White Accessories Are Not Only For Summer Anymore... Fall/Winter 2012/13

Yesterday I talked about  flower print trend  that becomes popular not only for the summer season, but for Fall/Winter 2012 as well.
Today I can add another trend that is not usually reserved for colder seasons: white bags and white boots.  White accessories will be big for the upcoming Fall/Winter seasons.

I always loved wearing white boots in the fall and winter, and always thought that wearing white leather bag is very chic, ESPECIALLY in the fall and winter, when majority of people do not wear white bags.  It is even hard to find white leather bags in stores as soon as fall merchandise hit their shelves.  I guess this happens because there is not enough demand for these accessories and merchants playing safe to satisfy their sales volume requirements.  Anyway, this is another story.  However, I think this is going to change.   

I have to clarify though that I am not trying to convince anybody to wear autumn wardrobe with white white leather bags that is made for summer.  This is big difference between summer white leather bag and white leather bag that is made for Fall/Winter season.  The one I am talking about needs to be made with heavier leather weight and design that is suitable for the colder season.   When it is all done right - white accessories during Fall/Winter bring the feel of fresh, unexpected, interesting, daring, and NOT BORING.  This is how I like it.  Here I have a couple of examples:

Acne

  Celine
 

Via Vogue Italia Pin It

Modern Tuxedo Style... From Day to Night

There are rules that tuxedo should be worn only after 6pm.  However, tuxedo inspired details can be worn from day to night.  The only rule - it should be modern interpretation of the classic tuxedo style.  Easiest way to do it with accessories, like this tuxedo style detachable collar.  Really, this one is easy and very chic looking DYI project.  Awhile ago I made one detachable collar from  white lace and it looks like it will not be the last one.  With a little bit of effort and creativity, options are endless.  This black tuxedo bow tie looks good to me!  Did you get inspired and motivated?

Photo via Vogue Italia Pin It

Sunday Fashion Finds... Statement Necklaces

Statement necklaces are incredibly popular.  Here are some of the examples of large and beautiful necklaces we have in store for us for Fall/Winter 2012 season.   I like this trend and think that with some thoughts and creativity, you can make pretty good DIY project and end up with great and unique necklace.  I know I will be doing something like that.  What is your favorite pic?

Bottega Veneta

Emporio Armani

Chanel

Christian Dior

Lanvin

DSquared2

Maison Martin Margiela

Roberto Cavalli

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Prized Possession... Chanel Burgundy 2.55 Bag

I think if I would hear my fire alarm go off and there was a fire in my house so I had to leave immediately, this is what I would grab first - my Chanel 2.55 burgundy handbag.  This bag is my prized fashion accessory AND my birthday gift from very special person from a couple of years ago.

Last Sunday I talked about big  return of burgundy color   for this Fall/Winter 2012, and the burgundy of my Chanel bag only helps to create striking outfit with monotone look of new must have color.  Although I have to say, this classic bag is always on trend, regardless of the color. Pin It

DIY... Leather Pouch

Leather pouches are useful accessories.  If you one of those who like to challenge yourself in the next DIY project, this one maybe for you.  I created this design that has minimal number of pattern pieces for easy execution and I made my leather pouches from lamb leather, which is not very thick and can be sewn even with a regular sewing machine.  However, for the different look I used metal rivets to attach pieces of front and back wall together.  I also used glue and interfacing material between the liner and the leather to reinforce the shape of the pouch.

I made my leather pouches in four different sizes, from small to large. Here I will provide my pattern for the medium size pouch, but it is easy to adjust to smaller or larger size.  Easiest way to adjust pattern for different size is to do it in increment of 1" on the perimeter.  For the closure I used one round magnet that I inserted at the top of the pouch, between the main pattern piece of the leather and the leather strip on the inside that I used to make nice finish on the top of my textile liner (pic. 6 and pic. 7 of the final look.)  My pattern for the trim for the textile liner (pic. 5) shows the position of the magnet.

1. Medium Size Leather Pouch 9"x4"x2"

2. Instruments you need: leather. textile liner, medium-weight interfacing, hammer, rivets, kit for making holes in the leather, kit to set rivets, leather glue

3. Pattern for Medium Size pouch.  You need to cut 2 pieces from leather:  Front and Back.  Little wholes show position of the rivets. 

4.  Pattern of the liner (2 pcs).  The same pattern I used to cut out 2 pcs from interfacing fabric to glue between the leather and your liner to insure your leather pouch will hold its shape well. 

5. Leather strip for the inside at the top (2pcs). Note position for the magnet.

6. Top, side and bottom views so you can see the way I attached all pieces together.
 

7.

8.

9.

Let me know if you were inspired to make leather accessories and if this was helpful.

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Black Turtleneck and White Gloves... DSquared 2 for Fall/Winter 2012/13

When I saw this picture of DSquared 2 Fall/ Winter 2012 collection in  Vogue Italia   I immediately thought that:

• I like it a lot
• High turtlenecks are back
• It is very wearable
• This look is easy to replicate
• I have to do it, maybe not with white leather gloves, but with white arm warmers

 When I have this thoughts progression in my mind it means only one thing - I just created my next DIY project.  So, it is time to visit a yarn store and find very soft and wonderful white yarn, maybe cashmere, and start working.  I still have some time before cool weather when I can wear this look.  What do you think of my idea?  Do you think white arm warmers will work with this look? Pin It

My Wish List... Gold Lace Bracelets from Givenchy

You may noticed that more and more today's fashion is focusing on the lace, rich brocade textiles, velvet, gold.  In short - everything that we can describe as glory and luxury of the past centuries.  Personally, I embrace this trend in small quantities.  For example, I am not sure how often I would wear all lace dress, it is just not my style, but I do love my lace handmade accessories like THIS  They add an interesting touch to otherwise standard outfit.  Also, I like doing this kind of DIY projects because then I have something that is unique. 

When I saw THE gold lace bracelets from Givenchy, I think my heart skipped a bit and I decided to start My Wish List.  This bracelets are exactly what I love in accessories: lace, gold, unique and beautiful.  I do not hold my breath for owning those beauties, most probably it is not going to happen, but I have no problem dreaming of having those on my two wrists so real, that I feel good immediately, like I really have them.  It must be worn as a pair, no less.  Isn't these beautiful?
Via Vogue Italia Pin It

Sunday Fashion Finds... Purple for Fall/Winter 2012/13

When I bought my purple boots many years ago, I liked them a lot, but I did not think that purple color still will be going strong seven years later.  Back then I thought I would wear them for maybe a season or two and that is it.  The reason I was thinking that way was that purple to me is what I call intense color, which is very exiting to wear at the beginning, but then I usually get tired of it very fast.  Now I know that if you want to avoid short lived purple pieces in your closet, you need to find the right shade of purple.  Actually, this goes to any color.  There is no such thing as wrong color, but wrong shade of that color.

I have to say that my purple boots became my new neutral, and "attention  grabber. " Neutral, because I wear this dark purple with almost any other color I have in my closet and somehow it work.  The "attention grabber" because I can't tell you how many times people complimented me on those boots.  I was so mistaken thinking that my purple accessory will be gone in a session or so!  Look what Fall/Winter 2012 offers in accessory department - PURPLE.  Well, I better keep my purple boots in good shape, because I will be using them a lot this coming fall, as usual.  Via  Vogue Italia 

Casadei

Roberto Cavalli

Marc Jacobs

Emporio Armani

Bottega Veneta

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Silk Bead Bracelet... DIY

I did not post DIY project for some time and I am due to do that.

Please meet my new silk turquoise bracelet.  I love silk fabric for it's beautiful silky sheen and I also LOVE how it feels to the touch - smooth, sensuous and a little bit cool.  This is why I thought there is no better way to enjoy silk fabric than wearing it on my wrist.  I already made one  Silk Rope Braided Bracelet  and I really like wearing it.  Toggle closure works great on this kind of bracelets, so I used the same closure in my new  bracelet as well.  I also used the same golden chain for embellishment, small wooden bids and the same technique that I used when making my  Large Bead Necklaces

As you can see, the variation of making bracelets from silk are endless.  To make it happen, the only things you need to have is silk fabric, sewing machine to make a tube out of fabric (although it can be done by hand), toggle closure of your choice, small wooden beads, maybe some golden chain accent, thread and needle and Voila!

 
I like to wear this silk bracelet with one string of white fresh water pearls.  I think it creates nice contrast with intense turquoise color of the silk and allows it to stand out even more.  The combination of turquoise, pearl and gold also reminds me of Byzantine style jewelry, which I love.  Nail polish OPI Kiss on the Chic, #NLH31.

White large leather clutch in my hand - my DIY project as well, I will talk about it in my later posts.

I never talked about the source of my silks I use in my projects.  I find that the best variety of colors and prints, as well as different fabric textures, at the outlet fabric store.  Also, you should not forget to check your own closet.  You may find there the fabric you like but actual garment - not so much.  So, recycle and give that fabric new life! Pin It

Silk Bead Necklace - DIY

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you how I made a new   Silk Braided Rope Bracelet  After that project I had left some silk fabric and thought of using it for another DIY project.  Necklaces with large beads is so in fashion this spring, so this is what I did.  First I made my pink/coral necklace.   I made it pretty short, because I wanted it to be close to my face since its nice color really complements my skin tone.  This one is about 20" long.

I also had some silk fabric in dark contrast floral pattern left from another project and since the first pink necklace was so easy to do, I decided to make another necklace but much longer in length for different look.  This one is about 36" long.  For this longer necklace I used large and some smaller beads for uneven look.

This long necklace I like to wear with simple tanks or t-shirt in dark charcoal color.  The inspiration for the color combination of bright floral and dark charcoal color came from Roberto Cavalli ad campaign

Here is how I made my necklaces.  I bought large wooden beads, mine were about 1". Then I cut a strip of fabric 5.5" wide and sew it in length to get a tube, but kept it open on both ends and turned sewn strip to the right side.  After the tube was ready, I took one large bead, dropped it inside the tube, positioned the bead in the middle in length and tied a knot on each side of the bead.  All I had to do after that is keep going adding more beads and separate each of them by the knot until I got the length of the necklace I needed.  For the ends and a closure I used the same attachments as I used in my    Silk Braided Rope Bracelet   Let me know if you had a chance to make the same necklace!

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Spring is here.... Silk flowers accessory

Spring/Summer 2012 fashion season literally blooms in flowers.  Designers using flowers everywhere in different shapes, colors and forms.  Flower patterns on fabrics, silk flowers used as pins, bracelets or hair accessories, you name it.  Thinking of embracing this "flower power" trend I made some white camellia silk flowers.  I am not sure yet if I will be using it as a pin or a hair clip, or maybe both? Are you planning on using silk flowers as an accessories this spring?  If yes, what is your favorite way of doing this? Pin It

Silk Braided Rope Bracelet... DIY

Yesterday I shared with you how I like my silk scarves and enjoy wearing those because of their colors, prints variety and no less important how silk feels on my skin.  I thought it would be wonderful to have a bracelet made from silk.  This way I would have luxurious feeling of the silk on my arm all the time I wear the bracelet. 

I chose my silk fabric in pink/peach color with marble effect pattern.  As far as bracelet design, it was not hard to decide what I want to make since I like the look of braids.  I also should add that I wanted this bracelet to be big and chunky.  I like how larger size bracelets emphasize slim wrist and this looks beautiful! 

All I needed to make this bracelet shown on the top picture.  It was:

• silk fabric
• toggle closure
• some small chain for embellishment and closure function
• filler in the shape of a rope 

...and if you can make a braid and use sewing machine at a simple level - Voila! Let me know if you were inspired to make one too. Pin It

Detachable White Lace Collar... DIY

As I wrote yesterday, I was fascinated by Parisian architecture with it's use of "iron lace."  It reminded me of beautiful lace that is so in fashion now.  Lace fabric has that ethereal look and can add touch of femininity to any outfit.  During last fashion weeks designers Karl Lagerfeld, Rodarte, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton,  and some others showed detachable collars as an accessory. They used different materials, and not only textiles.  Many designers used contrasting collars instead of usual necklace to embellish  a basic garment. My take on this trend - handmade white lace detachable collar. You can follow my pictures from the top and see how I made it. However, if you have a question, let me know, I will be happy to give you more detailed instructions. Pin It