8/27/09

Buying clothing at vintage and consignment stores that sell lightly worn designer clothes is a green way to look great and save money, too. In my favorite store in Los Angeles -- Decades Two -- the racks are full of steeply discounted, barely worn designer clothes often resold by celebrities who wear them to red carpet events. When you find a dress, suit or pant size that fits you, make note of the seller's ID number; this person is your size, so there's a good chance other garments they are selling will fit you, too.

8/26/09

Think recycled glass the next time you need wineglasses, tumblers, plates and bowls. Many discount furnishing stores sell a variety of tabletop items made from post-consumer recycled glass, which is collected from curbside pickup. You can usually identify recycled glass two ways: Most have a greenish tint to the finish or have a small sticker with the word "RECYCLED" on it. And recycled glass is affordable, so being ecological is economical, too.

8/25/09

When you find the perfect shade of lipstick, don't toss out the tube when it's time to get a new one. Look for refillable cases that let you unscrew the old lipstick and replace it with a new one. Aveda (www.aveda.com) sells a refillable kit that's also made from a resin of natural materials and a high percentage of recycled aluminum.