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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters purchase a hemp suit instead of one made from polyester, we'll avert the weight of 119 power lunchers in plastic.
COCKTAIL FACT
An Oxford University scientist says chicken tikka masala with mango salsa sandwiches on granary bread is the best power-lunch menu choice, since the ingredients are likely to keep meetings-goers alert.
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home › tip library › Office Clothes
What do you wear when you wanna dress to the nines (to fives)?
The Bite
An eco-power suit, of course. Unfortunately for some of us, Casual Friday comes only once a week. So when wheelin' and dealin' in hemp sweatpants isn't gonna get you any closer to nabbing that corner office, show up to your next meeting in eco-style.The Benefits
- Setting the break room on fire. You'll be the best-dressed at the water cooler.
- Less polyester. The petroleum-based fabric rules the cubicles, yet our oil reserves are going faster than free bagels at an a.m. meeting.
- Organic materials. We're still Dow Jonesin' for the most elusive of organic apparel components (pesticide-free shoulder pads, where are you?), but organic options in office garb are becoming more and more plentiful.
Personally Speaking
Heather's parents bought her a suit for Christmas when she was 24, with "For the businesswoman" on the card. At the time she dreamed of being an artist, so she burst out crying.Wanna Try?
For Her- Nature vs. Future Blazer - power lunch-ready hemp, wood pulp, and wool darted blazer. Also: matching skirt ($176-$308).
- Kelly B. Pintuck Pencil Skirt - flattering organic-cotton and linen blend skirt with a gold button fastening in back; available in black or white ($132).
- Grace & Cello Di Franco Pant - classic flat-front pants in black made from 100% organic-cotton twill ($125).
- Banana Republic - a variety of great layering tops made from a beech-tree fiber called modal ($20-$44).
- Dress for Success - donate your lightly used work clothing to disadvantaged women.
For Him
- Rawganique European Hemp Suit - the whole shebang: classic-cut, organic-hemp jacket, shirt, slacks, and vest ($98-$299).
- Antique Jewel Box Cufflinks - 'links made using repurposed typewriter keys ($75).
- Boll Organic - fine 100% organic-cotton white dress shirts for men, with two collar options ($60).
Jan 15,2008
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The Danger Zone
I went through a phase last year where I wore a plain white T-shirt to the office four days a week (the fifth day I was always on my couch - at Ideal Bite, we get to work from home once a week). While I was teased about it by my more style-conscious coworkers, it was totally OK according to the company dress code, which is, obviously, pretty minimal. Yep, this is the life.
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...
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...
Biter Comments...
Thanks for the tips on eco-clothing this morning, but for the record, it would have been nice to feature some pieces that came in sizes above a 10/12. While 10 is the goal, seeing cute eco-friendly clothing that I can't wear yet is quite depressing.
According to wisegeek.com :
"Modal is considered bio-based rather than natural because, though the raw materials used to make it are natural, they are heavily processed using a number of chemicals."
Until "green clothing" is more affordable for the masses, most folks will find it impossible to afford many pieces, especially with the price of gas still spiraling upward. Wal-Mart (bad word?) offered pajamas of organic cotton at a very reasonable price before Christmas, though those were the only organic cotton items I have seen in our small rural market here in SC since I closed SALT of the EARTH - "A Green Store" in 1999 due to lack of business. As SC's first registered green store, I had offered quite a selection of organic cotton items, but cost seemed to be prohibitive - even when offered at my cost!
What I can't tell even when clicking on the link for men's dress shirts is the washing instructions. Are they machine washable? Otherwise we are just polluting further on the dry cleaning end.
My favorite place to get work appropriate garb is Fair Indigo. All of their clothing and jewelry is fair trade and some of it is organic cotton. And Toshio, if you ever need more white t-shirts for work, they have them! Really soft, too.
I second the grip on the expensive nature of eco-friendly clothing. A good suit jacket for me costs about $50 (clearance people, clearance) not $350! Until we start marketing for the everyday women (and man), sustainable clothing is just not going to catch. I am not saying we need uber-cheap stuff here, but just mainstream pricing. Anyone else feeling that?
Not only are many of these out of reach for the "average" consumer, but I'd like to know who is actually making them. Are they made by children?
When it comes to dressing for a more formal office & doing it on a budget, it's easier to reduce, reuse, & recycle than buy new, even if the "new" is eco-friendly. Reduce the number of items you think you need -- just a couple well-made suits in a mid-weight wool, classic cuts, neutral colors, can be worn w/different shirts & accessories for years. Reuse your own clothes, of course, by taking good care of them, making repairs promptly, cleaning spots swiftly, etc. Recycle by shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, eBay, vintage stores, & swapping with friends for new-to-you items. Sometimes being green isn't about buying new stuff labeled "green"; it's about consuming less in general & using what we have carefully.
Mary Jane,
Yep - the Bolo shirts are 100% organic cotton, and they are machine-washable.
Here is where organic is once again being sold as a fashion whether than eco-friendly.
The greenest wardrobe you can get starts by using what you already have in your closet or maybe even hitting the thrift stores for some good fashion that has already been produced.
-Carrie
http://www.litegreenliving.com
Anything referring to the Danger Zone will always get my attention. LOL
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Ann | January 15, 2008 at 06:53 AM