Ooh! I was able to find you guys a 20% off coupon for dressbarn!
Just print out, bring into your local dressbarn store to use! (Maybe pick up one of their cute sweaters while you’re there?) I know you’ve probably already seen the one I found:
Hurry – this coupon expires November 30…so grab it and pay them a visit soon!
Find your local dressbarn here
Okay, yes, I draw. The jig is up. I haven’t wanted to put my stuff out there for fear of…well, I don’t know. Criticism? Getting ripped off? I’m not exactly sure. Anyway, here’s some recent pieces.
I loved how when I scanned this the scanned caught the edge of the drawing pad so the face looks like it’s falling off the paper.
Perhaps I should make a series? Maybe it looks a little too close to those silly Harajuku Lovers fragrance bottles. It certainly wasn’t intentional.
Fashion design. I’m loving the background less the more I see it.
all copyright Carly J. Cais, 2009
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A little DIY project for your Sunday!:-)
I wore my version of the hardware necklace in the latest styling challenge for America’s Most Stylish Blogger Competition.
(And if you may remember, in the video intro’ing the look for this week Tibi designer Amy Smilovic said I should have worn tights with my look. Funny thing…
I brought TWO pairs of tights to the studio one the night we shot: one gray, and one brown. For almost 20 minutes I debated the tights, and then finally decided against them, because:
And it doesn’t need a pop of color since I was going for monochromatism (I know that’s not a word, just bear with me) and I wanted the gold, silver, and shoe studs to be gleaming out from a sea of textures of brown and gray.
Just sayin.’)
Here’s the whole photo again, just to refresh:
Ah, the fickleness of fashion!
Okay, back to the necklace. Here’s a closeup from my photo:
We all saw last season’s Lanvin runway collection and those chunky, statement necklaces made from what looked like bits and bobs from the hardware store.
(Photos: FirstLook.com) Queen Michelle over at Kingdom of Style did her own DIY tutorial on the trend for Vogue Girl Korea – so there’s really no reason for me to rehash it in step-by-step detail. It’s pretty straightforward.
Basically, in order to make this necklace, I purchased from the Home Depot plumbing section:
*1 pack of 3/4 x 3/4 straight couplings (5 to a pk)
*2 packs of 1/2″ compression nuts (3 to a pk)
*1 pack of 5/8″ compression nuts (3 to a pk)
And strung them on a dark gray satin ribbon. I folded the ends of the ribbon over 2 gold split rings I had banging around in my findings box (D-rings would have been better, but whatever); machine-stitched to reinforce the ends, and attached a heavy-duty lobster claw clasp and jumpring to one side.
Presto! In less time than it’s taken me to write this post, I had a gorgeous, shiny chunky statement necklace – for about $8 from the hardware store. (You may want to wipe your findings with alcohol to clean off any machinery grease/hardware store/raging testosterone smell from them.)
And…funny story…while I was in line at the register to pay for my findings, a sort of a roughneck-looking man with a little Jack terrier in tow lined up behind me. (Though why the dog was allowed inside the Home Depot I’m not quite sure – he definitely was too tiny to be a seeing-eye dog LOL) The guy goggled at all the findings I had plunked on the register conveyer belt and said “I see someone gave you a list” in that condescending ‘what’rya doin’ here, li’l lady?’ sort of tone. (This is my imagined scene from some Dirty Harry movie, none of which, I hate to admit, I’ve ever seen.)
It took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. “Oh no,” said I. “No list.”
His eyebrows shot up almost into his thinning hairline. “You mean you picked all that out yourself?”
“Yup,” I said.
“Got a job to do, eh?”
I laughed and then said (which I ended up mentally kicking myself for later), “It’s not like I was looking for anything specific.”
He started to chortle. (I’m sure ladies don’t know s*** about plumbing was going through his mind about then.) “What did you need them for then? You making some sort of art piece?”
“No, jewelry,” I said.
“Ah. Jewelry.” Everything clicked in Mr. Females Don’t Know Hardware’s brain, and all was right with the world.:-)
Hope you all are having a great weekend!
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxo
Carly
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(handmade dress from a men’s shirt, Claire’s ball-chain necklaces, studded leather bracelet from Buffalo Exchange, Forever21 vinyl leggings, Newport-News lace pumps, DIY leather half-scoop gloves)This was one of the main reasons I chose to shoot in a studio for my America’s Most Stylish Blogger entries: Portland weather has been like this pretty much every day for 3 weeks. (It has mysteriously cleared up for the weekends…but timing-wise I was only ready to shoot my outfits during the week…I put a lot of thought into each one, and since I don’t get the item from Bluefly until Friday, it didn’t give me enough time to formulate something in time for the rare and unexpected good weather.) Blah. So it’s been cold and wet consistently, but I wanted to post this outfit while it’s still Fall for goodness’ sakes.
Inspired by a reader’s version of the Cute Summer ShirtDress from a Men’s Shirt I made back in August, I chose a plaid shirt for my newest men’s shirt makeover…and created a bustier top with a zip-back, bust-darts, folded front detail, faux belt, peplum, and tulip skirt. (Too much? Customize at will!:-) It took awhile, but it’s done! Tutorial coming soon soon soon once I sit down and write the silly thing.
DIY half-scoop gloves tutorial here. I love them to death! To death I say! (And in this photo, you can see the band-aid on my flu shot that I got that very morning; how very chic.)
The lace pumps really don’t match but I felt like pairing something lacy with the outfit to offset the vinyl leggings.
I am totally feeling plaid for Fall. (By now it’s a little cold, so it will go over a black mesh long-sleeved top, and maybe on its own for parties.)
xoxo
Carly
I’m always on the hunt for affordable clothing – and will pass up no store in search of something affordable and chic. You can find great deals practically everywhere, from the hardware store to thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, to even the kids’ section at Target, maternity wear at a little boutique, or the sale rack at Barney’s.
So in my quest to find budget-friendly pieces I can’t believe I haven’t checked out dressbarn before – a contemporary clothing chain with more than 800 stores in the U.S., offering both misses’ and women’s clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
If you’re looking for classic clothing – that which will defy the trends and look just as good today as it will years hence – look no further. (And at a great price point – a big plus in my book!)
I love their selection of sweaters – pieces that may seem bland at first glance actually boasts tiny details that make them all the more special. Cable knitting that goes sideways instead of vertically, rectangular box closures, ombre-dyeing, foldover button-detail at the neck – all this elevates the typical into that signature piece around which you can build an entire outfit.
For this week’s challenge in America’s Most Stylish Blogger Competition, I paired a cocoa-colored wrap cable-knit sweater from dressbarn with a silk chiffon dress and Prada studded pumps. The sweater was a fabulous textural counterpoint to the crinkle-silk of the dress and the velvet of the boots, and kept the look romantic and feminine.
Check out the dressbarn website, which has weekly specials (like a free evening clutch with $100 purchase!) and browse through their online lookbook to get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping list. And def if you have the chance, stop in, browse around – you might just be pleasantly surprised and find something fabulous you never knew was there.
-Carly J. Cais
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Carly J. Cais I am a DIY’er, designer, sewist, maker, and marketer. Chic Creative Life is where I share what I do, and help others bring their unique style into their own lives.
