Product Description "Matheson slyly steers us toward consumer goods and services that minimize our earth-stomping human footprint. She's brave enough to say 'buy less of everything,' and even the politically fraught 'buy nothing.' Matheson's genius is to make this seem not only doable, but fun." - Elizabeth Royte, author of Garbage Land and Bottlemania
Want to go green without giving up great style? Welcome to the world of Green Chic. Choosing to be green makes a real difference in the fight against global warming. But did you know that it's also hip, classic and stylish?
Offering up dozens of author-tested, earth-friendly ideas, writer Christie Matheson reveals that being chic and saving the planet aren't mutually exclusive.
Embrace the fabulousness of green living and you can:
- Look gorgeous - Have a killer wardrobe - Feel amazing - Travel in style - Create a home that's an oasis - Host fun parties - Eat incredible food and drink phenomenal wine ... All while feeling more connected to your friends, family and nature.
(And did we mention that green women don't get fat?)
Printed on recycled paper, with a portion of its proceeds going to a green cause, Green Chic is the perfect book for style-savvy readers with a green heart. Can living a chic green lifestyle TRULY make a difference to the planet? You bet your organic cotton sheets it can.
Buying into the Green Chic movement doesn't mean you need to buy more stuff. Avoid products that purport to be green just for the marketing effect: "organic" processed foods; huge, gas-guzzling hybrid SUVs; clothes boasting that they're green just because they're made from "natural" cotton. Claiming to be green is trendy and companies out there are taking advantage. Don't believe all the hype.
10 GREEN CHIC-AND EASY-WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Ditch bottled water: refill a sassy thermos. - Pop little purchases in your purse, not a shopping bag. - Sip biodynamic wine. - Choose cashmere, not acrylic. - Let your hair air dry for a while before you blow dry: less frizz, less energy consumed. - Unplug (and put away) unsightly cell phone chargers. - Opt for quality over quantity in everything you buy. - Cut down on clutter. - Limit your consumption of anything packaged in plastic. - Support local designers.
BUT REMEMBER:
Don't go out and replace everything you own, from your makeup to your wardrobe to your furniture, with (theoretically) ecofriendly products. Being ecofriendly means consuming less, not more. Get in the habit of thinking before you buy. The best time to purchase ecofriendly goods is when you need them. That's when you're in a position to make a choice and express yourself as a green consumer.
Great Information in an Easy to Read FormatMarch 17, 2008 Lisa Shea 20 out of 20 found this review helpful
The title of this book almost makes it sound like you'll be buying $500 dresses from organic hemp. Actually, what Green Chic provides is an extremely useful primer on how to incorporate green living into your daily life in a way that balances usefulness and impact.
Christie Matheson goes over a variety of basics in an easy to understand fashion. She explains the differences between incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, why fluorescent is better, and how to manage the switch. She talks about how wasteful plastic bottled water is, why it causes a lot of harm to the environment to buy water in this fashion, and what your options are.
She goes over the small differences you can make in your daily routine that really add up. Cut your shower length by 2 minutes to save 400 pounds of carbon a year. Uncharge your cell phone charger when not in use for another 100 pounds a year. These are things that are better for you anyway - your skin does much better with short showers - but you might not have thought about them before.
Wash your clothes in cold water. The heat really doesn't do anything at all with modern detergents, and if anything it might set a stain rather than let it wash out. Use recycled paper in your paper towels - if everyone in the US did that just once we'd save 1/2 million trees. Eat local foods, to save on the shipping impact of exhaust and gas.
We live in a consumer society. We buy things without thinking about their impact on our world. If each of us just made small changes - buying recycled paper cards, getting "non-thing" gifts for people like massage gift certificates or restaurant gift certificates, turning off lights when we left rooms - the impact could be phenomenal. Christie points these things out in an engaging manner.
Highly recommended! Then donate your copy to your local library, so even more people can learn from the information, and your own house reduces on its clutter!
Awesome book!February 22, 2008 Chris Santa Maria(California) 11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I had this book on order for a while and it finally came in and it is wonderful. So much of the other green living material I've read is so unrealistic - but this author seems to recognize this up front. She presents a variety of practical ideas (all of which she personally tested) for more eco-friendly living - and there are a lot that I'm going to try. I also like how she gives a lot of environmental detail and background - so I know why I should implement the changes she suggests. And she's made this subject actually fun to read about. I highly recommend it.
Great Read!February 22, 2008 M. Power(New York, NY) 8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book and was SO pleasantly surprised. Unlike so many of the other "green" books out there, Green Chic extends simple examples of how you can make an impact without having to feel like you're compromising style--it's the best of both worlds. The tone is positive, as are the messages, and you don't walk away feeling reprimanded so much as inspired to make changes. Great read; great gift; and even pretty enough to keep out! Enjoy...
Good Primer for Green & Stylish LivingMarch 11, 2008 Norma Lehmeierhartie(New York, USA) 6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Green Chic is a well written and easily understood book for making green lifestyle choices in fashion, personal care products, food and wine, transportation and entertaining. Author Christie Matheson admits that it is impossible to cover all aspects of green living and she basically sticks to what she knows and is passionate about.
The tone is conversational and light; yet she addressed many reasons why beneath the "chic" the "green" is an extremely serious issue. I like that. Anyone who has read about the state of the environment understands how grave a situation the planet is in. Matheson presents the issues and moves on to discuss viable ways to live a green and stylish lifestyle--with energy and enthusiasm.
Author of award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet
EXCELLENT A Easy Yet Effective Way To Be Green!!!May 5, 2008 Karmyn Odowd 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Just for starters im 23 yrs old, and am apart of the generation that is really catching on to green living. Im also a major "tree hugger" as my family would call me lol. I love to do anything i can to help our environment, and that includes getting family members to start doing it to. So i have over the past two years bought several books. This one is my absolute favorite! this is perfect for anyone around my age or younger who wants to start going green! In this book it felt like the author really got down to some honest things we do that are hurting our planet without realizing we are doing it! Her words are truly inspiring. I thought i had this whole green living completely figured out, The author points out some things that im even guilty of. This book gave easy, simple and effective soulutions to living green without huge efforts or spending alot of money. The author of this book did a amazing job. I am so Happy i found this, i have three friends who went out and bought it and are now doing their part to live green. I have given it to two friends as part of their birthday gifts and they got back to me and told me they had finished it in less than two days. Fair price for such a Great Book! buy this book! you wont be let down.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
