Aug 13, 2009 | Fashion
Well, duh. I always disagree with these things…simply because the celebs they feature never really have the face shape their characterized with. Or in another roundup, one who has an “oval” shaped face here has a “heart” shape there…I mean, it’s so arbitrary. Where’s MY face shape?? (i.e., a POLYGON with the forehead and jawline the same width and cheekbones WIDER than the rest of the face. If I dare gain weight, it all goes on my jawline – so my face shape becomes a TRAPEZOID with the jaw widest. And it’s long too, so do I have a “long face”? Compared to what, I might wonder? It’s pretty long compared to a zucchini, but fairly short compared to, oh, I don’t know…Italy.) And do you go by the face-shape as defined by your hairline or by your head??? Well, for those of you who might find this helpful…here ya go – from People StyleWatch Mag.
See??? PO-LY-GON. Get with it,
People!!
Aug 13, 2009 | Fashion
photo from Sea of Shoes
I had never heard of the boutique Bedrock until Jane from Sea of Shoes wrote a post about the boutique and the amazing Japanese brand if six was nine (owned by the Maniac Coporation). (She posted a photo of herself wearing a fabulous one-armed jacket on said post that I was drooling over for quite some time. So since I was in Tokyo I decided to check out the Bedrock boutique in Omotesando Hills. They carry (among other high-end lines) Ann Demulemeester, Givenchy, Rick Owens, LGB (apparently a more affordable Maniac Corporation line, with a plain tank top clocking in at about $80), and of course, the lovely if six was nine. 
(sorry for the poor photos; you can’t take photos inside and this is all that was on their website. This is the antechamber you enter after going down the staircase. You can see the blue squidlike thing covering the light fixture on the left.)
As per Jane’s instructions, I located the Forbidden Fruit Cafe in Omotesando Hills – and passed through the cafe, towards the back door. Bedrock boutique is neither marked with signage or name on the outside, and does not appear in the shop listing for Omotesando Hills West Building. The back doorway from the cafe is also unmarked, and for a brief moment I thought I was heading into their kitchen or something, but the lady behind the counter game me a nod. I descended down a perforated metal spiral staircase to the basement, where a dark antechamber with a girl behind the counter waited. A single blue light on the wall was covered with a translucent jellyfish-like mass of tentacles. Then through a cagelike wrought-iron grate entrance and into Bedrock itself. Rough cement floors, dark and mysterious, it looked something like a cross between a medieval torture chamber and a root cellar. Albeit a bizarre root cellar.
Hanging from the ceiling was a
double-tiered chandelier lamp that looked like cockroaches slowly sliding upwards and upon closer inspection proved to be slowly rotating dark glass ribbons (obviously, I need to get new glasses). There was a skeleton pelvis that sat on a stuffed gilt chair, wearing a single boot on one of its feet. A wrought multi-tiered pillar candle holder below a shrine-like collection of lit crosses and hanging belts. A taxidermied black buffalo head mounted on the wall. A vintage motorcycle was stopped in a corner fronting a huge cactus garden behind triangular panes of glass. Gray leather-padded changing room doors with oversized padlocks and submarine-like portal windows completed the look.
The clothes were amazing – and, for the most part, amazingly unaffordable. (No steals to be had here, I’m afraid.) The goth angle wasn’t ostentatious – but it was definitely there, and each piece was darkly fabulous and fascinating at the same time. I found a Rick Owens gray $1300 jacket, though (not the Autumn ’09 one with the winglike protrusions on the elbows, but a similar cut), and a one-of-a-kind gown for $8000 in a rich purple silk, covered with scraps of lace and hand-sewn sequins.
A black silk dress with black gemstones sewn onto the lacy collar to make scorpions.
A button-down shirt with pewter skulls for buttons.
A beige corset dripping with tatters of lace, knitted streamers, and fabric straps down to the knees.
Bracelets made out of snake vertebrae in a display case.
Platform shoes with heels made out of curlicued wrought iron (perhaps salvaged from a vintage gate?).
Even LGB-branded angora-blend see-thru rib tankdresses (plain, no adornment) were $80. I could also afford an $80 knitted mushroom-shaped black beret (again, nothing unusual or special about it).
A black bag made from an entire baby alligator (minus the tail and legs) the head flopped over the center and serving as the clasp. (PETA would have a field day here, between the buffalo head, fur rugs, and alligator bag, which was, albeit, more than slightly repulsive.)
Chain mail kerchief-shaped necklaces studded with bronze crosses (I’ve seen them in an editorial somewhere but forget the designer).
I couldn’t find the one-armed jacket Jane walked away with, or the beautiful wing-print long tank dress from their website above, but I’m sure either one would be a little out of my reach. Just something to look at and sigh about!
The store is just so flippin’ fabulous you have to go if you’re here! Definitely check it out if you can!
xoxox from Tokyo
Carly
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Aug 11, 2009 | Fashion
(DIY mirror shard necklace, Le Petit Bateau t-shirt, handmade satin bow belt, Spiral Girl tulle skirt, Ruche wedge heels)
Inspired by Alex & Chloe’s Black Cave Necklace from their Tar Collection, I decided to make my own. (I posted the tutorial here.) I mean, who needs mirrored acrylic and a lasercutter when scissors and mirrored plastic will do??
Le Petit Bateau tees fit and feel like a dream. Not quite sure where to buy them retail near me, though. This one was bought in Japan, so the care label’s in Japanese and French. Funny.
I made my own version of the Louis Vuitton Spring 2003 bow belt way, way back when. Mine I made a puffy little stuffed bow and covered button. It has a hidden snap. Tell me, why does Dritz not sell stiff belting material in 1″ widths??? Are they nuts, starting at 1 1/2″???
Spiral Girl tulle skirt that I picked up at the Spiral Girl store in Honolulu. It’s lined in satin, a big plus when it comes to ballerina-esque skirts (which usually aren’t lined). I love that it’s blue, which is kind of unusual.
For this photo, I borrowed the feet of an 80-year-old woman. I thought they would look nice, and Gaussian Blur definitely doesn’t do them justice. These shoes are uber-cute though, and comfortable since the heel isn’t super-high. Unfortunately, ShopRuche doesn’t sell them anymore!!:-(
Whee! And no you can’t see London!
Hope all you lovely ladies (and lone gentleman reader??) are having a great summer!
xoxo
Carly
Aug 9, 2009 | Fashion
I covet. Again. Many, many nice things. Here’s what I’m lusting after right now:
1. An image from the Alice + Olivia Fall 2009 Collection, just hitting Singer 22. I am in love with every piece of clothing on the model. Unfortunately the only thing that’s available as of yet is the Oversized V-Neck Tee with Chain Belt, $154, Singer22.com. Mmmmm, I’d like….4?
2. Alloy Saddle Up Bag ($39.90) in Mint.
3. Wide Metallic Elastic Necklace, $34.99, Girlprops.com. A decent Fiona Paxton lookalike – and you can even add beading/sequins as you so desire.
4. Alice + Olivia Front Sequin Cascade Sleeveless Cardigan in Gray, $300, Singer22.com.
5. Vince Brushstroke Dress, available only at select Saks. I saw this in person, and the fabric looked lightweight and wrinkly…given that it’s Vince, the pricetag probably won’t be worth it. I’m thinking DIY!
6. Cheap Monday Tight Jean in Painted White, $50, Karmaloop.com.
7. Han Cholo Moving Stone Ring in Black, $54.00, Karmaloop.com.
8. Wet Seal Mutli-Pearl Drop Necklace, $9.90, WetSeal.com.
9. Zara boot (img from Karen-wheredidugetthat.blogspot.com). I’ll be hitting up the Harajuku store while I’m there to see if they carry it, and if they don’t (or, more likely, if it’s completely unaffordable), I’ll just DIY it. I’m thinking the 9b. Alloy Ashley Boot in Taupe Suede ($44.90), coupled with 2 skinny studded belts from somewhere (I’m surprised HotTopic doesn’t have them, but still…somewhere’s gotta!). It’ll probably end a pretty good lookalike, and the price will most certainly be better.
10. Sam Edelman boots, currently going for $500-$799 on Ebay. A girl can dream, right? Maybe I’ll snag a pair at one of these stores where apparently it will be sold for about $250 this August. *sigh*
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Aug 7, 2009 | Fashion
Tia Cibani’s Ports 1961 Fall 2009 presentation took guests on an exotic journey to India, set during Mughal Dynasty. The Red Baratt Festival! Dhol ‘n’ brass band performed music derived from traditional Punjabi Bhangra, to which the models strutted, swathed in rich gold, saffron orange, henna red, ruby, begonia pink, sandy beige, moonstone gray, and jasmine white. Long and layered, short and lame – the collection represented the vibrancy of India’s past enhanced by the regal textures of tapestry tweeds, jacquards, brocades, filmy silks, and intricate lace. Offering both her version of the traditional Indian sari and more Western-inspired structured coats, the designer produced some fabulous pieces in her attention to detail: the jeweled collar of a ruffle-hem cropped jacket, for example; the ruby piping between the fingers on the above-elbow tan leather gloves; the gilt buttons down the front of an asymmetrical-closure stewardess dress; soft ballerina-style slippers in muted shades; a black on black seamed Nigella damask dress. Though many garments seemed to be loose-fitting at the waist, merely hinting at the feminine form, they embodied the modesty and grace of the traditional Indian woman by revealing just enough skin to be sexy. However, some of the designer’s interpretation of the Indian influence seemed to be slightly exploitative and what one would imagine “stereotypical;” the hot pink sari, the overly-gilded heavy Achkan coat; and the Angarkha jackets could have been pulled from the costume racks of any Hollywood Indian film. It was when the colors were most muted and tailoring most detailed that the pieces stood out, and even garnered some discussion and nods of approval from front row faces Olivia Palermo, Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, and a whole bevy of Vogue-ettes. The softly loose romantic curls in the hair, the shimmery nude makeup, and the accessories styling of the models was top-notch, though, and helped smooth over the discordant notes to create a collection that, though a bit uneven from start to finish, still felt unified in elegance.
Some photos from
Style.com‘s Marcio Medeira below:
And below, my photo:
Sorry for the Japanese – I sent this crappy photo I took to my MIL to prove Anna Wintour was really there, so I subtitled it for her. Well, we all know who it is!
What do you guys think of the collection?
xoxxo
Carly
Aug 5, 2009 | DIY
Love the necklace. Yes, love. And $45 isn’t really that bad a price. It supports an up-and-coming designer, fosters cottage industry, stimulates the economy, yada yada yada. But, I just happened to have a whole bunch of wooden beads laying around…and some ribbon…and a little paint… So, you guessed it, I DIY’d my own. Sorry Adia! Here’s how…
You will need:
-27 beads in small, medium, and large sizes (I used wood because that’s what I had, and I painted them white, oyster, marigold yellow, and charcoal gray, and then sealed them with gloss Mod-Podge…though in retrospect, spray-painting would have been easier and made the color more uniform)
-2 yd double-face matte ribbon (I had single-faced, and that means that the underside of the necklace is more obvious than if the 2 sides were the same. I also used shiny satin, which I like; the designer version uses matte.)
-thread, same color as your ribbon (I used black and it’s a little obvious)
-fabric glue
-needle
How To:
Start by triple-knotting a double-length of thread onto your needle. Push needle into center of ribbon about 8″ from one end. String on a small bead on the UNDERSIDE of your ribbon. This will create a little hump underneath the ribbon. Push needle into center of ribbon just beyond that bead, and bring to front.
Thread next bead on, and so and so forth, alternating beads. You can also go in and out with the needle a few times to anchor your beginning bead strongly at the the top of the necklace.
Once you’ve added all the beads on, alternating sizes, anchor your last bead in, and knot and cut your thread. Then apply fabric glue to about 1/2″ of the front of the ribbon, right at that thread knot at both the beginning and the end of your threaded beads. Fold ribbon over (we’re trying to disguise that thread, just to explain), press, and allow to set. I also hand-stitched under that fold to make sure it was secure, on both sides.
Cut the ends of your ribbon to the length you want, glue together and then fold over to disguise the ends in a similar manner. Hand-stitch again, to secure.
I really love the design of this – it’s elegant and simple. (Hub says it looks like I’m getting married in Hawaii at a traditional-style wedding….They place a similarly-threaded kukui nut-and-ribbon necklace on the groom instead of a flower lei in some situations. Well, I’m not getting married in Hawaii…we got married in Hawaii!! 5 years ago! Hello??!!…and Hub was not adorned with said kukui nut necklace. Well, now I’ve made him one, apparently – we can have a do-over.)
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 3, 2009 | Life
Just to let all of my lovely readers know, I’m going on vacation to Japan for the next 3 and a half weeks. I’ll be in Tokyo most of the time, and hopefully I’ll be able to post some shopping/cool stuff updates while I’m gone. I probably won’t be able to respond to many comments, but I am checking and keeping this site updated. I’m so thrilled…one of my favorite things to do is to shop and check out new brands and stores, and Tokyo is probably the best place in the world to do that! Can’t wait to let all of you in on the fabulosity that is there!:-)
I hope all of you enjoy the rest of your summers!
-Carly
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Aug 3, 2009 | Score!
The entry period for the ChickDowntown & Chic Steals Wildfox Couture I Dream of Ice Cream T-Shirt is now closed. With 53 entries (but only 46 that correctly followed the entry instructions), this giveaway resulted in more than a few disqualified entries! So sorry to all who entered incorrectly…but reading the entry method instructions is a must! A big THANK YOU! to all of our entrants…so now, without further ado, the winner according to Random.org is:
The winner will be contacted shortly to get shipping information.
Thank you again for entering, sending your friends, and for reading…and we’ll be hosting another giveaway in September, so stay tuned either as a Follower of Chic Steals on our RSS or our Twitter feed!
Congratulations Erica!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 2, 2009 | Fashion
(handmade dress from Dockers men’s shirt, Ebay DIY clutch, DIY silver necklace, jelly flats, Jeans Warehouse sunglasses)Hub says my new hat makes me look like a Columbian druglord (no offense to druglords intended LOL:-). I made this dress out of an old shirt of Said Detractor…I posted the step-by-step tutorial (along with my crappy illustrations) here. The dress has hidden straps that I can wear tied as a halter, tucked down and hidden, or as regular spaghetti straps.
The clutch I bought on Ebay after I had seen a similarly shell-adorned Lulu Guinness clutch (above) at Neiman Marcus…it was on sale for $75 I think, but I didn’t buying it and ended up kicking myself for awhile…so I bought a half-moon straw clutch on Ebay (turned out a little more orange than I expected, haha) and sewed on some little conch shells and added a raffia tie to the zipper pull, as well as some raffia braid around the edge of the bag. I kind of like how it turned out, even though it is Oompa-Loompa-colored!! LOL.
The necklace I’m wearing is my DIY version of the
Elsa Peretti Tiffany Bean Necklace…I couldn’t justify spending the $95 for the real one (I am such a cheapskate!!) so I formed one out of Art Clay Silver and fired it. (If you haven’t heard of
Art Clay Silver, it’s the precursor to Precious Metal Clay that’s available more widely in the U.S…you can mold it like clay but then when you fire it over a gas burner or with a little creme brulee kitchen torch (or in a mini-kiln…sure we all have one of those, don’t we???) the paper binder and water is burned off and you’re left with 99.7% pure silver. So you can make pendants, silver components for jewelry, rings, and even small sculptures. It’s really easy to work with and the results are beautiful. Gordon K. Uyehara is an Art Clay Silver artist I adore (happens to be from Hawaii); his work is spectacular – you can view it
at this link if you’re interested. If you guys are interested in the DIY tutorial for ACS stuff, I’ll definitely put it up, just let me know!
And remember jelly flats? I has a pair of them when I was 7 that I wore for 3 months straight until they literally fell to pieces. Well they’ve come back in style again, and some brands are offering styles for adults…so I opted for this spiderwebby-looking pair (that was $7 from my local Fred Meyer – shhh! Don’t tell anyone:-) They’re the spitting image of the
Melissa Compana Corallo Jelly Ballet Flats (sold at Saks 5th for $60 hahaha)…and they’re so cheap they don’t even have a brand imprinted on their soles. Love at first sight!
xoxox
Carly J. Cais
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Aug 1, 2009 | DIY
Get This Tutorial As a PDF
This tutorial has been updated, and is now available as a full step-by-step with photos in my new book 7 DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers, part of the DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers System. Download this tutorial for free, below.
OR 2 Days to Make the DIY Dress from a Shirt; 4 Weeks to Write the Tutorial…
Isn’t that how it always is, for goodness’ sakes??
This is a DIY dress made from a chambray shirt by
Urban Renewal, a division of Urban Outfitters that refashions clothing into salable, new pieces. What a great idea! I came across it on
Outsapop.com, who didn’t seem to think much of the design. It really appealed to me as a cute summer dress, and I really wanted one too!
I found a men’s striped Dockers work shirt to play with – which gave me some great raw material for this project. If you have a guy in your life who’s parting with any of his button-down shirts (or you feel like thrifting one for cheap at the local Goodwill), you can DIY your own dress from a men’s shirt easily!
HOW TO MAKE A DIY DRESS FROM A MEN’S SHIRT
Note 5/2020: This tutorial has needed a major overhaul since I’d originally posted it way back in 2009. I’ve refined making this dress in the years since, so the step-by-step is much quicker, easier, and results in a perfect dress that will stand the test of time (and multiple washings in the washing machine!) You can now get this dress for free (no obligation) in PDF format by clicking below. Thanks!
Get This Tutorial As a PDF
This tutorial has been updated, and is now available as a full step-by-step with photos in my new book 7 DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers, part of the DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers System. Download this tutorial for free, below.
Plus, I made some accessories from the leftover shirt fabric, but that’s definitely, definitely another post! Hope you have as much fun making your dress as I did!
Enjoy your summer!
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