Spring Fashion: DIY

Lately, I have seen TONS of FABULOUS DIY "fashion" products being made out there and wanted to share some of these ideas. Whether you are on a tight budget, or you didn't quite get as big of a tax refund as you had hoped to have for that spring shopping spree, making something new or improving an item you already own can be inexpensive and fun!

This is probably my favorite of what I have seen lately....making a sunglasses case into a mini clutch! LOVE IT!!! You often get a "free" one with the purchase of a pair of shades, and you may not need it or always use it. So it sits in a drawer or the bottom of a box taking up space.


This idea comes from another blog, HonestlyWTF ...check out the steps and finished product she made. A "minaudière" as she calls it is a small ornamental case for a woman's cosmetics, jewelry, or personal items that is often carried as a handbag. =Perfect for spring and your absolute essentials: money, ID, cell phone, and favorite lipstick or gloss! (see DVF's version, pictured above)

Her version of this mini clutch takes a few more tools such as a drill, drill bit, and a bolt cutter. It turned out fabulous (pictured left), but if you don't have the tools, or the patience for taking it quite this far, I can think of other items to add to a sunglasses case that could look just as great! Whether you choose to cover it completely in fabric, or lace, add some buttons or even better, a vintage brooch or pin, and then add a drawer pull or even ribbon as a handle.....no matter what you choose, it will be a functional & affordable new clutch just in time for spring! *I found black sunglasses cases at the Fossil outlet store for only $6.99...just in case you don't have any empty ones lying around!

Another fun accessory is this ruffle necklace (pictured right). Depending on your sewing skills (& a sewing machine is necessary), this may be a bit more challenging, but a fabulous final piece--for yourself or perhaps to give as a gift!! Check out the blog, Creature Comforts, for the step by step tutorial. You can make it personal by choosing your own ribbon and embellishments! So FUN!! A great way to spruce up your spring wardrobe! Also, check out Creature Comforts links to other fashion & style DIY projects!!


There are also SEVERAL ways to "WEAR" a man's necktie...instead of around your neck!! I LOVE both of these....the necklace (pictured below right) and the cuff. *I've seen different styles of the cuff bracelet. This one (pictured left) is 2 ties with snaps, I've also seen single ties with buttons. SO great!

I have several, as my father used to own a men's clothing store, and I have worn them often as a sash/belt and received tons of compliments! I also LOVE this clutch....I've considered trying to make one myself, but might just have to breakdown and purchase instead!!



And of course, if you haven't checked out the blog, New Dress a Day, do so now, as she is the QUEEN of DIY fashion!

This fashionista gave up "traditional clothes shopping" for a YEAR and took on the task of CREATING each new piece she wore. Here's more about her & her project from her blog: Instead, the only shopping that I’ll be able to do is that of pieces that have been used and worn already. So long to mall trips and hello to sifting through piles of vintage pieces at flea markets and at neighborhood garage sales. Each day for the entire year, I’m going to introduce a new piece into my existing wardrobe that I’ve found from these places. On top of this, I’m giving myself a budget of $1 a day. She finished with her 365 days of creating, and is not taking "donations" from her readers and continuing the work....you can send in a piece and she will make it into something more fashionable....so clever & impressive. Definitely worth checking out her blog....if nothing else, it's super fun to see the before & after pictures!!


Don't forget, if you don't have the creative inspiration or the time & energy to make your own, you can always support those that make their own products and sell them on one of our favorite websites, ETSY!!


Perhaps some of these projects will inspire you to try these ideas at home, or find another DIY project...if you do find yourself creating something new, PLEASE SHARE it with us....we'd love to hear what you are creating! ....and you just might surprise yourself!!

If nothing else, these websites & blogs are fun to peruse, read, and see the creativeness of others out there ....the transformations of objects that may not at first appear to be much, but have now become someone's treasure!

more LACE Love...

As we get more and more into Spring, and stores are putting out more and more of their spring merchandise, I am continuing to see LACE everywhere! ...and I'm still LOVING it!

Here are just a few of my avorite lace items I've found recently....this first set of items, ALL are under $100, and most under $50! *One of my favorites (though not "new" to me) are the Hanky Panky boy shorts....SO sexy yet SO comfortable--LOVE them!!
(click on the photo to see details & prices for each item)

Here are a few more of my current LACE FAVORITES:

JCREW: Lady Lace Popover, LOVE LOVE LOVE this.....wish it was a bit more affordable! ($198)


TARGET: nude lace tights, purchased & can't wait to wear them! ($10)


URBAN OUTFITTERS: Crochet Scarf...own & LOVE ($28)


and...I just had to add these, as they are FABULOUS, but SO expensive...darn JCrew!!!

JCREW: Lacet Ballet Flats --so unique, love love love! ($325)


What LACE items are you LOVING.....or have you already purchased for Spring??

Do your CLOTHES tell a STORY?

If the outfit you are wearing right now were to tell a story, what would it say?


I have often thought about this, as people have commented on different outfits and/or pieces of my wardrobe....what do I say each day with what I wear? Do I want to say something? Does it have to say something about how I feel or who I am as a person? Such an interesting idea to think about...

This is also one of the questions at the end of a fabulous book I just read, The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean. My sister passed it on to me while on vacation, and I finished it in one day! It was a fun and interesting read--keeping my attention from the first page right up until the last. I definitely recommend it! Here's a short synopsis:

Dora has always taken the path of least resistance. She went to the college that offered her a scholarship, is majoring in "vagueness studies," and wears whatever shows the least dirt. She falls into a job at the college coffee shop, and a crush on her flirty boss, Gary. Just when she's about to test Gary's feelings, Mimi, the grandmother who raised her, suffers a stroke. Dora rushes back home to Forsyth, NC, and finds herself running her grandmother's vintage clothing store. The store has always been a fixture in Dora's life; though she grew up more of a jeans-and-sweatshirt kind of girl, before she even knew how to write, Mimi taught her that a vintage 1920s dress could lift a woman's spirit. Surrounded by regal gowns, sexy sheaths, and Jackie-esque suits from decades gone by, Dora makes a curious discovery: Mimi had been secretly writing down and giving away stories about the dresses in her shop.

Erin wrote this book after she had been writing stories about dresses within her blog, A Dress A Day.
In an interview she gave, she explains, The idea at the beginning was to come up with a coherent narrative that would link the Secret Lives of Dresses stories from the blog (which tell a story from the perspective of, what else, a dress). But as I worked on the narrative it went from being just an excuse to string a bunch of stories together to being a story in its own right. Voila: novel.

Her Secret Lives of Dresses stories within her blog are SO fun to read.....and SO clever!

This just completely got me excited about owning a clothing store/boutique again! LOVED IT!!! I would LOVE to own any kind of boutique....a vintage shop, a unique local women's boutique, or even a shoe store--but adding that twist, that every (or at least most) of the items in it came with it's own "story" is completely FABULOUS!

I also found a few other books, about dresses with stories, Dreaming of Dior and Dreaming of Chanel by Charlotte Smith. The blog, Dreaming of Dior, has more info about the history behind the writing of the book, but here's a little bit about the first one:

Dreaming of Dior, a new book published by Harper Collins, traces the fashion adventures of author Charlotte Smith who inherited the amazing Darnell Collection from her godmother, Doris Darnell. The 5000 pieces in the collection, dating from 1790 to 1995, have all had adventures of their own, some poignant, some inspiring, but all fascinating with each dress telling a story of its owner's life. The stunning illustrations of Grant Cowan brings the stories to life in a book that is both beautiful and informative.

There are so many books out there about fashion, just as we wrote about Nina Garcia's "what to wear" books in our so....now what? post. There is anything & everything out there about fashion & style....from style guides to picture books, and they are all fun to read, even if you have just a small interest in fashion.


They may even inspire you to write your own, or at least think about what you wear and what is says about you....
what story are you telling when you walk out the door?



Some dresses are worn by only one person,
and so that’s the kind of person they like.
-The Secret Lives of Dresses, Erin McKean

Spring Fashion: Save $$ at GAP

Unfortunately, today in MN it is not looking or feeling at all like Spring...a bit more like November (especially since I had to dig out my boots & hat that I had so neatly tucked away!) ...So perhaps it's a great day to head to the MALL, because inside, the stores and merchandise DO remind us that it IS SPRING!!!

With spring, comes fresh floral prints, ballet flats & sandals of all styles, capris, and shorts. With GAP's Spring Collection, you don't need to have their GAP card or a "friends & family" coupon to get 40% off one regular priced item from the new collection!

All you need to do is mention GLAMOUR40 at the checkout, and it's money saved!!

This "deal" is on NOW and runs until April 30th. So it's even running long enough that you can go back multiple times and SAVE!!! Click HERE to read the "fine print." *It only applies IN STORE (not online or at any outlets or Factory stores). I just went in and purchased the legging jeans in grey. I own them in both black and the dark denim wash and LOVE THEM!! They are originally $69.50, but with the 40% discount, they were only $41.70--that's a great deal for jeans that I know I will wear a ton!!!

I want to go back to check out their slim crop pants in black (pictured right), as they look fabulous, and give that more dressy feel....perfect for early spring if you can't wear jeans to the office! And at only $49.50 regular price, they are a STEAL with the 40% off making them only $29.70!!! OR maybe it's time to try out the 70s feel of things and purchase a pair of the wide leg jeans...I'm loving the all white pair, or maybe the pair we wrote about last month??!! Whatever it may be, and perhaps more than one item--as it doesn't limit you to how many visits you make, or whether you visit multiple stores.....enjoy the discount!! HAPPY SPRING!!!

For Japan with Love

This past Friday, March 18th, was Bloggers Day of Silence for Japan organized by two blogs, Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged.

If you have not already, please consider donating to the cause. The people of Japan need aid NOW, so go to the website For Japan with Love and donate today! The money goes directly to ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. Please consider donating what you can & encourage others to do so too!



Other ways to donate/get involved:

• Purchase an SOS morse code necklace!
• Buy a help Japan print.
• Buy a help Japan poster.
• How to help: more info/websites on donating to Japan.

Spring Cleaning!!!

Now that it's March, and hopefully SPRING is right around the corner, it's a great time to "clean out" and organize, anything and everything--especially your closet!

Perhaps you are one of those people, like me, who tends to "clean out" your closet several times a year, especially if you take your clothes to a consignment shop to make some extra cash! If you haven't done it, now is the time, and most places are eagerly accepting your spring/summer fashions. My favorite place is Elite Repeat in St. Paul, the owner is fabulous, and I have made so much money there over the years!!

So, you might be thinking: my closet IS organized, what really do I need to get rid of? Take a look at your accessories....how much jewelry do you own that you never see, because you never open that jewelry box??!! Some of us tend to wear the same pieces over and over again, and rarely change it up. Now is the time to reorganize, clean up, and clear out!! Whether you hope to make room for the new pieces you're lusting after or just simplify, now is as good a time as ever!!

Take a look through what you have and what you know you want to keep. Put those pieces in a safe place, for now. Then look at what you rarely wear, or haven't worn in the last year.
Why haven't you worn it? Will you ever wear it?
With jewelry, it's easier to have pieces with sentimental or family value, and often you do want to hold on to those, even if you don't wear them often. Take that fabulous brooch from your great-grandmother and pin it on your wool winter coat. This way, it's always there when you pull out your coat to go out = instant fashion, and you're sure to get endless compliments, I sure do when I wear mine!!!

Also, it's important to think about the investment you've made in your jewelry. Do you really need to keep the pair of earrings you got for $3.00 a few months ago and have only worn a handful of times? Now is the time to think about investing in pieces that will LAST and will never go out of style! If you have a younger niece or friend's daughter who would appreciate the jewelry, pass it on to her--a great way to know that your pieces will still get worn, but allows you to focus on the BEST PIECES in your collection!!!

Once you've determined what you're keeping and what you're not, what should you do with these pieces??!! Here are a few suggestions:

• Are they horribly outdated and/or in bad shape (but not broken)? If so...put them in a bag for Goodwill or another thrift store/donation/charity.
• If they are broken beyond repair, they need to be thrown out....OR can you salvage any PARTS of these to add to something you have or use to create something new?
• If they are still in great shape and are quality pieces that just "aren't you" or you don't wear anymore you have 2 choices: 1. host a "jewelry exchange party" OR 2. bring them to a consignment shop to re-sell and make some $$!! (Check out our first post for more info on consignment shops in the Twin Cities area!)
  

Hosting a jewelry exchange party can be a great excuse to get your girlfriends together for a fun evening. It doesn't take much to put one together, and you don't have to worry about "sizes" of all the girls invited, because jewelry comes in the universal "one size fits all"!!!

Put together a creative evite or send out an email to all your friends. The only requirement is that they show up with at least ONE piece of jewelry: in good condition and not outdated. They are allowed to leave with as many pieces as they want. The "left overs" can then be donated to a women's shelter or other charity. You just need a big enough space and some tables or areas to display the jewelry, a few options for drinks & snacks, and you've got yourself a fun party where everyone gets to leave with something!!

For those broken pieces of jewelry that you still love, but can't bear to throw away, take them apart and re-create something new! Whether it's adding another charm to an existing necklace, or creating a new piece, there are many ways to use jewelry besides just as an accessory: create a frame for a photo or a mirror that is covered in all the pieces of jewelry you still love, but don't wear or have parts that have broken beyond repair. Take apart earrings and make them charms on a bracelet or necklace. There are endless options, just be creative!!

Now, what to do with all the jewelry you have left, that you love and wear, or are going to try to wear more often??!! ORGANIZE IT!!!

There are SO many options these days for organizing and displaying your jewelry. Our post, back in August, showed you how to create a jewelry board or earring holder using basic and affordable materials from the craft store.....easy, simple, and a way to organize AND display your jewels! Here are a few images I've come across lately showing fabulous and unique ways to organize your jewelry:

• An old, vintage tennis racquet to hang earrings (and/or other jewels)--my sister did this and I LOVE it!
• An old, yet clean (& perhaps coated so that it won't rust onto your jewels?) garden rake hung on the back of a door for hanging your necklaces.
• A large frame, with branches attached across to hang necklaces and bracelets from.
• A box, with wooden spools and smaller boxes for all your jewels.

The options are endless...if you're not "crafty" you can find these things often made for you at craft/art fairs, vintage and antique stores, or events like the Junk Bonanza. Otherwise, all it takes is a little patience, a lot of creativity, and a few inexpensive materials, and you've created a functional way to store and display your beautiful & fabulous jewels! So get organizing!!!!

Target's Designer Collaboration Collection Available Sunday!!!

As mentioned previously, Target's GO-International 5th Anniversary is here & to celebrate, they are bringing back 34 dresses from 17 of the past favorite designers. Here is a list of all the designers being featured in this limited edition dress collection:

• Luella Bartley
• Tara Jarmon
• Paul & Joe (by Sophie Albou)
• Behnaz Sarafpour
• Proenza Schouler (by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez)
• Libertine (by Johnson Hartig)
• Alice Temperley
• Erin Fetherston
• Jovovich-Hawk (by Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk)
• Rogan (by Rogan Gregory)
• Richard Chai
• Jonathan Saunders
• Thakoon (by Thakoon Panichgul)
• Tracy Feith
• Rodarte (by Laura and Kate Mulleavy)
• Zac Posen
• Tucker (by Gaby Basora)

After much anticipation of which dresses would be featured, they have finally released the collection!! This will hit stores & online this Sunday, March 13th until April 10th --- so be sure to grab one before they are gone!! (Might I suggest checking your local Target on Saturday evening, as some stores have been known to put merchandise out "early"!!!)

Without further ado...here they are!! Enjoy!!

From Left to Right: Rodarte Slip Dress in Peach $44.99, Behnaz Sarafpour Silk Georgette Lace Dress in Ivory $44.99, Proenza Schouler Bustier Dress in Purple $44.99, Jovovich-Hawk Floral Dress in Multicolor $39.99

From Left to Right: Jonathan Saunders Colorblock Dress with Belt in Dot Print $34.99, Rogan Leopard-Print Shift Dress in Black/White $39.99, Rodarte Lace-Print Dress in Black/Tan $39.99, Erin Fetherston Layered Dress in Black $44.99

From Left to Right: TuckerRuffle-Back Dress in Navy $39.99, Tara Jarmon Colorblock Dress in Royal Blue $29.99, Erin Fetherston Chiffon Dress in Bunny Print $39.99, Thakoon Printed Tie-Waist Dress in Black/White $39.99

From Left to Right: Luella Bartley Gathered Dress in Green/Navy Tartan $44.99, Libertine Striped Tunic in Green/Blue $24.99, Zac Posen Dress in Polka-Dot Print $39.99, Proenza Schouler Palm-Print Gauze Dress in Purple/Pink $39.99

From Left to Right: Richard Chai Tuxedo Dress in Navy $44.99, Thakoon Colorblock Shift Dress in Green/Blue $39.99, Luella Bartley Strapless Empire Dress in Hot Pink $39.99, Tracy Feith Dress in Hibiscus Print $39.99

From Left to Right: Jovovich-Hawk Lurex Mini Dress in Blue/Gold $34.99, Alice Temperley Voile Ruffle-Front Dress in Black $34.99, Tucker Button-Front Dress in Floral Print $34.99, Tracy Feith Strappy Dress in White $39.99

From Left to Right: Paul & Joe Button-Front Dress in Black $24.99, Thakoon Gathered Dress in Cyber Floral $39.99, Richard Chai Sweetheart Dress in Black $39.99, Libertine Woven Dress with Lace Trim in Black $29.99

From Left to Right: Tucker Signature Dress in Floral Print $39.99, Zac Posen Wrap Dress in Pink $44.99, Jovovich-Hawk Chiffon Dot Print Dress in Black/Tan $39.99, Alice Temperley Swiss Dot Chiffon Dress in Black $39.99

From Left to Right: Alice Temperley Crepe Dress in Black $44.99, Libertine Crepe Dress in Black $44.99