My Crush on "Trends," Vol 1: Spring 2010

Despite the fact that my life of fashion-as-career sometimes transforms fashion-as-fun into panic attack inducing breakdowns, due to an inability to let go of workday stress (“Is that Project Runway I see on the TV?  Get it off now, NOW!  Omg, I just saw a dress form covered in muslin.  I can’t breathe!  I’m having a heart attack!”), I am still (thankfully) able to (occasionally) allow myself to enjoy the bliss of immersing oneself in the “this season’s hottest trends” features of fashion mags and blogs.

In order to avoid coming off as an eco-fashion hypocrite, let me explain my love of trends - which, on the surface, do go against most of what the sustainable style world embodies.  Yes, the basic concept of trends itself tends to promote fashion as disposable, sometimes even on the same gross level as a McDonalds cheeseburger wrapper.  But I’m not talking about $12 knockoff dresses produced in massive quantities (by children) that will end up in the dumpster behind your alley in three months.  I’m talking about the excitement that accompanies something new and different.  I’m talking about the endorphin rush that supplements staring at fashion week images or pictures of people on the street donned in various interpretations of these “trends.”  I’m talking about the inevitable enthusiasm that emerges from the exploration of newness in fashion-as-art.  In fact, when you add the sustainability factor to all of this, it becomes even more exhilarating.  Why?  Because an inspiration-fueled challenge presents itself, where one can concoct brand new ways to style garments already in the closet, or opt to buy eco-conscious pieces that are elegantly simple, and timeless enough to be easily updated to the most on-trend-look-on-the-block, with the simple help of a bracelet, jacket, or belt.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff: my three favorite trends for spring 2010.  Since I’ve already wasted enough of this post with a long-winded attempt to avoid appearing unfaithful to my devotion to the sustainable fashion revolution, I’m going to do this in pictures.  Enjoy.  Oh – and if you have a photo of your fine self wearing your favorite spring look, send it to us and we’ll post it for all the world to see.

NEUTRAL DRESSES



Left: The organic cotton/hemp Audrey Dress, Mountains of the Moon by Melissa Baswell.Center and Right: Frei Designs by Annie Novoty. All three dresses available at Workshop Chicago

SHORTS (AS THE NEW MINISKIRT)

Left and Center: The organic cotton Stella Shorts, Mountains of the Moon by Melissa Baswell.  Available at Mountains of the Moon.  Right:  The Suspend Shorts (made from reclaimed tshirts), Adhesif Clothing.

FLORAL PRINTS

Left: Charlotte Ronson (not necessarily sustainable, but a fun style to scout out at your local thrift store).  Right: The organic cotton Coco Dress, Mountains of the Moon by Melissa Baswell.  Available at Mountains of the Moon

You’re Invited: Sustainable Style Symposium & Swap

We’re having a party and you’re invited! Okay, so it’s not actually a ‘party,’ but trust us, we’ll be sure to make it one. And we shall call said party the Sustainable Style Symposium & Swap at the Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival (hey, we never claimed we weren’t wordy).

 
WHEN: Saturday May 29, 2010. 12 - 1 PM.

WHERE: Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival

WHAT: Getting “more for less” may as well be the official motto of American society. Sadly, the fashion industry is no exception, often churning out cheap, disposable products that are environmentally destructive and exploitative of laborers. We all want to do our part to protect the earth, but how can we do this through our wardrobes without spending a ton of cash? How can we still feel chic and on trend without buying new clothing every season?

Join eco-fashion designer/stylist/fashion show producer Melissa Baswell (Mountains of the Moon, CounterpArts), band manager/sustainable event producer Vince Iwinski (Umphrey’s McGee, Green Apple Music & Arts Festival), fashion show producer/stylist Mary Welch Fox (CounterpArts), environmental activist James Gooch (Change of Atmosphere), and special surprise guests(!) for an upbeat discussion and Q&A session on the true meanings of sustainable style.

Then join our panelist for the official Sustainable Style Clothing Swap! Bring a piece of new or very gently used clothing and take home a new clothing item of equal value for free. You’ll also receive a Summercamp Go Green Raffle ticket for participating in the swap. Any unclaimed clothing will be donated to a local charity.

Eco-fashion talkin’ and swappin’ with a dash of music sounds an awful lot like a party to us.  RSVP right here.

Mountains of the Moon SS10 - The Movie!

Okay, it's not exactly Martin Scorsese, but it's still a lot more entertaining than just looking at photos, right? Enjoy!


Mountains of the Moon by Melissa Baswell: The Spring 2010 Collection

What's Your Favorite Look for Spring? (Win a $30 Gift Certificate!)

Ahhh, sweet spring fashion. We're pretty excited around here about the fact that the arctic tundra better known as winter in Chicago is finally coming to an end. Daffodils and tulips are peeking through the ground and the recently barren trees are fresh with green leaves. Most importantly, we're eager to put away the winter wardrobe and focus on the (much more fun) flowing fabrics and elegantly free-spirited shapes that only come with spring fashion. With our own spring 2010 collection (designed, as always, using only sustainable fabrics) now available in stores and on our website, the sweet smell of sunshine seems closer than ever. Each of us has a favorite look from the collection, and we want to know yours as well. You can even win a $30 Mountains of the Moon Gift Certificate! Just vote for one of the four spring looks below, then post a comment on our Official Facebook Page about why it's your favorite. On April 26th, we'll choose the winning comment.

UPDATE (4/27/2010): The Mountains of the Moon staff has voted on all of the thoughtful, creative comments we received on our Facebook Page. All of them were absolutely wonderful and so fun for us to read, but alas, we could only choose one. And the winner is... Itsuko Koizumi! Itsuko's comment poetically expressed how Look #1 embodies the essence of spring:

The first look with the blue skirt is my favorite spring look. With the blue of the skirt being akin with the color of the skies, and the faintest hint of floral print in the ruffles on the tank top, this outfit gives off a very airy, fresh kind of feel. The hairband also gives it a native edge, tying it to nature.

Congrats Itsuko!  And big thanks to everyone else who voted and contributed comments.  Please continue to vote for your favorite below...  We value your opinions and use them to help us decide what to design for future collections.

Save $/Save the Planet - It's Our 2nd Annual "Earth Day Project!"

For more details, take a peek at our April Newsletter.

xoxo

p.s.  Follow my blog with bloglovin !!!

Such an Honor to Be Nominated...

...but winning is especially nice. ;)

We just got word that we've been nominated for two Best of Mindful Chicago Awards: Best Local Fashion Designer (Melissa Baswell) and Best Place for Eco-Fashion (Mountains of the Moon)! Put on by the amazing folks over at Mindful Metropolis, these awards are Reader's Choice, so if you like us, please vote for us right here!

Aussie Love

So I decided to tag along with the boyfriend's band (Umphrey's McGee) for a little excursion to Australia. We have lots of Australian customers and a couple of boutiques here who carry our clothing, and now we know why they've always been so nice and happy (how could one ever have a bad day in this incredible place?). I'm in awe at this country's beauty and their commitment to sustainability. Perhaps in the future Mountains of the Moon's headquarters will be in a little beach hut in northern Queensland... Sigh...

xoxo,
melissa