Dare the World to Save the Planet...One Fashion/Beauty Enthusiast At a Time

As many of you may know, I am working on my Master of Public Health degree, and I can't see myself in any other program right now.  I find it so easy to do my assignments and go to class because I know that someday, I will be an advocate for my patients and for the wonderland around me.

As many of you don't know, Earth Month or Public Health Month (as my school named it) starts tonight at 8:30, March 31, 2012 (by turning off all unnecessary lights for one hour) and lasts all through April.  Because I'm in this public health program, I have already inherently pledged to contribute to the sustainability of our health and environment, but I challenge all of you starting today to incorporate sustainability into your life.  Many of you, my supportive readers, are interested in fashion and beauty, but how do we incorporate public health and sustainability into the fashion world?

I think I found a way for all of us to do just that.

Pretty Mayan Lake from my trip to Progeso, Mexico

You will see soon that my blog will be changing in a different direction.  Thanks to my friends for helping me mull over this idea, I have decided that from now on, I will be incorporating sustainable fashion and beauty tips on this blog.  I have lately been uneasy on the idea that consumerism is so unsustainable, from making the products themselves down to the factory workers who make and put together our fashion products.  What toxic chemicals and fibers do they put in our clothes and accessories?  Have you ever gotten something and you couldn't pronounce what material the clothing item was made out of?  Do the workers who manufacture the clothing get compensated fairly and sufficiently?

I also want to incorporate these tips on this blog because I haven't found any good tips anywhere else online.  Thus, I will be doing a lot of my own research and exploration before I become comfortable with announcing such tips.

Beach Boardwalk from my trip to Cozumel, Mexico

To start off, I have dedicated to purchase only thrifted or "sustainable" fashion items, meaning they may be made out of organic cotton, are made in my country (USA: I am familiar with their stricter regulations on compensating and treating workers, and it's local so less fuel used to import items), are made of plant-based materials, etc.  I am still in the process of exploring what "sustainable" fashion really means, so this is just a preliminary list.

By purchasing these "sustainable" items, we can put our dollar vote towards supporting sustainable fashion and beauty.

Also as a fun thing, I just created my own Earth Hour challenge on YouTube, and if 100 of you pledge to wash your clothes at 30 degrees C (or 86 degrees F) for the month of April, I will let my boyfriend, Jerry, dress me for school/work for 2 weeks and document it on this blog.

Please go here to accept my challenge so I know that 100 of you will wash your clothes at that lower temperature....and will want to see me dressed by Jerry....

There are many other challenges out there that you can pick from!  You can create your own too if you'd like (warning: you only have a few options on the right box.  I just chose the most fashion-related one lol)!

Thank you for taking the time read my blog!  I've become really fond of this blog community, and I'm so ready to marry my two loves: public health and fashion.

heart, alice

"We only have one planet.  You can help protect it. Participate in the world’s largest single campaign for the planet: Earth Hour. It starts by turning off your lights for an hour at 8:30 pm on March 31, 2012 in a collective display of commitment to a better future for the planet.  Think what can be achieved when we all come together for a common cause." -EarthHour.org

Coveting Now: Practicality

1) Crisp Gingham Dress Shirt:
perfect for layering under sweaters/blazers and for springtime, yet still looks professional for work.  I actually bought one (this exact purple gingham shirt!) from J.Crew during Black Friday sales, but since I never try things on in store.....(a bad fashion habit of mine), I had to return it when I realized a size 2 was too big on me.  Now I'm still looking for one...maybe H&M (except I read that their gingham shirts aren't as crisp and made from flimsier material)?
2) Cobalt Blue Blouse:
bright pop of color that is still work-appropriate.  I love this one from nastygal.com, but it's much too pricy for a polyester shirt.  I would expect a silk material with the price they're asking.  Hopefully I'll find a cheaper one somewhere...maybe H&M again?  I hoping to do some colorblocking and layering with this fun cobalt blouse.
3) Black Skater Dress:
timeless dress that is petite friendly and accessory friendly.  Pile on the accessories with this dress and you can turn it into a brand new outfit every time.  I love how versatile and flattering this dress is, especially for someone like me who has a normal-sized torso and petite legs (anything with a high waistline is my friend!).  This one from topshop is too expensive, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a cheaper alternative without sacrificing quality.  I want it to last forever!
4) Nude Booties:
elongates the legs and a modern alternative to nude heels.  This paired with the black skater dress = LOVE!!!  These shoes can visually elongate my stocky, petite legs without staying safe with nude heels.  The only color I like is the one from Sam Edelman, but the reviews said that these were incredibly uncomfortable to walk in.  This is understandable, since I own a pair of Sam Edelman's Lorissa, which are by far the most uncomfortable, hottest shoes I own.  What's up with that Sam Edelman?
5) iPhone FM Radio Transmitter for the car:
so I can play music in my car instead of relying on ear buds.  I recently discovered Spotify and am obsessed!  I used to be such a noob and only find music on youtube....but now that I have more music on Spotify, I want to actually listen to them, especially when I make my frequent travels back and forth from Missouri to Tennessee.
6) Leather Hole Belt Puncher:
a great investment that I can use for all my belts that don't fit on my waist.  I only have ONE belt that fits my waist....and I have so many that I WANT to fit my waist.  These aren't too expensive (around $10 on average), and will serve me well in the long run.  All I have to do is find a crafts store....
7) Hand Weights:
to be healthy and toned once and for all....maybe.  One of my new year's resolutions is choose healthier food options and exercise more, and these dumbbells are convenient for me to use at home to do toning and cardio work.  I'm thinking 5-6 pound dumbbells, not 12 pounds as pictures, since I'm about as strong as a fly.
8) Any bike that's not ugly:
to bike to the metro station and for exercising.  My previous bike was hideous (though well-built and sturdy to withstand my noob bike-riding), so I'm hoping to get a decent bike that can get to the nearby metro station (that's too far to walk to, yet pointless to waste gas for).  And when spring and summer comes, biking will be a great workout!
9) Mario Badescu Drying Lotion:
to get rid of my acne blazingly fast.  I'm running low on my Clean & Clear persa-gel acne treatment cream, and I heard so many great things about how this one gets rid of your toughest acne in one night.  I've been meaning to try this for several years now, and now I have a legitimate excuse to purchase it!


This list was mostly practical, with a few fashion items of course (I can't help it!).  I have sort of shied away from super trendy stuff or purchasing items I will only wear once/that will last for one year because I want to invest in items that I love to death and will wear for years and years to come.  Most importantly, these pieces will carry the most memories for me ;)


virtual hugs,
alice