Summer, Stockings, and Stunners

After a successful shopping experience with my grandmother yesterday, I have brought home a new trend I’d like to try.

Behold, the stocking! I know, hold the applause.

 

There was something about the socks on the mannequin at Forever 21 and the perusing of fashion shows on Style.com that really set me off. Dior was what really got me going. I’m convinced it’s a French thing. There’s something about French designers, the language, and the culture that I really identify with. Of course, Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler  is to DIE for, but I love the details of Chanel, Hermes, and Yves Saint Laurent. Who else could pull off a collection of decadence and opulent colors?

Of course, I’d have to be very careful on what I wore with said stockings. It can be Blair Waldorf-chic, but it can be borderline trashy. So something delicate contrasted with my Steve Madden oxfords. It would be perfect for the winter, which seems like ages from now.

I am fully planning on taking pictures of myself in back-to-school outfits as soon as this hot weather decides to be gentle on my hair and school is underway. The first order of business? The red dress, a suede-ish skirt, and a Grecian goddess..

Inspiration Wall

Behind my marvelous maxi dress is my Inspiration Wall. My dad made it for me out of ceiling tiles and moulding. For the longest time I was cutting pictures out of magazines and taping it to the wall, but I enjoy this solution much more! My favorite part is the lime green paint that peeks out underneath the layers and layers of magazine and newspaper clippings.

My three favorite pictures I have are an ad for Alexander McQueen eyewear, a St. John ad featuring ravishing red-head Karen Elson, and a British Vogue spread with French actress Clémence Poésy.

Statement Dress

I went to the mall a couple weeks ago and I fell in love with this floral maxi dress. I knew that at twenty-five dollars, it was a steal, and in the words of Rachel Zoe, I DIE :)

Its an orangish-red, with an floral print. I’m wearing it for my upcoming birthday party, but I hope that I can also wear it to school. It is a statement piece to say the least..

In Bloom

This afternoon, an idea for a new belt popped into my head. Some scraps of fabric, a few buttons, and the remnants of bijoux passé later, I have a poppy peony creation!

At first, I had a hard time attaching the flower to the chain, because the chain I selected was really fine. So I took some wire and some Loctite glue and fastened it to the belt.

I found some really great templates at Martha Stewart that were originally for wedding accessories but I couldn’t resist trying it once I saw the peony template.

Also, be sure to choose something stiff for the fabric if you're going to attempt this. I used this polyester blend I found at the remnant bin at the fabric store and next time, I’m either going to use interface or a fabric that will sit up better against the hip.

Autumn DIY Aspirations

I’ve always been a staunch supporter of do-it-yourself fashion! I think my favorite DIY is, you guessed it, jewelry. But I also love updating old pieces and making them new again.

For example, I always look forward to one of the Glamourai's posts on DIY, and I got an amazing idea from one of her posts to do come autumn. For the fall, I’m thinking of taking an old gray cardigan and swapping out dim gray buttons for some black ones and black ribbon, à la Phillip Lim Spring 2010.

I also am going to take cue from Alber Elbaz and Lanvin Spring 2010 with bejewled anklets, which the Glamourai herself showed off on her blog. I think I’m going to make detachable ones so I can wear them with all of my flats.

I absolutely love Juicy Couture jewelry (like this watch I'm eyeing for my birthday) and love to copy the layered look in their necklaces.

Maybe I could pull off DIY hair accessories too, like this cute headband inspired by Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl fame..

(Images via Style.com, JuicyCouture.com & Google Images)

Homemade Baubles

For awhile now, one of my passions has been jewelry making. Although I am nowhere near an expert artisan, I have created several pieces that I love to wear on a regular basis. I thought I'd show some pieces that I absolutely love.

I've been making jewelry ever since I was a little girl, but the stress associated with high school overtook my time, and now that its summer I've been making a lot.

I've got most of the jewelry from my very gracious Uncle John, who happens to have bags and bags of unwanted and mismatched jewelry (from years of running a thrift store) that I pick through to make my creations.  

The first thing I made was this necklace. The idea came from an DIY post from The Glamourai and I just had to try it. It consists of red grosgrain ribbon, some broken chain, and a little thread to hold it all together.

 

 I also made this one out of some broken strands of faux pearls, some chain and a brooch.

 

I made another necklace around the 4th of July made from more chain and a broken bracelet. I don't know what it is, but there's something about dainty links that really add another dimension to a piece of jewelry.

Lastly, I figured that I should make a bracelet or two. Each one came from a broken bracelet (or three, in the case of the charm bracelet). Since then, the one with the big charm has received an update in the form of a ribbon tie, which I will post later.

(Polaroid border courtesy of The Poladroid Project)

Guess who got a blog?

Me, that's who!

I'm going to use this to document all of my inspirations. Please bear with me as I learn all of the tricks of the blogging trade. Thanks for reading and following :)

(image via thesartorialist.blogspot.com)