Eco-friendly Fall Essentials from AHALife

I don't know about you, but I am ready for fall! And to celebrate it's arrival, I've picked out a few of my favorites from AHAlife, one of my favorite online resources for discovering thoughtful, on-trend brands. And just through today, you can take 24% off of your first purchase on their site with code AHANEW.

I'm a big fan of AHAlife not just because they seek out thoughtful brands creating high-quality goods, but because they disclose the details of each item so well on their site. With one click, I can see whether something is handmade or organic, where it is made, and sometimes even how it is made. They tell the story behind their products quite thoroughly and I wish more online retailers would do the same.

In the (shoppable) image above, you can find:

• Shwood sunglasses, handmade in Oregon from sustainably harvested wood.
• Botkier tote (also available in a more conservative all-tan or all-black), made in the USA.
• Cuff by Kelly Wearstler, made in the USA of gold-plated brass. I wish it were recycled gold plated brass.
• Organic Pink Fijian Tea, made in Fiji. 
• Wool Wrap: Crafted from hand-combed Mongolian yak wool, designer Khunu worked directly with herder communities to responsibly source its yak wool which is then crafted in the oldest textile workshop in Mongolia. Boom.
• Wrap clutch (also in this size) by Busk and Bask. Hand-crafted from vegetable-tanned leather, Chicago screws and a solid teak wood floor.

For more even fall essentials, check out my Pinterest Board!

Eco-friendly Beach Essentials

1. Mara Hoffman one-piece patterned suit is made in the USA, $256
2. Fleurs de Soleil Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 for Face and Body is vegan, paraben-free and made with 75% organic ingredients. 
3. Baobab and banana fiber beach tote is fair trade and hand woven from natural fibers, available from Drifting Arrows.
4. Shwood sunglasses are handmade from discarded wood in Portland, Oregon. 
5. Striped 100% cotton beach towel is handmade and fair trade, available from Drifting Arrows

Although spring has only just recently sprung, I've already got sun and sand on my mind. Why? First of all, I am obsessed with this Mara Hoffman one piece swimsuit. I've never been a one piece type, but there are so many great options out there now that I think I could become one.  I also like that they become a shirt when you throw on shorts or jeans.

The second reason I've got the beach on my mind is that I'm headed out to Tulum tomorrow to participate in a yoga retreat with my best girlfriends!

There will be several posts lined up for you this week while I'm gone, including the big reveal for a project I recently worked on with a dozen (or more?) other bloggers, headed up by stylist extraordinaire Ms. Shellby Cheri. The outfit she styled for me will go live on Wednesday, but for now, check out how she helped Carlis from Spicy Candy DC style her badass printed overalls three ways.

Now, let's get back to those beach essentials. I've found so, so many beautiful swimsuits that are made in the USA, eco-friendly post-sun skin products, and fair trade towels that I recommend visiting my pinterest collection to see them all-- these are just the highlights!

1. One piece bathing suit is made in the USA by Anonyme, available from Drifting Arrows.
2. Cotton towel is fair trade and handmade, available from Drifting Arrows.
3. Golden tote is handwoven and fair trade, available from Drifting Arrows, which is apparently my new favorite store in the whole world.
4. This all-purpose beauty balm from One Love Organics is perfect for summer sunning bc the pure, cold-pressed plant oils, rich mango butter, and three super-critical extracts break down dirt and makeup, cleansing your skin without stripping its natural protective layer. 
5. Cover-up is fair trade from Lemlem, $198 from Shopbop.

Shop more ethical options below, or visit my pinterest page for the full (and always growing) collection of eco-friendly, sustainable essentials for this summer!

Lastly, if you can handle the sun-soaked images, please do follow along with me on Instagram @MyFairVanity to see how the yoga beach adventure goes!

What to Get Him for Christmas: Eco-friendly Holiday Gift Ideas

I've rounded up a solid collection of well-made, beautiful gifts for the Dads, boyfriends, uncles, husbands, and brothers in your life. Of course, each gift is made in the USA, handmade, uses organic ingredients or materials, or is otherwise sustainably made, so you can shop knowing you're doing a little good in the world with your purchases.

Clockwise starting at the top left:

• Slim chinos are made in the USA by Bonobos, $98
• Down jacket is made using recycled polyester by Nau, $225*
• All-natural shave cream by Origins, $16
• Jeans are organic cotton by Nudie Jeans, $179
• Balancing blocks are made in the USA by Fort Standard, $48
• Duffle is made in the USA of waxed canvas and leather by Filson, $360

*I can personally attest to the awesomeness of this Nau jacket-- my husband has one, and he wears it throughout fall and winter, sometimes as an under-layer when it's REALLY cold, but usually as the perfect winter coat. It's really thin but also really warm. Like magic.




Clockwise starting at the top left:

• Monogrammed handmade 15-piece BBQ tool set from Etsy, $76
• Watch made from remnant wood by WEWOOD, $120
• Seedbombs and slingshot are made in the USA, $16
• Wool camp blanket is made in the USA by Pendleton, $119
• Wool Jacket is made in the USA for Pendleton Collection, $598
• Hat is made from recycled cotton/acrylic by American Apparel, $22
• Leatherman all-in-one tool is made in the USA. Every man I know loves this thing. $32
• Boots are made in Maine by L.L. Bean and made  to last a lifetime $99

Clockwise starting at the top left:

• Made-to-measure suit, made in America by Freeman's Sporting Club, $1,195
• Boot is made in the USA by Red Wing, $330
• Sunglasses are handmade from reclaimed wood in Portland, Oregon by Shwood, $145
  THESE ones are also awesome.
• Cufflinks are made from upcycled bullet casings by Astali, $84
• Bow-tie is handmade in the USA from Etsy, $28, similar here $26
• Bag in made in NYC by Ernest Alexander $345
• Cedar shoe tree is made in USA by Alden $37
• Tie is handmade in the UK by Charles Tyrwhitt, $85
• Organic cologne by Herban Lifestyle, $29.99

If you'd like to see 175 more (yes, that many!) ethical gift ideas for everyone on your list, I invite you to check out My Fair Gift Guide.

Once you've exhausted that resource, feel free to follow along on my gift guide Pinterest boards-- I will be updating them regularly through December, and they include men's gifts, mom gifts, gifts under $30, my own wish list, and more.

Happy shopping!


Shop the post (and more!!):

Aviators and Wayfarers and Cat-eyes, oh my! {Eco-friendly Sunglasses}

It may not feel like sunglasses time, but I'm a big believer in protecting your eyes (and the delicate skin beneath them) year round. Everyone should be prepared for the ill effects of snow-sun reflection, which can be worse for your eyes than a day at the beach! Besides, statement sunglasses are having a serious moment in fashion, and just like with the oversize sweaters trend featured earlier this week, there is no reason we can't embrace this trend in a sustainable, stylin' manner.

There are all kinds of options when it comes to sustainable sunglasses, but the top three are bamboo or wood lenses, a vintage or used pair, and shades that are sustainably or locally made. Thats what I looked for in putting together this collection, I have to say I was overwhelmed by the variety!

The reddish cat-eyed tortoise-shell glasses are among the most expensive of the bunch because they're by Stella McCartney. You can always count on Stella to keep a close eye on materials, and although I wish she would push just a little harder, I think it's good to support a high-end designer that is making such a conscious effort to be kind. All of her glasses are made from 50% natural sources.

The other two pairs are vintage oversize sunglasses are from Etsy (available here and here), and they're both under $30.




Every single one of these reflective, futuristic (and majorly 80s) sunglasses are vintage from Etsy, and they range from $12 to $200. From top to bottom and then right they are:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

And now for the Raybans. If you absolutely must have a pair, I'd recommend a vintage pair. Unlike the modern Luxottica models, vintage Raybans by Bausch & Lomb were made in the good ole' USA, like each pair below (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 ). 

 

The wooden sunglasses trend deserves its own special section (below). There are many versions (and copies) of bamboo glasses out there, but I like Panda bamboo glasses (bottom left) because of their promise to provide a free eye and exam and glasses for someone in need for each pair sold.




I also want to highlight two pairs of sunglasses from Shwood, although I was tempted to just make a giant collage out of every pair they have. Handmade in Portland, Oregon (where else?), these glasses are pricey and incredibly beautiful. I respect that the folks at Shwood seem committed, nay, obsessed with creating something really special in each pair. I love their experimentation with stone and salvaged wood, for example. When you are making short films about each pair of sunglasses you've lovingly handcrafted, it's clear you're not just an artisan, but an artist.

Last but not least are the eco brand sunglasses. They are the only eyewear brand in the world made of 95% recycled materials. Add to that the on-trend shape and edgy, fall colors on these two pairs and you have my favorite sunglasses on the whole page. You can find them at several local eyeglass stores nationwide.