Eco-Friendly New Year's Eve Frocks that Rock

Published December 21, 2012 07:29AM

The New Year’s Eve soirée is an annual rite of passage, and even if you’re too pooped to party like it’s 1999, you’re expected, at the very least, to stay up for the midnight fireworks display and traditional Champagne toast. This year, I’ll probably pull a Cinderella and be in bed—shoes off and book in hand—when the clock strikes twelve, but if Prince (the singer or Mr. Charming) comes a callin’, I might be persuaded to throw on one of these eco-friendly frocks and dance ‘til dawn.

Every time I lay eyes on one of these flouncy ‘50s party dresses, my heart skips a beat. Not only does vintage fit in with the reduce-reuse-recycle credo, but all that tulle, crinoline, and satin also appeals to my old-timey aesthetic sensibilities. Vintageous vends mint-condition oldies-but-goodies ranging from simple sundresses to frou-frou wedding gowns, and updates the heavenly inventory each week.  http://www.vintageous.com/dressy.htm  

Have you ever dreamed of making an entrance in a fancy designer gown that you could never afford in real life? Rent the Runway lets you live the fantasy (and avoid contributing to the waste stream) by renting out sparkly evening dresses at a fraction of the price of buying. Don’t do silk? Won’t wear wool? Typing “Synthetic” into the search filter pops up all kinds of animal-friendly possibilities.  http://www.renttherunway.com/about

A party dress you can wear with jeans the next day? Yes! Made by Fair+True, this fair-trade synthetic silk dress can be dressed up with a pair of heels and a fancy bag for your shindig, or dressed down with a belt and leggings for tomorrow’s brunch. If you, like me, are susceptible to red-wine and coffee disasters, you’ll be glad to know this comes in navy blue, too.  http://www.fashion-conscience.com

Veg fashion blogger Aurelia d’Andrea has devoted a disproportionately large portion of her life to scouring thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and flea markets in search of sartorial treasures, and has a closet full of frocks to prove her passion for the hunt. Going veg taught her to sharpen her style skills, and confirmed what she’d suspected all along: It really is possible to develop a fashionable point of view and keep your ethics intact, too. She lives in Paris where she blogs (My Vegan Parisian Aventure), writes books (Moon Living Abroad in France), and eats way too many carbs.