Aug 19, 2010 | Blogging, From You, Media
from formspring.me:
Carly – I can’t get thru the Conde Nast legal jargon and you seem quite knowledgable; How can we use pics from major publications? What are the limits? Can I use a pic from InStyle or Vogue to compare to a pic of one of my outfits? Answer please, oh blog
Leave Comment
Aug 18, 2010 | Score!
New York Design Shop has graciously offered a discount code to all those wishing to purchase materials to enter The Ultimate DIY Competition! (and if you just want to stock up on materials for your own DIY purposes…;-)
They have an amazing selection of DIY materials, including feathers, flowers, buckles, ribbon, trim, appliques, blank apparel, and of course, studs:-)
Use code ultimatediy at checkout to save 15% OFF your ENTIRE ORDER at newyorkdesignshop.com!
Leave Comment
Aug 17, 2010 | Beauty, From You, Life
from formspring.me:
How do you keep yourself looking so good, young and skinny? 🙂
Awww, thank you! You’re so very sweet:-)
It’s probably a combination of genes and habits (and maybe Photoshop??? hehe;-).
On the beach in Hawaii. I don’t know how I survived living there for 4 years without turning into a lobster.
I’ve used the highest SPF I possibly can (that’s still affordable) since I was 16 when I realized I am just physically unable to tan. I’ve been using SPF 110 for the last year or so – I always buy the Neutrogena brand that has Helioplex in it
, and I put it on after my moisturizer, every single day, rain or shine, whether I’m going in or staying out, on my face, neck (front & back), chest (if exposed), backs of the hands, and arms (if exposed). When I go to the beach, I stay hidden under a huge umbrella, with a huge hat, huge sunglasses (yes, HUGE is the word of the day), and often drape my clothing over my head to cover myself. I always wear a long t-shirt when I swim outside (though I recently purchased a long-sleeved rashguard, so now I’m on the hunt for the perfect pair of board-shorts to go with it. Heck, I would wear something like a 1920’s bathing costume if I could just so I could be more covered-up.) All this is not exactly carefree or fun, but it’s second-nature to me now.
I’ve also never smoked or done any drugs – and was never a “partier” during my school years.
I only drink water (I hate alcohol, and cut coffee, soda, and juice out of my diet about 10 years ago or so). Sure, I might have the tiniest sip now and then of Hub’s diet Coke or Lil Tot’s apple juice, but on the whole most sweet drinks just taste too sweet to me, and soda too fizzy. I guess I’ve just lost the palate for it! (I do drink some green tea or peppermint tea once in awhile for the health benefits, but 98% of the time I’m drinking water.)
I also eat lots of fruit and raw vegetables, stopped using salad dressing like 13 years ago, eat a handful of nuts and 1T – 2T of ground flaxseed every day, and try to choose things that have more health benefits than health risks to put in my body. About 2-3 days a week I’ll only eat and cook vegetarian or vegan meals; I eat red meat rarely, though I do love chicken. (I always joke that I was a vegetarian for 6 years until KFC did me in…because I do have a terrible weakness for the stuff. But I might eat KFC like once every 6 months?? Colonel’s Extra Crispy!)
I only recently started learning a lot about nutrition and how the body works through my subscription to Health Magazine (they are the best – seriously!!) and Parents Magazine, and doing Tony Horton’s diet and exercise programs [Power 90 and P90X] through the years. There was so much I didn’t know about health and nutrition and food until I was in my late 20’s!! What a waste high school Health Class was. (Is anybody with me on this??)
So yes, I LOVE Ruffles potato chips and chocolate cake and fruit pies and peanut butter cookies and butterscotch candies and licorice and Twizzlers and shortbreads and chocolate but I do try to eat those things rarely and barter them for other things in my diet that may have very little health benefits as well.
Like I will eat only a small amount of white rice (this makes me popular with my Japanese in-laws!!) in exchange for eating a small slice of cake for dessert. I may eat an ounce of potato chips but then will forgo my serving of carbs or make my serving of meat smaller at dinner. Though I like fat free milk better, I eat my cereal with soymilk because it’s the same amount of calories with higher protein from a non-animal source, no HGH or other preservatives etc. Stuff like that adds up in the long run, I guess.
I am still trying to get back into my usual workout routine which I had to take time off from while I was sick during the Spring. Until then I was jogging or speed-walking intervals 3x a week, and did another day or two of weight-training and/or yoga or stretching. But after hitting 30 , moving to suburbia, and sitting about the house all day [in front of the computer], the pounds have definitely crept on so I’m no role model in that respect.:-)
I also take a multi-vitamin, extra Vitamin D, and a calcium supplement daily, as well as use a retinol-based serum mixed in with my night cream that has really produced visible results. Plus Oil of Olay products have also really helped the quality and texture of my skin.
Hope that answers your question!
xoxo
Carly
Aug 17, 2010 | Fashion
I happened upon an amazing deal a little while back on the HauteLook website. I’ve never actually purchased anything from them before. (What I can say is they ship a LOT faster than RueLala or Ideeli, considering purchases from them have taken 4-6 weeks to arrive.) Now there’s so many “members-only” sample sale sites that I’ve pretty much lost track, and a lot of the good stuff sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.
The week in question they were having a sale for Shoes: $100 and Under, which are pretty much magic words to my ears;-)Â Normally I would have trouble finding something in my fairly common 7.5 shoe size, but this time I happened upon the most gorgeous pair of Velvet Angels shoes – and just kept refreshing the screen repeatedly, muttering little prayers all the while.
And finally, 7.5 was in stock!
I snapped up these beautiful Optima Wedges, original retail price $295, for just over $60. Unbelievable!
And what was more unbelievable to me when they arrived was the quality. Beautiful crinkled leather, unique molded mirrored platform, footbed with velvet-covered metatarsal padding, and a sheer weight to them that “felt” like luxury (which I know is really just a concept, but bear me out). Plus they came in a lovely sliding box, just like a little drawer, ready to go in my closet.
I can’t wait to showcase these in an outfit! I’m thinking a little romper…and something handmade… we’ll just have to wait and see!
Of course, the Peanut Gallery just had to take them out for a spin before I could.;-)
I think maybe I should go a size down?
If you’d like to join HauteLook and snag a similar “Wheeeee!” -inducing find for yourself, feel free to use my invite below:
Upcoming sales for this week include (Tuesday 8/17) Kate Somerville, t-bags, Custo Barcelona; (Wednesday 8/18) Sue Wong, Christopher Kon; (Thursday 8/19) Splendid, sky, and Fall Trends from Lucky Magazine (which I’m just dying to peek at!!)
Hope everyone’s having a great start to their weeks!
xoxo
Carly
Leave Comment
Aug 16, 2010 | DIY, Life, Score!
The Competition is now LIVE on Cut Out + Keep!
If you have a project you’d like to enter into the competition, you can do so in 3 simple steps.
First head on over there to their homepage, click the “Sign Up” button in the right-hand box, and register with them first. (If you’re already a registered member of CutOutandKeep.net, you don’t need to re-register.)
Then upload a project once you’re logged in under the “Projects” tab. (Follow the rules outlined here – don’t forget you need to submit your INSPIRATION PHOTO as well for your project to be eligible for a prize!)Â
Finally, go to the Competition Page and choose which category you’d like to submit your project into
under “Enter the Contest” – the dropdown menus will automatically load all the projects you have on CutOutandKeep.net. Click “Enter” and your project thumbnail should appear soon after in the correct category.
That’s it! Good luck to everyone and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
xoxox
Carly
Leave Comment
Aug 15, 2010 | Blogging, From You, Life
from formspring.me:
Hiya ! Sorry to disturb you ! I love your blog and i read it daily.You’ve inspired me so much that I have just made my own, but it’s still empty.How to get more publicity? Please visit my etsy shop here to see what i make : http://www.etsy.com/shop/Irani
Leave Comment
Aug 15, 2010 | DIY
So I spent the majority of the day today working on a tutorial for upcycling yet another men’s shirt into something way cuter for the girls! I can’t wait to take the photos of the finished product to share with all of you.
But that got me thinking…a reader asked me on formspring.me to share some tips for working with men’s shirts…and so I thought maybe I should share with all of you how I choose my shirts to re-work, and some techniques I use when sewing them.
 How to Choose a Shirt
First of all, I’m assuming that you are going to use a shirt that is not new or off-the-rack (right??). Using shirts that have been pre-worn for your re-fashions is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly, save something from being discarded and give it new life, and make a one-of-a-kind piece just for your very own. But it does pose some unique challenges.
*Choose a shirt that is NOT SEE-THROUGH.
Unless you’re planning on making a lining or always wearing your finished piece over something, you have to make sure that the shirt you choose is completely opaque, even when you’re standing in front of a light source. Many men’s shirts are made of “summerweight” cotton, which makes them very see-through if you’re not wearing an undershirt like a guy would be. TRY IT ON if you’re in a thrift store that has changing rooms; if not, place your hand inside the shirt. If you can see your hand, it’s a no-go.
Pilled fabric. These shirts can only be upcycled very creatively. img source
*Do not use a shirt whose fabric is thinning, pilled, worn, frayed, or with stains/holes.
The more times the shirt has been through the washer/dryer, the thinner the fabric will be. If it’s visibly in bad condition, adding seams and making it into a dress it won’t help the situation. Do not choose something that is stained or has rips or holes in it unless the final design will cover those areas.
*In the same vein, do not choose a shirt whose seams are pulling.
Even if the shirt looks like it’s in good condition, pull at the side seams. If the fabric pulls away from the stitching and you can see obvious/large stitching holes down the seam, the fabric in that shirt cannot withstand seams that take stress. Stitching (even re-sewing) such fabric will result in visible holes, if not the fabric tearing completely away from the seam. DO NOT USE.
*Choose a shirt that is LARGER than you are.
This is a no-brainer. You need the extra fabric to work with and to make the details (and especially in case you make a mistake!). In most situations, I choose a shirt that’s as large as I can find.
How To Sew a Shirt
(so it doesn’t look like a re-fashion)
The shirt in question (since it’s pre-worn) will also probably be pre-washed…if not, wash to remove the sizing using the hottest water recommended for the fabric, and dry it according to the directions.
*Use the same color thread as what was used to sew your shirt together in the first place.This is a little obvious. Bring the shirt with you to the sewing store and match the thread color visually.
*Use the same type of thread as what was used in the shirt.
I know it’s a hassle, but read the fiber content of the label and choose the thread accordingly to get the most professional results.
100% Cotton or Linen Shirt (a typical Men’s Button-Down): Cotton mercerized thread [size 50]
Cotton/Poly Blend Shirt: Cotton/Poly thread [size 50]
Rayon or Stretchy Shirt; Knit Shirt: Polyester thread [size 50]
Lightweight Silk Shirt: Silk Thread [size A]
*Use the right needle for the fabric.
Usually I’ll specify the type of machine needle needed in my instructions, but in case you’re using a different type of shirt than what the instructions call for, match your needle accordingly. Needle for knits = used for any knitted fabric. Needle for wovens = used for any woven fabric. Even if your woven fabric has a bit of stretch to it (like a cotton/rayon blend, let’s say), still use a needle for wovens. If you’re unsure how to tell the difference between a woven fabric and a knit fabric,
check out this easy explanation here. And learn how to choose the right size needle
here.
*Replicate the stitching in the shirt by practicing first.
Alot of my instructions for re-fashioning men’s shirts call for visible stitching, topstitching, hems, etc. To make sure the stitches you are adding to the shirt match those that are already there, practice on a piece of scrap fabric that’s similar in fiber content to the shirt. Adjust the thread tension and stitch length until your row of straight stitches looks exactly the same as the topstitching in the shirt. And don’t adjust your stitching beyond that – just leave your machine on that setting for the entire project.
And there you go! Hope that’s a bit of help – and just by following these simple rules on selecting and sewing shirts, you should have no problem creating a finished piece that rivals any ready-to-wear!
If anyone has any further questions on issues I didn’t cover, please leave them below in the comments section!
xoxox
Carly
Leave Comment
Aug 13, 2010 | By Carly J. Cais
Lion-O from Thundercats. Clean-Up, Color Key, Hand Trace, Hand Paint. Done from original Key Frame used in the opening sequence of the series [you know, right before he puts his sword under his eyes and goes “Thunder, thunder etc.”?], which I managed to get my hands on while in Japan. The original drawings and cels are permanently in storage below this studio in Japan and have never been released to the general public or sold off. As far as I know, they are still there. There is no other replica cel art of Thundercats or Silverhawks done from the originals that is out there; all replicas that may be out there are done from screengrabs – i.e., the artist just freezes the DVD and prints a copy of what’s on screen, and traces it. I sold this cel for over $100 on Ebay, which I was shocked at.
As some of you may or may not know, I never went to school for Fashion. I actually did my undergraduate degree in Film, and then I went to animation school in Japan for a 2-year program. I also have two Certificates in Animation and Animation Direction.
I was at school in 2000-2002, at a time when the entire animation industry was undergoing a major shift from 2D to 3D animation here in the U.S. In Japan, the system is so incredibly different – and the training given to would-be animators at school is in the basics, giving the kids a solid foundation in art and techniques. Though almost the entire Japanese animation industry now uses a digital paint process after scanning in the drawings, some rare studios still hold fast to the traditional method of using hand-painted cels to create their animations, maintaining that the “look and feel” of hand-painted cels are far more beautiful than drawings colored by computer. (Most notably as of late, Hayao Miyazaki and his full-length feature film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008), which was done entirely in hand-painted cels.)
Quicksilver from Silverhawks. Clean-Up, Hand-Trace, Hand-Paint.
Done from original Key Frame from the opening sequence to the series. I also copied the original TV framing onto the Clean-Up, since I thought to see that was really cool, even though the Clean-Up artist normally wouldn’t copy the framing onto his work.
And it’s totally true! Hand-painted cels have a luminosity and vibrance that digital paint can never replicate – the lines have a solidarity and impart a 3D feel to a flat character. Once you know the telltale differences, you can tell in an instant if you’re looking at an animation made from cels or one with the colors added via computer.
Gundam. I didn’t include the Clean-Up and Color Key I did for this one. Hand-Trace; Hand-Paint. I hate dealing with mecha more than anything! (Except Doraemon, who is every animator’s worst nightmare.)
Because producing cels is so much more labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive than digital paint, cels in the animation industry have gone the way of the Dodo. Among animation afficionados and collectors there is a small market for original cels used in the cartoons of yore – as well as for replica cels.
Can you find me in this picture? circa 2001 or sumpin.’
After I graduated animation school and couldn’t find a job in the U.S. because my traditional animation skills were already obsolete (and the U.S. market expects you to be able to create your own animation from start to finish, be able to use a variety of software, and be able to market your skills as a freelancer – whereas the Japanese market preps you to do an entry-level job that has a single function at the very bottom of the studio pecking order), I was spending a lot of my time creating and painting replica cels and selling them online.
Gon from Hunter X Hunter from original Key Frame from the series. Clean-Up, Hand-Trace, Hand-Paint.
I was looking at some of my old work today and remembered how much I loved doing it – the intricacy and painstaking nature of the work; the finished product looking like it was lifted straight from your TV screen. I was thinking about pulling out all my old paints and doing more of it.
Traditional cel-painting setup. Though I probably should be using a desk…
So here are some cels that I painted. I kind of gravitated more towards the macho stuff because we got more of those key frames from school and I don’t like working from non-original artwork, but the shoujou manga (well, technically not manga per se) stuff is so fun and cute and uses so many great colors.
Revolutionary Girl Utena from original Key Frame from the series. Clean-Up, Hand-Trace, Hand-Paint.
One of the cool things about going to school in Japan was that the animations, key frames, artwork, cels, and exercises that we did were all pulled from past and current Japanese animations and studios – an otaku‘s dream. We were handed photocopies of the original key frames actually used in the animations seen on TV, in movies, and now on DVDs worldwide. Though I’d be har
d-pressed to actually find the exact point where the frames were used in each anime and manage to pause the DVD for you guys to show you a screencap!
Songoku; Clean-Up and Color Key of original Key Frame from Dragon Ball Z series; Hand-Trace; Hand-Paint
All the cels and paper I use for my replicas are standard Japanese size (same as what was used in the originals), and the paint is standard-issue Toei brand, which is the only cel paint used in Japan for their animations – which means the colors of the replica cel are exactly the same as those used in the original. (The West uses Chromacolour brand and the color palette is completely different, as well as the standard size of cel acetate and the shape of the holes at the top.)
21emon.  Clean-Up, Color Key, Machine Trace, Hand-Paint.
For the cels I sold I also did the Key Clean-up and Hand-Traced the lines, which is an extremely obsolete skill given that even the studios that extol the superior nature of cels now just laser-print the lines on the cel acetate and then add the paint. Before laser-printing there was Machine-Tracing, (seen above) which transferred the carbon from your pencil lines on the cleaned-up frame onto the cel acetate. You’d have a real hard time finding one of those old carbon-based Machine Trace machines, though back in 2002 they were still alive and well and being used at my school and in Japan. Clean-Up techniques for cels that will be printed via Machine-Trace are also different from those used for Hand-Tracing; which are again different for the lines on the frames that will be scanned in and colored on the computer. Hand-Tracing is a BE-otch and I’m sooooo glad that it’s not necessary anymore – but it’s a help having those lines on the cel when painting, since the paint used in Hand-Tracing acts as a little wall around the areas you’re painting and prevents the colors from mixing in different areas. I hate Machine-Tracing because it’s so messy and the carbon lines fade over time and with exposure to light – you can see how messy the lines are in the cel above. To see the most horrible messy lines EVER and why Machine-Tracing + Sloppiness in Your Drawing = A BIG MESS check out any Disney animation made before 1988 (like The Aristocats (1970) or the animation in Mary Poppins (1964), for instance. Well, they were drawing 24 frames per second so I guess we’ll have to forgive;-)
xoxox
Carly
Leave Comment
Aug 13, 2010 | Life, Score!
Yes, friends and faithful readers…you voted, and I listened. Back in April, I asked all of you what you wanted to see here on Chic Steals in the coming months. And out of those who responded, over 66% of you said you wanted a DIY Contest!
Well here it is…it’s been over 2 months in the making but I am pleased to finally announce…
I am so excited to be partnering with CutOutandKeep.net to bring all of this worldwide competition, open to everyone over the age of 18! Here’s a little teaser:
The Ultimate DIY Competition
Do you live and breathe fashion – and how to get it for less? Do you often find yourself crafting the looks you see on the runway, in street style photos, and in stores? Do you have creative ways of cutting corners and re-creating, modifying, upcycling, re-fashioning, embellishing, and distressing pieces to create items all with your own personal style? If so, we want to see what YOU can do!
Enter an original DIY project – made entirely by you – in The Ultimate DIY Competition! The theme is “Inspired DIY” – and you need to submit a photo of your inspiration (a designer garment, an item you’ve seen on someone, a beautiful photograph of nature, an illustration or piece of artwork etc.) AND create something based on this photograph. Submit at least 2 photos of your project during the creation process, write the step-by-step tutorial to share with all, and finish off with at least 2 photos of your final DIY piece! Make a Wearable (item of clothing), piece of Jewelry, or an Accessory, for anyone, any age. Five fashion Bloggers at the forefront of the online DIY style movement serve as the Judging panel: Carly J. Cais from Chic Steals, Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking, Tessa Stephensen from Apparellel, Maegan Tintari from …love, Maegan, and Outi Pyy from Outsapop. One Winner in each category will be chosen – and we’ve got some FABULOUS sponsors offering up gift certificates to online craft and DIY materials stores as prizes! Encourage your friends and family to “Heart” or “Like” your project too – the project with the most “Hearts” + “Likes” also wins a prize!
so get those glue guns out and get crackin’!
Submissions close Sept. 5. Winners announced September 15, 2010. Competition open worldwide, to anyone over the age of 18.
Check out The Ultimate DIY Competition homepage for the Official Rules, Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter to stay in the know. In the meantime, start DIY’ing and getting those projects ready for submission!
Prizes up for grabs: Gift Certificates to M&J Trimming, FireMountainGems.com, and New York Design Shop; a BurdaStyle t-shirt; a Gift Subscription to VenusZine.
Tempting, right? I can’t wait to see what all you guys come up with!!
xoxox
Carly
Leave Comment
Aug 13, 2010 | From You, Media
 from formspring.me:
I Love your blog and your creativity! I love it when you post scans of VIVI MAGAZINE! How can I get my hands on some more of these!?
Leave Comment
