Try as we might to deny the impending arrival of autumn, the subtle drop in temperature and the darkening dusk skies tell us otherwise. But don’t despair because to every negative there is a positive and the demise of summer means at least one good thing – amazing last chance eco Summer Sale items from DeviDoll!
Here are our top five must-have picks for ethical fashion fixes that are as good for the environment as they are for your budget. It’s an all round win/win situation really.
Buy now - Anatomy Reversible Skirt, was £190.00, now £38.00
Who said end-of-season Sale stock consisted only of disposable fashion and fleeting seasonal trend pieces? This incredibly stylish Anatomy skirt more than disproves that theory. Reversible and made of organic merino wool jersey, this tailored black skirt sits high on the waist and elegantly over the knee. Its classic shape and subtle detailing make it a wardrobe staple, while its price makes it an outright steal. Wear it with a printed camisole and towering heels for some evening glam or with a pretty twin set and flats for a ballet-inspired work look.
Buy now - Mociun Silk Muumuu, was £205.00, now £69.00
Up the ante this Sale season with a print. Metallic grey with a geometric black print throughout, this sleeveless silk muumuu dress by Mociun is both fun and functional. Sitting just above the knee in length with a high empire waist, pair it with tangerine and magenta tones for a bright night out or as a breakaway layering piece over jeans and tights.
Buy now - Del Forte Laurel Jeans, was £134, now £65.00
With the arrival of colder weather the tendency to want to wear and acquire dark clothing is only natural. But why not lighten up? Your jeans, that is. These Del Forte Laurel jeans are the perfect piece to bridge the seasons. Sitting just below the waist with a relaxed wide leg, these eco denim darlings are made from 100% organic cotton and are designed to flatter a range of body types. Pair with a petite floral shirt and wedges for a retro summer edge or layer up in merino wool tops and cardigans in plum and wine tones for a delicious autumnal outfit.
Buy now - Kelly B Merino Stud Vest, was £225, now £152
Tough meets pretty in the Kelly B Merino Stud Vest. Made from 100% organic merino wool, this hooded zip vest with front pockets and stud detailing is given a girly edge with ruffles at the shoulders and neck. Wear it with a floral dress and motorbike boots for some eco street edge or over a sexy catsuit for a wild night out.
Buy now - Viridis Luxe Boyfriend Sweater Dress, was £270, now £200
True to its name, the Viridis Luxe Boyfriend Sweater Dress proves why channelling your man’s style is as effortless as it is fashionable. This cashmere, bamboo and silk blend dress is soft on the skin while its aubergine colouring and long sleeves make it the perfect transeasonal purchase. Team this knee-skimming number with ankle boots and bare legs for those lingering summer days or with leggings and jeans when cooler climes hit.
By Lisa Cugnetto
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Last chance must-have items from the DeviDoll Sale
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Debate Over Bamboozling
At DeviDoll we've been fans of alternative fabrics from the very start, bamboo among them. But we have noted that man-made (sorry, Harriet Harman, person-made) fabrics - bamboo, lyocell, tencel, PLA etc -- need to be produced sustainably to truly qualify for green status, otherwise, all the chemical byproducts in their production sort of defeats the whole point.
Well, this and several other issues in the 'green-ness' of bamboo are now in the limelight with the the Federal Trade Commission in the US charging 4 companies with making false claims about the how eco bamboo actually is and what positive properties bamboo clothing actually has. Read the whole press release here. The companies have rebutted with their counter-claims and others have joined the fray on both sides.
The topic is an important one as almost everyday, bamboo more than any other fabric, is gaining ground as a perfect 'eco' fabric with the same list of benefits repeated. It is relatively cheap, abundantly available from suppliers in China and India not all of whom can be adquately supervised and often reaches garment cutting stage relatively un-policed. So understanding all the claims, separating the wheat from the chaff, is essential.
While there is no doubt that bamboo can be a sustainable alternative to conventional fabrics this is not without caveats and to accord it miracle status unthinkingly....well....that's just silly.
Believe in bamboo, but not blindly.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Exclusive - DeviDoll launches premium artisan jewellery range AK Vintage
Proving that jewellery doesn’t have to be heavy to make an impact, AK Vintage, the limited edition jewellery line by Portland-based Anna Korte, combines delicate light chains with vintage leather or brass pieces.
With the exception of the ear wires and some of the clasps, every single piece in Anna’s collection is 100% vintage, which lends them an aura of classical elegance. Anna hunts through antique stores and estate sales for special pieces, although the majority of her discoveries are from old costume jewellery warehouses.
The leather used in the designs is also recycled from vintage ladies’ gloves, which has a luxuriously tactile touch. These vintage components are then transformed by Anna into jewellery that is very current and wearable, especially against smooth lines and luxe fabrics.
Blending into the creative process, each design is also named after tiny beautiful fragments of works by poets that have inspired Anna. Her first collection used the poems of E. E. Cummings, and this has since been followed by writers including the 18th Century Lebanese poet and author Kahlil Gibran, celebrated influential American poet Walt Whitman, and Indian legends.
Although from diverse backgrounds, these poetical contributions share a beautifully lyrical take on the power and gentility of nature, as shown in pieces such as the Gibran-inspired ‘Subtlest Beauties’ earrings, or Indian legend-inspired ‘Cluster of Showers’ necklace.
Devidoll is launching AK Vintage in the UK with a capsule collection of eight pieces from the covetable women’s and men’s ranges, which epitomise the best of Anna’s fusion of whimsicality and elegance.
One of the most dynamic and beautiful pieces, this Arrows in a Quiver necklace, named after a section of Indian legend poetry, is a striking addition to any jewellery box. The long brass chain looks its best when set against plain elegant fabrics, to channel its classical appeal. £44.00
Using Anna’s penchant for leather, this Cluster of Showers necklace is made from antique leather kid gloves and is softly feminine, as well as gorgeously supple to touch. £48.00
These Dream Song earrings, made of gold-filled ear wire and vintage brass charms is one of my favourite pieces - its combination of interlocking rings and delicate feathers are a perfect example of Anna’s ability to mesh the different styles of vintage and modern. £33.00
Similar to the Dream Songs piece, these Feather in my Hand earrings use lightweight vintage brass, making it feel like you are wearing air on your ears.
This Many are the Fleets necklace, from the men’s/unisex collection holds a more masculine appeal with vintage brass lanyard hook, spike and toggle charms. £37.50
Gorgeously named, these Subtlest Beauties earrings live up to their promise with vintage leather tassels adding a subtle flash to any outfit. £51.00
Using vintage brass chevron tags, this Comrades Mine necklace, from the Men’s/Unisex collection, given its unusual shape can be worn as easily by men as by women. £37.50
The trio of beads sat on the Glories Strung like Beads necklace is one of the more subtle pieces in the collection, but its intricate use of a brass love knot keeps it striking. £37.50
By Florence Buswell
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Shoulder your way into the new season!
This Autumn Winter's designer collections first hit the London, Paris and Milan catwalks at the start of the year, so we've had plenty of time to mull over the shows for the most exciting style stories. Right now, we're loving one trend in particular - the statement shoulder.
The strong shoulder started as a puzzling oddity a season earlier but is now set to be the signature look of the end of the decade. Pretty much every designer agreed that the shoulder was the It-zone, and each of them had a different take on the trend.
At Balmain, where Christophe Decarnin has been experimenting with the trend for long enough to have it down to perfection, everything, from glittery evening dresses to Parisian mariniere and warrior jackets, was adorned with horn-like pads. You can channel the trend with this beautiful organic merino wool Anatomy jacket (left) in a warm shade of brown, pictured left.
Amongst surreal clothes at Nina Ricci and Givenchy, the two main trends were definitely prints and statement shoulders, in all forms, shapes and colours.
At Hervé Leger, Max Azria dropped the proportions down a notch. The shoulder was still square and futuristic but not so protruding. Jaeger London and Wunderkind had similar creations in graphic colours. Some creations, such as a Jaeger London satin crepe-mix jacket were reminiscent of power dressing circa Working Girl. The 1980s are, after all, the key source of inspiration this season.
Dolce & Gabbana made over-proportioned round shoulders the star of their catwalks. The shape has already had some red carpet outings, most notably with Rihanna at the MET Costume Institute Gala. Zac Posen showed slightly smaller shoulders, adorned with grey ruffles.
Ruffles also were the inspiration behind this smart organic merino wool stud vest by Kelly B (right). It allows you to work the strong shoulder trend in a work-appropriate way. Look out, too, for soft ruffles in the new season's collection from DeviDoll favourite Doie, pictured above.
If you want to shoulder you way into the new season now, we'd recommend the organic cotton Melrose dress by Doie (left), available immediately. Its beautifully soft draping shoulders are ultra-feminine.
On the catwalks Antonio Berardi, Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga and Isabel Marant had more discreet, softer round shoulders, just as Doie has. The kind of tops which allow you to wear the trend at work, without drawing puzzled looks from more conservative colleagues.
By Lucie Goulet
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Editor's Pick - Five AW09 key trends
The sun is still shining, the trees haven’t lost their leaves, and yet it’s time to start planning our Autumn /Winter 09 wardrobe. Who can wait when a new season looms?!
The AW09 catwalks displayed two very opposite moods; autumnal browns and gothic blacks and bright 1980s block colours. Marc Jacobs had the ultimate flashback, with a fluoro palette, also seen in Tod’s and Michael Kors clutches. Meanwhile, camel belted coats, both in soft brown and butter colours, were central pieces at Dries Van Noten, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger.
But the statement jacket, with its strong characterful shoulders, will undoubtedly be the signature look of the end of the Naughties. Balmain experimented with horn-inspired shapes, while Dolce & Gabbana went for softer, round articulations.
We've invited daily eco glossy Greenmystyle.com to pick their five favourite items from the DeviDoll Sale which nod to AW09 trends and which will definitely translate well for the next season. It’s investment shopping at its best, as all items in the selection are classical enough to outlast a single trend and season, and a great price. You will look fabulous, and fashion-forward!
Trend: The Statement Jacket
Buy now - Anatomy Jacket, was £325, now £195
Shoulders are still going strong on the runways. This beautifully tailored Anatomy jacket, in a warm blend of merino wool, in this winter’s It-brown, will provide your wardrobe with an instant, and long-lasting update. Wear it to the office for an up-to-the-moment work look, or during the weekend over jeans.
Trend: Stylish Country
Buy now - Payal Jain Brown Redingote Short coat, was £600, now £420
The ultimate winter coat, exquisitely tailored to enhance the figure. This brown redingote stands out thanks to red and orange flower appliqués and big button detailing. Its large collar and strong wool will keep you cosy and elegant during the coldest days.
Trend: Gothic Romance
Buy now - Charmone Mary Jane Pumps, were £200, now £50
An elegant and original spin on the shoe-robe classic black Mary Jane, those faux leather pumps are embossed with intricate arabesques. Step outside stylishly and comfortably thanks to their sexy and stable rounded heel. Perfect to update a classic work-suit.
Trend: Luxury Knits
Buy now - Aymara Kelly Belted Cardigan, was £180, now £140
Come the first cold weather, we love cocooning in warm, luxurious knit. This timeless, chunky belted cardigan is the ideal winter casual-wear. Aymara sources its cashlama ethically and ensures the indigenous producers in Bolivia get their due benefits from their work.
Trend: The clutch
Buy now - La Vie Devant Soie Trame Clutch, was £40, now £20
Clutches will still be on all It-bags lists next season. This La Vie Devant Soie block-colour clutch, made in a beautiful fair trade silk is guaranteed to add a touch of glamour to all your evening outfits.
By Lucie Goulet