Fashion

Models painted as birds flock Audubon president David Yarnold. Photo by Diane Bondareff/Invision for The National Audubon Society/AP Images

UPDATE 1/24/13: Kenn Kaufman weighs in with his bird IDs.

At a gala last week, Audubon celebrated two exceptional conservationists. And models were painted as birds. But which species were they supposed to be? Click through to leave your suggestion in the Comments section. Tomorrow, esteemed bird expert Kenn Kaufman will share his thoughts, and then we’ll reveal the actual species. Flock to it!

In each issue of Audubon, the editors review a mix of narrative nonfiction titles, as well as art books and children’s books about nature. For ease, we’ve compiled the dozens of fantastic works we reviewed in 2012 in one place, and we’ve added a few additional books that we covered exclusively online.

Colin and Livia Firth walking the red carpet at the 2012 Oscars. The Valentino dress Livia's wearing is made from recycled PET fabric.

At the Oscars Sunday night, Livia Firth was a vision in red.

The wife of last year’s Best Actor winner, Colin Firth, Livia wore the Valentino gown like it was a prize, smiling her way down the red carpet. She has reason to don such a grin: Since 2009, her Green Carpet Challenge has dared celebrities to think about aesthetics and environmental ethics when choosing their awards-show clothing. This year, GCC’s third, saw bigger and more stars taking up the cause.

From the common loon to the misunderstood blue jay, it’s no secret that Audubon and its readers welcome the sight of birds (whether they’re in our backyards or on textiles). But we can’t help but notice that our winged friends are popular with the non-birding crowd: Walk into any Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie and you’re sure to find a dozen products adorned with birds. With this trend in mind, Portlandia, a comedy on the Independent Film Channel, gave us “Put A Bird On It”, a hilarious sketch about Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman, who put birds on things to “make it pretty.”

Photo: Gil Ros

Forget the black cat costume cliché, this year trick-or-treaters sporting lynx masks or leopard spots are prowling for treats with a purpose.

The Big Year, a star-studded, endearingly quirky look at the world of competitive birders, hits theaters Friday. Here at Audubon, film-fans and birders alike are all aflutter. Click through to watch the exclusive interview with the film's stars Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson...

Mealworm fried rice and insect nuggets could be a mouth-watering alternative to meat—or so say the founders of Bugs Originals, a company located outside of Amsterdam. Already sold at 24 Dutch food wholesalers, freeze dried locusts and mealworms are better for the environment.

Courtesy of Etsy Earth

Think shopping and saving the planet can’t go hand in hand? Etsy Earth is out to prove wrong all the naysayers.

   
Guatemala’s highlands are an explosion of color. Volcanoes shrouded in jungley green loom over craterous jade lakes. Nature’s palette doesn’t stop in the forest, either. Indigenous Mayans celebrate the landscape by incorporating festive environmental images onto their hand-woven blouses. Each town has its own distinct style, and colors range from neon pink to sunshine yellow. For birders in particular, the Maya fashion is a must-see: ladies often boast shirts covered in dozens of intricate, hand-woven birds.