From Dallas to D.C., it seems like the whole country is under a pile of snow this week. (The only three snowless states today? Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana!)

So in the interest of keeping warm while looking good, we recommend this sexy and snuggly wrap top by Etsy seller Shihar.

Hand-sewn in Israel, this close-fitting top is customizable by virtue of the long panels you can wrap around your body to emphasize your waist (or create curves if you want some).

And plus-size gals, take heart: The body-conscious top comes in sizes up to 2XL, with options for short, mid-length, or long sleeves and in five different colors.

It’s truly one-shirt-flatters-all!

Shihar Snuggle Up Top Wrap Around Shirt, $85 at Etsy.com.

Carrie Bradshaw may be the world’s most famous (fictional) shoe maven, so it should come as no surprise that she’s rocking some ethical sandals by Swedish Hasbeens in the Sex and the City sequel, due out in theatres this summer.

In this photo from the set, Carrie (played by the ever-stylish Sarah Jessica Parker) sits with Miranda’s son Brady on a brownstone’s steps rocking the Super High Peep Toe sandal.

Swedish Hasbeens is known for its handcrafted quality and chrome-free designs made with sustainable wood and natural leather. And in spite of its 3.5 inch heel, this sandal is über-comfortable.

Says the shoe’s designer (who is understandably thrilled by the plug):

“This is the sign that modern women in the US have started to appreciate high-quality eco-fashion”, says Cilla Wingård Neuman CEO of Swedish Hasbeens. “The time has come to throw away those plastic high-heels that don’t last for your grandkids and just hurt your feet.”

Want a pair of your own before the movie comes out? You can pre-order them at the link below!

Swedish Hasbeens Super High Peep Toe Sandal in Natural, $219 at ShopRobertson.com.

Anthropologie is one of our favorite destinations for feminine, tailored clothes, and we were tickled pink by an email yesterday that shows the new recycled chandeliers the company’s design team has been working on since last year.

These creative light fixtures can currently be found in Anthropologie fitting rooms in four stores across the country. Each chandelier is made from repurposed plastic bottles cut by hand into floral shapes and bunched together like a giant lit-from-within bouquet.

Says the lead designer:

“My favorite part of my job is using simple, recyclable materials to create things that are beautiful and extraordinary.”

Would that we could all have such a neat job!

French conglomerate LVMH and the venerated Parsons School of Design have teamed up to present an exhibition entitled “The Art of Craftsmanship Revisited” during New York Fashion Week this month.

The exhibit will showcase work by 23 teams of Parsons students who worked for several months on their designs with the help of dozens of NYC artisans. Says Bernard Arnault, LVMH’s chairman and chief executive officer:

Beyond ephemeral fashions, it is the values of quality and durability which are forever attached to the Group’s brands. The handicraft expertise of our products, their unique history and legacy, the truly iconic designs that distinguish our creations — all of these characteristics take on particular importance for us, as the leading luxury group, enforcing and perpetuating our solid values.

Want to see for yourself? The fashion projects will be on display on February 17 at Milk Studios (450 W. 15th Street, New York, N.Y.) during MAC & MILK Fashion Week.

It’s been a while since we did a Friday Etsy Find, but this week’s pick is so great you’ll forgive the delay.

If you’re constantly trying to stay organized — and let’s face it, who isn’t? — you’ll discover the In Touch Clutch by Etsy seller DownstairsDesigns fills a black hole in your life. This multipocket organizer has space for everything you might need on the go, whether it’s a notebook and crayons to keep your kids occupied or your passport and boarding pass when you’re leaving for the airport.

The clutch folds up flat and stays shut courtesy of faux pearl snaps to keep everything secure. It comes in 600 different designs that you can custom order to pair with a sturdy and utilitarian unbleached linen.

We seriously might need two or three to keep everything we need at the ready.

DownstairsDesigns In Touch Clutch in Wallflower Greens, $27 at Etsy.com.

Hundreds of stalls line the street during a Sunday handicrafts market in Buenos Aires. (M.J. Prest/EthicalStyle.com)

Ola chicas! Kara picked up my blogging slack while I was on vacation in South America, and I want to publicly thank her for doing such a bang-up job keeping everyone entertained.

I plan to write more about what I saw fashion-wise while in Brazil and Argentina, but the first thought I’d like to explore focuses specifically on Argentina. The peso crisis of 2001, a disastrous decision by the government to devalue the Argentinian peso to next to nothing, still resonates throughout the country today. When the majority of Argentina’s citizens woke up one morning to find their life’s savings had become worthless, people had to get creative in how they would make money.

One industry that flourished as a result? Handicrafts. In most of the touristy sections of Buenos Aires, you can find artisans selling handmade beaded necklaces, beautiful earrings, silver rings, and all manner of small goods using Argentina’s famous leathers — from belts to bags to wallets to sandals. Some of the artisans have set up boutiques and some sell their goods on the street, but what they all have in common is a commitment to high craftsmanship — and quality that only improves as the artisans have more practice.

It made us think of how Etsy has really exploded since the United States suffered its own economic meltdown in 2008. We’ve heard anecdotal evidence of people who have lost their jobs only to find their passion in their previously-neglected hobbies. Not everyone is lucky enough to make a living out of making jewelry, but for some it can be a side business that satisfies creative urges while bringing in a little income.

Etsy shop owners, care to comment?

We love a good before-and-after photoshoot as much as the next gal. Tearful weight-loss photos revealed on Oprah, those home-renovation shows, the-ugly-duckling-becomes-the-swan montage in prom movies — makeovers are always inspiring.

Right in line with those big reveals are the handcrafted bags by reMade USA, a San Francisco-based company that reinterprets leather jackets as beautiful new handbags. And not just any old jacket — you can send in a personal selection from your closet for repurposing as a sentimental take on the recycled leather purse.

As designer Shannon South puts it:

The most beautiful bags are those that have embedded personal stories and sentimental value. Creating a bag from your personal jacket gives a second life to the piece and an emotional connection far greater than a store-bought bag. We’ve had multiple customers bring out-of-style jackets from memorable trips to Italy, one customer used her father’s old Peace Corps jacket, a husband made a bag for his wife from his 20-year old motorcycle jacket, another made two clutch bags for herself and her sister from their fathers old jacket that he got on his honeymoon. So many people have leather jackets sitting in the back of the closet- out of style, but too valuable to give away.

ReMade created a photo album on Facebook of its bespoke bags so you can browse photos of the befores and the afters. Looking at these makeovers might just be enough for you to finally clean out your overstuffed closet.

(via @reMadeUSA)

One of the freshest trends to catch our eye recently is the knit beret. It sounds so out there but it looks amazingly cool with jeans and a boyfriend blazer. Or get cozy by the fireplace wearing it with a cocoon sweater and cords.

Sure, you could pick up a version from Topshop or Forever 21, but there’s no guarantee the hat hasn’t been made in sweatshops. There are plenty of stylish handmade or otherwise eco options — check out what we’ve found:

• Unbleached linen with a smattering of sparkle. SpinningStreak’s Big Hair Hat, $28 at Etsy.
• Channel your inner Parisian with this vintage red-and-blue pick from the 1960s. Basque Deluxe Beret, $22 at FancyDisaster.com.
• This cable knit goes from ski lodge to street in an instant. Beaumont Organic Chunky Cable Hat, £30 ($49.79 in USD) at Fashion-Conscience.com.
• Warm fleece lining and sequins mean function has officially met form. EmeraldAngel’s Sequin Berets in three colors, $23.99 at Etsy.com.
• Say yes to chunky knits with this hand-crocheted design. Nixon “Joyride” Hand Knit Beret, $22 at Karmaloop.com.

We have a great contender for the November edition of E.S. Eco-Over! If you’re new to this feature, we take a hot trend and find a stylish equivalent from an ethical source — and try to save you some dough in the process.

J.Crew hit a home run with its ubiquitous bubble necklaces this year. This statement bib packs a powerful punch against a little black dress or a strapless gown. But at $150 for plastic beads, we knew we could find something similar (and preferably vintage) on Etsy.

That’s where seller BasilTheCat delivered with her lovely made-to-order version crafted from ivory cabochons she unearths at estate sales and flea markets. (The necklace is also offered in a turquoise color.) She then sets the beads in antique brass on a gold-plated chain for less than a third of the price of J.Crew.

With 1,300 satisfied customers and growing, BasilTheCat is where it’s at for this trend with a handmade spin.

J.Crew Bubble Necklace, $150 at JCrew.com, versus BasilTheCat Tiered Bubble Necklace, $45 at Etsy.com.

The spring 2010 catalogue of Erin Templeton’s latest line of recycled-leather handbags landed in our inbox this week and their gorgeousness cannot be overstated.

The Vancouver designer works with vintage leather for her belts, bags, cuffs, and sandals. She makes everything by hand and with the following philosophy:

No or little hardware and simple strong contruction allows people to adjust, change and make them their own.  It is our hope that each piece is able to be a life long friend, and able to mix freely with new and vintage pieces.

Shown above: The slouchy Extra Large Tote in olive (the bag comes in smaller sizes as well.)

For more recycled-leather bag beauties, check out purse queen Grechen Cohen’s top picks for ethical designers here.