Jul 23, 2013 | Fashion
I couldn’t wait to share with all of you the latest lookbook images from the Japanese brand m.soeur. Designed by Kyoto-born Emi Ono, the line is ethereal and lovely, incorporating tea-dyed and hand-made silk flowers and lace into accessories, jewelry, and removable clothing embellishments. Inspired by trees, flowers, and natural elements, the designer also creates custom settings for earrings and rings in twisted brass and silver. (Love their signature floral earcuff! – above left.) Check out m.soeur’s breathtaking creations for 2013 below, and see previous collections on their official website here.
m. soeur is sold in select boutiques throughout Japan, and in France (find the list here), and online at i-Lumine and ZOZOTOWN.
xo
Carly
Jul 17, 2013 | Fashion
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:
One of my favorite things about summer are the gorgeous and perfect summer nights… clear skies with stars scattered, the warm glow of late night bonfires, and community with friends and family. This month, I was inspired by the warmth that July brings. I feel that the guitar is the perfect instrument to mimic this warmth with its soft tone and embracing harmonics. I’ve included a few of my own guitar tracks from my earlier years in the midst of songs by some of my favorite groups. Check out the discography of the other artists on this mix for songs that will soothe your soul as your whittling away on your latest DIY project.
~Little Warrior
Listen and enjoy!
Hope you guys are enjoying the playlists!
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
Jul 9, 2013 | Fashion
Crazy Wind, founded by designer Chiyo Takahashi, utilizes authentic kasuri textiles directly from Japan to produce modern clothing with a distinctly Japanese flair. Sourced from family-run factories in remote regions of Japan, kasuri textiles are a type of ikat fabric, dyed with indigo, that take about 2 months to create, all executed by skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. Chiyo, who was born in Japan but moved to America since she was a teenager, works with her mother to source the unique fabrics. The Crazy Wind name comes from a Japanese word “Fuukyo-“, which means insanity, a mad man or a person obsessed with his/her own art. The word “Fuukyo-“ is constructed with two characters, “Wind” and “Crazy”. Chiyo found a calligraphy drawing her late father made of “Fuukyo-“ while cleaning out a closet – and loved how he redrew the word “Wind” with an angry looking gorilla character. She writes that “It was as though [my father] was saying ‘Be crazy and go your own way!'”
(more…)
Jul 1, 2013 | Beauty, Fashion
We’re all busy. Life can be totally hectic sometimes, and it’s easy to let one’s beauty routine fall by the wayside, especially when you’re in a rush. Besides being a full-time fashion and DIY blogger and freelancing in graphic design and illustration, I’m also a full-time mom to a rambunctious 7 year-old. It seems no matter how early we get up in the morning, we always end up in the car 20 minutes late to get my little one to school. Body lotion is the last thing on my mind in those precious few minutes I have to get ready.
But summer’s here, and I want to walk around in breezy dresses, shorts, and shorter skirts. My legs are nowhere near summer-ready and I am way behind on starting a moisturizing routine, but I’m still in a rush and honestly quite lazy when it comes to beauty. The more hands-off and fuss-free, the better!
That’s why Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer appealed to me from the very first commercial I saw (I tried the Total Moisture® variant, specifically). Spray it? Go? Instant absorption? Sounds like Vaseline just cut moisturizing time in half. It’s super easy to use–same concept as using hairspray or spray-on sunblock–just uncap, aim, and spray.
The moisturizer is actually more of a lightweight lotion (with a multi-layer moisture complex), and I was surprised by how quickly it absorbed into my skin. Before, I would apply body lotion (when I would remember to) at night after my bath, but with Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer I can just add it into my morning routine and have healthy, moisturized skin all day without the mess.
To apply, you just spray up, switch hands, spray down, and then rub in (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”). After spraying it on and rubbing it in, I put on a pair of jeans within 3 minutes and my legs weren’t sticking to the inside of the jeans–an awesome improvement.
And I was surprised that my legs were still soft and gleaming–even when I got in the bath about 8 hours later in the evening, when the water beaded wherever I had applied the moisturizer.
Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer comes in three variants: Total Moisture, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft skin (pictured); Aloe Fresh, which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh, and Cocoa Radiant™, which contains cocoa butter and leave feeling healthy and skin glowing.
And yes, although I am still rushed in the morning, it’s not that big of a deal to just spray the moisturizer onto my legs before slipping into jeans.
Soon…I’ll be slipping into shorts. 😉
Sweepstakes: Win a $1,000 SpaFinder Gift Card
Tell me! How would Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer maximize your morning? Each comment will automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card. Entries will be pooled from participating blogs and one winner chosen.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner 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 7/1/13 – 7/31/13.
Be sure to visit the Vaseline® Spray & Go page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
To learn more about Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer visit their Facebook Page!
Good luck to everyone!
xo Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post is part of a paid campaign with Vaseline® and BlogHer. I received compensation for the post, and a sample of Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture. All opinions are my own. My Disclosure Policy is here.
Jun 28, 2013 | Fashion
photo from fromthelenz.com
Welcome to another installment of F.I.L.L.! This week’s been hot and muggy here in Tokyo, punctuated by a couple window-shopping expeditions, a high-end sushi lunch, and Pool Day at Lil Tot’s elementary. Here are some links online that have caught my eye this past week:
Dream It: Inspiration & Creativity
Neuroknitting creates scarves based on your brainwaves. Interesting – and a beautiful personalized expression. (Ecouterre)
The From the Lenz artist duo photographed a series of glow sticks being dropped into waterfalls in their Neon Luminance series. Mesmerizing and brilliant. (Demilked)
The apartment from the TV series “Friends,” re-created in tiny, loving detail (and it only took 2 years to make!) What do you think of it? (Brit.co)
Buy It: Shopping Picks
ASOS is currently having a HUGE up to 50% off Sale – and I just snapped up this adorable dotted raincoat
. Perfect for Portland 10 months out of the year!!
Speaking of rain, I keep seeing these clear ombre-tinted rain boots everywhere in Tokyo, and am thinking of getting a pair too. Luckily if you don’t live here you can also get them here!
This coral red slouchy handbag seems like it would go with everything in my closet this season. I love how bright it is!!
Make It: DIY
Like origami? And anatomy? How about an anatomically-correct origami human torso? Try out this DIY Paper Torso with downloadable templates. Not for the squeamish, but a great learning tool. (ThisIsColossal)
Fellow Portlander Rachel from Transient Expression posted a 3-step tutorial for a DIY Waxed Canvas Tote Bag. Follow the whole tutorial to first sew the bag, then wax the canvas, and finally add the straps for a fun multi-part DIY project this Summer. (Transient Expression)
DesignThrift made these pretty Tasseled Hoop Earrings – I just love all the variations on the design that she posted! So perfect with a maxidress or cutoffs this season. (DesignThrift)
Live It: Lifestyle
7 Surprising Productivity Hacks will have you leaving work by noon. Sometimes I wish I actually started my workday at 9 AM so I could put these to the test. (Lift.do Blog)
If you’re concerned that major find on Ebay is a knockoff, here are 20 Foolproof Ways to Spot an Authentic Hermes Birkin. The subtle differences between hand-made and mass-manufactured are easier to spot with this list. (DesignerVault)
Brit + Co. has just raised $6.3 million to build the DIY-themed company further, expanding on video and online content. Have you checked them out yet? (Gigaom)
Get your FILL every Friday!
xo
Carly
Hi all! Hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth of July (if you celebrate it, that is). 
