Dans Papers - June 1, 2007 - Going Green At The Beach

A few weeks ago at my apartment in Brooklyn, my roommates were deep in discussion about the environment and Global Warming. When asked my thoughts, I ignorantly replied, "It's not like just me alone will make any difference." This statement has haunted me ever since. That night I dreamt I was being carted off to prison to spend the rest of my days in solitary confinement, left to ponder those words for all eternity. I woke up dripping sweat, shocked and disappointed in myself. In the morning I ritually turned on "The View" - yes, this does come on at 11 a.m., I am not what you would call a "morning person." The ladies were discussing "going green" and what you can do to save the environment. Did Barbara and Rosie hear what I said yesterday, too? What a coincidence, right? Actually, it was no a coincidence at all. That day was April 22 - Earth Day. Now I felt really dumb. So, I listened to every piece of advice the ladies gave and wrote down each tip to make me a little less ignorant - I can help save the environment by making informed decisions about what I choose to buy.

At last the summer is here and I can finally take a break from my steamy Brooklyn apartment and spend time outdoors in the Hamptons at my friend's summer home. Being the fashionista that I am, I get too excited about the trends for the upcoming season - and also too excited to spend more money than I have in the bank.

My first discovery was Recycled Sail Totes. What a smart and creative idea. These tote bags are made from recycled boat sails. Each bag has an authenticity tag, which tells the life of the sail - the type of craft it guided, the type of sail it was and the seas it sailed. I couldn't think of a more perfect summer beach bag. To further reverse my ignorance, I decided to search the Internet for anything and everything that would be an eco-friendly purchase. The perfect thank you gift to my friend? A Recycled Flip-Flop Mat for the outdoor shower. These durable mats are made from the foam rubber surplus created in the production of flip-flops in sandal factories. Instead of ending up in landfills, this rubber is now made into mats.

My crusade to save the world, whilst looking fabulous in the Hamptons, became a little too daunting for me. I decided my next plan of action was to put together a flawless beach wardrobe that would include all the essentials a girl needs for the day. And if I could find something made from recycled or reused materials, I would be a happy, Earth-loving lady.

Eco-friendly bag? Check. Now, what to put in it? For my feet I choose Havaianas. They make a multitude of flip-flops in bright, bold colors, metallics and prints. These colors are carried over into sunglasses as well. I opted for a pair of Alain Mikli shades that are a bright, canary yellow acetate. To cover-up I remembered I bought an old tablecloth at a thrift store that I was going to use it as fabric to make a dress, but never got around to it. It has this beautiful blue and cream floral print and it is worn out to the perfect thinness. I wrapped it around me like a sarong and it hits just above the knee. A cover-up that is recycled and vintage is very chic for this summer season. Much to my delight, I found a company called Junglegurl who creates one of a kind bikinis constructed from vintage garments. I couldn't place my order fast enough as I took another step forward in my personal eco-battle.

Of course, what would a day at the beach be without some music for my listening pleasure? The iHome Water-Resistant Boom Box is perfect for the beach. It has MP3 speakers, protects your iPod from sand and water and charges your iPod while playing. At the end of the day, when the sun starts to set and I have achieved that bronzed tan and exhausted my limbs from frolicking in the waves, I can throw my wet bikini into the Wet Bikini Bag. This pink and green 100% cotton hand embroidered bag has a waterproof lining so I can throw it into my tote bag without getting any of my other possessions wet.

When I stroll off the beach and head back up the path to my friend's house, I will be glad to have added more "green" into my beach wardrobe. I think it needed a splash of color anyway.