Jan 24, 2014 | Life
Bright, saturated colors and pretty pastels are dominating Spring trends for 2014. But after a few wears and washes, color fades, stains proliferate, and suddenly your beautiful pieces no longer have the same original luster. (There’s nothing less chic than old, faded, dingy-looking outfits.) How do you keep your clothing in the same chic condition as when it was new?
It’s actually quite easy to keep your favorite items bright and beautiful with an ounce of prevention. Clorox 2® Stain Fighter & Color Booster Packs use the power of hydrogen peroxide-not bleach-to keep colors looking vibrant with every wash. To keep your colored clothing looking bright long past its first wear:
- Add 1 pack of Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster per load of laundry. (For large or extra-dirty loads use 2 packs.)
- Then add your favorite detergent and launder as usual!
- Before sticking your clothes in the dryer, make sure there are no remaining stains (since heat-drying can make stains permanent). If there are any stains…
The Clorox2® Pre-treat Stain Remover Pen helps to pre-treat and eradicate stains in an easy pen-like applicator. Here’s how:
- For tough stains, like wine coffee and grass, be sure to pre-treat. First, remove the garment: do not treat clothing while wearing it.
- Remove all loose dirt from the fabric and blot wet stains with a clean absorbent cloth.
- Squeeze the pen and apply liberally onto stain. Rub it in with the pen tip to cover the stain completely and replace cap when done.
- Wait 10 minutes, and then wash immediately with an all- or mostly all-colors load.
Whether you’re at home or on the go, the Clorox® myStain™ App for iPhone, iPad, and Android can give you tips and tricks to remove tough stains if you find yourself in a bind. (It’s always deodorant stains or chocolate stains that confound me!) I also want to make sure that every penny I sink into a clothing purchase, or time spent in a DIY, is worth it in the long run and that I can get a ton of use out of every piece in my wardrobe. How to keep items in your closet and in regular rotation as long as possible? Prevent color fading, and attack stains as soon as they occur!
Do you have any strategies for keeping your clothes clean and stain-free?
xo
Carly
App image source
FTC Disclosure: I received a cardigan, a Clorox Stain Remover Pen, and Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster Pack for review purposes from Clorox. I have received no monetary compensation for this post. The above opinions are my own. To read my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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Jan 23, 2014 | Fashion
80’s-style Triangle Rhinestone Earrings:
DIY (
tutorial here).
Perfect-Fit Mixed-Tape Cardigan: J. Crew c/o Clorox. Illusion Triangle Rhinestone Necklace: so old I forgot. They don’t make them like this anymore! Ruffle-Hem Camisole: YesStyle, similar
here. Rings: H&M, mocha. Mirror-Print Flowered Pencil Skirt: Target (old), similar
here. Platform Cone-Heel Ombre Pumps: Spiral Girl (old), similar
here.
Inspired by my playing around yesterday with the Pantone Colors for Spring 2014, I put together my outfit today based on my three favorites: Hemlock [Pantone 15-6114], Placid Blue [Pantone 15-3920], and Radiant Orchid [Pantone 18-3224] (the Color of the Year for 2014!) (more…)
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Jan 22, 2014 | Fashion
For Spring 2014 Pantone has released their Color Fashion Report for Women, using pastels with punchy brights inspired by blooming flowers and international travel.
This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium. While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations.
-Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute®.
So to kick things off for this season I’ve put together a little wishlist inspired by these lovely hues. Which is your favorite? Will you go bold with Dazzling Blue and Freesia? Or pretty pastel with Placid Blue and Radiant Orchid?
Placid Blue: Personal Cropped Light Blue Sweater, $65 / Violet Tulip: Chic of Nature Lavender Bodycon Dress, $40
Hemlock: Retro Rosie Earrings, $7.99 / Paloma: Arrows Infinity Scarf, $32
Sand: Leather Wedge Knee Boots, $151.99 / Freesia: Coast Kingston Stone Set Necklace, $64.82
Cayenne: Fringe Necklace, $65 / Celosia Orange: Across 14th Street Shoulder Bag
, $48
Radiant Orchid: Dual Tone Purple Skirt Set, $12.99 / Dazzling Blue: A Wear Drop Waist Frill Hem Dress, $79.63
I can’t wait to start mixing these colors into my Spring wardrobe!
How about you: what Pantone Spring 2014 color speaks to you ?
xo
Carly
Pantone Trend Report image source
*This post contains affiliate links. For my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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Jan 21, 2014 | DIY
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Gradually I’m going to be adding these Must-Have Tools for DIY lists for my DIY Resources page, and the first one I’d like to share is this one. I’ve been making a number of jewelry projects lately, both for my WeHeartThis guest posts and for my own blog (like the Free People Wrapped Quartz Bangles, Anthropologie Beaded Tassel Necklace, and the 80’s-Style Acrylic Triangle Rhinestone Earrings). For these and all the other projects I’ve been making since I started crafting jewelry many, many years ago, I find myself reaching for the same tools repeatedly. Here is my recommended list of really great tools for DIY Jewelry Projects:
1. Chain Nose Pliers with Side Cutter
A MUST when working with wire, chain, or even soft metal sheet (to be used in a pinch!), wire-cutters are an essential tool to jewelry-making. Mine do double-duty with their half-round (also called “chain nose”) ends, for when I need to use them to grip, and not cut, things.
2. Round Nose Pliers
For making loops in headpins and eyepins you need a perfectly-round pair of pliers. I put off buying these for a long time, reasoning that I already had a pair of half-round pliers: wouldn’t they do? (And I always wondered why the loops in my jewelry were so lopsided and squashed-looking.) If you need to string anything on a headpin or eyepin, and connect it to anything – get these pliers, you’ll thank yourself for them!
3. Jump Ring Tool
Where would I be without my jump ring tool? This saves me so much time and fiddling with two sets of pliers (though low-gauge jump rings or steel cable chain will require the double set for torque).
4. Beacon Dazzle-Tac Jewelry Glue
I prefer this over any other jewelry adhesive out there – and was so thrilled to have discovered this a few years ago. Technically it’s a flexible adhesive, but is far stronger than the ubiquitous E6000, and much more spreadable and viscous, with a slightly longer drying time. I haven’t had a tube’s contents dry out after opening and using it once (unlike E6000, which, no matter how tightly I close the cap, dries out completely within a couple uses). Even in projects where it’s recommended to use G-S Hypo Cement, I use DazzleTac instead, since I find cryanoacrylates (like Hypo Cement or Crazy Glue), tend to dry very brittle, chalky, and eventually crack. My hands-down MUST-HAVE adhesive for any metal-metal, metal-plastic, plastic-plastic project!
5. Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic Repair Adhesive
For mixed-media jewelry projects, or projects involving leather, suede, or vinyl, LocTite cannot be beat. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it holds super-well on all projects requiring a flexible adhesive. I also use this on foam and fabric pieces, though if trying to adhere metal or plastic items to foam or fabric, I will use DazzleTac.
6. Sunshine Polishing Cloths
An excellent tarnish remover for a variety of materials, these can make anything I’ve worked on look brand-new again! They work on all precious metals, brass, copper, chrome, wood, ceramic, hard plastic and glass.
7. Mod Podge Gloss Finish
When sealing my mixed-media or painted projects, I tend to use this formulation of Mod Podge over any other: it imparts a glossy, finished look to every piece. I also have recently discovered Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
, which is even thicker and glossier, and does not require multiple coats. My new love!
8. Curved Nail Scissors
Though scissors are a tool that of course is necessary to many projects, I find myself using these tiny, sharp, curved nail scissors the most. They get into small areas easily, are razor-sharp, and the pointed ends are great for piercing materials. (Make sure you find the kind where the center screw is a real screw and not just a rivet so you can re-tighten them over time!)
9. Dritz Fray Check
Necessary for daubing on the ends of silk thread, cord, rope, or other stringing materials to prevent fraying. If you’re working with synthetic stringing materials, you can also heat-seal raw ends by holding near an open flame.
10. Multisizer Ring Tool
This is a lifesaver when it comes to creating rings and sizing them properly. If you make a lot of rings (in different sizes), I’d also recommend a mandrel to help size your finished creations accurately.
11. Gauge Chart for Jump Rings
This is very helpful when determining the design of a piece, or labeling jump rings I have floating around. Click here to download and print the chart actual size.
12. Small Plastic Sealable Bags
I use these for sorting and keeping beads and findings separate from one another. So much better and more affordable than Ziplock!
xo
Carly
*This post contains affiliate links. For my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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Jan 16, 2014 | DIY
Hello again, friends! I just couldn’t wait to share this chic and easy bangle bracelet project with all of you.
I am always drawn to rough, organic crystals and gemstones rather than perfectly-faceted pieces, and much of the jewelry available at Free People satisfies that sparkle-lust. I fell in love with this Crystal Flame Cuff by Vega Jewelry, but the $258 price tag was much more than I could afford. I realized I could easily make the same kind of look for a steal – hence this project. (And it’s so, so quick to whip up!!) Here’s how I made my newest FAVORITE bracelet:
You Need*: (more…)
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Jan 15, 2014 | Media
The folks over at Laurence King Publishing generously sent me a copy of one of their latest books: Bag: The Ultimate Fashion Accessory by Sue Huey and Susie Draffman. It’s an absolutely gorgeous coffee table book in a pleasing mini size (so that it incidentally actually fits in your bag! ;-). The bag on the cover appears to be heat-embossed so the quilting seems to jump of the page; that and the gold foiling would make it beautiful just sitting out for all to see.
Inside the 208-page book are sumptuous, high-fashion photographs of the world’s most iconic bags. Chanel, Celine, Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Hermes, Jamin Puech: they’re all there, accompanied by quotes and insights about the designers and the arm candy itself.
In addition there are interviews with the designers and design sketches: one of my favorite behind-the-scenes things to see that really brings the bags to life and conveys the designers’ intentions.
The book, though not exhaustive on the history of the handbag (and notably missing a mention of some other iconic brands like Prada and Furla for instance), is a fun and fashionable romp through some of the best accessories out there. If you’re looking for a small addition to your fashion library or coffee table book collection, I’d highly recommend this (if not solely for the chic Chanel piece on the cover!)
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I was provided 1 copy of Bag: The Ultimate Fashion Accessory for review purposes from Laurence King Publishing. The above opinions are my own. To read my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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Jan 14, 2014 | Fashion, Life
With Winter still lingering and the high-necked and turtleneck top still on-trend, I came across this helpful photo from ShopBop. I’m always at a loss when it comes to how to style these things, and I love how clearly it’s all laid out.
How about you – how would YOU style a high-necked top?
xo
Carly
Image source
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Jan 10, 2014 | Fashion
My dear friend Lex Casciato, AKA Little Warrior, is an amazing musician and up-and-coming tour de force in the world of music. She is a regular contributor to Chic Steals, curating monthly original playlists for your to stream on Spotify, add some background music to your space, mellow out to, listen to while working on your latest DIY project, and add a little music into your life.
Here’s what she says about this month’s playlist:
You have to start a new year off right, that’s why we make resolutions, create goals, and think positive for the future. So this month I bring you my “pretty” playlist. The songs on this playlist are meant to touch the soul and make you feel all warm inside – starting your new year off with beautiful beats, lovely lyrics, and pretty vocals. Anytime you feel doubt or stress starting to creep into your big dreams, put on this playlist, and remember that every day, you are getting closer to your wildest dreams. Dream on and play on, Little Warrior.
<3 Little Warrior
Listen and enjoy!
What do you guys think of the playlists? We’d love your feedback in the comments!!
If you missed last month’s playlist, check it out here:
xo
Carly
Described as Portishead and Oh Land meet David Bowie and the Chemical Brothers around a campfire with a drum machine, Little Warrior‘s music advocates peaceful revolution and equality for all. Active on social media, she posts inspirational quotes and upbeat ideas, spreading positivity through images and music.Find her on: Bandcamp / CD Baby / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr
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My eye fell upon this pair of gorgeous, over-the-top, beaded rhinestone cat-eye sunglasses in a recent issue of Marie Claire. Of course they were by A-Morir: a sunglasses company that’s been making waves on the music and fashion fronts with their opulent designer specs. 
With a pair of cat-eye sunnies that Sunglass Warehouse so graciously sent me, I was able to craft up an embellished dupe of the Mitchel Neon Yellow Sunglasses ($350) for a fraction of the original’s cost. Here’s how: (more…)
I couldn’t resist posting this amazing, inspirational list from 
