Jun 2, 2011 | DIY, Fashion
As of late, I’ve been noticing more and more fashionable items that are customizable to the wearer’s liking. Though there’s always been Etsy for a one-on-one conversation with an individual seller (“Hey, can you make me one in this color and with a pocket?”), there are now more companies than ever offering options for their customers (beyond just sizing). And some of those items are also on the luxury-end of the scale: clothing or accessories you can customize to the tune of a couple hundred dollars or more. (That Fendi DIY NeedlePoint Baguette ($995) or Fendi Paint-Your-Own Baguette ($585) from last year spring to mind…;-)
Here’s a couple more I’ve noticed lately:
Sneaker Customization Kit
Paint your sneakers any way you want and add a dose of artistic boldness to your feet. Includes sneaker wipes (to clean them of dirt or oils prior to painting), 5 paints specifically formulated for sneaker leather and to withstand flexing, a paintbrush and an extra pot for mixing colors. (Sneakers not included;-) And of course you’re not limited to jazzing up those high-top basketball sneaks either…or even limited to sneakers! (Say you have a white leather bag you’d like to add some custom art to? No problem!)
$45, UncommonGoods.com
Prada Choose-Your Initials Sunglasses
You can choose your own 2 initials – or even your favorite symbols (like hearts or skulls) – to add a little bit of personalization to the arms of your Prada sunglasses.
$365, SunglassHut.com
Customizable Cuffs
From Owen & Savary, cuffs in their Bespoke line allow you to choose your favorite leathers and colors for a unisex piece all your own.
From $285 -, OwenSavary.com
Design Your Own Jewelry
Though I’ve written about it before, Sheyna.com is a site where you can customize your jewelry into literally hundreds of combinations, choosing gold or silver, gemstone briolettes, chains, etc. – to make your own, one-of-a-kind DIY necklace, earrings, or rings. Become a jewelry designer with just simple drag-and-drop!
From $2.88- , Sheyna.com
Make Your Own Havaianas
Havaianas, the name synonymous with summer and flip-flops, has just launched a new feature where you can choose the sole color, strap color, and crystals and pins on the straps – plus see the combinations that celebrities have made and get inspired!
From $25 – , Havaianas.com
Seen any other customizable stuff online? Please share with everyone in the comments!
xoxox
Carly
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May 31, 2011 | Fashion
I’m so excited to introduce to you Zoara.com, a brand-new sponsor for Chic Steals through the month of August!
Founded in 2008, Zoara.com is the culmination of over 50 years of combined professional expertise in the diamond and jewelry industries. For decades the company’s founders and management have been offering high-end jewelry and diamonds to the public in retail stores throughout the United States. They also have a showroom in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where you can visit and see their array of jewelry and loose diamonds, as well as consult with a staff jeweler to create a custom crafted piece.
Now that it’s the end of May and we’re heading into engagement and wedding season fine jewelry might be on your mind – or not – but even so this site is incredibly extensive and the photos (and product videos) are brilliantly-detailed so you always know exactly what you’re getting. Plus – they’re pretty affordable compared to some other online fine jeweler’s, and seeing all the types of rings and settings and diamonds they offer, I now wish I could go back in time and get my wedding band from Zoara instead. (*sigh* Something to keep in mind for an upcoming anniversary perhaps…)
(from left to right: Heart-Shaped Engagement Ring, Scroll Accent Diamond Stud Earrings, Multi Hoop Earrings, Diamond Studded Key to My Heart Pendant)
They boast a fabulous array of diamond and pearl stud earrings, engagement and wedding bands, right-hand rings, religious jewelry, bracelets, men’s jewelry, and diamond pendants. Even more appealing to a DIY’er like myself is their option to Design Your Own Engagement Ring, where you can choose first the cut of diamond, and then the setting to go with it. (just click on the Search button in the “My Ring” box to the right of their screen to access the diamond selection tool)
Rings are available in 14k or 18k, white gold, yellow gold, or platinum, so there’s guaranteed something for everyone.
The company founders and management are involved in the world’s leading professional diamond and jewelry communities for decades – which means that when you buy from them, you get tons of expertise at the click of a mouse. Today, they continue to serve as members of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), and the Manufacturing Jewelers Suppliers of America (MJSA). Their operations stretch the globe, including Belgium, Israel, Brazil, and India.
If you’ve ever wanted to design your own engagement or wedding ring, or thought about buying a piece of fine jewelry (or adding one to your birthday/anniversary wishlist!;-) definitely check them out, price things, and see if there’s anything sparkly that happens to catch your eye!
AND Zoara.com has generously offered an exclusive coupon code to all my readers:
Get 10% off all jewelry with code CHIC10 at checkout!
(excludes loose diamonds)
Thanks for being a sponsor!
xoxox
Carly
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May 30, 2011 | Fashion
There are soooo many high-end items out there that could be so easily DIY’d. Case in point:
D&G A/W11 Colorful Letter Necklace 
Drill holes in old-school alphabet magnets and string on a chain.
Marni Plastic Necklace
Use different colored spoons and deform them following this tutorial. Use a heated awl or needle to poke a hole at the end of each “petal” for stringing.
Jean Paul Gaultier Trench Dress
Cut off the left arm and lapel of a black trenchcoat – saving a little fabric to create a flap for decoration at the bustline.
Tom Binns Safety Pin Chandelier Earrings
Just add some safety pins to a cheap pair of diamante chandelier earrings. Super-simple.
Kotur Box Clutch
Repurpose a sunglasses case and adorn with a big, sparkly brooch.
Marc Jacobs Embellished Sandal
The embellishment looks easy enough – just get some colored plastic raffia (in the gift-wrap or floral section of the crafts store) and wind around a domed button. Secure to shoe with a glue gun or a shoeclip for removability.
Charles Anastase S/S11 Flowered Dress
Hand-sew (or use-eek!- a glue gun) to attach silk flowers to a long mesh sheath dress. Wear over another dress, of course;-)
YSL Slanted Wedge Heels
Buy a pair of wedge heels that are a couple sizes too big – and punch extra holes in the ankle strap to keep them on. You may have to get the front straps made smaller by a cobbler – OR you could just fold the excess over on itself and glue with leather glue.
xoxox
Carly
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Scans from Marie Claire Magazine; other photos from Style.com or elsewhere on the web – if I’ve used your photo without credit, please let me know and I’ll fix it or remove it!
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May 27, 2011 | Life, Score!
Entry #17 : Katherine!
Congratulations to the winner – who’s already been emailed for her info.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered!
xoxox
Carly
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May 26, 2011 | DIY
I’ve been so busy lately I’ve been neglecting to share things that I’ve made. Here are a couple items that I’ve finished up and am enjoying:
Galaxy-Print Scrunchie
Make following this tutorial from some leftover self-designed galaxy-print fabric scraps. I’m making a top with the fabric and since the tiny amount I bought was so goshdarn expesnive, I didn’t want to let any part of it go to waste. The fabric is silk, backed in black mesh chiffon. I should have made it twice as wide, but I only had so many scraps leftover. It tends to slip out of my hair since it’s silk, so I wear it around a hair-tie.
Tribal Necklace
Made with faux bamboo-stick beads and faux coral beads from Michael’s. I love the spiky organic-ness to it.
Bohemian Leaf Head-band (Head-dress?)
I’m not really a boho gal, but I couldn’t resist crafting this. Take any flat-ish jewely finding that has a hole in either end, and string them together with jumprings to make an adornment for your brow. The leaf findings I used only had one hole, so I drilled another one in the end of each piece. Which took a $%##% long time, too.
Feather Earrings
Made in the style of Owlita. (Theirs are much nicer, though!) I just wired together some feathers and added a handmade ear-wire to them. I love how they mingle in with my hair.
Have you made any projects recently that you’re dying to show off? Do tell!
xoxox
Carly
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