Jun 22, 2009 | Fashion
So, with my last post on that DIY skully cutout tee I forgot to post the photo of the original Barak shirt. Well here it is below, in all its glory, straight out of one of my “inspiration collages:”
(clockwise in a tightening spiral, from top left: E.Y. Wada handpainted top, Saya Hibino ring and Sydney Evan bird necklace, Stella McCartney silk dress, Chloe tank, Sportmax tank, Richard Chai tank dress, I forgot striped dress, Barak cutout skull tee, Sweetface by Jennifer Lopez dress, I forgot handbag, Calma rhinestone top, JLo by Jennifer Lopez red top, Miguelina halter top, I forget leather belt, Pretty Little Thing heart neacklace)
I cut out and save every single photo I see in a magazine that features a product/accessory/article of clothing that I am in love with -whether it’s just “oh that’s so cool!” or if it provokes me to start thinking design-wise in a new direction or come up with an idea, or if I just want to DIY it myself. (Okay, I’m completely insane. I’ve been doing it since, oh, 1998, and I’ve lugged my ten-pound box of cutouts from Japan, to Philadelphia, to Honolulu, and now, here to settle in Portland, OR…at least for the time being *smirk*) I’ve become a really good rip-off artist, I must admit – thanks to my vast collection of inspiration! *sheepishly evil laugh* The majority of my photos in the collages come from Lucky (my English bible) and Vivi (my Japanese bible), along with smatterings of whatever I feel is cool and interesting…and what I have a subscription to (usually U.S. Vogue, InStyle, Marie Claire, S-Cawaii, JJ, CanCam, AneCan, and GLAMOROUS…I refuse to cut up my Goth-Loli mags). The photos may be kind of dated, but anyway I keep going back to the collages again when I feel all “designed-out,” and just want to look at some pretty pictures. And when I want another idea for a quick and easy DIY.
(clockwise, from upper left in a tightening spiral: Bing Bang chain necklace, Gilfy slit up shirts, Gilfy weird English shirts with my own notes, Turtle eyelet tank, Co-Existance shredded sweater-dress (I am soooo scouring Goodwill for a similar sweater to sacrifice!!), Mint silk chiffon tunic, I forgot studded skull tee)
Do any of you have a go-to source for inspiration – something that gets the creative juices flowing?
Jun 20, 2009 | DIY
I’ve been hankering after a cutout skull tee since I saw some in last year’s S-Cawaii Magazine [Japanese] from the brand Barak (nothing to do with Prez Obama, I assure you). Trendy Tokyo girls wearing pastel-colored lightweight tees with skull-shaped cutouts over striped tees? Lovely!
(And ironically, Childhood Flames posted her own DIY cutout skull tee inspired by a Pleasure Principle shirt a few months later that had the blogosphere all agog.) How did I go about making mine? (Okay, I know, it’s kind self-explanatory, but…keep reading…)
Regardless of who was first and all that rubbish (likely Barak ripped it off from Pleasure Principle, though they probably took it from the cutout skully tees from the 80’s that just about every hair metal band had back then…), I decided to make my own Barak-style tee, with two el cheapo tees from Target (the striped one, incidentally, is not sewn from striped fabric…the fabric was actually screenprinted with a striped pattern and then sewn together. Like that was cheaper for the manufacturers than actually sourcing a black-and-white stretch striped fabric. Sheesh.) Though I’m technically a Medium, I bought a large for my skully tee, so it will be loose enough to drape over the second layer. Here is the skull that I drew for my pattern:
If you’d like to use these drawings as a pattern for your own T-shirt, right-click on each above [or control-click if you don’t have a 2-button mouse] to save each drawing, and print out landscape format on TWO 8.5″ x 11″ pieces of paper. Alternatively, you can just print out the entire PDF pattern + instructions here.
Line up each paper under your tissue-wight tee…
…trace the outlines lightly with sewing chalk or a fabric pen…
…and cut with fabric scissors!
Couldn’t be easier!
I also tried layering the Skully Tee over a black t-shirt for a more Gothic look, and a white tank for a summery ensemble. You could also try with just a bra if you’re daring!
Have fun cutting and slicing, and Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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Jun 18, 2009 | Fashion
Now, hip-hop style is probably as far from my personal style as one could get…but once I saw these fabulously outrageous (sun?)glasses from StevieBoi I totally wish I could rock these styles out… starting at $15 on StevieBoi.com. I’d be willing to don a dark hoodie, (re-)pierce my tongue, wrap myself in a stuffed hologram snake necklace…
Okay, maybe not. As seen in Q Magazine, Obvious Magazine, and Vibe & Gutter Magazine.
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Jun 16, 2009 | DIY, Media
Ever since candy-colored ombre tights strolled down the Lacroix Spring 2008 Couture runway (top left; bottom right), the fashion blogosphere has been atwitter: check out Fashionista’s DIY ombre tights tutorial; BrightestYoungThings; Nelliina (in Finnish, but gorgeous pix!); BurdaStyle’s how-to; and The Coveted. Tie-dye’s sophisticated older sister has also proved a fun and fresh way to upgrade summer whites and chic solids.
However, the gradient- or dip-dying process is so labor intensive that the pricetags can be less than breezy, which is why you might want to save some cash and try doing it yourself.
Ready? Here’s what you’ll need to know:
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT ITEM TO DYE For your first attempt, keep it simple by choosing something white. The fabrics that best take dye are natural: 100% cotton, linen, rayon, wool, and silk. At the very least, make sure the fabric content includes at least 50% of one of these dyeable fibers, and avoid the following: anything 100% polyester, acrylic, or labeled “COLD WATER WASH” OR “DRY CLEAN ONLY”.
2. PROPER PREPARATION It’s important to get rid of any stains or surface dirt, so be sure to pre-wash – however, there’s no need to dry it. Fill up a tub large enough to accommodate whatever you’re dying; follow the dye instructions to determine if the water should be cold, warm, or hot. Wet the article of clothing thoroughly, and wring out any excess water. And lest you want ombre’d hands, don’t forget to put on gloves!
3. CHOOSE YOUR OMBRE EFFECT For white-to-color, create two variations on a single color – eg. light green and dark green – and pour into two separate dyebaths. Take the top part of your garment that is to remain undyed, and clip to a plastic clothes hanger. Dip the end of your item in the lighter color, submerging 2/3 into the dyebath; swish back and forth for 2-10 minutes, depending on how dark you want the lighter color to be (remember: colors look darker when wet!). Then submerge 2/3 of the dyed section into the darker color. Alternatively, set up three dyebaths containing three variations of the same color, and dip in the same order: 1. Light; 2. Medium; 3. Dark. For example, start with Evening Blue (your Light color), then dip 2/3 of the Evening Blue section in Royal Blue (Medium), and finally, dip 2/3 of the Royal Blue section in Navy (Dark). As you dip, let gravity help with blending the colors. To use more than a single color, choose colors that, when mixed, create a pretty third color – for example, yellow and pink mix together to create coral. First dip 2/3 of the garment in Color #1, then turn it upside down and dip 2/3 of it into Color #2 – the overlapped 1/3 will automatically create Color #3 (in the center). For a Diane von Furstenberg inspired look (top runway photo, bottom left), try yellow, pink, and dark orange. Dip-dye 1/3 of the garment with Color #1. Turn it upside down, and dip 2/3 into Color #2. Re-dip the bottom 1/3 in the darkest color #3. The result: 3 separate colors, fading artfully into one another.
4. RINSE Rinse according to the dye instructions, starting from the undyed or lightly-dyed section in the direction you want the dye to concentrate. For 2- or 3- color dye jobs, keep the garment horizontal to the faucet and spray water on the surface instead.
5. MAKE IT PERMANENT Dry according to the dye package instructions, and the next time you wash your item, prevent any dye bleeding onto the rest of your laundry by washing in cold water – or, even better, hand-washing.
HELPFUL HINTS Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out this quirky Ombre Dying Video from EdiesFashionFactory. Dig good ole’ paper? Dyes & Paints: A Hands-On Guide to Coloring Fabric
is one of the most comprehensive guides on fabric dyeing and painting techniques. (Finally, a solution on how to spruce up that old t-shirt in the back of your closet!) Additionally, the RIT Dye website features yet more dyeing tips, tricks, and answers to common questions.
Still have questions? Email me at CarlyJCais AT FashionTribes.com. Otherwise, happy DIY-ing!
– Carly J. Cais
(photos: runway top left – Lacroix Couture Spring 2008; top right – Burberry Prorsum; bottom left: DVF; bottom right – Lacroix Couture; all Style.com; Ombre how-to demos – all Edie’s Fashion Factory)
(originally posted on FashionTribes.com)
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Jun 14, 2009 | DIY, Fashion
Jersey Dress with Rhinestone Trim, Pearls, and Chiffon Edging:
handmade by me
Ripped Tights: DIY
Zipper Necklace: YKK
Necklace, cuff, and bracelets: Claire’s
Stone Cuff: White House/Black Market
Bronze Boxing Glove Handbag with Gold Tooth: LOOP
Charcoal Combat Boots: Dr. Martins
This dress was inspired by one I saw Lindsay Lohan wearing in an issue of Marie Claire (2003? memory fails…) True to form, I also completely forgot the designer of the dress, but fell in love with it regardless. (Can anyone help me out?)
The photo I ripped out of the Marie Claire mag several years ago.
So, true to form, I decided to make one myself. 6 years later, it’s finally done! (Actually, I only started making it in earnest about a year ago, then kind of slowed down once I got to the chiffon trim on the sleeve openings – I tried raw-edged chiffon, but it fell apart, and I was feeling somewhat hopeless until I found some chiffon trim at Jo-Ann Fabrics.) I sewed every single pearl and the rhinestone trim on by hand. After many countless hours of late-night TV sewing (thank you Whatever Martha! and Gossip Girl) I realized it was a little too short for my comfort, and so added a little of the chiffon trim to the bottom. 
I also added side panels of fabric to prevent bra showage etc.
A close-up of the detail on the dress. The zipper-style necklace I received when I was in New York covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for FashionTribes.com– I had to display my press pass on the necklace – which even zips up, just as a YKK zipper should!
This
Loop bag is the coolest thing…I mean, who else would make a bronze bag shaped like a boxing glove?? It even has a chunky gold tooth attached to it.
DIY Ripped Tights tutorial here! (Though I’m sure you need no help ripping your tights, LOL;-)
xoxo
Carly
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Jun 10, 2009 | Fashion
For lovers of the cherry-red soles of iconic Louboutins – or for those wanting to jazz up your old pumps with your choice of colored sole – score some leather paint at your local craft store (or online at Caningshop.com) – Angelus is the recommended brand – and paint the soles of your shoes! Don’t forget to mask the parts you don’t want to paint with painter’s tape and apply carefully…the paint will rub off with wear but is easy to apply. Use acetone to remove any bloopers. Seal your work with a coat of Angelus Matte Acryic Finisher. Since you’ll be walking on it, the paint will eventually wear away, but at least the visible part will remain cherry-red for as long as you want them to.
*Above, CharlotteRusse Patent Pumps, $22.99 (Buy one get one for $10!)
*Christian Louboutin Simple Pump, normally retails for $790, avail. for $474 here.
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Jun 9, 2009 | Fashion
And What About the Winners of Project Runway from Past Seasons? (Seasons 4 & 5)
CHRISTIAN SIRANO
The tiny Salon packed to the gills; Tori Spelling causing a media stampede as she arrived and then the doors being closed to all media thereafter; our “Priority Standing” designation meaning “Standing Way at the Back Unable to See a Thing;” the Countess LuAnn de Lesseps from “The Real Housewives of New York City” in the front row– it could be none other than the Christian Siriano Fall 2009 Runway Show at New York Fashion Week – equal parts kitsch and fab.
(More after the jump…)
With strong shoulders and even stronger sleeves in a collection dominated by shiny fabrics, Christian Siriano’s designs stormed the palace in their characteristically fierce manner. Inspired by Ancient Egypt, the fabrics consisted mostly of browns, golds, and beiges, highlighted by some turquoise pieces near the end of the presentation. Though the drapey sleeves on many pieces were innovative and the skirt pleating felt current; the brown and beige color palette was unusual for a designer known for his partiality to black, white, and gray accented with punchy pops of color, and the shoe and bag collection, designed for Payless, seemed bulky and a little dated. There were two turquoise gowns near the close that were showstoppers in and of themselves – but taken as a whole the collection felt a mis-step for the young designer, and the squashy hats and gold beaded bangs on the models, well, just plain silly. But it was definitely Fashion with a capital F; and judging by the strong retail buying presence in the front row at the show, likely to be seen on the racks at upscale retail locations this coming Fall. See the full collection here.
(Runway photos, Thomas Concordia, Wire Image; Christian Siriano and Tori Spelling photo, Brian Arch, Wire Image)
LEANNE MARSHALL
The capsule collection recent Project Runway winner Leanne Marshall had toiled away on (for three weeks prior to the show, no less) consisted of nine elegantly-detailed pieces, presented in a small gallery space some 5 blocks from Bryant Park on Thursday night. Though she had originally aimed to present twelve, due to time constraints she “decided that it would be far worse to show quantity over quality and decided to cut some.” (As written on her blog, petalsandwaves.blogspot.com.) Despite the short amount of time in which she produced the pieces, the collection, inspired by her recent move to New York from Portland, Oregon, looked reasonably polished and presentable (though upon closer inspection a few crooked seams and bulky junctures detracted from the beauty of the pieces). Taking inspiration from the angular and detailed skyline of New York City, she grounded her pieces in dark neutrals, purple, and gold. Of particular note was a one-shouldered drapey black gown with sweetheart bust, a luxurious dove grey princess-hemmed swing coat with extra pleating at the closure, and a jagged skirt made of dozens of vertical tiers in different shades of purple. The dresses especially felt fashion-forward and unique, hardly the same-old, same-old that dominated many runway shows at the tents this season. Perhaps with more time and better fabric choices (and better styling – we won’t mention the hideous bedhead and distracting shiny skin of the models) she will be able to hit one out of the park on par with her final Project Runway collection. See the full collection here.
(all photos Carly J. Cais for FashionTribes.com)
-Carly J. Cais
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Jun 7, 2009 | DIY
(photos: elle.com)
So I posted about these Junko-Watanabe flower-basket-like confections on FashionTribes.com quite a while ago….
And I wanted to post photos and a how-to for what I made, inspired by said flowery things.
Everything’s coming up flowers in the garden…the rhododendrons are beginning to drop…I have a mutant foxglove that’s like 9 feet tall…my rosebushes are slowly succumbing to rose-slugs….but whatcha gonna do. I made these for my feet in-between all the yardwork – and they’re completely maintenance-free.
Here’s how I did it: (sorry for no step-by-step photos; I figured it was self-explanatory;-)
1. To get the look, pick up some inexpensive nude wedge sandals (try Payless, Go Jane, Target, Dorothy Perkins, Charlotte Russe, Topshop) with an earthy or natural vibe such as bamboo or jute espadrille. (Mine are very similar to what I think was I think a Gucci style from like 2003…remember that bamboo heel? Well, they’re TwoLips, and the heel is plastic, so to make it look more bamboo-y, I drew little vertical lines on the heels with my Sharpie. I just love the result!)
2. Using faux flowers from the craft store (Michael’s or Jo-Ann Fabrics, where I grabbed a bunch of morning glories for $2.99), cut and attach to the undersides of the straps and twine them around the heels, affixing with a glue gun.
3. Keep the flower stems from rubbing on the inside of your straps with a strip of moleskin.
4. To prevent unraveling (cuz that’s a lot of strain in a flower stalk that’s technically not supposed to be bent that much!), secure by wrapping the heels with green floral wire here and there (which I realized I forgot to do *before* I took the photo, hello!).
For maximum impact, wear with a breezy frock or sassy short shorts…or a flowered frock for total floral overload!!
Easy, breezy, Springy, and totally chic! What do you think?
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxo
Carly
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Jun 5, 2009 | Fashion
I always love to see what other bloggers/fashion mavens out there have on their wish lists. It’s inspirational to me and really introduces me to a lot of brands I may not hear about otherwise. Here’s my list, for those who care.
(from left: Studded Necklush from Urban Outfitters, Wet Seal Side-cut leggings)
And there’s more, after the jump…
(from left: 12-point star shoe clips found on Outsapop, Jacqueline Sanchez Diamond ForeverYoung Ring No. 2 from Shanalogic.com, Watermelon Barette from GoldilocksBarrettes on Etsy.com)
(from left: fabulous suspender-back jacket from EKO-LAB, Studded Jacket DIY from FourEyedFun, Pleasure Principle Multi-Option Dress found on childhood flames (okay, so I’m unoriginal), Litter‘s shoe chains (love love loving the top pair))
(from left: Queen Michelle’s drapery pull necklace from Kingdom of Style, Fringed Necklace from Kristin (BLEACHBLACK)’s tutorial on LuckyMag.com, Fiona Paxton Beaded Necklace, $288 (note to self: must find way of DIY’ing this without having to sew every little bitty bead on there else it will make me crazy), Candace Ang Ruffled Necklace…DIY tutorial here)
DIY Elastic Bralette from DustyDress
(from left: Horsehead Dress from EKO-LAB, DIY Ombre Jeans from Nelliina (DIY ombre post forthcoming from me on FashionTribes.com!), Satin Badge from Etsy.com (I think))
(from left: Bronx Shoes…drooooool. Why oh why don’t you sell these in the U.S.??? (only the tall beige cutout boots are available for a mere $175 from Amazon.com); photo from Nelliina, Marc Jacobs Zipper Bow Cuff (I’ll be adding the DIY tutorial to my site once I’m done editing the step-by-step photos); photo from Vogue mag cover scan)
(from left: Gypsy05 Lola Long Sleeve in Black/Cream….$93, KrishaBana Triple Spike Earrings from Karmaloop.com)
I’m planning tons and tons of DIY’s for all this since either the real thing is no longer available or is not affordable for me right now!
The items above that are still available on their respective sites I’ve linked to directly; most aren’t anymore, so I just linked to the site homepage. Most of these are images from my compu
ter, so if I haven’t credited you properly, it’s more the fault of my memory than anything intentional. Let me know and I’ll fix the link!
Thank you!
-Carly J. Cais
Jun 3, 2009 | Fashion, Media
Friday the 13th of February saw the Academy of Art University present 6 outstanding student collections at the Bryant Park tents. “This season it’s all about collaborations: we want to prepare these young designers to go into the industry,” said Ian MacKintosh, Academy of Arts University In-House Public Relations. [Once in the industry] “they’re not going to be working by themselves; they’re not an island, they are working as a team in a design team atmosphere; they’re learning how to share ideas, morph ideas, and take ideas further.” Four of the six shows were the product of collaborative efforts between a textile designer and a fashion designer, where the concept for the clothing was devised between the two, and the textile designer then created the fabrics the fashion designer used to construct the garments. With such a melding of upcoming raw talent, the variety and innovation of the looks was both astounding and inspiring.
Heather Howard and Cat Janky showcased a collection (pictured above)
in a muted palette of grays, navies, pale denim blues, browns, and beiges; utilizing about 20% eco-friendly fabrics, and referencing a historical early 1900’s-silhouette with exaggerated lengths, longer waists, and mini collars. Textile designer Janky overdyed many of the fabrics and then printed them using silkscreening, pigment discharge and burnout techniques. Sketches of historical faces, ghostly pine trees, and antiqued plaid lent a vintage and aged feel.
(above, Sam Francis artwork, AllPosters.com; some looks from the runway show)
I-Shan Lou and Myoung Hee Kim created standout pieces by knitting shapes in angora wool and bonding rice-paper and chiffons printed with bold splashes of color onto them, a la Sam Francis and his abstract, splashy paintings in bright hues. Paired with black and white checkered leggings, the models exuded an 80’s feel, and the oversized knitted sweaterdresses and jackets seemed the perfect toppers for the artsy, fashion-forward gal.
(above, Leslie Shows’ artwork from jackhanley.com; some looks from the runway show)
Emily Melville and Ivaka Georgieva produced structured dresses with ethereal marble-like prints that could easily have found their way onto the pages of Vogue. Wool coats and dresses took on unconventional forms through unusual pleating and construction techniques; inspired by the work of landscape artist Leslie Shows the pieces were printed in sinewy grays, thin streaks of coral, and undulating beiges. The fluid colors graced hems and sides; the overall effect was ladylike and delicate.
The Britex Fabric Project showcased the work of a number of different students who used donated Britex fabrics to create paperbag-waisted pants and wool crepe dresses.
We also saw student Qianya Martin produce a collection of knitwear interspersed with sheer paneling; inspired by the tide pools and sand of Agate Beach in Bolinas, CA. She created a 60’s silhouette using sculptural knitting techniques, boning, invisible thread, and 3D shaping to fashion volumionous coats an zebra-like dresses in stripes of black and tan, with sheer fabrics in between. “I want people to have an appreciation for what’s beautiful already,” she said. “When we walk down the street, everything we see can have beauty in it, and I tend to live my life like that.”
Finally, student Scott McFarland showed a menswear collection dominated by textural, puffy sweaters with pink and gray diamond patterns woven into the yarns. Art Deco played a significant role in his inspiration for the collection, and he paired the pastel gray and cream hues with loose thermal underwear leggings and knitted accessories. Shape and 3D detailing stood out – though the color palette may have been not masculine enough (read: too fashion-forward) for some.
Overall the AAU show started New York Fashion Week off on an innovative, fresh foot – and any environment that fosters such creativity and forward-thinking while remaining grounded in the realities of surviving in this business – is to be celebrated. We look forward to what these talented designers will move on to in the future.
-Carly J. Cais
All runway photos by Scott Gries, Getty Images for IMG.
As posted by me on FashionTribes.com
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Ever since candy-colored ombre tights strolled down the Lacroix Spring 2008 Couture runway (top left; bottom right), the fashion blogosphere has been atwitter: check out Fashionista’s DIY ombre tights tutorial; BrightestYoungThings; Nelliina (in Finnish, but gorgeous pix!); BurdaStyle’s how-to; and The Coveted. Tie-dye’s sophisticated older sister has also proved a fun and fresh way to upgrade summer whites and chic solids.
HELPFUL HINTS Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out this quirky Ombre Dying Video from EdiesFashionFactory. Dig good ole’ paper? Dyes & Paints: A Hands-On Guide to Coloring Fabric
