Box of DIY Goodies from the Create Couture Challenge!

The other day, I received my prize for the Create Couture Challenge.

A huge box came to the door, and when I opened it up, at first I was confused, trying to remember when I’d ordered anything Alice + Olivia from Payless.

But when I opened the shoebox I was just stunned!

It was packed to the brim with DIY materials, accessories, and fabulous items!

An Alternative Apparel dress, 2 belts, 2 chiffon rose trims, 2 huge metallic flowers, a gold chain-link necklace, a thin flower headband, a large wooden belt buckle, 2 kinds of sweater trim, iron-on black metal mesh trim, black chain, iron-on anchor appliques, iron-on black rhinestone trim, a beautiful embellished bib necklace, and a lace-wrapped bead necklace!  I am so excited and thrilled with all this…as you can probably guess, I’m going to do a DIY extravaganza with all this coming up soon!

Thank you so much, New York Design Shop, for your generosity!  I am thrilled beyond words:-)
xoxox
Carly

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Video of Me Speaking Japanese

So a reader asked me on Formspring.me if I could make a video of me speaking Japanese.  So here it is!  (I made the video in like 30 minutes, so please excuse the low production values:-)

Just a little something to find amusing…;-)

xoxox
Carly

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Fashionable People at New York Fashion Week…the Last One (A/W ’10)

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So it was February, #$#$@’in freezing, snowing, and still the most fabulously fashionable people turned up in droves.  Since I’m not there this time around to document, maybe you’d like to see those people from last time (in February, for the Autumn/Winter 2010 shows) who were just so awesome-looking, I had to snap photos of them.

Shail Upadhya

{Stylist}

 Suit: Self-designed

A familiar face in the tents season after season for the last 10 years, the former U.N. representative (!) now works as a stylist to politicians and Wall Street players.  He turned out at the Ecco Domani show to support fellow Nepali Prabal Gurung (fashion’s new IT-boy, according to The Daily).  Last season spotted wearing a Sharpie-decorated suit at the shows, Upadhya came up with the painted suit as his central concept for this most recent Fashion Week.  “I always think if Matisse was a designer instead of a painter, what would his clothes look like?” he said, in reference to the white suit with the patches of lime green paired with the yellow shirt and pop art tie.  He hopes to launch a line soon that reflects his fashion philosophy, and says that he can’t choose a favorite from anything in his closet because “they’re all my babies!”

Dahlia Al Ghunaim

{Creative Director, ChicIntuition.com}

Coat: Rick Owens.  Leggings: Zara. Shoes: Aldo. Bag: Balenciaga. Ring: Vivienne Westwood. Minx manicure.

Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

Since I’m the Creative Director of ChicIntution.com, I’m constantly scouring the web for ideas, so it’s no surprise that my fashion inspiration comes from there as well…I’d also have to commend my mother for walking me and my sisters through the basics of style at a young age, her teachings beat any book out there!

Favorite designers?

They differ from season to season, but mostly Preen,  Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Sass & Bide.  Undiscovered gems that I’m digging are: Unique (a sub-brand by Topshop) and Brigid Catiis.

Any advice for other people on how to be fabulously stylish like yourself?

My only advice would be to follow your instinct.  Fashion is about self-expression!

Rosemary Ponzo

{Designer, Actress, Writer, Creative Muse Rosemary Ponzo Designs}

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Hat: from Henri Bendel. Necklace: House of Lavande. Velvet Coat with Dyed Sable: Self-designed; a costume piece from an off-Broadway production of “Auntie Mame.” Over-the-Knee Boots: Prada

My fashion philosophy: Having a passion for fashion!

Can you tell us what inspires your fabulous style?

Having an imagination and [marching to the beat of] my own drum.  I like to wear what I like to wear.  I do get my inspirations from many fashions but then I put my own spin on it.

Favorite Designers:

TonyCohen was amazing, and I was very, very impressed with Vera Wang this year.

Any advice for other people how to be stylish?

Take a chance, switch things around a bit, and use your imagination!  Give it some thought instead of just throwing things on.

Lynn Yaeger

{Fashion Journalist, Writer}

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Coat: Comme de Garcons coat with a J. Mendel collar. Reindeer Sweater: Vintage. Lace Blouse: Anthropologie. Bag: Lanvin. Outer Skirt: Comme de Garcons. Tulle Skirt: “bought in Paris in some cheap store.” Tights: Wolford. Slippers: Discount Dance (“that you buy online for $22 but they look like Yohji!”)

What’s your style philosophy?

Ignore all trends, just have fun and do what you want and don’t worry what anybody thinks about you.  And don’t spend a lot!

Favorite Designers this Week:

I was fascinated by Rodarte…Marchesa was such a beautiful show…but I’m gonna go to London; I’m gonna go to Paris, so I’m going to see a lot!

Any advice for the rest of us on how to be fabulously stylish like yourself?

Just be brave…reeeeeeeallly brave.  Brave is the secret!

Gary Alexander

{Actor}

Brown Velvet Jacket: Zara. Jodhpurs: Ralph Lauren. Spats: Miller

What’s your style philosophy?

Keep it simple, keep it basic, and keep it conservative.

Favorite designers:

Ralph Lauren: my absolute, FAVORITE.

Any advice for the rest of us on how to be fabulously stylish like yourself?
Just don’t get too caught up in trends or things that won’t last.

Douglas Keisler

{Editor, Essential Homme Magazine}

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Hat: Custom-made at San Francisco Fashion Week. Vest: Vintage. Coat: Paul Smith. Belt: Playboy. Boots: DIY (cowboy boots spray-painted gold)

How do you define personal style?

Style should be what suits the individual, what someone feels comfortable with, and always make a statement!

Favorite designers?

Isaac [Mizrahi], of course…and Alexander McQueen, without a doubt.

Any fashion advice for the rest of us?

Always accessorize!

Cognac Wellerlane

{TV Host, Entertainment Journalist, Fashion Editor, CognacsCorner.tv}

Mink Coat: SAGA. Dress: Designed for her by Vladi Couture. Leggings: H&M. Bag: Baby Phat

What is your Style Philosophy?

I get inspiration from the people in New York, from the designers…[my style is] the collaboration of many designers and looks thrown together.

Favorite designers?

Ralph Lauren, Betsey Johnson, and Vladi Couture – he’s up-and-coming.

Any styling advice for us?

Keep to simple, straight colors that blend together like charcoals and blacks…that’s the big trend for Fall 2010: a little silver, maybe a little copper mixed in….silvers and grays go very well together.

xoxox
Carly
P.S. I wrote this article for FashionTribes.com…and it never posted!  Such a bummer.  So I’m sharing it here, majorly after the fact…but I hope you will forgive:-)  I wonder if these fashionistas will be at Lincoln Center this time around??

 

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New York Fashion Week Giveaway: Fashion Gift Bag

 photo: Spencer Platt, NYDailyNews.com

There’s no place like New York, especially during Fashion Week!  So far I’ve had the privelege of attending twice, both times in February.  And both times I’ve received a huge amount of promotional products and items, more than I could ever possibly use or wear.

So this time around it’s September and since I’m unable to attend, I want to share the excitement of New York Fashion Week with everyone else who’s unable to be there too.  Crammed with fashion, jewelry, and accessory items I received at the last NYFW,  this gift bag is a little taste of what it’s like to be there. 

Here’s what’s in the FASHION GIFT BAG:

*CHAMBORD branded nail files
*Accessorize.com ribbon & locket necklace
*Accessorize.com Big Apple necklace
*Accessorize.com I Love Me necklace
*Diet Coke & the Heart Truth Heart Healthy Pin
*Maidenform blue lacy ONE FOR ALL thong (one size)
*AOL monster earbuds
*Honey Bee Soaps samples in Lavender Fields and Mango Tea
*G-Star denim rhino keychain/charm (one of his ears is ripped – not sure if that’s intentional but that’s how I received i)
*mesh organza lingerie bag

TOTAL VALUE: $60, not counting soap samples

How to Enter

Edit 9/17: The entry period is now closed and our winner will be announced shortly. 

1. Follow Chic Steals.  (In Blogger, Google Reader, Bloglovin, etc.)
2. Leave a Comment on this post below (don’t confuse this with the content that cross-post to the Chic Steals Facebook page!  Leave the comment below on my blog.)

3. For another entry, tweet this giveaway and leave a linkback to your tweet in ANOTHER COMMENT.  If you don’t leave it in a separate comment, I won’t count it – so keep it separate!

4. For another entry, blog about this giveaway and leave a linkback to your blog post in ANOTHER COMMENT.  If you don’t leave it in a separate comment, I won’t count it – so keep it separate!

5. For another entry, post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and leave a linkback to your post in ANOTHER COMMENT.  If you don’t leave it in a separate comment, I won’t count it – so keep it separate!

Max: 4 entries per person allowed.

Giveaway open to any Chic Steals follower worldwide 
(EXCEPT Italy since it costs a fortune to ship there).  Apologies to my Italian readers!:-(

Giveaway period is open from today until the end of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 
(11:59 PM EST Sept. 16, 2010).  Winner chosen by Random.org.

So please enter, spread the word and the NYFW love – and good luck!
I’m also doing a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY this time too – so check my next posting for the MAKEUP & BEAUTY GIFT BAG and enter to win that bag as well!

xoxox
Carly

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My Photos from My July Trip to Tokyo

So as many of you probably know already, I was in Tokyo for two weeks in early July to visit my in-laws.  Hub and Lil Tot went two weeks ahead of me while I stayed behind to look for our runaway cat; sadly, I didn’t find her so went to join my family for the last little bit of our vacation.

So here are some of the photos we took while there… (this is super-long, just to warn you! And totally ignore the commentary if my dry sense of humor grates on ya.)
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