NaturevsFuture Swirl Collar Polartec® Fleece Tunic / Dress : Fun-To-Wear Fashion

Here in Seattle it's all about fleece. Everybody wears fleece jackets, pullovers, sweat pants, hats, etc. Even babies are covered head to toe in fleece.

I like fleece, too, but I also like to look like I'm not from here by wearing clothes that are slimmer, more stylish, more street -- clothes you might see someone in New York wearing. I also like my cool clothes to be easy to wear and easy to wash. From an eco standpoint, not to mention an economic consideration, I'm all for dressy clothes that do not have to be dry cleaned.

So, imagine my delight when I discovered NaturevsFuture, a New York eco fashion company that produces high concept apparel with eco-friendly materials. Their dress, jackets, tops, and skirts are made out of a variety of recycled or sustainable materials, including organic cotton, merino wool, and recycled Polartec® Fleece.

I'm normally a natural fibers gal, but I also can't resist a lightweight, buttery-soft fleece. (FYI, recycled fleece is made out plastic bottles and leftover fabric and yarn that have been transformed into fleece "yarn." Somehow, it's all combined into what looks and feels like normal fleece.)

On to the most important part of this review--the dress. The Swirl Collar Polartec® Fleece Dress. I love this dress because it's black, it's elegant, it's subtly shaped, it's warm, it's appropriate for so many occasions, its sleeves are long enough for my gangly arms, and it's unlike any dress I've seen or worn before. I get the pull-over-my-head comfort of a sweatshirt in a form-flattering dress that makes me feel younger and hotter.

I love the swirl neckline because the stand-up collar and cross-shoulder seam distinguish this dress as more fashionable than the average pull-over shift. The asymmetrical hem in the front, with the tapered "flap" in the back add to the hotness factor and ratchet up the style points. You can't get a dress like this at the Gap, or at Banana Republic, or at Ann Taylor or at any store at the typical mall. This is an occasion dress, or, if you live in a fancy city, a work dress or a museum visiting dress or more. It's also a dress that will flatter many different figures.

NaturevsFuture does an excellent job of creating unique fashions that aren't too extreme for the average person. So a jeans and tee shirt type like me can wear their clothes for a whole new look without feeling self-conscious.

The first time I wore my Swirl Collar Dress (it's actually called the Swirl Collar Polartec® Fleece Tunic/Dress -- designed to be worn with jeans or tights or al fresco), I was running late, as usual, and had never tried it on. So there I was, 20 minutes late, with a dress that felt a bit too short to wear in winter temps and chicken white legs that were not ready for public viewing. And the gray organic cotton leggings I had planned to wear with it -- turned out to be the wrong size. What to do?

I went for the bold move and wore my black, zip-up calf-high boots, chicken legs be damned. So I showed some skin in January. So I was 45 minutes late. I made a grand entrance. I received compliments on my new "look" from men and women alike. Yea, I got checked out.

I felt tall and graceful and "too sexy" for Seattle. (I must note here that I don't like to use the word "sexy" because it conjures images of scantily clad, bimbo types -- and that ain't me. I'm still a Midwestern girl at heart so I also have a problem with wearing revealing clothing in order to attract attention. Sexy to me is when I feel good, look good, and people think I'm a lot younger than I actually am. So, that's my little issue. Still, by many standards, I must admit that I was hot; I was sexy.)

What more is there to say? Fun, fleecy, fantastic, fashionable, functional, fancy......

Sizes: XS (2/4), S(4/6), M(6/8), L(8/10). Color: Black.

Bottom Line: Step out a little bit and try some eco fashion. It's good for you and the planet.--E.D. (Jan 09)

Price: $218, click here to purchase

Manufacturer's Site: www.naturevsfuture.com

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