Susi Lux is surely becoming an underground eco fashion star with her terrifically green business venture “Luxos Kid.”  By recycling Mom n’ Dad’s old gear, and making it into the cutest kids clothing, Susi is single-handedly keeping thousands of pounds of clothes out of landfills all over the world!

Here’s how it works: Parents can send or bring Susi their fave t-shirt, sweater, pants (whatever) and she will make it into something fantastic for their little peanut.  Did you spill red wine on that favorite t-shirt?  Susi will turn it into a precious mini dress for your toddler. Does your favorite sweater have a hole in it, but you still cannot throw it out for nostalgic reasons?  Let Susi rework it into a sweater vest for your tween.  Did your cleaning lady shrink your to die for Missoni dress? Susi Lux will save it by turning into a tulip sleeved jacket for your lil one.  Your old thangs can be transformed into clothing that will make your child look like a high fashion mini you from the clothes you have worn for years.  Feeling very Brady? Susi can even make matching shirts for parents and children.

Par example;

Momma rocker tank turns into her favorite super soft tee shirt.

Susi adds details, stitching, patches and design, so that the finished product takes on a life of its own.  Susi can even create items for your newborn or infant using logos and detailing from your items (think old high school jacket!) that can be used to create a one-of-a-kind onesy.

Your old sweater makes a perfectly adorable dress for her.

Here’s the rub: GirlieGirl Army Members get a 10% discount on any order!
Visit the site: www.luxoskid.com

We know you are used to reading fashion, diet, and glam living tips in our little online universe but when GirlieGirlArmy reader Jessica Small (this is a pseudonym, as we need to keep her identity secret to protect her safety) reached out to us and asked us to bring some attention to the Sri Lankan genocide, we were reminded that one cannot be an Eco-Glamazon without caring DEEPLY for the well being of others, all around the world.  Sometimes we have to read about and see things that are deeply upsetting, but we must always enlighten ourselves to others suffering to appreciate what we have and to help those in need.   Please read this blog, and share it with your circle.

Sri Lanka’s humanitarian crisis has been making a lot of international news lately, but the gravity of the situation is not being conveyed - not even close - primarily due to the Sri Lankan government’s propaganda and brutal censorship of the media (i.e, they imprison, torture and/or kill any journalist that says something they don’t like).

These Tamil dead were among the scores of civilians killed last week when the Sri Lankan army bombed a school that was being used as a shelter for refugees.

I’m a twenty-something American from Washington, DC, who has been working in the country for the past two years. Within the last six weeks, I’ve watched Sri Lanka’s 25-year ethnic conflict become a full-scale genocide against the Tamil population (the primary minority group in the country). Some of the more obvious indications include:

• The government is in the process of putting approx. 300,000 Tamil civilians into military-run camps, which are, for all intents and purposes, Holocaust style concentration camps: lack of basic necessities and sanitation, indiscriminate killings and generally dire conditions.
• A few weeks ago, the military began systematically raping the women being held in these camps.
• In mid-January, the Sri Lankan military created a “safe zone” for Tamil civilians who were still in the war zone so that they wouldn’t be “caught in the crossfire”. Once the civilians moved into the area, the military started bombing it, even hitting a hospital multiple times.The government instituted a mandatory registration last month whereby all Sri Lankan citizens are legally required to provide the government with such details as their name, ethnicity and home address.

At s point, it is fairly evident that the only way that the genocide will end is through international intervention. The international community, however, while showing growing concern about situation and urging an end to the violence, is generally under the impression that Tamil civilians are merely being caught in the crossfire, not deliberately slaughtered. Unless it becomes clear to the rest of the world that the Sri Lankan government is intentionally trying to wipe out Tamil population, it is unlikely that the international community will take any sort of meaningful action.

This blog is an attempt to help get information about the genocide beyond the borders of Sri Lanka, if even in a very small way.  Here are some ways you can help out as well:

Love vintage dresses, but scared to shop for them?  Guest blogger Chrissie Eden Våzquez gives you the 411 on how to find the right dress, and what to do once you get it home.

Springtime is just around the corner, and with it, the beginning of Celebration Season. You know what I’m talking about–that stretch between April and September when everyone you know seems to be getting married, having a baby, graduating from clown school, whatever! By the time invitation #3 shows up in your mailbox (or in your inbox, if your pals are eco-savvy enough to skip the paper), your first thought isn’t “Awwww”, it’s ” #&%@, what am I going to wear!?”.

Vintage 50's Gown, $40 @ Ebay

Fear not. You can get a fabulous vintage gown for each occasion without breaking the bank…but you’re going to have to work for it a little, sister. The advantage (and the fun) of going vintage is that you get a unique garment that is not only beautiful, but also green because it keeps that fabulous old dress out of landfill! Why battle it out with half of the City at Bloomingdales or Neiman Marcus and still risk walking into an event in the same dress as some other gal? How embarrassing!

60's Vintage Gown, $270 @ DorotheasClosetVintage.com

Skip the big stores and re-think your shopping plan. Vintage gowns can be found in any number of places, from estate sales to flea markets and thrift stores, but the internet offers the widest selection. Some tips for buying a vintage gown online:

• Before you even begin looking for a vintage gown, find a tailor in your area that you can trust to handle any alterations or repairs necessary. Keep in mind that an evening gown can be a rather large and labor-intensive project. If you’re going all out for a black tie type of event, you want to allow time for proper handling of delicate fabrics, as well as any detail work like beading. A rush job might cause irreparable damage to a one of a kind piece, leaving you scrambling last minute to find a back up dress.
• Size it up. It pays in saved aggravation and tears to have your measurements handy while shopping, especially online where you can’t try before you buy. Some resellers of vintage attire will list their gowns according to what modern size the item fits, while others will list according to the original size. Most will provide you with hip, bust, and waist measurements, along with recommendations on bra cup sizes and shoulder widths that will fit into specific pieces.
• Measure over your clothes so that you have enough wiggle room for alterations.
• Give yourself LOTS of time to shop, especially if you’re tall or curvy because if you find a gown you love but it’s not in your size or big enough to be altered–sorry, sister, gotta move on.
• Dare to think about underwear. Vintage silhouettes were very heavily shaped by the wearer’s undergarments (think about the bullet bras of the 50s and the tiny corseted waistline that defined Dior’s New Look). {EDITORS NOTE: YOU CAN FIND AUTHENTIC BULLET BRAS ONLINE ON BULLETBRAS.NET} The dress may look different on you than it does on a mannequin or on a model wearing period undergarments to complement the style. If you’re determined to keep it authentic by wearing a vintage or vintage inspired corset or bra, ask the seller if they have any recommendations. However, if you value free breathing or don’t like the idea of wearing someone else’s undergarments, relax, and remember that it’s your dress. You can have it restructured or changed any way you want! As long as you’ve followed tip #1 and acquired a good tailor, you should be able to rework the gown so that it is more flattering to your body without the use of bionic underwear.
  

  Betty Page sporting a bullet bra style bikini.

• Ask direct questions about the condition of the dress! Reputable resellers of vintage clothes disclose any minor damage or discoloration up front, but if you can’t examine the dress in person, get clear, high-resolution images of the damaged areas to make sure that you can live with the imperfections. If you see a gown with great bare bones potential but want to make serious changes to it, ask if the fabric will hold up to your ambitious plans. A delicate piece of material over 50 years old will fall apart even in the hands of the most careful and skilled tailor.

30's Evening Gown & Slip, $65, Ebay.

With a little investment of time and effort, you can expect to save some cash and still be the belle of the ball, with everyone clamoring to find out…Where DID you get that dress?

Chrissie Eden Våzquez lives in NYC in an apartment full of clothes and furniture made and used years before she was born, along with her rescued pitbull Franklin and her rescued-from-the-suburbs boyfriend Gino. She got her first taste of vintage thrill from her Mom, who happily indulged her young daughter’s tastes for shiny brooches and little clutches from the 40s, unknowingly starting an obsession with all things made before the Nixon era. Mother & daughter continue to try to out-do each other with the perfect vintage score…with Chrissie currently ahead by one set of dining chairs.

Emmy Award-winning actress Finola Hughes is far from just an 80’s icon, she’s a real deal modern day green goddess! Finola hosts the Style Network’s popular makeover series “How Do I Look?” (which recently celebrated the airing of its 100th episode), has developed a jewelry line for QVC, released a book with Ballantine Books titled “Soapsuds,” and is a devoted wife and Mother to 3 gorgeous little rugrats. You may remember her sexy portrayal of the mysterious Anna Devane on “General Hospital” or on “All My Children.”  This glamazon Brit is the epitome of elegant kitsch; she always looks Cameo locket perfect, but decidedly  has something dry, clever, and meaningful to impart.  You probably wished you could dance like her (but settled on just the legwarmers) when she starred opposite John Travolta in “Stayin’ Alive.” You’ve also seen Finola in about a billion other shows and movies, but her best role has been that of eco-Mom. Finola, her husband (artist Russell Young,) and their kids live in Santa Barbara where they grow their own veggies and work the land.   Finola is also a GirlieGirlArmy member, who was happy to answer a few questions for your prying, nosy eyes;

GIRLIEGIRLARMY: Hey, you eco fox! Thanks for answering some Q’s for our readers! How has your “green awakening” informed the rest of your life, and affected your work?

FINOLA HUGHES: At work I am always moaning about plastic water bottles. I ask production to bring cups and sparklets or arrowhead jugs to the set so everyone can refill when needed - it’s such a waste otherwise. Plus with leftover food when catering for a production crew, if you make arrangements ahead of time with missions and shelters, you can take your unused, untouched portions and deliver them. At home my children switch off lights when leaving a room, and won’t let the water faucet run when brushing their teeth. This is the most important part of my green awakening, imparting information to my children so they are aware. I took them to a water conservation exhibition and it really got the message across.

What have you done in the last year to become more “Green” at home? And for the parents in our midst - what is your favorite eco-Mommazon tip?

At home we have two composting centers in the garden complete with friendly worms! We have 4 rotating vegetable plots. we also have 50 organic fruit trees!  They were actually on the property before we arrived, cultivated by a purist hippie that had been organic/pesticide free for 20 years.  We are working on bio-dynamic gardening, but it’s a bit complicated! We hope to have a water well dug in the next 5 years, and we will have solar panels on the hillside even sooner. My fave mommazon tip is bento boxes for school lunches. We try not to use plastic, and these bento boxes are sweet with their own compartments. Plus we send linen napkins to school for lunch, not paper. It is acceptable at their school as they have an incredibly ecologically sound system there.

Photo by Albert Sanchez

Use your favorite Golden Girl to come up with an analogy about your own life:
I can hear Bea Arthur saying something like: “oh yeah, call yourself an 80’s icon, huh? Get a load of this!!” and then showing me her padded shoulders, as i show her my spangly headband from ‘Stayin’ Alive.’  How’s that?!!!

Pure genius.  That analogy was simply blissful for our 80’s lovin’ ears. Tell us about a moment in your life where you felt pure bliss:

When my children were born. When they sleep and I peek in on them. So peaceful and darling. That’s blissful.

Tell us about your latest projects, pretty please:
I just finished a Lifetime movie in Vancouver called “Killer Hair”. Great fun.  My new show on Style is called “Running in Heels,” about the behind-the-scenes workings of Marie Claire Magazine. I helped to produce it.

One last Q: with that perfect punim of yours, we want your beauty tips! What are some things you just can’t live without:
Wen hair cleanser contains no sulfates and doesn’t strip the hair of essential oils. I also love Liz Earle face moisturizer and Dr. Haushka face cleanser and eye cream.  I also swear by Lavender & Rose Geranium Oil for travel, I put some on a napkin and tuck it into my airplane seat.  Pretty soon everyone around me is mellow and feeling great because their olfactory senses are being cared for!! People walk by and say “Wow, it smells so great here”!!!! Also; kookie karma granola - yum!

Perhaps People Magazine's Greatest Cover

Water bottles = evil.  Think you already knew how bad?  Guest blogger Danielle Thompson shares some scary facts with us, and commits us even further to our Sigg’s.

I recently watched the 2008 award-winning documentary FLOW (For the Love of Water) which frighteningly lays out the international water crisis.  It tells the tale of a quickly dwindling fresh water supply and the deadly battle between people who need water and corporations who are controlling it.

Here are some fun facts for you to consider:

• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. (www.water.org)
• Water is a $400 billion dollar global industry; the third largest behind electricity and oil. CBS News, FLOW.
• While the average American uses 150 gallons of water per day, those in developing countries cannot find even 5. (www.charitywater.org)

It’s a pretty scary situation, but even the film gives the viewer some hope,  I don’t want to be all doom and gloom here.  There are some things you can do and one is thinking outside the bottle! As the title of this post suggests, it involves putting down your plastic bottled water and not buying anymore!  Besides the obvious environmental problems with all of that minimally-recyclable plastic, buying bottled water creates a demand for an essential resource that comes out of our tap.  What’s worse is often that bottled water you are purchasing came from the same source as your own tap water.  That’s right ladies.  It’s quite a brilliant ruse.  The same exact product you could get for free at home, you are paying for at the grocery store.  And it’s not just you who is paying, these companies often trample on local communities and devastate the surrounding environment to extract water at an alarming rate.  Let us not forget all the fuel used to port around all those billions of plastic bottles from factory to store.

GirlieGirl Army encourages you to Netflix FLOW, learn more about the global water crisis in general, and take the pledge to think outside the bottle.  If our fabulous fingers clutch a pink klean kanteen, then so can yours!  Plus, reusable water bottles are kinda like handbags now days, you have a choice of style and size and color.  Water also actually tastes better coming out of stainless steel for some reason.  Commit to this one small step for the earth, and your pocketbook and Mama Nature will thank you.

Klean Kanteen, $16.

Guest Blogger Danielle Thompson lives just outside of Washington D.C. and spends most of her time helping wildlife at The Humane Society of the United States.  She relocated to D.C. from Portland after studying animal law at Lewis and Clark Law School.  When she isn’t daydreaming about the Pacific Northwest and a good cup of coffee, she enjoys yoga, latch-hooking, riding her bike and thrift-shopping.  You can reach her at daniellelthompson@gmail.com.

Our cutie Guest Blogger Danielle