Fashion Customized

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE WEARS REISS!

2011-05-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

...and the dress goes viral. I guess it doesn't hurt to have the Duchess formerly known as Kate Middleton wear one of your dresses if you would like for your line to do well.

After having had a dreamy honeymoon the nicely tanned Dutches choose to wear this bandage style dress by Reiss Schola to meet with Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace. Fabulous look for a first social obligation by the way.

If you would like to buy the dress (which actually is quite moderately priced for royalty) check it out on
http://www.reissonline.com/shop/womens/dresses/shola_/camel/

Picture source:
http://www.reissonline.com/blog/the-duchess-of-cambridge-wears-reiss/

Gwen Stefani and Gwyneth Paltrow have a girls night out

2011-05-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Now here is a stylish soirée I wouldn't mind being a part of...

...oh if dreams would only come true!

picture source: http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/top-shots-of-the-week/4835#OmgPhoid=8

Denim jumpsuits for summer

2011-05-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

I love, love love denim jumpsuits and I am on the hunt for the perfect one. Unfortunately I haven't found one yet that would suit all of my expectations. The fabric needs to be light, the top has got to fit just right and it has to be easy to wear but classy. Know any such jumpsuits? Please don't hesitate to tell me about them :).

Jumpsuit by esther456 featuring leather jackets

denim jumpsuits 2 by esther456 featuring a chain necklace

Faboulista: The Princess Shine

2011-05-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

I always love to read about new talent being discovered by amazing fashion bloggers, so I was thrilled to find this article on one of my regularly frequented blogs. Check out this article about an up and coming 17 year old designer.

Faboulista: The Princess Shine: "Earlier this week I came across t his beautiful dress . It has everything my heart desires: a rich and decadent brocade in the softest colo..."

The Duchess of Cambridge in her party outfit

2011-05-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

picture source: http://omg.yahoo.com/

Kate Middleton in Alexander McQueen

2011-04-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

This has got to be the most talked about wedding dress of the season and the bride wore it just perfectly!

The hand-cut English lace, the sweetheart bodice complete with a beautiful satin skirt made this Alexander McQueen gown into the perfect fit for a fairytale wedding. Timelessly elegant and understated, I have to admit it was a pleasant surprise as I had expected something much more pompous.

The maid of honour was just as elegant but subdued enough not to overshadow her sister, the bride. Pippa's Alexander McQueen gown was a great example of simple yet flawless elegance.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that Philp Treacy's hats seemed to be very big with the royals and their wedding party as a pregnant Victoria Beckham, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were spotted wearing them. For the life of me I could never understand in what setting one would wear a Philp Treacy hat, but if there was one perfect occasion for these hats, the royal wedding must have been it!

Congrats to the happy couple!

Picture source:http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/the-royal-wedding-fashion-report-card/4793#OmgPhoid=1

DIY: curl your hair with a flat iron

2011-04-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

On my list of things to learn in an attempt to pay more attention to the way I present myself is managing to curl my hair with my relatively recently purchased flat iron. Now a straightener might not sound as the best instrument to curl ones hair to the untrained ear but as I have witness at my hairdresser its really does the trick. So I want to learn, and I try and try because it seems so easy to do, right? Well it just doesn't seem to come together for me. I have found some really helpful videos though on how to curl your hair with a straightener and until I manage to actually do it myself and post a photo of it I decided to share these with you. Enjoy! and let me now how you manage to curl your hair with a flat iron, useful tips, videos, or just good advice or bad experiences in general. Looking forward to hearing from you.

For a very to the point explanation and demonstration

For a Christina Aguilera style

For me (and people wit h shorter hair in general)

My new favorite: Ingrid Vlasov

2011-03-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

So I might be a tad behind on this one, but better late then never, right? After reading on one of my favourite blogs, highstreetcardigans, about JOY magazine teaming up with Romanian designers and offering scarves designed by them as a bonus for buying the magazine, I just had to go out and get it. (btw I got the Maria Lucia Hohan scarf and I love it to death ).

As chance would have it on the front page there was Lady Gaga- I gotta say I'm not a huge fan, to over the top for me- and a title about her wearing dresses by Romanian designer Ingrid Vlasov.

So thank you Lady Gag for turning me on to one of my fellow country(wo)men. I naturally went straight to the computer to look her up and needles to say I fell in love.

First and foremost the caplets caught my eye, and just as luck would have it they are my favourite colour combination: black and white.

I have to say, I was also surprised at how moderately they are priced for designer clothes. So go check out her website http://www.ingridvlasov.com/, you won't regret it, I promise!

Picture source: http://www.ingridvlasov.com/

Magnum Ice Cream and Rachel Bilson on POLYVORE

2011-03-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Spring Outfits to die for

2011-03-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

best springs outfit by esther456 featuring a leather zip jacket

Pintucked blouse
$40 - delias.com

Mulberry leather jacket
$1,937 - my-wardrobe.com

Jeans
gifts.myer.com.au

Sergio Rossi open toe heels
$760 - intermixonline.com

American Vintage braided belt
30 EUR - welikefashion.com

Spring Outfits to die for by esther456 featuring ray ban sunglasses

Max Mara green dress
278 GBP - matchesfashion.com

Theory
675 GBP - net-a-porter.com

Miss KG high heel shoes
39 GBP - kurtgeiger.com

Jerome Dreyfuss leather handbag
$3,190 - shopsavannahs.com

Vintage gold ring
$225 - rubylane.com

Pendant
$17 - amazon.com

Ray Ban ray ban sunglass
$145 - ray-ban.com

Anxiously awaiting spring - Trends to look out for

2011-02-23T22:05:00.000-08:00

Spring Fashion @ Yahoo! Video

DIY Bib Necklace

2011-02-23T01:44:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to make a bib necklace for quite some time now and I finally managed to get around to it. I must say I'm quite pleased with the result, so I was anxious to share it with you.

In case you are thinking of making your own here is what you will need:

some felt
lace (not mandatory but it gives the necklace that nice little extra something :))
ribbon for closure
beads
matching thread
ideally a sewing machine, but it can also by sewn by hand

I started by pining the lace onto my felt (so it wouldn't move around while I was working) and cutting out two identical pieces of felt matching the shape of my lace.

Then I continued by sewing the beads on the lace by also attaching them to one of the pieces of felt. After having finished adding the beads I sew the second piece of felt onto the first piece and lace, thus masking the back and also added the ribbon between the two felt pieces for closure. I'm quite pleased with the result.

Have you ever made a bib necklace of your own? Would this tutorial help you to make one?

I love jumpsuits

2011-02-06T23:01:00.000-08:00

And this little number worn by Angie Harmon is just to cute for words.
I want to have something like this on day. Maybe make a replica of my own? I have to, have to work on my sewig skills. Do you like it?

Felt birthday crown

2011-02-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

My baby is turning one in a couple of weeks and I have already started the preparations to organise the most beautiful first birthday ever.

Browsing the web for DIY party decoration and food as well as birthday cake ideas I came across this great crown template fit for my prince and decided to make one of my own.

I just changed the number the a 1 and added some beads to the original design and of course chose colours to my own liking.Yellow and green seemed like such a good fit as the decorations will sport the same colours to the most part.

If you want to make a birthday crown for your angel all you will need is

two pieces of 0,5 m felt (2 different colours of course)
a crown template that you can download from this wonderful blog
elastic for the back of the crown to make it fit
beads (optional)
thread and a needle or sowing machine if you have it

The best thing to do is to pin the template to the felt so it won't move while you are cutting it out.

After cutting out the form in both colours, cut out the birthday number of your baby from the felt piece you will place above so that the one under it will show through.

Sew the two together by adding the beads (or not) and your birthday crown is ready. Have fun making your own!

Kelly Osbourne is the new face of Material Girl!

2011-01-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

image via http://fashion.gearlive.com/chicdish/article/q309-madonna-searching-for-a-new-material-girl/

Well brace yourselves people, Taylor Momsen has been replaced! Madonna's daughter Lola announced it via her blog and twitter that the new face of the line for 2011 was going to be none other then the (newly) fabulous Kelly Osbourne.

image via http://blog.materialgirlcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KellyO.jpg

And I for one applaud the decision. Taylor Momsen might have her own style, be unique, daring, stand out and all that jazz Madonna may have wanted for the face of her line, but simply put she just keeps looking fugglier and just plain unwashed. Now Kelly has had quite the metamorphosis

going from this

to this

she is deserving indeed. She has turned into quite the lady; stylish, well put together and well, gorgeous. So I wish her nothing but the best in all of her future endeavours as she has clearly shown that change is possible!

DIY- Copper wire ring

2011-01-25T00:18:00.000-08:00

I know I have been awai for some time now but as my son is growing and sleeping less and less during the day I find that my time to do things for myself is being cut shorter and shorter.
I'm not complaining though, he is a joy to be around and I do steal some time away as often as I can to focus on myself.
Yesterday was such a day and I ended up using my free time to make a a ring from some old beads I had laying around for a while now. Its very easy to do and takes less then 30 minutes. So here is the tutorial for you.

You will need:

brown and green beads (or any other 2 colors you prefer and that merge in the bead you will use for the center)
a larger bead as the center piece
copper wire (about 50 cm)

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

and the finished ring is ready to wear

Have fun making your own!

More DIY- Blugirl inspired handbags

2010-12-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays everyone!

They have been happy indeed, for me at least, this being the first holiday I spent with my little family, at it being my son's first Christmas. I especially enjoy giving presents and this year I ended up making some of them myself.

Remember the Blugirl inspired silk chiffon flower handbag I made based on a secretlifeofabionerd video which I shared with you? Well I ended up making two more as presents for my family.

If you like them and would like to make some yourself check out the tutorial.

Gong Bao Chicken

2010-12-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

So...I have been sewing less lately and spending more time in the kitchen, I guess it's probably just a phase but hey, why not take advantage of it while it lasts.

While looking for recipes I found this cool blog that not only shares recipes but also gives great pointers on how to make your own Chinese dishes. It's in Romanian so if anybody needs help with the translation I'll be happy to oblige.

I chose to make Gong Bao Chicken and I gotta say it turned out tasting a lot like what I had in restaurants before. So the recipe is definitely good, I just have to do more work on my cooking skills..Christmas is coming up and I have a lot of plans in this sense so I'l be back with updates on that.

Dreaming of...

2010-11-16T04:14:00.000-08:00

brown by esther456 featuring stiletto boots

Tibi Silk ruffle dress
$400 - net-a-porter.com
Tibi dress »

Guncheck Jacket
52 GBP - missselfridge.com
Polyester jacket »

Platform Suede Lace Up Booties
$1,125 - intermixonline.com
Stiletto boots »

Nine West Washed Up, Shopper Washed Shopper (BROWN)
$79 - ninewest.com
Nine west handbags »

Brown Leather Cord Statement Necklace
$28 - 1928.com
Leather jewelry »

Element - Elle Belt (Brown) - Accessories
$40 - zappos.com
Element belt »

orange by esther456 featuring christian louboutin boots

Barneys New York Tartan Dress
$895 - barneys.com
Crew neck dress »

Current/Elliott The Easy Biker nappa-leather jacket
$835 - net-a-porter.com
Nappa leather jacket »

'Fastwist 140' Plateau Ankle-Boots Schwarz - Christian Louboutin
759 EUR - unger-fashion.com
Christian louboutin boots »

MICHAEL Michael Kors Uptown Astor Shoulder Tote, Orange Suede
$448 - michaelkors.com
Chain tote »

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Patent Strap Oversized Watch
$200 - nordstrom.com
Marc by marc jacobs jewelry »

Ruched glove Black
25 GBP - houseoffraser.co.uk
Black gloves »

Fendi 5091 Black > Fendi Sunglasses > 5091 001 > UK
250 GBP - sunglasses-shop.co.uk
Fendi sunglasses »

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA - EXTRA LONG KNOTTED BELT
143 EUR - luisaviaroma.com
Maison Martin Margiela belts »

Transformers

2010-11-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

I love this video, because in the end we all have the same style evolution (just on a much much smaller budget).

Spending time in the kitchen does pay of

2010-11-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make something nice for my family this past Sunday so I decided to make some Papanasi (which I had never done before) - its kind of a donut made with cottage cheese and filled with jam and sour cream. I found this wonderful recipe, but since its in Romanian I'm gonna make a resume in English so you can make your own if you like.

Ingredients you will need:

500g of cottage cheese
2 eggs
a pinch of salt
a pinch of baking soda
10 to 15 tablespoons of flour
some sugar

Put all of the above ingredients in a bowl and stir until the dough no longer sticks to your hand. Then form two smaller and two larger balls of dough. Make a whole through the center of the larger balls with your finger. Fry all 4 dough balls in hot oil.

When done fill the wholes with sour cream and jam, put the smaller balls on top as a little hat, and you are done.

Enjoy!

Distressed denim cut-offs

2010-11-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

I've been craving a pair of distressed cut off denim shorts for a while now and I finally decided to make my own from an old pair of jeans instead of spending a bunch of money on the new ones.

If you are considering making your own distressed cut-offs this is what you will need:

1. a pair of old jeans

2. a grater

3. scissors and 4.seam ripper

Step one:
cut your shorts down to size (you can use a pair of shorts you already have and like the length of as a model or just measure before you cut)

then roll up the bottom part, for a better finish

for the distressed look you can use the grater to soften the material. Then you will have to remove the blue thread so that the white ones are showing. The white thread runs vertically while the blue one horizontally so you will need to cut the horizontal blue threads and then pick them out one by one with the help of the seam ripper.

Ta da

Have fun making your own!

The Food and Calories Challenge

2010-11-05T03:05:00.001-07:00

Sex and the City makeover! R U excited?

2010-10-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Is anyone out there who hasn't heard of or seen all or at least most of the episodes of this iconic fashion filled show? (I gotta say I'm not a fan of the movies however, I went to see them exclusively for the apparel:) ) And how about drooling over the clothes the girls were wearing? Ever whish you could look like one of them?

Well the good people over at Warner Bros. have released a series of makeover videos- in honor of the Sex and the City2 DVD release- that will help you do just that. Take a look-see.

Are you Carrie?

Or Miranda?

Or Charlotte?

Maybe Samantha?

So who do you relate to?

Playing dress-up with Alexander McQueen

2010-10-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Alexander McQueen by esther456 featuring leather boots

Alexander McQueen Knitted cap sleeve dress
760 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Knit dress »

Alexander McQueen Leather jacket with cord detail
4,775 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Leather jacket »

Alexander McQueen Floral-engraved leather boots
$4,195 - net-a-porter.com
Leather boots »

Alexander McQueen Skull-print umbrella
$335 - net-a-porter.com
Alexander McQueen umbrellas »

Alexander McQueen 236715BGS1G (Gold Multi) - Alexander McQueen Bags
$2,399 - couture.zappos.com

alexander mcqueen by esther456 featuring an antique brass pendant

Alexander McQueen Jersey cable knit print dress
1,045 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Deep v neck dress »

Alexander mcqueen coats RED
6,595 GBP - matchesfashion.com
Gold coat »

Alexander McQueen Britannia patent-leather clutch
$1,525 - net-a-porter.com
Skull handbag »

Alexander McQueen Flower Skull Lapel Pin
$195 - barneys.com
Skull jewelry »

Alexander McQueen Swarovski antique brass pendant
$595 - net-a-porter.com
Antique brass pendant »

Alexander McQueen 249128WAHU0 Colophony - Zappos.com Free Shipping...
$1,099 - zappos.com

alexander mcqueen by esther456 featuring a red ring

Alexander McQueen Celtic knit dress
1,590 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Knit dress »

Alexander mcqueen jackets RED
3,795 GBP - matchesfashion.com
Red jacket »

All | Designer Shoes | NET-A-PORTER.COM
790 GBP - net-a-porter.com
Alexander mcqueen boots »

Alexander McQueen Lock-it studded leather bag
$2,495 - net-a-porter.com
Leather tote »

Alexander McQueen Leather skull bracelet
$295 - net-a-porter.com
Leather bracelets »

twin red skull ring
120 GBP - harveynichols.com
Red ring »

pearl and skull ring
150 GBP - harveynichols.com
Pearl ring »

alexander mcqueen by esther456 featuring skull jewelry

Alexander McQueen Wool and silk-blend intarsia dress
$1,495 - net-a-porter.com
Floral print dress »

Alexander McQueen Wool kimono cape
$3,420 - net-a-porter.com
Alexander McQueen coats »

Alexander McQueen Floral-engraved leather boots
$4,195 - net-a-porter.com
High heels shoes »

Alexander McQueen Swarovski crystal-embellished skull ring
$280 - net-a-porter.com
Skull jewelry »

Alexander McQueen Leather skull bracelet
$295 - net-a-porter.com
Skull jewelry »

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 247012 J807G PEARL METAL/PEARL N13W11
155 GBP - farfetch.com
Skull jewelry »

Guara for fall- winter 2010

2010-10-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

Remember I have told you before about this wonderful Romanian design house GUARA that just has the most feminine and sophisticated yet totally wearable clothes...?

Well I am in love with their 2010 Fall-Winter collection so I am offering you a sneak peak of it:

Picture source: http://www.guara.ro/

Anna Sui Fall Winter 2010/11

2010-10-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

In Rachel Zoe's own words: "I die". Anna Sui in general but this collection in particular speaks so much to my aesthetic it's like she is designing for me. (I wish :)!) I love the silhouettes, I love the rich colors, the effortless femininity, the tights, the footwear, the bags, the accessories...need I go on? I'd wear all of theses items in a heartbeat.

Needles to say, selecting my favorites was not easy to do, but since I love little dresses and find them to be very flattering for my figure (I like to show off my legs- probably the only part of my body that I like to show off...) I picked some of the dresses that I would kill for to have in my wardrobe.

picture source: http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2010RTW-ANNASUI/

For a quick view of the collection:

Do you like Anna Sui? How about this collection? Which are your favorite collections for fall? Looking forward to you comments.

Do you know how to choose the right jeans for your body type?

2010-10-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Well the good people over at the Thread will tell you how. And since every girl needs a perfectly fitting pair of jeans that will do wonders for any outfit I found this video to be very interesting.

Thoughts?

Plaid jacket Tutorial

2010-10-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Do you like plaid? I'm usually all for monochromatic jackets but I found this great material that I just couldn't resist (especially at the bargain price of 3$) so I bought it, combined it with some red material I had fro some time and the result, well...I kinda love it

I used a cardigan- that has seen better days, and I was no longer wearing it but I love the silhouette- as a pattern- usually I use my old clothes as patterns. This is the front of the jacket

and the back

I put the front and the back wrong sides facing and sewed them together with a running stitch

I made a second jacket from the red material, which was going to be the lining. after the two jackets were done I put them over each other, wrongs sides facing, left an opening at the neckline and turned it inside out after having sewn them together.

the collar

again, wrong sides facing, the white lace that was going to show was sewn in between the two layers

...and for the closure of the jacket I made a brooch from the same materials, using a safety pin to pin it in place. For a tutorial on how to make the flowers, you can check out this post

So long story short...this is my jacket.

Do you like it?

Lauren Conrad 's Guide to Fashion

2010-10-11T22:33:00.001-07:00

Sweet Fancy Treat has a BloGIVErsary and I would love to win that flower headband!

2010-10-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

Daiane over at Sweet Fancy Treat is having a great giveaway, so this post is for her. Her blog has turned three years old so to celebrate the occasion she has paired up with Loulou from Loulou Loves You in order to give to one of her readers an amazingly creative flower headband.

Just so she can see how great it would look on me I pasted it on to one of my wedding photos (where I wore real flowers in my hair- very similar to the ones on this headband) also to prove my long love affair with flowers in my hair :).

So, dear Daiane, as you can see I would be a worthy winner of your lovely prize. Congrats to you on your 3 years and happy many more to come!

If you want to heck out the giveaway you can do so here.

2010-09-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

Marc Jacobs has launched his own e-commerce site and its quite exciting.

The interactive website is set up like a store where you can check out Marc Jacobs collections and look-books as well as watch runway videos and of course shop till you drop. In my case unfortunately its just look but don't touch as the price tags are way out of my league....

Here is a taste from the women's Fall/Winter 2010 collection

Picture source:http://www.marcjacobs.com/marc-jacobs-collection/runway-lookbook/womens-fall-winter-2010/#/marc-jacobs-collection/runway-lookbook/womens-fall-winter-2010?p=4

Storage Baskets Tutorial

2010-09-23T23:56:00.001-07:00

I've said this before, I love finding tutorials on the net and making things myself and I have become especially artsy-crafty since my son was born. The latest in a long line of things that I have made are some hanging storage baskets for his toys. If you don't have a baby I bet you can still always find something to store in these baskets, whether it be your accessories or socks :). You can make the smaller or bigger and use more "grown up materials" if you want. It will make them look totally different.

I found a wonderful tutorial by the Mother Huddle based on which I made them.

If you are thinking of making them yourself I will walk you trough on how to make them.

First of all you will need the following materials:

three 20x 25.5 cm (8 x 10 inch) wooden panels (in the tutorial mentioned above you will find that Plexiglas sheets were used which you can also do, but wood was more accessible to me)
three 47 x 72 cm (18½ x 28 inch) fabric pieces from you outer material and the same size three pieces from your lining material
three 10 x 27 cm ( 4 x 10 ½ inch) pieces
a curtain rod for hanging the baskets

First you will need to fold your large pieces in half with right side in, short ends together and them sew up the sides, leaving the top open. Like this:

do the same to your lining material as well

Next, take your fabric and fold your corners down like shown in the picture below. Measure 8.5 cm (3¾ inches) from the endpoint and pin across on both sides like so:

Then turn your fabric right side out, place in the wooden panel, then your lining material and pin the top by adding the smaller material (hem the sides of it before inserting) to what will be the backside of the basket.

sew it up, insert the rod and you are done

For more on how to make these wonderful baskets visit the tutorial on: http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/07/creative-guest-hanging-storage-baskets.html

L.A.M.B - Fall 2010

2010-09-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

This is not the first time I mention Gwen Stefani on my blog, nor will it be the last as she is truly one of those people that you can look to for inspiration.
Unlike most musicians, models or actors who turned "designers" and present collections with no individuality whatsoever and silhouettes that have been done to death, Gwen's collections reflect her own personal, very distinctive style.
I love that her stuff is wearable and most people would find items in her collection that they incorporate in to their everyday wardrobe and look fabulous in them.
Here is a taste of what she showed at Fashion Week

Thoughts?

Fall-2010-RTW- BLUGIRL

2010-09-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

I just love, love love anything Anna Molinari and the fall 2010 RTW Blugirl collection is no exception.

Everything that she designs just exudes femininity, its all so dreamy and light and flattering and the details never fail to impress. Basic blacks and whites dominate the collection with some hints of animal print (I'm not really a big fan of animal print but she manages not to overdo anything ever) and neutrals such as grey and nude. Which make it all the more adaptable to any wardrobe or occasion.

I have to say my absolute dream would be to fill a closet - a much much bigger one then mine :) - with Blugirl items from collections past and present and shoes to match...ah fashion heaven!

But then again maybe one black long sleeved coat and a little white dress would do the trick as well...where are you fashion fairy?

But without further delay here are the images that speak more then clearly to what the collection really is all about.

Do you like Anna Molinari's designs? Who are your favourite designers?

Picture source: http://www.elle.com/Runway/Ready-to-Wear/Fall-2010-RTW/BLUGIRL/BLUGIRL/%28imageIndex%29/16#mode=base;slide=5;

Necklace for my mother

2010-09-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

I love browsing the web for tutorials on how to make jewelry, clothes, and more recently all sorts of funny and interesting stuff for children (I am working on some storage baskets for my son's toys which I will soon share with you). This is how I came across this wonderful tutorial on how to make a ribbon pearl necklace which was really beautiful and seemed easy to make. So I decided to make one for my mother.

Materials needed:

pearls (same or different size- you will find that in the turorial mentioned above, the pearls are the same size and the end result is different)
ribbon (color and width of your choice)
thread (preferably the same color as the ribbon)
needle

All you need to do is pass the thread through the ribbon and then the first pearl, then wrap the ribbon around one side of the peral and secure it with the read on the other side. Keep on going until you have the desired length.
Make sure to leave ribbon on both sides of the necklace as it will be your closure.

Here is my "masterpiece"

Thoughts?

Getting into shape

2010-09-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

I know that I kinda went missing from the blogspehere lately...I have no excuse.
I could say that I had a lot to do, that my son is growing and needs more and more of my time and attention, that I took advantage of the long sunny autumn days and spent a lot of my time outside taking long walks with my baby...all of it would be true but then again non of it would be the reason for me not writing.

To be honest, I wasn't in the mood, and so I kept posting no-text-entries and a ton of polyvore outfits- don't get me wrong I still love polyvore- which I felt were kind of taking the blog down the hill, so I decided to stop posting until I really had something to say. (I'm kinda abusing that now)

But to make a long story short, my son recently turned 6 months old and for several reasons that I really don't care to explain right now he is no longer breastfeeding which means that I can start the diet I have been planing ever since I got pregnant and knew that I was inevitably going to gain some weight.

Luckily most of the baby weight is gone - I only have 2 kg left- but to reach my goal weight I have to loose 5 kg, which I am now attempting to do, while maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.

The first thing I did was to calculate my calorie intake and how I should reduce it in order to loose weight in a healthy manner. I tried several calculators but liked this one the most.

After finding out how much I could eat I started a weight loss journal, you can find one here. Mine is a bit different but you can adapt any of these journals to you needs, they are just guidelines.
I will keep you updated on my eating habits...

Also, exercise is very important, so what I do is, I start my day with the 5 Tibetan rites and then take at least 2 hour walks with my son in the afternoon (yes, every day).

I love these exercises, its like yoga for dummies and you can really feel the results from day 1.

So without abusing my writing privileges any longer I am now going to tend to the matter at hand. But please let me know about your weight loss stories, favorite exercises, thoughts on the 5 Tibetan rites...or whatever comes to mind on weight loss and health issues.

Until then...have a marvelous Monday!

Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez

2010-09-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Junior Jeans from Piper & Blue and Bongo at Kmart.com
$20 - kmart.com
Skinny leg jeans »

Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez Socialite Canvas Messenger Handbag
$18 - kmart.com
Bags »

Dream Out Loud Plaid Woven Tunic With Belt : Star Style
starstyleinc.com

dream out loud from Kmart.com
kmart.com

Junior Jeans from Piper & Blue and Bongo at Kmart.com
$20 - kmart.com
Skinny leg jeans »

Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez City Vintage Ruffle Hobo Handbag
$14 - kmart.com
Vintage handbags »

dream out loud by selena gomez from Kmart.com
$16 - kmart.com

dream out loud from Kmart.com
$8 - kmart.com

Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez Urban Hymns Fringe Tote Handbag
$18 - kmart.com
Handbags totes »

dream out loud by selena gomez from Kmart.com
$18 - kmart.com

dream out loud by selena gomez from Kmart.com
$16 - kmart.com

dream out loud from Kmart.com
kmart.com

Thoughts?

Updated Mini Editor - Brand new items!

2010-09-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

Remember what's at stake:

"One blogger and one reader will each win a $1000 Visa gift card. The criteria for selecting the best Mini Editor will be based 50% on how many sets are submitted and 50% on style & aesthetics. The winning blogger will select his or her favorite set created by a reader, and that reader will also win $1,000. See the official rules here."

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

K-Dash by Kardashian

2010-09-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Kardashians are doing it! Launching a new collection that is.

It will debut on QVC’s Fashion’s Night Out, at New York’s Rockefeller Center on Friday, September 10.

The collection is primarily designed by Ginny Hilfiger in cooperation with the Kardashians. It will bring dresses, jackets, leggings and several types of accessories to customers at budget-friendly prices starting from $20.

Here is a preview of the collection, straight from Kim's blog.

Love it, hate it or is it just blah...? Looking forward to hearing from you!

Get the look - Katy Perry

2010-09-01T23:26:00.000-07:00

Future Collectables Christopher Kane Off the shoulder bandage dress
990 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Bubble dress »

L.K.Bennett Flatiron Peep Toe Sandals, Gold, 5
170 GBP - johnlewis.com
Gold sandals »

Gold Hot Red Serpentine Costume Hoop Earrings
18 GBP - avalaya.com
Hoop earrings »

Stills From Gossip Girl Season 4!

2010-08-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

I've got some very exciting novelty for all you GG addicts out there, the latest stills from the season 4 shoot.

Not loving Serena's outfits though, they don't do anything for her figure. But then again I guess it's no surprise that her clothes are as washed out as her character... something really needs to happen with Serena on GG to make her interesting!

Blair is as lovely as ever.

And Chuck well....he's back!

Picture source: http://perezhilton.com

Win $1000 by creating fall wardrobe looks! - Updated editor- new items

2010-08-29T02:44:00.000-07:00

Just uploaded some new items. I was so happy to see that people actually got involved and had fun creating :). So good luck everyone, and remember the more sets you create the higher the chances that you win $1000! So create, create, create away!!!

Nina Garcia's Look Book: What To Wear For Every Occasion

2010-08-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Believe me--there's pressure when you're deciding what to wear to a meeting with an iconic fashion designer or a member of the press. It can be terrifying. But instead of panicking, I stop, take a deep breath, and remember that I speak "fashion." And by the time you have read this book, you'll be able to speak the language of fashion too, at all the key moments of your life. --from Nina Garcia's Look Book

If You have watched Lifetime's "Project Runway" over and over again like me, then you must have heard Heidi introduce Nina Garcia, one of the judges, as fashion director for Marie Claire at least a gazillion times.

Nina Garcia is coming out with a book this month that will definitely interest all fashionistas. It's called: "Look Book: What To Wear For Every Occasion".

Now, this is not her first book, she has been a published author for quite some time now. Her previous books, all published since 2007 and all illustrated by Ruben Toledo, include:

The One Hundred – A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own

The Little Black Book of Style

The Style Strategy – A Less-is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart

Her latest how-to guide, the Look Book, offers looks for every occasion ranging from what to wear to a job interview to what to wear on a first date.

Here are a few edifying examples:

What to wear when asking for a raise?

"You have to look unstoppable and, even more important, you have to feel unstoppable."

What to wear on a blind date

"Bask in the thrill of the unknown ... and revel in the anticipation that you may be meeting the man of your dreams. However, always keep one fabulous heel firmly planted on the ground."

What to wear when meeting your significant other's parents

"Show that you respect them and truly care for their child by looking your most ladylike and appealing best. As always, the most ladylike and appealing version of you, not who you imagine they want you to be."

What to wear for brunch with the girls

"This is the time for a billowy maxi dress in a gorgeous floral print, with a pretty pair of ballet flats and a chic scarf. You're ready to go in an instant and you'll have plenty of room for post-brunch expansion."

What to wear to a wedding

"Make your wedding ensemble chic but playful ... Use the invitation as a guide, find out how dressy your friends plan to be, and you're ready to strategize."

What to wear when you travel

"Every stylish traveller needs a go-to outfit for each major mode of transportation." For the plane, you want the perfect combination of cosy and classy. Think dark colours and soft, natural, knit fabrics that move with you.For the train you can dress similarly to the plane, but with the roomier seats feel free to dress it up a bit. For the car be spill proof, wrinkle proof and comfortable. Again, think dark colours and knits.

I have to say I liked Nina's style on Project Runway so I was happy when I found the above illustrations and quotes and managed to get some insight into it, as it is not so easy for us Eastern Europeans to come by certain information as fast as in other parts of the world.

But I was even happier when I found this excerpt from the book on http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/excerpt-nina-garcias-book-wear-occasion . It's quite long so I will post it only partially, but you can go to the link above to read the entire thing. I have to say however that the excerpt makes me want to own the book, so I think I will look into possibilities of having it shipped to Romania :).

"Know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. -epictetus ... And then I thought about my girlfriends. I thought of the hundreds, if not thousands, of calls I field from them (and they from me) a couple of hours before we meet for an event, each and every call boiling down to the same question, repeated over and over: "What Should I Wear?!" Everyone has made that call, had that conversation, and wailed this question to some poor soul who will probably have to ask it herself imminently. Everything from what to wear to a rock concert, a first date, a funeral, or a Yankees game, a trade convention, and even to brunch with each other! "

"A great social success is a pretty girl who plays her cards as carefully as if she were plain. -F. Scott Fitzgerald ...This book will lead you through the fashion lingo for some of life's basic occasions to ensure that your ensemble is always a flawless representation of you. You'll learn how to be appropriate without being prudish, creative without being too zany, and confident without being overbearing. "

How does Nina's book seem to you? Would you buy it? Do you like her personal style? Dying to hear from you.

Illustration and quote source: http://www.wowowow.com/life/fashion-director-nina-garcia-look-book-what-to-wear-488262

Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Fall 2010 Collection

2010-08-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

You may want to sit down for this announcement: I never watched The Hills! and from what I hear about it, I don't care to either. But one Hills alumni seems to be making a name for herself, so that caught my attention.

Lauren Conrad launched a collection for Kohl's and here is what she had to say about it: "I incorporated a lot of feminine details like lace, ruffles and pretty floral prints." Gotta love some feminine details!

The collection is not bad but unfortunately not very original either.

The ones below are my favourite outfits

for more check out her personal website.

So what is your take on Lauren's line? Yey or ney?

Imaged via:http://laurenconrad.com/connect/journal/lauren-conrad-fall-collection.html

Win $1000 by creating fall wardrobe looks!

2010-08-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

Polyvore has launched the new Mini Editor and to celebrate it they are giving away $1000 to a blogger and $1000 to one of their readers!

I just installed this virtual styling tool to my blog so that we can start creating outfits together. Have fun with using the widget above to create looks of your choice and get a chance at winning a nice sum for your fall wardrobe. The more outfits the more chances at winning.

Instructions: (in case you need them)

click the "create" button in the upper left corner of the widget to start creating
use the items I selected from the row below the widget to create your look
drop them in the window that says: "drag items here"
use the "forwards" and "backwards" buttons to arrange the items to your liking
add a background of your choice to complete the look
click on "publish" and you are done
click on the "gallery" button to view the look you have created
and don't forget: the more sets the more chances at winning!

To get things started I will post the first outfit myself :).

For more info on the contest click here.

I love tutu skirts!

2010-08-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

I'm on a polyvore craze again, so I just wanted to share some lovely pics with you. Don't they just make you want to live life to the fullest?

ASOS Elastic Waist Ruffle Tutu Skirt
$61 - asos.com
Asos skirt »

Adult Rusty Pink Tutu Skirt Rusty Pink Adult Tutu Skirt [042328] -...
$22 - daisyshoppe.com
Tutu skirt »

Women's Goddiva Silver Tutu Skirt Online | Shop at Style Compare
13 GBP - stylecompare.co.uk
Silver skirt »

Evil Faith Mini Black & Purple | Gothic Clothing | Emo clothing |...
9.95 GBP - chaoticclothing.co.uk
Purple skirt »

ASOS Asymmetric Hem Tutu Skirt
$57 - asos.com
Asos skirt »

Poizen Industries Mace Tutu Black | Gothic Clothing | Emo clothing |...
43 GBP - chaoticclothing.co.uk
Punk skirt »

In case you want to make your own tutu, you an check out my tutorial form a while back! And if you want to know more about the history of the tutu, you can check out the info here.

Get the look- Jessica Szohr

2010-08-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

Theory Neptune stretch-jersey mini dress
$325 - net-a-porter.com
Strapless dress »

MILITARY Jeansweste im Destroyed-Look
30 EUR - 7trends.de
Vests outerwear »

GIANMARCO LORENZI A9D0Q2714 BLACK SUEDE 1818102
384 GBP - farfetch.com
Heels pumps »

GUCCI AW10/247205AIX4G 1186/GREY/BLUE LEATHER BORSA
744 GBP - farfetch.com
Blue tote bag »

Romania, The Land of Choice? - Part 2

2010-08-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just got home after a very long drive, but I was so eager to share the rest of my photos with you that I sat right down to the computer and started typing away.

After our lovely week of vacation ended we decided to make the road home extra special and drive through the Făgăraş Mountains. On our way we stopped in Curtea de Argeş, the city that lies in the valley of the lower Carpathians, to visit the beautiful monastery built there.

And off we were....

The road known as Transfăgărăşan (which means through the Făgăraş Mountains) is nothing less then spectacular.
It runs across the tallest sections of the Carpathian Mountains, connecting the Cities of Sibiu and Pitesti, as well as the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia.

Up in the mountains the first spectacular lake we got to see was the Vidraru lake, an artificial lake created in 1965 by the construction of the Vidraru dam on the Arges river.

We decided to go on a boat ride. Have you ever been on a boat in the middle of mountains before? Well it was a first for us to!

Yes, that is right: 830 meters of water below us! Amazing huh?

My son actually enjoyed the ride very much :)!

Next stop: Bâlea Lake.

This glacier is situated at 2,034 m altitude. Near this lake the first ice hotel in Eastern Europe was built in 2006.

The last city we visited befoe driving home: Sibiu.

The city was designated the European Capital of Culture for the year 2007. Interesting fact: Forbes ranked it Europe's 8th most idyllic place to live!

Hope you like the pictures, anxiously awaiting your comments and ideas on travel, Romania and your summer holiday.

Romania, The Land of Choice?

2010-08-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

I have to start by admitting that our choice was not based on our undying and irrevocable love for our country and its scenery (although it very well could have been) but rather on much more practical reasoning (like the fact that we have a small baby that cannot travel hundreds and thousands of miles or the fact that we had a limited budget this year...). Since I can remember - and since we could afford it- we always spent our summer holidays abroad (Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Turkey...) even though we were often disappointed or stressed because the conditions presented to us in our home country were not the same as the ones we found on site. But the bad memories tended to fade away and the good ones replaced them- diving in the Red Sea was definitely in the top 10 of most enjoyable experiences. So it became a given that we spend our holidays abroad. It was only this year, since we had a new addition to our family, that I started searching for something closer to home, something quiet and peaceful that still had everything we wanted - for example a pool is always a must!

I have had a long love affair with mountains, yet somehow I ended up neglecting them for the longest time, but now seemed the best moment to revisit this gorgeous scenery, since going to the seaside with a six month old is not a great idea. But long walks in the fresh mountain air, now that is a different story.

I ended up finding a very nice holiday centre near the town of Brezoi by the Olt river, in Vâlcea County, at the feet of the Southern Carpathians- not to high up to be cold but also close enough to enjoy the mountains. So four days ago we packed up and started on our little adventure. I have to say, I'm not disappointed. It's not necessarily better than our travels abroad, but its definitely at least as good at a much, much, much lover price tag...plus I get to enjoy the mountains after having spent the last 6 summer holidays at the seaside.

this is our cute little holiday centre

you could take long walks around the premises

which we did :)

have a barbecue

have a nice swimm

a great breakfast

enjoy the lakes and the view

have fun with their cute little dogs

explore the surrounding area

We also visited the nearby town of of Râmnicu Vâlcea, the capital city of this county, it is located near the Cozia Mountains, which we also got to admire, as well as the well known Cozia monastery.

Cozia monastery

Our holiday isn't over yet, so I will be back with updates. But until then...

Do you have your summer vacations in your home country or do you travel abroad? Have you ever visited Romania or live here and spend your holidays at home? I'm dying to hear your opinion on inland tourism! So please comment!!!

My little sailor

2010-08-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Remember my sailor suit tutorial that I shared with you a while back? Well, my son finally got to wear his sailor suit to his christening for the very first time, and I was very proud of how it looked. So I just wanted to share these photos with you!

I also got to wear my Blugirl inspired bag and got a lot of compliments for it :). It was a nice sunny day and a successful one as well!

Thoughts on fall

2010-08-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

Gotta love

heart prints

ballerina flats

long cardigans

skinny jeans

knee high boots

scarves

The Faux Fur Vest

2010-08-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love faux fur vests? I know, I know fall is still at least one or two months away, but I'm mentally preparing for it.

Fur Vest by Fekete Eszter featuring Juicy Couture vests

Women's MICHAEL Michael Kors Long Faux-Fur Coyote Vest
$160 - michaelkors.com
More MICHAEL Michael Kors vests »

HENDRIX VEST
204 AUD - thegrandsocial.com.au
More Nookie vests »

Women's MICHAEL Michael Kors Rabbit-Fur Vest
$399 - michaelkors.com
More MICHAEL Michael Kors vests »

Striped Faux Fur Vest
$78 - victoriassecret.com
More Victoria's Secret vests »

Juicy Couture Faux Fur Vest
$228 - bloomingdales.com
More Juicy Couture vests »

BB Dakota The Ashland Fur Vest, Vests for Women
$90 - karmaloop.com
More BB Dakota vests »

Faux Fur Vest
$98 - victoriassecret.com
More Victoria's Secret vests »

Faux-Fur Hooded Vest
$278 - juicycouture.com
More Juicy Couture vests »

Women's MICHAEL Michael Kors Mongolian Fur Vest
$325 - michaelkors.com
More MICHAEL Michael Kors vests »

Sanctuary 'Natalie' Faux Fur Vest
$137 - nordstrom.com
More Sanctuary Clothing vests »

Rebecca Taylor - Fab Faux Vest (Cream With Fossil) - Apparel
$399 - zappos.com
More Rebecca Taylor vests »

HENDRIX VEST
204 AUD - thegrandsocial.com.au
More Nookie vests »

Parker Fur Vest in Brown
$374 - pinkmascara.com
More vests »

Damselle Faux Fur Ruffle Vest
$118 - nordstrom.com
More vests »

faux fur studded Erikson vest
$84 - fredflare.com
More vests »

Fur Vests
fabsugar.com
More vests »

How about you, do you own a faux fur vest or are pining for one at the moment?

The H&M fashion studio

2010-08-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Want to see what looks you can pull together before even visiting the store or shopping online? Then it would be a great idea to drop by the HM fashion studio. I've been obsessed with 3/4 sleeved blazers lately so I pulled together four differnt looks in which I incorporated the ever present lovely H&M blazer.

Thoughts?

Rachel Zoe: "I Die" Photo Shoot

2010-08-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

Everybody who has ever watched Rachel Zoe's reality show, "The Rachel Zoe Project" , must have heard her say "I Die" at least a million times.Well, it just got taken to a new level as she did an entire photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar based on this saying.

In the photos Zoe plays the victim of different fashion designers, where she literally dies for (or rather because of ) fashion.

Here she is wearing a Dial M for minimal. Dress, $3,500, and belt, $295 from the Calvin Klein Collection.

and here Marc Jacobs' victim, wearing a Marc Jacobs dress and shoes.

And here Vera Wang goes in for the kill while Zoe is wearing a Vera Wang dress and necklace.

"Death by Stiletto? I can't imagine a better way to go." -said Brian Atwood

Zoe is wearing Brian Atwood shoes and there is a Brian Atwood shoe in Atwood's has a hand

Wearing a dress and shoes by Michael Kors. (The pile of bags are his signature as well.)

Images via: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/

Capes- Fall 2010 Ready-To-Wear

2010-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

Fall 2010 is all about capes and I couldn't be happier about it

here are some of my favorites

Alberta Ferretti

Albino

Alexander McQueen

Ann Demeulemeester

Azzaro

Badgley Mischka

Balmain

Celine

Cynthia Steffe

Dennis Basso

Emporio Armani

Givenchy

Issa

Junya Watanabe

Kenzo

L.A.M.B.

Rag & Bone

Rebecca Taylor

Sophia Kokosalaki

Tsumori Chisato

Wayne

Yves Saint Laurent

Zac Posen

My absolute favorite: the yellow Yves Saint Laurent. How about you?

Images via: style.com

DIY- top refashion

2010-08-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for flowers lately, and this top was looking kinda boring so...I gave it a touch of color by adding these red yo-yo's and a new red waistband

this was the original blouse and the skirt I cut up for the waistband and yo-yo' s (both thrift shop finds:) )

the original blouse

after I removed the black lace

I cut out the waistband (you can only see half of it here)

I folded it in half and added two yo-yo's to the side

I pinned the waistband to the bottom of the blouse before sewing it on, in such a manner that no frayed edges were left

left an opening on the inside to introduce the elastic

then basically just made a bunch of yo-yo's - you can find a tutorial for making yo -yo's here

after having pinned on the first row of yo -yo's

and voila: the finished blouse!

Love it? Hate it?

My newest obsession? Capes!

2010-08-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

Capes are all over the place right now, making a big comeback on 2010 Runways...so I picked out a few for you to feast your eyes on. I'm thinking about making one myself. Be back with an update on that :). Until then, enjoy!

Duble-Button Accent Short Cape
$77 - yesstyle.com
More Youareagirl jackets »

Cape Coat
$117 - yesstyle.com
More coats »

Loro Piana Sloane Cape
$4,650 - neimanmarcus.com
More Loro Piana coats »

Grey Melange Cape
$300 - itsthenewblack.com.au
More outerwear »

Duke & Duchess Fill Detail Cape
$34 - asos.com
More jackets »

Full Circle Oversized Bow Detail Cape
$88 - asos.com
More Full Circle coats »

Moschino Cheap & Chic wool silk bow detail cape
140 GBP - flannelsfashion.com
More Moschino Cheap & Chic coats »

Bibi Feather Cape
50 GBP - monsoon.co.uk
More Monsoon coats »

Ports 1961 Lace Trim Cape
$1,095 - 25park.com
More Ports 1961 coats »

Outfit post - Carrot pants and a lot of Best Finds

2010-08-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

I got these carrot pants on sale at New Yorker for 20 RON (around 7$) they are about 2 sizes bigger than I needed but I liked them so much I just couldn't resist (especially at this price)

which brings us to the belt, it really is way more than an accessory in this case, it literally keeps my pants up and on me :)

I got it at a thrift store, really good leather imitation

the jewelry is from a trip to Tunisia a while back, I got the bracelet at the Sousse Medina (old city market)

and the earrings (which are supposedly silver) from the Sousse Soula Center. I love getting jewelry as souvenir from the places I travel to. Do you do the same?

Are you a fan of carrot pants?

DIY- Blugirl inspired handbag

2010-08-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Remember one of my previous posts were I shared a secretlifeofabionerd video with you on how to make your own Blugirl inspired silk chiffon flower handbag? (you can see the Blugirl handbag on the left)

Well I have gone and made my own. My son's christening is coming up and I needed a little bag to match my dress and since I like this bag so much and the tutorial made it seem easy enough to do, I decided that I was going to make a handbag of my own in purple.

The bag is 24cm x 13cm and it only took me six flowers to embellish it. The tutorial shows a bag with many smaller flowers but I found that this solutions was just as good and less time consuming. However if you make the handbag yourself you are free to choose whichever solution you like.

If you choose to make the bag, these are the materials you will need to do it:

silk chiffon for the bag (2 pieces of 25cm x 14cm)
lining material (same dimensions)
one zipper
leftover lining and silk chiffon material for the flowers, some lace if you have it in a similar shade
rhinestones to embellish the flowers
chain (length depends on how you want to wear your little bag)
ribbon to weave into the chain (length depends on the length of the chain)

here are some pictures of my work in progress:

these are my 4 pieces of fabric, the outer part of the bag and the lining, as well as the zipper I used

the pieces sewn onto the zipper, before final assembly

after top-stitching

the petals

the finished flowers

the bag, the flowers, the chain and the ribbon before I weaved it into the chain

and the finished bag

paired with the dress I am going to wear to the christening

Thoughts?

High Street Cardigans presents: Snobbish Breakfast

2010-08-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

When I first started my blog I didn't reflect much on who my readers would be or if someone even read my blog, it was more of a documentary for myself, something of an online journal that documented my adventures in "sewing-dressmaking-style-and-fashion-land". But as a child does when discovering the world, I started noticing all the other blogs around me that were addressing more or less the same subjects and I became more and more interested in what the blog-sphere had to offer. But even more importantly I started being interested in what Romanian fashion bloggers had to offer. From the very first moment that I discovered her blog I was hooked. It was the best personal style blog I had seen so far, and I don't just mean Romanian style blogs. So naturally when Ana announced that she was going to come out with a collection of her own, I was dying to see what she had come up with. I gotta say she knows how to make a fashionably late entrance, as she kept us waiting for quite some time- I used to check her blog several times a day to see if the dresses were finally done- but it was worth the wait.

So in her own words: world... meet Snobbish Breakfast by High Street Cardigans

I love the idea behind the collection (which you can see her explain on her blog), I love the dresses and how they would fit and flatter almost any body type, and although I haven't personally felt the material they just seem to be comfortable and low maintenance but at the same time stylish and chic.

So if you want to find out more, check out one of my favorite blogs of all time: http://www.highstreetcardigans.com/.

Madonna's Material Girl Photo Shoot

2010-07-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

The new face of Madonna's Material Girl line? Taylor Momsen!

Present at the photo shoot for the line were Madonna and her daughter Lola. Looks like they are really involved in this one, with Madonna taking photos and directing the model herself.

Picture source: http://cocoperez.com

New footwear trend

2010-07-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Since when is comfortable cool when it comes to shoes?

Well it seems stars are making it happen!

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams, among others, have been spotted wearing theses German orthopedic shoes and hence a new mania was unleashed.

I gotta say I love high heels but I have never been good at walking in them, my back problems don't help either, so I'm exited about this new trend. Why shouldn't health, comfort and fashion go hand in hand?

Check out the Wörishofer shoes below!

new footwear trend by esther456 on Polyvore.com

Worishofer Women's 881 Slingback Sandal
$80 - endless.com
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The Perf Sandal in Navy
$75 - modcloth.com
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Worishofer Women's 583 Slingback Sandal
$75 - endless.com
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Worishofer Women's 711 Ankle-Strap Sandal
$75 - endless.com
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Worishofer Women's 562 Slingback Sandal
$52 - endless.com
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The Perf Sandal in Red
$60 - modcloth.com
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Worishofer Women's 140 Sandal
$60 - endless.com
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Worishofer Women's 251 Sandal
$45 - endless.com
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Blade Rubber Stamps Stampers Anonymous Rubber stamps Newspaper Scraps
13 GBP - bladerubberstamps.co.uk

Woerishofer cork sandal single strap red :: Worishofer :: Brands ::...
salamandershoes.com
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Do you have a favorite?

Sailor suit for my baby

2010-07-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

My son's christening is coming up and I wanted him to wear something made by me so that I could always remember that when looking at the photos. I chose to make a sailor suit by using similar size clothes as patterns. That is usually what I do with all of my projects, use clothes that I already have as patterns, take clothes that I no longer use apart and then trace around them. But you don't need to deconstruct things if you still wear them you can just fold them in half, trace them on paper and use the paper patterns. It takes somewhat longer but you get to keep your clothes intact.

Materials needed for this project

1,5 m x 1 m white linen
3 m navy ribbon
some scraps of red satin for the bow and collar
elastic for the pants
4 small navy colored buttons
white, red and navy thread

Getting started

the first thing I cut of were the pants, because they were the easiest part of he outfit and I like to start with what is easiest just to get warmed up :) As you can see I had already attached the ribbon here

next was the blouse. This is the front of the blouse with the ribbon also partially sewn on already

this is the front and the arms, with the ribbons also already sewn on (I like to sew them on before assembly, that way there are no frayed edges)

the front, the arms and the back of the shirt

the front of the collar

the front with the back flipped over just so you can see that I lined it with red (that actually happened because I ran out of the white linen, but it turned out to be a nice touch)

and the back of the collar

the shirt before I sew the bow and the buttons on and inserted the detachable front piece (so the baby can fit its head through it and you don't need a zipper on anything else of the sort just some velcro for the detachable piece)

and the finished suit

since I don't know how to make shoes I was so happy to find this cute pair of sandals that go just perfectly with the suit

white and navy! How lucky was I to find these :)!

Did you like the tutorial? Did you ever make something similar yourself? Any clothes for your baby?

Best finds- summer scarf

2010-07-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

After seeing this wonderfully inspiring post on fashion in my eyes I felt the irresisteble need to buy something similar to the chenin grape scarf above.

Now granted, mine is not as full and juicy as this one, but I am still pretty happy with it. It is the prefect light, scrunchy scarf for the summer.