Now here is another fun project using Epoxy Clay (and it doesn’t have to be Martha Stewart brand – any brand will do) and gold leafing, that produces a very chic and polished result. String these lightweight pendants on graduated chains for a pretty, layered piece. Here’s how:
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more conscious of not only what I put in my body (favoring organic, responsibly-produced, ethically-farmed, and natural products whenever possible)…but also what I put on my body. The skin being the largest organ means that what it absorbs truly makes a difference in not only how you feel, but also the toxic load placed on your entire system. (more…)
Shoe Cult, NastyGal‘s very own shoe line, has just launched – featuring fashion-forward footwear with cut-outs, clear detailing, and rugged soles. The perfect mix of that edgy cool-girl bootie, that mellow tomboy-ish brogue, and that refined chic heel, the collection ranges in price from an amazingly affordable $20 – $158.
You can also see a number of ways to wear some of the styles from the collection in street style photos, submitted by fashion bloggers, here, and you can tag any photo of you wearing a pair with the hashtag #SHOECULT to be featured on their blog.
DIY kit company Darby Smart recently sprung onto the scene and is making waves with their fashion-forward packages of fun DIY projects you can make at home. Instead of a monthly subscription to their kits (which many other companies are using as a business model as of late), you can buy a Darby Smart kit any time, and for anyone! Inspired by Pinterest projects and catering to the community, the kits provide the materials and supplies to make chic and polished crafts for accessories, jewelry, and home decor. And at Darby Smart, anyone can become a kit designer! Designed by amazingly creative designers, bloggers, and crafters, the submitted projects are voted on by the Darby Smart community and then the most popular are turned into kits for sale.
I was recently sent the You-Nique Monogram Tote Kit to play with and create my own DIY stenciled tote. I decided to create a tote with a badge, with my personal mantra “DREAM IT / MAKE IT / DO IT” emblazoned on the front. Using the stencils and the glitter pen provided, I added some paints and glitter from my collection to create something with a throwback 80’s feel. And that’s the piece I created!
I had a lot of fun with the kit, which was easy to use, and I was impressed with how long the glitter pen held up and how much ink was in it. Plus – and here’s the BIG PLUS, folks – the tote is not the cheap kind of canvas tote you’d find for $5.99 at the craft store…it’s actually a heavy-duty canvas piece from Baggu, with inner snap, pocket, and adjustable shoulder strap. An extremely good value for the price of the entire kit.
And Darby Smart is also graciously offering 2 You-Nique Monogram Tote kits to give away to my readers!
Edit 9/1/13: Giveaway is now closed and winners are announced. Thanks!
Also, please Pin your favorite kit from the Darby Smart websiteto show extra enthusiasm! (Not required for entry into giveaway)
Good luck!
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I was sent one You-Nique Monogram Tote Kit (retail value: $31) to review, and 2 Tote Kits will be sent to the winners of this giveaway, courtesy of Darby Smart. I received no other compensation, and the opinions above are my own. See my full Disclosure Policy here.
Houseline, by Portland Garment Factory, is manufactured on-site in Portland Oregon. The brainchild of Britt Howard and Rosemary Robinson, Portland Garment Factory was founded to fulfill that unique niche in the local economy: a full-service clothing manufacturing facility (of which Portland only has a bare few). (I actually interned for 3 months at Portland Garment Factory not long after I arrived in Portland!) After manufacturing other local lines for awhile, Robinson and Howard branched out to design and create their own brand Houseline in 2011. For the upcoming A/W 2013 season, the line has grown to include outerwear as well as their staple easy-to-wear loose dresses, jumpsuits, palazzo pants, and even accessories.
{clockwise, from top left: Lanvin, Alice + Olivia, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Emporio Armani, Reed Krakoff}
Fall is almost upon us – can you believe it? Only a few more weeks until the end of Summer; the end of outdoor picnics, barbecues, lazy-day living, snow cones, afternoon naps, bumblebees, and the scent of freshly cut grass wafting through the air. I am currently undergoing a huge closet clean-out and am making space for new DIY’s and pieces that will truly round out what I have already and help with the transition. Here are a couple pieces I have my eye on:
Taking a cue from the boys, Alexander Wang, Jil Sander, and Lanvin showed boxy overcoats in double-breasted styles. I really love this piece from Aryn K, but you could also skimp on the purchase and find something menswear-inspired (or just plain from-the-mens’ section) at your local thrift store.
Yes, it is back – in all its 80’s glory. Layer these under sweaters and overcoats, or opt for under a patterned piece for it to truly read current. This turtleneck from Kohls is super-versatile and won’t break the bank, and is a great doppelganger for styles shown by Alice + Olivia. You could also simply add on a strip of fabric to the neck of a favorite crew-neck top to create a one-of-a-kind conversion.
An unusual color, this dark shade can be treated as if a neutral black when you incorporate it into an outfit, without imparting an “I’ve just joined the armed forces” feel. Reed Krakoff’s take on this was a full-on green ensemble, but you could just opt for it in small doses. This Modcloth bag is utterly covetable, but you could also just take part in the trend with a package of Dark Green Rit Dye and a piece of clothing in a lighter color. The Dark Green should take on pretty much anything made of natural fibers, and camouflage a host of sins.
The luxurious textile is of course having another moment this year, and it’s easy to see why this is a winter staple. Emporio Armani’s Fall Collection embodied the luxury and warmth of this 70’s throwback fabric. Add some texture to your wardrobe in a fun color, like with these ASOS booties. If you’d rather DIY the look, do it the affordable way and try affixing the fabric to a pair of shoes with some Mod Podge.
A little tougher to DIY, leather in dark blues, greens, purples, and burgundies dominated the runways, often paired with punky plaids or soft knits. Zero + Maria Cornejo’s leather trousers were to-die-for! (This ASOS wrap skirt above perfectly embodies the trend – but at a much more accessible price point.) You can always try your hand at painting some leather in order to get the look (though keeping it to non-flexible leather accessories might be best if you’re using acrylic paints).
What trends are you looking forward to for Fall?
xo
Carly
Runway photos from Style.com. Photo collage by me.
Thanks so much to the team at M&J Trimming – I had a blast working with all your wonderful supplies!
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I received a box of trims and supplies courtesy of M&J Trimming, to create step-by-step DIY tutorials for their DIY Challenge. I have received a $100 M&J Trimming Gift Card as compensation for my submissions. My official Disclosure Policy is here.
If Six Was Nine is an amazing, though somewhat underground brand owned by Maniac Corporation. Beloved by Fergie, Lenny Kravitz, and Keith Richards (just to name a few), the brand features entirely handmade pieces with heavy distressing, screenprinting, unusual embellishment, leatherwork, and sublimation dyeing techniques in their clothing. (Price points range from $280 for an extremely simple cover-up to $3400+ for a leather jacket.) They don’t lend any pieces out to magazines for photographing and the parent company does not allow any photos of their boutiques, adding to the whole aura of inaccessibility. And yet, people somehow find their way to the few hidden boutiques that sell this line, in search of the amazing, rock-star-worthy ensembles that the brand puts out.
Besides clothing, if six was nine also creates one-of-a-kind furnishings and home wares with a gothic edge.
I’ve actually written about one place to buy this line, Bedrock Boutique, before here, and I tend to stop by the shop every time I’m in Tokyo. And it’s always like entering a time warp to some dank dungeon, filled with sparkly bones and shredded couture.
Besides the 3 boutiques owned by the Maniac Corporation in Japan, If Six Was Nine is also available at FarFetch.com.
My good friend Alexa Raquel Casciato, AKA Little Warrior, is an amazing musician and up-and-coming tour de force in the world of music. She has assisted in starting a brand-new post series here on 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:
For the this month’s playlist, I wanted to create a playlist that sounds like the perfect summer day – so I went old school. This wholesome oldies mix makes me think of people doing the mashed potato on the beach, high-waisted bikinis and retro one-piece swim suits, finger curls, beach balls and bubbles. If August surprises you with a rainy day, put on this playlist to help your saddest of thoughts float away like the cumulous clouds on a sunny blue summer day. May you be lifted into the highest of spirits with this playlist as it inspires your latest chic creations!
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.
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.
Back when I worked on the May campaign with Martha Stewart Jewelry, I actually made a couple of pieces while playing around with the treasure trove of supplies I was sent. (Only my DIY Enamel Spring Flower Bib Necklace made it to the blog for the campaign post.) But I also made a few other pieces with the extra supplies (like the DIY Ombre Filigree Earrings I shared here.)
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more conscious of not only what I put in my body (favoring organic, responsibly-produced, ethically-farmed, and natural products whenever possible)…but also what I put on my body. The skin being the largest organ means that what it absorbs truly makes a difference in not only how you feel, but also the toxic load placed on your entire system. 
Shoe Cult, NastyGal‘s very own shoe line, has just launched – featuring fashion-forward footwear with cut-outs, clear detailing, and rugged soles. The perfect mix of that edgy cool-girl bootie, that mellow tomboy-ish brogue, and that refined chic heel, the collection ranges in price from an amazingly affordable $20 – $158.
DIY kit company 
I was recently sent the 
And that’s the piece I created!
I had a lot of fun with the kit, which was easy to use, and I was impressed with how long the glitter pen held up and how much ink was in it. Plus – and here’s the BIG PLUS, folks – the tote is not the cheap kind of canvas tote you’d find for $5.99 at the craft store…it’s actually a heavy-duty canvas piece from Baggu, with inner snap, pocket, and adjustable shoulder strap. An extremely good value for the price of the entire kit.
How To Enter
Hello lovely readers!
I was so thrilled to be recently contacted by
If Six Was Nine
Besides clothing, if six was nine also creates one-of-a-kind furnishings and home wares with a gothic edge.
My good friend Alexa Raquel Casciato, AKA 
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.
