Then and Now with Tonne Goodman: Really Good Jeans, For You and the Planet

As a long-time champion of environmental causes and sustainable products, Tonne Goodman –legendary stylist, former Vogue fashion director, current Vogue Sustainability editor—has always been my north star on what to buy, where to buy it, when to buy it, and how to wear it. It doesn’t hurt that she is one of the chicest women I’ve ever met, and I idolize her personal style as much as I do her work for both Vogue and our planet. With Tonne’s book Point of View coming out last year, we thought a joyful way to talk about the future of fashion would be to look back to some of Tonne’s greatest shoots for Vogue and breathe new life into the looks by shopping them out from sustainable brands. This is a celebration of timelessness—good style is forever, as are great wardrobe basics—and we already know Tonne’s edit will stand the test of time.

Then:

“The story behind this picture is a shoot that reunited supermodels,” Tonne says as we turn our attention to a 2017 September shoot, she styled for Vogue and shot by Annie Leibovitz. “I had the pleasure of working with Natalia Vodianova, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Tatjana Patitz, Elaine Irwin, Joan Smalls, Carolyn Murphy, Amber Valetta, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Imaan Hamman and Liu Wen and Fei Fei Son who are pictured here. It goes without saying, the fashion was all denim. It’s really denim in every form, style, and shade we could muster from the classic trucker jacket to an “evening” dress,” she recalls. As we look ahead to fall 2021 with shows just wrapping up across the globe, there is no doubt that denim is still dominating in the designer space. And what is more iconic than denim on supermodels? We pause on this image of Liu Wen and Fei Fei Son as Tonne and I are both attracted to the tailoring element in this particular setup. “Denim has always played a large role in my styling as well as my personal wardrobe,” Tonne muses, “I grew up in the ’60s, and denim was a mainstay as part of our wardrobes—and a bit of a revolution for fashion, especially in the U.S.—and it has remained one for me ever since. Today, my preference is white denim and I wear it year-round, every day in fact.”

Now:

There are few things as universal as the search for the perfect pair of jeans and I envy Tonne for that she has found her forever denim match, even if it’s just narrowing down to a color preference. For those of us still on the hunt and in the market, the search for the right jeans now often is not only about fit but also about the environmental impact. Let’s face it, denim is hard on our planet. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Many brands are working tirelessly to make jeans that are not as taxing on natural resources.

Vika 2.0’s strong collar, tailored recycled cotton shirt dress checks all the boxes when it comes to sustainability and style. Continuing on our non-traditional tailored denim kick, this vest from  Marques’Almeida also utilizes recycled cotton.

Getting into the more traditional, these Cos pants are just as much trouser as they are jeans. In a super dark wash, they are made from recycled cotton as well. Pair with this matching organic, raw denim shirt for a full, suit-like look or keep as separates for a multitude of occasions.

Created from upcycled, vintage jeans, Marine Serre’s take on a classic trucker denim jacket is fitted through the waist for a modern, feminine look—especially with her signature moon print. And to further improve on a classic, Citizens of Humanity’s one-piece denim wonder is the perfect organic cotton update on a traditional piece of workwear—the jumpsuit.