Flower and Plants MAKE Fashion

When people think of plants as they relate to the fashions we humans
adorn ourselves with, the first instinct most of us have it to imagine
floral patterns and such. But of course, what many people may not
realize is that every single thing we wear has plants at some stage of
the process. Seriously, even polyester and other synthetic materials
have petroleum as their raw ingredient... which is oil that is formed
via the compression of marine life, including plants. Of course, cows,
sheep and silk worms give us leather, wool and silk... but cows and
sheep depend on grass, while silk worms simply could not produce without
eating the leaves of the white mulberry tree.

And there was even a fashion show held in Cali, Columbia, in which the
various designers produced clothing items made from plant materials.
These included massive floral head dresses and actual, entire outfits
made from all manner of flowers and plant parts.

And no discussion of literal "grown clothes" would be complete without
mentioning the modern trend of rings that feature actual, live plants as
a part of their designs. These rings are like having a little putting
green right on your finger (or in the case of one designer's work, a
"lawn on your hand" that resembles a set of brass knuckles). And one can
only assume that these rings coordinate very well with flower necklaces,
which also (pardon the pun) are blossoming into popularity. But perhaps
that vision of fashion is a bit too literal.

Anything which is popular can be said to be a kind of fashion. This even
extends as far as out door life and the gardens and lawns we grow. When
you mow your lawn in a patterned design of some sort, you are putting a
"fashionable" spin on something functional. And when you dig up a
section, put down some soil and plant _flower seeds
, you are also expressing your own style
in a way that society considers good and normal.

Of course, like everything else in life, some people can take things far
further than the norm. The notion of "thimble gardens" which could be
grown by any apartment dweller with even the tiniest window was a good
start. And then, I paused momentarily when I caught a glimpse of
furniture, down spouts (as in, from gutters), shoes and even entire
walls that are either covered with, or made entirely out of, the very
same grass which can be seen in a multitude of lawns. But then I finally
stopped and stared when I saw a few other things that some green minded
designers have been coming up with lately.

Apparently, not only can plants be grown that display messages (such as
"I love you"), they can also be grown into photographs. In these photos,
the different grass colors visibly form different enough shades to make
actual images. That was just about enough to convince me that there are
a great many people out there who REALLY love turning plants into
fashion accessories. Love your plants, Love your planet, and Love Yourself....

Bikini Babies...oh and mamas!

Is Anything New Under the Sun for Pregnant Women?
Shaking off the winter blues by doing some summertime daydreaming? You’re probably not alone. With so many parts of the world having one of the coldest (and longest) winters on record, we in the Northern Hemisphere are all envying the warmer climes of those on the opposite side of the equator. Fortunately, the spring/summer clothing lines have already premiered, and we can look to browse through catalogs and websites, imagining when and where we want to be in that sundress or bathing suit. It gets a little tough, however, to imagine what sort of clothing will look good on you if you’re already bulging in your winter clothes because you’ll be at least six months pregnant by June. Fortunately, there are styles designed just for you.
For most of us, summer conjures up the idea of outdoor activities. We like lying in the sun by the pool or on the edge of the ocean. We enjoy golfing, tennis and bicycling under a big golden sun. There is no reason a mom-to-be can’t take part in any or all of these activities if she takes the proper precautions to prevent sunburn and heat fatigue. Still, what can a pregnant woman wear to the beach or to a picnic beside the pool? For the last couple of summers, we’ve seen fairly “stationary” trends in summer clothing for women. The Capri pants that became a hot fashion commodity for all women a few years back are still “in” and work well with maternity fashions, since they hide some of that thigh fat we inevitably gain. Luckily, long loose, slouchy tees and tops are hot this year, too. That means the average mommy in waiting will be able to buy off the regular rack if she wants. Still, what can she wear to a pool? And to the beach?
Pregnancy and bathing suits used to conjure up a couple of extreme images. The first was that of a woman wearing a ridiculous get-up that covered 80% of her torso and had a skirt, even a ruffle. Ugh! Then we went to the extreme of bikinis, exposing our bulging bellies and, sadly, our unborn kids, to ultraviolet rays that have potentially dangerous side effects. Now, we have styles that have moved to somewhere in between. Today’s maternity bathing suit can be subtle. The tankini (common term for a tank top and bathing suit bottom combo) works well at allowing a pregnant woman to be confident in her appearance and comfortable, too. Several versions of the tankini are available, and often they are made with built-in bras to help bolster breasts that are heavier during pregnancy.
If you are shopping for a maternity swimsuit, you might want to check out the styles by Prego®. Their line of maternity swimwear is just the right mixture of fun and flirty moderated by a bit of good taste. I particularly liked their halter-top tankini and the other styles that make the most of the shoulders and bodice, draped over the tummy. They’ve got plenty of looks to choose from, and lots of competitors, too. This means that a little bit of shopping will surely net the suit that’s just right for you.
The once seemingly impossible search for a comfortable but stylish swimsuit for mothers-to-be is now over. They do exist! So, just remember, even if you’re going to have a baby and will be carrying some very special extra weight around this summer, you can still enjoy the warmer weather in style.
For all you mama's looking for organic swim wear for your little ones, Happy Green Bee offers fun, childish designs for summer swimming...This cute little thang you see in the picture offers hip toddlers a chance to show their cheery stripes for summer fun!!!!! Available in watermelon or butterscotch

http://www.vannybean.com/category_83/Happy-Green-Bee.htm

Blog written by Allison Freed, fashion blogger and editor.

Welcome Spring...

I'm sure most parents, like myself are ready for Spring and ready to start all the fun activities again like soccer, swimming, going to the park, and taking the dog for a walk. I know we are! Well, it's been an exciting couple of weeks and I have to admit Vanny Bean hasn't been faithfully blogging like we should! That will change with the winter blues behind us and a warm Spring ahead. I wanted to blog or shall I say brag today about our line from Wall Candy Art. Wall Candy Art are sticker decalls to spice up your childrens room and what better time with the 'Spring Cleaning' then to freshen up the kids rooms with fun wall decals that are go green for the environment. Check out Blossom's featured in the picture for Spring time... http://www.vannybean.com/item_1371/Blossoms.htm

Wall Candy Art Apple Chalkboard was featured in Parents Magazine this month and is great for any reminders you think of...Check out our collection of wall arts and go green!