Handcrafted clutches and bags from MIYO Design

Coming from a family craftswomen and seamstresses, Malia Okamura of MIYO Design has a long history of handcrafting bags and purses. With a degree in Applied Design from San Diego State University, Malia now puts her talents to work creating original purses, clutches, and accessories under the name MIYO Design. Her boutique bags are fun and functional, and her clutches are one-of-a-kind.

We love the red Record Clutch – made from actual vinyl. The former album is making a come back as a fashion adornment, and we couldn’t be happier to rock and roll with it!The vinyl Polka Clutch has hand-painted shimmering pink dots and a handcut bloom accent as decoration. Summer may be over, but the colorful Poppy Bag is just the right splash of bright to liven up your fall wardrobe and remind you of those luscious summer days at the beach. Small details and handcut flower petals make this bag a conversation piece.
For more great accessories that will make you smile, check out MIYO Design.

How to wear your ballet flats

Audrey Hepburn couldn’t have looked cuter when wearing dainty little flats. This year, the tiny shoe trend hit big when women began embracing the anti-wedge. You don’t have to be a prima ballerina to enjoy the comfort and youthful style of the ballet flat, but it was original dance solesters who brought back the ballet-style shoe. Now a wardrobe staple, the heel-less shoes were originally popular with older women because of the comfort they provided.

Modeled after the light leather slip-on shoes that dancers would wear, the flats began to rise in 2004. With the growing trend towards leggings and skinny jeans, original dance shoe makers like Repetto began taking their ware off the dance floor and into the street. Simple, elegant, and easier to walk in than the sexy stiletto, flats were quickly embraced due to their versatility and easy transition between daytime comfort and nighttime flare.
Evening Flats
It may seem counterintuitive to dress up your look by dressing down, but ballet flats are sophisticated enough to take you out at night and comfortable enough to keep you dancing. Choose flats in metallic colors, satin fabric, or with sequin details to spruce up a black wrap dress or pair with a shiny skirt.
Date Flats
You can look cute and flirty without feeling to girly if you wear flats with your next date attire. And it’s so much easier to stroll down the street, guy in hand, if you’re not worried about twisting your ankle in your new stilettos. Choose a bright color for your shoes – one that will complement your top and purse without matching the color exactly. Pick a different shade in the same color family to look right on, or adorn yourself in opposing colors and risk looking like you dressed in a rubbish bin. Complete the look with tight dark jeans. For an extra eye-grabber, pick flats with a pattern, embroidered detail, or buckle.
Afternoon Flats
For a lazy Saturday or an afternoon outside, choose a sunny shade like turquoise, yellow, or pink. Keep the patterns simple, and wear loose comfortable attire. A flowing skirt or tiny capris both look delicate with flats and are easy to move in during your afternoon activities.
Work Flats
Perfect for on the job, ballet flats are much more modern than your last pair of pumps. Choose basic black for more conservative attire or a solid color in a jewel tone for more creative work environment. Flats made from suede or canvas are great in the office and work well with slim pants or A-line skirts.

Social Atelier's Human Barbie Shirt

Right now we’re loving Social Atelier’s Human Barbie shirt. This “Body Image” tank targets are perceptions of women’s beauty and our obsessions with image. When 19% of American college women are bulimic and cosmetic surgery has never been more popular, it’s easy to see that in the United States we are deeply concerned with appearance. Tragically, our ideals often stem from unrealistic idols, such as the body shape of the beloved Barbie. In a culture where girls and young women are bombarded with images of rail thin supermodels, many of our impressions are female beauty are unrealistic. The Human Barbie shirt points out that if the blond bombshell was flesh and blood, her stats would be 39” – 19” – 33”. There numbers are preposterous for a real woman to obtain, as evidenced by the fact that the average adult female measures 36” – 30” – 41”.

As we question whether it’s our interiors or exteriors that are more important, Social Atelier offers up this shirt from their 2007 collection. A collective of aware fashionists, Social Atelier uses clothing to illustrate devastating truths in our society. For this season, they are focusing on genocide in Darfur, and they have chosen to send 15% of their profits to the Solar Cooker Project. The project works to improve the conditions of women living in refugee camps by alleviating the need for them to go out and seek fuel. The designers behind these sleek 100% organic cotton tees have focused on a number of issues in the past, including AIDS, poverty, global warming, and gay marriage. They have also hosted an Ethical Night Out launch party for their line.

Why We Don't Shop for a Cause

Lately, it seems that many top consumer brands are reaching out to we as consumers by connecting with our conscience. Now, it’s not enough to have a stylish product and a great corporate marketing campaign. The big brands are aligning themselves with social issues as well. We see it everyday: from the multi-company consumer campaign (Product) Red – aligning top names like Apple, Gap, Emporio Armani, and Motorola – to the ever-present breast cancer campaign, big brands are hoping to make big bucks while also doing some good. It seems like an ideal setup for the semi-conscientious consumer. Spend money on brands you love while contributing to campaigns targeting everything from global AIDS awareness to a healthier environment. However, so many prominent companies have taken on a cause that consumers now come to expect it from all. This would seem like a step in the right direction to many, but in fact, as shoppers we now suffer from consumer cause fatigue. A recent study suggests that the number of shoppers who have purchased a product after learning it was associated with a cause has been dropping. Only 14% of the shoppers surveyed now purchased a more expensive but socially significant product, compared to 28% in 2004. The number of consumers who are telling family and friends about these products has also fallen. In a world where the best form of marketing is still word of mouth, socially aware shopping may have met its match. If you're still willing to intentionally spend more to purchase an item where a small percentage of proceeds benefit others, the list of companies with a cause continues to grow.
See more: Denim for Immortality and Breast Cancer Support

Olive & Eggplant: Etsy Finds

Wide Strap Fitted Top by Treehouse 28 $45

Monochromatic Bubble Dress by Neneee $68

You don’t have to spent hours at the mall to get the latest fashions. In light of this fall’s top fashion colors – olive green and eggplant purple – we’ve picked out our favorite pieces by indie fashion designers and creators. Each of these pieces by an Etsy seller is relaxed, comfortable, and fun. We can’t wait to do some fall shopping!

Swamp Grass T-Shirt by Circular Accessories $26

Olive Leaves Print T-Shirt by Lucha Workshop $16

To read more about why you want to add olive green and eggplant purple to your wardrobe this fall, check out Olive & Eggplant: Two Essential Colors for the Fall.

Hummingbird Scoopneck T-Shirt by Stevester $25

Lilies and Butterflies T-Shirt by Stevester $25

Olive & Eggplant: Two Essential Colors for the Fall

Warhol Dress by I Clothing $116

We love olive green and eggplant purple because they are true autumn colors. These more nuanced shades of this fall’s top colors look great in combinations with other brights and neutral hues. But most importantly, they can stand alone. Pair these complexion-flattering shades with your daily staples to update your wardrobe for the fall fashion season. We've picked out some of our favorite pieces by indie fashion designers to get you started.

Gentle Fawn DIVDE Shirt $50

Green is one of the easiest colors on the eye. Not only is it a soothing shade, hues like olive and sage gently remind us of our natural environment. Long associated with fertility, the color is worn best in the autumn months as a muted earthy tone. Think olive, moss, avocado, or army when choosing your shades. The fall greens in your wardrobe should go well with earthy warm tones like reflections of gold and mustard or khaki and oak brown.

Daydream Dress from Peel $138

To tell if the shade is right for your skin tone, stand near a window or some form of natural lighting, and grab a mirror. Hold the garment up to your cheek. Does your skin look warm and glowing, or does it look a little pale and sickly? If you get compliments, your shirt’s a keeper. If your friends keep telling you how tired you look every time you wear your new green turtleneck, toss it.

Mabel Dress from Dace

Shades of purple look great on everyone. From gorgeous velvet to luxurious jewel tones, shades of purple stand out in essential accessories and flourish in full outfits. Dusty eggplant purple looks good in knit blouses and soft cotton dresses during the day; deep midnight purple makes a bold statement in autumn evening wear.

Roberta Dress from Dace

Darker gothic purple is mysterious, and rich wine purple is bold. Purple can present an air of either childhood whimsy or sophisticated glamour. Brighter bolder hues are excellent in small details like mauve tights with a grey t-shirt dress or an amethyst purse and shoes with brown slacks and a white blouse. This season, purple tunic dresses are especially popular and an easy choice for simple dressing.

Crochet Tee by cinderloop $58

Read More: Olive & Eggplant: Etsy Finds
Learn More: Purple Passion - This Fall's Top Color

It's a Wrap! Dresses for Everyday Style

Wrap Dress by Yu Clothing $152

Sometimes it’s hard to stay in style and look good when fashions change so frequently. But with the popular wrap dress, women of all body shapes can look chic and sexy while at work or on the go. The wrap dress highlights your curves, offering the illusion of a small waist and an enhanced bust. We’ve sought out the best indie designed wrap dresses to show how versatile and fun the wrap design can be.

Victorian Stamp Dress by Hype $179

When trying on your next dress design, make sure the fabric isn’t too thin and clingy. You want to portray curves, but not highlight bumps, bags, and wrinkles. Also do a modesty check in front of the mirror; you should take note of whether you can look down and see all the way to your bellybutton, and you should lean forward once or twice to find out how well your wrap dress wraps.

Empire Wrap Dress by Samoy Lenko $200

A good wrap dress will have enough fabric to cover your legs and derriere when a gust of wind hits. If not, you may want to make good use of a safety pin or two. That said, wraps come in all different fabrics and prints, offering excellent possibilities for both a fun day at the beach and a classy cocktail hour. Support handmade and fair trade with these stunning styles.

Organic Cotton Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress $39

Etsy Find: Handmade Eco-Friendly Fashion from TiinaTeaspoon

We love the adventurous fashions from UK designer and photographer TiinaTeaspon. Her work is combines the best bits of bohemia, a masquerade ball, theatrical costuming to create unique fashions that are sure to turn heads at a party. Each of her pieces has character, and you’ll never have to worry about arriving at a party wearing someone’s matching dress. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, not only are these pieces original and handmade, but she creates her works from reclaimed cotton, eco-friendly bamboo jersey, and natural dyes. We love the loose free look of her dresses. Check out her website or blog, or go shopping at her Etsy store.
Kolme Dress $625
Mustikka Dress $1,325

Cutesy Little Designs for Your Office

Today’s cutesy little designs were picked in honor of those who have to go back to school this month (and for the rest of us who are forever looking forward to another new week at the office.) Each of these little animal creatures will make your work experience a little lighter and brighter. And maybe even a little more productive at times.
Cutesy 1) Now you can bring your pet to work and not suffer the mess. These dog and cat staplers are eco-friendly office products from See Jane Work. Eco-friendly staplers? That’s a new concept to us as well. Apparently, the dog and cat stapler can attach up to four sheets of paper at a time without traditional staples. Once you slide your papers inside, the Staple Free Stapler punches through the sheets to create a tiny tab that holds the sheets together. Lightweight and portable, these little pets are perfect for your home, office, and school. $9
Cutesy 2) These animal critters are the latest toy craze in Japan. Called Hop Pops, your desk will instantly become more inviting once you have a cute duck, panda, frog, monkey, or bear sitting next to your computer. They bob their heads along with sounds and vibrations, making a tense work moment instantly lighter. Available for $17 each or $88 for all six.Cutesy 3) You don’t have to be a UNIX lover to adore these little penguins. What are they? A USB flash drive of course! The penguin head lifts up to reveal the jump stick underneath. At 1 GB of memory for $34, these adorable critters seem like a reasonably good deal. The only tricky part might be ordering one off the Japanese website. Cutesy 4) Our next find is a little more whimsical. A spider screen cleaner is probably not on top of your office supplies shopping list, but how could you smile at the concept? With soft velvet bellies, the spider, caterpillar, or fish attach directly onto your computer monitor. When you need to clean your screen, simply pull on the retractable cord and wipe the dirt away. $6.99
Cutesy 4) Our final cutesy find combines two workspace essentials: a pencil sharpener and a paper shredder. Granted, these little elephants can’t handle massive internal memos, but they’re just the right size for shredding credit card receipts and little pieces of important paper. They even have suction cup feet to hold them in place. $7.99

Can you afford eco-couture? Linda Loudermilk designs green for the stars

As we’re constantly reminded, living green and stylish is not always synonymous with cheap. Because of the higher cost of producing environmentally friendly or organic materials, environmentalism and luxury now go hand-in-hand. The truly hip and fabulous, and those who don’t mind spending a little green to wear a little green, are fueling the trend towards eco-couture.
Linda Loudermilk is a leading fashion designer with a flare for the natural. Outfitting celebrities like Jane Fonda, Debra Messing, and Jennifer Beals, Loudermilk applies her high fashion skills to textiles made from sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell, soya, and EcoSpun fabric. Her creations have been described as channeling nature’s punk energy and feminine grace. Her brand of clothing bears the “Luxury Eco Stamp of Approval,” given to products with a high degree of aesthetic design and luxury quality that also come from a carefully reviewed, environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Loudermilk mixes her exotic fabrics with sophisticated silhouettes and surprising design twists. Not only are her creations earth-friendly, many bare the colors of terra firma, draw inspiration the creatures that live here, or follow the shape of waterfalls, rivers, and forests.
While most of us won’t be digging into her duds any time too soon, Loudermilk deserves praise for leading the trends towards bringing environmental awareness and sustainable style to society’s elite list.

DIY T-Shirt Design #3

With this do-it-yourself t-shirt design, you can refashion something that’s a little drab and baggy into a new fun creation perfect for a casual day at work or at school.
Materials: 1 short sleeve recycled t-shirt, beads of any kind or decorative bangles, scissors, needle and thread, jumbo safety pin (optional)
DIY: If you have a white or light colored t-shirt, try dying it a nude or tan color with strong tea. As a more colorful option, you can take a brightly colored juice, like cranberry or grape, and soak your shirt in the liquid for 20-30 minutes to stain it a pink or purple shade. Once your shirt is dry, lay it flat and cut off the sleeves at the shoulder seams. Cut about 1” off the bottom hem of the shirt, and save this extra material. On the front of the shirt, cut the neckline down in a V. Don’t get too carried away though! You may want to try the shirt on first to mark how much décolletage you’re comfortable with. Once you have your V cut, take your thread and (starting near the base of the V) knot it through on one side. String beads along the thread and pull across to the other side of the V. Stitch the thread through on the opposite side to secure the beads. Repeat slightly higher up the V. As an alternative, you may want to string beads on a jumbo safety pin and pin this across the V. You can also sew a button, bead or decoration and the base of the V for added ornamentation. Using your leftover hem fabric, cut two 4” long strips. Wrap each around the shoulder seams of the shirt to gather the fabric. Tuck the edges of the strip underneath the shoulder and sew them in place to finalize this DIY t-shirt design.
For more, see DIY T-Shirt Design #2 and DIY T-Shirt Design #1.

Denim for Immortality and Breast Cancer Support

Denim for Immortality jeans are on sale now at Revolve Clothing. At $115 (down from $229) and free 2-3 day shipping, the Venus "Goddess of Love" denim pants are a great designer deal. But when you find out that 50% of all proceeds go to The Young Survivors Coalition for Breast Cancer Awareness, the deal is that much sweeter. These navy blue jeans have Swarovski crystal details on the back pockets. You may not associate a high risk of breast cancer with young women and teens, but it is the leading cause of death in women aged 15-54. Your purchase of these Denim for Immortality jeans supports valuable research. The YSC also offer a number of other fashionable finds on their website, including jewelry, lip balm, and notecards.

Beauty Engineered For Ever: Designed to Save the Environment

Beauty Engineered for Ever believes that being green shouldn't compromise your style or performance. Based in New Zealand, these creative designers bring chic simplicity to their array of environmentally-friendly products. With B_E_E, you can clean-up well and be green too. Not only have they taken the dangerous chemicals out of our common household products, they flaunt easy of use and beauty in design. Boasting New Zealand's Environmental Choice accreditation, B_E_E mixes up ingredients like South Pacific kawakawa, lavendar oil, spearmint, and eucalyptus to create happy household essentials. Their safe and gentle products include laundry detergents and whiteners, multi-surface cleaners, and dish cleaning liquid.

Wild Bunch & Co: Fancy Organic Juice

We love organic products, but when it comes to Wild Bunch & Co, it's the bottle design that really gets us. With packaging designed by Seed Creative Consultants, we're willing to try any of these products, no matter what's inside. Fortunately for us, what's inside will only make us better. The 100% organic juice retailer produces a variety of flavors to keep you happy and healthy. Designed to keep work-harried executives from missing their daily nutrients, Wild Bunch & Co makes juice with 35% more nutrients and vitamins than non-organic equivalents. Drawing from freshly pressed carrots, parsley, spinach, beets, celery, fennel, peas, and parsnips, Wild Bunch & Co juice isn't like your ordinary morning OJ. The company caters to serving bars, spas, offices, and health centers, and offers home deliveries. Unfortunately for most of us, Wild Bunch & Co is based in Singapore.

Avian Fashion Fever: Anunciação Winter 07 Collection

Anunciação is a charismatic Brazilian fashion label that mixes folklore with culture. Between color, fabric, and graphics, Anunciação combines sensual design and childhood nostalgia.

Designer Catalina Estrada mixes her Colombian heritage with Japanese mangas and European art. She creates illusive natural creatures to adorn her whimsical apparel.

This winter, the bird motif is making an appearance throughout her collection. Just as it is taking a turn in many jewelry designs, the bird motif has appeared on many fashion pieces. Catalina Estrada is only one example of an artist infusing her work with the feathered friends. As both delicate ornamental details and bold graphics, her fashions have captured this popular trend. If you’re not lucky enough to live in Brazil, check out the Winter 2007 collection at Anunciação online.

For more, check out Avian Fashion Fever: Handmade Jewelry.

Avian Fashion Fever: Handmade Jewelry

A top trend in fashion for 2007 has really taken flight. The emergence of the bird motif earlier this year has been readily accepted, and designers have been responding with new ways to wear your wings. Part organic form, part simplistic shape, the image of the bird is an excellent choice for accessories. Many jewelers have incorporated feathers, charms, metal cuts, and other bird images into their work. These small and delicate creatures lend a sense of whimsy to otherwise serious necklaces and earrings. Whether cut from metal or etched into porcelain, many pieces combine a vintage feel with modern simplicity. We’ve sorted through our favorite designers and pulled out the best handmade pieces to showcase this popular trend.












Olivia earrings from Bellissima Jewelry Design $41. Sterling silver with olive green swarovski crystal.
Hummingbird Hoop Earrings from Alex Monroe $218. Sterling silver or gold-plated silver.
Fred (Peace in Swedish) Necklace from Madame Bijoux $32. Hand-drawn on acrylic with sterling silver.
Flying Bird Necklace from Dreams and Jewelry $76. Copper with sterling silver.
Loop Sweet Baby Bird Necklace from Sweetberrybird $20. Brass with an aqua chalcedony briolette.












Soaring with Pearls Necklace from ERM Originals $17. Antique brass with pearls.
Swallows Journey Necklace from All Those Threes $30. Brass with turquoise.
For more see Avian Fashion Fever: Anunciação Winter 07 Collection.