Ethical fashion shopping guide for spring/summer

FASHION DILEMMA How can I mark Earth Day in style? Here at Fashion Statement Towers we feel sure that you are a responsible, considerate reader. No doubt you always give up your seat to pregnant women, recycle all your recyclables and eat all your greens. Or even vote for them. So we are equally sure that Earth Day has long been carefully marked in your diary, especially as this year is a big birthday - Earth Day is turning 40, which as we all know is the new 30. Frankly, if you don't, you are clearly desperately unfashionable, as one billion people in 190 countries will be marking Earth Day. That's even more people than wear skinny jeans! Fashion Statement is not going to tell you what to do (apart from you - yes you, by the computer! Turn that light off, it's broad daylight! And stop running the water while you brush your teeth! Tsk) to make the planet a better place, but we are going to tell you where to shop. Because if there's one thing Fashion Statement knows, it's ethical fashion shopping. Just ask our bank manager. Those with an earth-friendly disposition will surely want to buy organic - see the Environmental Justice Foundation on cotton if you want to know more - and luckily everyone and his eco-dog are now producing organic cotton ranges. Probably all made in sweatshops by two-year-olds of course, but hey, it's organic, right? (FS has got on its soapbox now, to oh-so-subtly plead that you buy Fairtrade organic cotton). Of course, when FS rules this world, there will be a chic department store - we're not over ambitious, we'll settle for Harvey Nichols-sized rather than Selfridges - filled with nothing but ethical purchases. Until that day comes, there are two virtual fashion stores - fashionconscience.com and Ascension . The former is the more fashion-led, and is packed to the virtual rafters with seriously stylish brands like Minna , Noir , Fin and Viridis Luxe . Ascension, while still more stylish than a front-row's worth of couture-clad starlets, has a more wallet-friendly range, including Ethletic , Annie Greenabelle and its own range, Ascension Originals . Moving on to the individual brands, the original and still the best in many ways is People Tree - fabulous womenswear, on-trend menswear, designer collaborations, cute kids clothes - what more do you want , people? Oh, accessories? FS forgives you: shoes and bags are very very important. FS's favourites are Beyond Skin and Bourgeois Boheme for vegan footwear, Terra Plana for recycled leather (some vegan styles too) and Matt & Nat , Aura Que and new find Magpie Accessories for bags. Bourgeois Boheme are actually offering 15% off for Earth Day (see below). Finally, jewellery. The mining of precious stones and metals has a truly apalling environmental record so do, lovely people, stick to those who source ethical materials, such as the lovely Fifi Bijoux , Leblas and Ingle and Rhode . So there we have it - there is no excuse for the true fashionista not to dress in Earth Day style. But remember, people - the Earth is for life, not just for Earth Day. And if you need more inspiration, you can visit our very own ethical fashion directory . BANG ON TREND Retro sunglasses FS did for a moment flirt with working a volcano-chic/ash-grey theme this week, before deciding that perhaps there are levels to which even we won't sink (rise?). So instead we've opted to celebrate another meteorological phenomenon - sunshine. It's a strange old week in England when spring sunshine doesn't result in front-page tabloid pictures of goosebumped girls in bikinis on Brighton beach. You'd have thought they've had real news to report or something. Anyway, this week FS has been enjoying the sunshine and looking for some lovely new - and yet retro - sunglasses just for you. Over, then, to Oliver Goldsmith, who as all true fashionistas will know, virtually invented sunglasses-as-fashion-attire - his were the first to appear in Vogue. So that's both a retro and an iconic purchase, dahlings. There are some fabulous frames - we particularly love the Kolus (£195) and Koko (£205) frames (see pictures above; call 08450 533 440 or visit olivergoldsmith.com for stockists). Sticking with the upper end, Oliver Peoples' latest collection has a fine collaboration with indie actress Zooey Deschanel. The style (£152) is a hefty nod to the ever-fashionable Wayfarer, but with more of a vintage feel. We like the understated look, particularly the lack of branding. And talking of Wayfarers, Ray Ban is reinterpreting their iconic style. The Ray Ban 4140 has a slightly smaller frame than the classic Wayfarer and comes in some nice tortoiseshell shades (£76). But if you prefer to stick to the original, we like these dual colour Wayfarers from Asos.com (£120). Too pricey? Topman has a, er, loving recreation of the style for £10. And remember, any sunglasses style that is good enough for the President of the United States of America (see coolspotters.com ) is good enough for the likes of you. If your retro tastes run to the oversized, how about these 60s-style frames from New Look (£10)? Prefer a more nerd-chic look? These black frames from Cheap Monday at Urban Outfitters (£30) will tick the right boxes. Too masculine? How about these clear plastic frames from Asos.com (currently reduced to £10) or these oversized statement specs from Topshop (£15)? Finally, if you want something to keep your new sunnies in, we like this sunglasses case by Topshop for a bargain £6. FASHIONISTA OF THE WEEK Yes, yes, we know, model in 'looking stunning' shocker. But Helena Christensen looks even more beauteous than usual in this Stella McCartney lace minidress. Has she actually aged a single day in the last 20 years? FASHION GRAVEYARD Fashion Statement is utterly baffled by this dress. Is it made from rejected 1980s office shirts? Is it inspired by some kind of weird Florence Nightingale/Boer War nurses uniform fetish? Was there a moment where Katherine Heigl thought this was in ANY way flattering? Do those stripes make your head hurt when you look at them for more than three seconds? Did a deranged stylist say, "Ooh, you know what will really play down the Sloaney vibe of those stripes? Pearls!"? QUOTE OF THE WEEK My true passion belongs to fashion. I fulfilled a lifelong dream by starting my own label. It's my baby. Although I'm now in my fourth season, I always feel nervous before and during the show. As a Spice Girl I could hide behind the other four girls, during my presentations I'm totally responsible. Victoria Beckham in Vogue Germany. Hide behind the other four girls? Vocally, maybe ... SHOPPING NEWS Loft Design by … , the Paris-based luxury fashion brand, is opening its second London store on 1 May. The new store will be at 36 Marylebone Road and will stock the label's signature understated casualwear. To celebrate Earth Day, Bourgeois Boheme is offering 15% off its ethical shoes, made from faux leather and suede. Just enter "EarthDay" at checkout, today and tomorrow only. OUT AND ABOUT This week is London's Alternative Fashion Week. A free fashion event is running all week in Spitalfields Traders Market, Crispin Place, Brushfield St, London E1. A series of open fashion shows will take place every day at 1.15pm, showcasing the work of fashion students and recent graduates, while a market around the catwalk sells clothes, textiles and accessories. Tickets are free; visit alternativesarts.co.uk for more details. The Grace Kelly exhibition at the V&A (read Jess Cartner-Morley on it here ) runs until 26 September. The exhibition displays the most glamorous outfits from her life, on and off the screen. Audiences can fawn over her 1955 Oscar dress, designer pieces from her favourite haute couturiers and, of course, her Hermes Kelly bag. Admission is £6; visit vam.ac.uk for details. Shoppers in London on 13 May are invited to the Carnaby Street shopping event, from 5-9pm. You can get 20% off at over 100 shops, restaurants and bars. Register at carnaby.co.uk for your free ticket. OFFCUTS Heading to a festival this summer? Or just want to look like you are? Jess Cartner-Morley has the latest on what you should be wearing. Creative sort? Read all about Paris's new sewing cafe . Fed up with the grind and just want to escape, even from (gasp!) fashion? Try your luck in our competition to win an eco-break in Cornwall . For all the latest fashion news, visit guardian.co.uk/fashion News to tell us? Email [email protected] Follow us on Twitter