Loving this...

...sexy day-to-night dress from Beau Soleil, $265. (Of course, it's made from sustainable fabric involving fair trade and labour.)

www.shopbeausoleil.com

Copenhagen tipped for (ethical) international fashion success

One might not think of Copenhagen as an international fashion force to be reckoned with, but, as this month's Copenhagen fashion week proved, Viking fashionista are style setters to watch out for on the catwalk. Led by eco-savvy label Noir, the Danes are hoping to launch themselves as a city with international fashion credibility, and going down the eco-route is a pretty saucy move. The label's fifth ready-to-wear collection is ethically sound, using organic materials and fair-trade practices where possible. But more to the point it's definitely something new. Combining glamour with toughness, think leather, bold colours, sharp tailoring, blazers, crisp shirts, silk cigarette pants, and sexy cotton cocktail dresses, and... great dane you've got it.

A thousand and one nights at the Egyptian Ecolodge

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall spent the night here not so long ago while on tour in Egypt, so, if it’s good enough for royalty, it must be worth its weight in sand. Built entirely of mud and rock salt on the edge of the Sahara, at the foot of a majestic mountain and next to a mirage-like lake (that’s as salty as the dead sea and great for the skin), the Adrere Amellal Ecolodge in Siwa offers a return-to-nature experience in a totally unique ecological and cultural setting. Abandoned Siwan houses were restored and extended to build its walls and the use of local master craftsmen, whose trades were becoming extinct, has led to a revival of traditional building techniques in the oasis. In keeping with desert living, there’s no telephone or air conditioning. Ancient basics meet high-end sophistication.

Adrere Amellal Ecolodge, Siwa, Egypt. www.adrereamellal.net

iWood... would you?

Sunglasses by iWood ecodesign, from $315.00.

www.iwoodecodesign.com

Why so green baby?

Eco-entrepreneur Jill Barker spent 13 years working as a trader in the city before setting up her now ever-so-successful eco-business. Seven years, four shops across London and a website later and Green Baby (which sells organic clothing and eco-accessories for wannabee green nippers and their mothers) is now worth a tidy £3 million and boasts Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Stella McCartney among its patrons. It's nappytastic.

www.greenbabyco.com

It might be slimy and smelly, but it's this summer’s must-have beauty ingredient

Containing therapeutic, skin-preserving and medicinal qualities that are said to help stimulate the lymphatic system, as well as revitalize and firm the skin, seaweed grabs all the richness from the ocean (where there are no fertilisers or pesticides!) and contains an intense and unadulterated concentration of amino acids, mineral salts, vitamins A, C, B1, B12, E, K, D and trace elements. Put simply, it’s ten times richer in such elements as plants on land are. What’s more, it’s easily absorbed into the skin, and its benefits add texture and shine to your hair and help improve skin tone. Seaweed has made its way into a plethora of beauty products, but one of the best in terms of purity of ingredients is Space NK’s Spa Thalassotherapy line.

Prices start from just £16 and products range from body wash and body cream to bath crystals and bath soak, which means you can soak in it, wash in it, scrub with it, moisturise with it and plonk crystals of it in your bath. www.spacenk.co.uk

Glamping (aka glamorous camping)

If you think you're in with the can camp, won't camp brigade Canvas Chic might just make you think again. We're talking the height of eco-luxury under canvas here... 12 stylishly furnished yurts situated overlooking a river gorge in a beautiful part of the Ardèche, in southern France. Proper beds, luxury bed linen, private hammocks and even an on-site table d'hôte-style restaurant for when you're sick of camp fire cuisine and barbies. Wild outdoor living but oh so glamorous.

From £255 for two people for three nights, including Continental breakfast. www.canvaschic.com