Floral Stripes

Shirt: Forever 21

Jeans: Delia's

Scarf: Gap

Shoes: DSW

Ring: DIY/from a toy dispenser at a restaurant 

I think I'm making progress with these pictures! I used the self-timer again! Although I think I need to find a new place to take pictures, as zooming even a little bit cut off my feet, so I had to crop to this awkward height. Because you guys wouldn't want to see my messy desk that I took these pictures next to. 

Anyway, this is what I wore Saturday night to go to a local musical production. Unfortunately, it was rather cold, so I kept my coat on the whole time. But I'm rather happy with this outfit. I had an early hair-cut appointment, so I just threw it on, meaning to change later, but it grew on me as I was wearing it. I planned to throw on a cardigan, but the specific one that I wanted was in the laundry, so I might re-post this outfit later with that additional layer. After all, that was my New Years style resolution. Not only to make more use of pattern, but to use layers more to add interest to outfits. 

I just found the ring that I wore with this outfit again, as I had lost it earlier. It's probably the easiest DIY ever.  I bought it for a quarter from a gum ball/toy dispenser that are sometimes in restaurants. Basically, there was a sticker on it when I got it. So I just scraped it off! I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I know it's plastic and all, but I like the way it looks!

-Charlotte 

Contrast

Dear Readers, let me introduce you to the Contrast-Trim Tunic Top, which can be found here. 

I love this shirt, but there are a couple of reasons why I'm not going to buy it. First, it's $71 on sale, which is a bit out of my price range. In addition to that, it's silk, which would mean it would have to be dry cleaned, which means more money spent on this shirt, even after I've bought it. Material and price aside, I also don't really like that the shirt is much longer in the back than in the front. But I still love this shirt, or at least the idea of this shirt. So I think I'll need to just DIY it. What really attracted me to this shirt in the first place was the contrast between the trim and the black base color of the shirt. So to replicate it, I will probably just take the main idea of contrast and use that. Sadly, I first need to find a good shirt with a similar neckline....that might take a while.

-Charlotte 

Keyhole DIY

So since this is a rather long post, we're going to do this like a pick-your-adventure book. If you would like to read about why there are so many DIY posts, continue reading. If you are thinking, "I just want to hear about the DIY!!" skip the first paragraph (I'll mark where to start reading). Seriously, go skip ahead if you want. It won't hurt my feelings :)

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Hope you guys don't mind all the DIY posts. I'm feeling rather inspired at the moment in terms of DIY, but sadly not with my wardrobe. I've been feeling rather stuck with what's in my closet, but I'm working on being more creative. I have to say, I've earned much more respect for those who've done the 30 for 30. Blythe and I would like to do the 30 for 30, but as for me, right now, I think I need a working closet first (with some long sleeve shirts. For some reason, I've had a lot of difficulty finding cute long sleeve shirts that I'll want to wear again for years to come). So, anyway, a long story short, I'm looking at a lot of DIY to help me repurpose what I have in my closet or to know what I'm looking for in terms of new clothes.

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Where to start if you just want to read about the DIY :)

Which brings me to the above pictures. How fabulous is this dress? It was made by Meredith of Yours, Mine and Ours, and she was kind enough to let me use these pictures for a post! I would highly suggest you check out her blog! She as awesome style and is very innovative and inspiring for those of use who have a clothing budget. Seriously, she gets a lot of her stuff for free! See what I mean here. And she made this dress! I'm seriously impressed. To see the post these pictures are from, click here.

For starters, I really love the colors in this dress and the combination of yellow and blue. I think it's a gorgeous dress, especially the pattern in the top, but what I love most is the neckline.

I've always liked round keyhole necklines, but somehow they've always looked awkward on me. So when I saw the neckline of this dress, I was really inspired. I really like the triangle shaped cut out as opposed to the regular tear drop shape. So right now I'm trying to figure out how I can make my own version of this shirt with a similar neckline. What I'm thinking is that cutting out the triangle shape that I want and then stitching the sides (like the sides of a blanket--I forget what the stitch is called--just closer together) so that the shirt doesn't unravel. Then, because I really like the lines around the neckline and the hole that serve as borders, I might embroider lines in those shapes. This is totally all in theory, and I know it will really depend on what kind of fabric I use. I'm thinking about buying a cheap basic shirt from Forever 21, but I'd love to hear anyone's input first.

Thanks, guys!

-Charlotte 

Wallet DIY

http://www.lulus.com/products/billabong-tucson-brown-wallet/31875.html

I really love this wallet, which I featured in the post Revisions, but I can't really bring myself to pay $30 for it. So I think I'm going to do a DIY. Since what I love most about this wallet is the fabric and the tassel, I decided that my local fabric store wouldn't have anything as specific as what I'm looking for. Because of this, I decided to look at SpoonFlower. At that website you can design your own fabric or browse the fabric other people have designed and then order it. 

Here are the fabrics that I've come across so far. There are so many great ones I'm going to have a really hard time choosing just one! 

Top Row: 1, 2, 3, 4

Middle Row: 1

Bottom Row: 1, 2, 3, 4

Top Row: 1

Bottom Row: 1

I'm not sure which one I'm going to order yet, or which fabric type, since SpoonFlower gives you many options. I really like the last one and the last one on the bottom row (on the right) but I would ideally like something with some color. In terms of fabric, I'm thinking about just using the cotton knit or something really basic since I'm just planning on gluing the fabric on. I'd love to hear what you guys think about which pattern I should use and anyone's opinion on fabric types! Thanks!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

-Charlotte

Late Night DIY Dreams

For the image sources, click the first image. 

Long time, no see, guys! Things have been hectic! 

Anyway, this is the Free People Rise and Shine Button Down Shirt, and I love it. I love Free People in general, actually, but that's kind of a different story. Anyway, there's no way I'm going to buy this shirt, (it is on sale, but still). This is especially true since it's almost Christmas and soon I'll be buying/making presents so that's where my money's going at this point (I know, I know. I STILL haven't done my Christmas shopping. It's getting late and I'm still trying to figure out what to get my brother. Any ideas would be HUGELY appreciated!). So, the solution is: DIY!! I'm actually pretty excited about this one because it seems relatively easy. We mentioned in another post that we were trying to figure out a way to DIY a fur vest, and we're still working on that one. But this might be a good starter project to get back into sewing again! I used to be super obsessed with embroidering stuff and making pillows when I was younger, so I do know the basics. Even so, I have yet to make some clothes, so I can't wait to get started! The only thing I don't know if I'll be able to replicate is the slouchy sleeve. And if you remember my Casual Friday and The Colors Are Everything posts, I LOVE a slouchy sleeve. So hopefully I can find a button down with those sleeves, but if not, I guess I'll have to live. 

Have a good weekend, guys!

-Charlotte