Dec 22, 2009 | Fashion
If you’re like me, the thought of wearing the same garment 2 days in a row feels…like a cop-out almost, or the epitome of anti-style.
But blogger Sheena Matheiken has taken the concept of wearing the same piece repeatedly, (daily, in fact) and styling it so differently each time so that it looks like a completely different outfit.
And it’s not just a self-congratulatory style experiment either – The Uniform Project was conceived as a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has worked to bring education to the poorest children in India – allocating as much money on each child’s schooling as the Indian government spends on the priveleged children. All contributions from the Uniform Project will go toward funding the new Akanksha schools that are opening in Mumbai and Pune – and the Project has already raised $47,000: enough for 130 children to attend school.
Beginning in May 2009 (alright, so I’m a little behind on this) – Sheena has worn the same dress every single day (but it can be worn back-to-front and with the buttons unbuttoned for a little variety), uploading a daily outfit photo. (Well, technically she has 7 dresses that she rotates, but all are exactly the same.) She has styled the piece with various accessories and “accoutrements;” the majority of which are be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies (or donations from designers wanting to have their piece featured on the site).
Sheena writes “I was raised and schooled in India where uniforms were a mandate in most public schools. Despite the imposed conformity, kids always found a way to bend the rules and flaunt a little personality. Boys rolled up their sleeves, wore over-sized swatches, and hiked up their pants to show off their high-tops. Girls obsessed over bangles, bindis and bad hairdos. Peaking through the sea of uniforms were the idiosyncrasies of teen style and individual flare. I now want to put the same rules to test again, only this time I’m trading in the catholic school fervor for an eBay addiction and relocating the school walls to this wonderful place called the internet.” And it’s an exercise in sustainable fashion, officially endorsed by the eBay GreenTeam!
I came across this site earlier and fell in love with Sheena’s eclectic style – she borrows elements from so many different cultures and trends it’s difficult to pin her down – so every day is a new surprise!
You can sign up for the mailing list to find out when the dress, made by the blogger’s friend Eliza Starbuck, will be available for purchase.
Watch the video below to find out more, and add the Uniform Project to your bookmarks to get a daily dose of style inspiration.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7046484&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
The Uniform Project Trailer from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.
-Carly J. Cais
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Dec 17, 2009 | Fashion
The Holidays are now upon us, so let’s look at some high-end gifts vs. some actually affordable pieces, courtesy of Kipling.
HIGH PRICE:
MULBERRY METALLIC COLLECTION; TORY BURCH CLUTCH ($315);
FRANCESCO BIASA CLUTCH ($318)
AFFORDABLE:
HIGH PRICE:
CARLOS FALCHI PYTHON TOTE ( $2675)
AFFORDABLE:
HIGH PRICE:
MARC JACOBS BLUE SEQUIN BAG ($1396)
AFFORDABLE:
Kipling Blue Sequin Bag $59.00
HIGH-PRICE:
PRADA ($2,250); JIMMY CHOO TOTE ($1,396)
D&G ($1,252; CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ($1,295)
AFFORDABLE:
I don’t know about you but I am coveting everything!
AND…take $20 off an order of $100 or more at Kipling-usa.com (for new BillMeLater customers) AND get free 2-day shipping until December 21 (mah birthday!)
Happy Lo-Priced Shopping!
-Carly J. Cais
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Dec 16, 2009 | Fashion
Runway photos: Roberto Cavalli, Antonio Berardi, Giles Fall 2009 Collections.
After seeing all those thigh-high boots on the Fall runways this season, I’m having a Pretty Woman revival moment and am lusting after a pair of thigh-high boots lately – gray suede, to be exact. I have wayyyyy too much black in my life, and gray I’ve found is almost as versatile. Plus black is so expected. But thigh-high boots can run you a pretty penny – especially with a platform and a high heel.
So what to do?
I bought GoJane’s Cuff Down Platform boot for $31.30 and folded the cuff up over my knee.
They’re technically not over-the-knee boots (and aren’t being marketed as such), but since the cuff isn’t tacked down to the shaft of the boot, folding it up is not a problem! I wanted them to be gray but I overlooked that the color said “taupe,” not exactly one of my favorite colors. But it’s growing on me. I guess being slightly brownish makes them even more versatile.
Since they’re no longer available, you could also try theFold-Over Suede Boot in Gray for $23.40. They don’t have a platform, though.
Or how about the Suede Slouchy Fold Over Cuff Boot in Dark Grey for $28.10? Sounds like a good deal to me!
Enter GJSHIP50 and get free shipping on orders of $50 or more at GoJane!
And now there’s Alloy’s convertible Marlane Boot available for $42.90, lined with faux fur! That boot is actually designed to be a thigh-high….but whichever way you go, I think over-the-knee platform boots for $30-$43 is a pretty darn good deal, no?
I’ll be announcing the winners of my Post #300 Giveaway shortly!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 14, 2009 | Fashion
How to Wear Plaid – and some of my affordable picks linked in.
Weekend
Client Meeting
(I’m not so sure this would be appropo for a client per se, but I think it’s pretty cute as a casual look)
Date
The topmost photo array features items rom the Sunner Collection, available exclusively at Bloomingdale’s and Bloomingdales.com. (My affordable version picks are from etailers like Alloy.com, Buckle.com, Macys.com, Karmaloop.com, and WetSeal.com.)
Hope that gives you some ideas!
-Carly J. Cais
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Dec 12, 2009 | Fashion
I’m sure you’ve already heard of Ideeli, a members’-only online shopping site that offers limited-time sales of designer brands discounted up to 80% off. But…in case you’re not a member…
(*available to new members only)
Click my personal invite link above to sign up! You’re not obligated to make a purchase – and within 48 hours of signing up, your account will be credited $10! (Perhaps you can make a dent in that mile-long holiday shopping list??)
Shop sales like Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes & handbags, current/elliott, lucca, vix, Me&Ro, Ed Hardy, kitchenaid, and Perlina.
Or enter their fabulous THANKS A MILLION giveaway with $15,000 in prizes – including a round-trip to NYC, a shopping spree, pampering at Bliss Spa, and clothing from ADAM.
*$10 account credit promotion only available until December 24, 2009.
-Carly J. Cais
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Dec 12, 2009 | Fashion
Lindsay Lohan looks druggy and haggard in MUSE magazine…& releases the NSFW video from the shoot (what’s new?)
Brit It-Girl Alexa Chung’s “It’s On With Alexa” cancelled after 2 seasons on MTV… (wish I had watched it so I could feel ticked off at MTV)
13-year-old Blogger Tavi Gevinson Writes Column for Harper’s Bazaar and Makes Video about Rodarte for Style.com… (insert gagging noise here)
Rodarte for Target is Coming! (And you could get it a week early at Target’s Pop-Up Shops in NY, San Francisco, and DC) (But the questions one everyone’s mind is: Will you buy it? And is the model a man or a woman?)
V Magazine Features Plus-Size Models (including Crystal Renn) in January Issue (yay or nay?)
-Carly J. Cais
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If you’re like me, the thought of wearing the same garment 2 days in a row feels…like a cop-out almost, or the epitome of anti-style.
You can sign up for the mailing list to find out when the dress, made by the blogger’s friend Eliza Starbuck, will be available for purchase.
