For all of you handbag-loving fashionistas based in NYC…
Clear your calendars for the Carlos Falchi Sample Sale! 2 Days Only! 70% off retail! 260 W 39th St! (Or just head on over there to watch the other handbag-loving fashionistas elbow their way to a chic steal…)
-Carly J. Cais
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So my outfit including the Priorities Navy Gabardine Boyfriend Vest ($90, Bluefly.com) has already been posted to SyleList.com and Bluefly.com…please vote for me! (And be entered to win a $1000 Bluefly.com shopping spree!)
But, always being the overachiever, I decided to style this vest in a number of different outfits since it is incredibly versatile.
With The Boyfriend Husband Jean. Methinks they’re a bit too baggy, but what the hey.
The precursor to the outfit I submitted for the competition. I decided the jeans had to be skinnier-cut in order for the outfit to work.
Channeling Cyndi Lauper.
Military-style. Why is a vest categorized as “outerwear” when you wear it inside your coat/jacket? Wear it on top: outerwear over outerwear!
Ruffled silly.I certainly could have worn it over a coordinating slim skirt for office-appropriate attire, or open over a white tee and destroyed jeans. But that’s so expected!
How would you have styled the vest?
xoxo
Carly
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10032373001?isVid=1&publisherID=1612833736
So the video for America’s Next Stylish Blogger is now up, with celebrity publicist Kelly Cutrone breaking down the looks…
Apparently she didn’t like mine AT ALL – saying that she had no idea what was going on, she hated the accessories, it was too much, etc.
I do have to address her criticism by saying that what my blog is all about is DIY’ing your own pieces…and I didn’t have enough time to make myself a blouse, pants, or shoes…so in order to showcase my brand, I went to the max with the jewelry. (Again, it’s what’s happening in fashion right now.) If you follow this blog, you know that I’m always trying to use accessories in new, funky ways. ANYONE can pair the blazer with a pair of jeans and a shirt and leave it at that- the whole point of the exercise, I thought, was to do it well – i.e., thinking about colors, textures, lengths, embellishments, etc; creating a look that was pleasing to the eye and appealing. And in my book that also means being creative and adding things I made myself! Though I know “doing it well” is certainly in the eye of the beholder LOL!
This is really what “my brand” is all about: funky, trendy, DIY, the runway look for less…I think that looking at my photo, this definitely comes across. (Though you have to read the description to hear about the DIY part.)
I also wish they wouldn’t keep reminding everyone that I’m a “mom” and being like “you’re a mom, would you wear this?” Chic Steals is not about, and never has been, fashion that is for “moms” (whatever that is, anyhow). It’s about finding that designer look for less – what’s hot, what’s trendy, what’s on the runways. It’s not about an outfit you can wear to go grocery shopping with Tot in tow. (I don’t wear any of the outfits I post when I go to Fred Meyer, for example. Trendy fashion is not really day-to-day clothing, if you know what I mean.:-) I also mention my Mom status so rarely on my blog if you’re not a regular visitor you may miss it. Sure I have a child, but my passion for making things, keeping up with trends, and scoring a deal are not related to having a little one.)
I also take it they mean “from Oregon” in that I live there? I’m from NJ originally! Shout out to all the Joisey kids out there!:-P
Okay, rant over! Just to clarify some things for anyone who cares:-)
Please vote if you haven’t yet! (Scroll down to the voting widget below the video) Oh, and you can vote once day! Please do, and each day you’ll have an extra entry to win that shopping spree!:-)
xoxox
Carly
(chiffon blouse with collar pulled into vest sleeves, Bluefly.com Priorities Navy Gabardine Boyfriend Vest, DIY multi-chain necklace, handmade rings, buckled cuff, necklace worn as bracelet, tie-dye skinny jeans, studded stretch bracelet, wedge-heel multi-buckled boots, studded flap handbag)Fall ’09 is all about a study in contrasts: hard and soft, light and dark, flirty and businesslike, girly meets edgy, structured undone by irreverence. A boyfriend vest is the ultimate layering piece for cooler weather, but its unisex silhouette demands something light and feminine, such as a tiered chiffon blouse.
Even though pairing the vest with some jeans (as in the item description!) felt like a bit of a cop-out, this vest needs to be balanced out by something slim-fitting (and a little sexy) on the bottom. Tie-dye jeans may be seen as Fashion Risk, but they’re currently on-trend (and on celebs and fashionistas from coast to coast!). I love how the blotchy, nebulous pattern mimics the Fall leaves.
The red lip is back this season – and so I chose an fiery red to play off the blue of the vest and jeans.
Studded jewelry and accessories are also in opposition with each other: mixed metals (silver and gold) and shapes (squares and circles; pointy and flat) pair and complement. Buckled wedge booties complete the look and lend it an urban edge.
*Styling Tip: If you feel like you’ve fallen into an accessory rut, try wearing your jewelry in an unexpected way to reinvent your look! Here, I’ve wound a necklace around my wrist to become a zippered multistrand bracelet [right hand, partially hidden by bag handles], and placed a stretchy cuff bracelet over my jeans at the ankle [left leg]. (The banklet is born!)
Thanks for looking and I’d love to have your vote on StyleList.com!
xoxox
Carly
http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4ae0eafa40215f96/4ae0f42e2fe90d64/4ae0eafa40215f96/6bd8203c
Leave CommentThis week looks like a fabulous one in the world of discount designer shopping!
Ideeli.com has a fabulous roster of sales coming up…here are some of the highlights:
Tuesday, 10/27/09
*Jessica Simpson Outerwear (high neck coat pictured above)
Save up to: 71%Off
Prices start at: $69
*Donald J. Pliner Handbags (Palma Hobo pictured above)
Save up to: 56%Off
Prices start at: $97
Wednesday, 10/28/09
*Tart Contemporary (Avril Dress pictured above)
Save up to: 60%Off
Prices start at: $22
*Gwyneth Shoes
Save up to: 54%Off
Prices start at: $47
*Rampage Bags
Friday, 10/30/09
*ABS by Allen Schwartz Dresses (Tie Back Halter pictured above)
Save up to: 78%Off
Prices start at: $55
*ABS by Allen Schwartz Outerwear
Save up to: 76%Off
Prices start at: $85
*Subversive Jewelry
I’m dying to see what pieces from Subversive Jewelry are available!
If you aren’t a member of Ideeli yet, click here to use my invite link and automatically have access to some of the best designer sales around.
If you already are a member, don’t forget to log on to Ideeli.com all this week to take advantage of discounted merchandise up to 78% off!
-Carly J. Cais
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Inspired by Coco Chanel, Osugi wanted to create a modern day version of Coco’s long, layered look at an affordable price. By varying the size of the balls on the ball-chain she created a one-of-a-kind accessory piece…something that mimics the effect of a draped rope of multi-sized pearls from far away, but upon closer inspection displays a metallic edge. And, she was able to fashion these necklaces (in 2-strand, 6-strand, and 12-strand, with the choice of 3 metal finishes) and offer them for less than $60 each on her site, Yukester.com.
Last season her work was chunky and in-your-face – exemplified by her signature piece, the Snake Necklace (pictured above). For Fall 2009 it’s all about whisper-quiet elegance. 
(I also love the Flinestones-y Chunky Bracelet (above) from Yukester’s previous collection – pebbles for the wrist.)
Here’s how I styled a couple of my Yukester necklaces:
Kind of a librarian look.
Same necklaces, different look. I’m wearing my party hair! 
I love how the necklaces are kind of tangly when layered.
Paired with a dress from one of my previous collections for my line RIVETED. I still have a couple of this dress in stock – if anyone’s interested, please email me!
I wore the Yukester necklace so it kind of drips down the back…would look great with any open-back piece.
Amazingly, you can also wear the 12-strand necklace as draped body jewelry across your shoulders.
And finally…I love how you can also wear the 2-strand necklace as head-jewelry. From the Yukester website:
Yukester Jewelry features trend-setting fashion accessories from around the world. Inspired by extensive travel experiences, and our drive to find pieces that are truly “beautiful, original, and exceptional”, we strive to find pieces that encapsulate a worldly charm, and convey a unique beauty. Blending East and West, the Trade Winds of the Caribbean and the waters of the Ganges, the colorful street stalls of Peru and the soaring, glittering skyscrapers of Tokyo, we are committed to bringing the worlds most inspiring and distinctive fashion to you.
Eeeek! Looks like this is really happening, folks.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10032373001?isVid=1&publisherID=1612833736
Read their article with a little intro to all of us here.
Here’s what they wrote about me:
“Carly Cais authors the Chic Steals blog out of Portland, Ore. Carly writes about a variety of style topics, including getting designer looks for less, DIY tips and her own outfits.”
I can’t wait to see their take on how I styled the first piece! (A boyfriend vest, in case you all were wondering.;-)
xoxox
Carly
So sorry for the lack of posts…been amazingly busy…plus my son has gotten sick with H1N1, so no one at home’s been a happy trooper lately.
But for those of you who are following the America’s Most Stylish Blogger Competition…or who care particularly…
Item #2 is here! (Will be styled, photographed, and available for voting starting 9 AM EST on Tuesday, November 2 on StyleList.com!)
So what do we think the next item is?
All I can say is…this month’s Challenges must be sponsored over at Bluefly by the letter P.
xoxox
Carly
Just a few pretty photos for a lazy Sunday afternoon…And remember….
Hope you all have had a great weekend!
xoxox
Carly
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.
