Oct 5, 2010 | Fashion
Photos: Celebrities, ASOS.com; Runway Photos: Marco Madeira for FirstView.com; Scarf photo: Devon Jarvis for Elle.com; Autumn Cashmere Leopard Cardigan. Style It Chic! Array by me.
Another Monday Tuesday, another edition of Style It Chic! (Yes, this was supposed to post yesterday, but I just couldn’t get it done fast enough.) It’s now the beginning of my one of my favorite months of the year! In this post series I will be taking one item or trend and showing you how to emulate that look – for much, much less than what you might pay at retail. I’d love to hear your feedback on what you think of this style of post!
Fashion inspired by our furry little friends is HUGE this Fall with faux fur and animal PRINTS populating retail shelves and Must-Have lists across the ‘net. And a little pop of leopard definitely brings your Summer ensembles into Autumn with an amazing ease. Add a leopard-print scarf, booties, hat, or pair of gloves for a little…or go for a lot with a voluminous coat. I’ve donned a cardigan in my favorite hue of gray (Snow Leopard – yay!) [cardigan from Ann Taylor, scored on Ebay since they no longer sell it] and styled it 3 different ways below:
1. Eclectic Layered
(Hat: Christie’s Crown Series; Sequined Chain Necklace: Forever 21; Satin-Edged Cardigan: (worn underneath leopard cardigan) Old Navy; Mixed-Chain Cuff: Target (check the Clearance bin in-store!); 2 DIY feathered bangles; Hue reversible tights)
If your leopard layer is cropped or short-sleeved at all, go for the unusual by layering a cardigan or sweater underneath it. Ward off the chill of bare arms by covering up with leg- or arm-warmers or elbow-length gloves for a retro-style look. Pair pieces that are different colors and see what sticks – sometimes a mish-mash of hues works to your advantage!
2. Leopard-on-Leopard
(Leopard-print Bra: Warners, Twisted Chain and Rhinestone Necklace and Boyfriend Watch: Forever 21; Rough-Cut Quartz Heart Ring: gem & mineral tradeshow; Wire & Rhinestone Wrap Ring: Payless; Destroyed Jean Shorts: Hudson; Velvet Ribbon worn as belt; Hue footless tights; Steve Madden pointy flats; DIY Shoe Elastics)
Mixing and matching patterns is always a toughie – but what could be easier than going full-on double leopard? The rules: wear no more than 3 pieces and only use at most 2 different colors and sizes of the leopard print. Keep your other pieces in solid, coordinating colors to keep the eye focused on the print. There’s a fine line between looking like you got dressed in the dark and looking cute and intriguing. (And yes, I’m showing my bra – which I usually don’t do – but in this case it’s super-subtle since the similar prints fool the eye. If you’re not feeling as daring, then try a leopard camisole underneath instead!)
3. Downtown Cool
(Velvet Cord Necklace: bought at Michael’s in the jewelry section, Silver Bangle Set: Forever 21; Grommet Watch: Hot Topic; Lace-Edged Camisole: Target; Skinny Black Jeans: Alloy; Alloy Sia Wedge Booties – BTW there’s currently FREE Shipping for orders of $25+ with code AFS25A AND 15% off your order with code ALPW15B at Alloy.com!…if you can’t use both codes together at checkout online try ordering over the phone instead, I’ve had success with a rep allowing both codes to be used before.)
Sleek and chic is the name of the game. Use as a light layering piece – over another huge trend for Fall 2010: LACE! – and play with the fun of prints with a minimalist commitment. I’ve added a pair of skinny jeans and some super-wedges for an on-trend re-interpretation of urban chic.
Are you breaking out your animal prints now that Fall’s in full swing? How would you wear leopard?
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
Oct 4, 2010 | Life, Score!
Super-super tiny image. Sorry.
I know, I know, you guys are probably all giveaway’d out. And I’m not even sure “giveaway” is a verb!:-P
But here’s the final one ending TONIGHT at 5 PM EST – win a $100 Gift Card usable at both Marshall’s and T. J. Maxx!!
(multiple, multiple comments are allowed! Yay!)
Out of the 10 bloggers participating in this challenge, the person whose post generates the most comments will receive the gift card to giveaway (there, I used it!;-) to one of their lucky readers!
I’ll be picking the winner from the comments via Random.org (if I win, that is) so hurry hurry hurry get those comments in now!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
Oct 3, 2010 | DIY
I had purchased a bag of Bing cherries a little while ago, and they languished in my fridge for awhile. I guess I kind of forgot about them.
So when I pulled them out I realized that I had to use them up fast since they were turning a little brown here and there.
I made this Berry Cherry Pie to use them up.
I love that it doesn’t use canned pie filling (I like some cherry pie filling but not all – many are super-sweet and too syrupy, and make my throat hurt). Since this version uses fresh cherries, it has an interesting, subtle taste. And it doesn’t need a lot of sugar either – which is why I’m sharing with all of you! (As you may have noticed – the recipes I’ve begun to share here are basically adapted recipes of sweet and decadent things…just made lower in fat and sugar and better for you. I love my sweets – but I love them even more when they have more “good” than “bad”!)
Here is the recipe, which I found on Recipezaar.com (now Food.com) and adapted.
DIY Low-Sugar Berry Cherry Pie Recipe
(serves 8)
Ingredients:
*1 store-bought frozen pie crust
Filling:
*4 c berries (I used cherries and frozen blueberries that I thawed in the microwave)
*1/2 c sugar (or you can use powdered fructose, but decrease to 1/3 c OR to taste)
*1/4 c water (I used the juice that drained off the blueberries when I thawed them)
*2 T cornstarch
*1 T lemon juice
*1 T vanilla
*1 dash salt
Topping:
*1/2 tsp cinnamon
*1/2 c brown sugar
*1/2 c flour
*1/2 c oats
*1/4 c butter, melted
1. Bake the pie crust according to directions for a “one-crust filled pie” (usually 400 degrees for 10 minutes). DO NOT PIERCE PIE CRUST WITH A FORK PRIOR TO BAKING – if bubbles form, push them back down.
2. Meanwhile, cook all the ingredients to the Filling EXCEPT the berries together in a saucepan on medium heat, whisking, until well-blended (about 5-7 min).
3. Stir in the berries.
4. Fill baked pie crust with Filling. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
5. Stir all the ingredients for the Topping together EXCEPT for the butter.
6. Add the butter to the Topping and combine.
7. Sprinkle the Topping over the pie so there are no gaps.
8. Place some tinfoil around the edges of the pie crust to prevent browning and bake for about 45 minutes until Topping is golden and crunchy, and filling congealed.
Hope you try this some time when you have a lot of berries, fresh or frozen (strawberries? blueberries? blackberries?) to use up!
xo
Carly
Leave Comment
Oct 3, 2010 | Life, Score!
If you happened to miss it – there’s currently 2 giveaways accepting entries right here on my lil’ ol’ blog.
The one ending tomorrow is for the Gift Bag from the SELF Women Doing Good Awards – which is crammed full of $100 worth of L’Oreal Paris beauty and makeup products!
All you have to do is be a Chic Steals follower and leave a comment on the post in the link below saying what charity you liked from the post (and Tweet it, FB it, and re-post it for more entries).
It ends TOMORROW (Sunday, October 3, at 11:59 PM PST), so…
There’s only been 14 entries so far, so odds are looking pretty good for anyone who enters! Good luck!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
Oct 2, 2010 | DIY, Life
Projects I’m working on.
Currently, I’m working on a ton of things, and they’ve all been at various stages of completion for awhile. I was pretty busy this week with stuff from Lil Tot’s school, job-searching, and general organization, so I’ve been putting these projects off.
From top, counterclockwise: vinyl Goth-style Bunny Bag still in pieces, bronzed leaf head garland, silky polka-dot scallop shorts, Tiny Crosses Necklace and Dangle Cross Earrings for my Etsy shop (haven’t photographed or listed yet), DIY Vita Fede ring that doesn’t look as nice as I’d like. I’m not sure whether to deem it a FAIL and scrap it, or forge on. Anyway.
I also didn’t end up posting a DIY Roundup this week for a couple reasons: one, I just didn’t get to it, and two, the number of submissions for my DIY Roundups is slowly tapering off.
This makes me think that it’s not something that you guys want to read about here – so I’d like to hear what you really think of it!
Thanks so much!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
