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