First Sewing Project

So, I promised pictures of my sewing progress. This is actually the first thing I completed and I have to say, it doesn't look all that terrible! It's a purple and black snake print skirt I made for my mother. She allowed me to take a picture but she wouldn't allow me to show her face. lol It looks kind of blue in the first picture, but you can see the true color in the 2nd picture. Might I also add that I made this with no pattern? Pretty proud of that fact, I must admit!

Anyways, this is my first completed sewing project! Yay, me. I have several others done as well, but haven't taken any pictures as of yet. I'm so excited to actually be learning to make clothes that don't fall apart the first time they are washed. Only simple things so far though... I seriously doubt Project Runway will be calling me anytime soon. :)




|

Do you have a perfect dressing sense?


Hi, here is a big question have you ever asked for yourself.

Elegance is in the eye of the beholder. The power of fashion is coming from trend and styles colliding together creating an ever mobile synergy. What is trendy to me could be sartorially unpleasant to you and vice-verse!



On one hand, Most would keep economy of an individual, while talking about style and fashion on you.  But for people having real sense of style will not agree with it. As we believe fashion trends and fashion sense are purely on based on their imagination, inspiration, mental stuff etc. I have come across peoples with simple dresses and cheap fashion accessories looking really elegant and stylish. I strongly believe style erases individuality

Sense of style is indeed a very personal thing. When an individual got attention and a good feel about what suits him, he will over time develop his very own personal style. He will feel good in his outfit, which will be recognized by those around him. But for those without this feel have little choice to turn to books and rules as substitute for their own sense of style. As of me books and rules will never be able to replace personal style. The fine thing those books do however is giving some direction to those who lost in the world of style and fashion. Rules will not replace inspiration nor will they create it. People who dress by the rules rather than a personal style will always be identifiable by those with sense of style. 



Finally, you can have a look around you and discover your fashion sensibility but your own style must be based on your own sense of elegance...

“i feel common sense will get you a nice, sensible, and safe wardrobe. but as for dressing stylishly, i think it takes some practice,imagination and inspiration, and even concentration”

|

Marvelous Fashion Exhibit at Los Angeles, FIDM Museum.


Chanel, Gianni Versace and Alexander McQueen are just a few of the designers featured at the “FABULOUS!: 10 Years of FIDM Museum Acquisitions, 2000-2010” at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) Museum and Galleries in downtown Los Angeles.



Showcasing over 200 years of fashion, anyone with a thirst for style or appreciation of the art will bare witness to the iconic wardrobe pieces dating back to the 1800s.

“These are really, really rare objects and they are not displayed very often because they are so delicate,” said Kevin Jones, FIDM Museum curator.

Upon entering the dimly lit gallery, black ceilings dotted with small track lights and matching walls lined with glass-encased artifacts; 38 mannequins are displayed among three seemingly floating silver platforms.
The first of three platforms display an eclectic compilation of styles from the modern era. Soft classical music compliments the cold, contemporary atmosphere. Gowns for every occasion, evening coats, leather pants and even a $1,000 priced rhinestone swimsuit from 1955 are brought together from all around the world. Without question, Paris, Milan, London and New York dominate the scene.

Heading toward the back of the exhibit, the second platform features fashion styles from the 1800s and  early 1900s. These mannequins adorned in head to toe couture, defined the fashion silhouette for women in the 1830s with bell-shaped dresses. Most wore bonnets or other head accessories, in addition to detailed broaches, jewelry and gloves.

The third section of the exhibit, hidden from the front of the gallery, is tucked away off to the left in back, featuring more unique 20th century pieces. Featured on a rotating platform is the famous Alexander McQueen evening dress, a cream silk and black lace strapless bodice and full skirt. Other items vary from a 1907 court gown and train to an evening tunic and headdress from 1913, these items reveal more modern fashion concepts for their time.
“This is my only extra day in L.A., so I went online looking for clothing exhibits and found a link to this (exhibit),” said Lisa Brumm, 43, from St. Paul, Minn. “The website featured the Alexander McQueen gown, and I figured if that was one example of what I’d see here, it would be worthwhile.”

Salacious undergarments ornament the walls behind this motif, with brassieres, bust enhancers and men’s “Personality (boxer) Shorts” with the phrase “Everything Grows Big in California” printed on them circa 1950.
All items on display are used for in-class instruction for students at FIDM and also fully illustrated in a 375-page catalog on sale at the museum shop, which is located right outside the exhibit. The catalog, “FABULOUS!,” features other historical fashion pieces not on display at FIDM, and will soon be turned into a textbook.

“The really great part about being in this school is we get access to all of these beautiful costumes and designers,” said Anna Ramirez, 25, a first-year merchandise and marketing major.

, , , |

New York Fashion Week - Celebs & Trends

September was the month for New York City's Fashion Week. As interesting as the collections on the runway are, it's just as interesting to see who attends and what they're wearing. It's super important for fashion shows to be attended by celebrities... the bigger names you have attending, the better.

So do celebs who attend fashion shows follow trends or set them? They follow them, if the pictures below are any proof! Here are a few celebrities that are wearing some of my favorite trends for this fall-winter.

1940'S  as seen by Miu Miu





Metallics as seen by Calvin Klein



 
Gray on gray as seen by Donna Karan





 
Lace as seen by Ferragamo





Sheer Fabrics and Lace as seen by Valentinio




Neutrals as seen by Bottega Veneta

|

Skirt fashion trends.


Full skirts are still trendy and you see plenty of them in magazines and fashion shows. Undoubtedly the most trusted, most consistent part of any wardrobe, the skirt is back, the skirt is chill, and the skirt is reasserting itself as a style benefit. These are the kind of women's clothing that are in the "all time personal favorites" class, and you'll find they work radiantly with any outfit. Skirts are the staple thing this winter - using a cool pattern skirt as they draw attention to of your outfit!





In spite of the enormous fame of jeans, the denim skirt has continued to maintain its place as a popular clothes item and, with celebrities such as Heidi Montag, Sienna Miller and Lily Allen.
Skirts have a variety of uses, but their main function is to look fantastic. They stand out, they have a great profile, and they're just plain fun, too. The patterns are high-quality, and so are the cuts, giving good lines and expression. These are the sort of skirts you wear because you love them.

There are different varieties of skirts, few as below







1. Pleated Skirts

These types of skirts are favored as office wear and are accessible in a variety of different colors. These skirts are the first choice of women operating at offices. This trend is popular world-wide and is even explicitly used at social gatherings for its work-casual flair. This type of skirt is known to look best with short pieces.

2. Splits

Women use skirts having splits in them very often as it adds another level of excitement to the fashion. The splits look interestingly gorgeous with long skirts and it can work for you in any season. These are available at sensible prices as well. You can go on a romantic date wearing a splits skirt. These are available in variety of resources and fabrics. You need to choose the right one for you.

3. Floral Skirts

This style of skirt is mainly trendy for summer and it looks well with both the long and short piece. Many women who are unsatisfied with their body image and weight may prefer this style in meticulous as it makes the lower body to have a slimming effect on the shape and size. These are generally available at very affordable prices at unlike shopping markets as they are not the main trend right now.








4. Denim Skirts

The main reason for the fame of denim skirts is their evergreen quality due to which they are never out of fashion. Earlier in the 60's, women were very shy of wearing these skirts, as they the fashion seemed very hippyish and also somewhat masculine especially since most women who wore these at the time also rocked the look with leather boots. Now today, women from different social groups are involved to make this skirt as their professional wear. The combination of a biker jacket and a denim skirt can do wonders with your looks. You will look more stylish and glamorous in it.

5. Maxi Skirts

The maxi skirts can be used in any season and they are normally available as long pieces of skirts. It looks beautiful on women of all age groups and even the younger girls love to try some of these. This skirt can help you to go to any occasion without mocking from the rest of your clothes and are available in a great range with some offer prices as well.

The new skirts also work with a lot of unlike styles and looks, so you're not forced to cooperation with your own style. These designs are planned to be stretchy, and you can really feel more relaxed across your whole range of outfits.

Mini skirts are really HOT this winter!

The mini has returned, and it's come back with a few fresh ideas. The new minis skirts are short to mid length, and very well shaped, and you'll be satisfied to hear the winter minis are also good for the weather effects. They're figure huggers, and they come absolute with some great patterns, colors and abstract ideas which give you a lot of scope for outfits.

These minis really look elegant, and you can go nuts with what you wear with them. They also come in a huge range of gorgeous prints that will set your outfit off! They look sharp, and they're the sort of thing you can wear when you want a marvelous, attention grabbing outfit that can live a great night out.

, , |

Bargain Beauty Buy - Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Oh, how often I have lamented my lack of luscious lashes! Seeing women with gorgeous fans of thick black lashes has always made me jealous, yet I've always held out hope that someday the perfect mascara would be developed for those of us who are lash-challenged. Is my search at an end?!?

After seeing the new Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara in Black Drama (quite the mouthful, eh?), I decided to give it a go. Here are the results!



The Claim: "False lash glam goes extra matte, extremely black, 300% more visible lashes corner-to-corner, no gaps. The most dramatic false lash fab volume!"


The Verdict: 99% true! I actually had really visible lashes after applying this mascara- much better than the blonde, non-existant lashes I normally have. With just one coat of mascara, my lashes looked thicker, fuller, longer, and much more visible due to the deep, black color. Were they 300% more visible?  I have to admit... they were! Did they look like false lashes? Well, of course not. They can't give me what nature did not intend. But even though I didn't appear to have on impossibly long false eyelashes, I did have a gorgeous pair of natural ones. The brush provided great coverage, the formula was silky and didn't clump, and my lashes looked even bigger and better after a 2nd coat. Go in with realistic expectations however... none of us are likely to come out with lashes like the model in the ad. If you do, please send me a picture so I can grumble and throw darts at it.


The Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend this product for everyone that needs that extra length and fullness in the lash area. Even if you have long, large lashes (lucky you!) I think you would be pleased with the definition and fullness this mascara provides. I know all girls (and all lashes) are different and they may not like the same mascara, but I really believe this is a mascara that the majority of women would use and enjoy on a daily basis. Plus, it's super affordable!


This product is also available in different colors, in a waterproof formula, and with a different brush for a flared effect. For more information, follow this link or check out your local store.

|

Wish List - Diane von Furstenberg Color Block Coat

Have you ever seen a coat as gorgeous as this one by Diane von Furstenberg?!? Made from black alpaca, red wool and gold lame, ANYONE would look super chic and classy wearing this coat! At the extremely steep price of $865 though, the closest I'll get to it is by looking at the picture below. :)





For any uber-rich people that would actually like to buy this coat, click here to get one of your own. Lucky dogs.

|

For the Love of Missoni

So fashion lovers have been eagerly awaiting the new Missoni line for Target but who could have imagined the frenzy that would ensue yesterday?

Only 3 hours after the line was released yesterday, every Missoni item on target.com was gone. Every one.

Amazing.

Was it all for the love of Missoni? Hardly! Turns out many greedy shoppers grabbed up the items and have now put them on ebay.com for ridiculously steep prices. Over 23,000 Missoni for Target items are now on ebay! Whereas only a few items will continue to be shipped sporadically to Target stores.

Did Target know this was going to happen? In the past, these designer lines for Target have made their debut and enjoyed a great profit- but never has such frenzied, greedy shopping happened as it did yesterday.

How did these eager-to-make-money shoppers know that within one day they would be able to resale the items online for double the price? Was it well-known that not enough items would be sold? If not, how did this mad rush to Target come about? Will Target answer the call for Missoni by shipping new items?

If you were one of the eager shoppers who happened to luck out and purchase what you wanted, congrats! The rest of us frugal fashionistas are stuck with nothing since we refuse to pay the outrageous prices demanded on ebay by these scheming Missoni hogs. If it wasn't something I wanted, I might admire their forethought and business sense! But in this case, I don't!!!

For more on the Missoni madness, check out this video.

|

T-shirt, Short Sleeve Tees, Jumpsuit - Fashion trends 2011


T - Shirts:






Everyone has the custom to connect Girls t shirts with the sexiness, vigor factor or some hot and gorgeous babe walking down the street. These outfits can disclose your assets and make every turn towards you. But you need to ensure your comfort level by choosing the best t shirts as it will greatly affects your face expressions and body language.








You will love to rejoice the arrival of summer in a stylish and trendy t shirt. It will enable you to enjoy every outside activity. You can also find huge range of t shirts in modest style. So what if you cannot wear revealing t shirts like celebrities, you can at least enjoy the unsurpassable soothe and quality.

Short Sleeve Tees:

 


The hottest trends in short sleeve tops are graphic tees featuring logos of your favorite college sports teams, basketball players and symbols. You can also purchase overstated tees to best reflect your own style and interest. Those who like retro looks can purchase vintage or retro themed tees. Women enjoy wearing tees featuring pleasing tie died looks from the 70s. While guys love short sleeve tees featuring vintage pin up girls. Joke tees, party tees, political tees, holiday tees and TV and movie themed tees are stylish to wear and are a great way of striking up a chat and breaking the ice with strangers.
Jumpsuit:



The jumpsuit can be a trendy piece of clothing to wear. The art of looking fine in a jumpsuit is all about selecting the correct style to suit you. If you are tall and slim you will almost certainly be able to wear nearly all styles of jumpsuit. There are different varieties of styles that will look better on those who are not tall and slim. A loose style jumpsuit can make you look bigger than you are so opt for a more fitted style if you want to make yourself look slimmer. For those who are top heavy a V neck or button up jumpsuit unbuttoned in a v with a vest top underneath will fit perfectly.
Wear your jumpsuit with high heels to give it a glamorous feel. If you have lovely long legs, you could also opt for a shorts style of playsuit. There are some really great plays suits around which are a great simple to wear outfit for summer holidays.

Shirts:









Shirts are accessible in a wide array of designs such as polo neck shirts, printed, woven, thermal, long sleeved, t-shirts and so on. Among the teenagers, t-shirts are most trendy especially those which are customized with slogans, logos, pictures and messages. Both girls and boys wear such funny t-shirts to college. Western Show Shirts offers a large diversity of shirts for this age group. The brand aims at offering what is relaxed, stylish and matches the taste of most teenagers.

, , |

Sewing for Beginners

So for about the 500th time, I've decided to tackle the task of learning how to sew. Beyond a few basics I learned back in the day with my grandmother, I really don't know what to do! I've sewn a lot of extras onto clothes (ribbons, trims, etc) but I've never been able to follow a pattern and actually make a piece of clothing that was wearable. The closest I came one time was when I laid a dress on some material, traced around it, then cut two identical pieces of material out and sewed them together. Surprisingly, it didn't turn out that horrible! The dress looked ok, but the collar did not- I was forced to wear a jacket all the time to cover up the crooked neck. :)
Oh well... moving on.

I am notorious for getting super excited and buying everything I need to learn a new hobby. I try it... fail... try again... fail again... and then give up. My house is filled with the remnants of various crafts, drawing books, sewing materials, etc, etc, etc. Since this give-up attitude is ridiculous (and very immature for someone of 28 years of age), I decided to tackle sewing AGAIN. But this time, I've committed to follow through!

Guess what??? I'm actually doing it! I've made 4 skirts so far and am working on a shirt! What's more is I'm actually really enjoying it. Whats has brought about this amazing change? My new book Sew Step by Step by Alison Smith. It has over 200 essential techniques for beginners, from threading a needle to sewing ruffles. The reason I love this book is because it is has clear, color photographs to demonstrate every technique and tip. I'm really learning a lot and even though I'm not a professional yet, at least my clothes are not falling apart! :)

Pictures to follow soon! In the meantime, challenge yourself and learn a new hobby. If sewing and design is something you would love, check out the Sew Step by Step book by Alison Smith. I got mine for $16 at Barnes and Noble but it is also available here on Amazon for the great price of $10.

|

Latest handbag fashion trends.




A handbag is a essential fashion accessory for women. Handbags are so popular today because they are trendy, useful, and most of all a fashion statement in itself. Because of their reputation during emerging fashion trends, these bags come in different. Designer handbags are in vogue. Now let's look into the varieties of handbag bags,



Satchel handbags - These are identified by two short handles and straps and are fairly large. They are preferably meant for travel and journeys.

Tote handbags - This kind of this bags displays a showy stylish-and-crazy fashion. These varies in shapes, sizes, and materials. They have two handles and are frequently made of canvas and are more durable than many other types of these bags. They are multi-purposed. They can be used to carry books, clothes, and even provisions. The lightweight of tote these bags also make it useful to be carried to the beach.



Shoulder handbags - These bags can be worn over the shoulder, and so they are called by this name. They usually have one or two straps to protect over the shoulder.

Clutch handbags - They are small, rectangular in shape, and usually holds small items like keys, business cards, lipsticks, combs, etc. Great for evening and formal clothes ladies!



Apart from the aforesaid varieties of bags, there are also other styles of bags. Shopper handbags, Messenger handbags, the Balentine Bag, the Accordion bag, Slings handbags, etc. And choose the right one that matches for you, while purchasing.

, , |

Brave collection wore by Tulisa at Vogue’s Fashion Night Out.



Since getting her X Factor makeover, Tulisa has been experimenting more and more with diverse styles. It’s fair to say that she’s even become a little bolder in the fashion stakes, as her ensemble at last night’s Vogue Fashion Night Out party appropriately proved.

The singer turned up to the event in a… well, we’re struggling to describe it actually, perhaps: “sexy Roman-style body armour dress” would sum it up? We’re not sure, anyway the point is it’s brave and speaking at the event yesterday Tulisa admitted she’s now enjoying experimenting with her style, saying:

"I'm just looking forward to, if anything, finding myself when it comes to fashion."

"I've spent so long in N-Dubz having to blend with my band and accommodate for what everybody else is wearing. I never really got the possibility to experiment and find out what I really like when it comes to fashion.

"So I'm really just finding myself, finding which designers I like, also trying to discover new designers that are up and coming. It's like a new journey for me, so it's really exciting this week because I'm going to be able to find myself, as well as finding fashion."

Tulisa also hobnobbed at the party next to likes of David Gandy, Pixie Lott, Henry Holland and Daisy Lowe, who looks ever so slightly like Janet Street Porter when she smiles and laughs.

, , |

Fashion's Night Out on Amazon

So amazon.com is celebrating the new fall fashions with their own "Fashion's Night Out" online. They are featuring lots of style tips and articles, suggested outfits, interviews with designers like Nicole Richie and lots of great clothes!



Featuring practically every brand in the world- from 7 For All Mankind to Betsey Johnson, Michael Kors to Rebecca Minkoff, they have a little something for everyone! If you think most of it is still out of your price range, think again! They do have some great (and reasonable) things available on line. Check out the denim shop to get great Labor Day sales- some items are up to 75% off! Also, sign up online to receive special offers, including 20% your next clothing purchase.






FULL TILT feather tank - $17.99









Giraffe Print Faux Leather Satchel - $17.97


|

DIY: Tie-Dye Tanks

Normally tie-dye shirts make me think of 70's day during school spirit weeks, but these tie-dye tanks are low-key and not too bright! They are super easy to make and look great during summer. Wear them alone or layer them under a jacket to transition into fall! Plus, it is a fun, cheap project- one pack of dye is usually just about $3.





Step 1: Make sure you start with a wet garment. You will need to fully immerse your garment in water and then ring out the excess.

Step 2: There are a lot of dyes and methods you can use. I like to use a powder dye like the ones available from Rit Dye. Start by filling your washing machine with hot water. Dissolve the powder in a small bit of water and then add to the washing machine. Mix well.

Step 3: Add wet garment to the washer. Set the washer to an extended wash- the garment needs to be in the dye for at least 30 minutes before letting it go through the rinse cycle with cold water.

Step 4: Remove garment, take off rubberbands if doing a tie-dye method and hang to dry. Darker garments may need to be washed before wearing. Enjoy your newly colored garment!


Tie-Dye Methods:

1) The olive green tank in the picture started off as a plain white tank. To get the one circle pattern, pinch a bit of fabric in the middle and pick it up. Twist the fabric as you would a mop (the less material you twist, the smaller the circle). Once it it twisted, fold the twist in half and secure with a rubberband. Follow the directions above. Remove rubberbands before hanging the tank to dry.

2) To get a design similar to the white and blue camisole, twist the entire shirt as you would a mop. Once it is twisted VERY tightly, fold the twist in half and secure with rubber bands towards the bottom. The material you leave hanging lose below the rubber band will give you the solid color on top and bottom of the camisole. If you want more solid color and less tie-dye pattern, simply adjust the rubber bands to allow more fabric to hang loosely. Wash as directed and remove rubberbands before drying.

3) For the blue and gray tank on the right, simply start with a gray tank instead of white and use blue dye. Follow the instructions for the first pattern and just vary the size of the circles by doing some small twists and some large ones. Wash as directed and remove the rubberbands before drying!

4) Experiment with various patterns and methods. For more ideas, check out these different tie-dye projects.

|

Bargain Beauty Buy: Camomile Makeup Remover

I'm a big fan of The Body Shop, but I'm not always a fan of their prices. However, there are a few Body Shop staples that I can't live without- one of which is The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover.

Available in an 8 ounce bottle for $14.50 or a 2 ounch bottle for $4.00, it is one product I recommend to everyone! I've tried a lot of other makeup removers (mostly affordable versions from Covergirl, Maybelline, etc) but was never pleased with any of them! Then I tried the one from The Body Shop and fell in love! I've been using it for years now and couldn't be more pleased.

Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - Makeup RemoversI have sensitive eyes and my skin is easily irritated, so this gentle cleanser is perfect for me! Most of the sensitive-skin makeup removers I've tried felt too oily, but the Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover from The Body Shop is perfect! It removes makeup with very little effort (no harsh scrubbing needed!) and leaves skin feeling very soft and clean!

Still don't want to pay $15 for a makeup remover? You use very little of this product to remove all your eye makeup, so one bottle lasts forever! It's really worth the price and I seriously doubt you will ever go back to using another brand of makeup remover.

Visit www.thebodyshop-usa.com or go to a local store to see their special offers. Right now they have several great offers like "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" or "4 for $30 Mix and Match". I love the mix and match offers because you can get any of their other great products like body butter, body polish, lotions, and lotions. Sign up online for coupons or click here to see their list of current sales and discounts.

(Just so you know... all of the products I feature on my blog are bought with my own money and feature my honest, personal opinion. I don't receive free products or accept payment for reviews as do many other bloggers.)

If you have a product you just can't live without, let me know. I might feature your favorite product in my next post! :)

Happy Shopping!

|