Mother’s Day is almost upon us, and even if most of us can’t actually be with our moms on the actual day, we still want them to feel special. After all, they’re the ones who have been listening to us complain, providing a shoulder to cry on, and praising our accomplishments since, well, day one. And, as Earth Day approaches, we’ve been thinking of gifts we can buy our mothers that are as Earth-friendly as they are mom-friendly.
This twofer gift guide for moms (and grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, and more) is completely eco-friendly. From sheet sets made of all-natural eucalyptus and jeans constructed from upcycled denim to hand-crafted footwear and conscious beauty products that’ll save her Vitamin-D-deficient skin, this sustainable Mother’s Day gift guide has a little something for every mom. There are even some donation-based gifts that don’t involve a physical gift at all. But we have a feeling that no matter what you get your mom, she’s going to love it. That’s just how moms are.
So, whether you’re tucked in at home, mom by your side, or missing your mom from somewhere far, far away, these 17 sustainable gifts are sure to show her just how much you appreciate everything she does.
Click ahead for our most eco-friendly Mother’s Day gift guide yet.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Comprised of 78% ECONYL® Recycled Nylon and 22% Elastane, this Araks swimsuit is as chic as it is eco-friendly. Even better, half of all swimwear by the brand is made with ECONYL®.
Araks Yui One Piece Claret, $, available at AraksOn top of planting a eucalyptus tree for every purchase, Sweave is also making masks and donating 20% of sales to COVID-19 relief right now.
Sweave Bedding Duvet Cover, $, available at Sweave BeddingThis all-natural face oil cured Olivia Wilde's adult acne.
True Botanicals Pure Radiance Oil, $, available at True BotanicalsAccording to their website, Nanushka is "all about making decisions with love and consideration for our planet and the people." What's more sustainable than that? Oh, also, these are way discounted and perfect for lounging around the house during quarantine.
Nanushka Leba Rib Merino Wool Blend Pants, $, available at NordstromTimes are hard right now, which makes a weighted anxiety blanket a perfect gift for anyone. This one has the added bonus of being plant-based and hand-knit. *Adds to cart*
Bearaby Tree Napper, $, available at BearabyEach of Ralph Lauren's Earth Day polos is made using 12 plastic water bottles, with the brand pledging 175 million bottles to be recycled by 2025.
Ralph Lauren Earth Day Polo, $, available at Ralph LaurenKeep your mom safe with these natural hand sanitizer options courtesy of Humankind.
by Humankind Hand Sanitizer, $, available at by HumankindNot only will your mom look 10/10 in this white, puff-sleeved blouse, she can also rest easy knowing that it's 100% cotton and part of H&M's Conscious Exclusive collection.
H&M Cotton Balloon-Sleeved Blouse, $, available at H&MDoes your mom wear her heart on her sleeve? Now she can wear it in her ears, too, with sustainable jewelry brand Wolf Circus's adorable baubles.
Wolf Circus Amourette Hoops in Gold, $, available at Need SupplySay it again with me: No. More. Plastic. Straws.
Hay Sip Swirl Reusable Glass Straw Set, $, available at Urban OutfittersFor all those at-home workout sessions she's been doing in quarantine. Oh, and did we mention that for every unitard, 4.48 gallons
of water is saved? Yeah, it's that good.
Girlfriend Collective The Unitard, $, available at Girlfriend CollectiveVegan, cruelty-free, and full of natural ingredients? Check, check, check!
French Girl Le Lip Tint Veronique, $, available at Antidote+Everlane's beloved clogs are made with 100% natural wood and premium leather — and they're pretty cute, too.
Everlane The Clog, $, available at EverlaneWhat better time to get her off her plastic bottle kick than now? Plus, this glass water bottle is BPA free and for every sale, the brand donates to its nonprofit Water.
Soma BPA-Free Glass Water Bottle, 25oz, $, available at AmazonTalk about a feel-good gift. Donate five masks to essential workers in need of protection against COVID-19 in your mom's name.
Reformation 5-Mask Donation, $, available at ReformationNot only is this dress made of 100% sustainable linen, it's also perfect for the vacation your mom's been dreaming of ever since she went into self-quarantine. Maybe once we can travel again, you can take her on that trip.
Mara Hoffman Nami Balloon Sleeve Linen Maxi Dress, $, available at Matches FashionHelp your mom abide by the no-plastic-bag rule by giving her this reusable 100% cotton alternative.
WAAM Small Market Bag in Navy, $, available at Need Supply
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FRENSHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 04: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks at the church of St Mary the Virgin on August 4, 2018 in Frensham, England. Prince Harry attended the same prep school as Charlie van Straubenzee and have been good friends ever since. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
If we had to guess the last thing on your mind right now, we would likely say high heels. After all, when your days consist of traveling from your bed to the fridge and back to the bed again, why would you bother with the pain and suffering that comes with wearing stilettos? Platforms maybe, but really, any shoes are a stretch.
With that being said, when Meghan Markle’s favorite pair of heels — which would normally cost $750 — go on sale, all rules go out the window. Royal or not, the former Duchess of Sussex still has serious influence over our buying habits — maybe even more so now that she’s heading back to Hollywood.
The shoes in question are Aquazzura’s Deneuve pumps, and they have been her wardrobe staple for years. She owns them in not one, not two, but three colors (nude, black, and navy, to be exact). From the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee (Prince Harry’s childhood best friend and baby Archie’s godfather) and Daisy Jenks, to which she wore a very affordable and stylish Club Monaco ensemble, to her many royal tour soirees in New Zealand, Markle’s Deneuve pumps have long-since been an integral part of the 38-year-old’s wardrobe. And now, for a fraction of the price, they can be just as present in yours as well.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey, after attending the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images)
While supplies last (which probably won’t be for long), you can purchase Markle’s beloved Aquazzura Deneuve pumps in nude for 50% off during Shopbop’s “Treat Yourself To A Break Sale.” Unfortunately, sizes are dwindling, and the longer you wait, the less likely you’ll be able to get your hands on the former royal’s favorite pumps.
If, by chance, someone else beats you to the punch, don’t give up hope just yet. Other retailers are also offering discounts. Ahead, shop the lowest prices on Meghan Markle’s Deneuve pumps while you can. And remember, there will come a time when heels aren’t at the bottom of our list of priorities. We’re willing to bet that when that time comes, these are the shoes you’ll want waiting by the front door.
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It’s an understatement to say that a lot has changed over the past few weeks. The novel coronavirus has upended nearly every aspect of American life — not the just big stuff, like staying home and closing non-essential businesses, but the resulting small, personal stuff, too. The infection rate and death toll continue to grow. Due to the economic downturn and rising unemployment rate, many people are looking to cut out whatever unnecessary expenses they can. That means industries like food, retail, and travel have all taken a major hit. One luxury some refuse to relinquish, though? Their Rent The Runway subscriptions.
“I love the Rent the Runway product and brand and am very loyal to it,” says Bailey, who is 31, lives in San Francisco, works in tech, and has two Unlimited memberships she’s been using since 2014. “I want to be able to keep renting for a long time into the future and am supporting businesses that I hope will be around when this crisis is over. I appreciate the feeling of getting dressed and going to work, even if I’m just walking into my living room.”
“I honestly never considered pausing it,” agrees Natasha, 32, who lives in New York, works in publishing, and has been using Unlimited for two years. “RTR has helped lift me out of so many bad moods and ruts over the past few years.”
I, myself, am among these hardcore RTR devotees, ready and willing to go down with the (very stylish) ship, should it ever come to that. These days, like many other non-essential workers, my life primarily involves toggling between my bed, my fridge, the couch, and the makeshift desk I’ve erected directly next to the bed. This makes me extremely lucky. It’s also pretty much the opposite of a situation where I need a cute outfit. The only other person here is my boyfriend, and he mostly wears the same pair of mesh basketball shorts. And yet, something’s been stopping me from cancelling my Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription, even as I try to curb my spending in other ways in preparation for whatever is to come.
While Rent The Runway declined to share exact figures, it’s likely a significant number of subscribers have cancelled or paused their accounts. Anecdotal evidence to support this includes the fact that people are tweeting about it, and mentioning it on Slack. My own friends have looked at me with furrowed brows — via video chat, of course — when I’ve attempted to explain my continued allegiance to the $159-a-month membership that they’ve all paused. I’m wagering there’s a chance that you, dear reader, may be making a similar facial expression right now.
My reluctance to rely solely on my own, certainly sufficient wardrobe may have something to do with the pajamas. A few weeks ago, at the beginning of the shelter-in-place order, I rented an abstract printed silk pajama suit from Peter Pilotto. You probably know the style — slouchy, and meant to be worn with heels by someone with the flare to make them seem distinctly un-pajama-like, even though they are, most definitely, pajamas. I probably wouldn’t have felt like I could pull them off in my regular life, but I figured, if I’m gonna be cooped up in my apartment, I might as well do so with absurdly fancy pajamas, right? I accessorized with gold chains (marking the first and last time I have bothered to put on jewelry in lockdown), and proceeded to rack up compliments from the comfort of my own home. Someone DM’d me after seeing me on a company Zoom call to ask about them. I forced my boyfriend to help me document them on Instagram, where I found out that, funnily enough, an old acquaintance had been wearing the very same thing that day. I’ve never felt so good about an outfit I didn’t leave the house in.
I’ve since returned the pajamas in the hopes of getting a cute little matching sweatsuit, like the ones all the influencers seem to suddenly have an endless supply of. They’re hard to get these days on RTR, the way a new-season dress from Khaite or Proenza Schouler might have been in the before-times; a reminder that some of us unabashed clotheshorses still stand. (And that in the midst of everything, we’re all just trying to get our hands on those damn Pyer Moss track pants.)
There are a lot of suggestions floating around about how to maintain a sense of normalcy during this time. A lot of them ring hollow to me, personally. I don’t want to put on my usual full face of makeup. Why would I do that? I never wear makeup at home. I don’t want to continue waking up at 7:30 when I don’t have to do anything until 9:30. That’s just torturing myself. Even though those are things I normally do, they wouldn’t feel normal to me to do right now (though it is, of course, totally fine and great if they feel normal to you). Continuing to rent clothes, however, feels both decadent and practical. I still need clothes, even if they’re not the kind of clothes I’d usually wear. And, as silly as it may sound, renting designer clothes has brought immense joy and excitement into my life for many years, and I feel at a loss for those emotions right now.
While I, personally, prefer to keep my WFH wardrobe largely loungewear-centric — even if said loungewear is extremely extra — plenty of RTR subscribers are taking advantage of the abundance of usually-rare pieces, as well as their newfound freedom to wear whatever they want during the day. Turns out, not everyone gravitates towards sweatpants when left to their own devices. “The quality of the selection is way better than it ever has been before. I am constantly rolling into my meetings in dresses that retail for upwards of $2k and having a great time with it,” shares Bailey.
Beck, a 35-year-old from San Diego working in public relations, who has been using Unlimited for two years, was wearing a sequin dress on the Monday afternoon when we spoke. “It’s a part of my life that is ‘normal,’ and I enjoy getting dressed for work every day,” she explains. “For me, clothing is a little piece of art you get to change every day that expresses you, your mood, your culture, your setting, your attitude, and so much more. I can’t let that piece of expression die.”
There are understandable concerns about the safety of wearing rented clothes right now. According to the CDC, while COVID-19 is mostly transmitted from person to person, it can live on surfaces for hours to days. In an email to subscribers on March 4, Rent the Runway attempted to quell fears by explaining its intense dry cleaning process: “All garments go through a wet or dry cleaning process. They also go through an additional steaming process which heats items to between 248°F and 302°F with the exception of faux fur, select outerwear, leather and faux leather garments, which still go through our standard cleaning processes. According to the CDC, flu viruses are killed by heat above 167°F. Every garment is then enclosed in plastic for protection and cleanliness, which we ask customers to return for recycling.”
Even so, it’s bringing non-essential packaging that someone else has touched into the house, and placing more demand on delivery workers. For those reasons, I am still considering pausing my membership before my next billing, and will certainly heed any instructions by officials to limit my use of delivery systems. That being said, all of those concerns also exist when you’re buying anything online right now.
“I go back and forth with thinking about the amazing team that is in the warehouse preparing my items for me to just wear around the house, and if it is really worth it for them to go in. Is it helping to keep them working and have income coming? Or would they be better off staying home?” says Melissa, a 33-year-old New Yorker who works in tech and has been using Unlimited since 2016. “Ethically, I go back and forth on this. I pray that those in the warehouse are being treating like royalty in this time as they are putting their lives at risk while keeping the company going.”
I’ve long compared being a Rent The Runway subscriber to being part of a sorority. I can’t count how many conversations I’ve started with words like, “I love that dress! Rent The Runway?” Sharing clothes has always brought women together. tThe only difference is that now we do it with people we’ve never met, across the country. And in a time where we’re physically far apart but craving community more than ever, many have discovered a newfound appreciation for the built-in sisterhood RTR provides, even if it’s just through leaving product reviews.
Even outside of the RTR coven, fun new clothes are an easy conversation-starter. They’re something to riff on at the beginning of a slightly awkward Zoom meeting, or post to Instagram instead of the standard self-deprecating memes and depressing news updates. “I’ve been Instagramming Zoom screenshots of my outfits and a lot of my friends have been giving me really fun feedback and comments on what they do and don’t like,” says Bailey. “I’m basically on my own during this time, and I’ve been looking for ways to connect with people in my life in all kinds of ways to help me feel connected. It might sound silly, but I have heard from a lot of people I haven’t talked to since college or high school (more than 10 years ago!) and it’s nice to connect.”
In reporting this story, I’ve received dozens of messages from women waxing poetic about their love for Rent The Runway. Unfortunately, way more than I can possibly include here. The obvious thing, to me, is that it’s about way more than clothes. It’s about pulling at whatever we can find to try and make what’s happening feel bearable, and like something resembling an altered version of the lives we’ve worked so hard to build for ourselves. It’s about envisioning a light at the end of the tunnel, even when it doesn’t seem like there is one right now. It’s about supporting a business that many of us would feel bereft if anything happened to.
But mostly, it’s about looking at all those beautiful dresses, lined up and waiting on our phones, and reminding ourselves that one day, this will be over. It’ll be safe to go outside again, maybe meet up with friends in the park and drink wine, or even go to a restaurant, museum, or party. And we’ll need something to wear; something perhaps very different than what we’re wearing right now. And with the future so uncertain, and so many plans cancelled or postponed indefinitely, I find I desperately need something to look forward to, even if it’s just the prospect of wearing a really gorgeous dress.
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दीपिका पादुकोण यूं तो सीरियस नेचर की लेडी हैं, लेकिन उनकी पर्सनैलिटी के भी कई ऐसे पहलू हैं जो सिर्फ उनके करीबी ही जानते हैं। ऐसे में जब ये करीबी इंटरव्यू देते हैं तो अदाकारा से जुड़ी कई बातें सामने आती हैं जो लोगों को यह सोचने पर मजबूर कर देती है कि 'अरे दीपिका ऐसी भी हैं'। ऐ
टेलीविजन की दुनिया लगभग हर गुजरते दिन के साथ बड़े पैमाने पर बढ़ती जा रही है। हमारे पसंदीदा टीवी कलाकार अपने छोटे पर्दे के अवतारों से निकल आज अपनी ग्लैमरस छवि बनाने में लगे हुए हैं। यही नहीं, टीवी की दुनिया में कुछ ऐसी बहुएं भी हैं जो अपनी बेहतरीन अदाकारी से ही नहीं बल्कि अपने कमाल के ड्रेसिंग सेंस भी सबका दिल जीत रही हैं। दिव्यांका त्रिपाठी (), जेनिफर विंगेट () और मौनी रॉय () टीवी की उन एक्ट्रेस की सूची में शाामिल हैं जिन्हें आज किसी खास पहचान की जरूरत नहीं है। ये एक्ट्रेसेस चाहे ऑन-स्क्रीन हो या ऑफ-स्क्रीन, हर किसी के लिए ये एक फैशन इंस्पिरेशन हैं। चाहे इंडियन हो या वेस्टर्न, ये अभिनेत्रियां बोरिंग से बोरिंग लुक में जान डाल देती हैं। ऐसे में आज हमने सोचा क्यों न आपको इनके कुछ साड़ी लुक्स दिखाएं, जिसके चलते आप ये तय करें कि किसका साड़ी लुक है झक्कास और किसका बकवास। दिव्यांका त्रिपाठी टीवी सीरियल ‘ये है मोहब्बतें’ (Yeh Hai Mohabbatein) से लाखों-करोड़ों दिलों पर राज करने वाली दिव्यांका त्रिपाठी (Divyanka Tripathi) का हर लुक बेहतरीन है मैडम चाहें इंडियन पहने या वेस्टर्न हर लुक में कमाल की लगती हैं। दिव्यांका अपने साड़ी लुक्स के लिए काफी फेमस है। वह अपनी अधिकतर साड़ियों के साथ एक्सपेरिमेंट करती रहती हैं। वहीं, मैडम के इस अवतार के बारे में बात करें तो उन्होंने एलिमेंट डिज़ाइन स्टूडियो की एमरल्ड ग्रीन फ्रिल साड़ी को पहना हुआ है। जिसके साथ _jewel_gallery के लॉन्ग डैंग्लर्स, मिनिमल मेकअप, वर्मिलिअन लिप कलर और गले में पन्ना चोकर डाला हुआ था। इतना ही नहीं, इस ड्रेस के साथ दिव्यांका की प्यारी- सी मुस्कान किसी को भी दीवाना बनाने के लिए काफी है। हमें तो दिव्यांका का ये लुक बेहद पसंद आया अब आप बताएं दिव्यांका का ये साड़ी लुक आपको कैसा लगा। ( ये भी पढ़ें:)मौनी रॉय नागिन फेम मौनी रॉय (Mouni Roy) टीवी की दुनिया से निकल अब फिल्मों में अपना हाथ आजमाने में लगी हुई हैं। मौनी रॉय हर लुक में काफी खूबसूरत लगती हैं,फिर चाहे वो कैज़ुअल लुक हो या उनका साड़ी लुक। रेड वेलवेट फ्रिल साड़ी में मौनी गजब की लग रही हैं। Avvantikaa S. Parwani के कलेक्शन से पहनी गई इस सिंपल- सी साड़ी को मौनी ने जिस अंदाज़ में कैरी किया है वो वाकई तारीफ के काबिल है। कर्ली हेयर्स, स्मोकी आईज, GOENKA INDIA के रेड डायमंड इयरिंग्स, मिनिमल मेकअप और वर्मिलिअन लिप कलर उनके इस लुक को पूरा कर रहे थे। ( ये भी पढ़ें:)जेनिफर विंगेट जेनिफर विंगेट टीवी दुनिया की खूबसूरत एक्ट्रेसेस में से एक हैं। जेनिफर इंडियन से लेकर वेस्टर्न तक हर लुक को बड़े ही स्टाइलिश अंदाज में कैरी करती हैं। जेनिफर के इंस्टाग्राम पर एक नजर डालेंगे तो आप देखेंगे कि उनकी ड्रेसेस कितनी कमाल की होती है। कल्कि फैशन की इस grey draped lycra साड़ी में जेनिफर काफी स्टाइलिश लग रही हैं। न्यूड गिलटरी मेकअप, स्मोकी आईज, कर्ली हेयर्स और सिल्वर डैंगलर्स उनकी खूबसूरती में चार चांद लगा रहे हैं। ऐसा पहली बार नहीं है जब जेनिफर विगेंट का ऐसा अवतार देखने को मिला हो, इससे पहले भी मैडम वन पीस से लेकर गाउन तक में अपना स्टाइलिश अंदाज दिखा चुकी हैं।
