Nov 13, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
Mongolian Fur Vest: LB-03 (Shibuya-109, Tokyo); Plaid Shirt: DIY’ed Mossimo (Target). White Scribble Tee: DIY. Zip-leg Skinny Jeans: Alloy. Suedette Slouch Boots: GoJane.com
A low-key day. I wanted to give my face a break from the daily makeup routine, so I went without makeup, and left my hair undone. But I still pulled items from the back of my wardrobe out to wear!
The scribble tee I did a DIY of here. Just one of Hub’s old undershirts with fabric paint “scribbled” all over it to hide the pilling and thinning of the fabric.
The plaid top I actually altered from a shirt I found in the men’s section at Target. If you’re willing to alter shirts to a more fitted, feminine shape – then the men’s section is a great place to shop! (It’s usually cheaper than the women’s for say, plaid shirts – since there are usually fewer design details and the pattern for the pieces is simpler. And female consumers will pay a little more for their clothes without questioning it, where men usually buy for value.) For this shirt, since I just wanted to make it fitted, I sewed a line just inside the side seams.
The jeans I added ankle-zips to since I also like wearing them unzipped over ankle boots – and the skinny jean thus becomes a flare-leg. So easy and versatile to do this DIY! Threadbanger has the how-to vid.
The MarioKart cake is half-finished but I’ve now run out of frosting, so I have to complete it tomorrow morning once the stores open. Little bit low on sleep – will be signing off now…
See y’all tomorrow – hope everyone has some fun plans for the weekend!;-)
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 12, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
Rhinestone necklaces: DIY. Pyramid Stone Necklace: Ann Taylor. Organza Over-Jacket: hanmade by me. White LS Top: Forever 21. Oxidized Twisted Branch& Flower Rings: mocha (Shibuya, Japan). Enamel Ring: unknown. Pleat-Front Pegged Trousers: DIY. Trouser Socks: Target. White Perforated Orfords: 10 W Rue – thrifted.
Day 11 of my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 11.
Veteran’s Day…and the day H&M finally opened in Portland!! Yay!
So I went down there, thinking I might get a good spot in line 3 and a half hours before they were going to open.
Nope! There were people in tents who had slept out on the sidewalk since the night before.
It was insane!! It was bitterly cold and the two lines stretched outside around the block, even at 8:30 AM when I stopped by.
I snapped a couple photos and then went to the fabric store instead, and then browsed YesStyle for a couple hours, filling my virtual shopping basket with pretty things from Asia, and then emptying it again. It was somewhat of a pointless day.;-)
The necklaces I DIY’ed from some Forever 21 jewelry to make them look like some $89 necklaces from J. Crew’s catalog. My tutorial is here.
The peach-colored top with shoulder pads I made and brought with me to last NYFW, as part of a mini-collection. I was just trying to sound out the possibilities of developing the collection and selling to the publis. I came to the conclusion that it was just too risky to go back into clothing production at this point in the economy. I’m feeling a slight shift in consumer attitudes – and I’m not sure a brand-new clothing line with stuff made the same old way that we’ve always done it is the way to go. I think things have to be different – manufacturers have to go about producing things a different way – in order to find success as a start-up in this post-consumer economy. I’m not sure we can continue sourcing fabrics and materials, creating patterns, producing offshore in large numbers, and then pushing the finished items onto the American consumer as the New! thing, or Best! thing, or Hot! thing. I’m not sure it’s really responsible to keep doing things the same way that’s gotten the whole industry in trouble.
At least, that’s my 2cents.
So until I figure out a better way to produce pretty clothes not utilizing brand-new fabrics, offshore labor, and manufacturing policies that cut unnecessary corners in order to squeeze out the last penny of profit, my clothing line will still remain a pipe dream. On the one hand, I want more control over design – and virgin fabrics straight off the bolt can be fashioned into anything imagineable. And they’re clean, available usually in large quantity, and unchanging quality. On the other hand, fabric from the bolt is very expensive. Using stuff that already exists (the excess clothing at the Goodwill Outlet, for example) – is far cheaper. However, design of the final product is severely limited by what you find. And even if you find something that works for you it’s not an item that’s in abundant, unlimited supply, either – you may find a fabulous shirt made out of lovely material at the Bins one day that you can repurpose for a bag or something – but that’s just it: ONE bag. You can’t make a line of them, and once you sell that ONE BAG that’s it. All that work put into producing the pattern, making a muslin, producing a sample, sourcing the notions etc. is now for naught since you can’t make the exact same thing again. You also have to sell that one-off for an incredibly high price to justify all the work that went into it. Or you produce a motley “line” of items that are all one-offs, made from different fabrics, that can’t be sold in multiple pieces anywhere or for low enough price points that many people can buy them. That’s why Raquel Allegra‘s shredding work on her line using t-shirts from the LA County Jail was so ingenious – there was so much of that material available, in almost unlimited supply, and her handiwork on them imbued them with so much value the price points were easily justifiable.
Sorry – little tangent there. It’s a very difficult balance: design innovation & high-quality materials (but with ecological and consumer waste) vs. design limitations & iffy, irreplaceable materials (but eco-friendly). I’m open to any suggestions!
I also love looking for pleat-front trousers at thrift stores – there are so many ugly ones from the 80’s! Just crop them and stitch the side-seams a little closer together near the ankle to taper them into the style that’s so popular now (and that I’m sure we’ll all hate come Fall of 2011).
Shoes were another fab Goodwill find…but the soles are so thin, they’re a little painful to walk in. I keep forgetting to buy Dr. Scholl’s for them.
Tomorrow I begin work on the massive MarioKart cake for Lil Tot! Wish me luck on the chomping flowers!;-)
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 11, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
Long Scarf (worn as turban): handmade by me. Silver Hoop Earrings: Claire’s. Printed Gathered Dress: Primp. Black LS Tee: Forever 21. Beaded Bracelets: handmade by me. Studded Rectangle Ring: handmade by me. Button-Embellished Belt: handmade by me. Crochet Tights: Target. Slouchy Suede Boots: GoJane.com. Wraparound Boot Chain: Aldo Accessories.
Day 10 of my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 10.
Since it’s been cold lately I’ve wanted something on my head to keep me warm. Hence my scarf! It was exceedingly simple to make: just a piece of Lycra-blend swimsuit fabric from the sewing store, cut into a long rectangle 13″ wide by 63″ long. I’ve worn it as a regular here, and as a hood over my head when it was really cold one day. But today I tied it as a turban – you start at the back of your neck and pull both ends up to the front of your head, twist once, and bring the ends back down to the back. I tucked the ends in to hide them.
Dress is by Primp – a recent HauteLook purchase. I just love HauteLook – they always carry very contemporary, edgy lines, usually for much cheaper than Gilt. The dress had a deep V-neck – which I felt uncomfortable with, so I sewed it closed. The dress has an interesting gathered shape and an easy feel to it – I don’t think I have any dresses like it in my closet.
The belt is a DIY of Burberry Prorsum’s Harlech Studded Warrior Belt. My tutorial is here.
Nails are Rimmel 399 Black Satin covered by Wet n Wild Megalast in Prancer. I’ve been toying with buying Deborah Lippmann’s Ruby Red Slippers
nail polish for awhile (just LOVE the red sequins and glitter), but it seemed an awful lot to pay for something I would normally wear layered over another color anyway. Sure enough, yesterday I spotted a similar version in the Wet n Wild end display at my local drugstore, and promptly snapped it up. It takes 2 coats to get a good glittery feel to it, but at least it wasn’t $18. And it looks dark and foreboding but glamorous layered over black. All’s well that ends well.:-)
Joining me in this Challenge is both Crafts and Creations with Kathy and Yarn Happiness. Check out their blogs to see their daily outfits and lend them your support!
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 10, 2010 | Fashion
Double Heart Earrings: unknown (received 17 years ago!!). Goldstone Overlapping Bead Necklace: handmade by me. Convertible Heart-Button Jacket: handmade by me. Ribbed V-Neck Top: Victoria’s Secret. Gold Rhinestone-Detail Ring: Icing by Claire’s. Black Enamel Ring: unknown. 13-button U.S. Navy Pants: vintage. Wedge Suede Boots: Metro7 (Wal-Mart) Chain Detail Flap Bag: unknown (thrifted).
Day 9 of my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 9.
Okay, Day 9 was actually YESTERDAY. I know. I’ve had this horrible cough and head cold that I picked up in France. 3 weeks and no sign of improvement!! So last night I just called it quits and went to sleep with Lil Tot. I slept about 10 hours!! And finally I feel like that cough’s on its way out. I guess all I needed was sleep.:-)
So sorry for the delay on that. Yesterday I had a Parent-Teacher conference at Lil Tot’s school. I thought to wear something slightly more businesslike than I normally do. And it was pouring rain all day, hence the horribly-lit taken-in-my-kitchen photos.
I made this jacket awhile ago (it’s one of my original designs), and wore it to my last parent-teacher meeting at his school. It has zipper trim and big quilted gold heart buttons. The front ruffle and the bottom part of the sleeves are detachable. See here for me wearing it with the ruffle attached.
The beads for the necklace I actually found at Jo-Ann’s – already strung in their “Gemstone Beads” section. I restrung them and added the silver crimp beads, black chain, and closure. I like that the necklace is both edgy and has a classic shape, and the subtle sparkle in the goldstone.
I was trying out something new with my lipstick, layering gold metallic shine (in the center of the lips) over an orangey-red color I got from Sephora. It’s a little hard to tell – I probably shouldn’t have been so liberal with the gold. And there was no saving my hair today – it was just too wet, and everything feel flat and limp. C’est la vie!
The little foldover bag was another great find from Goodwill. It’s really quite roomy inside and in such good condition! Why do people get rid of these things??
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 9, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
Plastic Headband: Goody. Gunmetal Wing Earrings: maurice’s. Leather-Collar Blouse: DIY. Pearl-Row 2-Finger Ring: Forever 21. Flower Ring and Twisted Branch Ring: unknown; from mocha in Tokyo. Pink Croco-Embossed Belt: Claire’s…? Gathered Paperbag-Waist Skirt: DIY. Reversible Black to Gray Tights: Hue. Chain-Handled Quilted Purse: Delia’s. Wrap-Around Spats-Heels: Qojelly.
Sorry for the horribly-lit photos in my kitchen; it’s raining cats and dogs out there now.
It is now Day 8 of my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 8.
If you’re just joining us today, this is my 30-day challenge to myself: to wear a heretofore forgotten outfit from the recesses of my closet, never wearing any outfit twice, and always incorporating something I’ve made or DIY’ed into the ensemble. It’s really helped reawaken my passion for a lot of the clothing I never wear on a regular basis – and helped me begin to clear out many things in my closet that I just don’t need. And it’s helped to break me out of the fashion rut I’ve been feeling I’ve been in as of late.
If this sounds like something you might be interested, please join in – for a few days, a week, or a month! Let me know in the comments if you are and I’ll post a link to your blog or site.
Today it’s an outfit that is a shout-out to my fellow DIY enthusiast, Geneva from A Pair and A Spare. (Recent fabulous Guest Blogger for Chic Steals as well, with her Celine-inspired Leather Pocket Blazer. Give it a try if you get the chance!) I shared my tutorial for turning a too-big thrift store skirt into a paperbag-waist skirt on her blog in a guest post here. And since I’ve been following her blog for awhile, all of her thrifty refashions using leather applique have really caught my eye! I just had to make her Leather Collar Shirt DIY. I thought it went well with the skirt.
The leather collar turned out really well, even though it’s just glued on!!
I’m feeling this bag is a little twee for me right now. Ah well, one last hurrah before I get rid of it!!;-)
But these shoes I don’t think I could ever get rid of. They’re just too cute with their built-in ruffly spats!! From Qojelly (from the Hotel55 Boutique at LaForet Harajuku). The brand changed its name last year to romar quee, which I still can’t learn to like. (Qojelly was the sister brand of Jelly Garcia, which also changed its name to The Dress & Co. What’s up with changing the brand name from a really cool one to a really boring one? *sigh*)
I felt ladylike and prim today:-)
Joining me in the Challenge lately has been Riechan from Riechanster and Katarina from She sells sea shells. Please check out both their blogs to see how they wore some forgotten outfits from their own closets!
Linked up to:
xoxox
Carly
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