I went back-to-school shopping with actor Paul Iacono of the reinvention of Fame! Teen.com TV asked me to take Paul on an eco-friendly shopping spree, where we went thrifting at Buffalo Exchange, checked out some organic cotton at Kaight, explored some cruelty-free accessories at MooShoes, and finished off the day with some vegan ice cream banana splits at Lula’s Sweet Apothecary!
These Portuguese-made, eco-friendly, vegan microsuede “Simpatia” wingtip shoes from BoBo are my new obsession. Great with a tux or just a pair of skinny jeans – wingtips, otherwise know as the brogue, are a boys best friend. Wanna know why we steer clear of leather at The Discerning Brute, Click Here, and don’t have a cow!
Check out all the other vegan wingtips & brogue shoes:
1. The Choosy Beggar can show us dudes where to hit up all the NYC sample sales. Thanks to Chloe from Girlie Girl Army for this info!
2. I recently got to try the tart, sweet, and totally original, organic blood orange juice from Italian Organics. My roommate said it would make an amazing mixed drink, but I enjoyed the bottle on its own. It also has almost twice the vitamin C as regular orange juice. Get some HERE.
3. A little while back I mentioned the mostly vegan, all organic Suki skin care line. Well I’ve been using the toner, chamomile moisture oil, sugar exfoliating facial scrub, and vitamin C Serum, and my skin is literally supple and glowing. Thanks Suki!
4. Retro Hi-Top. These babies from Autonomie Project are slick, classic, and pretty affordable. $56 at MooShoes gets you fair trade, organic canvas with sustainable rubber, and eco-friendly dyes. Duh! Fits perfectly in a Christmas stocking!
Did you know that the real-deal Gladiators were vegans? These overweight warriors who ate nothing but barely and beans shatter the pervasive stereotype of frail, weak herbivores. Analysis of the bones of more than 70 gladiators found in 2004 near Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia Minor, contradicts traditional Hollywood images of macho carnivores with the physique of superheroes as well. Forensic anthropologists revealed these fighters had thicker bone density than their omnivorous counterparts – shattering yet another stereotype of the vegan diet; the calcium myth. How did they treat animals? That’s another story – and apparently, they didn’t actually wear sandals either. They fought bare-foot! But in accordance with the popular fantasy that they did don stylish, strappy sandals – here are a few styles to choose from that will certainly not get you a thumbs down.
Commodus in ‘Gladiator’, played by the vegan Joaquin Phoenix
If you want to look like a barbarian without actually treating cows like one, check out these Splaff Gladiators at MooShoes, made from recycled tires and hemp:
When in Rome, do as the Romans didn’t – show up in a brown toe-post sandal from Vegetarian Shoes UK. Lightweight cork mid-sole, handmade in Portugal with a padded and contoured footbed, arch support and a deep heel cup. Lined with super-soft micro-fibre fake suede. Lightweight, patterned, Microcellular outsole. Adjustable strap lined with Soft-feel synthetic felt.
If you are more of an eco-warrior into the strappy buckles thing, these Birkenstock-inspired 3 Strap Sandals with faux-suede from Vegetarian Shoes UK should do the trick.
Ladies, do not fear, your veg gladiator days are here as well from designers like Cri De Coeur, Steve Madden, and Burgois Boheme.
