StylePhile

Au Courant

Opportunity Knocks: S.B.’s best-kept secret for affordable, unique furniture for home/office/and otherwise-furnished locations, the Opportunity Shop, has moved to a new location, at 516 East Gutierrez Street. New digs, yes, but the shop remains a reliably fabulous trove of one-man’s-trash-is-another-man’s-treasures-not to mention an eco-friendly alternative to buying new furniture. And, let’s be honest, aren’t we all just a wee bit tired of Ikea?

The Shoes That Leave No Footprint: Eco-stylephiles know that nice little shoe company Simple Shoes (simpleshoes.com) is always doing its part to keep our planet happy and healthy while keeping our feet stylishly shod. The 2008 Green Toe collection features sustainable shoes and bags for men, women, and kids, using hemp, organic cotton, cork, natural latex, natural crepe rubber, recycled car tires, and bamboo-a natural antimicrobial (say good-bye to stinky feet!). And, in honor of Earth Day, Simple is again partnering with StopGlobalWarming.org by donating five bucks for every pair of Stop Global Warming shoes sold.

Going Green Is in the Bag: Stella McCartney, the patron saint of green couture, has a new line of bags, and dressed (1253 Coast Village Rd.) has ’em! The line, Stella McCartney for LeSportsac, includes totes, handbags, and accessories and was designed by Sir Paul’s spawn using 100 percent recycled materials. Perfect for stylephiles of the PETA-friendly, globally conscious variety.

Birthday Bash for the Bees: Next weekend, April 26 and 27, the Blue Bee empire is celebrating seven years in S.B.-and, true to form, the boys are going off. Designers and representatives from more than 20 lines of clothing and accessories will be there slinging their products and offering gifts with purchases, as well as special deals and discounts. There will be at least three designers in each store on Saturday and Sunday, and, in addition to vendor participation, each store will have its own giveaways, music, food, and drinks, ensuring that no bee will go home blue.

Spotlight On: Earth Day

Who says you can’t be stylish and eco-conscious? Yes, the virtuous can be vixens, too, and, now more than ever, Earth-loving stylephiles know that green truly is the new black. Luckily for us, Santa Barbara is home to tons of forward-thinking fashionistas (and whatever the male version of fashionistas is : fashionisters?), busily making, selling, and reselling all manner of fabulous, stylish, eco-minded clothing and goods for your body, soul, home, and home planet. Many will be exhibiting at this Sunday’s Earth Day celebration, so skip the mall and spend the day outside at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens-and feel free to leave the Birkenstocks at home. Here’s a list of vendors worth checking out:

Acorn Organics, Arcobaleno Trade, Betty’s Belts, Clothing of the American Mind, Daydreamers, Hempwise, Jedzebel, livingreen, Lucky Brand Jeans, Mission Canyon Clothing, OtherWear Gear, Simple Shoes, Sweetwater Natural, Terramor Organic Home, The Body Shop at Home, and The Closet.

Shop this:

It’s So Easy Shopping Green : This Sunday, in honor of Earth Month and in support of organizations around the world working to support and preserve clean water, the Aveda Walter Claudio Salon (11 W. Figueroa St.) is holding a cut-a-thon: stop by between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to score a $30 haircut or a haircut and blow-dry for $35. And while you’re admiring your new ‘do, pick up a limited edition Aveda Light the Way candle; 100 percent of the proceeds from candle sales during the month of April will support Global Greengrants Fund. : Stop by The Closet (1213 State St., Ste. L) for a double-dose of green good-deedery: The carefully chosen consigned pieces are always fashion-friendly, and, beginning this week, every Monday, 5 percent of all sales will go to the Community Environmental Council. : The SBMA Gift Shop (1130 State St.) is getting its green on, too: Stop by for 10 percent off Fire and Light’s recycled glass objects, as well as essential-oil towelettes from Santa Barbara’s Herban Essentials and ECO-ME kits for keeping your bod, baby, pet, and home clean, naturally.

Check Out: Lucia Loves Luigi

Opened in February, Lucia Loves Luigi (502 Brinkerhoff Ave.), is a spacious, off-the-beaten path boutique for female stylephiles of all ages, equally equipped to suit your mood whether you’re feeling flirty or fierce. Here are three reasons why you should check it out:

1) Owner Lucy Hamlin earned her stripes working for Blue Bee and Kate, spotted an opening in S.B.’s retail scene, and promptly nailed it. “I wanted to eliminate the need to go to L.A. to shop,” she said. And she has, with an inventory that’s more diverse than anything in town and more than 150 vendors strong: Alongside better-known names like Catherine Malandrino, Tree, and Walter, she has Casch Copenhagen, a handmade line from Denmark, Nougat from London, Mayer from Germany, BP Studios from Italy, and Soula from England. And that’s just the clothes :

2) Everything else! The shoes, bags, denim, jewelry (check the Potluck Paris line, made from recycled tea sets and sterling silver flatware), and the alcohol-free perfumes from CB Experience, created based on memories.

3) Luigi, Hamlin’s lovable Australian-Shepherd/Old-English-Sheepdog watchdog. He’d be happy to guard your stuff while you’re in the dressing room.