Guiltless Goodies: Oscars 2010 rounds off the red-carpet season

Hi all!

The Oscars were the usual fashion spectacular they are every year, but with a poor showing this year of cruelty-free picks. Didn't find many John Varvatos tuxes and only Penelope Cruz and Julianne Moore (and the latter only to the Vanity Fair after-party) did it for me with their Donna Karan and Calvin Klein (respectively) dresses.

Livia Firth, wife of nominee Colin Firth, of course kept her red carpet challenge going and wrote about the final awards show of the season - and the big one, at that - on her VOGUE UK blog. She wore a dress made entirely of waste and managed to look completely stunning doing so.

Despite not winning the Oscar, I'd say Colin's still a very lucky man.

Penelope Cruz, nominated for best supporting actress for Nine and last year's winner (thus she presented the award for Best Supporting Actor this year) wore a burgundy Donna Karan Couture gown, which she looked stunning in.

Julianne Moore was a no-show for the ceremony but showed up at the Vanity Fair after-party in this sophisticated Calvin Klein number.

Another awards ceremony that took place this past weekend was the Independent Spirit Awards, which saw Rosario Dawson show up in a Stella McCartney number that proved that cruelty-free can still be plenty glitzy enough for the red carpet.

Showcasing her equally stylish taste was Olivia Wilde, wearing a Ralph Lauren maxi dress on the Independent Spirit Awards' red carpet.

Until next year!

Proving you don't have to be cruel to be kind - especially during awards season,
GiGi

Guiltless Goodies: Cruelty-free stars shine on the red carpet this awards season

Hi all!

The beginning of the year is always crazy as awards season leaps into action in advance of the big one - the Oscars - in February. So far we started off with the casual and always-fun People's Choice Awards before graduating to the sophistication and pre-Oscar warm-ups of the Golden Globes and SAG (Screen Actors' Guild) awards in the last week. Throw in the Critic's Choice Awards there too and you've got yourself a number of occasions when the stars come out to play in their very finest.

Of course, many of these awards shows mean that celebrities show up in top designer gowns and outfits, and as we know at Guiltless & Glamorous, a lot of those designers use fur and other cruel practices in their designs, even if not on the actual dresses that you see on the red carpet.

So it's important to give props to those stars who promoted cruelty-free designers this awards season. Take a gander below at some of the best of the lot! And if you know of one or two that I've missed that you feel are worth a mention, email me!

Proving you don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

The lovely Anna Paquin in a gorgeous gold Stella McCartney creation at the 2010 Golden Globes. With her is boyfriend and True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, who is not wearing a cruelty-free pick: his suit is by Burberry. So don't look at him!

The always cheer-inducing Chris Colfer from TV's Glee, already pumping iron with his SAG award at the 2010 Screen Actors Guild awards. He sported his cruelty-free pick: a dashing John Varvatos suit.

Diane Kruger has made some good choices this awards season, starting with this Donna Karan gown at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and followed by...

...a fun and sexy Herve Leger pick for the People's Choice Awards.

Camille Winbush joined Diane Kruger in wearing Herve Leger to the People's Choice Awards.

And Mariah Carey brought the popular Herve Leger bandage dress into the formal forum at the Golden Globes this year, with a floor-length version which really accentuated her...um...globes?

Perrey Reeves also wore Herve Leger to the Golden Globes.

And lastly, Michelle Monaghan stunned at the SAG Awards in this Calvin Klein gown.

Guiltless Goodies: Guiltless gifts for the holiday season!

Hi all!

It's been a while since I last editorialized on the reasons I am doing this blog, so I thought I'd preface this post with a reminder about my motivations. Please bear with me, it's an important message that I will restrain from repeating too often but it is, I feel, worth a read as a reminder from time to time.

It is important to have a conscience. Especially in today's world, which is often corrupt and capitalist.

Companies like to make money; the bottom line is that they are entirely focused on their bottom line. Sadly, in order to meet their financial goals, many of them look for the cheap way out - not caring who or what they hurt in the process. There are all kinds of problems that have emerged because of this competitive attitude: sweat shops, fur farms and child labour are just a few. The cruelties of the leather and fur industries, the realities of poorly-regulated animal testing that still takes place in overcrowded laboratories - it is overwhelming and can make any consumer feel disturbed and powerless. However, if the companies' concern is their bottom line, that is something that everyone, as a consumer, can impact.

Major designers such as Max Azria (owner of the BCBG group) and Stella McCartney (whose line is vegan, meaning fur- and leather-free) have taken stances against the use of fur in the fashion industry. Brands such as Almay and Origins boast natural, often organic and always cruelty-free products at drugstore prices. Cosmetics giant Revlon has trumped its competitors - L'Oreal and Maybelline among them - by banning animal testing in the production of its products.

For guilt-free purchases this holiday season, below is a list of festive products that would make an ideal gift for anyone and everyone. Using purchasing power for good will ensure everybody wins – including the animals.

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

A COSY KNIT SWEATER:

Expensive Elegance: Stella McCartney’s wool cashmere ladder knit V-neck sweater, $825, StellaMcCartney.com (shown here in round-neck version)

Ideal Investment: BCBGMAXAZRIA’s cable-knit long cardigan, $198, BCBG.com

Bargain Buy: Old Navy’s women’s cable-knit V-neck hoodies, $34.50, OldNavy.com

AN EYE-CATCHING CLUTCH:

Expensive Elegance: Matt and Nat’s Kogan clutch, $150 (Canadian), mattandnat.ca

Ideal Investment: Bebe’s satin bow clutch, $59, bebe.com

Bargain Buy: Charlotte Russe’s studded chain clutch, $16.99, CharlotteRusse.com

THE ULTIMATE PAIR OF PARTY SHOES:

Expensive Elegance: Mink Shoes’ Bull pump, $355, minkshoes.com

Ideal Investment: Charmoné’s Cinnamon – Black shoes, $179, charmone.com

Bargain Buy: Payless ShoeSource’s Miss Puerto Rico by Payless Divina sandal, $34.99, Payless.com

A RED LIPSTICK FOR ALL:

Expensive Elegance: Estee Lauder lipstick removed after more research discovered the company partakes in animal testing

Ideal Investment: Too Faced Cosmetics’ Drop Dead Red lipstick, $18, TooFaced.com

(Too Faced's Lip of Luxury lipsticks)

(Drop Dead Red)

Bargain Buy: Revlon Colorstay soft & smooth lipcolor in Red Velvet, $9.99, Revlon.com

HIGH-SHINE NAIL POLISH:

Expensive Elegance: OPI’s Designer Series DS Reflection, $12.50, OPI.com

Ideal Investment: Sally Hansen item removed (the company is owned by Coty, Inc. which does animal testing)

Bargain Buy: Avon’s Nailwear pro nail enamel in Ruby Slipper, $5.99, Avon.com 

Guiltless Goodies: Stella McCartney's chunky knits

Expensive Elegance:

I heart Stella McCartney. And I absolutely love knit sweaters and cardis for all times of year, but especially in fall and winter. The one below is one of my faves. At that price, I will have to admire from a distance, but to anyone who can afford it - lucky you! Wrap yourself up and read a book on a cold night.

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

Stella McCartney cashmere wool hand knit mouline cape, $1,275, StellaMcCartney.com