Aug 8, 2012 | DIY
Wow, it’s already August? Well, Summer’s flying by, my workplace’s renovation is starting to wrap up and I can breathe little easier, as well as get back to making things more often. Let’s see what the internet has also been up to recently:
MSNBC’s The Look wrote a piece about women DIY’ing different-colored soles onto their shoes, mainly as an intro to the companies RossoSolini (that sells stick-on colored soles), and Save Your Sole (that sells paint specially formulated for the soles of your shoes). Though painting the soles of a pair of heels red to create faux Louboutins is old, old news (and I’m not even sure “news” is the best category for this info), RossoSolini and Save Your Sole are some good resources that can help give your heels a make-over. (Or -under, as may be the case…?)
Whip up a quick Convertible Dress courtesy of Burdastyle user red-lia. The pattern is so easy, and it’s an update on the ubiquitous DVF-style wrap dress. The perfect go-to Summer piece!
Even though Made by Lex is no longer being actively updated, there are some great tutorials in the Archives section. Check out, for instance, her Women’s Romper Refashion tutorial…to make a cute little leopard romper out of an old baggy dress. (Kind of like my tutorial for making a romper out of a man’s button-down shirt!)
Love Inspiration & Realisation‘s DIY version of a Rebecca Minkoff Stitched Sweater! Look at all the work she put into it…and even more amazing, the brand caught wind of it too! See how they responded here.
This is insane! DIY your own Festival-ready Customized Rucksack with Kate’s Closet on ASOS. It’s totally over-the-top with everything thrown on there like that, but the great thing is, you can take any idea out of there and remix them into your own perfect bag. DIY is all about customizing it to suit your own tastes!
A Beautiful Mess posted a beautiful Hand-Stamped Pony-Print Dress. I just love ponies, and the stark but playful print really livens up a plain white dress. Giddyup!
ExtraPetite‘s makeover of a thrifted too-large blouse makes a perfect DIY Polka Dot Bow Blouse. Plus it contains some useful sewing tips for fitting when doing your thrift store recons!
Learn how to create easy Dip-Dye Accessories from Youtube user AndreasChoice. Another nail polish makeover to be sure, but a new take on the technique that will give you that pretty faded ombre look to anything metal. Perfect accessories for those hot Summer days!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Aug 7, 2012 | Fashion
I’ve been after a slightly-chic-er-than-plain, comfy ballet flat that will pair well with jeans, skirts, and take me through airports and long flights with no foot pain whatsoever. I’ve found it in this sweet little ballet flat from Sole Society. Love the warm color palette and gold detail!
Here a couple ways to style it:
And of course, you could always DIY the metallic toe with a bit of spray paint like in my DIY Miu Miu Rhinestone-Embellished Flats tutorial. For some reason that gold toe just ups the fashion factor.
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 5, 2012 | DIY, Fashion
I am on so many catalog mailing lists just for the inspiration! I love window-shopping more than anything: collecting ideas, re-mixing, thinking, “Hey, I could DIY that!” Rather than actually shopping the products, I’m scouting for DIY inspo, and here are some ideas I’ve formulated from J. Crew’s latest catalog: (which, by the way, I always adore the styling of)
J. Crew Style Guide August 2012 (more…)
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Aug 3, 2012 | Fashion
Though I’ve been a long-time fan of Etsy, I’ve also been a devoted follower of 76Hudson (formerly Senseofashion.com) for awhile.
76Hudson is an online marketplace for independently-designed women’s fashion, jewelry, shoes, and accessories. The pieces are unique, the buying done directly, and the interface is easy-to-use.
And the great part is, because you’re buying designer-direct through 76Hudson, many of the pieces offered are also incredibly affordable. Here are a few things that caught my eye:
Left to right, by row:
Bqueen Multi Layer Chiffon Dress / Chic Evening Clutch / CJ Lace Romper Cuacao Howlite Stone Necklace
Bohochic Gladiators “The Black Swan” / Color-Block Top
Athena Silver Earrings / Mermaid You Look Vintage Textured Mermaid Skirt in Teal / Amelie Mini Luggage with Envelope Clutch / Weekend Wonder Lightweight Pants in Brick
Every purchase made supports independent design, and takes localized fashion global. Gotta love those places that support the little guys, and encourage the growing creative community!
What do you guys think?
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 2, 2012 | Fashion
Mismatched clear rhinestone stud earrings: from Japan
Rose gold star necklace: from Japan
Wicker clutch bag: indio (from Japan) (similar here)
Rings: Cartier, Tiffany, mocha [from Japan], double crown [from Japan]
REDOPIN Floral T-Shirt: YesStyle.com
Hot Pink Pleated Linen Mini-Skirt: DIY
Black Peep-Toe Wedge Espadrilles: Colin Stuart (similar here)
Yes, love of floral print is still going strong for me, but this time to push myself further out of my comfort zone I paired a floral tee with a DIY pleated mini-skirt. I hate, HATE showing my legs. They’re where a lot of my body noise centers on, so I feel terribly self-conscious when I do. (more…)
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Jul 30, 2012 | DIY
I wanted some neon color on my fingertips, but wanted to be subtle about it. What could be better than bright neon on black, reminiscent of cool Summer nights at the carnival? Give your tips a hot neon makeover with a little paint and patience (and no airbrush to have to bother with for this art). Here’s how:
You Need: (more…)
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Jul 28, 2012 | Fashion
Floating UV resin pendant: handmade by me (DIY tutorial for a similar UV resin pendant coming soon, promise!)
Earrings: mismatched cat set (from Japan)
Flower-Print Blazer: NOTATIONS (Ebay purchase)
Black T-shirt: Old Navy
Bracelets: beaded DIY bracelets, vintage gold bangle
Faux Book-cover clutch: unsure (Japanese brand), same style here
Cropped Pants in Floral: ASOS Maternity
Velvet Round-Toe Shoes with Gold Heel: R&E (Japanese brand), similar here
I’m pretty sure I will look back on these photos, like those of a 70’s matching corduroy suit, and think “A flowered suit? Was I crazy??”
(more…)
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Jul 25, 2012 | DIY
Can you believe the month of July is almost over?? This Summer is just barrelling along! While we’re undergoing a renovation at work (7-day workweek, anyone?;-) the rest of the blogosphere has been busy whipping up some fabulous projects. Here are a few:
I love things that are visual and even though everyone’s gravitating to Pinterest these days, sometimes collaging is just as fun. Check out these DIY Polyvore Sets (remember Polyvore?) for some make-it-yourself inspo!
Did you know? Cat Morley, from the amazing Cut Out + Keep tutorial site, is now Crafter to the Stars! She sewed up a sequined cat-shaped fascinator for Audrey Kitching. See the full tutorial here.
Check out a new DIY blog I discovered; Greenie Dresses for Less! Lots of easy and cute DIY tutorials, like her Lace Edged Socks that add a bit of sweetness and whimsey to an otherwise standard pair of footwear.
I do love a man’s shirt makeover! Try this DIY Men’s Shirt into a Cut-Out Dress upcycle from Chictopians Lipglossandblack, and get through the rest of Summer with a bit of buttoned-down style.
Need something easy and breezy for those super-hot days? How about a DIY Maxi, from 10 Summer Perfect DIY Maxi Dresses, by All Women Stalk. Love that geometric piece!
Short of Something posted a great tutorial for a pair of DIY Shorts with a sweet polka-dot pattern. Fabric paint, a skewer, a ruler, and a little bit of patience is all you need for this makeover!
It’s about time someone DIY’d those vaguely Stylestalker-esque Grommet Leggings! Trash to Couture‘s version is spot-on and uber-sexy. Her handiwork is just amazing!
And, for all those low-backed tops and dresses that are probably already in heavy rotation in your Summer wardrobe…try this DIY 5 Minute Low-Back Bra tutorial from Tights and Tea. No need to buy a different or convertible bra!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” />
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
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Jul 20, 2012 | DIY
Combine the sleeves of one button-down with the body of a different button-down; wear a bustier top over it like a piece from the Altuzurra Resort 2013 Collection.
I keep a huge folder on my computer chock-full of DIY ideas as I come across them – and unfortunately there are just not enough hours in the day, days in the week, weeks in the month, or space in my closet to possibly make all of them. So here’s another photo dump of ideas for you guys to try out. Maybe something in there will spark your next must-do project?? (more…)
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Jul 18, 2012 | Score!
When I left the workforce to raise my son back in 2005, I traded in my suit jackets and button-down shirts for a wardrobe of T-shirts, sweatpants, and sports bras. That became my uniform for the next 6 and a half years, and in the interim I moved to suburbia, lost a huge amount of weight, gained all of it back slowly, saw the U.S. hit one of the most severe economic depressions in history, and lamented ever rejoining the workforce again. Even though in 2008 I began blogging from home about fashion and budget-shopping, my weekly roundups of must-buy clothing and accessories were more aspirational than my everyday reality.
In 2010 my son was in school full-time, so I began applying for jobs in my field locally. And applying and applying. Nothing happened, and I decided to switch tactics and go back to school to improve my skills, to network, and to hopefully land an internship.
Finally, in June of this year, I got that coveted internship at a production set and design studio. Now I’m back to suit jackets and button-downs, though this time around my jackets are flower-patterned, my button-downs accessorized with vintage rhinestone necklaces, and sometimes even a T-shirt is acceptable work attire. I now work in a very creative field, where expressing one’s personality and being on-trend is tantamount because it speaks volumes about how “current” your knowledge is, as well as your taste level.
Before: My work attire, sports bra underneath.
So now I need foundation garments that are appropriate for work – and not just for working out, as before. I’ve lost and gained enough weight since being pregnant that my bra size has fluctuated dramatically, and though I’ve gotten used to the snug feeling of sports bras, they don’t look too professional, they mash my shape, and the wide straps often show under boatneck tops.
Lily of France sent me two of their bras to try out so I could see if they worked better for my new work wardrobe: the Extreme Push-Up Underwire in black with gray dot edging, and the Extreme Options in black.
Extreme Push-Up detail shot.
The fact that they’re both convertible (and the Extreme Options is convertible 62+ different ways!) is incredibly helpful and means that they can take the place of multiple different bras in my lingerie drawer. This means either can be worn under a variety of clothing, from sleeveless dresses to boatneck tops to bustier dresses. Plus, they’re both generously padded, which gives my poor sagging chest (after baby, ahem) a much-needed boost and myself a much more feminine figure. I’ve gotten to an age where I am now embracing my figure, so I prefer to accent the little I have on top to balance out the generous amount I have on the bottom. 😉 It’s incredible how much the Extreme Push-Up lifts and boosts my A-cup into at least a cup and a half larger, which makes me feel way more feminine for date nights with my Hubby and helps me fill out all of my fitted sheath dresses properly.
After: Wearing Lily of France Extreme Pushup bra.
Style Tips for Dressing in a Creative Field:
*Even if it’s creative, a workplace where a visible bra is okay may not be too common. Always err on the side of being covered up rather than being a slave to fashion. And always wear a dark bra under a dark top, a bra matching your skin tone under a white top, and a nude camisole underneath a sheer top.
*It’s totally okay to wear undergarments that give you a “womanly” shape. Even in a male-dominated field, you are who you are, so there’s no reason to try to hide or pretend to be less. Choose undergarments that play up your assets. (Just keep the cleavage under wraps to stay appropriate!)
*If you work somewhere that has a fairly lax dress code, still try to take it to the next level and dress up a little bit: a blazer over your t-shirt, a statement necklace over a tanktop, low heels with fitted trousers, etc. Making that extra effort shows you care about that job and the image you project.
*Add something to your outfits that is your personal signature: your favorite bracelet, some nice stud earrings, even a specific color of nail polish. The more “identity” you show in what you wear, the more it will become your creative calling card!
So, to help someone out there kickstart her workwear-appropriate lingerie drawer, Lily of France has graciously partnered with Chic Steals to offer a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky reader!
(Actual card received may differ from version shown.)
How to Enter
Choose 2 of the following entry methods:
a) Visit the Lily of France website and leave a comment on this post in the comments section telling me which bra you like the most (NOT in the Facebook comments box or through Facebook)
b) Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this giveaway and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
Total entries allowed per person: 2
Also: No duplicate comments. Any comments left through the Facebook comments box or on Facebook will not be counted. All comments must be left on this post on my blog.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/18 to 8/15/2012.
Be sure to visit the Lily of France brand page on BlogHer.com, where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Good luck to everyone!
xoxox
Carly
FTC Disclosure: This is a paid post with BlogHer and Lily of France. I was sent 2 bras from Lily of France to review. ONE $100 VISA gift card will be sent to the winner of this giveaway. For more information, see my Disclosure Policy.
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