The words “salvaged vintage” call to mind a valiant fashion warrior, swashbuckling through heaps of trash to unveil rightful treasure.

The reality is not far off.

Etsy seller BeatomicBeauty had to search through piles of antique and vintage jewelry to find two near-colorless, good clarity, round brilliant diamonds that matched well enough to pair in these gorgeous stud earrings.

This week’s Friday Etsy Find is a bit pricier than usual, but a.) the seller is offering a 10 percent discount if you pay through Paypal, and b.) at a total carat weight of .40 carats, these studs are a steal.

Salvaged Diamond Stud Earrings in 14-Karat Gold, $450 at Etsy.com.

Just a heads up that we have a new issue out, themed Fashion Democracy. And if you’re proud of your personal style, you definitely don’t want to miss out.

Label whoring has gone out of fashion. See here what has taken its place.

Then take a look at the high/low mix and why it is such an appealing — and enduring — trend.

Allie Bashuk returns to E.S. with her thoughts about how street style influences fashion history.

Madison compiled this list of the best personal-style blogs — from DIY to Dolce & Gabbana.

We also examine the pros (yes, pros) and cons of sweatshop labor — and why some workers in poor countries actually prefer those jobs to the alternatives available to them.

Finally, our first giveaway! (Yes, we were so excited, we spilled the beans earlier.) Novica.com is an online boutique of fair-trade handbags and leather accessories. And we’re offering one lucky E.S. reader a $150 gift certificate to buy a handbag from their website. Click here for more details.

We’re SUPER excited to announce our first-ever contest! One lucky winner will receive a $150 online gift certificate to Novica.com, which stocks literally tens of thousands of gorgeous artisan-made handbags. 

To enter, email ethicalstylemag@gmail.com or Tweet your entry by posting #ethicalstyle on Twitter.com before midnight PDT on Friday, July 31.

You get to decide which fair-trade handbag has your name on it! And there are loads to choose from. Will it be a slouchy sling bag? Something in rich brown leather for fall? A new tote for your laptop? The perfect evening clutch? 

See all the details and legalese here. Good luck to everyone!

The Associated Press got us thinking with an article today about how the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not affected current fashion trends — at least not to the extent that previous wars did.

World War II changed the way Americans dressed forever, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute says.

Because of rationing of materials, domestic manufacturers began using nylon and rayon as alternatives to silk and wool, and the silhouettes became much leaner — requiring much less fabric.

Style cues were no longer coming from occupied Paris, so American designers stepped up to develop their own casual, separates-driven sensibility. The public was eager to show off its patriotism, making brass buttons and bomber jackets trendy items.

“You haven’t seen the military details in fashion now the way you had previously seen them during wars or in the ironic ways they were worn by the counterculture during Vietnam,” says Andrew Bolton, associate curator at Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York.

Why do you think that is? Is it because we’re a much richer country now, and rationing textiles isn’t necessary? Or might it be because the wars are largely unpopular with the public (and especially among left-leaning designers)?

We support recycled fashion. And we practically live in denim. So you can believe we’re totally stoked about Reco Jeans.

Reco acknowledges that they’re not the first fashion company in the world to use recycled cotton. But what sets them apart is that their fabric incorporates more than 50 percent recycled materials. (Most other companies touting recycled cotton only use 1 to 3 percent.) Even the thread used to stitch them up is repurposed!

Not only that but the designs are stylin’. Men and women alike can find skinnies, bootcuts, widelegs, distressed, and deep dark indigo washes. And really, isn’t style the main thing you want out of a hot pair of jeans?

(via Green LA Girl)

End-of-season sales are about to take over every retailer online and in the mall, which is great timing because there’s still plenty of summer left. There are deals to be had no matter what your style.

We did the hard work of searching for you.

Check out these sale prices on the season’s best eco-stylish dresses:

• Tencel and bamboo knit tank dress by EcoSkin, $128 (marked down from $160) at EDressMe.com.
• Organic cotton tee-shirt dress in black or grey, $41.65 (after coupon, marked down from $59.50) at BananaRepublic.com.
• V-neck tie dress by Eco-ga’nik in cilantro green, $83 (marked down from $119) at Tobi.com.
• Sleeveless tiered “Ronnie” minidress by Lara Miller, $188 (marked down from $297) at Nimli.com.
• Rib trim organic cotton slip dress by Susina, $35.90 (marked down from $54) at Nordstrom.com.
• Pink tweed schoolgirl dress by Bahar Shahpar, $50 (marked down from $372) at ShopEnvi.com.

Oxfam Hong Kong just published Good Fashion: A Guide to Being an Ethical Clothing Company, its  guidebook for apparel companies new to the corporate social responsibility world.

 The 71-page handbook provides practical tips for developing and implementing CSR policies at every step of the production process, from manufacturing to marketing.

Know a brand or designer who might be interested in CSR? You can download the full report (in English) here.

(via SocialAlterations)

A well-meaning friend forwarded this link the other day, thinking it’s something the E.S. blog would love. The designer behind Recycle LACMA takes vintage clothing from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art archives and deconstructs the pieces to make functional items — a doggie bed in one instance, a potholder in another.

On the contrary, we were horrified.

Some of his vintage finds were absolutely exquisite, and it seems like a crime to deconstruct a 55-year-old Claire McCardell black silk dress into a witch’s hat or a breathtaking fur-lined wool coat into a child’s Halloween costume.

The most glaring offense? Turning a mint-condition lace dress from the 1950s into a screen door.

Which brings us to this question: Can you call it “recycling” if you’re destroying what can be reused in its original condition? Do we bear any responsibility to respect a garment’s integrity, or does creativity make such deconstruction fair game?

It’s a miracle that some of these garments survived the test of time in the first place. This kind of vision is inarguably creative but, in our opinion, it lacks sense.

Give & Get was so popular this spring, Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic have brought their charitable promotion back in time for back-to-school shopping. 

Here’s the deal: Print out this coupon to save a whopping 30 percent off your shopping haul at any of the above stores (plus their outlets) and they will donate 5 percent of your receipt to CARE. (Registered Gap.com users can select the charity of their choice. This round’s beneficiaries include DonorsChoose.org, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Feeding America, CARE, Teach for America, and Product RED.)

The sale starts July 30 and lasts through Sunday. And yes, the coupon can be reused, meaning you can finish all of your fall shopping in a single trip to the mall. 

Gap Classic Trench, $88 ($61.60 after code) at Gap.com.

MyGreenLipstick.com announced the launch of its upcycled line this week — and we’re already hooked. Each piece is made from vintage fabric (including delicate trimmings and whisper-light lace) and features body-conscious tailoring for a modern fit. Not to mention, all of the selections are precisely on-trend for summer.

Excited for the return of Mad Men to television? This Betty Draper-esque dress might be up your alley.

Looking for a linen dress to get your through the hottest days of August? They’ve got you covered.

And our personal favorite? This white blazer with a surprise flash of pink lace on the sleeves and down the back. It’s an instant solution to “what will I wear?” first-date anxiety.

White Wonder Blazer, £179 at MyGreenLipstick.com.