Prom done easy (and stylish!)

Need help accessorizing? Want the perfect look? No matter the style, MyJeweleryBox.com and eDressMe.com have got you covered. Here are just some of the affordable looks available for your every prom need!

Bohemian Beauty

Pretty Prom Princess

The Classic Look

Affordable dresses at eDressMe.com

Winter Shimmer: A Stylish Headband How-to

By Janie Dumbleton

With the holiday season in full swing, gather some crafting supplies and put some sparkle in that wispy winter hair. Add some sparkle to your holiday accessories by creating this easy eye-catching headband. In no time, you will be a dazzling sight at this year’s New Year’s party!

Supplies:

Embroider floss in preferred color
About ¼ of a yard of colored tulle (a mesh-like fabric available at local craft store)
Scissors
Embroidery needle

Begin by cutting three thin pieces of the tulle, about 3 inches wide and 10 inches long. Then cut about a 35 inch piece of desired color of embroidery floss and thread the length through the embroidery needle. Next, knot the embroidery floss at the end opposite the threaded needle to leave a 10 inch tail. Now take one of the 10 inch strips of tulle and weave the needle in and out of the center of the tulle to create a ruching effect. Keep the weaving in and out close together. When done, scrunch the new rouched strip down to the knot and repeat the weaving in and out with the remaining tulle strips. Scrunch all of the pieces close together so they look cohesive. Play around with the spacing and when satisfied, knot the other end of the embroidery floss at the end of the frilly creation to make it snug against the tulle. Take off the embroidery needle and your new sparkling headband is ready to adorn those lovely winter locks.

Photos by Janie Dumbleton and Holly Piper

Fall into the Forties

By Arriel Ginter

Dolce & Gabbana, for their fall 2009 ready to wear line featured the iconic Marilyn Monroe on a 40’s silhouette. D & G weren’t the only to channel the past in the runway. Angled shoulders, peplum shapes, pencil skirts, and feathers were featured in several shows, establishing that it was fall trend to follow .True to a woman’s figure; this style can be infused into your fall wardrobe for a timeless look.

Dresses and skirts are essential. A peplum dress paired with sling back platforms turns a classic into a statement. Don’t be intimidated by the heel height, I own these personally and LOVE them; the platform takes the severity out of the arch.

Double Peplum Dress, Oasis.com, $64; Sling Back Platforms, Charlotterusse.com, $26.99

Effortlessly pair a high-waist pencil skirt and top. Top choices are endless; just make sure that they fit into the skirt without the bumps or lumps.

High-waist pencil skirt, dorothyperkins.com, $45; Cardigan, forever21.com, $23

For a modern spin, pair a skinny belt over a peplum jacket with skinny jeans. Place the belt right before the ruffle on the jacket begins to complete the look.

Peplum Jacket, topshop.com,$88; Skinny Belt, forever21.com,$5.80; Skinny Jeans,yesstyle.com,$30

And finally for those who want a 40’S feel without the silhouette, add subtle, but obvious hints of vintage into everyday outfits with accessories. Investing in budget worthy headbands or comb hats is worthwhile. Peep toe heels are a staple that every woman should have, no matter what time era you’re trying to replicate.

Fabric Hat, wetseal.com, $4; Peep Toe Pumps, heels.com, $94.99

The 40’s is my favorite fashion era and now I can experience the beauty of it without breaking the bank. As always remember ladies, confidence is your best accessory! Experience the glam and grace of the 40’s and make it your own!

Knit Wit: A Guide to Making a Scarfette

By Janie Dumbleton

Give the gift of warmth and style by hand making a charming scarfette for your best friend or fun-loving sister. Combine her favorite colors in textures in a creative way. With a few simple knitting supplies and some stray ribbon, a fashionable gift will be wrapping ready in no time!

Use large needles, about size US 10 (15 mm) and thin yarn. Gather ribbon and yarn remnants to weave into the loose scarf.

Begin by casting on 15 stitches, making the scarfette about 7 inches wide. Knit as usual, but stitches should be loose and form a sort of mesh web. Knit until the scarf is about 25 inches long and then cast off.

Use a tapestry or yarn needle to weave in the ends of the yarn. Then with the tapestry or yarn needle weave in the ribbon and yarn into the scarfette and tie them at the beginning of one end to secure the loose ends.

Use a safety pin to secure the scarfette around the neck. Give the gift of a handmade treasure!

Photos by Janie Dumbleton; Scarfette modeled by Holly Piper

Over the Knee into My Fashion Heart

by  Arriel Ginter

Ok, so if you haven’t heard over the knee boots are one of the top must have trends for fall. Who wouldn’t love these stylish, thigh gripping, fashion forward pieces? I am absolutely obsessed, for lack of a better word, and designated that as a now Recessionista that this would be my splurge for fall. I love the look, but the statement with these boots can go either way so there are a few boundaries to follow:

•    Pick a neutral color: black, brown, gray, etc. If you go with a bold color the look may come off more cheesy than classy. Also choosing a neutral gives you more look for your buck, allowing the shoes to be pieced with a variety of outfits.
•     Know your proportions: Some boots might be higher and tighter than others. The boot top should hit no higher than a little over mid thigh. Make sure you find a pair that embraces the trend, but not consume your legs.
•    Watch your pairing: Though the skirt and over the knee boots on the runway is fiercest, watch exactly what you pair these boots with. You don’t want to look like Julia Roberts on Pretty Woman, before her makeover. The safest is to pair the boots (based on the weather) with either sleek leggings or dark jeans (try to get a slim cut to fit into the boots).
•   Be FABULOUS: Most important, whether you go with flat, wedge, or mini heel style, wear your boots and be fabulous.
Here are some celebrity examples of what not and to do.

DIY Tutorial: A Dress to Impress OR Handmade Chic: A Dress to Impress

By Janie Dumbleton

Refresh a back-to-school wardrobe with a fresh take on an old tank top and a yard of fabric. Wearing an item made with your own personal style will provide a boost of confidence, always a key accessory for a fresh new year. With a few easy steps and the aid of a sewing machine, flaunt a new playful and chic, not to mention cheap, dress. Whether strolling the streets or roaming the halls, this personalized dress is sure to impress.

Supplies:
An old tank top (a ribbed tank is shown in the tutorial)
A yard of fabric or old bed sheet (cotton works best, and “upcycle” an old bed sheet from Goodwill or a local thrift store)
Embellishments, such as buttons, bows, jewels, etc.
Scissors (sewing scissors work best) or a rotary cutter
Ruler
Chalk or marker
Sewing pins
Sewing Machine with thread

After gathering the supplies, make sure that both the tank and fabric or bed sheet are washed and ready.
To begin, try the tank top on and decide where you would like it to meet the skirt of the dress, usually below the bust line at mid-abdomen. Mark the tank at one spot where it should hit. When the tank is off, with the ruler draw a line with the chalk or marker across where the marked spot at the “end” of the tank rests. Cut neatly and evenly.

Now, it is time to cut the fabric. The width of a normal by-the-yard piece of fabric is perfect (usually 45 inches or 54 inches). Measure the width of about 45 inches if using a bed sheet. By making the width large, only one seam will be needed in the sewing process. Fold the fabric in half, right sides together, and then sew to make a side seam.

Next sew a basting stitch (a longer, loose stitch) along the top of the just sewn fabric, leaving the thread long at the ends. Start to gather (pull the threads to create a “bunched up” effect) the skirt.

With the tank turned inside-out and the fabric skirt inside out, make the right sides face each other and meet at the end of the tank and beginning of the skirt. Gather the skirt part as needed to fit the circumference of the tank. Pin the tank and skirt together to make for easier sewing.

Sew the tank to the skirt with about a half inch seam allowance. Make sure all of the loose threads are tied. Flip the dress right-side out and try it on…almost there!

In a mirror decide the length of the dress and measure from the bottom to the desired length and mark with chalk or marker. Once dress is off, sew the hem by turning under as much fabric needed to achieve the correct length (if there is lots of excess fabric, you may want to cut some off before you hem).

After hemming, decide how to truly personalize your new creation with embellishments along the tank’s neckline. Hand sew Grandma’s vintage buttons or glue on some snazzy rhinestones or wear a long gold chain to keep the dress simple. Use your creativity to allow the dress to make your personality shine. And, viola, a new dress just in time for school and Project Runway season… Tim Gunn would be proud!

All photos except for the final photo are by Janie Dumbleton. Final photo of Janie Dumbleton by Lauren Dempsey.

Vintage 101

by Tatiana Shears

Vintage clothing is a form of wearable art produced in the 1920’s – 1980’s. Museums and galleries like the Vintage Fashion Museum in New York. Are dedicated to this unique art form. The topic of vintage clothing is extensive: what designers to know, hits and misses, and terminology. Two types of collectors exist: those who work for museums and Reality Check Girls. This is a breakdown into the world of Vintage. For the girl who loves a hunt in the name of fashion and something different.

First tip when beginning a vintage hunt: choose a specific era. It eliminates buying pieces you are not familiar with. Plus by focusing a on a particular era at a time you acquire experience and expertise. Looking up common designers of the time or style Icons can work as inspiration aids. Some things to look out for from each era:

20’s beautiful Josephine Baker in flapper dresses .Beading and Fringe was very popular .Velvets and Furs were very much in style. Opposite the feminine style the new androgynous look emerged. Women began to sport short hair and loose straight dresses.

30’s sexy Mae West in flashy attire. Fashionable and affordable costume jewelry was created in enamel and glass. Designers created the halter-neck backless evening gowns. It displayed the new erogenous zone: the back. Coco Chanel was the pioneer of sportswear influences using soft wool jersey fabrics.

40’s gorgeous Ingrid Bergman in suede jackets. Slacks of all styles became popular. The Utility or Victory suit was very prevalent- women took a conservative yet strong approach to style. The military style jackets seen this fall are reminiscent of this era. Colorful prints and styles were made in the Rayon print dress.

50’s classic beauty Audrey Hepburn. Hats -lampshade style, coolie, pulldown bucket hats and wide-brimmed flat picture hats. Pencil skirts pioneered by Poiret were called “hobble”. Full skirts in all colors and prints were popular (like poodles and cowboy themes). Ballet shoes were created – later proved it could be worn with anything.

60’s stylish Twiggy in psychedelic prints. Miniskirts were often worn with huge loose belts. Oversized sunglasses in white or black were very hot accessories. Plastics were used in every area of fashion. Bags, jumpers, earings, and belts were all covered in prints.

70’s angel Farrah Fawcett. Jumpsuits seen on “Charlie’s Angels”. African and Native American prints and colors. Oversized dresses in floral prints and empire waistlines: Granny dresses. Shiny metallics, glittery materials and spandex entered the scene making way for Disco fashion.

80’s fierce Grace Jones. The Androgynous look was back short hair, men’s suits, and ties.
Oversized everything shirts, earrings, and belts. Suits and shoulders were made for the working stylish women.Vivene Westwood’s mini-crini inspired Christian Lacroix to design the stylish Puffball skirts.

If you don’t live in a city with tons of cool vintage spots don’t fret. Although most towns do have some type of thrift/consignment shop (it’s not your only option). Thanks to the World Wide Web, vintage shopping can be done anywhere! Some awesome online stores are: www.vintagetrends.com, www.vintagevixen.com, and www.unique-vintage.com.

Two things to remember when shopping online: size and quality. Clothing made during the 20’s, 60’s and 70’s are generally smaller. Consider going up two sizes to get an accurate fit. Clothing from the 50’s is larger in the hip and breast area and small in the waist (hint the famous hourglass figure). Try to stay away from final sale items since size can be tricky with vintage clothing.

Not only is size a make or break deal but so is quality. If an item is stained or damaged it will most likely never be repaired. Common quality terminology: Mint means perfect; near mint means lightly worn; excellent means worn but no imperfections; very good means minor stains or imperfections but high quality; good means wearable with some deterioration.

Ladies have fun hunting and remember less is best. A shirt from the 70’s can be paired with modern ripped jeans. The trick to a cool modern vintage look is simplicity. One staple item from the past is all you need for an outfit. Head to toe vintage screams Halloween and that’s next month.