What to Wear, Now through Fall

The other day—during one of those hot, dry spells in L.A. when the static from a synthetic shirt is capable of sparking a wildfire—I went back-to-school shopping with an eye out, of course, for what to wear right now. I was looking for a variety of green wear in a healthy range of prices, available not only in cyberspace but locally. Many salespersons seemed at a loss when I asked, "Do you carry green, eco-friendly items?" But that was okay. Having read The Green Guide's product reports, I had a good idea of what to look for.

At La Bella boutique, a short walk from my home in Long Beach, a tank top that shimmered like an underwater treasure caught my eye. It was from Linda Loudermilk's 2005 collection, designed with bamboo, organic cotton and recycled bottles—and carried a hefty price of $243. "Customers are buying her clothes because they love the look and style. And when they find out what it's made of, they like it that much more," the saleswoman said, letting drop that celebrities Sarah McLaughlin, Tori Amos and Debra Messing are fans of Loudermilk's designs.

To pair with such a top—without breaking the bank—I combed through a rack of jeans priced from $8 to $12 at Discovery Shop, an American Cancer Society thrift store. Buying used is also a smart way to recycle, as jeans are a big-bucks, sweatshop-heavy industry. For the daily mix and match, my local Wild Oats Natural Marketplace offered thin-strap, organic-cotton camisoles ($14) and recycled-paper and organic-cotton socks in colors pleasing to the eye ($8) by Maggie's Functional Organics. Up the road at Sam's Club, I contemplated a yoga line of organic-cotton clothes by Chaus, sensibly priced from $10 to $35.