Nov 17, 2011 | Media
A great and insightful article posted on Chictopia about racism (mostly regarding the use of Asian models) in fashion. As someone who spent my formative years in Japan (and getting used to the types of models used in fashion and the media over there ), I found it an interesting discussion about the models used in the West. To me, whenever I come back to the U.S. from spending some time in Japan, I always have this period of reverse culture-shock, where I watch TV or flip through magazines, and am wondering “Where are all the Japanese and half-Japanese models?” Then after awhile I get used to it and even stop noticing that Asian faces permeate the media far more infrequently than over there.
Sometimes I wonder why companies, who want to be PC, don’t just split their model usage according to the population demographics of the country they’re targeting. (For the U.S.: 60% White, 13% Black, 15% Hispanic, 4.4% Asian, 2.3% Multiracial, 0.8% Native Americans/Alaskan native, 0.14% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 5% “some other race”, mostly being of Latino origin. Source) Or split the demographics according to world population. Would that not be the most fair? Or would people be more in favor of using models that reflect the demographics of the market their targeting (i.e., their customers)? Or, since fashion is essentially aspirational and idealized, should race be allowed to be a component of that? Or does it inherently become part of that aspirational quality?
What do all of you think?
xoxo
Carly
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Nov 16, 2011 | Fashion
PLEASE NOTE: This post is from November 2011, and after this post was published Colourme.com continued to do business online for a few months. On July 6, 2012 I was alerted by one of my readers that their website has been down for quite some time, and there is no information on where the company went. I have not yet been able to track down the story on Colourme.com, but it’s looking like now the company may have gone out of business. Sometimes online retailing is not a long-lived endeavor.
xo
Carly
It’s giveaway time again! I’ve been so fortunate to receive a new sponsor for Chic Steals this month (and whose ad you can now see in the sidebar of my blog!). Colour Me is a brand-new one-stop accessories e-shop, designed to make the online shopping experience fun and simple. Their entire site is organized by color, which allows searching for the exact accessory you need fast and frustration-free. You can also search accessories by trend and be inspired by the pairings they provide.
I’ll be writing a formal introduction on them in a coming post, but for now, to celebrate the occasion, they are generously offering a fully color-coordinated “Look” to one lucky Chic Steals reader!
The look consists of a scarf, a ring, and a bangle: YOU choose ONE of 3 color combos!
Pictured above: Soiree Scarf, Taury Ring, and Zoe Leaf Cuff, ARV $40.
How to Enter
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
2. Post a comment on any accessory at ColourMe.com (in the Facebook comment box at the very bottom of the item page). Leave a SEPARATE comment on this post to let me know! (1 entry)
2. Tweet anything you’d like to @ShopColourMe. Leave a SEPARATE comment on this post with the link to your Tweet. (1 entry)
Total: 3 entries per person allowed.
Edit 11/24: The Entry period is now closed and the winner will be announced shortly.
However, if you do not keep your additional entry comment separate from your required entry comment, it WILL NOT BE COUNTED.
Giveaway open to U.S. residents only (apologies to my international readers).
Giveaway period is open from now until Wednesday, Nov 23, 11:59 PM PST.
Winner chosen by Random.org and notified by email.
Good luck!
xoxox
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post; I am being provided with one group of accessories for one winner; company will be shipping the prize directly to the winning entrant. For more information, see my Disclosure Policy.
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Nov 15, 2011 | DIY
So I was editing that nail video…and realized I first have to put up a DIY Links of the Week post before I throw that up!! (That didn’t sound right, somehow…:-/)
So how about some weekly links of DIY goodness first?!
Add a DIY cap toe to a plain pair of booties with Because I’m Addicted. Minimalist chic at its best!
Are you a UK/Eire resident above the age of 18…and feeling crafty? Create a Dress made out of paper to be featured on Vogue.com and sold at retailer Matches. Submit a photo of your creation by Dec 1 to British Vogue’s Facebook page and garner as many votes from your adoring public as possible. The 10 most-voted-for (Dec 1-9 voting period) get posted onto Vogue.com; and the winner (as chosen by a panel of industry insiders) gets their dress made and sold at Matches. So it’s a popularity contest rather than a design contest…who cares? It’s Vogue.com, dah-ling!!
Say YES! to Hoboken proffers up the sock bun as a way of beefing up wimpy hair buns…and a great substitute for the Odango Cushion I have used for my own buns that many of you asked me about (but was only available in Japan). A DIY accomplished in mere seconds!
Have you checked out Craftgawker yet? It’s such a great place for DIY inspiration – and you can submit your own projects as well!
The talented Alicia from Dismount Creative whipped up some gorgeous sparkly DIY Druzy Jewelry (made of glitter and findings, no less!). Could it be the perfect DIY holiday gift for that special person in your life?
It may be November, but I’m working on a DIY swimsuit for a possible Hawaii trip coming up this Spring. Get a jump on warm weather with 10 Free DIY Swimsuit Patterns, compiled by Craft Foxes.
I’ve been seeing this blog mentioned all over the place lately, and I feel so remiss that I haven’t found it sooner. Ralph Pink quit his job last year to become one of the UK’s leading couture designers, and set up a blog to documenthis journey. He also, incidentally, offers free patterns and downloads, as well as tutorials. Definitely check him out!
Runway DIY just launched her own DIY kits. Available are various styles of earrings, bracelets, and accessories. Super-cute!
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/2011/11/diylotwfeaturedbutton-2.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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Nov 10, 2011 | DIY
This is a long tutorial, so please bear with me!:-)
I’ve had to divide it into 4 stages to make it a bit easier to deal with. The end result is fairly dependent on the boots you started with, and what the hardware you add looks like. (more…)
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Nov 9, 2011 | Fashion
Zippered twill moto jacket: CRYX
Faux fur and hematite necklace: handmade by me
Ribbed Tank: Forever 21
Square cube ring: Karmaloop (from last year)
Pleated chiffon maxi-skirt: Wink
Balenciaga-style Cut-Out Boots: DIY (tutorial coming soon!)
They’re finally finished!! (more…)
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Nov 9, 2011 | DIY, Life, Score!
And I am just dying over that Tempura Maki Roll costume by Chictopian ONETWOTRINA!! So creative!
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 8, 2011 | DIY
So Fall is now finally waning towards colder days, and the first week of November has come and gone. Here’s hoping everyone had a great Halloween! [if you celebrate it, that is;-)]
How Does She?’s DIY flowers from rick-rack and burlap are super-sute, and super-fast! Did I mention that the little rick-rack flowers are supposed to take only 15 minutes to make?! She’s linked up a ton of flower-making tutorials in the post – so check it out and be prepared to find a bounty of floral inspiration and must-do project!
The Winners of the Today DIY Style Week from MSNBC were announced, and as Outi from Outsapop so astutely pointed out, the winners are all accessory-making projects rather than clothing projects. Clothing is definitely a lot more difficult to DIY, since there’s such a range of sizing which often can’t be distilled to a “one-size-fits-all” set of how-to instructions. (Maybe also a reason the Today Show didn’t bother with featuring any clothing projects, since specific instructions would most likely not be applicable to a mass audience.) But that doesn’t mean that we definitely shouldn’t try!!
DIY Pearly Sunglasses by the In (ner) Sole o Cutie Boots let you channel your inner Lolita. Try using other items besides pearls, like buttons, beads, gold leaf, or even spikes for a Gaga-esque makeover as well!
Angela Osborn‘s Guide to Dressmaking – 8 Helpful Hints is exactly what it says it is: encouraging taking one’s time, following patterns step-by-step, and making a muslin/toile to deal with any fit issues before cutting into the good fabric. (Among other useful tips!) She also offers up an eponymous line of digital patterns available for download, where you can put those great dressmaking hints to work for you right away!
I love this incredible (and easy!) tutorial for Easy 3 Steps to a 3 Way Shirt from Cut Out + Keep user Emilyyy! Totally doable for even the most sewing-phobic.
DIY Cone Stud Spike Bracelet is a simple accessory that packs a bit of a punky punch. Check out Thanks, I Made It for the how-to!
Jazz up an old cardigan with some handmade flowers for an Anthropologie-inspired piece. Tea Rose Home used some fabric yo-yos, felt, and lace to make her gorgeous creation – how beautiful is that?
Studs and Pearls used Clorox bleach and paints to create an on-trend DIY Galaxy Turban Headband. Out-of-this-world chic at its best!
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/2011/11/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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Nov 7, 2011 | Fashion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9vgx2fLHt4
Just found this uber-cool vid on styling a men’s shirt into a dress. And you know me – I’m all about re-purposing men’s shirts, right??! Though maybe not all of the different styling ideas shown can work for all of us, I think we can all experiment with and see what works for each of our body types, and with what size of shirts! (Maybe with some leggings underneath for winter?) Also, how about formulating our own guy’s-shirt-configurational possibilities??!
Still drowning in class and personal projects, and now Lil Tot has some flu or bug. I’m still here, though – and hopefully will be getting a DIY Links of the Week post up tomorrow!! Thanks~
xoxox
Carly
Found via the amazing Outsapop.
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Nov 4, 2011 | Media
I’m currently swamped with projects and midterms for my classes, so today I’ll leave you guys with this quickie blog post.
Are you watching Lifetime TV‘s new series, Project Accessory? I’m on the fence about it (although I do love accessory design!) simply because I’ve heard mixed reviews about it, and have given up on y formerly favorite show, Project Runway, after the move to this network and the meddling of Bunim/Murray with everything that made the show great. Word has it this permutation of the soon-to-be franchise is still trying to find its footing inamongst the inevitable comparisons and the producers’ fondness for manufactured drama.
But here’s something neat and DIY-related! Project Runway alum Laura Bennett (Season 5) is coming out with a book called Handmade Chic: Fashionable Projects That Look High-End, Not Homespun (Jan. 2012), and is blogging for Project Accessory. Every week she’ll feature a DIY of the winning project, which is really cool! (Much better than the buy-the-winning-look possibilities that have cropped up from time to time throughout Project Runway’s run…since this democratizes fashion for everyone!).
Check out the first project and follow along with her blogging here:
Laura Bennett’s Blogs for Project Accessory
Has anyone been watching Project Accessory? What do you guys think so far…must-see TV, or only good enough to read the recaps?
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 2, 2011 | DIY
Another one of my tutorials was featured on the ILoveToCreate blog this week, so I’ve reposted the tutorial here for everyone who might want to try it out! I received a question about how to make a necklush [those looped fabric scarves that have gotten popular recently] a little while ago, and when I went to search for a tutorial that I’d read a couple years back, I found that the tutorial was gone and the blog no longer existed!! So I decided to write (er, re-write) the how-to. Granted, I don’t have a lovely Necklush in front of me so I can’t say exactly how they’re made…but this is my best DIY approximation, which includes a little side-fringe for those who like fringes. Hope it helps!
(more…)
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