THE STYLISH STUFF: EARTH CALLING

22nd April 2017

Meet Áine Carlin, vegan chef, vintage lover, actress and author of two gorgeous and straightforward cookery books. She’s the down to earth inspiration to new vegans everywhere, including myself during my switch from 38 years vegetarian to 100% vegan. When Free People mooted the idea of working with Áine to showcase their alternatives to leather and suede, I jumped at the opportunity to work with her, celebrate Earth Day and of course, shout about a really exciting collection of stylish vegan offerings.

Áine’s about turn in lifestyle and indeed, career began in Chicago six years ago, when herself and husband woke up to the fact that their diet and excessive dairy consumption was affecting their health and well being. They literally cleared out their fridge, gave food away and began their new lifestyle. Hair, skin, nails and weight all improved and Carlin didn’t look back. Not wanting to be defined by being vegan, she instead wanted to promote the big-group, sharing-food ethos which she did via her award winning blog peasoupeats.com and subsequently her two cookbooks.

Áine comments; “When people think about veganism, they think it’s very dogmatic, that you’re being told what to eat, that you’re being criticised if you slip up, and I want to get away from that mindset, because it’s destructive and it doesn’t work in the long term,” she says passionately. “It’s about being supporting and accepting of everyone – and just enjoying food! I love communal eating; for me it’s all about sharing food, and veganism has a very solitary image. You do it yourself and for yourself, you eat alone and there’s something about that that’s very depressing for me,” she explains. “I wanted to open it out. It’s more about sharing your lifestyle and sharing your food, and everyone sitting around a big table and passing bowls of this, that and the other.”

Seriously stylish food presented by an equally stylish chef. Check out Áine’s latest book The New Vegan for exactly what it says on the cover: “great recipes, no-nonsense advice and simple tips”. Follow @ainecarlin on instagram for a taster of her culinary offerings and style choices.

Happy Earth Day – with love from Free People and The Stylish Stuff…

THE HERO STUDDED MOTO JACKET – in the softest vegan pleather studded ‘moto’ jacket £168, worn with white midi dress £128, frayed bandana £12, Converse high tops £52, all Freepeople.

THE VEGAN BLACKED OUT PANT – pure rock ‘n’ roll, skinny black vegan leggings £88, THE PERFORATED FAUX SUEDE TOTE – softly bohemian, hugely practical Logan tote £58, and THE KELLY ANKLE BOOT – in sandy faux suede the kelly boot features a chelsea boot style elastic detailing, £68 worn with double cloth plaid maxi £148 and vegan leggings (as before)

YOUR KHAKI GO TO : double cloth jacket £128, worn over the Victorian button front maxi £98, and blacked out vegan leggings and Converse (as before).