scanned from Lucky Magazine ad, March 2012

This is so reminiscent of all the hardware-inspired necklaces from Fall/Winter 2009…and the hardware necklace I made using plumbing couplings that same year.  Though Banana Republic isn’t that expensive to begin with, getting the look requires only a trip to your local hardware store. 

DIY It!

So glad to see chunky metallic necklaces are in for Spring!!

xoxoxo
Carly

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LookUnderHere created a great tutorial on Youtube for transforming any skirt into something lovely, gathered, and asymmetrical.

How about a lovely Painted Leather Geometric Necklace from Oh the Lovely Things?  I had to look twice to figure out how it was constructed and what it was made of; the metallic leather shapes are amazing.

If you’re looking to add a pop of color into your life (that’s totally revertable if/when you tire of it, Make It and Fake It has the solution with her DIY Reversible Neon Heels.  (Also check out her archive for a number of other great and fashionable DIY projects!!)

DIY Heart Print Tights from The Pineneedle Collective need not just be for Valentine’s Day!  Amazingly, acrylic paint will work fairly well on sheer hose.  Who knew??

A Beautiful Mess made some fabulous DIY Suspenders for a guy…but you could easily make them girly with the usage of different printed elastics!

Chictopians Lipglossandblack posted their DIY Fishtail-Hem Skirt, which is so on-trend and perfect for those in-between days when it’s neither warm nor cold.  Show off some leg and still look demure!

How cute is this Pompon-Edged Scarf from The Purl Bee??  Done up in pretty fabrics, with bright (or pastel) pompon trim, this is such a unique take on the neck-scarf that everyone, from celebs to teens, is sporting lately.

Though I usually don’t post crafts done by Martha Stewart (since craft tutorials from there are re-posted and shared all over the place), I couldn’t help myself with this chunky Dyed Wooden Beads Necklace.  I love how you can vary the colors to make this couture-like look all your own!

If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!

If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)

xoxox

Carly

-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-

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Bib-style and collar-style, multi-tiered, embellished, spiky, organic, tribal necklaces have been all over the runways for a couple seasons, and it’s high time to add one into regular rotation in one’s wardrobe.  But it’s so easy to make one out of bits and pieces floating around in your craft drawer!!  This particular project utilizes craft foam that, once covered in paint, studs, buttons, and beads – looks high-fashion and “artsy” without the high price tag.

You Need:

Tulip Beads in a Bottle Paint in Metal (I used the Silver and Gold from the pack)  /  sticky-back craft foam in 3 coordinating colors (I chose black and white, with navy to make the color pop)  /  jumprings in 2 different sizes  /  chain in 2 different sizes  /  chain closure (lobster clasp + jumpring)  /  1 button (with shank)  /  small flat-sided beads  /  four 1/4″ pyramid studs

Tools:

ruler  /  pen or pencil  /  craft knife  /  scissors  /  foam glue  /  hole punch or awl  /  pliers (chain-cutting)

How to:1.  Cut your base foam into 2 rectangles and 2 half-circles, each exactly the same size.  Cut a smaller rectangle from the black foam, and a smaller half-circle from the blue foam.  (Use a pen and ruler to mark out your shapes on the back side before cutting.)2. Remove the sticker on the backs of the white pieces and stick the rectangles together, and the half-circles together.  This will make two double-sided shapes.

3. Set the pyramid studs into either end of the black rectangle piece.  (The foam should be soft enough to just push the prongs through, then fold the backs over with pliers.)

4. Remove the sticker back and stick the black rectangle onto the double-sided white rectangle piece from Step 2).  (I also cut part of the black rectangle out for visual interest.)5. Use a sharp craft knife to slice off the shank of the button.

6. Set the pyramid studs into either side of the navy half-circle.

7. Affix the navy half-circle onto the white double-sided half-circle piece from Step 2).  (I couldn’t find sticky-back navy foam, so I used foam glue for this step.)

8. Glue the button onto the navy piece using foam glue.

9. Now it’s time to get creative!  Using 2 different colors of Tulip Beads in a Bottle Paint, add dots around the edges of the foam pieces.  Vary the size of the dots for visual interest.

10. Finally, to add another texture, glue a line of beads onto the pieces using foam glue.

11. After the glue and paint have dried, punch holes in the edges of both pieces.
12. Attach the half-circle to the rectangle with jumprings.

13. Last, add a necklace chain at the top, and a piece of large curb chain for a contrasting texture at the top.

  You’re done!  Wear with something starkly minimalist to let your beaded bauble shine on its own.

Tulip Beads in a Bottle are so fun!!  (Technically they’re only supposed to be used on fabric, but I found they adhere pretty well to foam as long as I don’t specifically try to scrape them off.)  Try them out for yourself and see what ideas you can come up with for fabulous things to decorate!!

Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox

Carly

*FTC Disclosure: Tulip Beads in a Bottle were provided to me courtesy of ILoveToCreate.com.

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    Horse-printed chiffon shirt: ASOS (bought on sale – see below for similar)

3-ring necklace: 100yen shop (Tokyo)

Black faux fur bag: handmade by me

Chain-link belt: ASOS (bought on sale)

Wool wide-leg pants: Banana Republic (thrifted)

Suede lace-up booties: Target (a steal since they were on clearance sale in-store!)

What I wore to Lil Tot’s Spring performance for his school on Friday.

I’m not a big print person, but lately I’m loving subtle repeating prints of simple shapes.  Hearts probably read as too twee on me now, but these horses I fell for immediately.  I watched this blouse for so long on ASOS.com, waiting for it to go on sale…and once it did, I found they no longer had my size.  So I ordered the closest size – 2 sizes too big – and then pulled off the sleeves at home and reattached them closer to my natural shoulder line (see here for a step-by-step demonstration of re-fitting a shirt).  I also took in a little at the sides, but kept the overall shape loose and blousy.  It feels so 70′s and fun!  (Though the exact same top is no longer available on ASOS, I’ve collected a list of other similar styles still available online, pictured below.)

(from right to left)

Top row: Max C Mini Horse Top, Whistles Clover Print Blouse, Urban Behavior Spot Peasant Top

Middle row: Dahlia Cat Print Chiffon Blouse, ASOS Shirt with Bug Print, French Connection Falling Feathers

Bottom row: ASOS Shirt with Swan Print, ASOS Shirt with Panther Print

After such a positive response to the fur bag I shared in this post, I decided to go ahead and create a line of fur bags to add to my Etsy shop.  This is Prototype #2, the design that I’m going to go with.  It has a razor blade-shaped brass zipper pull, a pretty gold satin lining, and removable gold chain so that you can use it with the chain as a handbag, or separately as a clutch.  I’m going to offer these fur bags in  3 of the colors that I make my tails in: the light gray, the cream-and-brown, and this one, which is black.  I plan to sell this size (which measures about 14″ wide by 9″ high) at $49.  Hopefully I’ll have these available this coming week in my Etsy – and I’ll post here when they’re listed!!  I hope you guys like them:-)

The Performance Friday went quite well; poor Lil Tot is crowd-shy and has had severe anxiety in the past right before his school performances, but this time managed to perform his part in “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” without too much trouble (and no tears!).  My in-laws left today so now it’s back to the grindstone for me: I have just tons to do ASAP!!

Hope everyone’s having a great weekend-

xoxox
Carly

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           counter-clockwise from top right: Free People Vintage Bolo Necklace ($298), Elliot Atkinson Runway (photo by Morgan O’Donovan for DazedDigital), Egoist Cross Stone Bow-Tie NC (1,995 yen), DIY by me

I am such a necklace person; I always feel naked if I’m not wearing a strand (or two or three) of something metal and glittering at my neck.  But sometimes I want to break away from the something-pendantlike-strung-on-a-chain rut…and the bolo tie necklace is the perfect piece to do that.  Whimsical and retro, this style of adornment has been seen lately in the offerings at Free People and the runway at Elliot Atkinson (and was in countless shops when I visited Tokyo last Summer).  Of course you can find bolo ties on Ebay or thrift shops…but you can also make one that’s all your own quite easily – and from stuff you probably already have in your craft drawer!  Here’s how:

Materials:

black shoelace (or black cording)  /  pretty brooch  /  2 bead cones or bolo cord ends  /  2 tiny round beads, each small enough to fit in the tip of the bead cone (not necessary if you’re using bolo cord ends or closed cones)

Tools:

glue that works on metal and fabric  /  scissors

How To:

1. If using a shoelace, cut the aglets off.

2. Place each round bead into each cone bead, pushing it down to the tip.  (The beads are necessary to prevent the glue from oozing out the tips of the cone beads when you glue the cord in.  If your cone beads have no holes at the bottom, you don’t need them.  You could also use anything, really, to stop up the bottom…like an old bit of clay, or wadded-up tinfoil…but I had beads on hand and felt the glue would hold them in better.)

3. Place a dab of glue into one of the cones, and push one end of the shoelace/cord into it.

4. Tie the cord around your neck and position the brooch where you would wear it to check for length.

5. Trim the other end of the cord to your desired length.

6. Glue the end of the cord into the remaining cone bead, and allow to dry.

7. When wearing your homemade bolo tie, pin the brooch pin through the cord to secure.  You can’t really slide this up and down the cord like a real bolo-tie would, but you can pin and unpin as desired!

**If you want to adhere more closely to the materials used in actual bolo tie, you might want to avail yourself of some supplies from your local craft store or online here.**

No matter how you do it, it makes a fun alternative to a typical necklace, adding a bit of Southwestern bohemian flair to any outfit!  (Try with a soft t-shirt and a maxiskirt if you want to make it a little less boho and more edgy.)

Happy DIY’ing!

xoxox
Carly

*all photos in the collage property of their respective owners; collage by me.

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Catherine Malandrino

    Cut long rectangles in the front and back of a leather skirt, leaving the side seams intact, and sew (or use leather glue) to affix mesh panels on the inside of the cuts.

Imitation of Christ

This tie-front buttoned tube top would be such an easy DIY…just refashion it from a men’s chambray button-down! (And use the scraps for the neckerchief;-)

Thakoon

Girly up a standard trenchcoat by gluing (or sewing) a swatch of pink leopard printed fabric over the collar.

Zac Posen

Make your own chic capelet like the one at Zac Posen by sewing together the edges of a faux-mink throw and making slits low down where your hands would go.  An instant cold-weather topper!

all images from Style.com

xoxox
Carly

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But he tried and even managed to ski by himself a little bit on the flat parts!

We managed to ski down a green slope yesterday without incident, but today Hub and the in-laws insisted on going up to the top of the mountain because they were bored with the kiddie slopes.  Splitting up was not an option either, and so I worked super-hard to push a 6-year-old who can’t turn down a very steep, sloping mountain on fresh powder. 

I can’t believe I didn’t put my foot down and refuse to try skiing this.  Look at that slope!!

But a quarter of the way down I went over a hardened ball of powder, my left leg started sliding away from me, and Lil Tot (wedged in-between my skis) pushed outwards with his legs, and we went down in a big heap.  My left leg was wrenched outwards out a weird angle, and when I tried to stand again I found my knee had turned to jelly.  With Lil Tot frantically crying because he thought we’d never be able to get down, I was able to get us [slowly] down to the bottom of the mountain again, and then loop around and back to the lodge.  At least we didn’t have much time left anyway before we had to head home.

My knee is feeling pretty weird, but hopefully a good soaking in a hot bath tonight will help things.  Note to self: when steering other human beings down the mountain, stay on the flat paths!!!;-)

Despite our skiing mishaps, I always enjoy the food at Timberline Lodge (though if you’re staying for more than 2 days it gets a bit repetitive).

Full Breakfast Buffet: blueberry pancakes with raspberry sauce and maple syrup, raspberry jam croissants, maple bacon, lodge sausages, assorted cheese, fresh fruit.

Lunch Cheese Tasting Plate: Smokestack, Smokey Blue, and Brindle cheese with smoked hazelnuts, crusty bread, and peppered pear preserves.  Strawberry Lemonade.

The cheeses drizzled with rosemary honey.

 Vegetarian Dinner Tasting Plate: sauteed broccolini and baby carrots, poached duck egg, celery root and pine nut pot pie with raclette cream.

Pink Lady Apple Pie with pine nut brittle, brandy cream, and salted caramel ice cream.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

xoxox
Carly

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If you celebrate V-day with your significant other and want to look your best on the big day…here are a couple tips for romantic makeup, hair, and outfits.  With just a little bit of effort, achieving the whole package just got a little easier!

MAKEUP

A great look starts off with your face – and what better way to find inspiration than a slideshow of different romantic looks from Refinery29?

The Head-To-Toe Guide to V-Day Hotness

HAIR

From Nicholas Penna, Jr., owner and lead stylist at SalonCapri in Newton and Dedham:

The Sock Bun: Start by blow-drying hair with a natural bristle brush; once hair is dry, apply a dime-sized drop of smoothing serum to the shafts and ends of hair.  Using a fine-tooth comb to smooth out bumps, slick hair back into a high ponytail at the crown of your head and secure it with an elastic.  Cut off the end of a clean, unwanted sock (where your toes would be), and roll it up into a donut shape, placing it around the base of the ponytail.  Tilt your head slightly forward and spread your ponytail evenly around the sock so that half of your hair is toward the top of the sock, pointing toward your forehead, and half is at the bottom, pointing toward your back.  Use a second hair elastic to wrap and secure hair around the outside of the sock, creating a ballerina-bun at the crown of your head.  Twist remaining hair in one direction and use bobby-pins to tuck and clip the ends underneath your bun.  Finish with a light application of hairspray.

Sleek, “Wet-Inspired” Hair: Start by combing through wet hair with a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles, and add a walnut-size dollop of styling balm to the top half of wet, tangle-free hair. Brush your hair towards the back of your head with a fine-tooth comb and secure it tightly with an elastic. Twist hair gently, and wrap it into around the base of the ponytail to create a round bun.  Use bobby pins to secure the end of your ponytail and tame fly-aways.  Run a fine-tooth comb through the top of your hair up to the bun to smooth over any bumps, and finish with a generous amount of an extra-hold hairspray.

Bouncy, Volumized Hair:  Start with a classic blow-dry using a round, natural bristle brush and a palm-full of volumizing mousse.  Once hair is dry, add volume to the top of the head by teasing the hair using hairspray and a round brush.  After desired volume is achieved, curl hair away from the face from end to root with a large barrel (2″) curling iron.Using a dime-sized drop of smoothing serum, rub your hands together and gently run your fingers through the curls to separate them.  Finish the look with light hair spray and you’re red carpet ready!

Smooth and Sleek Hair with a Center Part: Start by parting wet hair directly in the center of your head using the edge of a fine-toothed comb.  Dry hair with the nozzle attachment of your blow-dryer, and a natural bristle brush, pulling hair and the dryer downward to smooth out hair.  Apply a pea-sized drop of smoothing serum from the shafts to the ends of your hair. Run a straightening iron through your ends to straighten out any waves and voila, you have a classic look for day or night!

OUTFIT

Need some ideas for what to wear on your hot date?  Want to go beyond “sexy and red?”  Try checking out looks that other stylish ladies on Chictopia have put together:

A Gallery of V-Day Inspiration Outfits

HANDMADE GIFTS TO GIVE

And if you’re still stuck for a gift, try out this handmade chocolate box from Delia Creates:

or this geek-chic Lego heart necklace from Iridium on Karmaloop (try a DIY if you have the parts!):

or a whole bunch of ideas of what to craft for your guy over at Dollar Store Crafts (heart-print boxers from ILoveToCreate.com):

Hope that gives you some ideas for the Day of Love!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!:-D

xoxox
Carly

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Rue La La offered up a curated boutique yesterday on some must-have pieces to wear in NYC (curated by Lauren David Peden), and though the offerings dwindled quickly, I thought I could offer up some affordable possibilities instead.

Looks from left to right; click on the links for an affordable option:

LOOK 1: gradation sunnies, knee-length tweed coat, textured fur scarf, terracotta striped top, grey skinny jeans, black ankle booties, structured black tote bag

LOOK 2: oversized sunnies, fluffy fur stole, black-and-gray striped sweater, knee-length black wool coat, black skinny jeans, leather over-the-knee boots, large brown tote

LOOK 3: zebra finch fur mid-length coat w/ black belt (original still avail. here!), light gray silk drape top, colorblock bag, gray skinny jeans, black knee-length suede boots

LOOK 4: amber sunnies, cropped leopard faux fur jacket, gold tassel necklace, olive silk blouse, dark-rinse skinny jeans, mulberry-colored doctor bag, suede wedge ankle boot

LOOK 5: black cocoon coat, colorful silk scarf, blue leather gloves, gray drapey long-sleeved dress, quilted black structured handbag, black tights, suede wedge ankle boot

(And if you still want to check out the Rue La La boutique to see if anything’s left, use this invite here!)

Hope this gives you some styling ideas for some high-fashion citified wear!

photos from Ruelala.com; arrays by me

xoxox
Carly

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Though I wrote a teaser about this back in – gasp!- November….it took me quite awhile to finish that nails video I had mentioned.  *blushes*  But I spent all day on it today, and finally uploaded it.

I have to get faster at this.

Hope you guys like it!

xoxox
Carly

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