Oct 10, 2011 | DIY, Fashion
I ended up having too much to do this evening and took a day off from attending the shows. Most years I haven’t felt that I’ve seen anything innovative or worth blogging about on the activewear days (sorry, Portland!!), but this year apparently it was a day worth going to. (Mostly because they bundled the eco-friendly collections on the same day as the activewear…not the best move IMHO.)
I’m super-sorry to have missed Anna Cohen‘s collection especially, since it was a collection designed for the customer to actually DIY their own knits utilizing her Imperial Yarn!! Did someone say DIY??! Right up my alley;-) As for the rest of the collections, you guys can be the judge of whether this night was worth attending, after viewing local uber-talented photogs OSI Photography‘s beautiful shots* below: (more…)
Oct 10, 2011 | DIY, Fashion
I personally love the Free People catalog – it’s always chock-full of inspiration (both styling inspiration and DIY!) and on every page emanates an ethereal, dreamy beauty. I’m digging all the rust- and caramel colors, reminiscent of Fall foliage, and the beautiful 70’s-style textures that are just begging to be touched. Here are a couple DIY inspirations that struck me as totally do-able this season:
Update a jacket with a printed fabric glued onto the back of it and decorated with pompons. Add a yarn fringe trim around the edges, and more printed ribbon at the cuffs.
Break away from boring stripes by sewing in gray jersey at the sleeves.
Create a convertible coat by cutting a wool overcoat in half just below the waist, hemming each piece, and adding heavy-duty snaps to hold the whole thing together (you’ll lose about 1.5″ of length though).
Easily re-create this necklace with a scrap of leather, a rhinestone, and some wooden beads. Looking for a fur vest? Try P.S. I Made This‘ tutorial using faux fur here.
Glue bright, striped fabric over the outers and tongues of a pair of black combat boots. Leave the toeboxes uncovered.
This dress totally reminds me of A Pair and a Spare‘s DIY Bodycon rug-dress. Could you not use the rug fabric in different orientations to create the front of this little number, layering it on top of a black bodycon dress? I think you could!!
Find a pretty lace crocheted doily/throw/tablecloth, and if needed cut out parts of it so the design stands out, and use it as you would fabric to create a cropped tee. The necklace? A piece of gold embossing metal (available at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics) lying on a sticky-foam backing with jumprings attached to it. Anyone can do it!
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 8, 2011 | Fashion
It’s early October again, which means Portland Fashion Week (truncated to only 4 days this year) once again begins nightly runway shows down at Vigor Shipyard. PFW is the only fashion week in the world that is entirely carbon neutral, and this year the runway is made entirely of PET textile provided by EarthTec. Many designers are showcasing collections made not only of organic fibers, but also recycled plastic bottles, videotape, and locally-sourced and woven wool. (more…)
Oct 6, 2011 | Fashion
If any of you peeps happen to be in the NYC area, there is a great sample sale happening this weekend at the Brooklyn Winery where items will be up to 90% off! Ash & Dans will be offering sales from their collaborations with Beirn and new buzzed-about line Porter Grey, so if you’re all about their chic simplicity (and 90% off!!) head out to Brooklyn around 2 PM to get your fashion fix.
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 2, 2011 | DIY, Fashion
Above: cut the collar of a bright shirt and wear with a low scoop-neckline neutral cami.
The Spring 2012 Carven RTW runway show was chock-full of DIY inspiration from the latest trends. Removable collars? Cut-outs? Bright color-blocking? Oh yes, give me more! 
Thrift a bright knit camisole and cut the neckline into a low scoop; finish the top with hand-stitching or machine-stitching to prevent unraveling. Wear over a white button-down.
Cut an oval shape out of the center of a simple black dress.
Cut a wavy shape out of the front of a leatherette mini=dress (check the thrift store for possibilities). Wear over a denim blouse that’s had the sleeves cut off.
Cut a zig-zag shape into the front of a bright dress. Glue black lace into the hole from the inside.
Cut a heart-shape out of the front of a white blouse. (One that buttons down the back if you can find it.) Wear with a bright decorated collar necklace that sits right in the cut-out.
Cut a wavy shape out of a leatherette mini-dress. Pull apart some metallic flowers (from the floral or the scrapbooking section of the craft store); glue onto the dress with leather glue.
Cut out a round shape at the bust of a bright dress. Splatter with gobs of contrasting fabric paint.
Change the cut-out regimen by cutting out a rectangle just above the waist of a striped dress. Add some large beads or paillettes in a similar color across the neckline.
Cut out a polygon shape from above the waistline of a lace dress. Glue black lace into the hole from the inside.
xoxox
Carly
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Photos by Marcus Tondo / GoRunway.com, from Style.com
Oct 1, 2011 | Fashion
photo source
My husband (and sometime-photographer for this blog) has been having debilitating back pain for the last month, which has gotten excruciating this week. He’s been back and forth to doctors and just had an MRI yesterday to determine the cause. Though it’s not certain yet, he’s expected to have a herniated disc and is on heavy-duty pain meds. He’s been almost unable to move around at all, so I’ve taken over everything to do with the house, making meals, running errands, and taking our son to school, as well as taking care of him. Between that and classes for my school starting this week, it’s been near impossible to keep up with posting/commenting etc, let alone DIY’ing. Hopefully he’ll get a certain diagnosis this week and start some sort of rehabilitation soon.
I’ll get back to tutorials and blogging etc. as I can. Thanks for being patient!
xoxox
Carly
