Summer Essentials with Jen&Co

Summer is here and it’s time to hit the beach! —or picnic, vacation, or really any fun in the sun sort of activity! As a California girl, I am actually at the beach year round, however, there is something about June-August that just hits different!

I recently had a daycation at nearby hotel here in SoCal and it was so much fun! For pretty much every beach or summer outing I have a few items that are always a must: a straw hat, beachy tote to carry blankets, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc., and I normally have a smaller tote bag for my valuables like phone, keys, sunglasses, and my camera and camera accessories. Also, can’t forget a cute swimsuit — bonus points if it can double as an outfit like this one piece and cover-up skirt combo!

As a lifestyle vegan, choosing products with both vegan and sustainable materials is super important to me. I try to opt for more natural plant based options as much as possible so materials like straw, linen, cotton, organic cotton, seagrass, hemp, etc. are all things that I look for. Each of these Jen & Co items are PETA Approved and make for the cutest beachy trio!

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Vegan Feature: Jen&Co

When transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, fashion was something I really struggled with. How could I give up my designer bags, purses, sweaters, hats, etc.? It was a process fo sure, but thankfully, vegan fashion is becoming more mainstream and brands like Jen & Co make shopping so much easier!

Jen & Co specializes in cruelty free PETA-Approved vegan bags and also sells apparel and accessories. I am wearing the Selina Loungewear Set, Olivia Croc Satchel and Piper Fedora. The loungewear set is so comfortable and can go from day to night, from lounging at home, to casual and cute. The hat and bag go with so much! The hat’s chain is removable and the bag can be worn as a satchel or crossbody.

I am always one for a great statement piece, but I find that incorporating neutrals and easy to wear pieces accommodate my day-to-day lifestyle best! Check out Jen & Co next time you’re looking for some cute vegan finds to add to your wardrobe!

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A Conscious Consumer's Guide to Black Friday

Black Friday is known as the biggest shopping day of the year. With that, comes a lot of excess and overconsumption, and that begs the question; should a conscious consumer participate in Black Friday?

The answer to this depends on who you ask, what your values are, and what you consider when making purchases. Do I think we should cancel Black Friday? No. No, I don’t, but I do think there are ways to make it more sustainable and to avoid overconsumption. Here are some tips to help making conscious decisions when purchasing:

MAKE A LIST OF THINGS YOU NEED AHEAD OF TIME AND STICK TO THE PLAN

Temptation is hard! By having a list beforehand, this helps you stay on task and not get distracted by all the shiny things on sale.

STOCK UP ON ESSENTIALS

This is a great time to stock up on sustainable shelf-stable consumables that you have to buy, no matter what— such as home and hygiene products: toilet paper, soap, cleaning products, etc.

SUPPORT SMALL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES

Shopping at big box retailers is easy, we know that, but supporting small and sustainable businesses is so important. Look for fair trade certifications, ethical working conditions, brand transparency, organic and plant based materials, sustainable manufacturing, vegan or vegan friendly, charitable, b-corp certifications, etc.

SHOP ONLINE INSTEAD OF IN-STORE

Go directly to what you’re looking for and you can close your laptop anytime. In addition, you avoid the crowds and temptation!

UNFOLLOW OR UNSUBSCRIBE

Unfollow or unsubscribe from brands that tempt you to over consumer or make unnecessary purchases.

Now that you have some tips and a guide to stay on track, below are some conscious and sustainable brands that are having Black Friday promotions.

ECO HOME & LIFESTYLE

40% off Package Free Shop

40% off Veestro

30% off Dropps

Up to 35% off Reel Paper

25% off Stasher Bag

Up to 30% off Thinx

Up to 40% off Grove Co.

50% off Made Terra

GREEN BEAUTY

25% off Youth to the People

25% off Kooshoo

25% off Truly Beauty

20% off Moon Juice

BOGO Makeup Eraser

30% off Sale Petit Vour

25% off Herbivore Botanicals

Up to 20% off MAELOVE

20% off Superzero

30% off Pacifica Beauty

Up to $75 off Vegancuts

30% off Long Wknd

ETHICAL FASHION

30% off We are HAH

30% off ASN Hats

Up to 70% off Boyish

30% off Girlfriend Collective

Up to 40% off Christy Dawn

25% off Reformation

40% off Noize

20% off Boody

Up to 40% off Organic Basics

30% off Andi Bagus

33% off Yes And

30% off Back Beat Co.

My Top Picks From The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

It’s the time of year that Nordstrom has their Anniversary Sale! Nordstrom wouldn’t be the first place I’d think of when you talk vegan fashion, eco home & lifestyle, and green beauty, but they do have some good options!

Please note that although you can preview the sale today, July 6th, the items won’t actually start to be on sale to the public until July 12th. Below is a breakdown of the timeline.

July 6 - Sale Preview (Everyone!)

July 12 - 27 - Icon Early Access

July 14 - 27 - Ambassador Early Access

July 16 - 27 - Influencer Early Access

July 28 - August 8 - Sale Open To Everyone

You can get early access if you have or sign up for a Nordstrom credit card. More details about this on their website.

Everything I have curated below is vegan and cruelty-free. I try my best to include organic, sustainable, recycled, ethical, and made in the USA items and brands as much as possible.

VEGAN FASHION

$25.90, Originally: $39.00

$11.90, Originally: $18.00

$16.90, Originally: $29.00

$159.90, Originally: $238.00

$22.90, Originally: $35.00

$39.90, Originally: $59.95

$24.90, Originally: $38.00

$51.90, Originally: $78.00

$46.90, Originally: $69.95

$99.90, Originally: $172.00

$79.90, Originally: $119.95

$59.90, Originally: $98.00

$89.90, Originally: $135.00

$64.90, Originally: $99.95

$98.90, Originally: $145.00

$25.90, Originally: $39.00

$99.90, Originally: $165.00

$169.90, Originally: $258.00

$119.90, Originally: $180.00

$49.90, Originally: $78.00

$45.90, Originally: $74.00

$54.90, Originally: $88.00

$195.90, Originally: $325.00

$54.90, Originally: $98.00

$145.90, Originally: $218.00

$65.90, Originally: $98.00

$59.90, Originally: $89.95

$99.90, Originally: $159.00

$39.90, Originally: $59.95

$59.90, Originally: $98.00

$89.90, Originally: $134.95

$95.90, Originally: $148.00

$89.90, Originally: $150.00

$39.90, Originally: $59.95

$89.90, Originally: $148.00

$13.90, Originally: $22.00

ECO HOME & LIFESTYLE

$119.90, Originally: $169.00

$19.90, Originally: $50.00

$28.90, Originally: $39.00

$19.90, Originally: $29.00

$15.90, Originally: $20.00

$22.90, Originally: $34.00

$75.90, Originally: $95.00

$19.90, Originally: $29.95

$198.90, Originally: $249.00

$79.90, Originally: $99.95

$18.90, Originally: $23.95

$55.90, Originally: $69.99

$28.90, Originally: $40.00

$22.90, Originally: $35.00

$15.90, Originally: $20.00

$49.90, Originally: $59.00

$33.90, Originally: $50.00

$19.90, Originally: $29.95

$159.90, Originally: $199.95

$29.90, Originally: $49.00

$73.90, Originally: $99.00

$20.90, Originally: $26.95

$22.90, Originally: $35.00

$28.90, Originally: $40.00

$18.90, Originally: $29.00

$59.90, Originally: $90.00

$19.90, Originally: $38.00

$25.90, Originally: $39.95

$23.90, Originally: $29.99

$12.90, Originally: $20.00

$18.90, Originally: $23.95

$44.90, Originally: $60.00

GREEN BEAUTY

$19.90, Originally: $30.00

$23.00, Originally $33.00

$28.00, Originally: $45.00

$32.00, Originally: $46.00

$32.00, Originally: $46.00

$35.00, Originally: $54.00

$35.00, Originally: $52.00

$35.00, Originally: $56.00

$38.00, Originally: $64.00

$66.00, Originally: $99.00

$42.00, Originally $81.00

$46.00, Originally: $76.00

$50.00, Originally: $80.00

$49.00, Originally: $75.00

$99.00, Originally: $196.00

$33.00, Originally: $49.00

Gucci Launches Vegan Shoe Collection

This week Gucci launched Demetra, a vegan leather alternative made from wood pulp. The luxury brand said it spent two years researching and developing animal-free materials.

The new collection has three styles of sneakers Gucci Rhytons, Gucci Basket, and the Gucci Ace. The luxury brand is pricing the styles between $690-$940.

The wood pulp-based faux leather, Demetra, is composed of 80% raw materials. Demetra is produced in their Italian factory using the same process as leather tanning to ensure the plant-based material has the same softness, durability, and resilience. Also included in the collection is recycled steel, recycled polyester, and organic cotton.

Gucci’s President and CEO, Marco Bizzarri, said “In our 100th anniversary year… Demetra is a new category of material that encapsulates Gucci’s quality and aesthetic standards with our desire to innovate, leveraging our traditional skills and know-how to create for an evolving future.”

“Demetra offers our industry an easily scalable, alternative choice and a more sustainable material that also answers the needs of animal-free solutions.”

In the past, Gucci has been known for using exotic animal skins and furs. They have since banned the use of fur in 2017, yet are still under pressure to ban exotic skins, such as alligator and crocodile. There is currently a petition with over 68,000 signatures.

Despite their new venture into cruelty-free materials, the brand still has a lot to work on. However, it is very exciting to see the progress that they have made in launching this vegan line that both classic Gucci sneaker lovers and ethical vegans can get behind!

Gucci plans to come out with more styles using Demetra in the near future. You can now view and shop the styles online at Gucci .

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photo credit: Gucci

How and Where To Find Vegan Hats

I have a vegan hat obsession. I can’t deny it. Unfortunately, with this obsession comes some obstacles — i.e. most of the quality hats out there are not vegan and contain wool, leather, and suede. I have spent years collecting my hats and have had to have a lot of patience in finding them.

IF YOU’RE SHOPPING SECONDHAND…

I typically get most of my hats through Poshmark — a secondhand shopping app (you can use my code ACSHERM1 to save $10 on your first purchase)! I have some favorite brands that I search for that we will get into later in this post, but I like to use keywords to search for my hats as well like vegan, faux suede, faux leather, and straw. The same goes for other sites/apps like eBay, Mercari, Depop, etc. although I don’t think they are as good for this particular search as Poshmark.

Make sure to confirm the materials with the seller if it isn’t already in the description! You can find brand new hats on from these places as well for a fraction of the cost, not everything has been worn or used before!

IF YOU’RE BUYING DIRECT FROM A RETAILER OR BRAND…

Some brands and companies that I like that have vegan hats are listed below. I have yet to find a big one that is completely vegan, but there are some smaller all vegan brands as well as big brands that have vegan options.

Anthropologie

vegan options from various brands

Artesano

mostly vegan

ASN Hats

vegan options with dedicated section on website

Brixton

vegan options

Free People

vegan options from various brands

Hatsmithe

all vegan

Lack of Color

vegan options

The Modern Cactus Co.

all hats are vegan, footwear is not

Aerosoles Launches Vegan Shoe Line

I am so excited to see more companies come out with vegan collections! Aerosoles launched their Aware (vegan) collection this season and I am here for it! This was my first time trying out the brand and it’s safe to say I am obsessed. Full disclosure, I was gifted these sandals, but I love them so much I have been thinking about purchasing more colors and styles — they were way comfier than I was expecting!

Comfort with any shoe is huge for me, and these have a pillow-like cushioned footbed that squish with every step! According to Aerosoles, they describe the Jamaica sandals as, “Crafted in premium Italian vegan materials, the Jamaica flat sandal stands out as part of our new Aerosoles Aware collection. Ruched uppers imbue this style with dimensional detailing; pillow construction ensures unparalleled comfort. 3/4" Heel Height. Synthetic Upper, Balance Synthetic Materials.”

Check out my favorites from the Aerosoles Aware Collection!