An Eco-Friendly Guide to Washington, DC, Plus My Favorites from Sustainable Retailer Ethica

Image via Washington Post

If you've got family and friends headed into to town to visit you this Christmas and New Year's, or if you are planning a holiday jaunt to DC, this is the green city guide for you!

I put together my favorite local (and sustainable) spots for the folks over at Ethica to empower you and your guests to enjoy local shopping and sample fresh, local food while you're in town. While this is only a tiny fraction of all that DC has to offer, it's a great place to start if you'd like to skip all of the chain restaurants and shop some stores that you won't find in your local mall.

Inside the guide, you'll also learn a little bit more about why I started My Fair Vanity, and what it's like to blog about ethical fashion (hint: awesome!).

Happy Holidays, and don't forget to take 40% off everything at Ethica with code JINGLEBELLS

Here are a few of my favorites:





RINGS:
Every Bing Bang piece is made in the U.S.A., handcrafted either in the company's NYC studio or in Rhode Island.
 
EARRINGS:
All Nicole Romano jewelry is handcrafted in Rhode Island and uses 30% recycled metals, as well a mix of vintage and new stones. The company is an active supporter of the USAMade initiative to revive domestic jewelry manufacturing.

NECKLACE:
Mettle Fair Trade works with small, non-profit co-ops in Cambodia and Indonesia. Owned by the workers, these co-ops generate income and provide training for all members. The entire Mettle Fair Trade line is handmade and fair trade-certified, and the collections are produced in limited editions using recycled bomb-shell metal and lucite, as well as gold and eco-friendly, vegetable-tanned leather. 

HAT:
Kordal knitwear is designed and handcrafted in New York City. Designer Mandy Kordal carefully sources all materials, as well as oversees production. The company favors the use of all-natural fibers whenever possible. Small-batch production and emphasis on making by hand minimizes Kordal's environmental impact. Leftover yarn from previous collections is used to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

PANTS:
Ace & Jig textiles are made from natural hand-dyed fibers Artisanal fabrics are woven on an ancient hand loom in India. Weavers receive free childcare and the textile factory uses reclaimed water to grow organic produce for its employees.

CLUTCH:
By Mettle Fair Trade (see above for more info).

BLOUSE:
Valentine Gauthier uses natural fibers and organic fabrics. Production of the brand's eco-friendly clothing and accessories takes place in small workshops in South America and in collaboration with NGOs, so the production process supports the development of skilled workers. Fabrics are sourced in the same country that items are produced to minimize environmental impact.


 Still want more? Check out my new shop section, where I keep all of my favorite, ethical finds :) 

Swap in the City: Dewdrop, Snobswap and Anchyi Wei

Photo by Emily Kate of Capital Style
Processing by Rachel "Photoshop-abuser" Mlinarchik

By a series of very fortunate events, I found myself walking down a runway last week at Swap in the City. What's more, I found myself walking down a runway with tall, beautiful models. It was intimidating, exhilerating, and so fun! 




Everyone there was a smizing expert. As you will see, I have not yet mastered smizing or model faces, but damn, these girls were blazing hot.



Our make up and hair was done by an incredibly talented team from the W Salon.



Krystin Hargrove of Be Loud Be You is the best smizer on earth! I'm not kidding-- check out her blog and she will melt you with her laser eyes. She is also one half of 8 Vintage, a fab online store featuring reconstructed vintage apparel by Krystin and her partner Denisio.


Krystin is wearing a consigned Alexander Wang dress (available right now on Snobswap!) and a necklace by Anchyi Wei Designs. I loved that Anchyi styled some ladies with a few pieces from her upcoming collection!


Super cheese. No smize. I'm wearing a Dolce and Gabanna skirt and Hervé Leger top from Snobswap.



This young lady was my favorite of the evening. She's wearing D'Milikah, but mostly, she is wearing her ethereal beauty. I was totally mesmerized.

The whole evening was put together by Dewdrop and Snobswap, with proceeds benefiting Becky's Fund, and each of these organizations deserves recognition:

Becky's Fund helps people understand the elements of domestic violence through education, encourages people to take an active role in helping battered victims find safety through counseling, education and legal representation, and provides support for victims of domestic violence.

Dewdrop is a producer of fashion events, specifically fashion-forward clothing swaps, where stylish locals gather to swap clothes, promoting sustainable living through fashion. Dewdrop also gives back to the community by teaming up with charitable organizations, and most of their  events come with pop-up shops, where DC’s local talent gets to showcase their uniquely handcrafted wares. 

Snobswap is an online marketplace where users can buy, sell, swap and save on coveted luxury and designer clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories. It's fun, budget-friendly, and fabulously green.





I was honored to have taken part in such a lovely evening for a great cause. Big thanks to everyone at Snobswap, Dewdrop, 1776, the W Salon, and Becky's Fund for such a lovely evening!

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @MyFairVanity

for fair news, sales, and adventures!

National Gallery of Art: East Building

The National Gallery of Art East Building is one of the most photogenic spaces in the world. Each time I walk in, I feel expansive, lit from within, and calm. The natural light floods in, dancing on the walls in an endless repetition of I.M. Pei's signature motif, and the art is always whimsical, graphic, and perfectly curated for the space.


I feel so grateful to live in a city where this kind of beauty is available for anyone with the desire to see it. My husband and I decided to spend our Saturday afternoon in the East Building to make sure we saw it once this season before it closes for renovtions in July, and you should, too!

Tune in later this week to see how to get this look fairly, and last, but most certainly not least:

 Happy Earth Day!

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @FairVanityDC

for fair news, deals, and adventures!

A Guide to Secondi for the DC EcoWomen

You can find me over on the DC EcoWomen blog today, my friends, highlighting some of the hot items in stock right now at Secondi. The sampling above is just the beginning, so click on over to see the full post.


Above: tangerine Manolos, Tory Burch skirts and a Michael Kors bag from Secondi.

My Fair Calendar: Spring Things

There are so many fabulous and fair things to look forward to this spring, guys! Here are my top 5:



(1) Girl Rising: April 19-25 Nationwide



I can't wait to see Girl Rising, which was recently given a limited run in Regal cinemas across the nation April 19-25. If that trailer didn't get ya, I don't know what will, but I can also tell you that the film tells the stories of 9 extraordinary girls from 9 countries around the world who have risen above dire circumstances.

With voice work from powerhouses Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Selma Hayek and more, this film is not to be missed. If you don't live near a Regal cinema, you can find a screening near you or captain one yourself. 


(2) Green Festival: April 19-20 in NYC



If you're planning a trip to NYC or already live there (lucky!), definitely stop by the Green Festival. I've discovered some of my favorite brands at this festival, and dude- SO MANY DELICIOUS FREE SAMPLES. Need I say more?


(3) Building a Sustainable Career: Saturday, May 18 in DC




Image is from a guest post on sustainable work-wear, which you can find {here}.

The DC EcoWomen are holding their very first conference entitled I'm Here, What's Next? Building a Sustainable Career on Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 8:30 am - 4 p.m.

Join like-minded, passionate eco-women like yourself for sessions on Public Speaking, Green Investing, Running for Office, Salary Negotiation, Harnessing your Entrepreneurial Spirit, and more, followed by a networking happy hour from 4- 6 pm. Priced at just $40 including lunch, this conference is a steal, and the connections you'll make will be priceless. If you want to skip the sessions, there are special tickets just for the happy hour. For more information, visit http://dc.ecowomen.org/conference.

 (4) Japanese Street Festival: Saturday, April 13 in DC (tomorrow!)



You thought the cherry blossom celebrations were over? Nope! Not until the conclusion of the largest Japanese cultural festival in the United States, featuring food from local restaurants, handmade goods, live J-Pop performances on four stages, martial arts demonstrations, and THOSE TWO GIRLS. I took that photo at a past Japanese Festival, but let me just say that they probably aren't even the coolest thing you will see. Pay your $5 and enjoy, my fair friends.

 Bonus: the festival begins  at 10:30 am right after the Cherry Blossom Parade, which is the same day! More info here.



(5) Your Local Farmer's Market: Anytime!





Now that the sun is shining, Farmer's Markets all over the country are open and ready for business-- visit yours this weekend and I promise you won't be disappointed. For a little extra inspiration, check my last post on DC's own Dupont Circle Farmer's Market.


All photos by me, except for the one of me, which was taken by Victoria Corkhill.

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @FairVanityDC

for fair news, deals, and adventures!

Dumbarton Oaks, cont'd: Rare Books

Barney's COOP cashmere sweaterdress, vegan Stella McCartney boots, and J Crew coat, all from Secondi. Bag is vegan by Matt and Nat with an interior made of recycled plastic bottles.

Photography by Victoria Corkhill

After ogling the exquisite Mayan artifacts and jewelry in the Phillip Johnson Pavillion, Victoria and I walked through the rare book collection of the Dumbarton Oaks Museum, which was equally as beautiful and thus deserved its own post. If you haven't yet had the chance to pay a visit to Dumbarton Oaks, I can't stress enough that it's worth a (free!) visit.

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @FairVanityDC

An Afternoon at Dumbarton Oaks

Barney's COOP cashmere sweaterdress, vegan Stella McCartney boots, both from Secondi.
Photography by Victoria Corkhill

I spent a perfect Sunday afternoon at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection last Sunday with my friend and photographer extraordinaire, Victoria. Founded by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barns Bliss and now administered by Harvard University, the museum and libraries are housed in what I would certainly call one of Georgetown's hidden gems.

Filled with natural light, beautiful pre-Columbian artifacts and Mayan jewelry, Dumbarton Oaks is the ideal place to spend your next free weekend.

Tune in on Friday to see more of our visit.

Like My Fair Vanity? Like me on the facebooks

or Follow me @FairVanityDC

Cafe au Lait

Styled by Victoria Corkhill
Photography by Victoria Corkhill

Last week I had a quick meeting at Filter, a local DC coffee shop that might just have the Best Coffee in DC. This kind of statement is controversial, I know. There are many local contenders very nearby, such as the delicious Dolcezza, but they're already known for their amazing gelattos made from locally grown ingredients. When it comes to coffee, Filter is da bomb. Can I still say that? I'm saying it.

Here is why Filter is da bomb: