door in a hurry – which is pretty much the norm for me. 

Aven Sandal by Neuaura

Not that I need another pair of heels but just I couldn’t resist the Aven by Neuaura- this one has to be the winner for sexiest shoe of the season.  It’s a little edgy but I think I can still get away with wearing it to work.  It does have the hidden platform I tend to gravitate towards so the height of the heel is not killer on my feet, which means I’ll be able to leave the office for nighttime events without changing shoes.  I love the double ankle straps and the criss-cross cut out pattern is just something a little different. 

These items plus other new arrivals are already up on the site, and a ton of other styles are scheduled to be delivered over the next few weeks.  Time to make room in your closet and bring on the warm weather! 

A LOOK FORWARD TOWARDS 2012

Ok so enough of all the sentimental stuff and on to the bigger, better and more exciting things to come this year:   

-Very early in the new year we are hoping to introduce a new line of amazing handbags, called sheilaOdessey.  Sheila is on a mission to divert everyday plastic shopping bags from ending up in landfills and instead transforms them into cute clutches and functional handbags.  Her designs are so gorgeous and sturdy, you would never guess that the handwoven fabric is made from something the average person wouldn’t think twice about tossing in the trash.  All sheilaOdessey’s bags are handmade locally in New York City by Sheila herself.     

sheilaOdessey - Silver Bells Cocktail Clutch

sheilaOdessey - Ebony and Ivory Large Tote

-February 12th will mark our second appearance at Vegan Shop-Up, New York City’s only all vegan pop-up market at the Pine Box Rock Shop in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Mark your calendars to come see us for the Valentine themed market - by then some of our spring inventory should be in so we’ll have some fresh items sure to be a big hit as a Valentine’s Day gift.  If the event is anywhere as near as crowded as it was for the Holiday Vegan Shop-Up, I’m sure we are going to have a blast.   

Packed House at Holiday Vegan Shop-Up 2011

Compassion Couture's Wares For Sale at Holiday Vegan Shop-Up

-Around March, most of our spring orders should be piling in and we can’t wait for the new styles and the weather warm enough to wear them!  Jill and I hand-picked every item as we did for the fall and the end result once again (if I don’t say so myself) will be an array of funky, chic and sophisticated styles to choose from.  We’ll have styles from all our favorite brands like OlsenHaus, Cri de Coeur, Hearts of Darkness, Neuaura, Matt & Nat and much, much more!  I hope to have some sneak preview pictures to share shortly.  

-We are super excited to be adding Mink Vegan Shoes to our lineup this spring too.  Started by California based Rebecca Mink, we had a really hard time narrowing down our picks from her line because we fell in love with just about everything.  Her spring line was made possible partly from funds raised through Kickstarter so be sure to check out her website and learn more about her amazing company and how her shoes are cruelty-free in every step of the manufacturing process.   

-We’ve even advance booked some stuff for the summer like the Shecky’s Girl’s Day Out event on July 7 in Southampton.  It’s going to be a day of cocktails, shopping, makeovers and goody bags and we can’t think of anything more fun!  Click on the link above to find out how to register and receive the latest info on the event. 

-Our brains are overflowing with ideas, we are constantly finding new brands to work with and are hoping to do as many events as possible this year, like pop up shops and trunk shows with other cruelty free retailers and designers.  Stay tuned for updates!   

Happy new year to all our followers, supporters, customers, families and friends!  We are looking forward to working and playing with all of you in 2012.

You may know Elizabeth Katzman from her blog and talk show http://elizabethskindcafe.com/ which is an amazing resource not only for awesome vegan recipes but for advice on living a sustainable lifestyle, information on animal rights issues, tips on cruelty-free fashion and much more.  But on top of all that, she’s recently started her own line of chemical free cleaning supplies and what I am especially excited for, a new all vegan shoe line. 

Jill and I are proud to announce that we have just added Elizabeth’s Faux Suede Booties to our site!  Love the classic style of these – totally a shoe wardrobe staple that will never go out of style.  Best part is they are made out of recycled plastic and manufactured in the United States down to the faux suede fabric. 

Elizabeth's Kind Cafe - Faux Suede Booties

Right now Elizabeth is hard at work on some new designs that we can’t wait to see and hope to have some up on our site as soon as they are ready.  Here’s a sneak preview of some of her new edgier leopard print designs that we can’t wait for.

Elizabeth's Kind Cafe - Open Toe Leopard Print Heels

Elizabeth's Kind Cafe - Closed Toe Leopard Print Heels

I recently got the chance to ask Elizabeth some questions to find out more about how she got started, her thoughts on living a cruelty-free lifestyle and wher she sees her business headed in the future. Elizabeth is probably used to being the one doing the interviewing as you can see from some of the great episodes of her talk/cooking show, but this time I was lucky enough to be the one asking the questions!  

T: When you originally started blogging, you originally intended your site to be a place just to share your tips on cooking, etc.  What made you decide to take that one step further and start your shop – selling chemical free cleaners and shoes?
E: I had actually been working on the line of shoes and the cleaners the whole time. Since I am new to both businesses, it took some time to find manufactures, work on packaging, designs, develop a business plan, etc. It was a long road, but worth the wait.

T: What are your goals for the shop?
E: Ideally my products will primarily be in retail stores.  I’ll continue to offer some styles on my website, but focus the site primarily on plant based recipes, animal rights issues, and my talk show.  I have come to realize that it’s difficult being a designer and retailer at the same time.  I’m really enjoying designing and developing this line, and I don’t want it to suffer by being distracted with too many other projects.

T: What was the deciding factor when making up your mind to go vegan?
E: Watching the documentary ‘Earthlings’ is definitely what did it for me.  I don’t see how anyone could make it through the whole film  and still be capable of eating meat and dairy.  It was an eye opener to say the least.  I’ve never been a big meat eater, but what was/is going on in the dairy industry was news to me.  I just assumed dairy cows always produced milk.  I didn’t realize they were continually artificially inseminated in order to produce milk after the birth of their calves, only to have their babies taken away from them within hours.

T: Jill and I obviously love your shoes.  What was the inspiration behind your designs and do you expect to design more styles in the future?
E: Originally I just wanted to design the basics.  Staples that everyone needs in their wardrobe, but I’ve been bit by the design bug, and now I’m getting much more creative.  I am currently working on about 10 designs.  I’m still a fan of the basics, and those will always remain, but I’m also having fun with mixing different textiles and colors.

T: What are the materials used to make your shoes?
E: I’m always on the hunt for great textiles.  As of now I have been able to only use textiles made in the US and I would like to keep it that way.  It limits me a bit, but I love knowing that every aspect of the shoes are made in the US.  I work with a few different companies, but the textiles I purchase are all eco-friendly in one way or another.  I currently work with over twenty different materials, so it’s a bit difficult to be specific about each.

T: We know that you are raising two beautiful boys.  What are some challenges you face teaching your values to your sons and raising them in a vegan household?
E: Actually it’s been fairly easy, but I think that’s primarily due to the fact that my little guy isn’t in school yet, and my older one only goes half days.  I’m sure it will be more challenging next year when my oldest will be fulltime and eating lunch at school.  However, I do tell him that it’s his choice whether or not he wants to eat meat.  It’s a very personal decision, and I respect them as individuals.  We spend a lot of time on farms and with animals, and as of now, they are pretty animate about not wanting to eat them, but I have no idea what the future holds.  My oldest just turned three when I became vegan, and he used to drink a lot of milk.  I took him to a dairy farm and explained how it all worked.  I showed him how the cows were milked by machines and how their babies we not allowed to be with them.  When we got home I gave him rice milk.  He said he didn’t like it, so I said he could drink cows milk if he wanted to, but he said no, and by the end of the next day he was drinking rice milk without thinking twice about it.

I can hardly believe that this past weekend marked almost 3 months of Compassion Couture’s grand opening!   Because of this and the changing of the season from fall to winter, Jill and I felt it absolutely necessary to update the images on our homepage to show our shoppers just how awesome our newer products look on actual women!  I personally feel that the product pictures alone on our site do not do justice on just how well-made and stylish our items are!

Here is a collage of images with several of the pictures taken throughout the day:

We started off the day at Eisenhower Park (in East Meadow, NY) with our model Jen wearing a casual look full of brown hues perfect for any winter weekend.  Looking awesome, she rocked Lara Miller’s Cole Gathered Hat, along with Novacas’ Eliza boots and Matt & Nat’s Laroux in Cognac.  Of course I love all of the items we picked for her but particularly the Cole hat, as it can be worn in more than 4 different ways.  Check out our site to see just how creative you can get with this hand-spun, Chicago-made Bamboo hat!

Then we moved on to Jill (my sister and co-founder of Compassion Couture) for a more sophisticated and high-fashion look.  Jill wore Reveal’s Nica Hobo in Ebony, along with Beyond Skin Corrine booties and Matt & Nat’s Noma belt.  I’m particularly crazy about these booties as they really can make anyone’s legs look pretty amazing!

We then moved onto me (yikes!)  – I was nervous since I’ve never modeled before and I’m not too comfortable in front of the camera. But our photographer was super nice which helped me relax and I’m really happy with how the pictures came out!  I picked the Hearts of Darkness Sentiment pumps in black and the Matt & Nat Ella hobo in beige to wear.  Don’t be fooled with the height of these pumps, they have a little wooden platform that makes them unbelievably comfortable as far as 4 inch heels go!

For Sharon’s photos, we really wanted to incorporate a furry friend since that is what Compassion Couture is all about!  Sharon’s rescue doggie, Sandy, joined us for the shoot and was extra happy to be around all of the excitement of the park and all of the people.  We got some great candids of him along with Sharon looking gorgeous, wearing the Hearts of Darkness Architect boots in black and Susan Nichole’s Tara satchel in black.  Don’t worry Sharon, Sandy didn’t completely steal the show

Lastly, we snapped some indoor pics of Jess looking like the belle of the ball at a local wine bar.  Everyone needs that sparkly holiday outfit for special occasions and that is exactly the look she pulled off.  Beyond Skin’s Jolie heels and Reveal’s Ivy Satin Clutch in black shined great among the black party dress. 

We hope you love the pictures!  Check out http://www.compassioncoutureshop.com/ to find out which pictures we chose for our homepage slideshow – these should be up shortly.

Lastly, this post wouldn’t be complete without a special thank you to our photographer Alex and our models Jess, Jen and Sharon for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us out.  Most importantly, thank you to my sister for working so hard to organize the the details of the shoot – from outfits, to hair and makeup, to timing, it was her creativity and planning that made the day come together.

First off, it wouldn’t be right to start this post without acknowledging how much time has passed and how much has happened since my last post (which I can’t believe was in August!).  After almost a whole year of planning, the Compassion Couture online boutique finally went live, with its grand opening on September 1st!  The e-boutique is fully up and running and things have been really crazy as we work through some glitches in the site and iron out some kinks that come along with just starting up a small business in general.  While Jill and I have been hard at work, summer has turned into autumn without us noticing, as of last week the temperatures dipped into the 40′s and people all over the city have been sporting their scarves, boots and coats.

Ok, but enough about that and on to the real reason for my post - last Saturday, October 1st we took a little road trip to Albany to participate in the NY Capital Region’s Vegetarian Expo, presented by the Albany Vegetarian Network, which was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.  We were just one of about 50 exhibitors to have a booth at the event, which even featured a vegan fashion show!  I know I’ve said this before, but it’s so amazing to be surrounded by people who share our values for a whole entire day.  Don’t get me wrong, I love spreading the word about eliminating animal cruelty but sometimes it gets tiring and a break here and there is definitely appreciated.  Even the convention center kitchen served only vegan food for the whole day, including a delicious butternut squash soup that I had for lunch. 

Compassion Couture's Booth

Among the exhibitors was Donna Oakes, founder of Cow Jones Industrials Vegan Boutique up in Chatham, NY.  I was so excited to finally get to meet her in person and she is just as nice as I was expecting.  There were also a ton of goodies to try and at the end of the day my willpower lost the battle – I ended up bringing home brownies from the NY Capital Region’s own X’s to O’s Vegan Bakery AND chocolate chip cookies from Liz Lovely.  As if that wasn’t enough, there were also speakers on various topics about vegetarianism and even a cooking demonstration on how to make homemade kale chips. 

Setting Up For the Event

We had a blast meeting so many super nice people, and it was so much fun to experience for the first time having people try on some shoes and boots that we had with us for sale.  The favorite shoe of the day was the Beyond Skin Sweetie and the favorite bag of the day was the Charlie by Cri de Coeur.  It was so encouraging to hear so many women say that they have been waiting for a shop like ours!

Beyond Skin - Sweetie

Cri De Coeur - Charlie

Here are a couple of pictures from the fashion show featuring bags, shoes and clothing from some of our favorites including Cri de Coeur, Cow Jones Industrials and Mission Savvy.  Photography is not our strong suit, so luckily Randall Collura has posted some of his professional pictures of the fashion show and the expo.  Looking forward to participating again in 2012!

After much planning, this past weekend was Compassion Couture’s first event, the Green Summerfest at Vasa Park in Budd Lake, NJ.  The festival was focused on promoting awareness of eco-friendly services and products and it was refreshing to be surrounded by so many other vendors/businesses with similar values.  People of all ages came to enjoy the live music, have their kids participate in the special activities and learn about different ways you can infuse being a little more environmentally friendly into your lifestyle.  

Because we had to be at the park to set up at 7 am on Saturday morning, Jill and I drove out to New Jersey on Friday night with a car packed with all our stuff for the display.  Getting everything to fit in the car was a challenge but the end result was well worth it – our table display was really cute and drew a lot of people in! 

Compassion Couture's Display - Green Summerfest

Me all set for the festivities to begin

People were intrigued by what we are doing and very receptive to the idea of incorporating being cruelty-free and eco-friendly into fashion.   Not to mention, they loved the brownie bites from Babycakes NYC that we were giving away and were shocked that vegan brownies could taste sooo good.  The big hit of the day seemed to be the Dialog Amazon satchel that was part of our display.  Coming in second place was the Kailia Chiara boot – definitely our sexiest boot for fall and even the men were pointing this knee high boot out to their wives as they passed by. 

Clockwise from top left: Dialog Amazon Satchel, Kailia Chiara Knee-High Boot, Susan Nichole Lexi Clutch, Matt & Nat Jools Wristlet

Favorite Bag of the Day - Dialog Amazon Blue Diamond

Favorite Boot of the Day - Kailia Chiara

If I can find a decent vegan meal while traveling I’m usually happy – beggars can’t be choosers.  But this time, I was lucky enough to actually find a legitimate vegan restaurant to eat at Saturday night only a few miles from where we were staying!  Driving there in the pouring rain on unfamiliar streets wasn’t too fun but I’m really glad we made the trip.  Loving Hut happens to be a chain of 100% vegan restaurants that I was surprised I had never heard of, especially since they have a location in mid-town Manhattan.  We had a super-nice waiter and delicious vegan food that really hit the spot! 

Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Au Lack Bun Hue aka Big Yummy Bowl of Spicy Soup with Noodles & Tofu

Loving Hut - Ledgewood, NJ

Although the event got rained out on Sunday due to a massive storm hitting the northeast that lingered until yesterday, overall it was a success and a great learning experience for me and Jill.  Most important lesson learned is that we should not assume a tent/canopy will be provided.  This is definitely on the top of the shopping list for the next outdoor exhibition!  It was also very motivating to hear how excited people are to check out our site when it launches.  If all goes as planned, the e-boutique should be live by no later than September 1st at the very latest, as we put the finishing touches on the web design!   

My overflowing closet means that by the time the weekend rolls around, I also have a stuffed laundry basket.  Unfortunately, dry cleaning and machine washing are not the most eco-friendly of practices no matter how sustainable your wardrobe is.  That being said, I’m not about to give up washing my clothes (or wearing them, for that matter).  Since it appears that clothing care is a necessary evil, I wanted to share some ways I’ve been trying to limit my impact on the environment without having to go naked. 

Safer Dry Cleaning

Many may not know this but the active ingredient in traditional dry cleaning solvent is a chemical that is as hard to pronounce as it is harmful.  Scientifically known as tetracholoroethyline (or more commonly called perc), this chemical is a known cancer causing agent that is contaminating sewer systems all over the country because of its resistance to decomposition.  Obviously, avoiding dry cleaning altogether is the best option.  However, I do own some garments that must be professionally cleaned – either they are marked “dry clean only” or just don’t look the same after being through the washing machine and dryer.  When I must dry clean something, I look for a dry cleaner that uses one of the following methods instead: 

- High pressure cleaning using carbon dioxide.  Studies have shown this is the best quality alternative.
- GreenEarth cleaning, meaning that silicone based cleaners are used.  This method is hought to be better than traditional dry cleaning but there are still mixed reports on its health risks.
-Computer controlled high tech wet cleaning.  Using gentle washing machines, biodegradable soaps, special reshapers and pressing machines, this method is the most environmentally friendly method but ranks least in performance.  

Low Impact Living is a useful site that can help you find eco-friendly dry cleaners in your area by entering in your location. 

Green Garmento

You know how every time you pick up your clothes from the cleaners, each garment is wrapped in a plastic bag?  According to the Green Garmento website, that generates about 300 million pounds of single use plastic bags annually - that’s a really scary statistic.  The Green Garmento is a reusable garment bag that is the perfect way to reduce the amount of plastic you consume when it comes to dirty laundry.  This multi-tasking bag can be easily transformed from a hanging hamper at home, to a duffel bag on your way to the cleaner and to a hanging garment bag to transport your clean clothes home.  Over 1,000 cleaners throughout the country have switched to using these bags and you can always ask your local cleaner to make an exception for you as well.  No need to worry about how they will find your clothing at pick-up time either, there is a clear plastic pocket on the outside, placed especially for your ticket to avoid any confusion. 

Green Garmento as a Hanging Hamper

Green Garmento as a Duffel Bag

Green Garmento as a Garment Bag

Plant-Based Detergents

I’m sad to say that most of my life I have been washing my clothes in run-of-the-mill laundry detergent not realizing what possibly unsafe chemicals have been rubbing into my skin all these years.  Common Good is one detergent/cleaning brand that I recently discovered, coincidentally while in the midst of the Compassion Couture photo shoot at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Not only does this Brooklyn-based company use as many natural ingredients as possible, but their products are 100% biodegradable and their company was founded on the premise of creating a way for people to use less packaging.  What they’ve come up with is the idea that you can refill your containers at local shops mainly throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Click here to find out if there is a refill station or shop that carries their products by you.  Unfortunately, none of them are close enough for me but I have my fingers crossed that one day they will be.  For now, I’ve been opting for other detergents and cleaners that claim to be the most natural and use at least some plant based ingredients, such as Seventh Generation and Method, although there is some evidence that even these brands may not be the best for you.  Unfortunately, there is little regulation as to labeling requirements and as you can see from Seventh Generation’s  list of ingredients, unless you are a chemist (which I have not yet added to my resume) it is kind of hard to determine what you are being exposed to.  For now, I’ll continue to choose from the lesser of two evils but I am hopeful that as public awareness grows, so will our options for safer soaps.  Anyone with suggestions, please send them along!

Common Good Refillable Detergent

As wedding season is in full swing and I’m heading to South Carolina this weekend for my cousin’s nuptials, I thought it only to be appropriate to do a post on my favorite bridal accessories.  It’s so hard to believe that I got married almost five years ago!  With the ever-expanding market of vegan and eco-friendly bags, shoes and jewelry, I wish I got a second chance to go back to my wedding day just to re-accessorize myself.   Here are some of my favorite pics for all of those brides-to-be:

Shoes

Beyond Skin has my favorite shoe by far.  If you are a little less conservative like me, I would choose Beyond Skin’s Paris – Cream Suede with Metallic Snake.  Open-toed and strappy, this high heeled sandal  is neutral enough to match a white wedding gown.  The gold faux snakeskin embellishment around the trim makes it edgy with a touch of sass.  Made of recycled Dinamica faux suede upper, as well as breathable faux leather lining and resin sole, this shoe is ethical, cute and comfortable enough to show off all day long.

Bags

Continuing with the gold theme, I am in love with the Josette Clutch by Urban Expressions.  Who said you need to spend a fortune on your wedding day?  I found this bag on http://www.baghaus.com/ for only $38!  All of Urban Expressions’ bags are 100% Vegan, gorgeous and guilt free.  Made from vegan leather, the Josette is elegant yet flashy with its sequin embellishment.  Made with gold tone hardware and a detachable chain handle, this clutch can be carried or worn over the shoulder.  This is easily an item that can be used even after your special day for those fancy nights out on the town or to dress up any simple outfit!

Jewelry

My opinion is the ”less is more” approach is best on your wedding day with jewelry.  If the gown is the ice cream sundae (soy ice cream of course), I think of the jewelry to be the cherry on top.  My top picks come from a company called Fifi Bijoux, based in London that designs that most beautiful and romantic jewelry out of ethical gold sourced from suppliers that make a positive impact.  The company takes a strong stance against worker exploitation or environmental damage. 

The Ardent Pendant is my necklace of choice.  Simple, yet luxurious, this pendant is made of sparkling white topaz with a gold chain.

The matching Ardent Earrings are a perfect final touch, made of topaz and gold as well.

Congratulations to all of the brides and brides-to-be of the summer!  Happy accessorizing!

As the launch of Compassion Couture gets closer and closer (we are only about a month away!), I wanted to give a sneak peek into some of the fashion-forward bags that we are going to sell!  The boxes of bags, shoes and accessories have begun to arrive to our warehouse (which is my sister’s house for the time being) and I feel more and more like a kid in a candy store.  As the inventory piles up, I can’t tell you how tempting it is to take one of everything for myself.  Never before have I been surrounded by so many cruelty-free items – not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to hold out.  I am so pleased with the look and quality of everything that we have purchased so far!
 
I have had a little obsession with clutches recently – I love how many different modern spins are being put on this timeless style of bag.  Seems like the clutch will always be in fashion and its look is so versatile - they can be dressed up or down and are the perfect accessory for every look from a casual outfit to a party dress.  Here is a snapshot of just a few of the clutches that will be available on Compassion Couture very soon: 

Susan Nichole - Lexi Clutch

This clutch by Susan Nichole is perfect for an evening out on the town.  Sleek and sexy in a crocodile print (vegan of course – as all Susan Nichole’s handbags are), don’t be fooled by its compact look – the Lexi Clutch is large enough to fit more than just the basic evening essentials.  With a clasped frame top opening, lining made from 100% recycled material, inside center divider AND three interior pockets, keeping organized is easy.  The Lexi also comes with a detachable chain strap that can be worn at the shoulder or cross-body.   

Dialog - Xanadu

Because Dialog’s signature trim (as seen in the detailing on the Xanadu) is made from recycled scrap materials, you know you are getting a one-of-a-kind bag.  But more importantly, Dialog works with communities throughout Asia, training women-in-need in the art of using an age-old Malaysian recycling technique that results in the unique trim.  To date, they have infused thousands of dollars into these communities by purchasing their origami style trim by the meter.  Dialog’s Xanadu clutch has an exotic feel with faux snakeskin leatherette fabric and is embellished with a hardwood closure.  I love that this bag can be worn casual or dressed up and can be worn with or without its chain shoulder strap, which tucks neatly inside when unused.   

Hemptress - Sonja Large Clutch

This large clutch from Hemptress’ vegan line is made from 100% hemp and detailed with only the highest quality light gold tone hardware.  Perfectly casual and roomy for a full day out and about – you can fit all your esstentials inside including your wallet, makeup and even a book/e-reader for a relaxing day in the park.  I would love to pair this bag with my favorite pair of skinny jeans and an organic white cotton top for a super-simple look.  

Reveal – Piuola

For this last one, the Piuola Clutch by Reveal, I really couldn’t hold back and had to take one for myself.  I’ve only worn the bag a few times and no joke – every time, I have gotten at least one compliment!  I love seeing the look on people’s faces when I tell them about the cruelty-free aspects.  The super soft feel of Reveal’s animal friendly “suede” made from recycled plastic bottles is unbelievable!  The Piuola is like having two bags in one as it also offers the option to easily detach and reattach the shoulder strap for a more traditional clutch look.

I Hope you enjoyed this glimpse of what’s to come on Compassion Couture!  Best of all, this is just the beginning – we have tons of stuff expected to be delivered over the next couple of months for the Autumn Winter 2011 season.  I’ll be sure to be posting more sneak peeks soon!