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October 24, 2010

Trick or Treat?

Halloween is just a week away, so if you have not decided what to be you are probably starting to panic. But you shouldn't be because there are still tons of options that are quick and easy to put together. If you don't feel like creating one yourself you can always buy one at a Halloween store or many other stores (Target, Walmart,  etc.)
Here are some tips that have helped me:

  1. Some great places you can get costume pieces at are your local Goodwill or thrift stores. Example: If you want to be an 80's aerobics teacher you can look for a sweatshirt, leggings, and leg warmers that fit the period.
  2. You can also make up a costume with things from your own closet. Example: If you have a long skirt, colorful scarves, and long necklaces you could be a gypsy.
  3. Reuse and recycle. If you have a left over costume from last year or even the year before you can always wear it again or alter it with accessories. Also, if you have friend that has an old costume or costume pieces that work with your concept you can ask to borrow them.
  4. Be creative. You can always go to the craft store and get supplies to make a mask or other fun costume pieces.
  5. Make it a party. Invite your friends over or whoever you are going trick-or-treating and combine all of the other tips. You can all go to Goodwill and help each other create costumes. You can have them bring over garments from their closets and swap and share them to make costumes. You can have them bring over their old costumes too. If they don't fit them anymore they might fit someone else and they most likely have only been worn a few times. You can get a whole bunch of art supplies and make masks and other accessories together.
Some DIY costume ideas are:
  1. Ninja- Wear all black and a ski mask if you have one.
  2. You can wear your sports uniform if you have one.
  3. Geek- Wear a button down shirt tucked into high-water pants. Carry a backpack and wear glasses with tape in the middle.
  4. Big baby- Wear footie pajamas and have a pacifier and baby bottle with you.
  5. Snowboarder/skier- Wear your snowsuit or winter clothes.
  6. Make up your own!
What I did:
I am being a devil this year and I made my costume completely by my own design. 
Here is what I did to create it:
  1. I went to the fabric store and got a pattern for making a tutu and the required amount of tulle/netting.
  2. To make the tutu all I did was cut out the pattern and fabric and tied the pieces around an elastic the size of my waist. You can always make your own pattern too. Here is a website that shows you how to make one yourself: http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/no_sew_tutu_2.
  3. I had an old black long sleeve t-shirt and cut out the back and neck to add something extra. I followed the directions at http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/cut-up-the-back-of-your-t-shirt-sexy-v-and-weave to create a cool weave. I am still debating whether I should cut the sleeves off or not. 
  4. I took an old pair of my leggings and cut holes in them.
  5. And of course I bought a pair of devil horns from the costume store.
  6. If you put it all together you get:


Devil Costume Front

Devil Costume Back
Back Weave

September 19, 2010

The 100: My Collection

As I recently posted The 100 by Nina Garcia is the ultimate fashionista's guide. I have been working on owning all of the pieces myself and have decided to share what I have found. I thought it would be appropriate to start with A.

A: Aviators
For the past year I have been searching for the perfect pair of aviators. Nina Garcia says to go with a classic look. Nothing that is too shiny or too trendy. Ray-Ban's are the obvious choice, but if they don't look good on you, don't get them (which is what happened to me). All of the ones I tried on were either too big, too droopy, too small, or too trendy. Of course I searched Nordstrom for a nice designer pair and found a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs aviators that were as close to perfect as I could get, but the price was just a little too steep. So I put off buying them for at least four months.

This past weekend I went to Nordstrom Rack not expecting to find anything. I wandered around checking out the trends and accessories which brought me to the sunglasses. Since I was still trying to find some more reasonably priced aviators I decided I'd just check. It was a miracle! I spotted a great pair of aviators that happened to be Marc by Marc Jacobs. They weren't exactly the same, but that was just fine because they fit even better than the ones at Nordstrom and were only $35. The answer was clear, I had to get them. After about a year of searching I finally found the ultimate pair of aviators.

If you find something you want but the price just doesn't match with what you can afford you can always check online too. Some great websites where you can compare prices are:

And Sew it Begins

For about three years I've had a perfectly nice sewing machine just waiting to be used. This past summer I decided that it was about time to put it to good use. With the help of my all-knowing mom and grandma I made my first dress. Of course I started out easy with a simple pattern, but the results are ah-dorable. Since then I've made another dress, skirt, and I'm in the middle of making a tutu for my Halloween costume. (More information about that coming in October)

September 6, 2010

The 100, by Nina Garcia

One of our favorite Project Runway judges, Nina Garcia, has also written several books. My favorite is The 100. It is so amazing that I consider it my Fashion Bible. It lists the 100 closet essentials for any chic woman. In addition to listing the item, Nina describes the best style of it, tips on how to wear it, and even where you can get it. I love this book and am working on collecting all 100 pieces.

Nina Garcia also has two other fashion/shopping guide books: The Little Black Book of Style and The Style Strategy: A Less is More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart. She has also just come out with Nina Garcia's Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion which I am eager to read.

Mademoiselle Chanel

The goddess of fashion and my role model, Coco Chanel, once said "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in they sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." This is my favorite Chanel quote because it is so real. She is saying that fashion can come from anything or anywhere. Fashion designers have always taken inspiration from the things around them that they see and feel. Chanel herself designed garments that reflected the uniform she wore at the convent she lived at. In addition, Chanel was always ahead of the curve, and other designers take inspiration from her aesthetic. She designed comfortable and easy to wear fashions that went against the more avant garde, uptight clothing that was worn by the women of her time. In a short time women realized how wonderful Chanel's fashions were and made her immortal. Now, her brand is the creme de la creme.