It seems to be a trend, and it's one we're thrilled about: A talented fashion editor with equally adept press skills decides to follow her dreams and start up a very fabulous, eco-friendly business. Add Rachel Sarnoff to the list. After years of covering lifestyle categories top magazines, often with a "natural" kick, she became a PR and marketing whiz who helped her clients “go green.” In 2007, Sarnoff took the green plunge and started GreenGirlGuide.com, which later became EcoStiletto, an online eco-magazine focused on fashion, beauty, lifestyle and parenting. This easy-to-understand, celebrity-filled site (hello, Chloe Sevigny), helps women learn about ways to become kinder to the earth in their purchasing decisions and daily lives.
Some of our favorite EcoStiletto reads include a memorable vintage shopping trip with the one-and-only Dita Von Teese (they called her an "Accidental Ecoista" since her vintage obsession just happens to be green), a review of Charmone’s vegan, eco-friendly Cinnamon stilettos; and most recently, a piece on the site’s favorite eco-stocking stuffers (spoiler: EcoStiletto is giving away more than $1,000 of these suggested goodies now through February!).
Indeed, the green giveaways are one of the site's biggest perks. From killer, eco-friendly shoes to recycled jewelry to beauty products (yours truly won a set of Alicia Silverstone EcoTools beauty brushes just a few months ago), members are eligible to win a number of fantastic prizes. Talk about a great way to both learn about the newest environmentally-friendly and sustainable products in the marketplace and also to try them out.
But, EcoStiletto doesn’t stop there. Rachel and her team have wowed celebrity clients with their party skills. After seeing the glamorous work they did for the site's One-Year Anniversary party on the popular Discovery eco-T.V. show “Living with Ed," we asked them to help us plan a “green” New Year’s eve bash. Rachel supplied us with her top five eco-party planning tips, each one guaranteed to have guests saying, "Wow, I didn't realize green could be so glamorous, and so much fun."
- “It isn't granola and granny panties, people!” Make it stylish and sustainable. It’s easier than you think, especially if you shop vintage and reused.
- Think local. Rather than going to a recipe book for inspiration, hit your local organic farmer's market.
- Organic alcohol is delicious. Rachel loves VeeV (an acai spirit) and mixers like O.N.E. (drinks made from coconut and cashew water and more) to create yummy, all-natural cocktails.
- Use what you have, from mismatched cloth napkins to a bouquet made from neighborhood flowers and greenery. If you do need disposable cutlery and dishes, look for cups and cutlery made from vegetables that can compost in the landfill (no, they won't melt in your hand) and buy recycled paper plates and napkins.
- Finally, make your dress and makeup sustainable, and you've got a great conversation starter with your girlfriends. Cheers!
When it comes to shopping for party basics, Rachel always looks to eBay. For her, shopping for used or vintage items on eBay is like a "get out of jail free” card. Because she is repurposing old pieces, she can buy regular cotton and vintage synthetics as well as loads of glamorous party essentials without feeling guilty. Here are some of her most recent finds:
clockwise from top left:
Vintage Tablecloth and Set of Six Napkins and Placemats (buy it now price, approximately $17) The bright blue of these vintage napkins and tablecloth really pops. You can mix and match with other napkins of different colors if you are having a big crowd.
Set of Eight Bamboo Plates (buy it now price, $10.50) These bamboo plates decompose in less than six months when you put them in the compost pile—plus, they’re so pretty.
Vintage Pleated Apron (buy it now price, $12) You can’t cook without an apron, right? This one from the 60s is so cute, and I’ll always wonder who wore it before me, and what she cooked!
Set of Four Glass Champagne Flutes (buy it now price, $23.99) I love mismatched glasses on a big table. These vintage champagne flutes would be perfect to ring in the New Year!
clockwise from left:
Vintage Glass Cake Stand (buy it now price, $19.99) There is nothing like a cake plate to transform a plain old dessert into something truly glamorous.
Vintage Glass Vase (buy it now price, $6) Usually, before a party I take my scissors and hit the streets, cutting flowers and foliage from common areas—or a friend’s gardens (with permission!) — in order to make my table bouquets. This vintage vase from the 1920s would set one off perfectly.
Lot of Antique New Year’s Noisemakers (sold for $.99) When the ball drops, make some noise! These are so cool-looking, I’d put them in a display box after the party’s over.
Soy Pillar Candle (buy it now price, $8) I love candles, but I hate how petroleum-based wax and artificial fragrances pollute the environment. This soy candle is so simple and clean, with no fragrance to interfere with what I’m cooking!
from left:
Vintage ‘60s Mod Mini Dress (starting bid, $9.99) I’m looking for a party dress and I love the classic shape of this blue velvet mine. It looks like something Twiggy would have worn!
Vintage Cowboy Boots (buy it now price, $124.99) Nobody in the 1960s would pair that dress with these boots, but I’m thinking of trying it.
Vintage 1980’s Teal Tuxedo Jacket (buy it now price, $29.99) This vintage blue tuxedo jacket would certainly jazz up my husband’s standard party “uniform” of jeans and a t-shirt.
Lexi Green is a Brooklyn-based design, fashion, and shopping writer. She is currently a Master's Degree candidate at Pratt Institutes's environmental sustainability program.
