(Courtesy of Zappos.com)

Shoes are a tricky territory for eco-fashion lovers. If you avoid leather for environmental reasons, finding stylish, walkable shoes proves a recurring problem. But wearing pleather is neither comfortable nor ecologically sound.

So maybe that’s why we’re particularly drawn to Naya Shoes. Featuring chrome-free leather and suede, nickel-free hardware, biodegradable latex foam footbeds, and recycled elastic, these shoes take a holistic approach to eco-design.

In addition to its commitment to carefully considered materials, the company manages to stay on-trend. Rock the hot clog look with the Irina slip-ons. Try a T-strap on for size with the Timpa sandals. But our favorite? The pleated peep-toe Ana booties. Yum.

There’s a bunch of styles on sale at Zappos, so you can stock up on next summer’s sandals right now. (And with free overnight shipping, you can have them just in time for Labor Day festivities.)

Naya Shoes “Ana” Booties, $149 at Zappos.com.

(Pixiebell/Etsy.com)

Excited for fall yet? We are — we’re having dreams of cozy layers and camel coats every night, it seems. One of the hottest trends for cool weather we’re looking forward to most is the chunky knit. And this is one trend that the eco-movement has adopted with gusto.

Etsy is a wonderland for hand-crocheted head gear; we’ve picked our well-priced handmade favorites below.

• Beanie: HeadThreadz’s Slacker Beanie ($20) will appeal to your inner hippie. This unisex hat is handcrafted from vegan-friendly acrylic yarn in a loose knit, making it a nice weight for transition weather (but perhaps a bit light for the dead-of-winter cold).
• Beret: Make a big first impression with SavannahDreams’ Hot Pink Beret ($21). It’s knitted from cotton yarn with a pretty ridged design that will dress up and down with ease.
• Cloche: Pixiebell’s Knit Cloche Hat ($35) is the answer to your flapper dreams. The ’20s style hat is snug fitting and made from a soft wool blend. We particularly like the amber button and the pitch-perfect goldenrod color for fall.
• Fisherman’s cap: Stay snuggly and stylish in AlliGiori’s Fisherman Slouch Hat ($19.50). The tight weave will keep you warm against the worst winter can throw at you.
• Newsboy: BTRFlyMom’s Celebrity Style Newsboy Hat ($24) would enable you to fit right in among Hollywood’s boho crowd. The cotton hat features a twee brim and can be customized with a knit flower for an extra $2.

(Courtesy of LoveAndCasinoWar.com)

As fashion’s heaviest hitters duke it out over intellectual property and design copyrights, fast fashion and streamlined manufacturing in Asia have made it easier than ever to translate trends into retail in record time. Sometimes it’s legal, sometimes it’s not. But in any case, is it ethical?

In this issue, we take a look at the reasons counterfeit goods have gone mainstream and when you should just say no to knockoffs:

• Is there really nothing new under the sun anymore? We ponder why knockoffs have become so prevalent.
• Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller makes the case that we are biologically hardwired to seek out status symbols — and whether they are authentic is besides the point. With that in mind, we review his well-researched book Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior.
• In the same vein, you may wonder – is buying fake every ethically warranted? Madison explores the problems and benefits of buying into trends.
• If you’re a dedicated online shopper, you want to make sure you’re not getting ripped off by knockoffs. But how? This handy guide to avoiding fakes will steer you in the right direction.
• And as always, check out Seam Ripper for more news and developments on the fakery front.

(Courtesy of Bloomingdales.com)

It happens once a year, but it’s today: Save 15 percent on your purchase at Bloomingdales.com during its Fashionable Fundraiser to support amFAR’s AIDS research.

Bloomies is making a $75,000 donation to amFAR and discounting thousands of items 25 to 40 percent as part of the Fashionable Fundraiser sale.

To get 15 percent off (or 20 percent off if you’re a Bloomies cardholder and you spend more than $300), just enter code FFSAVE at checkout. But hurry, because the code expires at midnight.

BCBGMaxAzria “Graphic Waves” Side Shirred Dress, $118.50 at Bloomingdales.com.

Give & Get has become a summer tradition at the Gap line of stores, and 2010 is no exception.

From August 26-29, you can save 30 percent off your purchase at the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and their respective outlets — plus Gap will donate 5 percent of the purchase price to one of six sponsored charities. And you get to pick where the money goes!

This year, the lucky beneficiaries are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Feeding America, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria/Project RED, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Teach for America, and the World Wildlife Fund. We’ve had our issues with the Gap’s manufacturing policies overseas recently, but if you’re a charity-starts-at-home type, this promotion will generate thousands of dollars for American nonprofit groups.

Here’s how you participate: Visit the Give & Get website and select the charity you want to support. Then you can print your coupon and use it in stores (unfortunately, it’s not valid online). You can also refer your friends to the website so they can share in the love and great discount.

It comes just in time for back-to-school and stocking up on fall fashion!

Banana Republic Faux Wrap Dress, $98 at BananaRepublic.com.

(Courtesy of CovetShop.com)

Perhaps some serious fashion lovers just cleaned out their closets, or maybe collectors are trading in their prized possessions for cash. No matter what the reason, our favorite used clothing and consignment boutiques on the web are stocked right now. Want to see our choicest picks and the best deals? Click on.

• We’re hopelessly in love with CovetShop’s peacock-themed silk sweater tunic by Temperley of London ($237). It’s brand new with tags and priced at almost 80 percent off (the tag says it retailed for $1,035). If you’re a size 8, snatch this one up!
• Still looking for the perfect military jacket? How ’bout this green twill oversize topper by Isabel Marant ($400), for sale at Decades Two?
• At FashionPhile.com, there are a number of authentic vintage Hermès silk scarves up for sale right now. We particularly the L’Armée Imperiale Russe pattern ($195), and it’s almost half the price of a new neckwarmer from the storied French fashion house.
• ConsignmentChic.com has a pair of sexy black silk Bruno Magli peeptoe pumps ($74.98) in seemingly perfect condition. If I were a size 8, you better believe these would be in my closet.
• And the pièce de resistance: Portero has a jaw-dropping Louis Vuitton “Alma” satchel in black Epi leather ($675). This bag retails for over $1,300 and it’s listed in very good condition, with only mild wear on the corners.

(Courtesy of the Andean Collection)

Anthropologie is known for gleaning its inspiration from handmade and artisan-made goods found in bazaars and flea markets around the world, but most of the time the products the retailer sells are replicas. Until now, when E.S. favorite the Andean Collection scored a big gig producing its fair-trade tagua bib necklace for Anthropologie shoppers.

The Andean Collection hires artisans in Ecuador to produce its line of jewelry, enabling them to earn a decent living without having to leave their families behind to find better job opportunities in the U.S. Most of the line’s jewelry incorporate nuts and seeds native to South America. Tagua, also known as “vegetable ivory,” was once the most commonly used material for buttons until plastic went mainstream in the 1920s.

For more about the Andean Collection’s mission, check out this essay written for us by the line’s founder and designer, Amanda Judge, and browse more fair-trade pieces in the company’s collection here.

“Perfect Skippers” Necklace, $68 at Anthropologie.com.

(Courtesy of KneippUS.com)

Looking for ways to cool off without cranking the air conditioner all evening long? A cool bath can work wonder for stilling your mind while refreshing your body.

Here are a couple of different ideas for achieving that “ahhhh” feeling during the dog days of summer:

• While the tub is running, pour in about a teaspoon of invigorating peppermint oil, like Eden’s Garden Peppermint 100% Pure Essential Oil ($7.98). The lukewarm water will open your pores and the menthol in the oil will detoxify your skin, making you tingle from head to toe. Relax in the tub for 15 minutes and it will feel like a quick trip to the Arctic.
• Swiss company Kneipp makes the most luxurious Herbal Baths ($19), made from organically grown botanicals. They’re even more amazing if you have a whirlpool tub — the forced air creates a gentle foam that moisturizes your skin. Our favorite scents are Spruce (which smells like summer camp amid pines and lakes) and Valerian & Hops (better than chamomile tea for lulling you to sleep).
• Bring the bath with you on the road with Dr. Hauschka’s Aromatherapy Bath Kit ($19.95). Five glass vials contain enough herbal oil for 1-2 baths each, and they also make lovely foot soaks or facial steams. The scents include Lemon, Sage, Spruce, Rosemary, and Lavender, which you can use solo or custom mix, depending on your needs.

Sacramento stylist Kari Shipman of Juniper James poses in some of her thrift-shop finds. (Courtesy of JuniperJames.WordPress.com)

Look, we love a great deal. But that doesn’t mean we want to compromise our fashion ethics. Is it possible to balance both?

The short answer is yes. Bottom line is: You don’t have to get a second mortgage to support eco-fashion endeavors, and green looks great on you.

But cheap eco-fashion is equal parts great find and big scam. In this issue, we look at both sides of the coin.

• First off: How to do cheap and eco-chic right? This article will get you started.
• Kara, our DIY Doyenne, throws herself into a project of remaking old belts without spending a lot of money or time. It’s the kind of DIY you can do on your way out the door for dinner and a movie. Follow along with her tips here.
• Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be cheap: Plastic shoes and polyester clothing are some of the worst environmental and social offenders. How bad are they? Take a look.
• Fall is a popular time for makeovers, perhaps because the heat finally abates and your makeup will finally stay in place. There are a whole host of great green options for 2010, and we put together this list of our favorite potions and lotions for under $25 a pop.
• Finally, in Seam Ripper there’s always something new to be found by revisiting our top posts on cheap fashion from this very blog. And as always, it’s free to join the discussion in our comments section!

(Courtesy of FlynetPictures.com)

Ever wonder what makes $500 sunglasses from Bergdorf better than $10 specs from the drug store? The Wall Street Journal recently set out to learn just that.

It turns out almost all brand-name sunglasses have a lot in common:

Do you prefer the “quality” of Ray-Ban to Oakley? Do you think Bulgari is better than Dolce & Gabbana, or Salvatore Ferragamo is better than Prada? Wake up. They’re all made by one company, Italian manufacturer Luxottica–one of the biggest consumer companies that consumers have never heard of. Luxottica also makes sunglasses branded Burberry, Chanel, Polo Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Stella McCartney, Tiffany, Versace, Vogue, Persol, Miu Miu, Tory Burch and Donna Karan.

“We manufacture about 70% of those brands in our factories in Italy, and the balance in America and China,” says Luxottica spokesman Luca Biondolillo. “We do the design, the manufacturing, and the marketing,” he adds. The company makes most of those brands under license, working closely with designers at the relevant fashion houses. But it owns several brands itself, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Oliver Peoples and REVO. …

Luxottica also owns LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Sunglass Hut.

The bottom line: Quality-wise, there’s nothing that those $450 Oliver Peoples Aero 57s can offer you that a cheapo pair of aviators from Sunglass Hut can’t.