Guest blogger Livia Firth's blog, brought to you by Vogue.com. Fashion as it happens, reported direct from the team in Vogue House. <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/cannes-film-festival" title="Cannes Film Festival 2012 Livia Firth blog"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/lfirth_emcgovern_v_21may12_rex_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/16/cannes-film-festival-2012/gallery"> Cannes Film Festival</a> is the epitome of glamour. And La Promenade de La Croisette is where it all happens.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>When the GCC got the opportunity to be part of all this and to celebrate the restoration of the iconic <em>Once Upon a Time in America</em> by the late master of movies, Sergio Leone - well, frankly we were beside ourselves with excitement!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/16/cannes-film-festival-2012/gallery"> SEE ALL THE CANNES 2012 PICTURES</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>'<em>Once</em>' (as we'll call it for expediency's sake) has been beautifully restored by Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation, in partnership with <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=GUCCI">Gucci</a>. The whole event brings together things I love: Italy, a movie I grew up with (Ennio Morricone's theme is a habitual ipod favourite!) and my friend <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=MCGOVERN">Elizabeth McGovern</a> who starred in the movie when she was just 23. For this challenge we got to work with Gucci too.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As well as being a brilliant actress and a style icon in her own right, she has been a huge supporter of the GCC from our early days.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Regular followers might remember she rocked Henrietta Ludgate at the when she attended the <a href="http://bit.ly/Jd5fTr">Royal Television Awards</a>&nbsp;and at the <a href="http://bit.ly/JpUiCI">GCC Golden Globes event</a> earlier this year at Soho House in LA.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It's always a lot more fun to have a friend with you and also helped to settle my nerves as Cannes red carpet is pretty intimidating.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Elizabeth and I began the afternoon getting ready in the Hotel Du Cap (also a rather iconic location!) with makeup artist, Karen Alder&nbsp; and a magical large bag of <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=EARLE">Liz Earle's</a> new organic makeup range. I am now addicted to Liz Earle's illuminator pens of all shades, which contour your face and take years off you!).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Working to GCC criteria, Frida Giannini and her team at Gucci made two beautiful gowns for me and Elizabeth. For this challenge, &nbsp;they worked using organic silk, georgette and crepe, dyed using natural wood pigmentation. In an ivory gown made from certified gown,&nbsp; Elizabeth looked simply stunning. My floor length gown in black with an open back and bow detail was unashamedly romantic but quite different from anything I've worn so far. Yet again, the GCC is making me push my style boundaries as well as introducing me to new techniques and materials.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Both of as got to wear pieces from British goldsmith and ethical jewellery champion, Anna Loucah. Handmade in the UK, the pieces used 18-carat white Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold and Australian Jeweltree certified diamonds. I topped the look off with earrings by Calleija from traceable Australian diamonds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Au revoir from the GCC!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/16/cannes-film-festival-2012/gallery"> SEE ALL THE CANNES RED CARPET ACTION</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">READ THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/cannes-film-festival" title="Cannes Film Festival 2012 Livia Firth blog">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:86787 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/cannes-film-festival Mon, 21 May 2012 11:25:44 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/met-ball-2012" title="The Met Ball 2012 - Livia Firth and Cameron Diaz"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/cdiaz_metball_v_8may12_rex_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>New York is fun, electric, stimulating, open and utterly glamorous. It is cool. What a shame then that whenever I arrive there I invariably begin singing&nbsp;<em>New York New York</em>&nbsp;under my breath in a constant refrain.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last night I tried to supress this compulsive Sinatra tribute act to attend THE fashion event of the year; the annual&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/8/met-ball-2012/gallery/1"> Costume Institute Gala</a>, better known as the&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/8/met-ball-2012/gallery/1"> Met Ball</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/8/met-ball-2012/gallery/1"> SEE ALL THE MET BALL PHOTOS</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Held at the glorious Metropolitan Museum it is organized by Anna Wintour and&nbsp;<em>Vogue</em>&nbsp;US, and it's the Mecca for all fashion designers, an opportunity for them to showcase their most opulent creations. Compared to the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=OSCARS">Oscars</a>ceremony, where the carpet is slightly more conventional and women aspire to a more traditional "shiny" look - the Met Ball is all about "show". Being over the top is positively encouraged.&nbsp;Let's face it, that's what a 'ball' is.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And where there's an opportunity for sumptuous gowns and fashion statements, the Green Carpet Challenge must surely go. In fact, the Met has been a big influence on the GCC. Regular followers may recall that last year, Colin and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=STELLA">Stella McCartney</a>&nbsp;were the night's hosts. In celebration, Stella made me a w&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/03/livias-stella-mccartney-dress-at-met-ball"> onderful green gown</a>&nbsp;(later auctioned for Oxfam). This was our first GCC collaboration with a huge name designer and it opened a door. In the last few months we have worked with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=ford">Tom Ford</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=valentino">Valentino</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=armani">Armani</a>, not to mention some true Hollywood royalty.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/03/livias-stella-mccartney-dress-at-met-ball"> SEE LIVIA'S 2011 MET BALL GOWN</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>But they don't come more dazzling than Ms&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=diaz">Cameron Diaz</a>&nbsp;who last night joined the Green Carpet Challenge at the Met Ball wearing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=STELLA">Stella McCartney</a>. This glittering dress was made from organic silk in collaboration with the GCC. On to this, Stella added thousands of beautiful glass beads and crystal chain, which gave us a new challenge for the future as we work on traceability and sourcing embellished materials. After the insight we've had with fairtrade and traceable jewellery and gemstones, this is something I can't wait to get started on! To have an artist such as Cameron joining the GCC is a huge vote of confidence and extremely exciting.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This year the guests of honour this year were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=prada">Miuccia Prada</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=carey">Carey Mulligan</a>&nbsp;(no I am not going to reveal what Carey's wedding dress was like just in case you thought of asking except to say that Miuccia designed it and it was a totally beautiful affair!). And this year's Met Ball launches a seminal exhibition,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=elsa">Elsa Schiaparelli</a>&nbsp;and Miuccia Prada's Impossible Conversations (it runs until August - go if you're in New York!).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And so a few months ago I found myself knocking on the door of Prada's offices in Milan to present the GCC project and ask the great design house to collaborate on a GCC gown for the Met Ball. Although certainly not an "impossible conversation", I'm not sure I convinced Miuccia of the necessity of green fashion but the hallmark of a great design house is that they were so willing to experiment. I am hugely proud of what this gown has achieved: it represents a GCC first as it's the first time a designer has used so many different GCC materials in one single piece. And so the black panelled gown mixes certified silks, tulle and chiffon with sustainably harvested ostrich feathers and end-of-line British made lace.It's testament to the inventiveness of Guisi Bettoni (who put together our GCC fabric&nbsp;library) that even the ostrich feathers are certified! Jewellery by Monique Pean and clutch by Donna Karan from her project Naturally&nbsp;Haiti.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As for the style, the great fashion writer Sarah Mower recently said of Miuccia Prada, "she is the designer who changed the way the world dresses". Well, I can tell you she certainly changed my idea of what I could wear on the red carpet. Regular followers know that I have a thing for old school Hollywood glamour, well that was essentially thrown out in favour of gothic and dark. I may never go back! This more sophisticated intense mood created by the wonderful Prada dress was only slighltly undone by the faint sound of someone singing&nbsp;<em>New York New York</em>, under her breath. Oh well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/5/8/met-ball-2012/gallery/1"> SEE ALL THE MET BALL PHOTOS</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">READ THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/met-ball-2012" title="The Met Ball 2012 - Livia Firth and Cameron Diaz">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:86492 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/5/met-ball-2012 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:39:30 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/03/tom-fords-green-goddess" title="Julianne Moore in Tom Ford - Green Carpet Challenge "><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/g_j/JMoore1_V_9mar12_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Julianne Moore ©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Fresh from a triumphant <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/02/07/oscar-nominees-luncheon/gallery"> Oscars</a> the GCC continues in spectacular style.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We've only just begun, as Karen Carpenter sang. We have so many more beautiful gowns to reveal to you as we get more and more opportunities to work with our favourite A-list actresses and design icons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Julianne Moore wearing Tom Ford for the GCC is a high point in the history and progression of sustainable style, never mind the GCC. This cowl necked cocktail dress in absinthe green with velvet sleeves takes my breath away. Julianne - surely the most graceful woman on the planet? - wore this for the Washington D.C. premiere of HBO's <em>Game Change</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I adore both Tom and Julianne. They are both friends to whom I'm immensely grateful for the way they've run with this project. Tom was characteristically interested in and committed to the challenge. The sustainable beauty he produced (I mean Julianne and the dress of&nbsp;course) is also cheekily subversive. In Game Change Julianne incredibly transforms into Sarah Palin, arguably the un-greenest woman on the planet. So we have indirectly got some green fashion on Sarah Palin. How's that for a GCC victory?!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tom worked to our GCC criteria and chose to recycle velvet from a&nbsp;vintage dress and vintage fabric panels</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">READ THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/03/tom-fords-green-goddess" title="Julianne Moore in Tom Ford - Green Carpet Challenge ">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:85493 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/03/tom-fords-green-goddess Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:50:23 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/27/oscars-2012" title="Meryl Streep Takes Green Carpet Challenge with Livia Firth "><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/livia03_v_27feb12_PR_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><br/><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/27/oscars-2012/viewgallery#!image-number=2" title="Meryl Streep Takes Green Carpet Challenge with Livia Firth "><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/k_n/MStreep_V_27feb12_getty_b_75x113.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a>&nbsp; <p>OK, so here are five things I love about Meryl Streep:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1. <em>Mamma Mia</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>2. The twinkle in her eye (constant).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>3. She is a brilliant actress (constant).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>4. Any woman can relate to her (also constant).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>5. She embraced the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) with so much enthusiasm.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, tonight Meryl Streep joins the Green Carpet Challenge wearing Lanvin's first ever custom made eco gown. The gown is gold, full-length and made from Eco Certified Fabric sourced with help from the GCC. I could not be more delighted! Can you tell?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em>Meryl Streep</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> Getty Images</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Meanwhile in other GCC <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/02/07/oscar-nominees-luncheon/gallery"> Oscar</a> news, I get the closest I'll ever be to being a Bond Girl. Tonight at the 84th Academy Awards I'm walking the red carpet up to the Kodak Theatre with three dashing men all embracing sustainable style. We're developing a real thing for menswear this year through the GCC. The Oscars are no exception.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So we are extremely honoured to dress the Academy Awards Supporting Actor nominee Kenneth Branagh (<em>My Week With Marilyn</em>) in an Ermenegildo Zegna navy Made-to-Measure tuxedo&nbsp;created with&nbsp;eco-friendly Merino wool. (The wool is&nbsp;sourced from Australian non "mulesed" Merino sheep).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And also wearing Ermenegildo Zegna for the Green Carpet Challenge is Academy Awards Leading Actor nominee Demian Bichir (<em>A Better Life</em>).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For Damian we went for a made-to-measure tuxedo&nbsp;designed&nbsp;with&nbsp;TROFEO 600 fabric, which is a blend of&nbsp;superfine wool and silk.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Of course I will never forget last year's Oscars when Colin won the Oscar for <em>The King's Speech</em>. Tonight he wears that Tom Ford wool tuxedo from last year. He joins the GCC by virtue of recycling!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth&nbsp;©&nbsp;Getty Images</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As for me, I get to wear my dream gown. The story behind tonight's GCC Oscar gown (our third GCC Oscar gown in fact) began last autumn where I entered Valentino Palace, where the couture pieces are still designed, cut, sewn and created by an expert team of seamstress who have been there for many years. The rooms here are filled with skilful women wearing white aprons, and sometimes donning gloves so as not to mark the delicate fabrics and embroideries that they still do by hand.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is a painstaking operation where it takes many weeks to make a single gown.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Working with this great design house with Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli at the helm, we found the point at which our ethics met with their finely tuned aesthetic.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The resulting gown absolutely appeals to the romantic side of my nature, but has that high sheen that the red carpet demands. In fabric terms it's a hybrid dress, combining an amazingly versatile recycled PET fabric along with the Valentino's house silk for the beautiful sheer sleeves of the gown.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Back in Rome under the expert hands of Valentino's head seamstress the corset was built - really, she should be termed an engineer!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So tonight, courtesy of some of the world's most talented seamstresses and designers I get to go to the ball in real style.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The jewellery is from Calleija, sustainably sourced and traceable pink diamonds (they are breathtaking) from the Argyle mines in Australia.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">READ THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/02/07/oscar-nominees-luncheon/gallery"> SEE ALL THE OSCARS 2012 RED CARPET STYLE&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>This blog has been sponsored by American Express.</em></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/27/oscars-2012" title="Meryl Streep Takes Green Carpet Challenge with Livia Firth ">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:85186 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/27/oscars-2012 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:25:20 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/bafta-glory" title="Livia Firth Green carpet challenge BAFTA Awards"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirth_LFirth_Gq_12feb12_Getty_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><br/><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/bafta-glory/viewgallery#!image-number=2" title="Livia Firth Green carpet challenge BAFTA Awards"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/s_v/VDavis_GQ_12feb12_PA_b_75x113.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a>&nbsp;<a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/bafta-glory/viewgallery#!image-number=3" title="Livia Firth Green carpet challenge BAFTA Awards"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/k_n/MFassbender_GQ_12feb12_Getty_b_75x113.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a>&nbsp; <p></p> <p><em>Colin and Livia Firth ©&nbsp;Getty Images</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is a historic night for the GCC. Joining me walking the sustainable fashion walk at tonight's BAFTAs are the wonderful&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=viola">Viola Davis</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=fassbender">Michael Fassbender</a>&nbsp;and someone who is no strange to this&nbsp;challenge:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=firth">Colin Firth</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It takes a particularly cool and forward thinking actress to come with us on the GCC. Luckily we struck gold with Viola Davis, who has also revealed herself not just as a prodigiously talented actress but as a true fashion icon during the past few weeks on the world's red carpets. We were able to pair her with one of the fashion greats for tonight's BAFTAs:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/designer/valentino">Valentino</a>. I hope you find the combination and this first ever eco Valentino gown as breathtaking as I do.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em>Viola Davis ©&nbsp;PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Behind the scenes we've been unflappable and everything has gone completely to plan. This is a downright fib. On a scale of calm to blind panic, we were somewhere near the latter when the fabric for Viola's dress got stuck in an epic snowstorm on the way to Turin. If it weren't for the valliant attempts of my dear friend Giorgio taking the fabric from Milan to Rome on the train, I think Viola would be wearing actual soda cans rather than the miraculously recycled ones.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And tonight's important for anyone that worries that menswear gets left out of these debates. Let's hear it for the boys! Michael Fassbender and Colin both wear tuxedos by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/designer/giorgio-armani">Giorgio Armani</a>&nbsp;made from ethical wool with accents from recycled fabric, made to our own GCC specifications. This is the second part of a very rewarding collaboration with Giorgio Armani.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em><em>Michael Fassbender ©&nbsp;Getty Images</em></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Continuing a theme, I am also in a tuxedo tonight as I swap my old Hollywood look for a sleek, sophisticated (provided I carry it off!) boyish one. The hard work has of course already been done by the genius of UK design,<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/designer/paul-smith">Sir Paul Smith</a>. He is one of my heroes and I am thrilled that he's taken up the GCC for the BAFTAs. Contrary to what I would've thought, the tux makes me feel incredibly feminine, and quite naughty (I know, I know - too much information!)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Anyway, working with Paul Smith and his team of highly skilled, passionate people was like a dream come true (all the behind the scenes at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">Eco-Age.com</a>). His ethos, supply chain knowledge and commitment to real fashion skills are totally inspiring. Paul, if you're ever in need of an Italian intern with some sewing skills and her own sustainable dress suit, you know where I am!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">READ THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/bafta-glory" title="Livia Firth Green carpet challenge BAFTA Awards">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84828 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/02/bafta-glory Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:41:24 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/30/the-gcc-goes-to-paris" title="The GCC hits Couture Fashion Week"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/o_r/RArmani_V_25jan12_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p>The GCC this year is not just about turning red carpets a bit greener, but opening doors for and to the fashion industry. I'll confess I'm something of a fashion week ingénu. Previousl,y I've only ever attended Estethica at London Fashion Week watching emerging ethical&nbsp;designers. I thought that was exciting enough, but now it's time for me to become a special green envoy to the Paris Haute Couture shows. .</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I am under the wing of my friend the brilliant Franca Sozzani (editor of <em>Vogue</em> Italia). Franca is also the ambassador for Fashion 4 Development, which the <a href="http://www.eco-age.com/green-carpet-challenge">GCC</a> supports, as well as Oxfam.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My first question was "how do I pack for this?" I'm treating it like a very long green carpet, which just happens to last a couple of days. My travel outfit is Fifties with a bit of punk twist - Henrietta Ludgate jacket, recycled leather full skirt with studs on the waistband, Prada ballet flats and an old black T-shirt which I bought 10 years ago in LA.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/green-carpet-challenge">CATCH UP ON GCC NEWS AT ECO-AGE.COM</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DAY ONE</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>On arrival I meet with Franca Sozzani and Alber Elbaz, Lanvin's creative director. I had underestimated how full-on this time of year is for the fashion community. "Between August and Christmas last year I had two days off," Elbaz tells me, "I desperately need a holiday because this is when I am at my most creative. When you stop and get bored, this is when all the best ideas arrive." No chance. As Alber hurries off, the Roger Vivier gang arrive. Regular GCC followers will know Bruno Frissoni, creative director of RV has been a stalwart GCC supporter, regularly fishing out old bits of material to upcycle into an amazing shoe.</p> <p></p> <p>For the evening events (a quick change - in fact everything here involves speedy turnarounds) tonight I've gone for Eva Zingoni. This is upcycling at its most glamorous. I've gone for black trousers with tiny embroidered roses on them, and a chiffon shirt with matching embroidery. My skull necklace in recycled bronze (available on Eco-Age.com from 27 Feb) tops off the look.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And it's off to Chanel. I cannot wait to meet Karl Lagerfeld, but really the night before his show, how stressed will he be? Is he really going to want to chat about the finer points of the Green Carpet Challenge? Could this be a more iconic view? Ines de La Fressage is there taking pictures, while Amanda Harlech supervises the models. The clothes are the most stunning I have ever seen. And there is Mr Karl Lagerfeld."'I'm so sorry Mr Lagerfeld," I say in a very small voice, "this is such a busy time for you. I can't imagine what it's like for someone to turn up at such a stressful moment." He takes off those very famous glasses, looks me in the eye and says "Stressed?&nbsp;I love this! There's no stress at all!"</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>He is just warm and absolutely concerned about what he can do to help the GCC. I keep staring at him and the ridiculous vision of elegance around us. Is this a dream?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If it is, I rather like it. I drag myself away from the divine Mr Lagerfeld and return to the hotel room I'm sharing with Warly Tomei, our GCC fashion fixer and my great friend. It already resembles a teenage bedroom - a sprawling pile of clothes, shoes and generic mess: how do fashion editors keep everything tidy?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DAY TWO</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Time for the Chanel show. To my huge surprise, I find myself at the entrance of an aeroplane. I'm about to embark on a flight to Planet Fashion. With characteristic aplomb, Lagerfeld has set his show in a mocked up jet. There are seats, flight attendants complete with trolley and the ambiance of a plane ride when that was still a lovely experience (think Pan Am in its heyday rather than a budget carrier).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The music begins and the most fabulous looking models appear in stunning clothes. From the beads, to the embroidery to the materials - everything is blue. It is beautiful.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Then it's on to the Roger Vivier headquarters for Bruno Frisoni's collection preview lunch. I chat so much to Bruno that I almost forget to go to the Armani show. In a kind-of homage to superman and his phone box transformations, I use Ines de La Fressage's beautiful pink office to change into my new Giorgio Armani cocktail dress (made from the same NewLife, recycled plastic bottle fabric he used for the GCC Golden Globes). And now I am running in heels, like a proper fashion week person.</p> <p></p> <p>At the Grand Palais it's time for Armani. The atmosphere is electric.</p> <p></p> <p>Roberta Armani greets me with a huge smile and hug. Sitting near Jessica Chastain and Cameon Diaz we all begin chatting. Jessica's phone rings. It is her agent in LA. "Congratulations you are nominated for an Oscar," he tells her. Jessica's mouth is open, here eyes are wide with surprise, her life is changed for ever. She drops the phone into her lap. We all cheer and clap, camera flashes go off all around.</p> <p></p> <p>What an amazing moment. Then the lights go off, the music starts and here we go at Armani. The colours are green and black. From the magic of Chanel, the uber sexy Armani woman is in the house!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After Armani, it's off to meet Stefano Tisci at Givenchy in Palace Vendome. I bump into the gorgeous Cameron Diaz again, wandering through the exhibition Tisci has created to showcase his pieces. This is high brow fashion, so rarefied I consider taking my shoes off so I can tip toe around, but in person Stefano has a huge warm smile. He cannot believe the dress I'm wearing is made from recycled plastic bottles (in a good way!).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Next Giambattista Valli at his office. I'm lost in my own Cinderella fantasy. What a dream his collection is and as for his enthusiasm, well I'm beginning to feel that we can all change the world! That's one thing I really notice: all the designers are curious, warm and very interested in learning about the GCC and new materials and how we can work together. Now I understand why the world of fashion is one of the most intoxicating places you can be.</p> <p></p> <p>Another quick accessories change. This time I put on my skull necklace, high black heels (what else?!) and an Eva Zingoni beautiful coat complete the look. At the Armani dinner I sit with Roberta Armani and Jessica Chastain. We make plans for future green carpets and toast Jessica's Oscar nomination with a huge cake.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DAY THREE</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I wake up actually wondering if I can make it through the day. The shows are not a sprint, they are a marathon and I'm starting to realise you need phenomenal endurance (it's all compounded by the heels!). I see the autumn/winter previews of two of my favourite eco brands: Eva Zingoni and Kami Organics.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Then off to meet Stefano Pilati to discuss YSL and the Green Carpet Challenge. Again, he is so kind and supportive and very clued up about traceability issues. He updates me about the fascinating project he has worked on in Burkina Faso with a women's cooperative creating bags.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And now for the last of my Haute Couture shows: Valentino at Hotel Salomon, the old de Rothschild mansion. The backdrop confirms the stature and beauty of the clothes we are about to see. (I am unable to describe the true beauty of these clothes - <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2012/couture/valentino"> you need to see them</a>!).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last autumn I visited Valentino House in Rome and Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccili aetelier. I found the rooms full of these women in their white coats - some old, some young, as skills were passed from generation to generation truly inspiring. To come face to face with their work, these beautiful gowns you see why it takes weeks and months to make Valentino Couture. The pieces in front of me are pure masterpieces.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the great things about being in this environment is that you get to see all your fashion heroes (and heroines). Fashion journalist Sarah Mower is sitting next to me. She was described somewhere as providing commentary "so sharp she could shred leather". Well, she certainly cut the whole "It Bag" phenomenon down to size in a fantastic piece she wrote. She gets to the heart of consumerism and waste without once mentioning eco or green, ushering in a new fashion ethos which is what we're all about here!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Indeed, all the big fashion editors and journalists were in attendace from Franca Sozzani, Hamish Bowles, Grace Coddington and Suzy Menkes. All looking serious and scribbling furiously into their notebooks. What struck me is the level of scrutiny at these events. The pressure for the designers must be immense. This reinforces the courage of those doing something very different and in addition to their own aesthetic, taking on the Green Carpet Challenge!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A last run - this time to catch the final Eurostar of the day.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/" target="_blank">CATCH UP ON THE GCC LATEST AT ECO-AGE.COM</a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/30/the-gcc-goes-to-paris" title="The GCC hits Couture Fashion Week">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84502 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/30/the-gcc-goes-to-paris Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:06:30 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/26-(1)/the-wife-who-(almost)-forgot-her-hat" title="The Wife Who (almost) Forgot her Hat"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirth3_V_26jan12_pr_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Today the GCC went to Buckingham Palace as Colin received a CBE from the Prince Charles. I could not be more proud of him. And I couldn't be more curious and excited about this quintessentially British event.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Classic and timeless is the order of the day. You couldn't get more classic and timeless than this black, organic wool dress from Outsider. It is a staple piece in my wardrobe and never fails me.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Earrings are by Anna Loucah for Jersey Pearl. You may remember Anna as the goldsmith who made our amazing GCC pieces for the Oscars last year from the world's first fairtrade ecologically certified gold (they have since been auctioned for Oxfam). These Florre earrings are Loucah's design based on the Oscar collection for Jersey Pearl. They feature recycled white gold, fairly traded spinels and rubies and carbon neutral pearls.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="/CATCH UP ON THE LATEST GCC NEWS AT ECO-AGE.COM">SEE&nbsp;MORE ON THE GCC AT ECO-AGE.COM&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As we are big fans of recycling and recovering old pieces at the GCC, I asked around the team to see if anyone had a coat. Our great friend Warly Tomei came up trumps. The coat is Prada from the 1980s. Warly remembers buying it (when it was her pride and joy!) to attend the premiere of the Filarmonica at La Scala in Milan.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I paired it with Roger Vivier shoes and clutch bag.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And the final addition: an Oscar winning husband about to pick up his CBE from the Prince. (I can't help it, I'm in a bragging mood today!) &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Oh did I say 'final'? This week I have had an amazing GCC adventure in Paris at the shows (more to come very soon). Yesterday I was introduced to Alessandra Greco, who works with the great milliner Philip Treacy. I had one of those strange moments of creeping realisation as it dawned on me that you don't rock up to Buckingham palace with a bare head, "The hat. I need a hat. I forgot the hat!" I began to stutter. Alessandra (perhaps she has been in this position before!) smiled serenely. "You shall have a hat tomorow", she said, like the fairy godmother of millinery. And first thing this morning there she was on my doorstep with a hat box. So thank you to Alessandra and Philip for saving the day. If I had the authority I would knight you both.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Next: I'll be back with all the news of the Green Carpet Challenge at the Paris shows where I got to discuss sustainable style with some very big fashion players. It's been quite a week!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.eco-age.com/green-carpet-challenge">CATCH UP ON THE LATEST GCC NEWS AT ECO-AGE.COM</a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/26-(1)/the-wife-who-(almost)-forgot-her-hat" title="The Wife Who (almost) Forgot her Hat">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84448 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/26-(1)/the-wife-who-(almost)-forgot-her-hat Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:01:54 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/23/an-italian-girl-in-paris" title="An Italian Girl in Paris"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirthLFirth_V_23jan12_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Colin and Livia Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So to the premiere of <em>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Paris gives me a special glow. It's full of very special memories. The first time we came to the historic George V Hotel for example, it was with Tom Ford and Richard Buckley for <em>A Single Man</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>But let's face it most of my glow during the GCC comes courtesy of either Georgie, Karen or Natalie - depending on where we are. Just in case anybody is under the illusion I look like this normally let me re-introduce the GCC "refinement team". Georgie takes charge in the US, Karen in London and Paris and Natalie is the queen of eco facials. (You can always check out behind the scenes along the Green Carpet Challenge journey at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.eco-age.com">www.eco-age.com</a>.)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For <em>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,</em>&nbsp;it's out with Cinderella and old Hollywood and in with "cat woman", gloriously vamped up with Karen giving me cat eyes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With some added help from best supporting garment (my Spanx of course!) the look comes together.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The dress is by young designer Edeline Lee. A graduate of Central St Martins, she also worked with Alexander McQueen and as soon as I saw her work I was attracted by the edgy, urban and sculptural style of her clothes.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>These are not qualities often associated with "green". But we say "why not?!" This Jutta Sika paneled dress features organic wool panels and is completely handmade in the UK. By her own admission, Lee is at the start of her sustainable fashion journey, making inroads to sustainable sourcing. Well we think she's a talent to watch!&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/23/an-italian-girl-in-paris" title="An Italian Girl in Paris">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84338 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/23/an-italian-girl-in-paris Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:23:20 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/20/the-green-carpet-challenge-launches-in-hollywood" title="The Green Carpet Challenge Launches in Hollywood"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/lfirth-cfirth_V_201jan12_lf_bt.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p><strong><em>Reporting by Lucy Siegle.</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The 2012 GCC launched with a brunch at Soho House in LA on Saturday 14 January.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The day before the Golden Globes and Livia and Colin Firth introduced this year's Green Carpet Challenge, explaining its unique mix of glamour and ethics and previewing an extraordinary roster of world class design talent. The great and the good of the Californian green scene mingled with entertainment industry stalwarts and fashion industry insiders.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Armani was the first designer to set out on the Green Carpet Challenge at the 69<span>th</span>&nbsp;Golden Globes and Livia and Colin's guests got some hints as to the rest of the Awards Season. It was a great time to catch up with friends such as adventurer ecologist David de Rothschild (who was for once not at sea in a boat made of plastic bottles investigating the pacific garbage patch) and the ultra elegant Elizabeth McGovern (wearing Henrietta Ludgate) who has caught the GCC bug and become a real advocate of sustainable fashion.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Naturally, the talk turned to who was wearing which sustainable threads. Livia Firth previewed her own design - the quintessential little black dress but this time from&nbsp;&nbsp;organic wool with a recycled leather black belt that will be launched for autumn/winter 2012 (produced by Eco Age, sold through Yoox.com).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The brunch also celebrated the GCC's partnership with Debbie Levin and the EMA (the Environmental Media Association) and toasted our sponsors, AMEX. It was kindly hosted by Soho House, 'Nobody but nobody does events like Soho House,' says Livia, 'and Nick Jones has always been so supportive of everything Colin and I have done'. Photographer Jason Olive caught the key moments of a lively brunch.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/20/the-green-carpet-challenge-launches-in-hollywood" title="The Green Carpet Challenge Launches in Hollywood">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84319 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/20/the-green-carpet-challenge-launches-in-hollywood Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:14:14 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/16/the-italian-job-armani-launches-the-2012-green-carpet-challenge" title="The Italian Job: Armani launches the 2012 Green Carpet Challenge"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LiviaFirthblog05_V_16jan12_PR_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sometime yesterday afternoon I began to get that slightly wobbly-legged feeling. This can mean only one thing: it's time to walk the Golden Globes red carpet! But if ever there was a gown to give confidence in this highly charged environment, home of a zillion flash bulbs, it is this one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/01/16/golden-globes-2012/gallery"> SEE ALL THE GOLDEN GLOBES 2012 DRESSES</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Armani, I am wearing Armani in a GCC collaboration! (Over the past 24 hour I have had to keep repeating that to myself). To the touch this dress feels like silk, and sways and moves in way that is classically elegant. It is cut with the precision that you would expect from - Armani.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This first outing in the 2012 GCC is a distinctly Italian affair. Armani, myself and an unlikely tale of used plastic bottles from Nothern Italy. I never thought I'd say that sentence. Because yes, this super silky sophisticated dress is actually made from fibres scavenged from the recycling of householders in Northern Italy! Make-up artist, Georgie Eisdell understood the heritage of this look immediately. 'We have to have Sofia Loren eyes!' she announced.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Over to Roberta Armani, Giorgio's niece and right hand woman for the official description of the dress. 'For the 69th&nbsp;Golden Globes my uncle has designed an exclusive gown for Livia, created from a special fabric made with fibres derived from the mechanical, non-chemical recycling of plastic bottles. The dress is a strapless column style, with the bodice composed of horizontal strips of fabric that create a peplum at the front, opening up to form a geometrically-pleated train at the back, highlighted by an ornate lining.'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>When I put the dress on it felt incredible. It transports me to Italy in the 1960s. Armani just knows how to do this so well! There is also a really fun geisha reference in this dress with the ornate lining - very in line with the current Armani look. But the real achievement for me is that last night the GCC proved that sophistication and sustainability can go together. That's the victory that Armani has delivered for us.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Golden Globes is always super charged with excitement as it's the first big outing of the Awards Season. There was an air of joviality about last night's proceedings, not least because Ricky Gervais was presenting.&nbsp;&nbsp;This year was such good fun for Colin and I - as he is presenting rather than sitting through the tense wait for Best Actor. And we're so excited for some of our friends, especially Elizabeth McGovern of <em>Downton Abbey</em> - a very elegant GCC ambassador.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If you're an eco fashion anorak (and nothing wrong with that!) the story behind the fabric is pretty interesting. GCC Co-founder Lucy Siegle tells us more, 'Armani went for fibre from Newlife ™, a project developed by Filature Miroglio that takes place in Northern Italy. Rather than a vertical supply chain this has been developed horizontally through a system of certified partnerships, all in Italy. This means it's fully traceable - which gets a big thumbs up from the GCC. The end product - the yarn - is fully derived from recycled plastic bottles. In the past I've read about issues with fibre from recycled bottles. A well known rumour involved a manufacturer of this type of yarn in Asia refusing to pay the price for genuine recycled bottles (and sorting and collecting them) so setting up a factory to produce fresh bottles - which obviously goes against the whole point. So the&nbsp;attraction of this production line is that it is 'fully' derived from post consumption plastic bottles from recycling bins across Northern Italy (ie the ones we all use once and throw away). Apparently you need thiry one-and-a-half litre bottles to make one kilo of Newlife TM yarn. It is also processed using a mechanical rather than chemical process. The dyeing cycle and output is the same in this case as standard poyseter. And the polymer is dyed to demand in the yarn phase, so that avoids wasting water (in the traditional process 10 litres of water is used per 1kg of yarn).'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>(Yet more information and all the behind the scenes info is at <a href="http://www.eco-age.com/">eco-age.com</a>, including some more images from the Armani fitting which I think are very sophisticated).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Earrings are from the Damiani archive. Yes, you guessed it - they are an Italian company with a very long history and a deep interest in ethical sourcing. The pieces I chose are Deco earrings from the 1930s - white gold with diamonds. One earring has an Australian pearl, and the other a Tahiti grey pearl. Simply beautiful. An honour to borrow them.&nbsp;Ring from Alberto Parada, THE sustainable jewellers.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Shoes and bags from Roger Vivier.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is just the beginning. Which great design name will be next to step up to the Green Carpet Challenge? We can't wait to tell you more!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/01/16/golden-globes-2012/gallery"> SEE THE GOLDEN GLOBES RED CARPET STYLE</a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/16/the-italian-job-armani-launches-the-2012-green-carpet-challenge" title="The Italian Job: Armani launches the 2012 Green Carpet Challenge">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:83940 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/16/the-italian-job-armani-launches-the-2012-green-carpet-challenge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:19:03 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/12/the-green-carpet-challenge-2012" title="The Green Carpet Challenge 2012"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirth_v_06sep11_pa_b.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A huge welcome to the third year of the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC). When we began this experiment -bringing glamour and ethics to the world's biggest red carpets - I had no idea it would go this far. The first Golden Globes where I walked the green carpet, I was between two of the most handsome men ever (Tom Ford and my husband, am I allowed to say that?) in a stunning upcycled wedding dress, feeling very much as if I was in a scene of Visconti's <em>The Leopard</em>. And in a few days time I'll be back at the Golden Globes, in a bespoke eco gown made to GCC criteria by none other than Giorgio Armani.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2010/01/18/the-golden-globe-awards"> SEE LIVIA'S 2010 GOLDEN GLOBES DRESS&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, this year's GCC is all about the commitment of the world's most famous designers and we have a brilliant roll call of names as announced here on VOGUE.com this morning ( <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/01/12/livia-firth-green-carpet-challenge---tom-ford-armani"> read the story here</a>).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We begin with the Golden Globes and Giorgio Armani. (I'm not going to tell you if we'll continue to proceed alphabetically, you'll have to keep checking in to see which amazing designer is next!)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Being Italian, I grew up with Giorgio Armani (figuratively speaking). Indeed during my youth there were only two names that symbolised Italian elegance in fashion: Armani and Valentino. To open the GCC 2012 with a stunning bespoke eco gown by Giorgio Armani - well, that is unreal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We'll reveal the gown and all the specifics on the red carpet this Sunday (don't miss it). It has been made according to the GCC criteria and with beautiful eco fabrics. I first met with Roberta, Giorgio's niece and right hand woman. She laughs a lot and is very forward thinking, immediately got the GCC and wanted to be part of it - in short, she is my kind of girl!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Then Colin and I both went to meet Giorgio (he is working on a stunning tuxedo for Colin) at the famous Armani headquarters in Milan, a huge palazzo which feels like you're going to be involved in making design history. To work with Armani was a real lesson in the design process. Everything begins with the material. Fortunately, Giorgio loved the eco material and knew he could work with it. The passion and efficiency of Giorgio's team has been infectious. In fact, I'm afraid dear followers I was completely over excited. I couldn't stop hugging the poor man even though I was standing in my underwear for the fitting. He must have thought I was mad, but he bravely continued. Perhaps he's used to that sort of hysteria from women in their underwear!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The full Giorgio Armani GCC gown is revealed here on Sunday night.&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/12/the-green-carpet-challenge-2012" title="The Green Carpet Challenge 2012">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:83881 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2012/01/12/the-green-carpet-challenge-2012 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:38:37 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/11/british-fashion-awards" title="Livia Firth at the British Fashion Awards"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirthLFirth_V_28nov11_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><br/><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/11/british-fashion-awards/viewgallery#!image-number=2" title="Livia Firth at the British Fashion Awards"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/k_n/Livia-Obama-dinner-3_75x113.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a>&nbsp; <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Regular followers might recall that back in May Colin and I spent an evening... I am pausing to pinch myself here... with the Obamas and the Queen - <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/25/livia-and-colin-firth-meet-the-obamas"> see it here</a>. At the risk of repeating myself, it was one of the highlights of my year!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>But one element of that night that I have no problem repeating is the gown created by <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=Henrietta%20Ludgate">Henrietta Ludgate</a>. It's one of my favourite pieces created for the GCC so here it gets another public outing. Due to royal protocol it wasn't photographed last time either (apart from a slightly hazy snap I took quickly in the garden!). Besides, what better occasion than the <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=BFA">British Fashion Awards</a>? If I were one of the judges, Henrietta would win the Emerging Talent awards hands down.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/video?category=exclusives&amp;id=10932"> JOIN VOGUETV AT THE BRITISH FASHION AWARDS</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Henrietta's talent is innate. She has a quirky viewpoint but knows how to execute design eccentricity with precision and gloss. From my previous blog you will remember that this dress is "made from end-of-line duchess silk satin, all the material for this piece was sourced locally - not only giving this dress a very low carbon footprint but allowing the process to go from design to finished garment in a matter of days. The artisan pleaters used in the making of this dress have been going since the Twenties and are one of the few remaining artisan pleaters in the UK. And as an extra green-aside, even the pleating was achieved using a steam heat chemical-free process!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2011/11/28/british-fashion-awards/gallery"> SEE RED CARPET STYLE AT THE BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2011</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>But for the British Fashion Awards I'll team it with a stunning <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/designer/alexander-mcqueen">Alexander McQueen</a> clutch. (This underlines the gigantic crush I have on <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/sarah-burton">Sarah Burton</a> who is outrageously talented) and earrings from the Cartier vintage collection.&nbsp; (Listen for some Cartier-related announcements from me in the New Year). The shoes are my favourite <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search?q=Vivier">Roger Vivier</a> emerald green stilettos making yet another appearance for the GCC.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/11/28/british-fashion-awards-2011-winners"> WHO WON WHAT AT THE BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2011</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This brings us to the close of the Green Carpet Challenge 2011. It's one that included a visit to the <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/07/livia-firth-post-oscars-wrap-up-1"> Oscars</a> and a <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/05/03/met-ball-2011---costume-institute-gala-2011/gallery"> Met Ball</a> first! I can hardly wait to tell you what we've got in store next year as the challenge goes up several gears. Thank you so much to everybody who has supported us this year and to all of you who believe that fashion has an exciting sustainable future. And to anyone who is waiting to be convinced - we're coming to get you in 2012!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Have a happy (eco) Christmas!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog">READ THE LATEST FROM THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/11/british-fashion-awards" title="Livia Firth at the British Fashion Awards">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:82158 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/11/british-fashion-awards Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:07:38 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/14/a-stella-find" title="A Stella Find"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirth_v_14sep11_PA_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Livia Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As you know we've developed a big Green Carpet crush on Stella McCartney. Not only did she work with us to produce a beautiful sustainable one-off piece for the Met Ball, but she leads the fashion pack; working hard to make her collections sustainable in every sense of the word, while sacrificing none of the glamour or aesthetic. Last night was also Stella's birthday, so in her honour I wore a Stella dress to the London premiere of <em>Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2011/09/13/stella-mccartney-birthday---kate-moss-tom-ford/gallery" target="_parent">SEE WHO CELEBRATED STELLA'S BIRTHDAY</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Let's just say it caused a few double takes! Firstly, you'll notice it's sheer down one side. Only a great designer can make something this risqué so chic, and I have to say I felt completely comfortable. Secondly, it had been (cue dramatic drum roll), WORN BEFORE! If there's one bit of red carpet tyranny we'd love the Green Carpet Challenge to dispense with, it's the idea that no two women must ever be seen in the same dress. In many ways this dictat just plays into the whole consumer churn and fast fashion cycle that we're trying to avoid. So we say "why on earth not?" When you've got a great designer, and a great piece, shouldn't that piece be outed as many times as possible?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2011/ready-to-wear/stella-mccartney/full-length-photos/page/3#/image/43" target="_parent">SEE THE DRESS ON THE CATWALK</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Now, who wants to wear it next?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/laura-bailey/2011/09/fashions-night-2011---stella-mccartney" target="_parent">SEE LIVIA PARTYING WITH STELLA AT FASHION'S NIGHT OUT</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/14/a-stella-find" title="A Stella Find">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:76517 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/14/a-stella-find Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:44:48 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/06/the-green-carpet-challenge-2011" title="The Green Carpet Challenge 2011"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirth_v_06sep11_pa_b.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2011/09/06/venice-film-festival/gallery"> SEE THE BEST DRESSED STARS AT THE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The 68th Venice Film Festival</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So here we are again. Another Green Carpet Challenge and this season the stakes are even higher! Tonight in Venice the dress is my own design. Designed for Yoox.com, it's a 50s inspired strapless satin cocktail dress embellished with crocheted angora polka dots, made with upcycling specialists, Reclaim-to-Wear in an Italian social justice enterprise (a cooperativa) and will be on sale from November. Venice is a magical place (not only for me, obviously!) so I felt like this was the right platform to launch this dress. I am at home in Italy and for me this city always resonates with the glamour of Grace Kelly and co. My friend Warly Tomei came to the rescue on the jewellery front, ordering me to a fantastic vintage shop owned by Mr Carlo Eleuteri - and something of an Italian institution. I can't quite describe the nerves when you wear a dress that you've designed yourself but people seem to like it and they love the story of the cooperativa that made it (coming soon!) so that has helped to keep me superficially calm. I hope you approve! <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2011/09/06/venice-film-festival/gallery"> </a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/06/the-green-carpet-challenge-2011" title="The Green Carpet Challenge 2011">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:76218 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/09/06/the-green-carpet-challenge-2011 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:30:35 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/07/18/jenna-horgan-miss-plymouth-wears-henrietta-ludgate" title="Livia Firth Fashion Blog - The Green Carpet Challenge (Vogue.com UK)"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/g_j/JHorgan1_V_19jul11_PeteRepka_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><span>Jenna Horgan in Henrietta Ludgate ©Pete Repka</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A few weeks ago I received a charming email from Jenna Horgan - aka Miss Plymouth. Reading all about the Green Carpet Challenge - on which she'd followed us taking ethical fashion from the <a href="/spy/celebrity-photos/2010/09/06/venice-film-festival-red-carpet-2010"> Venice Film Festival</a> to the <a href="/celebrity-photos/110228-oscars-2011-red-carpet-fashion-dres.aspx"> Oscars</a> (in Gary Harvey), and the <a href="/celebrity-photos/110503-met-ball-2011-costume-institute-gal.aspx"> Met Ball</a> (in Stella McCartney) - she thought we'd be just the team to help her with the Miss Eco challenge of the competition.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Now these kinds of competitions have been rehabilitated as they're not as socially destructive as imagined (!) and I'll admit a sneaking affection for some of them. Perhaps because my mum is a former Miss Beach (circa 1967). In fact, I wore the same dress that she wore in the competition - obviously not during the swimsuit round - during a big event in Siena last year (reworked by <a href="/search?q=minetti">Miss Minetti</a>, who is a big part of the GCC).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Angie Beasley of the Miss England competition introduced the Miss Eco round into the contest five years ago. She wanted the contestants to think more about the provenance of the clothes they were buying and also to stop them spending hundreds of pounds on a dress that they'd only wear once. She wanted them to use their fashion eye and creative bent to recycle materials, wear hand-me-downs or to buy from charity shops.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I hope that the girls can also see that these clothes should be beautiful and stylish. Fewer novelty recycled dresses and more thought-about actual green style. The Green Carpet Challenge is all about matching aesthetics to ethics - a crucial part of sustainable style, which shouldn't look weird or low-grade.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><span>Jenna Horgan in From Somewhere for Speedo ©Pete Repka</span></p> <div><span><br /> </span></div> <p>That's why we're so pleased that our girl, Jenna (aka Miss Plymouth), is rocking two very important eco brands for the competition: <a href="/search?q=ludgate">Henrietta Ludgate</a> (one of my&nbsp;favourites), and From Somewhere's astounding and brilliant collaboration with Speedo using waste swimsuits (a good fit for Miss England?).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final is tonight and we're sending Jenna all our luck!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank">READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/07/18/jenna-horgan-miss-plymouth-wears-henrietta-ludgate" title="Livia Firth Fashion Blog - The Green Carpet Challenge (Vogue.com UK)">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:75000 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/07/18/jenna-horgan-miss-plymouth-wears-henrietta-ludgate Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:20:25 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/06/10/that-other-awards-season" title="That Other Awards Season!"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/g_j/GStyle2_V_10Jun11_PR_bt.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p>Me and Americo photographed by Christian Cheeseman CRED</p> <p> </p> <p>An eagerly awaited fixture in my diary, the sixth Observer Ethical Awards was held last night at the V&amp;A. To be in front of so many incredibly talented people who put ethics at the core of their business, domestic and or activist lives is not an everyday occurrence. It is one of my favourite nights of the year.</p> <p> </p> <p>Lucy Siegle, who created the awards, asked me to announce the winner for Global Campaigner Award which is something I did with immense pride as the winner was no other than Greg Valerio. He won't mind me calling him a maverick (I hope) but he has pushed, shamed, heckled and charmed the jewellery industry into beginning to acknowledge its responsibilities and clean up its social and environmental footprint.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Colin, me and Americo photographed by Christian Cheeseman CRED</p> <p> </p> <p>He set up CRED, the pioneering jewellery company before passing the company over to his partners to dedicate his time to working with the brilliant Harriet Lamb of the Fairtrade Foundation. Together, and working with a core group of artisinal miners, they have forged the world's first Fairtrade, Fairmined gold. If you follow the Green Carpet Challenge assiduously you'll remember I got to wear the first pieces (made by Anna Loucah) to the <a shape="rect" href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/110228-livia-firth-gary-harvey-oscars-2011-red-carpet-dress.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect">Oscars</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>Valerio is an outstanding activist and his award was thoroughly deserved. A huge further surprise was that he was joined on stage by Americo, one of the pivotol Colombian miners who has made this happen on his first trip to the UK. It was an honour to actually get to meet one of the producers first hand.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Lucy Siegle, Greg Valerio, Americo and me photographed by Christian Cheeseman CRED</p> <p> </p> <p>VOGUE.COM sponsored this year's fashion category won by long-time favourites Pachacuti who have made authentic Fair Trade panama hats a fashion must-have, forging a market for some of the most vulnerable makers in the world. All the inspiring winners are over on the <a shape="rect" href="http://bit.ly/l8sSM9" target="_blank" shape="rect">Guardian environment site</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>Last night was also a BIG challenge for our Green Carpet Challenge as, when it's usually hard enough to get it right for one event, I had to wear something good enough for two events - and very different ones.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Me and Colin, photographed by Katherine Rose, the <em>Observer</em>.</p> <p> </p> <p>While the invite for the Ethical Awards read "smart casual", the one for the children's charity ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) read "Black Tie". For a brief moment I contemplated a change in the loos of the V&amp;A, but then I remembered one of my Ms Minetti (<a shape="rect" href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search/default.aspx?Keywords=minetti" target="_blank" shape="rect">see previous posts</a>, but she is my 'refashioning' lifeline in Italy) re-designs during last summer: the vintage Fifties dress which my mum bought in a market south of Rome when I was ten years old.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ms Minetti and I reworked it into a sweet Audrey-Hepburnesque number. For the sake of the historical record, here is me at Ms Minetti's last summer with the original version of the dress. It has a black silk base, with hand-embroidered white cashmere dots.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Ms Minetti dress</p> <p>  </p> <p></p> <p>Me and Lucy Siegle photographed by Katherine Rose, the <em>Observer</em>.</p> <p> </p> <p>Accessories: Roger Vivier shoes and clutch custom made for the Met Ball. The shawl is a hand-me-down from my friend Francesca Franci, an Italian opera singer.</p> <p> </p> <p>Anyway, I do hope this look hit the right notes, because when I arrived at the ARK black tie event I found I was sitting at a table with none other than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka William and Kate).</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Me and Colin</p> <p>  </p> <a shape="rect" href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect"> <p>READ MORE ON THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</p> </a><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/06/10/that-other-awards-season" title="That Other Awards Season!">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:71304 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/06/10/that-other-awards-season Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:02:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/25/livia-and-colin-firth-meet-the-obamas" title="Livia and Colin Firth meet the Obamas"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/Livia-Obama-dinner-2_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Not really sure how I have negotiated today without having at least one panic attack. I never thought I'd meet Barack Obama and am possibly even more in awe of his wife, Michelle. So the fact that we're off to the US Ambassador's residence very soon to meet them both is very big news indeed. It is possibly the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me - Oscars notwithstanding!  </p> <p> </p> <p>The Green Carpet Challenge is of course coming with me. I am wearing <a shape="rect" href="/search/default.aspx?Keywords=ludgate" shape="rect">Henrietta Ludgate </a>who has created this wonderful gown for me. Henrietta embodies English style and always gives it that extra "quirky" twist. Made from end-of-line duchess silk satin, all the material for this piece was sourced locally - not only giving this dress a very low carbon footprint but allowing the process to go from design to finished garment in a matter of days.  </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>  </p> <p>The dress has an unexpected pleated back, inspired by the traditional kilt and reminiscent of the Art Deco period - when the art of pleating was at its peak. According to Henrietta, "The tradition of Scottish kilts dates back to at least the 16th Century and pleating further still. With the increase in the cost of handwork, and too few skilled replacements, traditional specialised production units - such as pleaters - are increasingly struggling to remain open. The artisan pleaters used in the making of this dress have been going since the Twenties and are one of the few remaining artisan pleaters in the UK."</p> <p> </p> <p>And as an extra green-aside, even the pleating was achieved using a steam heat chemical-free process! </p> <p> </p> <p>My shoes and clutch are by Roger Vivier; vintage rings courtesy of <a shape="rect" href="http://www.personaljewellerylondon.co.uk" target="_blank" shape="rect">Michelle Franklin</a> and earrings by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.susannahlovis.com" target="_blank" shape="rect">Susannah Lovis</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p><a shape="rect" href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/25/livia-and-colin-firth-meet-the-obamas" title="Livia and Colin Firth meet the Obamas">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:73691 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/25/livia-and-colin-firth-meet-the-obamas Wed, 25 May 2011 17:02:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/03/livias-stella-mccartney-dress-at-met-ball" title="Livia Firth's Stella McCartney dress for the Met Ball"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirthSMcCartney_V_28apr11_pr_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p>Me&nbsp;with Stella for&nbsp;my dress fitting</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I've had this under my (metaphorical) hat for a while now. As Colin planned to host Saturday's star-studded&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/110503-met-ball-2011-costume-institute-gal.aspx"> Met Ball in New York</a> with <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search/default.aspx?Keywords=Wintour">Anna Wintour</a>, I met secretly with&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search/default.aspx/Shows/?designer=Stella+McCartney"> Stella McCartney</a> to work on the ultimate eco-luxe gown.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/110503-met-ball-2011-costume-institute-gal/gallery.aspx"> SEE ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE MET BALL</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Here at Green Carpet HQ we've always dreamed of working on a dress with Stella. Her sympathies and understanding of ethical fashion (and social and environmental issues), are well known. As she tells me, "First it's important for me to say I'm not perfect and, that for me, it is about the principle. Sustainability is important, recycling is important. I think it is a mindset: everyone can do really simple things to make a difference and every little bit counts and there is still a long way to go... My first decision is always based on: can I do this in a more environmental way without sacrificing design? If I can; then there is no reason not to.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>"I was brought up this way, so it came naturally to me. I was brought up on an organic farm in the countryside and the whole family was vegetarian, so it sort of came without thinking. But then, when it came to me having a career, starting a job and starting a brand in fashion, I guess it wouldn't have sat comfortably with me to be hypocritical. That was the starting point. The seeds were sown in my personal life, then they came into my business life."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080422-stella-mccartney-biography.aspx"> READ STELLA MCCARTNEY'S BIOGRAPHY</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>She really gets that fashion's impact is large and wants to do something about it - 20 to 30 per cent of her collection is broadly "sustainable" at the moment. "About fifty million animals die for the sake of fashion ever year, which is extremely wasteful and significantly contributes to climate change as farming uses a lot of water, energy and land, devastates forests and pollutes oceans. There are a lot of alternatives to using leather in accessories. We use PU made in Italy, and not PVC, but also velvets, cottons, linens, raffias, sustainable wood, recycled nylons... at the end of the day, it's more creative."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Well, the piece she made for the Met Ball for me was both creative and totally gorgeous. I can't stress enough how difficult it can be to make something so luxe (dictated by the red carpet), when most sustainable fabrics are untreated and come in limited colours. As usual I requested "old Hollywood" and intense glamour. Stella wanted to do something quite different with a modern twist. I really loved that she was so thorough about the fabric: considering the processing and finishing of the fibre and the effect that it would have on the environment. She went for a polished sophisticated look without compromising on these principles.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em>Colin and&nbsp;me -&nbsp;in my&nbsp;Stella-designed dress.</em> <span>©&nbsp;</span> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span>&nbsp;</span></span> <em><span>PA Photos</span></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final piece was an all-in-one suit (or jumpsuit) and the top was embroidered with reclaimed vintage beads - completely re-stitched and embroidered by hand (NB the original piece from which they were salvaged was completely un-wearable), and the jumpsuit made from 100 per cent organic silk, cultivated and produced in Switzerland. The overlying and detachable skirt is Abaca fibre, or Manila hemp which grows spontaneously in subequatorial regions with very little water.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I feel we're just getting into gear with the Green Carpet Challenge (stay tuned as it gets bigger and better!) and I think Stella is on a similar journey. "We have just started working with two cooperatives based in Laos and Thailand that grow their own silkworms using organic local mulberry leaves to feed them. They will hand-spin and hand-weave to achieve 100 per cent silk fabric with better results," she tells me. She's also working with a fair trade wool cooperative in Uruguay - hoping to use them in the next pre-collection and is testing a water-less dying process for organic cotton in Turkey. She continues to push the boundaries.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And what a night the Met Ball was! My date was Richard Buckley, (Mr Tom Ford), as Colin and Stella were on meeting and greeting duties for two hours. I sat at Anna Wintour's table next to the fabulous Mick Jagger - I have a new crush! Highlight of the night: hanging out with Stella, Rhianna, Lauren Hutton and Yoko. Was this a dream? Very possibly.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/110503-met-ball-2011-costume-institute-gal/gallery.aspx"> JOIN LIVIA AT THE MET BALL</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em><span>Rihanna ©&nbsp;</span></em> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span>&nbsp;</span></span> <em><span>PA Photos</span></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em><span>Stella McCartney ©&nbsp;</span></em> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span>&nbsp;</span></span> <em><span>PA Photos</span></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The girls hang out in the loo for gossip and a catch-up.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The fab Rihanna with Selma, Lauren and Yoko admiring her dress.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Having a giggle with <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>'s Hilary Alexander.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Some of the McQueen dresses on display in the exhibition - <a href="/news/daily/110222-alexander-mcqueen-metropolitan-muse/gallery.aspx"> See inside the <em>Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty</em> exhibition here</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My jewellery: A trio of Calleja pink diamond and white gold bracelets from accredited Australian mines (as I wore to <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/100308-oscars-2010-red-carpet-arrivals/gallery.aspx"> last year's Oscars</a>) and vintage emerald drop earrings from Lorraine Schwartz.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My bag and shoes: By Bruno Frissoni of Roger Vivier using reclaimed and vintage fabric.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/celebrity-photos/110503-met-ball-2011-costume-institute-gal/gallery.aspx"> SEE ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE MET BALL</a><br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/03/livias-stella-mccartney-dress-at-met-ball" title="Livia Firth's Stella McCartney dress for the Met Ball">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42842 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/05/03/livias-stella-mccartney-dress-at-met-ball Tue, 03 May 2011 12:04:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/the-oxfam-curiosity-shop-at-selfridges-ultralounge" title="The Oxfam Curiosity Shop at Selfridges Ultralounge"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/a_c/1_oxfam_blog_V_31mar2011_Alan_Davidson_bt_2.jpg#612604_Large+Shows_NOTFOUND" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Annie Lennox is a great woman (that's not new news, I know). She set up The Circle - a group for Oxfam - and the <a shape="rect" href="/news/daily/110330-oxfam-curiosity-shop-pop-up-at-self.aspx" shape="rect">Oxfam Curiosity Shop </a>at Selfridges has become its central fundraising event. </p> <p> </p> <p>Last night was the big auction. Colin and I were there with many of our friends and the Green Carpet Challenge crew was there in force. I wore a black number with a scooped low back that I'd actually bought from the Curiosity Shop (Britain's biggest charity pop up shop!), during the day. There's no questioning its style pedigree: it was donated by Jane Shepherdson, ceo of <a shape="rect" href="/search/default.aspx?Keywords=whistles" shape="rect">Whistles</a>. That's the thing about the Oxfam Curiosity Shop - the donations are from serious fashion sources. If I were you, I'd get down there - it runs at Selfridges Ultralounge or at <a shape="rect" href="http://www.selfridges.com" target="_blank" shape="rect">www.selfridges.com</a> until Sunday 10 April. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>But back to last night: We used the event to showcase some of our old friends - gowns from this season's Green Carpet Challenge that all the designers have generously donated and that are on sale through the Curiosity Shop. Just to recap, we're selling: </p> <p> </p> <p>- <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110213-livia-firth-ethical-nina-skarra-dress-for-the-2011-baftas.aspx" shape="rect">From the BAFTAs</a>: the blue Nina Skarra dress. <br /> - <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110211-colin-firth-wins-best-actor-at-the-london-film-critics'-circle-awards.aspx" shape="rect">From the London Film Critics' Circle Awards: </a>Henrietta Ludgate's one-off "Lochussie Mist" white wool and cashmere dress. <br /> - <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110307-post-oscars-wrap-up-1.aspx" shape="rect">From the LA Film Critics' Awards:</a> the Karen Caldwell vegetable-dyed Peace Silk blue dress. <br /> - <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110117-livia-firth-wears-karen-caldwell.aspx" shape="rect">From the Tom Ford boutique opening in Los Angeles:</a> the Karen Caldwell yellow repurposed wool blouse. <br /> - <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110307-post-oscars-wrap-up-1.aspx" shape="rect">From the Weinstein pre-Oscars party in LA:</a> a dress by this year's Project Runway winner, Gretchen Jones.</p> <p> </p> <p>Last night's seriously big moment for us was the auction of <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110228-livia-firth-ethical-oscars-jewellery.aspx" shape="rect">our Oscar jewellery</a>. Regular followers will remember it's made from the planet's first ever Fairtrade, Fairmined certified gold and contains beautiful ethically sourced aquamarine stones. It was designed and made by the prodigiously talented British goldsmith, <a shape="rect" href="http://www.annaloucah.com/" target="_blank" shape="rect">Anna Loucah</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Anna Loucah's jewellery.</p> <p> </p> <p>Last night I was the model as the fabulous Ruby Wax auctioned our Oscar jewellery. When I say "model", I was actually Ruby's stooge. In fantastic form, she was merciless up there. Highlights included her haranguing the man from HSBC and removing the auctioneer's shoe and sock. Ruby cajoled a phenomenal amount of money out of that room for Oxfam. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Ruby and me</p> <p> </p> <p>Not least for our jewels. Anna watched as her designs earned Oxfam £25,000 when they went to a phone bidder (we think in the US). Thank you to whoever that was for buying Fairtrade, Fairmined history - we hope these pieces are the start of a new understanding in the jewellery world. And thanks to Anna Loucah for earning Oxfam such big bucks. </p> <p> </p> <p><a shape="rect" href="/celebrity-photos/110401-oxfam-curiosity-shop-opening.aspx" shape="rect">SEE ALL THE ACTION FROM THE PARTY HERE</a> </p> <p> </p> <p>The rest of the night? Imogen Heap sang brilliantly and Annie Lennox at the piano turned herself into a human jukebox. Thanks to everyone who bid for Annie to sing, particularly, <em>Why?.</em> An incredible performance. See, I told you she was a great woman! </p> <p> </p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect">Divine Chocolate </a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx" shape="rect">here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect">Divine UK</a> or <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect">Divine USA</a> <br /> <br /> <a shape="rect" href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect">READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/the-oxfam-curiosity-shop-at-selfridges-ultralounge" title="The Oxfam Curiosity Shop at Selfridges Ultralounge">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42846 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/the-oxfam-curiosity-shop-at-selfridges-ultralounge Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:20:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/christies-green-auction" title="Christie's Green Auction"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/ahearst_v_1apr11_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Across the pond, another huge auction preview this week featured Green Carpet Challenge treasures auctioned for environmental charity the National Rural Development Coordinating Committee (NRDCC) through Christie's Green Runway. For this event, Gary Harvey donated the Oscar dress he made for me (above) and Prophetik's Jeff Garner donated the dress I wore to the Golden Globes (below). You'll find the history and stories behind these pieces in this blog. You can bid on the dresses until April 7 at <a shape="rect" href="http://www.charitybuzz.com" target="_blank" shape="rect">www.charitybuzz.com</a>! </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Me in the Prophetik dress with the designer, Jeff Garner</p> <p> </p> <p>Our friend, Amanda Hearst (pictured below), was at the New York preview rocking sustainable style. She wore a Bodkin dress in steely blue with Monique Pean jewellery, containing repurposed diamond slices formerly used in cutting tools. "I had a great night," she told me. "I particularly love seeing two of your green carpet challenge dresses up close!" </p> <p> </p> <p><a shape="rect" href="http://vogue-blogs.condenet-ec2.selfip.com/celebrity-photos/110330-christies-green-auction.aspx" shape="rect"><strong>SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE CHRISTIE'S EVENT</strong></a> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Amanda Hearst in Bodkin</p> <p> </p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx" shape="rect"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a shape="rect" href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/christies-green-auction" title="Christie's Green Auction">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42845 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/04/01/christies-green-auction Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/30/mamma-mia-its-mothers-day" title="Mamma Mia! It's Mother’s Day!"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/k_n/LFirth_blog4_V_30mar11_bt.jpg#612227_Large+Shows_NOTFOUND" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>What happened when two Green Carpet Challenge favourites went to Tanzania? Designers, Minna Hepburn and Henrietta Ludgate visited the country recently with the White Ribbon Alliance, an international coalition in 152 countries bound together by a common goal: to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all women and newborns in every country around the world.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>As well as visiting the labour ward at Temeke Hospital in Dar es Salaam where they witnessed first-hand how access to medical care saves mothers' lives, they guest starred in a fashion fundraiser, Mama Mia (good name!). Minna's response was to design this beautiful top from organic cotton with silk lining and vintage lace white ribbon embellishment. Each 'Amie' top is hand-finished and features unique embellishment. £35 from each top sold goes straight to the White Ribbon Alliance. <a shape="rect" href="http://www.minna.co.uk" target="_blank" shape="rect">www.minna.co.uk</a>. For more information click here: <a shape="rect" href="http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org" target="_blank" shape="rect">www.whiteribbonalliance.org</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Pictured here - model and activist, Summer Rayne Oakes and our good friend Laura Bailey. As usual they both look fabulous. I can't promise I'll wear it quite as well, but I hope my boys are getting this Mother's Day message loud and clear!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/30/mamma-mia-its-mothers-day" title="Mamma Mia! It's Mother’s Day!">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42849 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/30/mamma-mia-its-mothers-day Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:48:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/16/elizabeth-mcgovern-wears-henrietta-ludgate-ethical-dress" title="Elizabeth McGovern wears Henrietta Ludgate ethical dress"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/d_f/EMcGovern_V_16mar11_pa_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Elizabeth McGovern</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last night Elizabeth McGovern, star of <em>Downton Abbey,</em> became the first official celebrity to join our Green Carpet Challenge. Styled by our very own Jocelyn Whipple, she wore Henrietta Ludgate to the Royal Television Society Awards. I've always hoped that we can convince/attract more and more actresses to walk the walk (down the red carpet in ethical fashion), with us as this is one of the aims of the GCC and I'm so delighted Elizabeth is the first - one of the most talented actors I know and I think she looks fabulous too.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The dress is made from locally sourced up-cycled wool, embossed with a faux astrakhan pattern, with silver pyramid stud embellishment at the waist. Wool is sustainble, renewable, biodegradable and generally all-round kinder to the environment than oil-based synthetics, which contribute to global pollution.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate</strong></a> - Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx"> <strong>here</strong></a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/16/elizabeth-mcgovern-wears-henrietta-ludgate-ethical-dress" title="Elizabeth McGovern wears Henrietta Ludgate ethical dress">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42851 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/16/elizabeth-mcgovern-wears-henrietta-ludgate-ethical-dress Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:36:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/07/livia-firth-post-oscars-wrap-up-1" title="post-Oscars wrap up 1"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/130-to-go_V_7mar11_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p>&nbsp;<br /> Lucy Cotter from Sky News (holding Henrietta Ludgate dress), Lucy Siegle holding Gretchen Jones trousers and Livia holding a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fashioncompassion.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fashion ComPassion</a> Beshtar&nbsp;Burqa dress during filming.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Let's start with Wednesday night, February 23, when Colin and I had the pleasure of dining with Ron and Kelly Meyer, who hosted a party for Graydon and Anna Carter (Graydon being the editor of <em>Vanity Fair</em> magazine). Both Kelly and Anna are ambassadors for the National Resource Defence Council, one of the most important environmental charities and campaigning groups in the US. Their new project <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/international/cleanbydesign/default.asp" target="_blank">Clean by Design</a> is inspiring.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In clear, practical terms it's a blueprint (should that be greenprint?!) for designers who want to design waste and pollution out of their work, and that includes fashion. Take note fashion designers, buyers and retailers here! We're teaming up with them for Christie's Green Auction "Bid to Save the Earth"- Runway to Green taking place in New York at the end of March. Both the Prophetik <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/110117-livia-and-colin-firth-at-the-golden-globes.aspx"> Golden Globes</a> dress and the Gary Harvey&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/110228-livia-firth-gary-harvey-oscars-2011-red-carpet-dress.aspx"> Oscar dress</a>&nbsp;will be auctioned to raise funds. The highlight of my night however was still meeting Jamie Oliver. Hope I didn't make a fool of myself when I offered to cook pasta for him!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth at the Ton Ford boutique opening ©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;Rex Features</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>On Thursday night Colin and I attended the opening of the new Tom Ford store in Beverly Hills.&nbsp;I wore a black <a href="http://www.kami-organic.com/catalog/accueil.php" target="_blank">Kami Organic</a> dress with vegetable tanned leather pocket and details and no one could believe it was one of our Green Carpet Challenge dresses! It is one of the chicest pieces I have come across. I accessorised with what is possibly the cutest handbag/clutch ever - from Kyto a brand I found at <a href="http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/content.aspx?CategoryID=146" target="_blank">Estethica</a> last autumn (see the picture below). After the event, we went to pick up Lucy Siegle who just arrived from London for her first ever trip to LA! She was jet lagged but extremely excited (she'll chip in as and when in this diary under her initials, <strong>LS</strong>!)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Livia</strong>: Friday evening, we headed up into the Hollywood hills to the rather legendary party thrown by Hollywood super agent, Brian Lourd. The weather was unbelievably bad and in true LA-style the traffic was just as abysmal (this is not a town where anybody walks around). But once we got in, a very warm and star-studded welcome awaited. Lucy and I could not believe who was there.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The LA traffic</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>LS</strong>: I have to add in here that we are talking the Beckhams, Tom Cruise, Robert Downey, Leo di Caprio et al. I felt like I was actually in Madame Tussauds. The rain was just as incredible. I elected - rather daringly for me! - for a blue jumpsuit made from peace silk and tencel from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lovephool.org/" target="_blank">Love Phool</a>&nbsp;- a Green Carpet Challenge favourite. Loved the jumpsuit but rather worried about its capacity for turning see through in the rain. In the event I dashed to the house and all was fine. Livia's Henrietta Ludgate dress was a show stopper. Poised, elegant but with the waist panel of reclaimed gold studs offering a hint of subversion.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>At Brian Lourd's party, with Livia in Henrietta Ludgate and Lucy in Love Phool</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Saturday morning and the wonderful&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/110117-livia-firth-wears-karen-caldwell.aspx"> Karen Caldwell</a> arrived in our hotel room with her bags of vintage jewellery and fantastic frocks. We met Karen earlier in this year's challenge here on <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/110117-livia-firth-wears-karen-caldwell.aspx"> VOGUE.COM</a>. You might remember her beloved grandmother was a dancer for MGM in the era of real Hollywood glamour. Karen treasures her grandmother's jewellery and has restored much of it and added to the collection. She also reworks vintage (where the pieces are damaged) adding new eco fabrics to make stunning pieces. This was playtime. We spent hours sifting through the jewellery and trying pieces on. We were joined by Helena Bonham Carter and her wonderful mother Elena. It was one of the nicest fashion afternoons I've ever had.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Karen Caldwell's treasures</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>LS</strong>: as a big <em>Project Runway</em> fan I was very keen for us to work with Gretchen Jones, the Portland designer who won season eight (apologies if it's showing in the UK and I've given the ending away!). Not only is she prodigiously talented but she represents the lone <em>Project Runway</em> competitor to be working in ethical fashion. Livia and I loved her aesthetic (clean, minimal lines but sustainable), and her outlook and the charming Gretchen came to meet us in LA.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Livia</strong>:... However Gretchen's beautiful dress for me was so edgy that it was a little more naked than I would usually dare to go! Pre-Weinstein party in Soho House I spent many hours taping the dress strategically! I loved the result however. Watch out for Gretchen, she should go far!!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The pre-Oscar Weinstein party, Soho House Los Angeles. Livia (in Gretchen Jones), with Penny from <em>Vanity Fair</em> Italy, and Lucy (in Karen Caldwell).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Livia</strong>: Another evening highlight was hanging out with Markus of Soho House and meeting my old friend Giuseppe Tornatore who directed <em>Cinema Paradiso</em>. He was also the subject of my first ever documentary <em>Giuseppe Tornatore, a Dream Dreamt in Sicily</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Livia</strong>: Lucy and I are so thankful to all the designers and contributors who made this all happen and kept us clothed sustainably! Gretchen Jones, Henrietta Ludgate, Karen Caldwell, Kami Organic, From Somewhere and H Fredrikkson to name just a few! But also to the heroic and brilliant&nbsp;<a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Divine Chocolate</a> who have been such lovely sponsors. They also make a particularly delicious product. So when a chocolate Oscar was delivered (Hollywood expresses joy and praise in sugar, we've decided!) we really just wanted to tuck into Divine! And we did, the proof's below!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Livia</strong>: Then it was Sunday. And we all know what happened then......!!<br /> </p> <p><strong>Livia:</strong> We've been overwhelmed by all the questions to me, Lucy, Gary, Anna and all the other Green Carpet Challenge designers via this blog and Twitter. We'll post the first answers tomorrow and then we'll keep them coming. Apologies for the delay, it's all been hectic!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> Bowens Bergeron sustainable bags. Lucy uses The Connoissuer, from Zebrawood with Recycled Polyester lining at Weinstein and Vanity Fair parties.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The view from the hotel</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>On the way to the Oscars</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>An hour and a half to go, hair's looking good</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Livia and Lucy take delivery of a chocolate Oscar...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>...But this was the chocolate we were after - from our heroic and brilliant sponsors, Divine Chocolate.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Lucy on Rodeo Drive</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>Georgie Esidell, Livia's friend and brilliant make-up artist, who has made all The Green Carpet looks work, gets her moment with Oscar (and Colin!)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The post-Oscars <em>Vanity Fair</em> party. The triumphant Green Carpet Challenge team let their hair down. Lucy wears Ada Zanditon, Livia changed from her Oscar gown to black sweater with cobweb detail customised for last year's Curiosity Shop sale at Selfridges for Oxfam. <strong>Livia</strong>: "Into my dancing clothes in preparation for Madonna's party!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate</strong></a> - Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx"> here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/07/livia-firth-post-oscars-wrap-up-1" title="post-Oscars wrap up 1">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42853 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/03/07/livia-firth-post-oscars-wrap-up-1 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:44:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-gary-harvey-oscars-2011-red-carpet-dress" title="Livia Firth Gary Harvey Oscars 2011 Red Carpet dress"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirthCFirth_V_28feb11__320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>We're off! Here's the Gary Harvey dress... This is the first picture for you. I'll explain the corsetry/engineering and everything else as we go... Eleven dresses in one, vintage/thrift/charity shop buys all from the era of <em>The King's Speech</em>. Every part is recycled, repurposed, upcycled. It feels amazing (corset not withstanding!). Colin, I think, looks incredibly handsome in his Tom Ford tuxedo and Chopard watch. </p> <p ><br /> Handing over to Lucy Siegle but I'm tweeting at <a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/#!/liviafirth" target="_blank" shape="rect">@LiviaFirth</a>! </p> <p ><br /> Livia x </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><a shape="rect" href="/blogs/the-green-style-blog/110301-360-degrees-vintage-shop-.aspx" shape="rect">SEE THE VINTAGE SHOP WHERE THE DRESSES WERE BOUGHT</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Photos: <a shape="rect" href="http://jayophoto.com/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Jason Olive</strong></a><br /> This blog is sponsored by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx" shape="rect"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a shape="rect" href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-gary-harvey-oscars-2011-red-carpet-dress" title="Livia Firth Gary Harvey Oscars 2011 Red Carpet dress">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42858 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-gary-harvey-oscars-2011-red-carpet-dress Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-and-colin-firth-oscars-preparation" title="Livia Firth and Colin Firth Oscars preparation"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirthCFirth2_V_28feb11_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Hello from the unofficial Maid of Honour (Lucy Siegle). I donned white gloves to do up the double corset on the back of this dress. It's quite a feat of engineering. The last five minutes is best described as pandemonium. Then we all stood back and took it in.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Photos: <a href="http://jayophoto.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Jason Olive</strong></a><br /> This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-and-colin-firth-oscars-preparation" title="Livia Firth and Colin Firth Oscars preparation">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42857 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-and-colin-firth-oscars-preparation Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-ethical-oscars-jewellery" title="Livia Firth ethical Oscars Jewellery"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/Lfirth3_V_28feb11_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Lucy Siegle: I almost fainted when Livia flipped back the lid of the jewellery boxes and showed me tonight's jewels (and I wasn't even the one in the corset!). <a shape="rect" href="http://www.annaloucah.com/" target="_blank" shape="rect">Anna Loucah</a> has used the most ethically sound materials we have to create exquisite, fresh, contemporary pieces. This is the way jewellery should be (in my opinion!).</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>I note that lipstick is NOT organic! </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>To recap: <br /> - Gold - Fairtrade, fairmined, ecologically certified, sourced by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.credjewellery.com/" target="_blank" shape="rect">Cred Jewellery</a>. A world first from the Oro Verde mine in Columbia. <br /> - Aquamarine gemstones - Fairly traded and traceable from the Lundazi community owned mine in Zambia. <br /> - Diamonds - from Liqhobong Womens-owned Co-operatives mine in Lesotho. <br /> <br /> Amazing. </p> <p> </p> <p>Photos: <a shape="rect" href="http://jayophoto.com/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Jason Olive</strong></a><br /> This blog is sponsored by <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a shape="rect" href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx" shape="rect"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a shape="rect" href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a shape="rect" href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank" shape="rect"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-ethical-oscars-jewellery" title="Livia Firth ethical Oscars Jewellery">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42856 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/27/livia-firth-ethical-oscars-jewellery Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-firth-fairtrade-ethical-gold-jewellery-for-the-oscars" title="Livia Firth fairtrade ethical gold jewellery for the oscars"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/LFirth2_V_25feb11_pr_b_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p>TEAM ECO BLING... </p> <p> </p> <p>It’s time to talk Oscar jewels. As J-Lo herself might put it, you’re not going to be fooled by the rocks I got. I am lucky enough to have a few cherished vintage pieces from my grandmother but in every day life I’m not covered in baubles. But at the Oscars, as we know, every day rules do not apply! </p> <p> </p> <p>But we do have some major Green Carpet Challenge rules this year for jewellery. And I’m so excited to announce that the pieces I’ll be wearing are the first in the world to be hallmarked as Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological. This is a huge leap forward for the jewellery industry because, without wanting to take the shine off, as you’ll probably know there are huge issues in mining and processing precious metals and gemstones. </p> <p> </p> <p>These range from the issue of so-called conflict or blood diamonds to the issue of child labour in gemstone polishing and the social and ecological havoc wreaked by gold mining where cyanide is a regular ingredient. There have been some intensely shocking exposés of the industry from Janine Robert’s investigative journalism (her book, <em>Glitter and Greed</em> is well worth a read), to the tireless work of the <a href="http://www.nodirtygold.org/home.cfm" target="_blank">No Dirty Gold </a>campaign. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Fairtrade Foundation</a>’s gold mark - a world first - represents a glimmer of hope. Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold means that the precious metal is mined with no harmful chemicals and under strict environmental management. The miners also receive a 5 per cent ecological premium on top of the standard 10 per cent Fairtrade Fairmined premium. I can’t tell you how proud I will be on Sunday to wear these first pieces and how lucky I am. </p> <p> </p> <p>Lucky not least because they are designed by <a href="http://www.annaloucah.com/" target="_blank">Anna Loucah</a> who has made me see jewellery in a whole new light. Her skills are incredible. She makes and designs each piece herself in her studio and, to her, provenance and the history of materials are everything.  </p> <p> </p> <p>We’ll reveal the actual pieces here on Sunday with the Oscars gown. But I can tell you that Anna has used Oro Verde gold from Colombia - the world’s only source of Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold. This would not have happened without <a href="http://www.credjewellery.com/" target="_blank">Cred</a> the Fairtrade jewellery makers who have brought it altogether. </p> <p> </p> <p>Nor would we have any pieces without the gemstones: 35-carats of beautiful traceable Aquamarines from Eastern Zambia and Jeweltree diamonds from the Liqhobong Women Miners Cooperative in Lesotho. </p> <p> </p> <p>The aquamarines were sourced by <a href="http://www.fairjewelry.org/archives/1965" target="_blank">Guy Clutterbuck</a>. Now I have met many people in my life - but nothing would have prepared me for meeting Mr Clutterbuck. He is a true original who has been sourcing gem stones for nearly 30 years. </p> <p> </p> <p>The passion for his work and “old fashioned” practices he uses to trade are contagious and you wonder why there aren’t more characters like him in the world today. Actually, he reminded me of my dad and the stories he shared with me as a kid when he used to travel all over Africa and Saudi Arabia with his work as an engineer. Guy is all about honest "fair" relationships. </p> <p> </p> <p>When we had our first meetings with him and Anna Loucah he arrived dressed in full builder gear - wearing a reflective workman's jacket and with a bizzarre assortment of work bags and tool boxes and even a spirit level! Please see the above photo and note the bright flashes are from my camera - Guy isn’t wearing huge diamonds on his tabard! </p> <p> </p> <p>Guy only works with small community-owned "hand dug" mines - predominantly Zambia &amp; East Africa, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and does not use machinery - to prevent destruction to local area and, as he put it, "to remain 'stealthy and not attract attention'". He does all of his cutting and polishing in Sri Lanka with a very high standard factory who he has been working with exclusively for many years and which employs some of the best cutters in the trade. </p> <p> </p> <p>The natural aquamarines come from a community-owned mine called Lundazi in Eastern Zambia. Guy collected the stones himself (having paid the advance to his long time partners there), and then travelled with them to Sri Lanka before being brought back to Europe along with the most amazing array of stones I have ever seen! See below for an example of what I'm talking about!</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>COMING UP NEXT... </p> <p> </p> <p>Please join me here on Sunday night to see these incredible pieces up close - and of course with Gary Harvey’s dress! Send through any questions you have on the jewellery or ethical jewellery in general too. I’ll get Anna Loucah to explain the issues and her work some more detail early next week. </p> <p> </p> <p>Messages of support/constructive criticisms/suggestions all gratefully received. I’m getting those butterflies! </p> <p> </p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx">here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-firth-fairtrade-ethical-gold-jewellery-for-the-oscars" title="Livia Firth fairtrade ethical gold jewellery for the oscars">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42860 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-firth-fairtrade-ethical-gold-jewellery-for-the-oscars Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:32:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-frith-ethical-fashion-at-the-tom-ford-boutique-opening-in-los-angeles" title="Livia Frith ethical fashion at the Tom Ford boutique opening in Los Angeles"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/a_c/CFirthLFirth_V_25feb11_pa-2_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/> <p></p> <p><em>Livia and Colin Firth</em>&nbsp;<em>©&nbsp;</em> &nbsp;<em>PA Photos</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last night we went to the opening of the new Tom Ford boutique in LA. His collection is amazing and I fell in love with the shredded silk dresses. I wore a black dress by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kami-organic.com/catalog/accueil.php" target="_blank">Kami Organic</a> with a mother of pearl clutch by <a href="http://www.kayudesign.com/" target="_blank">Kayu</a> - an ethical brand that I discovered at Estethica during London Fashion Week. My jewellery was by <a href="http://www.hattierickards.com/" target="_blank">Hattie&nbsp; Rickards</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="/celebrity-photos/110225-tom-ford-boutique-la-opening-party.aspx"> SEE WHO ELSE WAS THERE</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate</strong></a> - Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx"> here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a></p> <p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-frith-ethical-fashion-at-the-tom-ford-boutique-opening-in-los-angeles" title="Livia Frith ethical fashion at the Tom Ford boutique opening in Los Angeles">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42861 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/25/livia-frith-ethical-fashion-at-the-tom-ford-boutique-opening-in-los-angeles Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:38:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/20/gary-harvey-creates-livia-firths-oscars-dress" title="Gary Harvey creates Livia Firths Oscars Dress"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/320x480/k_n/lfirth_gharvey_v_20feb11_320x480.jpg" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>I’m delighted to tell you that my gown for the Oscars will be made by South-East London’s finest, Gary Harvey. </p> <p> </p> <p>Some recent history as to how Gary and I got together (if that’s the right expression!): </p> <p> </p> <p>Back in September as Noi Collective we staged a really fun one-off event at the <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/from-somewhere-vs-junky-styling-who-upcycled-for-sinitta-better/sinitta-upcycle-london-fashion-week-6/" target="_blank">Garden Party to Remember</a>, where Eighties popstar, Sinitta was upcycled live in front of the audience and we created an atelier live on stage with help from <a href="http://www.junkystyling.co.uk/" target="_blank">Junky Styling</a>, <a href="http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/lead/living-lead/meet-the-delightful-john-paul-flintoff/" target="_blank">John Paul Flintoff</a>, <a href="http://www.orsoladecastro.com/" target="_blank">Orsola de Castro</a>, <a href="http://www.traid.org.uk/" target="_blank">Traid</a> and many others. In the mayhem, Gary Harvey, the former creative director for Levi's created a dress from scraps of waste from Vivienne Westwood’s studio. "I need someone to model this dress," he said. "I’ll do it!" said the fantastic Erin O’Connor. She ducked behind a screen on stage and emerged in a piece that was made by Gary in approximately 20 minutes. Somehow he’d brought together an old Mickey Mouse T-shirt and a grey/silvery stripe stiff cotton. And made it work. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Of course Gary is very well known in the sphere of sustainable style where he has brought his own band of eco-consciousness to couture. A former creative director of Levi Strauss he only began designing when he needed a dramatic piece for a jeans shoot and ended up using 42 pairs of Levi 501s to create a dress. Then he became the king of reuse. He is now known for creating extraordinary silhouettes out of everyday garments – previous pieces have been made from 18 Burberry macs, 28 army jackets, and 30 copies of the <em>Financial Times</em>. </p> <p> </p> <p>Here are some examples of his work - and you can <a href="/fashion/show.aspx/full-length-photos/id,5523">see more here</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>You will guess these are pretty enormous gowns! Throughout this challenge I’ve always steered away from gowns that are too big. So I have to say I was a little nervous. Would I be in 4,000 yoghurt pots? 200 copies of the phone book? I had no idea! </p> <p> </p> <p>Fortunately Gary did. Without doing the big reveal I can tell you that Gary’s design is made from 11 different dresses. He has scoured Southeast London for the right pieces, from Cancer Research shops to vintage boutiques, such as <a href="http://www.facebook.com/VogueUK#!/pages/360-Degrees-Vintage/118248018230729" target="_blank">360 DEGREES-VINTAGE</a> in Greenwich, which is owned by Kit Allen and her daughter, Lynn Burgess. All the pieces we are using are from the era of <em>The King’s Speech</em>. Gary is all about authenticity so wanted to be sure we get the right fabrics and the right vibe. Every element - including zips, corsetry and the original toiles - is recycled. The only thing that we’ve used that is new is the thread that actually stitches the dress together.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>And rather than prescribing his eco vision, Gary allows you to be part of the design. I hope both of our outlooks and personalities will be evident in the finished piece - this is where Rome meets Eltham! His construction techniques are from a different era, based around a corset. If feel it’s a really authentic piece and I’m so excited about wearing it. </p> <p> </p> <p>So now I’m officially designating this week on the Green Carpet Challenge as Oscar Week. I really hope you’ll be able to follow here. </p> <p> </p> <p>And please contribute whenever you can (don’t forget, the best tip or email of the week gets a luxury box of chocolates worth £40 from our lovely sponsor, <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Divine Chocolate</a>). Later in the week we’ll hear from Gary, and he’ll talk more about the construction and working with vintage, reused fabrics (any design students or makers out there, we’d love to hear from you too!). Please send through any questions you want to put with Gary. </p> <p> </p> <p>From Thursday Lucy Siegle and I will be GCC-ing from Los Angeles trying out loads of different sustainable designers and looks and meeting as many people as possible from the US green fashion scene. This includes Gretchen Jones who was the lone sustainable designer in last season’s hit show <em>Project Runway</em>. Budding designers, ethical mavens, sustainable style gurus, enthusiasts, dreamers, whatever – you are all invited! </p> <p> </p> <p>I'm also tweeting furiously too, follow me here: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/liviafirth" target="_blank">@LiviaFirth.</a> </p> This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx">here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/20/gary-harvey-creates-livia-firths-oscars-dress" title="Gary Harvey creates Livia Firths Oscars Dress">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42863 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/20/gary-harvey-creates-livia-firths-oscars-dress Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:03:00 +0100 <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/18/livia-and-colin-firth-at-the-voguecom-15th-birthday-party" title="Livia and Colin Firth at the VOGUE.COM 15th birthday party"><img src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/75x113/k_n/LFirth_V_18feb11_bt.jpg#588174_Large+Shows_NOTFOUND" alt="" border="0"/></a><br/><p></p> <p> </p> <p>Last night we celebrated 15 years of VOGUE.COM, an impressively early entrant into the fashion blogosphere and still leading the pack. It was a chance to catch up with the editors and contributors to the Green Carpet Challenge and just to see some friends, including the ever-beautiful <a href="/blogs/laura-bailey/">Laura Bailey</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p>It was also a chance for the four of us, who call ourselves Noi Collective, to get together. From left to right in the Noi Collective: Orsola de Castro wearing From Somewhere (her own upcycled label), I'm wearing an "I Am Herman Wallace" tshirt (<a href="http://angola3.org/" target="_blank">ANGOLA3.ORG</a> explains the nearly 40-year incarceration of Herman Wallace and the movement to get him freed), Lucy Siegle wearing dress from <a href="http://www.kami-organic.com/catalog/accueil.php" target="_blank">Kami</a> and Jocelyn Whipple wearing vintage piece from <a href="http://www.hopeandharlequin.com/" target="_blank">Hope &amp; Harlequin</a> in Brighton. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/celebrity-photos/110218-voguecom-15th-birthday-party.aspx">SEE ALL THE PARTY PHOTOS HERE</a></p> <p> </p> <p>This blog is sponsored by <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine Chocolate </strong></a>- Win a selection of Divine Chocolates <a href="/blogs/livia-firth/110118-livia-firth-divine-chocolate-competition.aspx">here</a>.<br /> Click here to get find out more about <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/signup.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine UK</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Divine USA</strong></a> <br /> <br /> <a href=" http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-green-style-blog/" target="_blank"><strong>READ THE GREEN STYLE BLOG</strong></a> </p> <p> </p><p></p><a href="/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/18/livia-and-colin-firth-at-the-voguecom-15th-birthday-party" title="Livia and Colin Firth at the VOGUE.COM 15th birthday party">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42865 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/2011/02/18/livia-and-colin-firth-at-the-voguecom-15th-birthday-party Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:39:00 +0100 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:29:56 +0100 http://www.vogue.co.uk Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:29:56 +0100 condenet.technical@condenast.co.uk en-gb