the PERFECT gift for the HOSTESS with the MOSTESS

Dimmalimm is one of our favorite shops. From our favorite coasters, wool felt garland & just everything eco-chic - the shop is all about eco-friendly home decor that is all made from organic materials, wool felt, hemp, recycled hand printed fine fabrics and handmade with couture finishing. What's not to love? 

What? Stay on coasters ($18) that are eco- friendly made from wool felt that are perfect accessories for your wine glasses during the most stylish dinner party! 

Who they are? We are a mother/daughter duo from Iceland, currently living in Los Angeles (relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 2011 in case we forget to update the profile). We work full time out of our own home based studio filled with industrial sewing machines, huge work table and an office. Ragga (daughter) comes from a background in fine arts and contemporary art theory, Disa (mother) as a tailor/dressmaker and a business woman in entertainment. Ragga designs, does customer service and business communication and runs errands. Disa developes prototypes, takes care of fulfillment, tracks inventory and supplies and does the books.

We started working together in the 90's on period costuming for film and theater. In the early 2000's we then opened our pattern and sample room serving local fashion designers as well as doing interior textiles. We served high end designers, pattern makers for world famous french fashion houses and project runway finalists as well as local boutiques and tiny start-up labels for several years. 

Our pattern and sample business was practically wiped out in the fall of 2008 when the recession hit as the entire luxury and fashion industry was seriously affected. In the months to come we found ourselves searching for means to create work for ourselves. We opened Dimmalimm Shop selling childrens clothing in the summer of 2009, then Dimmalimm Home about 3 or 4 months later. The funny thing is we always dreamed of starting our own line rather than working for others but kept putting it off - in the end we were pushed into it by circumstance.

Well, what are you waiting for - visit the shop NOW. 

Editor's Pick! Featured Blogger: Rachel of EcoStiletto.com!

A few years ago I was lucky enough to sit right next to Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Editor & CEO of EcoStiletto.com & MommyGreenest.com at a fashion show during Los Angeles Fashion Week.Well, we immediately hit it off and chatted throughout the show. I just couldn't wait to share this amazing site (if you haven't come across it already!) and the amazing things Rachel has done with it! And, I am not the only one raving about it! Check out the LOVE they have received from eco-chic celebs too! 

1.) Tell us about your baby, EcoStiletto & how was it born.

I'm a journalist and I'd been writing about fashion and beauty for a while when I realized that the products I was reviewing 1. never seemed to do what they said they would, like erase my wrinkles, and 2. contained some pretty toxic chemicals. At the same time, green fashion and beauty was exploding! Once I started learning about eco-products that actually did what they said and didn't contain chemicals, I was sold. I created EcoStiletto as a place to show women that you can be as gorgeous and glamorous as ever, while still working to shrink your carbon footprint. Hence, the stiletto metaphor.

2.) What is your favorite eco brand/line? Why?

Right now I'm loving Alaffia hair care products. (www.alaffia.com) First and foremost, they work--I was at the salon yesterday and my hairdresser took one look at my formerly-limp-suddenly-luxurious hair and was like, "What are you using?" Second, they're totally chemical free--nothing on my Big List of Things That Suck. (http://www.ecostiletto.com/index.php?/Beauty/tbltts/) But the coolest part is the story: The line was founded by Olowo N'djo Tchala, who is originally from Togo, Africa and now lives in Washington State. He sources all the shea butter from fair trade collectives in Togo and supports the communities there. He also organizes bike drives twice a year for the girls in the region, who typically give up school because they can't make the five-mile walk. And he works to educate people in his community about the dangers of things like female genital mutilation. Not the most fun subject to talk about, especially for a guy. So this is an example of the perfect line for EcoStiletto--it does what it says it does, it doesn't give money to the cosmetic chemical industry, and it supports a community in need. 

3.) What can we find in your make-up bag? 

I'm a total minimalist when it comes to makeup. I have three kids, so typically I just have time to slap on some tinted moisturizer--Physician's Formula Organic Wear, at the moment--and go. So I'm loving the Living Luminizer by RMS Beauty, which is a totally organic, chemical free line created by a makeup artist here in Los Angeles named Rose-Marie Swift. The Luminizer is amazing! You just dab a little bit on your cheekbones, around the outside socket of your eye, your lower lip, the tip of your nose and all of a sudden you look just kind of awake and, yes, luminous. You can put it on in the car!

4.) When your not writing for the site what can we find you doing? Tell us a little more about Rachel.

If I could, I'd do yoga every day. Right now I have just enough time for one class a week, and I crave it like chocolate. There's nothing better to get me out of my head and work through the little aches and pains that come from sitting at a computer 12 hours a day! And about once a month, I try to hit the Give + Take swap shop, which is this amazing boutique in Playa del Rey. (www.giveplustake.com) You bring the clothes you're not wearing and trade them in, then you get to pick from everyone else's swaps. Everything is clean and beautifully presented on wood hangers. It's still reusing and recycling so it's totally green, but it's less of a hunt than thrift shopping, because everything's already edited for you by the owner Dora, who is a fantastic on site stylist, too! 

5.) What is on your holiday wish list? 

Anything by Melissa Joy Manning. Her recycled metal jewelry with fair trade stones is consistently the most gorgeous stuff I've ever seen.

6.) What do you have planned for the future? 

Giving away even cooler eco-swag--right now we're up to $1,200 per month in giveaways to our free newsletter subscribers! And next year I'm doing an eight-event series of Green Girls Night Out parties at Kimpton Hotels across the country--they're super green, so it's a perfect match. Watch out, I may be coming to a city near you ;-)

What You Don't Know About Rachel! 

Pet peeves: Sustainabullies, defined on The Big List as n. A person who makes others feel guilty for perceived eco-sins; (s)he’s holier than thou and probably drives a Prius. Yes, I made that up.

Favorite color: When my daughter was born, my then two-year-old son said, "Mommy, I love all the colors of Julia." It's so random, but I love that. We're all made of colors--who could choose? Okay, now I sound like a total hippie.

Likes: I'm obsessed with Matcha green tea right now. It's a powder, so you can drink it hot or cold. And since I gave up drinking coffee, it's my go-to for an afternoon pick-me-up.

{STAY CONNECTED, ALL THINGS RACHEL} 

EcoStiletto.com & MommyGreenest.com

http://twitter.com/ecostilettor

http://twitter.com/greenestmommy




As always, THANKS Rachel! You are a doll! xoxo 

Still Holiday Shopping? Grab a Nahui Ollin Bag!

While one (of our many) resolutions this year is to be a little more eco-chic, we found the perfect line to start us off with a “green” alternative.

Nahui Ollin is a collection of fashionable and uber unique handbags and accessories made from recycled materials.

WE LOVE: The Rosy Cheeks Wristlet & Envelope Clutch

Due to the unique size of the Envelope Clutch ($96) it is perfect to fit just a little more than your average clutch – as for the Rosy Cheeks ($54), it is perfect for inside your Overturned bag (we love the details) or to just grab and go on the run. Nahui Ollin has a ton of great styles and colors to suit all your fashionista needs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Nahui Ollin

Everything in the collection is entirely handmade by folding and weaving individual soda bottle labels, gum wrappers and candy wrappers (factory rejects from independent manufactures and have never been used) – put them all together to create the various beautiful shapes and sizes of the Nahui Ollin collection. These same materials were to be sent to the garbage dump and land fill only to pollute the earth more! Not only does the process sustain the environmentally-friendly practice of recycling, it also yields creatively-fresh, long lasting and innovative products. Made from up to 4000 individual candy wrappers, each piece is passionately and patiently hand made by craftsmen and follows the same process of folding, weaving, and sewing, which can take up to 4 days to complete. And while the bags are indeed made from candy wrappers, gum wrappers and soda bottle labels, they stand the test of time and weather for tear-free, long term durability. What you once would have discarded without hesitation has been transformed.

To stay up-to-date with everything Nahui Ollin, follow them on twitter and make sure to sign up here for their newsletter!

FOR THE ECO-CHIC FASHIONISTA

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Because Green is Good

With the holidays just around the corner we have been gearing up for our holiday gift guide (soon to come!) but we just couldn't wait to share this Etsy Designer we came across last week.

Cupcake Mag is a big fan of designers making unique things for us to drool over, especially handmade. Luckily, we found the perfect designer making her own little eco-chic masterpieces. Someone who "plunders" thrify stores and granny's closet really makes scraps into something special. Why we love it? It is seriously eco-friendly and makes a great gift for anyone living fabulously green.

Let’s take a size 8 dominatrix stiletto that has been upcycled into a new life (remove the top of the shoe, sand it, drill holes for drainage) and plant it with something sharp and you’ve got your very own little cacti family looking eco-chic in a stiletto planter ($50). Just remember to add a little water and give it a little light. As the designer says, “It’ll repay you with a stark reminder of how hard it is to … well, to be a woman.”

So what exactly is the designer Rachel's story? We couldn't wait to find out what made her create one-of-a-kind items out of things you might consider disposable.

“Now about me and how these stilettos got started....ahem! I have a friend who is an exotic dancer. She was throwing away a beautiful but beat up pair of clear stiletto boots. I took them home- not sure why. I decided to plant them with sharp cacti plants to show how lovely and painful it can be to be woman. The concept is about hard-working women, the sometimes artificial nature of American feminity, and also about the impossible images that women face in our society. It's a prickly, spiky, sticky situation.”

And we couldn’t agree more. Rachel quotes Faith Whittlesey and reminds us that "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels."

Make sure to stop by the ETSY STORE giddyspinster (dreamy things) to see the many different exotic planters (from cacti to aloe in various price ranges) and make sure to pick one up for the fashinista (or yourself) in your life.

Eco-Chic Trend Alert - Saving the Planet is Uber-Chic, didn’t you get the memo?

As we all know PLASTIC IS SO LAST SEASON and we LOVE anything eco-chic. Luckily, we just came across some cheeky, stylish, and environmentally hip tote bags made of 100% organic cotton. We just DIE over sayings such as “My other Bags are Prada” and “Louis Who?”

We just couldn’t wait to share the uber cute totes that are NOW available in the United States via Australia. The line offers a chic and funky alternative to the usually boring supermarket green bag or canvas tote. Snatch one up quickly as they are sure to be THE NEXT BIG THING!

Don't forget when shopping to use discount code CUPCAKE to receive 15% off your order. Pair them with the eco-chic RuMe baggies & pockets - they are a perfect fit for the tree hugging fashionista! Can't beat the prices either - from $4-$27!

The full range of fun styles can be viewed on the Bagladies website!

NEVER LOOKED BETTER: Recycled Scrubs on a Green Carpet (all by STUDENT designers!)

Did you ever imagine scrubs could look this good? We had no idea.

Image of Ginnifer Goodwin: AP Photo/Matt Sayles Credit for 1OAK photos: Robert Curry

Since 1998, the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California has incorporated specific sustainable design courses into the curriculum as well as layered sustainability into all areas of study, both in onsite and online classes. Throughout the year, projects are created to inspire students and teams are developed to promote collaborations between the various areas of study. One such team named themselves 1OAK (One Of A Kind) and declared that their goal was “to design a collection that is timeless, relevant and modern by incorporating innovative processes and practices to ensure sustainability from inception to completion”.

1 OAK is comprised of five students: Priscilla Guimarais, MFA Fashion Design; Kumiko Haruyama, MFA Fashion Design; Nui Tanapornwattana, MFA Fashion and Textile Design; Audrey Wang, MFA Fashion Design; and Tramaine Tillman, MFA Fashion Design.

The students reached out to Kaiser Permanente for discarded hospital scrubs and Landau Uniforms provided them. The students then treated, dyed and pleated the fabric working with local businesses committed to sustainable practices, such as a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified dye house. 1 OAK then recycled the hospital scrubs into a collection of dresses as exquisite as they are sustainable. The team noted, “Our design philosophy and approach reflects ‘less is more’. We wanted to create a classic, minimalist look as a way of expressing ‘slow fashion’, which translates into longevity. We focused on finer details and craftsmanship rather than trends, and created dresses one can wear season after season without feeling outdated.”

Reflecting upon their team experience 1 OAK affirmed that “this has been an inspiring assignment for all of us as we have evolved from being fashion forward consumers into being able to understand, appreciate and execute sustainable, slow fashion”.

SPOTTED: On Sunday, October 25th in Hollywood, California, one of these dresses was worn by actress Ginnifer Goodwin at the 20th Anniversary Environmental Media Association Awards. In addition to being an outspoken vegan and gracing the covers of many magazines, Ginnifer is known for her roles in Big Love, He’s Just Not That Into You and the soon to be released A Single Man (Tom Ford’s directorial debut).

The Environmental Media Association Awards honor film and television productions and individuals that increase public awareness of environmental issues and inspire personal action on these issues. This year marked the 20th Anniversary of the awards. Sir Richard Branson, Centropolis Entertainment, and National Geographic Society & Jason Mraz were honored.

About Academy of Art University:

With nearly 16,000 students, Academy of Art University is the nation’s largest private art and design university. Established in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BA, BFA, MA M.Arch and MFA programs in 15 different majors, as well as continuing art education, with classes in Advertising, Animation & Visual Effects, Architecture, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture & Design, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications, Photography, and Web Design & New Media. Game Design and Music for Visual Media are the school’s newest majors, offering AA, BFA and MFA degrees. Students can also enroll in flexible online degree programs in most majors. Over 2,000 fashion students study under the guidance of experienced fashion professionals. The School of Fashion houses ten areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Women’s Wear, Men’s Wear, and Children’s Wear; Technical Design; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising.

1OAK is presently at Vie Bungalow’s showroom in Los Angeles: www.viebungalow.com

To learn more about AAU please visit http://www.academyart.edu/ and visit the school's fashion blog http://www.fashionschooldaily.com/

the LITTLE things

Sometimes it is the smallest things in life that

make the biggest difference.

After reviewing quite a big assortment

we noted a few "little things"

we just CAN'T be without.

RuMe: A green label we love and great for moms on the go the NEW ReUsable Baggies ($4.50) & Pockets, only $3.95 each are not only fashionable with so cute prints like Spring 5th Avenue and Fall Hamptons but a functional replacement for plastic baggies. RuMe sent us one of each which we were able to use for SO many things from our little ones cheerios to a mini clutch for mom. No worries about spills either (unlike platic baggies) a zipper ensures a tight seal which also helps with the many uses.

ReUsable Bag Features:

• Handwash & dishwasher safe
• Zipper enclosure
• RuMe Baggie size is 8.5" x 7.5"
• RuMe Pocket size is 8" x 4.75"
• RuMe Baggies holds up to 1 liter
• Lab Tested, Food Safe

A great gift for the one person who has everything - stylish & eco-chic so whats not to LOVE?!

Need a unique idea for eco-friendly gift packaging? The Baggie firs 2 DVDs perfectly! Check out the many other great bags from Pretty in Pink Metallic only $18 to the Medium RuMe 3 bag collection ($30) in great prints to coordinate with your baggies!

USE COUPON CODE CUPCAKE to receive 20% off your order of $20 or more! That is just a FAB deal and grab them up before it expires on 11.30.09!

Next up..........

Stay with Me: We were excited to try out the recently launched Stay With Me Socks($6). We are really not sure how they do it but we are not complaining. These socks really are "wiggle and pull off proof" and won't come off until you take them off. No more hunting for that other lost sock you just put on your newborns toes. Of course they are made by a mompreneur!

One of the many things we LOVE; loop and wash. Stay with Me socks interlock keeping them together in the washer and dryer. If only all socks had this feature it would make laundry so much easier. The socks are made with mini Velcro (snag free) tabs that keep them secure in both the front and the back. You can't just have one - snag them up in great colors and stripes!

Another great brand in the sock category is Nowali: Over 50 years ago Nowa Li began producing traditional moccasins in Sweden. The high quality moccasins are still produced the same way today and the stitching is still sewn by hand. The slipper socks come in many different styles for not just kids but adults too. We just LOVED the few pairs we were sent for review.

Z.Daisy: BINKIE BUNGEE

Similar to The Little Lasso we love anything that keeps us from constantly picking things up. The Binkie Bungee ($12) is the perfect way to keep your baby's pacifier off the dirty floor all while looking baby chic the whole time. The Monica Pink Stripe fabric is exclusive to Z.Daisy and features a new unique elastic pacifier attachment that will work with any pacifiers (unlike other generic clips) that is pefect for your baby and moms.

MUST HAVE: Eco-Friendly Binkie Bungee comes in 3 great colors and retails for $16

*All products are Cupcake Mag tested and baby approved*

DIVADO: Get The 'DO Without The Damage

With the holiday season just around the corner we need to all start thinking about the many parties and events we have to look good for & what girl doesn't want to hit the streets with a little volume in her hair? We know we can't survive without or else it is a beyond bad hair day. So, what is a glamour-ista to do? The solution is the DivaDo.

DivaDo launched the extremely cost effective, do it yourself retro chic hair inserts - and no, they aren't anything like the bump-it infomercials filling the late night television. We were sent The Audrey in neutral and it was tried and tested many times. The first thing we noticed was how stable it is; you don't need to worry about fixing it a million times throughout the day. With its secure fit, sturdy construction and weather resiliency, DivaDo provides countless hours of beautiful hair. And for those eco-chic ladies it is manufactured and packaged in the USA, made of natural looking surgical-grade silicon and is BPA-free and hypo-allergenic which is always a plus.

The DivaDo offers an effortless and comfortable application and removal. It is perfect for your own red carpet moment because who does love to rock the "bump" style we have seen on all of our favorite stars. Featured in two styles, The Audrey creates a classic sophisticated hairdo while The Brigitte adds a little more va-va-voom to your look if you want to play up your alter ego rocker chic style.

“As a Southern woman, I’ve been to my fair share of weddings, galas, and cocktail events, and I’m painfully familiar with the time, effort, and money it takes to get the perfect glam do for those occasions. Not to mention the pain and stress it creates when undoing that perfect do! So, I created the DivaDo to help women everywhere have the perfect do without the damage,” said DivaDo Founder, Brandie Park.

The DivaDo Story

One New Year’s Eve a few years ago, DivaDo founder, Brandie Park, was in Chicago with several friends preparing to ring in the New Year. It was a typical winter night in Chicago with a mix of snow and rain coming down. One of her girlfriends had a really cute hairstyle with a front hair tease sprayed to perfection. Another friend wanted the same look, but when they started adding hairspray, gel, and a rat-tail comb to her formerly straight hair she protested that the end result was not worth the torture. It was then that Brandie decided every woman should be able to get that “diva” look without the salon price or the pain of teasing. Brandie’s come a long way from the original model she fashioned out of a bra insert, small comb, and some thread!

“It is my sincere desire that this product give women the look they want without taking the time of teasing and applying a dozen products.” “We are all busy women.” “The last thing we need to do is spend an extra half-hour styling our hair!” Founder, Brandie Park

SAVE WITH CUPCAKE

Both The Audrey and The Brigitte DivaDo are available in brown, black or natural. Products are priced affordably with recommended retail for The Audrey at $25 and The Brigitte at $30. DivaDo is available at fine, independent beauty boutiques nationwide as well as at www.divadohair.com. For more information visit www.divadohair.com or call toll free 1.888.8DIVADO.

You know we are all about spending money but we like to save too! DivaDo has offered CUPCAKE MAG readers an exclusive discount code. Use code cc20 and receive 20% off any order from www.divadohair.com. They make great gifts too!

Chic Moms: Whats New -- Faves of the Week

Piggy Paint: Non Toxic, Odorless & Kid Friendly

We all know how our girls want to be just like their mommas; quite the fashionistas at such a young age. We also know how bad nail polish can smell and the many chemicals involved. What we didn't know is there is a great new nail polish in fun, vibrant colors for our fancy little ones.

Piggy Paint is:

• Non-toxic
• Low Odor
• Water-based formula
• Hypoallergenic
• Dries to a hard, durable finish

Piggy Paint™ is specially formulated from God’s natural ingredients and dries to a hard, durable finish. There are no toxic chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone.

And don't forget to get the Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish Remover for many reasons:

• Low Odor
• Made from natural ingredients
• No Acetone
• Hypoallergenic
• Biodegradable

We found that the remover worked very quickly on all polishes, especially Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish. It is very safe and contains none of the solvents that could offend your nose or harm our atmosphere. Aloe Vera and Vitamin E are added to supplement the natural oils that protect little one’s nails and cuticles.

Melanie, the brains behind the beyond brilliant idea tells us to "say good-bye to harsh, smelly chemicals and hello to Piggy Paint™…it’s as Natural as Mud!" - We can agree with that!!!

Who else LOVES Piggy Paint: Tori Spelling!

Piggy Paint made its Hollywood debut on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Stella McDermott’s first birthday party. Tori Spelling was ecstatic to discover this natural, eco-friendly kid nail polish and invited the small-town Piggy Paint girls from Missouri to paint nails at the celebration. Tori didn’t have to fret about harsh, smelly chemicals, as Stella’s nails sparkled with Piggy Paint’s Sometimes Sweet polish at her extravagant birthday bash. This bright red color was also a favorite for the guests who visited “Stella’s Salon”. Piggy Paint™ is available in 14 fun colors with adorable names like such as Mac N Cheese please, Dandelion Dance and Forever Fancy - you can't just have one. The odor free formula made it fun for the little ones to get mini-manis and pedis without holding their nose.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODE FOR OUR READERS!!!

Use "Cupcake15" to take 15% of all orders, inlcuding sales. Piggy Paint also offers free domestic shipping on orders over $25 - GET SHOPPING!



Next on the list.......

Kalencom: The Polette Plus


We love anything you can use more than one way which is why we just adore the latest on the go potty from Kalencom. Having trouble getting your little tot on the potty? Well we can't get them off!

The Potette plus not only is a travel potty (with included liners & and absorbent pads) but it also coverts into a trainer seat. The portable potty is a full size potty that folds flat and can be easily tucked away into any bag. It is suitable from 15 months and includes super absorbent liners and hygienic carry bag. The folding trainer seat is suitable from 2 years and is not only non slip and very durable but our littles one didn't want to hop off it was so comfy. It is also hygienic and can be used on all toilet seats. It is the perfect all in one potty for your tots to transition too!

The only downfall - we wish we could have had it sooner!


It comes in blue, green, red, and pink for only $16.00!


Head over to Kalencom to check out more great diaper bags and innovative products like the seat belt snoozer!