Sep 15, 2012 | DIY, Fashion
So as the whirlwind week of fashion, creativity, and inspiration draws to a close in New York City, I wanted to create my bi-annual rundown of trends that are on their way – and what you can start DIY’ing now!
Add some flowered fabric, cut into letter shapes and fused onto a basic white tee with its arms cut off like at 3.1 Philip Lim.
Take a cue from Alexander Wang and buy a white sheath 3 sizes too small. Then cut apart and add clear plastic showing about 1″ through the cuts (so about 2″ wide plastic strips with 1/2″ wide underlap), and topstitch.
Mimic the pretty stripes in Alice + Olivia‘s coat with some free-handed fabric paint.
Add some ladylike lace or netting over a super-short sheath mini like at Calvin Klein Collection.
The jeweled collar trend is still going strong at Carolina Herrera; add decoration to your blouse’s collar with a ton of sew-on Swarovski stones and make a belt to match.
Bold printed shoes at Chris Benz are an easy DIY: just Mod Podge your favorite fabric over the toe-caps of a pair of brightly-colored T-strap heels. (Bonus points for sewing up a pair of matching shorts!)
Embellish the sleeves of a cropped neutral jacket with sunbursts of hot-fix jewels like at Creatures of the Wind.
Make a beach cover-up (or bold dress!) with a scrap of satin or lightweight fabric, suspended from a thin twisted rope at your middle. (Tuck under a matching sports bra or bralette for the full Cushnie et Ochs look!)
A simple dress with strategic cut-outs around the bust will make the perfect dupe of the piece at Diane von Furstenburg.
Make an elasticized bralette like at Edun by adding some bits of elastic and 2 metal rings to some fabric scraps (or cut up an old triangle bralette from your lingerie drawer!)
The sporty wedge sneakers from Jil Sander Navy are so easy to DIY: just paint a stripe across a plain pair of white sneaks!
The bow-pattern top and cardigan from Kate Spade New York are super-cute, and totally DIY’able with the sewn-on addition of little black bows. (Or fused applique!)
The opening piece at Kimberly Ovitz looked like a snipped-apart maxi-dress (just raw cuts at the neckline), accessorized with double steel bangles at the upper arms.
DIY a Marc Jacobs-style tee with the addition of some black Duck Tape in parallel stripes on the front.
Part 2 coming soon!
All photos from Style.com; composites by me.
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 13, 2012 | Fashion
Sure, they may be a bit conservative overall, but these Mazi Skimmers from Alloy are also so pretty and sweet. I think the blue dotted print may just become my new favorite for work – and Fall 2012!
They also come in a wine, black, and standard leopard-print, and I love how the girly edge looks peeking out from some long dark jeans or punctuating a flared skirt.
I’ve been overwhelmed with re-designing Chic Steals…and am thinking about abandoning the dev site and just making everything live as-is, and tweak as the days go by. Not an ideal experience for all of you guys, but doing it this way may prevent conflicts and bugs in the long run… I apologize in advance! Plus work has been long hours, school will be starting next week, and I still have another project to finish up soon…
I love being busy but right now I have had too many days in a row being woken up at 4 AM when my husband gets up to go to work…it’s beginning to take its toll. And New York Fashion Week is just wrapping up and I haven’t even started to check out the Collections yet! I think the first 2 weeks of September are the busiest of the entire year…who’s with me on that??! At least I don’t have to worry about what shoes to wear to work!;-)
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 10, 2012 | Fashion
source (click for larger)
From BrightNest.com comes this cute little infographic that encourages a little creativity with your clothes while trying some home improvement projects…that leave you with some DIY’ed masterpieces in the bargain. (I LOL’ed at the clean out your attic=accidental couture suggestion!;-)
Check out BrightNest for some more ideas for home decor, garden projects, and organizational tools if you’re in a DIY mood for your living space!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this infographic, please share it!~
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Sep 9, 2012 | Fashion
Hair: Slicked back, pinned down, with addition of Prisila MechaRaku Mega Dango (LiYe) low
Rhinestone Necklaces: small one (vintage); Rectangle Rhinestone Necklace: DIY
Rings: mostly Target stacking rings, sets broken up and re-mixed together (like these, but you’ll find way more stacking sets in the Fashion Rings section in-store)
Bracelets: all DIY
Watch: Black slap watch
Leather Laptop Case with Pyramid Stud: DIY
Computer: MacBook Pro (2006)
Men’s Chambray Shirt, Refitted: DIY
Picot Cobalt Trousers: ASOS (similar here
)
Pointy-toe Pumps: Colin Stuart (similar here)
Friday was my last day for my internship at the video/photography set rental and production design studio in NE Portland.
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Sep 8, 2012 | DIY
So it’s Back-to-School already – and for some it was last week, and others during the next couple weeks (my Fall semester starts Sept. 25). Now is a time when most of us – kids, teens, the collegiate crowd, and parents all – just don’t have a lot of time and are scrambling to try and get all the much-needed school supplies, textbooks, and other items all lined up and ready to go. (Plus it’s always hard to get back into the rhythm of things after a long Summer off.) 
Once you have a spare moment, though, this initial keychain charm is super-quick to pull together…and utterly adorable for your child’s (or your own!) bag or keyring. One part prep and the other part minimalist, this is also easy enough for even a DIY novice to accomplish. Here’s how to move your bag’s style straight to the head of the class:
You Need: (more…)
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