The problem with buying nice things is that you continually fear losing them or ruining them (one of the reasons Coco Chanel advised wearing costume jewelry over the real thing). My "nice" things include several high-maintenance cashmere cardigans (one of them just had its seventh birthday last week) -they pill, buttons pop off, they consistently endure wine and chocolate stains, but I love them and in the end, it's worth it to me to wash them by hand, comb them, and repair pulled threads.
I've used lots of gentle cleaners, including baby shampoo, but my favorite so far is the cedar-scented Wool and Cashmere Shampoo from the Laundress. It's not cheap, but you don't need to use much, and unlike dry-cleaning, which can disintegrate fibers, a gentle wash-and-lay-flat-to-dry preserves the fabrics' integrity so it lasts longer and stays softer - which, well, is kinda the point with cashmere. It also, of course, saves me the $10 dry-cleaning fee.
If you've got any amazing natural laundry tips that the world needs to know about, please share in the blog!
-Jenifer Morgan...off to chuck my less-nice things in the washer...
As I don't live in a 30s Fred Astaire movie (alas), the sweeping floor-length former-bridesmaid number I've got doesn't tend to get much play. Nor does that cute kimono-pattern dress hanging in my closet with the I'm-cutting-off-your-circulation-now sleeves...nor my previously perfect black dress that has a giant snag on the side (inflicted by an evil cab door...aided and abetted by the three host-bar martinis consumed beforehand, no doubt).
Thank god for tailors. Just when you think you might need something new and consider chucking something you actually really like in principle, in they'll swoop, and the best ones - the ones with skill, imagination, good taste, and fair prices - can make you a whole new dress by shortening the hem, clipping off the sleeves, or creatively camouflaging imperfections.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to dress up...
Or at least, that pollution could explain why it rains more often during the week than on weekends. So says a new NASA report, which attributes the greater tendency for rain to fall on weekdays to human-generated pollution.
So maybe they call it "Sunday" for a reason.
-Toshio...off to admire my tan...
In the end, it's sort of like looking at yourself in the mirror every day. You don't think you look older. Or if you do, you don't think anyone notices. The transition is too subtle. But one day, you see a photo from five years ago, and you think "OMG, was I ever that young?"
Yeah, you were. And your jewelry used to be a lot shinier, too.
At least you can take care of that last one without resorting to plastic surgery.
-Heather... off to soak some earrings...
As we established yesterday, a guy lathering up with a brush and shaving with a straight razor (especially if he exercises his right to vote afterwards) = hot. Conversely, a guy who cannot dress himself = antithesis of hot.
It's not about wearing designer duds, mind you...in fact, trying too hard to look good can be just as much of a turn off. I'm talking about things like pleated pants (you really want to accentuate the size of your bladder?), XXL shirts on not XXL bodies (we can still see the belly), sweatpants (unless you're doing something that actually makes you sweat), all-denim ensembles (why??), shiny "nightclub" shirts, mesh anything, muscle tees, long socks with shorts, any form of socks with sandals.
Seriously, no matter how nice or smart or innately handsome you might be, if you show up in a conventionally grown cotton Bon Jovi half-shirt for dinner out (or even in), ain't no one gonna swoon.
Stylish, organic clothes that actually fit on the other hand...
-Jenifer Morgan...off to the CA polls...The dangerous thing about living this lifestyle? A slightly less conscientious man than I could easily fall into that most unfortunate of routines: showing up to the office in a high-waisted drapery every day. The intraoffice smack talking would get nasty.
-Toshio...off to count my blessings...
When I was in Venice last year, I escaped the millions of littering, rude fellow tourists and the resulting apathetic, run-down Italians by spending a lot of time in incredibly overpriced and relatively deserted traditional Venetian costume shops. (Sounds fun so far, huh?) But really, despite it all, I had a great time trying on fanciful dresses and masks and capes. And hats-one of which I ended up buying (see photo). I had the hat shipped home, due to its delicacy and awkward size (and did a bit of carbon offsetting on my return). I love it and will keep it long past the time when people start wondering if I'll ever arrive at a costume party as something other than an eighteenth-century militia dandy.
And although the supercute hats in our tip today don't really require one, I thought I'd mention a few eco-hat box options out there, in case you have a giant, feathered number that needs storing like mine does. First check out eBay for truly unique vintage options. If you want cheap and basic, the Container Store has a set of three made from recycled fiberboard. And if you want to have a hand in designing your own, Sarah's Hat Boxes makes cute round fabric-covered versions from recycled chipboard and nontoxic adhesives.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to put a lid on it...
And although I now have a great, ventilated ski jacket, a pair of ultrainsulating socks, and waterproof gloves - all of which make spending time outside that much more comfortable - at the end of the day, as long as you're warm enough, don't worry about what you wear, just get outside and play.
There's no better way to celebrate the fight against global warming than taking a snow day.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to go walkin' in a winter wonderland...
-Toshio...off to ride my (non-fixed gear) bike home...
So is the desire for real fur somehow akin to "indulgences" like sex, drugs, and rock ‘n' rule (um, power)? Huh-uh. No. Knowing what happens to animals whose fur we take, knowing that people profit from cruelty, and especially knowing that there are faux-fur options that match or exceed the 40s glamour we all occasionally covet...there's just no reason to move the curtain aside and delve into that dark place.
OK, so most of us don't-but if you haven't already clicked through to the article about misleading faux fur labels in today's Personally Speaking section, please do. It may give you a shock (no graphic photos or anything), but it'll help make your future faux-fur purchases that much more informed.
As an aside, the team was in New York last week to celebrate the launch of our first local editions (you're reading those, right?!). We got to meet actress Jennifer Coolidge, who impressed us by wearing a faux-fur jacket with a sign on the back, "Faux Fur Forever."
-Jenifer Morgan...off to admire an Arctic fox wearing its own fur coat...
Mainly, I loved it because it all seemed so genteel. Well, and because it made me feel like I was living in a fairy tale. Instead of heading to a mega-conglomerate-sanitized-to-high-hell supermarket, my meals all originated in small shops aptly named for the people who ran them... the butcher, fishmonger, the greengrocer, the cheesemonger, the wine shop...
There was something dreamily old-fashioned about that single-minded commitment to expertise and quality.
Today, in San Francisco, I find it harder to live that way. Even the most holistic lifestyle gives way to the convenience of a local green-focused supermarket. It's times like these, craving those shops that have names from childhood storybooks, that I give thanks that here in the US, we still have our cobblers and tailors.
Even if I find it hard to wander into a local fishmonger on foot, I can always make sure that foot is wearing a re-heeled boot.
-Heather...off to get my jeans hemmed...
Some people consider this long-term knowledge to be an asset in the workplace.
Others simply think of it as blackmail fodder.
Instead of using that fact as an excuse to throw Jeni-who-wore-unicorn-tee-shirts-her-entire-childhood under a bus for making me write a blog about yarn, of all things, I'll stick to the topic at hand. When we were about 10, we were both in 4-H, and we took a course on crocheting. I'm sure we made beautiful potholders that matched our hairbands and friendship pins.
But I think that was the last time we probably thought about yarn until we researched this tip. Who knows? Maybe now we will grab an organic skein and make a sweater or two. I'm just not really sure where she's gonna put the unicorn decal.
-Heather... off to do my 25th year of penance for ruining Jeni's Ralph Macchio poster by kissing it with lipgloss on...
Beth
Elisa
Kay
Hilary
Brett
Hannah
Jenifer
Jen
Heather
Who's got the creepiest virtual representation of them all?
-Toshio...off to get over the flu before the weekend comes...
In short, lingerie has never struck me as something to wear while wandering around the house on your own (itchy lace and creeping thongs), and why bother donning any during already-hot-enough new flings, or wearing any out in the hopes of a random hot evening? (I'm lucky if my legs are shaved, let alone if my underwear matches.)
Since I am perpetually single, then, this tip - at first glance - seems not to apply to me.
But lately, I am subscribing to the "If you build it, they will come" theory of life, and thus, have decided to put on some Mon Cherie hemp knickers.
-Heather...off to clean out my underwear drawer...
When I spent a few weeks in Beijing during the dead of winter, the long johns (worn simultaneously) were the only thing between me and an ice statue.
As a result, I completely tune out when people complain about the cold here in San Francisco. In the states, I've had to wear the long johns only very occasionally, one at a time, and lucky for me, apparently, rarely during dates.
-Toshio...off to strip down to jeans and a t-shirt...
There is one type of reclaimed art/fashion that makes me sad: jean skirts made out of former jean pants...where there is a long triangular panel (usually cut from a different color denim) patching together the former legs, usually frayed along the seams.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to stitch together my own cringe-worthy accessory...
The dress code around the Biter offices is casual. Like, casual-casual, not just biz-casual, so I can wear pretty much anything I want to, and most days that means a t-shirt and jeans.
My favorite tee brand is American Apparel, easily. Made sweatshop-free in the U.S.A., they're form-fitting and available in too many colors to count. Plus, they're intro'ing new organic styles all the time. Their founder is...unique, but then again, so are Heather and Jen (in non-sleazy - but just as shocking - ways).
-Toshio...off to write a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at a green start-up biz...
One not-so-good friend made fun of me for it - he'd catch me bent over under the weight of my books and call me "hunchback." (And I had horrible posture even without the extra weight.)
There's a good solution. Digital textbooks are becoming more and more common. Weighing in at around 5 lb (for the laptop you'll need to view them), not only are they lighter than paper textbooks, they're dogear-immune, and they're tree-free. A totally innovative way to end the textbook-induced hunchback problem...
-Toshio...off to walk with a textbook on my head...
I have seven pairs of sneakers in my closet, which some think is a lot for a guy. But that's not even close to an obsession when you compare it to the people in this Washington Post article. Basically, some "sneakerheads" are willing to wait in lines in the same way Harry Potter maniacs waited outside bookstores in droves last month. Lucky for the earth, with shoe brands as big as Nike jumping on the eco-bandwagon, soon this'll be one obsession that doesn't have to hurt the earth as much as my Ace of Base obsession hurts people's ears. What's your weird obsession?
-Toshio...off to listen to an imported, deluxe remix album of previously unreleased Ace of Base B-sides in Swedish...
What does this have to do with handbags? It's exactly how I feel whenever I carry a purse. For me, it's either my trusty backpack (even weight on shoulders, lots of pockets, leaves me hands-free) or coat pocket (anyone's will do, as long as we're out together).
OK, OK, or it's my grandmother-in-law's hand-me-down vintage art deco evening purse. It's the exception because it's utterly unique and beautiful in its own right. Many of the bags we selected for today's tip are one-of-a-kind and made to last too, so whether you're a full-time bag lady or not, you can enjoy their quirky ways for many moons.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to sneak my wallet into my husband's murse...
When I started walking to the grocery store, I put the bags in a really visible place in my kitchen. I'd forget at first, but eventually was able to make it into a habit since I couldn't avoid looking at the bags every time I went for ice cream or a pickle or whatever.
Anybody have good mnemonics for those who still can't seem to remember the damn things? Maybe put a dollar in a jar each time you forget? Wear a rubber band around your wrist on days you're going shopping?
-Toshio...off to put a dollar in the swear jar...
I'm the type of person who always has to check luggage, even if I'll only be gone for the weekend and it's summer (meaning no heavy, ungainly coats to stuff into my bags).
Have any of you seen the Martha Stewart episode where Martha packs her suitcase? The woman's got talent. Somehow, she's able to fit about a month's worth of clothes and toiletries into a regular-sized piece of luggage. Amazing.
I'm headed back to Orange County for a long weekend for my sister's graduation in a couple weeks, and I'd love to be able to carry on. To all the master luggage-packers out there: got any tips for me?
-Toshio...off to see how much stuff I can fit in my backpack...
I was on the swim team in high school. It was the first - and only - time I ever shaved my legs (which I did to shave precious milliseconds off my 100-meter backstroke - not as a fashion statement) and the last time I ever wore a Speedo. It recently occurred to me that back in the day, I spent more time in a Speedo than any other article of clothing except, maybe, my favorite black Converse high-tops.
Unfortunately (some might say fortunately), we haven’t come across any eco-Speedos. There’s a huge untapped market of environment-conscious Speedo-wearers out there, people, so get to it!
-Toshio...off to drop some kids off at the pool...
The one I remember most clearly is the case of a certain big bad awful company dumping toxic sludge from a PVC plant into a river. Their scientist supposedly tested the water all the time and it was just fine. But when a local non-profit did the test, they found levels of carcinogenic chems at 3000x the allowable level. When they put a fish in the water in a walled-off area, it only took him 5 minutes to start swimming side ways. Of course the true old-timers will tell you that they saw three-eyed fish in that there river before it was fenced off for health reasons. I believe them.
Humans are so damn clever, you know? But clever to a fault. We've figured out how to make things that can't be destroyed (genius if we actually kept a shower curtain for 1,000 years in our family). HOPEFULLY we will soon shift that cleverness to the right direction, like getting off oil and returning to what is really SMART...connections between land and people.
-Jen... off to drink a beer. That was intense, dude...
Now, I do NOT have the same philosophy with horse gear... The more the better. But I do get it used on eBay to try to minimize the amount of raw materials my habits extract from this earth.
Jen... off to ride My Pretty Pony (her barn color is PINK! Poor thing...I am making up for my lack of feminine leanings by shifting them onto her!)...
A few summers ago when I was an intern in DC, I had political aspirations. All of us interns were pretty ambitious, and whether our sights were set on a Nigerian ambassadorship, a seat in the Minnesota House, or the UN Secretary-Generalship, we knew that there were certain skills we were gonna need to get there, like the ability to match Senators' names with their states, and schmoozing.
I'm OK at making small talk - don't really enjoy it (I doubt I'm unique in that respect) - but in DC the schmooze factor was above and beyond anything I'd experienced growing up on the West Coast. The Intern Coordinator of the non-profit I was working for said that in order to make it as a schmoozer - and by extension, in politics - I'd need to become an expert on one of two things: wine or golf, neither of which sounded appealing at the time.
On the wine count: I've always been more of a beer drinker and I'm no good at spontaneously coming up with adjective-heavy verbiage to describe what I'm drinking ("harmonious aromatics hinting at ripe apricots, with a subtle trace of waxy botrytis," anyone?).
On the golf count: I'm not really into golf either, though I can appreciate the fact that without it, miniature golf, golf carts, and all those good times with my dad and uncle on the driving range wouldn't exist.
Thus, my desire to usurp Kofi Annan's position at the UN has been put on hold - for now. But as sustainability becomes more and more integral to the concept of political correctness, wannabe politicians are gonna have to start stepping it up from an eco-perspective and taking the environment into consideration in everything they do.
Lucky for them, when their Intern Coordinator asks, "Wine or golf?" they've now got their choice of schmoozing topics: biodynamic wine or eco-golf. Which would you choose?
-Toshio... off to Google mini-golf courses in the Bay Area...
So I have to admit to a fascination with all these alternative fabrics cropping up these days. From soy to bamboo to lyocell to organic version of your favorite cottons... clothes shopping has never been so varied. Sure, they are eco, but beyond that - they are also beautiful, soft, textured and fabulous.
Check 'em out.
-Heather... off to put on my bamboo jammies...
Well, it took some convincing for me to use the cold cycle. I just love clean clothing, and I get dirty quite often (think: riding clothes!).
But I did a test with two slightly smelly turtlenecks that I wore riding. They weren't uber dirty, mind you. But after I did this test I smelled the pits. And I couldn't tell a difference. So I am converted. Chalk one up for the still-very-clean cold cycle. BTW, I used ECOVER detergent and pre-wash stain gel thingy with bristle top in case you are curious. ;-)
Off to fold and chat with Nashie - Jen
Once again, I have a pile of drycleaning that has been building up for like 6 months. God, but I hate the whole thing. As of late, I honestly just don't buy things if they can't be washed at home, in the washing machine.
Of course, now that I have a big ole bag of cleaning that I need to take into a perc-free service, I am feeling a bit nervous - maybe I should take it in in stages just in case something happens to the cleaners? (I tend to have really bad luck with cleaners...)
-Heather... off to throw a load of laundry in the machine (wet cleaning, thank you very much)...
So many people say that, right? Well, supposedly some people just have sensitive skin, and we aren't really allergic.
Anyhow. When I was 8 my grandma knitted me yet another sweater, and my mom yet again forced me to wear it. Sans undershirt, I might add.
So all I remember is walking through the mall around Christmas and saying, "This sweater itches me" - and my mom just about ripped me a new one with one look, as of course I was being disrespectful to her mother, my grandmother. Next? I said, "But it does!!" and took it off, to reveal this big red welts. "SEE."
Anyway, now that I live in MT and am outside a lot, I am a HUGE fan of Smart Wool... Nature is the best source for keeping warm. The Smart Wool people make gear that works, and somehow doesn't itch.
Off to go out to dinner ... we're in NYC and it is a COLD 12* while it is 60* in Bozeman... that is soooooooo not right! I didn't pack my Smart Wool... only have fancy pantsy clothing that definitely is not warm!! Jen
My friend, Kris, is a fashion maven. Fortunately (for me), we have really similar body types (I covet her flat belly, and she sort of wants my thighs, but in general, we're pretty close).
This works very much in my favor (not so much in Kris's) since I benefit from her fashion sense in several ways:
1. I get her hand-me downs.
2. I let her "dress" me before big events. I get to spend all my time playing with my makeup (which I'd rather do), while she runs into her clown-car-feeling closet and just keeps coming out with more and better variations on the theme "little black dress with cleavage"
3. She's now helping me shop
All in all, I think that - if Kris is involved - I'm all for throwing a Biter swap party.
I'm sure SOMEONE wants my old college sweatshirts and those black leather pants from London...
-Heather... off to give thanks for good friends with better taste...
So I'm watching the Golden Globes as I type this, and I hate to admit it, but I want all those clothes. I'm sorry, I do. I'm going to eco-hell, I know, but I do. I'm a nasty consumerist nightmare heathen, but I do. I want it want it want it. I do.
Um, if I give up milk for a month, can I feel better about buying new shoes? Pretty please?
-Heather... off to root for a bunch of movies I haven't yet seen...
Consumer advocates believe that conflict diamonds make up as much 10-15% of the world diamond supply. That involve mines that blow up on innocent people, and working conditions not even suitable for a cockroach. I won't name names but the most well-known retailers sell conflict-full diamonds, and they are the ones with the power to shift the industry. I am definitely not going to marry some exec from those chain jewelry stores unless they clean up their act. (that will get 'em! ;-)
Anyway, this is a major issue and so happy that at least there is awareness being brought to the issue. I know that when I find my prince charming he will totally "get it" and will no bat at eye at the importance of having a gemstone as meaningful as the relationship itself.
Yeah, you guessed it... off to find Prince Charming! - Jen
Seriously... I DO love the skinny fit of the Del Forte jeans... but my butt. Not-so-skinny. Too much time in the office eating client-intended organic chocolates.
We did just get back from Green Festival in SF and go to meet so many of our friends and clients... usually one in the same. One of them is Summer from BTC Elements. Turns out she is the one that fits perfectly in those skinny jeans (she is gorgeous, tall and thin.) However, at the BTC Elements booth I tried on the skinny jeans for Heather (I really wanted to make them work for real) butt...Heather said they looked good on me from the front (thanks there, Heather ol' pal.)
Anyway, it is my goal to fit perfectly in them in a few months. I am going to get in mega good shape. We found a few cleansing mixes at the conference... stay tuned... if I lose 10 lbs I will definitely splurge on the $180 Del Forte skinny jeans as a reward.
Off to the airport to sit on my butt some more... jb
If there is one place to go eco, it's down under.
As today's Daily Tip says in the "Personally Speaking" area, if you tell us about yours, we'll tell you about ours (and who on the team goes commando).
Off to get dressed... first putting on...nope... you'll have to check back later to see!!
- Toshio
***** BREAKING NEWS *****
I finally tracked (almost) everyone down. Our official picks:
- Krista: "Patagonia Hipsters all the way..."
- Brett couldn't be reached for comment, but if we ever come out with "Biter?" underwear, I'm sure he'd be all over them.
- Jen: "I used to wear total 'grannies,' but now I live in the Deity Aton ones from GreenLoop, which are a big step up." Thumbs up and bums up, Jen!
- Heather won't say what kind of underwear she wears, but she did let on that "If I could get away with it, I'd never wear underwear."
- Personally, I still wear the Fruit of the Looms my mom bought me before sending me off to undergrad. Thanks, Mom!
I still haven't found a good yoga top with a built-in shelf bra.
I have, however, found many pairs of fantastic yoga pants (most of which were listed in today's blog).
I admit to a bit of shame for being at all concerned about this topic. At the end of the day, yoga is meant to be an ego-free practice, designed to help us all to let go of our attachment to material things. So why am I devoted to having cute gear?
Well, because - as we said - when your ass is in the air for nearly 90 minutesat a go, you need all the help you can get.
-Heather... off to chant some forgiveness mantras for swearing in the blog...
Hey Party People -
As many of you know, our whole philosophy at the Bite is that we give props for trying, instead of shaking our fingers for not being perfect.
Enter the Ideal Bite class room. Let's take Nike as a case study.
Back in the mid-90's they got slapped down for labor practices. They tried to do a little green washing, and got slapped harder. A decade or so later they have definitely built sustainability into the core who they are, and how they operate, and what they produce. Essentially, Nike did a 180. Was it all reactionary and/or just for profit? Whose to ever know. But personally I don't care if they were carrot' or stick'ed into it. I am just glad they are doing it, and keep doing more of it as the profit margins and shareholders allow.
But some of you I know will be all, "Nike is a big ugly business that treated its offshore workers like crap! How can you even start to defend them!!?" Well, weirdly enough amoungst the darker green audience, Nike is the underdog, and I always side with the underdog. Plus, I pretend to think like an economist since that was my major in undergrad, and so I get turned on by the economies of scale that Nike can bring to the supply chain.
So bring it on. Let's go to the mat. Or you can really make my day and just agree that big companies are not perfect, and may just be after marketshare, but if they are taking incremental steps towards being leaders in the world of sustainable business, they should get props.
Off to go running.. yes, in my Nikes - Jen
Rarely do I get high on my green horse... but I seriously thought myself so clever when as a teenager shopping with my mom I would answer "neither" to the baggers and then whip out my duffle bag.
However, I am FAR from eco perfect. To prove that, I took this quiz, called My FootPrint, which tells you just how many planets we would need if everyone on the planet lived like you do. As I walked down this path to eco-enlightment via a computer tool, I became excited to see my results -- I guess getting a little high on my green horse. I don’t eat meat; I recycle; I drive a 25 mpg Jetta only when horseback won’t get me there; and of course - I don’t choose between paper or plastic because I bring my own bag to the supermarket. I welcomed the opportunity to assess my ecological footprint.
The results are displayed like this: "if everyone lived like you, we would need __ planets." My score, in large thanks to air travel, is 3.9 planets! I found a shallow ‘victory’ for at least coming in below the average ecological footprint in the US: 6 planets.
Beyond this pointing to the fact that we can't smooth out the world's inequalities by making the poor much richer (because if everybody lived like the average American it really would take 6 planets to meet all our needs), it told me that we all have to find a big bang for the buck way to travel in class… green class. So, now I am committed to offsetting my air travel emissions. Emission offsetting means that you purchase a corresponding number of trees or clean energy credits to neutralize your carbon contribution from your flight. But that is a different tip.
Off to order reusable, sassy shopping bags for Ideal Bite... let me know if you want to preorder one... they are going to rock. - Jen
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