Eco-Fabulous Fall Fashion: Your Guide to Greening the Season’s Hottest Trends

Eco-Fabulous Fall Fashion: Your Guide to Greening the Season’s Hottest Trends
By Melissa Baswell
Eco-Fashion Designer for Mountains of the Moon, Chicago, IL

As a lover of both fashion and the environment, I sometimes feel torn between doing the right thing and doing the “right now” thing. My mouth waters at the mere sight of innovative new trends that pop up each season, and as a designer who must research these trends well in advance of their first appearances on the street, I often find myself sketching up some pretty avant garde representations of what will eventually be the latest in wearable art. But in a society immersed in fast food and fast fashion, how can I express myself through my clothing without compromising the necessity of living a sustainable lifestyle? How can I create (and wear) stylish, on trend ensembles that (A) aren’t going to end up in landfills in six months, (B) aren’t going to exploit workers, and (C) can ultimately create a shift in the fashion industry’s paradigm (a shift that will allow independent boutiques and designers like myself to survive and prevail)? And how can I do all of this in a way that is affordable?

Thankfully, it’s a lot easier than most of us think to create a lasting love affair between fashion and eco-consciousness. Some of this fall’s styles may seem out of reach when we’re making mindful efforts to be green, but with a little creativity, you will soon find yourself strutting down the street with your held high, proud to be the chicest eco-fashionista on your block.

To help get you started, here is a list of some of fall’s hottest trends, each with simple solutions that will allow you to buy and wear them with the earth in mind (while showing your support for local and independent businesses and designers).

1. Trend: Bright Colors and Bold Prints. Perhaps a symbol of brighter days ahead during an economically uncertain time, many designers this fall opt for colors and prints that are traditionally seen during spring and summer months. Eco-Fashion Solution: Your Closet. This one is easy. Rather than shelling out cash at the mall, reuse and recycle spring and summer fashions that are already a part of your wardrobe by mixing them with earthier-toned fall pieces. Pop your favorite sunny yellow dress from summer over gray fall leggings, or pair a muted autumn cardigan with that printed blouse you cherished last spring.

2. Trend: Capes and Capelets. Though very fashion forward (and all over the runways), capes and capelets are classic, versatile pieces that have been seen on fashionistas for decades. They are simple and elegant, and can be paired with both casual and formal attire. Eco-Fashion Solution: Vintage Shops and Eco-Designers. The wonderful thing about recurring trends like the cape and capelet is that you can find beautiful pieces from the past at your favorite local vintage shop, where you’ll not only uncover great deals, you’ll also help out the environment by recycling clothing that has already been worn. Also keep your eye out for independent eco-fashion designers doing capes and capelets from sustainable fabrics this season, including yours truly (the locally made, hemp/tencel/organic cotton Mountains of the Moon Heidi Capelet will be available in early September) and John Patrick. Dressing sustainably includes opting for timeless, quality pieces rather than going for cheap, disposable clothing based on fads. (And trust me; by investing in a few well made garments instead of grabbing up a bunch of sweatshop-produced, $20 knockoffs at chain stores, you will save yourself a whole lot of money in the long run).

3. Trend: Plaid. We’ve seen plaid pop up a lot in the past year, and you can expect to see it even more this fall, from the traditional flannel button down shirt to formalwear. Eco-Fashion Solution: Thrift Stores and Local Boutiques. Again, buying gently used clothing represents the ultimate in recycling. The plaid flannel shirts of the grunge era are easy to find at your local thrift store, and can easily be transformed into chic, modern looks (like the $4.99 men’s plaid shirt I found last week at a nearby thrift shop that just happens to look amazing with a belted waist worn over leggings). Pay a visit to your favorite boutique too, where you may discover a stunning fall top or dress by one of the many indie designers incorporating some of the new organic cotton plaids and ginghams into their fall collections.

With a little inventiveness, these same eco-solutions can also be applied to many of the other big looks for fall ’09 : sharp shoulders, lots of layers and textures, slim silhouettes, one shoulder dresses, etc. And really, for those of us who are passionate about what we wear, what’s more fun as we (sniff!) watch summer come to an end than channeling our fall fashion skills through a creative project that is oh-so-rewarding in the end? The best part is that in addition to looking absolutely gorgeous, you’ll be contributing to the preservation of the planet, encouraging the growth of independent designers and local shops, and helping pave the way for a new, positive path toward the future of fashion.