Dec 13, 2010 | DIY
My tutorial for this sparkly, holiday-style jeweled DIY cardigan clip was featured in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Style Sample Magazine (see pg. 20!). It’s super-easy to make – with just a glue gun, some sparkly buttons, and some trim scraps you too can make one in no time.
As the holidays approach, we’re all looking for that perfect accessory to elevate a blah outfit into FABulous; office-wear into party attire; the everyday into elegant. And what better than a functional closure to your sweater (or jacket, or scarf) that can double as a statement brooch? Clip it on, bling it out – however you wear it, it’s sure to be the focal point of any outfit!
Materials:
*stiff felt, cut into 2 circles (each about 1.5″ diameter)
*scrap of lacy ribbon
*assorted jeweled buttons
*2 shoe clips
*short length of chain (about 3″)
*Optional: 2 jump rings
*Optional: 2 brooch pinbacks
Tools:
*scissors
*glue gun & gluesticks
*pliers
*needle &thread
How-To:
1. Start by stitching the lace around the edge of each felt piece, in a spiral. (Although you can use the hot glue for this, the stitches look neater.)
2. Hot-glue the buttons on top of the lace.
3. Turn each felt piece over, and hot-glue a shoe clip onto its back. Keep in mind that in order to wear at the front of a jacket or cardigan, each clip has to open outwards, so make sure they face the right way before you glue them down.
4. Add the chain to the bottom of the felt pieces. I attached it using jump rings, but if you like you can just use hot glue to affix it, hiding the ends underneath the lace.
5. Optional: If you’d like to wear this piece as a brooch, also glue a pinback to the back of each felt piece.
You can try a number of configurations, using ribbons, soutache braid, fancy trims, different chains, studs, vintage findings, or even stick-on jewels (form the scrapbooking section of the craft store!) The sky’s the limit!
And make sure the very next time you rock it out – you tell everyone that you didn’t buy it…you DIY’d it!
I love how it looks like a little smiley face! (Once you see it..you can’t UNsee it!:-/)
And if you’re interested in the other features in this issue (like an interview with Project Runway Season 6 finalist Althea Harper and the how-to on making your own badge for your blog)…
Read the full issue online here
Thanks so much to Tamia and the team at Style Sample! I truly appreciate the inclusion and am honored to be a part of this great publication.
[And since they are the only magazine currently dedicated to bloggers and the art of style blogging, please help support this great publication by reading, contributing, or even purchasing the print version online. Thanks so much!]
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 11, 2010 | Media
source unknown (Google images)
As many of you may have read, the New York Times posted an article online last month about nutria fur currently being marketed as the new “guilt-free fur.” The argument is that since the nutria (giant swamp-rodents) are a threat to Louisana swampland and are being killed anyway in order to protect this fragile ecosystem, then instead of thoughtlessly discarding the carcasses it’s better to utilize the fur. …And make it into fashion.
Found on Flicker
A designer makes necklaces out of the teeth, Etsyans craft merkin panties and jewelry out of the fur…oh, and Michael Kors and Oscar de la Renta also incorporated nutria fur into trims and linings in their recent collections. Saks is currently the largest retailer in the United States that carries nutria fur items (check out this Nutria Fur Jacket from Maison Martin Margiela!).
Remember Elaine’s “rat hat” from that episode of Seinfeld? That Russian “sable-esque” hat was supposedly nutria, according to the storyline. And maligned as “not even a good rat-hat.”
So what do you guys think? Is real fur in fashion items okay if the animal is killed as a pest anyway? Is it right to attempt to wipe out a species if it threatens a long-established ecosystem? Will people begin to embrace nutria and being to rank it on par with fur in general – or is the “ick” factor too strong?
What are your thoughts? And would you ever buy or wear nutria?
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 10, 2010 | DIY
Feathered things are experiencing a revival lately – and I’ve been hankering after a maribou feather clutch for awhile. But I’m not going to buy when I can DIY for much cheaper! It’s sooooo easy too…
DIY Marabou Feather Clutch
Difficulty: (Easy/Beginner)
You Need:
*old clutch-style purse
*tacky glue
*marabou boa
*scissors
How-To:
1. Lay your clutch flat and visually estimate how far apart the pieces of your boa need to be to get the kind of coverage you want.
2. Spread the tacky glue in vertical lines down the front of your clutch, and across the top below the clasp.
3. Starting from one side, lay one end of the boa onto the glue at the bottom of the clutch.
4. Fold the boa piece over at the top of the clutch, and then loop it down towards the bottom. Snip at the bottom of the clutch.
5. Repeat for all the lines of glue until the front of your clutch is completely covered. Allow to dry and then trim the ends so they’re all one length.
Pretty easy, right? To cover both the front AND the back using this method, you’ll probably need two boas. And you could use any type of feathers that suit your fancy…they don’t have to be marabou, and they don’t have to be in boa-form, either.
Did You Know?
“Marabou” is a term for fluffy feathers – and most “marabou” feathers available for crafting, fishing lures, garment trims, or millinery supply are actually turkey or chicken feathers, not feathers from the Marabou Stork (which are extremely expensive). Feather supply companies may obtain their feathers from birds that are killed by the meat industry, or the down may be plucked from the bird as the seasons transition and it has no need of it anymore (termed “live-plucking”). Feathers also may be collected as they naturally molt (like peacock feathers), or from birds’ nests (like eider down).
So finally, welcome to DIY Roundup 8! If you’re unsure how to link up your tutorial (or finished project), here’s how:
Just click the light blue “Add Your Link” button that appears to the bottom left below. Follow the instructions in the Inlinkz window, pasting in the URL of your project or tutorial (from your own blog, Facebook page, Flickr account, Craftster.org, CutOutandKeep.net, etc). Don’t forget to write the NAME/DESCRIPTION of your project – like “Bow T-Shirt” or “DIY Lanvin Necklace” – not your own name or your blog’s name!!! You can link up any piece you’ve made or tutorial you’ve written from any time, not just in the last two weeks (though it would be nice if it’s a recent project, just to keep the content fresh). It’s all about sharing and bringing in more like-minded visitors to your site!
So now you get to share your own DIY’s! If you have a DIY project or tutorial that you’d like to share, please feel free to link below! (However you can only link YOUR OWN PROJECT. Please do not link others’ projects!)
If you’ve linked up your project to the Roundup, feel free to grab the button below.
Can’t wait to see everyone’s projects!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 8, 2010 | From You, Life
It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten to Formspring.me, and there’s been questions piling up. Here’s a bunch that kind of pertain to me, & my opinions etc.:
hey carly! what do you think about lauren conrad’s book style? thanks!
Well, I haven’t read it (and I have never seen “The Hills” so have only an inkling of her claim to fame), but if there’s even one tip or idea in there that is helpful or new then it’s all worth it! More power to her!
Socks or bare feet (and why)??
Socks…and legwarmers…and slippers! My feet and ankles get really cold year-round. Probably bad circulation or sumpin.’
how did you do the gradual glitter manicure that you have on your nails in the diy challenge tutorials?
Done by a gel nail professional in 3 layers. She mixed gel with fine glitter, spread it on the nail, then hardened them. Then she mixed more gel with medium-chunky glitter and spread it on the nail tips, and hardened them. Then she sealed it all with another layer of clear gel and hardened it.
I love your photos – they look so professional..what type of camera do you use? Does it have a timer where you take your own shots or do you have a photographer?
Thanks for your kind words! For most of my photos we use a Canon EOS 40D with a removable Speedlite 430EX II Flash and a 77mm (woops, my bad – edited 12/10) 24-105mm f/4 L lens. The shots were I am visible or both my hands are in the shot (like my tutorials) are taken by my husband. The rest of them are taken by me. Sometimes when traveling it isn’t efficient to take this heavy camera and all its equipment, and so then we use a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX7
. The Canon has a self-timer but to our knowledge it will only take one shot at a time, so it’s just easier to wheedle my husband into taking my shots, though I am barking out directions on how to frame me and what details to take every step of the way.:-)
Hi Carly! I was reading you post about you Husband and you anniversary. I know you said you guys were fated for each other and I wanted to know if you believed in soulmates? Thanks for answering!
Sure I believe in soulmates – i.e., two people who feel so deeply connected they feel it’s at their souls. I also believe that someone could have many soulmates; i.e., a different person who just fits perfectly with them at a certain point in their lives. However, I don’t think one’s soulmate is necessarily the best person to spend the rest of your life with. All of us change due to environmental factors, pressure from jobs, family roles, friends, changing situations, and maturity – someone who fits perfectly with you at a specific point in your life may not still fit with you 10 years (or even 5 years!) down the road as you change and mature. I think the key to finding a successful long-term relationship is not to find the person who fits perfectly with you at the current moment, but to find the person who is a good-enough-fit for you, at present and in the future, and all the changes that you will weather throughout your life. The median of all the ups and downs, if you will. And if that person happens to be your “soulmate,” then you’ve just won the lottery, lady!:-)
Hi Carly! I love your website and all your DIY’s. I’m an aspiring graphic designer and I wanted to know how did you go about getting/finding jobs like your recent one for Set Theory? I’m really interested into becoming a freelance graphic designer as well
Thanks for your kind words! I haven’t had an exactly stellar record in the the getting/finding jobs arena, and have only looked in the obvious places (postings on Monster.com or Craigslist, for example). The “Set Theory” thing was a fluke, really – I just happened to meet the creator of it, and volunteered my time doing whatever they needed for the shoot. Volunteering your skills or interning could be a great way to get people to vouch for you, to network, and to stay connected to your industry. You could get involved with your college alumni group in the area to network that way as well, or see if there are professional associations in your field. You could also check out Meetup.com for informal gatherings and groups that might be of interest. Also, definitely check out NubbyTwiglet.com if you haven’t already, as she is a freelance graphic designer and has a ton of tips for doing that, as well as advice on branding, portfolio-creation, networking, and marketing yourself. It’s a must-read.
Part 1: What do you consider to be your personal favorite and least favorite of your own physical features?
I like my face in profile – I can see a number of my female ancestors in its shape. Least favorite: a tie between my jawline and my knees…neither of which can be remedied by working out, diet, or anything else DIY.
Part 2: What are personal favorite and least favorite character traits about yourself? Emotionally, mentally, etc…. ????
Favorite: I’m really quick at thinking up solutions to problems…except when they’re my own LOL. Least Favorite: I take everything reaaallly personally. Comments on my blog, people who stop following my blog, people who don’t return email, family not celebrating a holiday that’s really important to me… The ideas of “let things slide off your back” or “go with the flow” are difficult for me to master.
Do you have any fashion/ or just blogs that you love to visit everyday?
I’ll visit TLo.com daily since I love their witty sense of humor, and I’ll always pop in and check …love, maegan to see what she’s been up to. Outsapop.com I’ll visit every couple of days, along with a couple other style blogs. But those are probably my big fave 3 right there.
Hope that satisfies some of your curiosity!;-)
Next up in Part 3: DIY’ing answers!
Ask me anything
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 8, 2010 | DIY
Again, 2 weeks condensed into one cuz I’ve been lazy.
The Ongoing Project DIY’ed Tom Binns’ rhinestone, pearl, and safety pin necklace. I love her version and can’t believe it wasn’t on my radar before!
Faux fur bootie covers – so lovely! Required2BeInspired DIY’s her own version, inspired by a pair of Dune boots she saw on ASOS.
Speaking of ASOS…Love the idea of Minx nails but the $50+ price tag + salon appointment hassle is scaring you off? Try the $12 DIY version – Nail Rocks, available at ASOS.com. I just ordered meself the gold metallic, but they also have animal print, lace print, and designer graphic prints…and I’m dying to try them all.
Ever wanted to DIY your own knitwear? (*Guilty!) Trendy Workshop allows users to create their own sweaters, scarves, dresses, and more in cashmere or cotton. Based in France, the company has an online editor where you can choose from different silhouettes, colors, sleeve styles, text, and detailing for each piece. Once finished you can have them produce and ship you the finish piece, and/or add it to your own webstore on their platform.
And – more nails again – sometimes glittery polishes just aren’t…glittery enough, ya know? Kate from This is What I Do DIY’ed her own version of the glitter manicure…with real glitter, and it looks just perfect. (found via A Pair and a Spare)
Nixxi’s No-Sew DIY dress tutorial on Ecouterre is amazingly simple…and stylish, and multifunctional! Got 5 minutes? Give it a try!
The 34 Great Homemade Gifts You Can Make list from Get Rich Slowly is an oldie but a goodie – and a great list to turn to for inspiration when it’s well into the holiday season and you’re in need of creative gifting inspiration.
And BurdaStyle is having an amazing Holiday Giveaway a DAY (until December 30th)- just leave a comment on each giveaway post on their blog, and you’ll be entered!
Hope all of you had a lovely two weeks filled with DIY!
All imgs from their respective sites except the cookie jar mix, which was from here.
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 7, 2010 | Fashion
Oh the weather outside is frightful…but I’ve got a shopping list chock-full of comforting picks for the holidays. A veritable shopping stew, if you will, with offerings that will thaw even the most frigid Scrooge’s heart. A little bit utilitarian, a little bit vintage/outdoorsy, here’s a grouping of gifts with a hefty dose of tongue-in-chic humor. (And everything’s under $80!)
1. Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweater Cardi, $54.99
2. Crystal Garden Wish Flower, $14
3. Kimchi Blue Cummerbund Short, $34.99
4. Triple Thrill Belt, $69.99
5. Cupcake Beanie, $30
6. Puckered Salutation Scarf, $32
7. Alternative Apparel Large Collar Jacket, $80
8. Jeweler’s Bronze Whitetail Deer Antler Ring, $55
9. Nostalgic Fireplace Decoration
, $16.99
10. Blowfish Jasper Boots in Taupe, $79
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 6, 2010 | Media
(Or is it Spanish Elle.com?) Well, I don’t speak Spanish, but what Google Translate is telling me is that the above reads:
“Do It Yourself Fever”
Ingenuity and creativity in fashion trump all in times of crisis.
The DIY phenomenon is sweeping the world.
Featured along with other DIY blogger powerhouses such as …love, Maegan, Park & Cube, behind the seams, A Pair & A Spare, the caption under my photo reads:
It is one of the most sought-after jackets so if you have not been lucky, DIY like this blogger. Blogger Chic Steals shows you a tutorial.
(At least, I think this is what it says…please let me know if I’m totally off-base!)
The tutorial for my DIY Band Jacket is actually here (it’s not linked correctly above or on the site).
Thanks so much, Elle Spain and Paula Llanos García…I truly appreciate the feature and am so excited to be on your site!!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 6, 2010 | Fashion
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a number of gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories in need of a good home. And if you’ve tried to sell them online before, pretty much the only option was Ebay. But was it really worth the hassle? You’re hit with a listing fee, a Gallery fee, a Reserve Price fee, a final price fee if your item does sell, a Buy It Now fee…and if your item doesn’t sell, you don’t get your money back. (Sure you can relist it for free, but if it still doesn’t sell?? You’re outta luck, my friend.:-( And if your item does finally sell, usually what it ends up selling for isn’t really worth all that listing hassle and fee upon fee upon fee. There’s a reason many people call it FEEBAY!
I have tried many times to sell clothing from my closet (that I’ve hardly worn, mind you!) on Ebay with frustrating results. Sometimes I ended up paying Ebay more money than I actually make from the sale!!
That’s why I was so excited to hear about Smashion, a no-fees online online fashion marketplace and community that connects buyers and sellers with a passion for budget fashion.
Yes – NO FEES! At all. Sell for free, buy for free. A virtual free-for-all, if you will.;-) Launched in October of 2009, Smashion enables users to buy or sell lightly-worn or NWT (new with tag) apparel and accessories in the Marketplace, and also acts as a social networking platform for users to express their unique style and converse with each other on fashion topics.
Got something to sell? Whether it is a piece of jewelry you’ve designed, a pair of new shoes that have been sitting idly in your closet, or that dress you wore only a couple of times (but still looks great), you can sell it on Smashion. They charge no listing or transaction fees, nor do they have any hidden fees.
But Smashion isn’t just limited to buying and selling. It’s also a social networking and sharing platform, where you can:
* Get inspired and inspire others in the Gallery, where you can upload pictures of your own unique looks or the styles you’ve captured on the street.
* Talk with other users in the Forums on anything that’s fashion-related, from the latest trends and your favorite designers to a fashion crisis you’re facing. Start by introducing yourself and learn why the Smashion Forums are unique.
* Read up on recent fashion news or opinions on the Smashion blog.
* Find your friends on Smashion or invite your friends to join in on the fun.
Smashion was originally founded in response to the growing trend of wearing second-hand clothing and the lack of a community-based, fashion-focused online marketplace. They showcase everyone, from closet recyclers and wardrobe refreshers to vintage treasure hunters and budget-conscious fashionistas, providing a service for the community that is fee-free. Since launching they also have included independent designers who are tired of high fees on other sites, and business owners who are looking to sell excess inventory in their Marketplace, so there is always something for everyone.
And if you like finding buried treasure, how about Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Sam Edelman, Anthropologie, Escada, and Michael Kors? Just click around and go hunting…
Click on through using my invite link below, and see what it’s all about…
Edit 12/7: By the way, they also are currently having a Holiday User Referral program going on where you could win $100 cash for inviting your friends to join. Check out this page for more details!
xoxox
Carly
FTC Disclosure: Smashion is now a sponsor of Chic Steals with a paid advertisement in my left sidebar. However, I was not paid for or compensated for this post in any way. To read my full disclosure policy, see here.
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Dec 4, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
So, my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge is over…where I challenged myself to wear something from the recesses of my closet (that I had pretty much forgotten) every day, always incorporating something handmade or DIY into the outfit. I had a lot of fun with playing with my closet, which really reminded me that I need to do that more often. And to wear things I’ve made. Oftentimes I’ve make something and then forget to wear it, or I just enjoyed the process of making it so much, I never realized it wasn’t really my style. But that’s good – it’s helped me clean out a lot of items in my closet that aren’t “my style.”
So what is my style? And how many DIY items did I incorporate into my outfits?
Well, let’s take a look back…(handmade and DIY items are listed and linked where appropriate, from left to right)
Day 1: DIY legwarmer cuffs / handmade Rock Candy ring
Day 2: handmade reversible zip dress / handmade studded ring band
Day 3: handmade reversible studded dress
Day 9: handmade convertible jacket / handmade goldstone necklace
Day 13: DIY Band Jacket / handmade leggings / handmade whipped cream heart pendant
Day 15: handmade crocheted chain necklace / DIY Convertible Button Skirt (tute coming soon)
Day 16: DIY studded beret / DIY pearl-detail gloves
Day 21: DIY pierced rose brooch / handmade pyrite and spike rings / DIY Wrap Curtain Skirt (tute coming soon)
Day 22: DIY Smock Dress (tute coming soon) / handmade Vinyl & Snaptape Belt
Day 23: DIY Hybrid Sweater (tute coming soon) / DIY Alexander Wang Stirrup Socks (tute coming soon)
Day 24: DIY pocket watch necklace / handmade bracelet / DIY ribbon belt / altered dress
Day 26: DIY Ring-Detail Hat / DIY Shirt Collar & Cuffs
Day 27: handmade chain earcuff / DIY WORD! Velcro Tee (tute coming soon) / DIY Distressed Cutoff Shorts (tute coming soon)
Day 28: DIY mesh-and-rhinestone earrings (will be in next issue of
Snippets) /
DIY Bow Tunic Dress / DIY Maribou Feather Clutch (tute coming soon)
Day 30: DIY crystal stud earrings / DIY magazine clutch purse / handmade Swarovski rhinestone cut-out back dress
It’s interesting to see every day laid out like that…It’s also amusing to see my garden and the Fall leaves in full time-elapse glory…and to see me relegated to my kitchen as the weather got progressively worse throughout the month.;-)
So what’s my style? I sure love black, and patterns that are variations on stripes…gray, white, pink, and blue are some other fave colors…I prefer separates to dresses, I love lots of crazy accessories, high heels, and posing with my legs crossed, staring off to the right…;-)
What does your daily fashion say about YOU?
Though it’s been surprisingly easy to style my outfits (and fun!), the sheer work of the photographing, editing, uploading, and posting an outfit each day was staggering. Total props to Jessica of WhatIWore or some of the people on Lookbook.nu – because to do this daily is such a huge time commitment!!
Because of doing this daily, this meant I couldn’t do any DIY’ing, and barely had the time or stamina to post any other content on this blog during November. Plus a lot of my other projects languished during this month, so now I have to put my nose to the grindstone and dive back into them. And there’s still a pile of DIY’s and projects I’m dying to get to!
So now back to prioritizing…
I hope you guys enjoyed this 30 Days of Outfits and inspired you to pull out some things in your closet you rarely wear and see how you can mix things up! (Plus add a little DIY to your life…;-)
Thanks for following along!
xoxox
Carly
P.S. I know some of you really liked this…I may attempt this again in the future…when the holidays *gulp* are completely over with;-)
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Dec 2, 2010 | DIY, Fashion, Life
Rhinestone Dangle Earrings: Forever 21. Small Crystal Studs: handmade by me. Dress with Cut-Out Back and Swarovski Crystal Detailing: handmade by me. Magazine Clutch: DIY. Pleated Satin Shoes: Charlotte Russe.
Day 30 in my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 30.
Boy, these 30 days have flown by!
I felt it appropriate to end these 30 days in the Dress That Began It All, also known as the Bacardi Limon dress.
No, it didn’t mark the start of my DIY’ing! (I’ve been making my own stuff since I was 9.)
This dress was officially the start of my Fashion Career.
Rewind to Winter of 2006…I was a stay-at-home mom to a baby just over a year old, and my days were filled from morning to night with bottlesdiaperslaundrycleaningplayingwithbaby / bottlesdiaperslaundrycleaningreadingtobaby / bottlesdiaperslaundrycleaningmakingdinnerforeveryone / bottlesdiaperslaundrycleaningcomfortingbaby etc. I did have a Mom’s Club meeting once a week, but otherwise that was my life. It had been so long since I had done anything creative. It was a very difficult time for me.
I began to have more stamina to stay awake after Lil Tot had gone down for the night, so I would try to catch up on email and surf the web a little. One night I happened upon a posting about a design competition, sponsored by FashionTribes.com and The Daily – where entrants had to sketch a dress inspired by the flavor of Bacardi Limon.
Now, being a nondrinker, I had no idea what Bacardi Limon even was, but I read the press releases about the new flavor and over the course of 2 evenings or so I sketched 6 designs, inked and watercolored them, scanned them, and then sent them in to the contest. It was right before Christmas and I had been staying up late trying to get all my Christmas cards written, and instead for two evenings I just immersed myself in what I loved: designing and drawing.
And then I completely forgot about them and the contest and everything. I just figured I didn’t win. Life went on, pretty much unchanged.
And then in February I heard the phone ring while I was lying down next to Lil Tot trying to lull him into taking his morning nap (which he refused to do unless I was lying down with him). I couldn’t answer it and it went to the answering machine. After Lil Tot finally fell asleep despite the interruption, I went to check on the message.
And was utterly stumped by its contents. I had to play it a few times to understand it. Someone who I didn’t know, from some number in a New York area code, calling from a something-Group, wanted me to call her immediately about some competition. And then I realized what it was, called, and was told
I was one of the 5 finalists they had picked from more than 300 entries around the United States in that Bacardi Limon design competition!
The dress design that was chosen as a finalist.
A whirlwind ensued. It turned out that the PR group had picked the dress I had designed that had a cut-out in the back, like a lemon slice, as the finalist entry. I had to make the dress I designed. I was being flown to New York to compete in a live “Cut-and-Sew” competition “just like Project Runway” that would be televised and everything. I made another dress in black to take with me to New York and wear while there. I went in March 2007. It was the first time I had been away from Lil Tot so long (I’d only been away from him at the most for 3 hours up until then, since he had born 15 months prior). I met the other finalists in the competition, some who’ve remained my friends to this day. I did the live Cut-and-Sew, where I made yet another version of the yellow dress.
At the live cut-and-sew competition, where we had just about 7 hours to make our dresses again.
At the event after-party. Photo by FashionWireImage’s Dmitris Kambouris.
I didn’t win, but I returned home determined to make my 15 minutes of fame into something worthwhile. I parlayed that press coverage and local interest into a great story for me founding a misses’ line of clothing and jewelry. I hired a party planner and PR whiz who helped me plan a launch party for the line, inviting the who’s who of the fashion elite and helping me with press releases, gift bags, branding, the works. I hired a patternmaker to make and grade the patterns, a samplemaker to make the samples. I bought fabric and had it shipped from LA to Hawaii, where I lived at the time. I produced a line, had a runway show, trotted it to local boutiques trying to sell it. A few pieces ended up in a few places.
The models from the launch party and runway show, myself, my patternmaker, and samplemaker. Photo by Elliot Takane.
Hub believed in me and allowed me to use our savings for this venture. I began to produce a Winter Collection and then began to run out of money. The previous pieces weren’t selling well, there were fit and sewing issues. Much of it was returned. I couldn’t pay anyone else to help me and couldn’t do it all myself anymore. We moved to Oregon in late Fall and I officially closed the line down. And I also reached out to FashionTribes.com to see if they wanted someone to write content for them, so I could at least stay connected to the world of fashion even if I couldn’t design.
So I wrote for them. And wrote for them. And started my own blog. And wrote for it. And wrote and contributed to other blogs and websites. And started to design things again, on a small scale, to sell in my Etsy shop.
And here I am today.
Now all that was a bit of a tangent.:-) I guess the point of all this is that sometimes the path from A to B is not in a straight line, and what seems tangential is actually useful experience that sets us up for something better.
I still want to design; I love designing but I HATE the manufacturing of clothing, and being financially responsible for all of it. It’s very scary for a small, struggling family to take on ourselves. Not a very good idea. And it’s too much work for a single person to run an entire line by themselves, even with a patternmaker helping out. Plus I enjoy more working within parameters – maybe not pushing boundaries so much, but working within someone else’s aesthetic or color story or mood board or whatever.
I’m glad I found that out about myself! Who knows if I ever will get the opportunity to design for someone else…but it’s been a great journey, and I’ve learned a ton along the way.
That’s why this dress is so special: it truly marks the beginning. (The other yellow dresses I made for the competition were kept by the PR company as far as I know.)
The dress I designed was a boatneck 50’s style flared party dress that I drafted the pattern to. (For the yellow, I turned the yellow satin inside-out since I liked the matte side better:-) I added a double-layer of iridescent chiffon to the hem. The back was a complicated citrus-shaped cut-out with floating bands attached to a central ring, and Swarovski crystal “seeds” suspended in the bands.
I am a much better sewer and patternmaker now than I was then – and the back of the dress was extremely complicated. I knew exactly what I wanted for securing the Swarovski rhinestones into the cutout, but I couldn’t find elasticized crochet cord sold by the yard. The back was very difficult to fit properly.
The clutch was made by gluing a magazine cover onto a small clutch from Target with E-5000 glue. Any flexible glue would work here, though.
30 Days of Outfits – ALL DIY! What fun it’s been!
Also, if you’re curious to see how others fared, please check out Katarina from She sells sea shells, who’s been doing this Challenge along with me – you can see her last couple outfits here, here, and here.
xoxox
Carly
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