Made in the USA: Calleen Cordero Accessories

 With made-in-the-USA products and a commitment to artisan-quality footwear, handbags and jewelry, Calleen Cordero's designs are both stunning and sustainable. Most pieces cost upwards of $100, so Cordero's line is expensive, but these edgy accessories are well-worth their high-end price tags. 

 

(Top: Farrah 3/4 belt $199, Middle L to R: Tania Cuff in Black $139,  Envie Clutch in Black Borello $369, Snake Cuff in Metallic Geyser $99, Bottom L to R: Pancho Weave Sandal $369, Arte Heel in T-Morro Varu $569)

Firth Brings Green to the Red Carpet

(Image Credit: Vogue UK)

The red carpet is going green, and no, I'm not referring to the striking emerald gowns spotted at this year's Golden Globes. This awards season, Livia Firth, wife of Oscar-nominated Colin Firth, threw down the sustainable-clothing gauntlet with her "Green Carpet Challenge." (be sure to check out her blog!)

At the Globes we saw her sporting a hand-dyed, peace-silk gown created by Prophetik, a Nashville-based designer at the forefront of eco-friendly formal wear.

With hubby Colin as a front runner for Best Actor at next week's Academy Awards, Livia will most certainly give us a second look at sustainable glamor. No word on the designer yet, but I'm sure it will be green.

Readers--do you try to support sustainable fashion? What are your favorite green brands?

Make The Uniform Project Dress Your Own

Sheena Matheiken committed the ultimate faux pas when she wore the same dress 365 days in a row. Fortunately, fashion police looked past her slight indiscretion and were blown away by this stylista's philanthropic experiment in sustainable fashion. From May 2009 to May 2010, Matheiken committed herself to The Uniform Project, a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, which is an organization focused on improving the education of impoverished children in India. Matheiken wore the same dress every day, but don't think that means her outfits were monotonous. She constantly reinvented the look with vintage or hand-made accessories, jewelry and layering pieces.

This spring Matheiken retired her signature LBD after raising just over $103,000 for her cause, but this dress isn't out of the spotlight quite yet. The original designer, Eliza Starbuck of Bright Young Things, is selling a limited-edition run of the style for $185 on her website. The dress is clearly versatile, but if you need more proof, check out Matheiken's slideshow of all 365 inspirational looks. My personal favorites: June 7, July 3, September 24, October 27, February 21, April 19.

(Photo Credit: Bright Young Things)