One-Dollar Wonders

So my beloved, graphic b/w striped bag finally gave out this year after about 6 years of faithful service - a feat for faux in my closet. I wanted to replace it and almost went for the Marc Jacobs dotty snake that Natalie and Rita have, but I didn't want to do another faux bag after mine just died... plus it was more on Ebay than I'd payed for a bag yet in my life.

So, I found a cream version of my favorite snakey bag, new, discounted because of some dye transfer and decided to paint her up with stripes to meld my original bag with the Dotty look.

I meant this to be a how-to post when I started, but the taping didn't work too well with the super textured surface. The paint bled under the tape, and I had much better results freehanding things anyway. I can say that I used Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint in black and loved it! My bag has a suede-like texture, and the parts that got painted have a look like smooth leather - I dig the effect. I thought about using suede dye to keep the texture, but I was afraid a thin dye would bleed. Since I needed a crisp line for stripes, paint was the way to go. My other tip for bag striping is to measure, measure, measure to get a good, straight line - and to use a tailor's measuring tape instead of a ruler. The bendy tape will allow you to draw your line with the curves of the bag.

Anyway, here's my new snakey bag! I'm not sure when it will debut because of Manspiration Month, but I couldn't wait to share!

I woke up out of sorts this morning so, to cheer myself up, I want to officially explain my June plans, so I don't seem off my nut when I change up my blog posts all of a sudden. It may be a little dorky, but when have I pretended not to be a dork?

In honor of Fathers' Day and *ahem* in an attempt to do things other than SHOP (which would incidentally make my Dad proud), I've given myself a Manspiration Month challenge! Angie identified a menswear influence in my dressing, and I want to explore that further. Starting tomorrow, I'm taking my newfound love of menswear to a new level.

Every day in June, I will post an outfit inspired by one of my male heroes and provide a little blurb on why this person rocks - if the outfit is similar enough (or the pose corny enough), I may even see if you can guess my inspiration. These guys may or may not be fathers; it makes no difference to me, since father figures don't necessarily need to have biological ties IMHO.

In order to shake things up, Fridays will also be dedicated to superheroes! I'm calling this Friday series "My other secret identity is..." - why have your own blog if you can't make force your love of fashion and comics to collide?

So there you have it - if it seems like I'm dressing awfully strangely next month, you will know why. Thank you for humoring me and, if any of you feel like joining me, please feel free. :)

I love the look of rolled up sleeves on a denim jacket - but I'm often very bothered by the bulk it creates. It seems like the roll usually squeezes my arms super tight or becomes a lump so big I can hardly put my arms down at my sides (kind of like that puffer coat scene from A Christmas Story).

I happened upon this trick when I ordered a red utility jacket from Abercrombie & Fitch and the item arrived with sleeves pre rolled. It cuts down on bulk considerably by removing the thick cuff and metal button from the roll equation - and provides the added benefit of leaving all that snazzy cuff detail exposed for all to see. I've since converted and never looked back!

1) Start with the sleeve turned completely down.

2) Turn the bottom of the sleeve inside out and pull cuff up on arm until the inner cuff seam (that part where the cuff ends and "normal" sleeve begins) is about a "roll width" higher than your desired sleeve length.

3) Go back down to the part of the sleeve closest to your wrist -- this will now be a double layer of fabric. Roll the doubled fabric up toward the sleeve cuff.

4) Stop rolling when your roll *just* overlaps the inner seam of your cuff, and arrange cuff to your liking.

5) Rock & Roll! With a little more exposed surface area than you had before. :)

I remember Natalie DIYed some waxed denim but that the wax ended up a little stciky - I came across this video with an alternate technique that should dry down all the way. The downside is that it involves paint to match your denim - so if you want to wax printed denim perhaps just use the gel they recommmend?

http://www.fabsugar.com/DIY-Ho.....C+Need.%29

If I won the mega-millions, this is how I'd wear florals. Even if it were affordable for me, without those millions, it isn't practical. Hence the impotent swoon - le sigh!

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/193323

http://www.glamour.com/fashion.....ont-r.html

GOSH, she's just gorgeous! And check out the hair, the dress, the shoes... I could see a 20-year-old wearing this same outfit and hairstyle, yet DHM looks perfectly at home in it. Fab.u.lous.

I'm exhausted now, but earlier I had some extra get-up-and-go and decided to play with an orphaned LBD in the donate pile. It's a thick knit from Target that I got for a buck at the swap meet - never really liked the high neckline combined with loose mod shape on me, since it was hard to wear a jacket.

Anyway, here it is now, all spaced out. The pic actually looks a little better than it does IRL, but it was a fun project. I don't know if I'll ever actually wear it out, but I've spent time in worse ways. Maybe it will be a band outfit. :)

So many of you were very helpful with ideas for my butterfly necklace a while back. I've been struggling with it, and haven't bought gold leaf or anything, because the darn butterfly is so big that leather cords and most of my chains get dwarfed and make it look even bigger and sillier than it already is.

I finally tried this large scale chain lariat necklace, an orphan for a while because it came off as club-wear. I think I've finally made peace with this piece - I dig the whole butterfly-on-a-leash image - but do you think it's ridiculous? Please ignore the bra outline in #1 - was too lazy to change.

Yay = poignant/edgy/interesting/artsy
Nay = still looks too goofy

I'm not necessarily talking about re-emerging trends here. I'm thinking about fun memories that, in retrospect, kinda make it seem like you and Fashion were destined to be together.

I've always taken clothing very seriously - I can't remember a time when I flat-out didn't care what I was wearing. Even before I started Kindergarten, I'd wake up before anyone else in my house, and I remember I'd always pull out my favorite outfits to watch Jem or She-Ra. It simply would not do to sit in my pajamas while they went off and saved the universe!

I also remember having a very heated conversation with my dad about pattern mixing! I had to be 4-5, and I'd emptied all my drawers looking for a top and pair of shorts that "matched." Poor Dad had a helluva time trying to convince me that it was okay to wear plaid with stripes. "It's looks pretty cool," he said. "It's fun to be different." At the time, I thought he was patronizing me to get me dressed faster, but now I know that he was onto something. :)

Where did you pick up fashion tips along the way? Were you always interested in clothes, or do you have a fun story about what piqued your interest? ... anyone else dress for the television?? o_0