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Why It's Good:
Denim can literally be worn with anything, from velvet to cotton voile. Get jeans in basic cuts, styles and washes and you've got the essential building blocks of any gorgeous getup.
Why It's Green:
To get that butter-soft, just-so hue, conventional denim relies on synthetic colorants and harsh chemicals like fixatives, abrasives, benzine derivatives, bleach and hydrogen cyanide, which help to soften, dye, or spot-lighten the fabric. Not only do these toxins pollute our waterways, but who wants those scary substances so close to their skin all day? Aristocrat denim is 100% chemical free, using a special "green wash" treatment involving pure water and dry processing, plus the dyes are biodegradable, and the tints come from things like coffee and soybeans.
Summer Denim Delight
I've been looking for jeans I could feel as strongly about ever since my first pair at six years old, which had a little red anchor sewn onto the back pocket. Aristocrat's line of spring and summer denim stands out from the rack. Designed to make a girl look good, these jeans are specially cut to lengthen and slim, incorporating fit details like bulge-banishing front panels. My favorite is the Sutton, $224, whose high waist draws the eye away from hips that may have seen a few too many ice-cream cones; it's feminine and adorable with a pintucked or demi-ruffled blouse and jute espadrilles. For nights on the town, I love the Windsor bootcut (pictured, right), $205, with a bamboo tank, layered necklaces, and a pair of cork heels. Weekends away call for the Orlando flare, while the Stratford (pictured, left), $202, or Holland wide leg, $229 have a boho, Summer-of-Love vibe. I've saved the best for last: The Valentina dress (pictured, center), $229, with its sweet cap sleeves and square neckline, is the perfect frock for summer cocktails—breezy and so easily accessorized with a chunky necklace and bangles and vegan flats or wedges. Now if I could just find a little red anchor.... —Elizabeth McMullen
