Jul 27, 2011 | DIY
Jil Sander’s S/S 2011 RTW Collection was filled with punchy-bright minimalist maxi-skirts with gathers at the waist – making all the models who walked in the show vaguely reminiscent of upside-down tulips. I re-created the bright column skirt with knee-length slit in one side, to herald the beginning of Summer and the return of warmer days. (I would have shared this much earlier, except I left my paper scribbled with all my measurements back in the States, during the last month I spent in Tokyo. So here it is finally!)
How to Make a DIY Jil Sander Column Maxi-Skirt
Since I wanted to make this DIY as simple as possible, I created instructions for a straight skirt (not a fishtail-cut like the peplum version), along with a removable peplum. In the Jil Sander Collection the fishtail orange skirt has an attached peplum, and there are also separate peplums that can be worn on top of pants or other pieces as desired. Therefore I decided to make two separate pieces for ultimate versatility; these are the instructions for the skirt.
You Need: (more…)
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Jul 25, 2011 | DIY
So it’s been two weeks since my last roundup, and it’s that time again! I’ve been busy wrapping up my last week in Japan, packing, and then arriving back in the States and wrangling with jetlag for the last 5 days or so. There’s nothing like getting up at 2 AM every day, primed and ready to go as if it’s morning (well, I guess it technically is), puttering about on HIGH for a few hours, and then falling back into bed around 10 AM, and sleeping until 4 in the afternoon. And then the day’s over. Well, that’s been my week so far – let’s see what loveliness other, more productive people have been up to lately:
Susie from StyleBubble created the most professional-looking DIY painted skirt, inspired by Balenciaga’s S/S ’11 Collection. I never thought orange and blue when paired together could be so attractive!!
Honestly, WTF posted their take on the popular Chan Luu wrap bracelet – and I have to admit, using ball-chain for this normally time-consuming DIY sounds like a lifesaver!
From The Illustrated Nail, Maison Martin Margiela-Inspired Nail Art takes those anonymous numbers to a whole new level. I love witty things like this that are akin to an “in-joke” that only the people INto fashion will really get! (source: StyleList)
Maya from Soccer Mom Style made the most beautiful feather-trimmed metal cuff, inspired by Givenchy. Total saved doing it herself? Oh, only about $731.50!!
Hate creating yards and yards of ruffles? Ruffle Fabric is a wonderful site that provides already-ruffled fabric by the yard – perfect for so many projects – and Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking has created an easy-to-follow tutorial for sweet little flower girl dresses using this fabric. (Easily adaptable for larger sizes!)
The Style Projects posted a great and simple tute for an OBEY inspired DIY necklace. If you use a chunky nail necklace as the base, no jewelry-making ability is required for this rocker-style dupe!
I’m loving the chic DIY cut-out blouse featured on Freshly Given. All you need is a structured blouse with a collar since you’ll be cutting off the sleeves: a brilliant solution for those hot summer days when you still want to look chic and put-together.
Have a boring, kind of creepy mannequin lying around your house? Decoupage it with vintage sewing patterns like Stacie from Stars for Streetlights did! (Hint: you can do this with any piece of hard furniture or any object around your house…maybe some customized sewing room decor?)
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/diylotwfeaturedbutton.png” /></a>
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Jul 23, 2011 | Fashion
Hair: top bun created with the help of my Odango Cushion
Earrings: tiny rhinestones, various (from Japan); chunky gold, maygloba
Beaded Cropped Tee: handmade by me
Watch: Citizen Eco-Drive
Rings: twig ring, mocha; star ring, unsure (from Japan)
Striped Jersey maxidress: Forever 21
Convertible Schoolboy Satchel: Ober Tashe (similar product from their line here)
Chain-Embellished Sandals: Wet Seal
Well, it took me about a month, but I finally finished that beaded DIY I was working on!! (more…)
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Jul 22, 2011 | Fashion, Media
Featured in The Japan Issue (Issue #24 of CutOutandKeep.net’s online zine “Snippets) is my article Crafter’s Paradise, with a short list of some of the best craft stores in Japan, as well as mention of some interesting crafts unique to this country.
Thanks so much to Cat and the whole Cut Out + Keep team for including this!
xoxox
Carly
P.S. It seems some of the links weren’t included in the article; you may be looking for the online shopping sites for Yuzawaya and Tokyu Hands; as well as the English Map to Nippori Fabric Town, which I’ve relinked.
P.P.S. Also, here are some Tips for Shopping at Craft Stores in Japan:
- GO EARLY. Most stores open around 10:00 AM (or even 11:00 AM!!), and get fairly crowded as schools let out in the afternoon. Aisles tend to be smaller, so sometimes fighting crowds in the late afternoon/early evening can prevent you finding some treasures.
- BRING A TAPE MEASURE. Japan uses the metric measuring system, so if you aren’t familiar with meters and centimeters, make sure you have converted your measurements to metric prior to going, or you bring a tape measure with you so you can estimate yardage better when buying fabric.
- KNOW THE LINGO. Finding someone who has the English vocabulary of crafting-specific terms and tools is like searching for a unicorn. If you don’t speak Japanese and don’t know the names of what you’re looking for, look up the words you need online before you go. I really like this online dictionary. (P.S. Even if you speak very, VERY good Japanese and you don’t know the term exactly and think you can go to the store and describe what you’re looking for and the sales staff will just fill-in-the-blank helpfully, think again. It’s a little strange, but most Japanese people are unable to supply the word in a guess-what-the-foreigner-means guessing game of words. And even if they know what you’re talking about, they’ll usually lead you to what you want in the store, never actually supplying the word you’re grasping for.)
- BRING A SAMPLE. If you’re looking for something similar to something you already have (say you want to replace a broken clasp on a necklace you have), and you don’t know the exact specifics of size/type of what you need, just bring it. The staff will usually be happy (and oftentimes, relieved) to help you find a replacement or duplicate if you have a visual sample with you. Also, the system for designating the size of headpins, eyepins, clasps etc. is completely different from that of the U.S., so bringing a sample will help avoid confusion.
- DON’T OPEN YOUR PURCHASE IN THE STORE. This is true at any store in Japan. Your bag will be taped shut at the top to prevent theft. The person at the register may ask you if you’d like to consolidate your shopping in one bag (if you are carrying a bag or two from another store), and place all your bags into a single large bag from their store, taping the top closed in the process. If you’re going to open it, wait until you’re outside the store; it’s just good manners.
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Jul 19, 2011 | Fashion
Our flight to the States is supposed to be today, but a typhoon is scheduled to hit Tokyo this afternoon so it remains to be seen if our flight will be canceled or happen as scheduled.
If everything goes off as planned, I should be back Stateside on Wednesday! See you after I’ve recovered from the jetlag!;-)
xoxox
Carly
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