Institute of Dress is an insanely brilliant clothing line by my dear friend Abby Lutz.  Each piece is superbly crafted, fashion forward and completely wearable.  When I talk about investing in heirlooms-to-be… this is what I’m talking about.  Risky without nearing ridiculous and made thoughtfully in Japan and and Vermont, Institute of Dress is one of the few non-”eco” lines (their fabrics aren’t terribly sustainable) I endorse.  But now it gets even better…

 Abby has approached me with a very exciting proposal… Institute of Dress is going to do an exclusive, abbreviated run of styles solely for Green with Glamour this Fall in all organic materials.  Ladies, get ready!

At the International Design Awards – where Institute of Dress won best in Pret-a-Porter, Abby is flanked by Popomomo designer, Lizz Wasserman (left) & little old me – wearing an Institute of Dress creation (right).

POST BY DEANA

Institute of Dress is an insanely brilliant clothing line by my dear friend Abby Lutz.  Each piece is superbly crafted, fashion forward and completely wearable.  When I talk about investing in heirlooms-to-be… this is what I’m talking about.  Risky without nearing ridiculous and made thoughtfully in Japan and and Vermont, Institute of Dress is one of the few non-”eco” lines (their fabrics aren’t terribly sustainable) I endorse.  But now it gets even better…

 Abby has approached me with a very exciting proposal… Institute of Dress is going to do an exclusive, abbreviated run of styles solely for Green with Glamour this Fall in all organic materials.  Ladies, get ready!

At the International Design Awards – where Institute of Dress won best in Pret-a-Porter, Abby is flanked by Popomomo designer, Lizz Wasserman (left) & little old me – wearing an Institute of Dress creation (right).

POST BY DEANA

I completely LOVE chocolate cake – it’s one of my favorite things in the world.   However, my mother & husband aren’t huge cake people. I made this for the 3 of us to enjoy… and I promise you, ALL 3 of us enjoyed!  It’s quick, easy and delish.

Cake Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar

Chocolate Glaze

1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp soy milk
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In an 8X8 square pan/dish, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt with a fork, making sure it is really blended together. Add the water, vanilla, oil, and vinegar, and again, mix together so that it’s really blended together. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides if necessary.

Place in oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Cool on a rack completely (2 hours).

*I actually made 2 small cakes, spread a healthy serving of raspberry jam on one’s top and added the 2nd cake on top of that.

For the glaze, in a small saucepan, bring sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa to a boil. Stir frequently; then reduce heat to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. It’ll look gloppy, but it’s just the bubbles! Remove from heat and stir for another 5 minutes.

Add vanilla, stir, and immediately pour onto cake. Glaze dries really quickly, so spread it immediately and add any sprinkles now.  Let this cool for an 1 hour… and O M G.

 POST BY DEANA

I completely LOVE chocolate cake – it’s one of my favorite things in the world.   However, my mother & husband aren’t huge cake people. I made this for the 3 of us to enjoy… and I promise you, ALL 3 of us enjoyed!  It’s quick, easy and delish.

Cake Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar

Chocolate Glaze

1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp soy milk
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In an 8X8 square pan/dish, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt with a fork, making sure it is really blended together. Add the water, vanilla, oil, and vinegar, and again, mix together so that it’s really blended together. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides if necessary.

Place in oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Cool on a rack completely (2 hours).

*I actually made 2 small cakes, spread a healthy serving of raspberry jam on one’s top and added the 2nd cake on top of that.

For the glaze, in a small saucepan, bring sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa to a boil. Stir frequently; then reduce heat to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. It’ll look gloppy, but it’s just the bubbles! Remove from heat and stir for another 5 minutes.

Add vanilla, stir, and immediately pour onto cake. Glaze dries really quickly, so spread it immediately and add any sprinkles now.  Let this cool for an 1 hour… and O M G.

 POST BY DEANA

Humbled, honored and thrilled… that’s how we feel about being included in Time Magazine’s Green Design 100!  Every magazine feature and mention is a lovely gift, but TIME MAGAZINE – C’MON!  We’re amongst a venerable crowd including eco-adventurer, educator & totally hot stuff, David de Rothechild, non-leather advocate & fashion designer, Stella McCartney and brilliant “green” tipsters & idea wizards, Ideal Bite.

 As written in by Time: Carefully curated home products like organic silk pillows, natural clay candlesticks and organic cotton scarves enable users to look and shop smart.

Hooray!

Humbled, honored and thrilled… that’s how we feel about being included in Time Magazine’s Green Design 100!  Every magazine feature and mention is a lovely gift, but TIME MAGAZINE – C’MON!  We’re amongst a venerable crowd including eco-adventurer, educator & totally hot stuff, David de Rothechild, non-leather advocate & fashion designer, Stella McCartney and brilliant “green” tipsters & idea wizards, Ideal Bite.

 As written in by Time: Carefully curated home products like organic silk pillows, natural clay candlesticks and organic cotton scarves enable users to look and shop smart.

Hooray!

As most of you know, I do write a weekly “Home” article for the massively-read online magazine Ecostiletto.  And sometimes my story subjects are a bit more “domestic” than I am… which I actually don’t completely mind because it teaches me about new “green” products.  Anywho, this story idea came to me and I was enthralled!  What is Bio-diesel – and are there any by-products? Fascinating!

According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel is a biodegradable, non-toxic, clean-burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources like discarded cooking oil.  And you may think biodiesel is a resource reserved for drivers of those oh-so-sexy vintage Mercedes Benz and the super groovy tour buses carrying the likes of Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Jack Johnson.  However, one of the byproducts is pure, clean glycerin, the basic building block of soap.

Now comes the genius part. After converting their beloved ’84 Benz 300D to run on Biodiesel, the Pasadena, CA based Megan and Marshall Dostal found themselves with a surplus of glycerin. Beauty junkie Megan started tinkering with fragrant oils like bergamot and olive and the gorgeously fragrant, light and sudsy Further Soap was born.

POST BY DEANA

I’m a man that can very easily characterize my tastes as simple and classic. While some may look at those words as code for “boring” and “safe”, I like to think of my likes and dislikes as a lifelong cultivation of the few things in this world that actually achieve perfection – the perfect martini – always gin, three olives and just the right amount of vermouth, the perfect glazed donut (the best vegan one I’ve found, fyi, was at Ronald’s Donuts in Las Vegas). Forget your apple cosmo-tinis and your butterscotch drizzle. I want the tried and true, the old standby, the consistently perfect – the classic.

When it comes to clothing, I’ve always been a lot more J. Crew than Dolce and Gabbana, but when I began “greening” my wardrobe a few years ago, I did hit some early roadblocks. For some reason there are many out there who hold the belief that men who care about the environment like to wear earthy sandals and graphic tee shirts emblazoned with images of flowering trees or endangered animals… ugh. Luckily, my classic tastes command a fairly specific, yet simple uniform. On most days, you’ll find me in my black No Sweat sneakers, my pair of Good Society straight legged organic jeans, and either a crisp, untucked, Oxford shirt or well worn flannel depending on my mood. I can do casual no problem, but when the occasion calls for something more formal, I’ve found my biggest snag to be in the shoe department. As you might of guessed, my shoe of choice when wearing a suit or dress slacks… the classic loafer. But the search for a well-made, good looking pair of vegan men’s dress shoes will turn up quite a few dead ends.

Women’s fashion has certainly answered the call, with designers like Stella McCartney offering $800 pairs of vegan shoes, but non-leather men’s dress shoes are hard to come by. You certainly won’t find them at Barney’s or Neiman Marcus. Even Zappos.com, which prides itself in carrying a wide variety of vegan shoe alternatives, offers nothing that will sufficiently compliment a suit. The best selection I’ve found so far is at Noharm. Not an enormous array of styles, but for sure the most handsome and rich looking you’ll find.

The NoHarm classic loafer

Their philosophy is to synergize high fashion with ethical consumerism. Amen brotha. Next to Noharm, the only other really decent selection of vegan men’s dress shoes I’ve been able to find is at Mooshoes.

I’m partial to “The Avalon” by Vegetarian Shoes.

They’re a bit more of the causal variety of loafer that you’d be more prone to wear with a pair of jeans, that is, if you’re the kind of guy that wears loafers with jeans.  Mooshoes has a larger selection than Noharm, but you kind of have to sift through some of the more office-y and orthopedic looking styles to find the ones you want.

Overall, still not a lot to choose from, so view this post as more of a plea than a guide. Shoe designers of the world… men still need dress shoes. Don’t make me wear a pair of hemp Simples on my 10^th wedding anniversary!

POST BY N.A.

San Francisco is a shockingly beautiful city… seriously, I was shocked.  I’m a fairly active traveler – and though SF is a short jaunt from LA , I had never actually heard much good about it, so I was never inspired to go (and I had always pictured it as dreary weather hovering around grotesquely painted Victorian townhomes).  My loss, I guess… though I do believe everything happens at a purposeful time and place (and I’m already planning my 2nd visit).

Our stay was short (2 days, part of a 10 day birthday holiday for my mother that took us up to the rustic, tucked away Shelter Cove down to sea lion-ladden shores and super-luxe hills of San Simeon), but suffice it to say… San Francisco has my number.  Dining, Drinking & Lodging is a whole other story, but here we focus on shopping!

As every big city typically does, San Francisco has a decent representation of the upscale boutiques – Hermes, Chanel, Loro Piana, etc. in the Union Square area, but now that I no longer buy new silk or leather… I have little use for these stores and instead look for vintage & 2nd hand pieces from these lines (the hunt is far more fun & rewarding).  Gump’s, however… GUMPS!

I had heard stories about Gumps – I’ve even ordered some of their catalog pieces, but Mon Dieu… the store is the real thing!  It’s like Bergdorf’s decor section times 10.  The perfect selection of vintage & antique tableware mixed with an incredibly edited  collection of new.  Go for yourself.  I can’t do it justice, but I will mention some of my favorite pieces…

Antique Meissen porcelain dishes for a lofty $1700 per table setting.  The Black Court Dragon pattern is pristine, stunning and as relevant today as it was at it’s production over 100 years ago.

Um… and the wind was nearly knocked out of my by Phillipe Starck’s remarkable “Fool” vase (I really shouldn’t be surprised, right?) for Baccarat.

And I do have a soft spot for those fantastic Finnish blown glass Toikka birds by Iittala.  My husband has given me a couple as gifts because he know my fondness for birds and my love of great design… well, Gumps had the biggest, most beautiful Toikkas I’ve seen!

And of course, their collection of John Derian trays was wistful & sublime!  Impossible to resist!

A lot of Gumps’ goodies aren’t available online… so do yourself a favor and GO!

Needless to say, shopping was non-existent in Shelter Cove unless the General Store counts and our days in Napa were spent in wineries and restaurants rather than boutiques… though the St. Helena Olive Oil Company was outstanding!  The ultimate place to stock upon organic, locally made oils, mustards, pasta sauces and vinegars.

 And then on to Carmel-by-the-Sea… one of my favorite little hamlets!  It’s a very quiet, very beautiful, very low key, VERY WASP-Y little town – which for me also makes it a FANTASTIC place to second-hand shop.  We hit up the ASPCA and Yellow Brick Road benefit shops… both teaming with old people and their donated wares.  These are the places I hunt for vintage costume jewelry pieces, books, tableware & crystal.  And though I was really impressed by the amount of current designer pieces (tons of Miu Miu shoes!) the local boutique, Girl Boy Girl, had donated to the ASPCA shop all I found (or had the patience to find) was the brilliant out-of-print book by one of my design heroes, David Hicks on Living – with Taste (I love that the phrasing almost makes it sound like a burden… but actually Mr. Hicks speaks to those interested in design & living well on just about any budget).

Seriously… click to enlarge & absorb.  This man had a gift!

 A bit disappointed, but remembering that I really don’t need a thing… I continued to shop.  On to, Consign Couture,  the high end 2nd hand store nestled right in the downtown area.  Scads of Gucci, Chanel, YSL, Dolce & Gabbana… shoes, suits and handbags – none at a particular bargain (they know what they have), but if ever I jonze for that perfect, basic black Chanel suit – I know where I’m going.  Long… very, very, VERY long story short – I found a crisp, white cotton, man-tailored, french-cuffed shirt by Ralph Lauren, paid the lady and bounced.

 POST BY DEANA

San Francisco is a shockingly beautiful city… seriously, I was shocked.  I’m a fairly active traveler – and though SF is a short jaunt from LA , I had never actually heard much good about it, so I was never inspired to go (and I had always pictured it as dreary weather hovering around grotesquely painted Victorian townhomes).  My loss, I guess… though I do believe everything happens at a purposeful time and place (and I’m already planning my 2nd visit).

Our stay was short (2 days, part of a 10 day birthday holiday for my mother that took us up to the rustic, tucked away Shelter Cove down to sea lion-ladden shores and super-luxe hills of San Simeon), but suffice it to say… San Francisco has my number.  Dining, Drinking & Lodging is a whole other story, but here we focus on shopping!

As every big city typically does, San Francisco has a decent representation of the upscale boutiques – Hermes, Chanel, Loro Piana, etc. in the Union Square area, but now that I no longer buy new silk or leather… I have little use for these stores and instead look for vintage & 2nd hand pieces from these lines (the hunt is far more fun & rewarding).  Gump’s, however… GUMPS!

I had heard stories about Gumps – I’ve even ordered some of their catalog pieces, but Mon Dieu… the store is the real thing!  It’s like Bergdorf’s decor section times 10.  The perfect selection of vintage & antique tableware mixed with an incredibly edited  collection of new.  Go for yourself.  I can’t do it justice, but I will mention some of my favorite pieces…

Antique Meissen porcelain dishes for a lofty $1700 per table setting.  The Black Court Dragon pattern is pristine, stunning and as relevant today as it was at it’s production over 100 years ago.

Um… and the wind was nearly knocked out of my by Phillipe Starck’s remarkable “Fool” vase (I really shouldn’t be surprised, right?) for Baccarat.

And I do have a soft spot for those fantastic Finnish blown glass Toikka birds by Iittala.  My husband has given me a couple as gifts because he know my fondness for birds and my love of great design… well, Gumps had the biggest, most beautiful Toikkas I’ve seen!

And of course, their collection of John Derian trays was wistful & sublime!  Impossible to resist!

A lot of Gumps’ goodies aren’t available online… so do yourself a favor and GO!

Needless to say, shopping was non-existent in Shelter Cove unless the General Store counts and our days in Napa were spent in wineries and restaurants rather than boutiques… though the St. Helena Olive Oil Company was outstanding!  The ultimate place to stock upon organic, locally made oils, mustards, pasta sauces and vinegars.

 And then on to Carmel-by-the-Sea… one of my favorite little hamlets!  It’s a very quiet, very beautiful, very low key, VERY WASP-Y little town – which for me also makes it a FANTASTIC place to second-hand shop.  We hit up the ASPCA and Yellow Brick Road benefit shops… both teaming with old people and their donated wares.  These are the places I hunt for vintage costume jewelry pieces, books, tableware & crystal.  And though I was really impressed by the amount of current designer pieces (tons of Miu Miu shoes!) the local boutique, Girl Boy Girl, had donated to the ASPCA shop all I found (or had the patience to find) was the brilliant out-of-print book by one of my design heroes, David Hicks on Living – with Taste (I love that the phrasing almost makes it sound like a burden… but actually Mr. Hicks speaks to those interested in design & living well on just about any budget).

Seriously… click to enlarge & absorb.  This man had a gift!

 A bit disappointed, but remembering that I really don’t need a thing… I continued to shop.  On to, Consign Couture,  the high end 2nd hand store nestled right in the downtown area.  Scads of Gucci, Chanel, YSL, Dolce & Gabbana… shoes, suits and handbags – none at a particular bargain (they know what they have), but if ever I jonze for that perfect, basic black Chanel suit – I know where I’m going.  Long… very, very, VERY long story short – I found a crisp, white cotton, man-tailored, french-cuffed shirt by Ralph Lauren, paid the lady and bounced.

 POST BY DEANA

Have you ever wondered what’s in your favorite beauty product and/or if the manufacturer tests on animals?  Of course, there are obvious clues that help… such as the “No Animal Testing Bunny” symbol or a simple list of ingredients.  But if you’re looking to be a bit more Nancy Drew-ish, check out the Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database!  It lists almost every cosmetic product and company you can think of along – with the ingredients of each product and the illnesses or reactions that have been linked to each ingredient. I know this sounds scary, and you may be surprised what actually makes up your favorite face wash… C’mon, ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health!

This database was put together by the Environmental Working Group to educate consumers like us. It’s a bit shocking to discover that many of the cosmetics that claim to be “good” for your skin may actually be harmful.  If you absolutely cannot give up your favorite makeup or skincare product just use less (though there are probably stellar healthy alternatives). My skincare regime is officially down to just a natural face wash and moisturizer. The more products you can cut out the fewer chemicals will be absorbed into your body and definitely beware of those super-long ingredients list… What I have learned most from this site is that less is definitely more!

Birthday candles are nothing… It’s those toxic ingredients you have to watch!

POST BY MEGAN

With Spring scents lingering in the air… you may want to also check out Megan’s post on her favorite floral fragrances!

I always get so excited for the Green with Glamour seasonal celeb photoshoots – they’re festive, fashion-y and oh-so-sexy!  For the Spring/Summer 09 look, we were feeling pretty damned good about ourselves and went for a “top of the world” theme, deliciously shot on the rooftop of The Chapman Building (many thanks to GwG’s dear friend and loft tenant, Matthew Vafiadis!)  The location was divine, but I have to admit the whole inspiration for our “world-topping” thing came once I knew the lovely Jorja Fox was on board to be our “model”.  From afar she just seems to ooze a relaxed confidence, right?  Well, let me tell you… up close she does not disappoint!  Arriving poised, professional and completely good-spirited, Jorja set the tone for a luscious photoshoot & overall brilliant day!

So… we let the champagne flow, munched on vegan yummies (curried mango & tempeh sandwich recipe here), soaked in the gorgeous day and went to work!  More Jorja’s GwG ensemble here.

Jorja shines and Lelah snaps away while I soak in the surrounding talent!

Artfully shot by photographer, Lelah Foster, the finished photos are a dream come true!  Utilizing the open space, the soft sun and the colors & shapes of downtown LA, Lelah perfectly framed Jorja’s smouldering beauty and determined gaze.  I know… I’m gushing, but it really was a perfect day.  Model = amazing, Photographer (& assist., Chad) = brillsville, Clothing = perfection (of course!), Make up & Hair = a divine cross-section of editorial meets wearable (Big thank yous to Alyson Granaderos and Tamami Ito respectively!!!), and behind-the-scenes photos and general production helping hand = my husband & #1 supporter… total harmony!

I mean… seriously!

And to push the feel-good even further, once the GwG photos were captured, Jorja swapped her designer clothes (check what she wore here) for a PETA tee and posed for the campaign to STOP the clubbing of Canadian seals – some serious multi-tasking!  At the end of the day, we are beyond thrilled with the results and so proud to have Jorja – and the rest of the team – play such important roles in the world of Green with Glamour!

POST BY DEANA

It could have been a potato sack and she would have looked stunning, but the final look consisted of the following:

The Carta top by The Battalion

The organic Tabitha trench by Kelly B

The Bernie pencil skirt by Toggery

 Finished perfectly with the Embrace necklace by Jennifer Dawes for C5.

It could have been a potato sack and she would have looked stunning, but the final look consisted of the following:

The Carta top by The Battalion

The organic Tabitha trench by Kelly B

The Bernie pencil skirt by Toggery

 Finished perfectly with the Embrace necklace by Jennifer Dawes for C5.

I think this is a stellar idea!  Being someone who spills the occasional red wine droplet on a bright white top or buys that gorgeous yellow piece on sale, on sale – full well knowing yellow isn’t my color or has 15 articles of  dark greyish clothing that used to be black… here’s the perfect solution.  Have your old, stained or unflattering-hued pieces professionally dyed!  Don’t go get RIT (toxic) and try to dye it yourself (ridiculous) – leave it to a pro.

Based in LA (though I’m sure you could arrange shipping if you’re not local), this recession-driven concept is fast, easy & cheap (just the way you like it, right?).  AND the dyes used are vegetable-based & low impact.  Win-win… now go DYE!

This is a crazy, busy week for us, but I have to pass this along… actually, don’t bother to watch if you’re not interested in being creeped out – or watching some seriously treacherous acting.  It’s an anti-constitutional, pro-discrimination commercial by the National Organization for Marriage about all of the devastating & life-altering changes that will certainly happen to the “straights” (ie. religious right – who oddly all stand exactly alike) if our country continues on it’s (albeit slow & winding) path to legalize same sex marriage.

Gross.

This is a crazy, busy week for us, but I have to pass this along… actually, don’t bother to watch if you’re not interested in being creeped out – or watching some seriously treacherous acting.  It’s an anti-constitutional, pro-discrimination commercial by the National Organization for Marriage about all of the devastating & life-altering changes that will certainly happen to the “straights” (ie. religious right – who oddly all stand exactly alike) if our country continues on it’s (albeit slow & winding) path to legalize same sex marriage.

Gross.

So sorry, lovelies, but these past weeks have been just bananas!  We’re traveling (everywhere from Indianapolis to Monterrey to Jamaica), we’re launching Spring 09, we’re prepping Fall 09 and we’re getting ready for our very exciting, very sexy photoshoot with Jorja Fox this Saturday!  So clearly Living GwG has fallen off for just a bit, but please sit tight… we’ll have the scoop on everything in a matter of days!  XO

So sorry, lovelies, but these past weeks have been just bananas!  We’re traveling (everywhere from Indianapolis to Monterrey to Jamaica), we’re launching Spring 09, we’re prepping Fall 09 and we’re getting ready for our very exciting, very sexy photoshoot with Jorja Fox this Saturday!  So clearly Living GwG has fallen off for just a bit, but please sit tight… we’ll have the scoop on everything in a matter of days!  XO