Apr 11, 2012 | DIY
I’m so glad that Spring is finally here in all its glory – and floral items are on the top of my must-wear list for the season. But I couldn’t find any chic floral prints that I liked – and that were actually affordable – and so set out to make my own. Applique is the name of the game – and is super-simple to do if you have an iron, a pair of scissors, and a little patience! 
Make your own on-trend lightweight layer for Spring by jazzing up an old piece from your closet (or thrifted – mine was $2.99 from the local Goodwill!) – and infuse your days with a little flowery fun. Here’s how…
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Apr 10, 2012 | DIY
Yup, these last two weeks have been crazy for me, which is why I’m again condensing my Links of the Week into one post. But there’s still DIY to be found!
Do a quick n easy DIY with Because I’m Addicted and her DIY Tuxedo Pants. Heat ‘n’ Bond, an iron, and a pretty ribbon are all that are required!
Dying to DIY that hair necklace you may have seen Kim Kardashian sporting recently? The Beauty Department has the how-to for the newest hair accessory on the block!
Four Flights of Fancy has shared some great DIYs on her blog: I especially love the DIY Acorn Pendant! (Couldn’t you just see something like this in Anthropologie??!)
There’s some great inspiration and ideas as well over on DIY Fashion Accessories. Check out her painted Chevron Flats!
Add some boho chic to your tech gear with Free People‘s tutorial for Wrapped Headphones. Dangling down from your ears they look almost like hair wraps…but aren’t. (Just in time for Coachella, too!)
My boring old Canon camera strap needs a cute makeover…and I’m loving the vintage-inspired DIY Camera Strap from Design Love Fest! Also: when you’re done using your camera, unhook the strap and wear as a long necklace with the swivel hooks at the back of your neck as the clasp. How cute would that be??
The addition of lace to a pair of old shoes makes them so sweet. A Lemon Squeezy Home has the tutorial (and btw, the lace is removable for when you get tired of it!!)
Make a pretty art deco watch with Kristina J. Love her choice of chain and charms!
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/2012/04/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 and photos 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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Apr 8, 2012 | Fashion
So, despite the unhappy circumstances of my impromptu trip to Tokyo for a month…I thought to try and make the best of it in some way. So, in case anyone’s interested…
Here’s what I’m packing for an entire month of outfits for April/May 2012 in Tokyo!
(items still available or DIYs are linked; Japanese brands are in green)
1. Cropped grey sweatshirt [H&M] / 2. Striped puff-sleeve tunic [one clothing] / 3. Three pairs of leggings: Long black leggings [Old Navy] / long black leggings with attached legwarmers (can’t have too many black leggings!) [my honeybee] / grey cropped sweatpants [Forever 21]
4. DIY Lace Maxiskirt / 5. Knit grey maxidress [Forever 21] / 6. Two pairs of jeans: Acid Wash Skinny Jeans in Mint [Forever 21] / Black jeggings [UNIQLO] / 7. Grey tiered bandage skirt [BCBG] / 8. Marni flap-pocket Bandoleer bag [gift from my mother-in-law] / 9. Pastel blue tutu [Spiral Girl]
1. Pale grey camisole with attached chiffon skirt [YesStyle] / 2. Nude long camisole [SPANX] / 3. Swallow-printed black flared dress [Miss Selfridges] / 4. Hermes scarf [again a gift from my mother-in-law, which is why I’m taking it to Japan to show her how much I appreciate it!] / 5. Seafoam cropped hoodie [unknown, thrifted]
6. Hole-filled cardigan [osmosis, almost exactly the same one available here] / 7. Three tops: Putty sneaker-print LS Shirt [Spiral Girl] / Grey Mickey Mouse T-Shirt [UNIQLO] / Striped LS top [Mossimo for Target] / 8. Bustier Top with peplum [Forever 21] / 9. DIY Denim Shirt fit to my size [tutorial here] / 10. Bug-Print Chiffon Shirt
[ASOS]
Not pictured: 2 sets of workout clothes, cobalt blue wool coat [Forever 21], blue bootcut jeans [Old Navy “The Flirt” jeans]
Shoes (also not pictured): jogging shoes / hi-top sneakers [AllSaints] / Pointy black flats [Steve Madden] / Studded Motorcycle boots [Zara]
I always end up taking some things that I never wear…but I prefer to have too much with me than too little. Early April tends to be quite chilly in Tokyo, but it can get very warm towards May…so I tackled the problem with bringing lots of layering items.
All in all, that’s 3 pairs of jeans, 3 knit pants, 3 skirts, 2 dresses, 3 tees, 2 blouses, 4 sweaters/cardigans, 3 tanktops, 1 bustier top, and 1 coat. While in Japan I’m hoping that I might get the chance to go shopping and pick up a t-shirt or tunic dress, but if I don’t then I don’t. Hopefully what I’ve brought should cover looking relatively respectable for getting my mother from the hospital and running her errands, as well as any dinners or outings with my in-laws, and then enough dressed-down stuff to work out and take Lil Tot to the park or something. I’m really not sure what this next month will bring…and perhaps I won’t have the wherewithal even think about clothes at all!;-)
Upcoming post on Tokyo trends is in the works!
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 7, 2012 | Score!
While I’m away, I thought what better time to do a giveaway for you guys? I’m so excited to let you know that the amazing (and incredibly affordable!) site SarahAghili.com has partnered with Chic Steals to bring you a giveaway of one of their chic skull bangles.
With their median price of all their jewelry offerings at $8.50, SarahAghili provides fashion-forward, trendsetting baubles that are within anyone’s budget. Houston-raised Aghili began making her own jewelry at an early age, and funneled that passion into an online store that currently stocks everything from women’s apparel to pet accessories, fine jewelry, trend-driven pieces, and men’s jewelry. (They also are in boutiques across the U.S. and Dubai!) Here are some pieces that I love from their jewelry section:
Triangle Pendant Necklace, $4.50
Skull Spike Earrings, $12.50
Pearl Claw Ring, $10.50
Yellow Suede Evil Eye Wrap, $7.50
So what’s up for the giveaway? This pretty double skull head bangle!
Gold Double Skull Head Bangle
Feminine but with a bit of edge, this lovely bangle looks great as-is, or stacked with other sparkles and color on your wrist. Stack a bunch of them for a jangly, disco-inspired arm full of metal!
One lucky reader will win the Gold Double Skull Head Bangle seen above.
Edit 4/16/12: The giveaway period is now closed and the winner will be announced shortly.
How to Enter
REQUIRED:
1. Follow Chic Steals on Bloglovin, Feedburner, or Email Subscription, and leave a comment on this post telling me which method you follow. (1 entry)
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
2. Tweet this giveaway once. Leave a SEPARATE comment on this post with your Twitter username once you’ve Tweeted! (1 entry)
3. Post this giveaway on your Facebook Wall once. Leave a SEPARATE comment on this post with the link to your FB Wall. (1 entry)
Total: 3 entries per person
However, if you do not keep your additional entry comments separate from your required entry comment, they WILL NOT BE COUNTED.
Giveaway open to EVERYONE! (Yes, including my international readers!!! Yay!)
Giveaway period is open from now until Sunday, April 15, 11:59 PM PST.
Winner chosen by Random.org and notified by email.
Good luck!
xoxox
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post; company will be providing the prize (one gold skull bangle) directly to the winning entrant. For more information, see my Disclosure Policy.
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Apr 5, 2012 | DIY
No, it’s not April Fools’…this skirt is really made from a lace curtain!!
I’m sure you’ve seen these curtains hanging in people’s houses…maybe you have them hanging in your own house. (I know I did while living in Japan as it’s standard there to have lace curtains on the outside, and patterned curtains on the inside, of the curtain rails there.)
And if you check out your local Goodwill, you can find the most lovely lace curtain panels for a steal.
I found one huge panel for a mere $5.99. That much beautiful fabric for that price is a bargain!!
So I set about using that lace fabric…and I found a ton of uses for it. But FIRST…the DIY Lace Maxi-Skirt, a Spring 2012 staple. And it’s sooooo easy! Here’s how to make it: (more…)
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