Green Chic

March 3, 2008
Among a sea of new books on "living green," this breezy, fun-to-read guide for eco-conscious Sex-and-the-City types sets itself apart with a supportive, winning voice that's long on common sense and well-sourced info; even better, upscale lifestyle writer Matheson promises from the get-go that "you can definitely be green without giving up everything you love." As such, she offers valuable tips on finding high-style, high-quality replacements for eco-toxic products, services and indulgences of all kinds-domestics, food and drink, cosmetics, transportation, parties-that won't harm the earth or the body. Elsewhere, she provides familiar small steps-use fewer plastics, buy organic cotton clothes, walk more and drive less-but does encourage the big steps too ("Get rid of your car-if you can"). She also informs readers in clear language exactly why it's important to seek out, say, organic wine or a pedicure that eschews chemicals in favor of "scrubs and lotions that you would use at home." Though she dishes some cold, hard facts about the impact everyday choices makes, it's Matheson's level-headed, positive attitude and easy-to-implement tips that will inspire the young, hip and easily distracted to take up the cause.

April 14, 2008
Among a sea of new books on "living green," this breezy, fun-to-read guide for eco-conscious Sex-and-the-City types sets itself apart with a supportive, winning voice that's long on common sense and well-sourced info; even better, upscale lifestyle writer Matheson promises from the get-go that "you can definitely be green without giving up everything you love." As such, she offers valuable tips on finding high-style, high-quality replacements for eco-toxic products, services and indulgences of all kinds-domestics, food and drink, cosmetics, transportation, parties-that won't harm the earth or the body. Elsewhere, she provides familiar small steps-use fewer plastics, buy organic cotton clothes, walk more and drive less-but does encourage the big steps too ("Get rid of your car-if you can"). She also informs readers in clear language exactly why it's important to seek out, say, organic wine or a pedicure that eschews chemicals in favor of "scrubs and lotions that you would use at home." Though she dishes some cold, hard facts about the impact everyday choices makes, it's Matheson's level-headed, positive attitude and easy-to-implement tips that will inspire the young, hip and easily distracted to take up the cause.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2008
Green chic is really, truly, deeply, timelessly, Jackie-O-and-Audrey-Hepburn chic, an amusingconcept outlined in food-and-lifestyle writer Mathesons introduction. Her target audience ismore concerned with fashion than the health of the planet, and she makes it her mission to bring them over to the green side. Instead of advocatingfor radical change, she offers suggestions that should be palatable to the upper echelons of polite society. Sadly, the reader comes away with the impression that Matheson is in favor of living green as long as it does not inconvenience her in any significant way, e.g., breaking a nail or having a bad-hair day. Grammar is also anathema to Matheson, who wallows in adolescent terminology such as fabu, vaca, ginormous, pedi, and mani, and readers should feel free to skim over everything sheltered by parentheses. But there are enough sound suggestions in this book to recommend it, and Mathesonsapproach togreening up certainly is unique.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)