DIY Madness - Head Case, Part 1

I have been on a crazy DIY kick lately. I attribute this to the endless slew of rain that L.A. was hit with this week. My latest project took me in the direction of turbands, which have been on my mind a lot as of late.  IMO, the thought process behind this project was just as great as the outcome - only because it was SO random.  Isn't that the beauty of inspiration, though?  One thought or image can lead you in a direction you never could have anticipated.  More on that later, though.  For now, let's take a look at a few of the images behind my turban-like head wrap craving: 

First, Kelly of The Glamourai shared photos of herself wearing an amazing "scarf-turned-turban":

Then, as if reading my  mind, B. Jones Style announced a giveaway of this Eugenia Kim velvet headband (of course I entered immediately!): 

Finally, today's Topshop homepage featured a jeweled knit turband.  I am a sucker for jeweled anything, so consider me sold on this piece.
 

All signs pointed to the need for me to incorporate this style of headdress into my repertoire.  Fast forward to my thought process this morning while perusing Lola Benito's blog.  I came across this photo, which totally got me thinking about a similar shirt I own that hasn't seen much love lately.  You see, I absolutely adore the stripes on this  shirt of mine, but it has a really annoying thick band at the bottom (kind of resembling a mini skirt attached to a shirt). I do not find this style flattering in the least, and today I decided that the band had to go, so that my shirt and I could live happily ever after. 


What transpired next was a great lesson in sustainability. After cutting off the bottom band, I realized that the excess fabric was too good to toss, and it was the PERFECT width for a turban/headband; hooray!  I set off on a morning-long journey to create the perfect DIY turband, complete with jewels and all.   


I love the finished product, but I'm going to save the details for another time. It's getting late, and this post is getting looooong.  Stay tuned for photos of my new striped, jeweled turband...I promise it will not disappoint! 

photo credits: Glamourai, B. Jones Style, Topshop

A Woman's Closet Is Full of Surprises

Follow my blog with bloglovin

H&M jacket and top, United Colors of Benetton dress, Urban Outfitters clutch, Aldo ring, Chinese Laundry boots

Just when I think I know exactly what's in my closet at all times, I find myself pleasantly surprised by the contents.  I found the removable faux shearling collar for this wool biker jacket tucked away somewhere, and: voila! Instant fall trend craving satisfaction.  A second dig through the archives produced these ankle boots - a total impulse buy a few years back.  They remind me a little bit of these Proenza boots from Fall 2009: 

The Proenza's obviously kick my boots' proverbial ass, but the tiny comparison makes me smile on the inside anyway (I know, who am I?).  


This Benetton dress continues to surprise.  I really love the cowl draping in the front and the fact that it can be adjusted to multiple lengths with the aid of a belt. Now it's even more rad because I realized that I can wear stuff underneath it.  My military button down has been begging for a moment like this. 


Unfortunately for my vintage-gold-rope/chain necklace, a hurried photo shoot (caused by a slew of cars driving through the alley) meant that it was covered up in every photo, but rest assured that it was a great member of this ensemble.

photo credits: Chris, Shoeper Woman  

Wide-Brim Toppers

Follow my blog with bloglovin!

I'm on the hunt for a new addition to my (budding) hat collection. Given the weather, my favorite straw wide-brim fedora is no longer apropos, so I'm on the hunt to find its wool felt incarnation. Here are some major contenders: 

Hats by Rag and Bone
Hats by Asos

 

Clockwise from top left (click on any image to shop): Forever 21, Borsalino, Asos, Del Moro, Rag & Bone

DIY Madness - Painted Denim Edition

Last night, Chris and I purchased some acrylic paints for a pumpkin decorating session. Prior to last night, my only foray into painting had been with watercolors in elementary school.  Imagine my glee at seeing the rich color and glossy texture of acrylics....instantly hooked. Unsatisfied by merely painting pumpkins, I woke up this morning determined to find other things to paint.  


Inspired by Sea of Shoes' Jane, my first stop on the tour de paint is denim. While pondering what exactly I was going to paint, I started thinking of this project as a tattoo of sorts for my jeans.  I thought about the images I've often considered getting tattooed on myself: dove, swallow, Chanel-esque jewels.  Suddenly I recalled the amazing temporary tattoos that were featured in Chanel's S/S 2010 show. Created by Peter Phillips, these tattoos featured iconic Chanel images and designs, and they were simply amazing. 

Now, I don't claim to have any talent as a painter whatsoever, but I'm definitely having a blast with this project, and the results so far are pretty cool, IMHO.

Reworked Cheap Monday jeans, Reeves acrylic color set

I haven't worn these jeans in over a year, but now I can't wait to wear the finished product with a crisp white tee and a black blazer.  

Photo credits: Jack & Hill, DailyMail

Rainy Days and Sniffles

Zara trench & bag, Steve Madden boots, Pepperdine sweatshirt, Aritzia t-shirt,  H&M leggings, Forever 21 frames

Disclaimer: I'm currently without camera and have been relegated to taking photos with my iPhone, so please excuse the quality of these shots. 


Three days of non-stop rain can make one feel ho-hum real fast. Throw in a case of the sniffles, and it's a recipe for a major gloom-fest. I refuse to let a little cold  and some rain get the best of me, so I decided to play dress-up for my quick trip to the local pharmacy.  


It's amazing what a little bit of red lipstick and a perfectly fitted trench can do to spice up an "I'm home sick" outfit. Normally, I'm not even a lipstick person, but after today I may very well become a regular user.




What's your recipe for a quick pick-me-up?