Vegan Fashion

Being a vegan isn't just about eating animal-free foods.  It means creating a better life for yourself, the planet, and the inhabitants of the world, human or not.  That means being conscious of what we wear and the products we use.

This does not mean you have to trade in being a fashionista to be a veganista!  In fact, there are many trendy vegan companies and designers, so fear not.

There is always Stella McCartney, who is an inspiration as a person and a designer.  It also helps that she's the daughter of my second favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.  Paul is a vegan and a steward of the environment, which is probably why Stella turned out how so well.  Her story is amazing.  It makes me smile to see someone with such great fashion sense making a difference :)

Love her!!

So if you don't eat meat, why would you wear leather?  Some people think this is crazy, but it is very important.  One of the first things I did when I started my new lifestyle was rid my closet of all leather.  I didn't have fur - it has ALWAYS freaked me out.  But now some of my friends have the leather jackets and nice shoes that I felt guilty wearing.

And there are plenty of alternatives!  I mean, my closet isn't in shambles because I got rid of leather.  There are plenty of cute things out there.  And I adore my Coach purse, but it no longer accompanies me when running errands.  Instead, my $15 pleather Target purse does.

Look at these adorable handbags by Stella McCartney.  Or shoes?!  My god, I'm obsessed with shoes.  If it's Steve Madden, I'm probably going to try to buy it, after the "sniff" test, of course.  Matt makes fun of me because I smell shoes/bags/furniture before purchase if there is no tag to insure that it's not leather or suede.  

Steve Madden makes some shoes that are vegan, and freakishly cute!  But the best place to go is Target.  I have an awesome pleather jacket from that little gem, and countless pairs of shoes.  They are cheaper and animal free :)

I was reading one of my favorite blogs today, The Skinny Vegan.  She just posted a piece about vegan nail laquers which I found very interesting.  The product is by SpaRitual, and their website is phenomenal.   Yup, I'm probably going to buy into that one.

Other than that, make sure you check labels to make sure there are no animal byproducts.  For example, I used to have a nail polish drying solution that I found had mink oil in it.  Goodbye!

Make up is also very, very important.   Not only for the animals, but you put it on your face!  If the company doesn't test on animals, they are probably higher quality. 

One of my favorites is NARS.  I have their lip gloss and eye shadows.  It applies like a dream!  And NARS has never, and doesn't ever test on animals.  They even state it on their website; read it here.

Bare Escentuals (makes Bare Minerals) is another company that doesn't test on animals.  They, along with NARS, are very high quality.  I hate that makeup that feels like you have a mask on.  I prefer feeling like there is nothing on your face.  And besides being kind to animals, these products are luxurious and beyond comfortable.  Love!

Make sure that there is a seal on the products (usually on the back where they list the ingredients) that insure no animal testing.  Or you can check out a number of websites and blogs, such as Peta and The Vegetarian Site. 

When in doubt, check their website, or just call the company. 

It is a learning process for all of us, but the most important thing is to be vigilant and read labels. 

what in the world is this blog about!?

Hi there! I decided to create this blog after overwhelming my other blog, dedicated to my family and our travels, with vegan knowledge. Not everyone appreciated it, and that's understandable. So here I am, with a blog dedicated to my evolution into a Veganista.

A little background on me:

My entire life I have preferred vegetables to meat. I have never enjoyed a steak, hamburger, or any type of pork. Through my childhood and adolescent years I flirted with vegetarianism. I never really committed because of my love for seafood and chicken.

My Junior year of college I worked for The Auburn University Sustainability Initiative, dedicated to fighting climate change. It was there that I learned about the glory of farmer's markets, organic delights, and creating a healthy diet for myself, as well as mother earth.

About two years ago, I finally made the switch to vegetarian, and noticed how healthy and alive I felt. It was hard at first, as I adored Chick-Fil-A grilled sandwiches, but I learned to abstain. And through this, I saw I had the will power to change my life in other ways.

My husband and I also watched "Food Inc" and it cleared away any doubts I had about my new lifestyle choice. Then I started reading book after book on the benefits of vegetarianism, and I knew I would never go back.

But the icing on the dairy-free cake was the adoption of our dog, Patton. He has completely changed my life in so many ways, but the most telling to me is that by looking into his precious eyes, I know I can never eat another animal.

That brings me to my current situation. A few weeks ago I decided to go all the way. Full fledged vegetarian, or as it is more commonly known, vegan. A vegan diet consists of no animal products. I'm still learning the ropes, as yesterday I discovered that honey is not vegan. I think that's the hardest thing for me, though at first I thought it would be cheese.

So why vegan? I mean, isn't giving up animal flesh enough? For most people, of course. But there are many reasons I chose to become a vegan.

First of all, my health. I mean, cause it is all about me, right? Ha! Studies show that diets low in or free of animal products are consistent with lower risks of heart disease, hyper-tension, obesity, and many forms of cancer. But let's be vain for a minute. If you are a woman, you know how hard it is to lose weight, and then keep it off. As a sixteen year-old I had the metabolism of a rabbit. (Note to self, learn how to bottle adolescent metabolism, and make billions).

But seriously, you work so hard to lose that weight, and then cheat a couple of times with ice cream, which leads into two slices of cake, which ends up being an entire pizza. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

Erase the dairy products and what do you have? Well, you probably wouldn't eat all of those things. But, you could make the vegan alternative. And though you should still consume all treats in moderation, they are substantially better for you! There are so many baking and cooking alternatives out there, and I will address that in this blog. But to wrap this point up, I chose vegan first and foremost for my health.

Second, for our furry (scaly and feathered) friends. I forced myself to watch "Food Inc" and other videos on meat processing. After thousands of tears, I vowed to remember my baby, Patton, and steer clear of meat. Some people say,"Well, they're just animals. They don't think or feel". Really? Do you have a pet? What makes your dog/cat/snake/insert family friend here any different than a cow or a chicken? I challenge everyone to watch "Food Inc" and "Temple Grandin", along with clips of slaughter, if you feel up to it. I don't even want to address what these animals go through, because I'm on the brink of tears as I type this. But even if you think my lifestyle is a bunch of hokum, please connect with your food. It's easier to disconnect from any feelings so you can enjoy a nice meal, but I can promise you won't feel the same after watching a precious animal get slaughtered. Your hamburger is not just a sandwich. It once lived, more often than not, a very painful life to become your lunch.

And along with animals and personal health, I became a vegan for the well-being of the planet. This may be one of the most important points, seeing as we only have one. Raising cattle, chickens, fish, what have you, has a detrimental effect on the earth. From methane production, to pollution from processing plants into water sources, to the grain and water used to raise animals for their meat or by products. It's absurd how illogical it is to raise cattle like soy or corn, and so unsustainable.

Now I know PETA has a reputation to the displeasure of many, but please just take a look at this fact sheet for a second:

That kind of brings it all into perspective.

But I digress...

I became a vegan for several reasons, and not every vegan has the same views. But if you are looking to embark on a new adventure, like me, into a world of health and enlightenment, welcome!

I look forward to trying new recipes (especially baked goods!!) and posting them on the blog. The funniest part about trying new things is that you will inevitably screw something up. And my guinea pig, I mean, husband, will be beyond honest with me. So it should be interesting :)