It is Valentine’s Day and chances are that somewhere tonight some lover would pop the question – and back up the proposal by a little something that sparkles. If you live in the United States, that little something has four out of five chances of being a diamond, largely thanks to the timeless and ingenius … Continue reading
Ubiquitous. Essential. Versatile. Iconic. There are so many ways to describe jeans, which went from humble beginnings as workers’ clothes to present day’s runway fixture and wardrobe staple. It is for this reason that jeans find themselves as the subject of my green-to-glam idea starting with “J”. Legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent, for one, held … Continue reading
“Nature is our most important designer,” said Tiffany &Co.’s Chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski announcing the company’s commitment to the environment last November. I am sure many other fashion and luxury CEOs could sign up to this statement. Since its dawn, the fashion industry has drawn inspiration from nature. Think, for instance, about the … Continue reading
In our world of fast fashion and mass production, handmade items are often a rare find and, as a consequence, are increasingly becoming luxury goods. And for a good reason. How many of us can actually tell who made their favorite pair of jeans or earrings? When it comes to accessories, there is one über-brand, … Continue reading
As this week’s letter is G, I am going to talk about all things green. This may sound like a predictable choice for a blog called ‘green stilettos’, but did you know that the International Pantone Institute named green — or, more precisely, emerald green — as the colour of the year 2013? The Institute … Continue reading
As temperatures plummet in many parts of the Northern hemisphere, it is time to focus on one of the more controversial and divisive topics: whether it is green to wear fur. When I was growing up in Russia, wearing fur was simply what everyone did in winter. As a little girl I had a fur coat – … Continue reading
New Year’s Eve has an extra special meaning for me as on this day last year I welcomed my beautiful daughter to the world. Her name starts with an “E”, which also happens to be the letter I am tackling this week. This article explores the universe of ecolabels, of which there are believed to … Continue reading
These last few hours before Christmas, with all that home-baking, wrapping up of the presents and other manual activities, make a perfect setting for this week’s green-to-glam idea starting with “D”: a good old DIY. Some years back, a popular TV style gurus duo unequivocally declared, “Make do and mend only when the war is … Continue reading
Ever since ancient Egyptians mixed up soot and lead to produce kohl for their characteristic cat-eye makeup, chemicals and cosmetics have enjoyed a long and close relationship. Throughout history, human desire to improve our complexions, facial expressions and coiffures prompted men and women alike to use highly dangerous substances such as mercury, lead and aluminium. … Continue reading
After the first article dealing with “A” last week, it is now time to tackle the letter B. Here, opportunities abound. One could talk, for instance, about sustainable brands or, in light of the royal baby hysteria in the UK, one could discuss eco-fashion for babies. After much pondering, I decided to stick with my … Continue reading
green stilettos 