Charity: Water’s December 2008 ball took place this past week at the Metropolitan Pavilion. I got to have some down time with Scott (the founder) in Mexico, which doesn’t really happen all that often. Scott gave a riveting talk in Mexico at The Summit and it brought nearly a third of the group to Charity’s benefit, which was a good enough reason for a reunion. It was a tremendous turn-out. They raise $450,000 for clean water projects across 17 different countries and 100% of the money raised goes directly to the programs. In addition to the Summiteers (Josh, Eben, Graham, Nikki, Ben K., Ben H., Caroline, Natali, Elliot, Alex, Ryan, and the list goes on)– I got to see Esther again, who had just come back from documenting Charity’s projects in Kenya (and provided most all the photos you see here). Would love to have her join me again this coming year to Mozambique; let’s see what we can work out.

Regardless, if you’re interested in giving to a charity, I’d highly recommend looking into Charity: Water. You can check out their “Give on your Birthday” program, which has been a highly successful fundraising model. Though I know there has been issues with regenerating aquifers in various parts of the world because of improper well drilling and lack of water conservation, the Charity mission is a strong one and restores faith in people’s idea of what charity is because 100% of the public’s money goes to basic water and sanitation facilities in developing nations.

It was terrific to catch up with Adrian. We pledged to get some friends together for another dinner at his house. And if you fashionistas are curious about my outfit: It’s a brilliant hemp-silk vintage-inspired dress handmade by Carasan with hand-sewn glass beads and a fair-trade kalamkari purse by World of Good. As mentioned in an earlier post, the awesome feathered headgear was acquired at the coolest little Brooklyn sample sale from a number of my sustainable style peeps. Photo by Emma Grady over at Treehugger.com.

Emma, Rose and I pose for a picture.

Photos by Esther of Esther’s photos from Rwanda

The displays were impeccably done. Scott’s team does an impressive job in communicating Charity’s message.

I had plenty to talk about with the Teen Time Live crew.

Esther and I take a T.O. for a sexy little shot.

a cute candid capture by Andrew Bicknell

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I’ve gotten some queries wondering where the updates from The Model Diaries have been hiding. To be perfectly honest with you, we’ve been recording (seven more in queue to be exact), but have a bottleneck in the post-production end of things, which I am anxiously looking to sort out. A new intern hire or two will surely help alleviate the glut of creative backlog. But I promise they will be coming (tentative plan: Jan 09) and we have some cool features from a rainforest shoot to the Elephant Art party to clothes designed by kids saving the rainforest. See past episodes:  The Model Diaries.

Alright folks, prepare to be amazed by the trippiest game ever. The photos above and the video below really capture the heart of Roulette Shocker: A simple plastic contraption in which four players stick their fingers into and press down. Hit a button and the lights go around and around until someone is randomly given an electric shock. I know, sounds kinda dirty, doesn’t it? Note: If you have epilepsy or some other related disorder, don’t play this game! Or at least that was the warning that came with the game. It is one of the most pointless things I ever have played, but hands down the most fun! I swear we nearly had everyone’s sides in stitches because the jolt is enough to make everyone jump back and scream. Pretty sick. Edward warned me about the game, but I couldn’t find any clear reference online when I googled it, so I had Chris, Dina, Rosie, Josh, Marie and others really going on what the hell it was all about. Actually, after you watch the video, I’m sure it’ll still leave you wondering…

Hey knit-wits (those of us who heart a little knitwear in our lives). You may remember some of these photos from the Sexiest Sweaters post. Thought I’d share the rest with you. I know, I know–you’re supposed to pick the BEST photo from the bunch for each look, but we loved a lot of them, so figured why be stingy?

Abdul and I took a day out to do a little one-two-shoot. We shot in a space on 5th Avenue (ironically in the same building the Payless design studio is in). In fact, I’ve realized that a ton of my clients are right in that area of 5th Avenue and 21st Streets, but I digress….I just brought along some of my gear and If it’s one thing that I love to do in photo shoots, it’s shaking off the old guard who still thinks sustainable style hasn’t graduated Jesus sandals and hemp-gear. So I’m going to holler out to all the conscious clotheshorses who know what’s up in the world.

So without further adieu, here are some of the sweaterlicious images we shot together. Let me know what you think! And yea, some of these got swept up by some magazines, so if you see them posted here again, you’re not suffering from deja vu.

I love this sweater! The sleeves get into everything and you surely can’t fit it under any normal jacket (who likes normal anyway????) but just take a look at it! Gorg! Gorg! Gorg! It’s by my friends Terri and Sandy (cool mother-daugther design duo) out of Virginia and Brooklyn. The line is called Carasan. I got a number of sweaters like this (so stay tuned for more). And I love layers, so I just layered on some organic cotton gray shirts by Chicago-based designers Lara Miller (whom I wrote a recommendation letter for Ecco Domani [Sustainable] fashion awards. Fingers crossed for her!!!]. She’s got cool gear that you can flip and wear different ways. The locket is made by nomadic tribespeople of Niger in collaboration with Parisian designer, Aude Durou from Ombre Claire. Tights by American Apparel (of course) and veggie-tanned boots by Pjux out of Spain that I picked up over at Ekovaruhuset over on Ludlow.

Abdul and I vamped it up in that gritty, dirty, naughty, dark film noir style that we all love. All you need: Cold, dark staircase: Check! - Black stockings: Check! - Sexy undergarments: Check! An extra long sleeved black sweater: Check! Dark eye makeup: Check! - and Just out of Bed hair: Double check!

I picked up the Ooo-la-la Frenchie-French silk bra over at Sleep in The Burg (I LOVE that shop! Best knickers in the hood); Italian-knit undies by Zimmerli, which I picked up after doing one of their runway shows a little while back (are they even still around??); black tights by American Apparel; and a bamboo knit EXTRA-EXTRA long sleeve sweater with front clasp by my favorite sweaternista - Lara Miller. And I don’t know if you still care about this stuff, but all of Lara’s clothes are made in Chicago! Holla!

Quite possibly my most favorite sweater of the DECADE! How can you not love the yoda-style cowl neck-turned hoodie. And the coolest thing? You can flip the sweater over upside-down style and wear it as a sweater dress, but I totally prefer the way I wear it here. I also love the color. Brown has gone from drab to fab over the seasons! Lara knit this out of recycled cotton, so no virgin materials were used in the making of this yum-yum-chocolate-chip, honey-dip gotta get me a scoop sweater. Kinda reminds me of the cocoon-couture pieces by Ding Yong Spring 09, yes/no? Oh yah, and those recycled quilt/veggie tanned boots? I just resoled those suckers and they are by none other than Terra Plana. You can get yourself a pair over at 260 Elizabeth Street, but wearers be warned: No two pairs look the same. Let’s give it up for individuality!

Such a sweater puppy. We went a little soft, sensual and sweet with these shots. Paired a bone-colored FLIP sweater by Lara Miller with some ubercute ruffled knickers and bralette set made out of organic cotton by UK-based designer Jenny McPherson over at Enamore.

Shot where the palm shadows play. I think Abdul captured the light and shadow expertly here. Basically all I did was roll around in my Italian-knit knickers.

This was actually the first look we shot and one of my faves for the day. I lust over the purple red silk dress I got over at Pinky Otto. Pair it with a pair of kitten heels, and meeoooow! You can’t really see, but the sleevless part of the dress dips really low. You can see it here on my way to the Glamour magazine casting as captured in The Model Diaries back on the 28th of August. (By the way, I did get casted, so look out for in this March or April in their 70 Women of Green issue). Anyway, paired it this time with a gris sweater by Lara Miller and draped shiny baubles by Ombre Claire over the whole look. Young, fresh yet sophisticated.

We went a little goth-child on this shoot. I think it looks mad cool with the cold sunlight coming in from behind. The photo flares and the water towers really do give it a special feeling. This is a bamboo/organic cotton-knit “tribal marking” dress gifted to me by the girls over at Beau Soleil after wearing their dress in Lucky magazine. And guess what, it’s on sale here! Knee-highs I got over at American Apparel and the vegan-heels (so cute aren’t they?) are by Charmone Shoes. The silver bling is my favorite piece (I wear it all the time!) from Ombre Claire.

Phew! Well that was A LOT! Next time I’ll try not to put so many images, but like I said earlier, we really like a whole bunch from this series, so hopefully you enjoyed too.

If you’re into African-Western fusion, you may just want to check out Ladybrille.

Ladybrille “Brilliant Lady” is a vibeilicious blogazine that unites the Western and African sisterhood together. The founder, Uduak Oduok is one of those rocking women who just hustles! If the girl says shes going to do something, she just figures out how to do it. She’s a lawyer-by-day (I know, I know)…but she busts it out Renaissance Woman style with Ladybrille and other ventures.

Jack Yan over at Lucire first put us in touch an eon or so ago.  Uduak called out of the blue to check in and say “Wassup girl!!!” Took a good hour, but hey, a girl’s gotta catch up on lost time. She’ll be writing about some of the work my colleague, Allan and I are doing over in Mozambique. Tentative plan is to head to the motherland again in May-June to do a Kenya-Rwanda-Mozambique scouting trip, so I’ve mentally blocked that time out on my calendar. More on that soon. In the interim: Check out the whitest white girl on a distinctly African magazine. I’m quite seriously not this white in real-life, but Michelle Wilson-photographer extraordiaire and makeup/hair artist Kerrie Urban gave me skin like a porcelain doll.

JOLIE, a German magazine knocks it out of the ballpark with their green issue and highlights my career focused on values-based modeling (Nov 08 issue), which the Germans really seem to appreciate- (perhaps I’ll need to travel out there come 2009-and visit family while I’m there). Seen here, a photo by Seth Karecha. I’m wearing Levi’s ECO and Ombre Claire jewelry. Click here to learn about the tales behind the jewelry pieces.