Aug 29, 2010 | Fashion, Score!
And so sorry…I’m a very, very bad blogger since I overlooked sharing this…
There’s still tomorrow, if you can squeeze in a trip to Old Navy! I’ve got my eye on the Rockstar Super Skinny Denim Leggings ($29.63 with coupon), the Weekend Jeans ($11.22 with coupon), and The Flirt Flared Jean ($18.75 with coupon).
You can also
access the coupon online here if you’d like to print it out. (Though the coupon is only valid in-store.)
Maybe pick yourself up some new denim just for Fall? Sorry for not posting sooner! At least there’s still one day left…
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 27, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
photo from all over the web; not really sure where the original’s from.
The Huffington Post points out that the idea of luxury has deflated and independent designers have business that is booming among consumers tired of the ol’ branded shtick.
This is exactly why I began Chic Steals two and a half years ago: to examine the idea of “value” of clothing, brands, and labels – and to deconstruct the idea of “luxury.” I want to teach people to try their hand at making their own fashionable items – to demonstrate that value is conceptual, and instilled in an object when one takes the time to create it oneself. It’s amazing how much you value something, crooked seams and all, when you’ve slaved over it, day after day, or researched how to do a certain process in the making of it. YOU become invested in your creation – and though the cost at the register may be insignificant, the emotional and skillful investment you’ve made into your piece is immeasurable. One of my core beliefs is this:
Luxury is a concept.
It’s a fleeting idea, created in the minds of consumers chiefly for the purpose of constructing a demand for expensive items manufactured by large brands. Your handmade item becomes a luxury item to you – something whose value is not necessarily determined by the quality of the materials or the extensive skill of the craftsperson or the social cache of the label, but made so by the hours labored upon it and your emotional investment in it.
I’ve noticed as of late, with the economy sluggish, clothing retailers closing, brands going out of business, and sample sale sites abounding – the idea of luxury is being taken apart, brick by brick. Consumers are getting smarter. We want to see behind the curtain of the brand – to see why something is priced the way it is, to see where our money goes when we pay at the cash register.
DIY is a movement to get you involved in the creation and/or personalization process – to have you invest a little bit of yourself so as to better grasp the concepts of value and the principles of design. It gives you skills and makes you a smarter shopper in the long run. Even if it doesn’t appeal to you as a long-term hobby or an experience you’d like to repeat – you now know how much it cost you to buy the tools and materials to make the item in question – and how long it took you. This can help you calculate what’s a good deal and what isn’t when it comes to buying something similar at retail.
And, a wonderful side effect of DIY is that you appreciate the process – and can rationalize better the retail price of clothing and accessories made by indie designers and upcoming brands. (A constant question I got from customers when I was selling my line is “Why does it cost this much?” This is a common question independent designers receive from a consumer base used to Forever 21 and H&M prices. People have no idea what is involved in the manufacturing of clothing and the costs that go on behind the scenes, especially when you’re dealing with small, limited runs.) By encouraging everyone to try making their own fashion items, you educate and inform – which makes to easier to rationalize purchasing items from younger, growing brands, rather than from overpriced luxury brands.
What do you think? What has making or DIY’ing your own pieces taught you? Are you still swayed by a Louis Vuitton bag, a Juicy Couture tracksuit, a Gucci belt just because of the name and cost attached to them?
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 26, 2010 | Beauty, From You, Media
from formspring.me:
I just got back from Hawaii and noticed how flawless most Japanese women’s skin is. What make-up are they using?!
Gosh, I wish I knew for sure! The lovely skin of all the Japanese women and girls around me was always a complex for me growing up – since I moved to Japan just as I hit those ohsofun years of puberty, and experienced all the skin problems that entailed.;-) I always wanted to stop people on the street and ask them what their secrets were…
I’m by no means a dermatologist but as far as what I understand from reading Japanese mags, talking to Japanese friends, and watching Japanese TV – in general the “naked face” or “no make-up look” is not what younger Japanese women go for. It’s interesting – in the US that’s sort of the gold standard when it comes to foundation…that you look like you’re wearing nothing! (I think that’s why Bare Minerals is so successful here, as well as the almost constant advice that you look best when you just “dot concealer on your flaws and leave the rest of your face without foundation and natural-looking.”)
In Japan, the standard is TONS of makeup – so much so that they have shows on tv where girls are forced to wash off their makeup and everyone laughs at them to see that their faces are completely different (and missing eyebrows is a favorite taunt). Many young Japanese women go the whole shebang: primer, foundation, concealer, dark contour, highlight, setting powder, and oil-blotting sheets throughout the day. Their skin-care regimen is in general much more involved than that of many Americans: responding to polls many girls admit that they spend 1-2 hours in the morning on their skincare/makeup, and another 1-2 hours in the evening! (Among women under the age of 30, or at least the ones that reply to said polls for magazines and TV shows.) When it comes to makeup brands, it seems that the Japanese will buy the most expensive brand of foundation – they definitely don’t skimp there. Dior, Chanel, Lancome, Shiseido, SK-II, Kate, RMK – all mainstays in the foundation market. They use specific concealers for their pores and specific concealers for their undereye area. Even in the heat (like Hawaii, or during summer), they will still layer on the makeup, and use blotting sheets meticulously to soak up the oil and impart a layer of powder on their faces (I’m a big fan of the Biore brand of blotting sheets – why the heck don’t they make them here??). Many Japanese girls also cover up from the sun and use sunscreen religiously (though there is the contingent that uses tanning beds, though they’re not a majority by any means).
Also, I suspect a large component of their beautiful skin is diet: taking a daily vitamin is still quite a new concept since the accepted practice in Japan is to get one’s vitamins from FOOD. Even young Japanese women “on a diet”will still eat a wide variety of vegetables (prepared in a number of different ways) at every meal, a large amount of fish weekly, and use condiments that are soy-based, miso-based, and vinegar-based. The amount and variety of vegetables, seafood, and skin-healthy condiments that we use in the US pales in comparison. Plus, living in Japan in the major metropolitan areas, everyone gets tons of exercise walking around or riding their bikes or commuting – so they’re getting above and beyond that 30 minutes of recommended exercise a day, which I’m sure has something to do with their skin quality. Plus add in long, hot baths, soaking salts, and trips to the esthetician (for some), and that might just be a good picture of why the skin of Japanese women looks so fabulous. (The main dermatological complaint in Japan? Dry, flaky skin!!)
I’ve scanned a couple recent features from Vivi Magazine and S-Cawaii Magazine on how to apply foundation [click to enlarge], so you can see the method that they suggest for applying makeup. (I’d venture to guess that this method is pretty indicative of – if not a little more involved than – the average Japanese girl’s makeup routine. Imagine if they listed this step-by-step in Marie Claire or Lucky! Who would follow it here in the US??)
Japanese women or those who have more knowledge of this subject, please feel free to weigh in!
Thanks for your question!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 25, 2010 | Fashion
Button-Down Jumpsuit Romper: Handmade by Me from a Man’s Shirt
Faux Fox Fur Tail: Handmade by Me
Black Leather Pumps: Michael Michael Kors
Now that it finally feels like summer here in Portland (hellloooo, 90-degree days!!), I celebrated by making this jumpsuit from a man’s button-down shirt. I used almost every little bit of the original shirt!
With ruched shoulders, belt loops, and self-tie at waist.
It took awhile to formulate the how-to, but I figured it out and shared the tutorial a couple days later here. Check it out if you’re interested in making your own!!
I took an instant liking to this cute little wallet from Target. You’d never think it was actually a wallet once you add a chain handle to it! (I’ll probably change the chain to something a little less bright, but overall, I think this is a great little purse for going out. Just the right size for the bare essentials!)
I made this faux fur fox fur tail recently. I’ve been seeing them starting to crop up in photos around the blogosphere, and something tells me they will be a HUGE trend from Fall ’10. I can only find them online made of REAL fox’s tails. I’m so turned off by this idea (of using a real fox’s tail and hanging it off your bag –*blech*) that I decided to make my own. So for those wanting to get the look of the foxtail accessory, but not inclined to use real fur, I’ve created fake fur tails – out of the most luxurious faux fur I can find. Seriously, I’ve been searching for about 5 years for faux fur that looks like this and has all the beautiful variegation of real fur (and is sold by the yard to non-wholesale customers – something more rare than you might think!). It’s just lovely. This is the Brown-Tipped color, and I’m also offering pure White, solid Black, Orange-tipped Cream, and Brown in my Etsy store!
I also added this tiny pewter fox charm – to indicate that no foxes were harmed in the making of this piece (and still paying homage to the animal that inspired the design;-). I’m offering the tails with and without the charm – and I donate 10% of sales to the Humane Society, who has worked tirelessly to create regulated fur-labeling standards in regards to fur-trimmed fashion products, and advocates going “Fur-Free” when it comes to fashion.
Wedge Platform Heels: Velvet Angels Optima Wedges (purchased on HauteLook for 77% off retail!)
Haha! I just had to try these babies out!
I was so embarrassed about my lack of a pedicure I Photoshopped one in. Sorry for the deception.
Umm…hiYAH!…?
You can also wear the romper without the belt, and with the collar open for a more relaxed look.
Hope everyone’s having a great week!
I have an interview tomorrow for a potential job…so psyched! Wish me luck~
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 24, 2010 | Fashion
Hi Grishley!
Lovely to hear from you! I’m not sure if it’s really the “best” – I’m still trying things and seeing how they work – but I’ve had some success with listing things on Etsy, and some with listing on my shopchicsteals.com website. I figure, the more places you post something, the more exposure it gets! It may take awhile to generate online sales, so if you are in need of something quick, you might try participating in a craft fair to sell your goods. (Of course, you have to weigh the costs associated with your space and displays vs. your projected sales…and the first time it may not be worth it.) But at least doing it once to begin with will give you an idea as to what you can expect, and give you the ability to tailor your offerings to sell better.)
With crafting items to sell, I can tell you the money certainly doesn’t bowl you over and it is a huge time commitment, but if you can find a niche or a market (i.e., a demand) for you items then you can certainly make enough to save for a big purchase like a camera!
Best of luck!
xoxo
Carly
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