Wishful Wednesday: Cozy Adventure

Knit infinity scarf, Guess

Duckworth glasses, Warby Parker

Denim vest, American Eagle

Everything's in Sync Sweater, Modcloth

The Palma camera bag, Ona

Knit boot socks, ASOS

Lace up boots, Frye

White skinny jeans, Rag & Bone

     Lately all I've been wanting to do is adventure in style. I've found that I can come close to creating a similar aesthetic with clothes I already own, but it's always fun to dream up new outfits from things I've seen online. 

Dorm Room DIY: Fabric Dye

(Before)

(After)

     Today I wanted to share with you guys one of the most inexpensive, fun ways to shake up your wardrobe. It's not exactly ground breaking, but I wasn't exactly sure how the results would turn out. I'm pretty proud to say that I pulled this off all in the laundry room in my residence hall. My hall rules might not be as strict as some, but I certainly hope that some other students are inspired to attempt something similar right on their own campuses. 

Dress instructions-

     Materials needed: a dress/item with suitable fabric (nothing one hundred percent polyester or acrylic- cotton or blended fabrics work the best), washing machine, big sink, and fabric dye in the color of your choice (I used RIT), plastic disposable gloves, something to stir the fabric with

     Instructions (for washing machine):

            1. Run the washing machine on hot until it is full of hot water.

            2. Put the appropriate amount of dye for the garment in the water. I used half a bottle, but the ratio is on the instructions for the fabric dye. This part is really up to you, just keep in mind the basic principle of more dye, deeper color.

            3. Submerge the entire garment into the dye+water mix. Make sure to stir it a few times before starting the wash cycle.

            4. Turn the washer back on, ensuring that the wash cycle is at least 30 minutes. You can let it go through all the steps because this really helps with rinsing out the dye at the end.

            5. Take the garment out of the washer and rinse it under cool water until any water coming out of the garment is clear.

            6. Run the garment through a regular wash cycle with detergent. Then, run an empty load (I put an old towel in just to make sure) with detergent to clean the washing machine.

            7. Hang up or put a dryer to dry!

Dip dye tee shirt instructions-

     Materials needed: white cotton tee shirt (I used a Hanes boys' undershirt), fabric dye of your choice, washing machine, big sink, hanger

     Instructions:

            1. First of all, my method for dip dying was a bit unorthodox. I used the same process as the dress to start (fill up the washer with hot water, add dye). 

            2. Then, I only submerged about half of the shirt the first time. I wanted an ombre effect, so I only allowed it to soak in there for a few seconds. The sleeve ended up being slightly submerged, but I don't mind.

           3. Put the bottom of the tee shirt into the mix and let the washer run the full cycle. I let the top part that I wanted to stay white hang out of the lid of the washing machine.

           4. Rinse out the shirt until the water is clear. The method of dip dying will leave the shirt with a very messy effect instead of three very obvious stripes. Mine ended up looking kind of like a mountain range, hard to see in the pictures. 

           5. Throw the shirt in the dryer just long enough to get out any wrinkles/make the shirt damp. This should prevent most of the shrinking.

           6. Hang up the shirt to dry!

      Troubleshooting: 

            1. Although I didn't wash the shirt a second time (and for ombre shirts I don't suggest doing so), I still made sure to run the load with just my towel in order to clean out the machine.

Music and Fashion Guest Post

     Wondering what playlist inspired this set? Then be sure to check out my guest post about music and fashion over on the blog for the online boutique, Frock Stock.  Run by a college student, for college students, I can't get over how affordable the adorable duds are!

P.S.- If you comment on the original post, you are automatically entered in a jewelry giveaway to win these lovely earrings!

Lauren Moffatt Fall 2012

All images by Erin from calivintage!

     The photographs of Lauren Moffatt's Fall 2012 collection test my patience. Although I'll only be able to afford one of the gorgeous pieces if I save some wages from a summer job, I want to emulate these looks for the upcoming fall season right now! Lauren Moffatt consistently comes up with some of my favorite presentations. I love the whole concept aspect to the collections as well as how wearable the clothes are. The looks above are just a few selections from the post over at calivintage and it would be a  shame if you didn't check out the rest, here.

     Although the looks from the collection don't hit stores until next season, there are definitely some affordable ways to incorporate the looks into your outfits now. I've compiled some ideas below that focus on peter pan collars, cute prints, pretty neutrals, and school girl flats. 

1. Peter pan collar blouse, Land's End

2. Sequined collar blouse, Dorothy Perkins

3. Paint a Picture dress, Modcloth

4. Pleated shirtdress, Topshop

5. Neutral Enfield oxfords, Bass

6. Rounded glass, Ray Ban

P.S.- Thanks to Nessa over at Giggles and Glitter for the award!

Bag It!

1, 2, 3, 4

    My mother and I are always looking for a new purse. Although I never seem to switch out from my faithful, vintage Dooney & Bourke that I purchased for myself for my fifteenth birthday, I guess I'm never convinced that "he" (are purses boys?) is the one. The bags I tend to find myself lusting after tend to have a lot of the same qualities. I prefer leather accents, a fold over front, and some good ole Americana design. I could definitely get carried away (puns!) with the boy/ purse comparison, but for now I just wanted to leave you with some truly stunning arm candy with room for those big cameras, sketchbooks, planners, makeup cases, and pens that a lot of bloggers love to haul.

Trends and Personal Style: A Fine Line

     All runway photos: style.com, Others: We Heart It

     As an insatiable consumer of all things magazine and a blogger, I tend to keep a very close eye on trends. My favorite issues of magazines have always been the September and March issues (with more of an inclination towards March. I like warm weather fashion better, typically). The constant barrage of stories such as "500 pages of Spring Fashion: What to Wear, What to Buy & What to Skip" (Instyle March 2011), it is hard not to be influenced by the changing looks that taste-makers present every season.

     However, the heavy intake of magazines is making my head spin lately. While I love to use the products featured on the glossy pages for collages that suit my personal style more, I just can't stop pondering the idea of trends in general. It feels like I was finally learning to suit the 1950s/60s feminine style to my own look when FLASH the 1970s are what is big for Spring. An evolution of style that took a decade or more was glossed over between the Fall 2010 and S/S 2011 runway shows. To me, this slightly debases to social reasons behind why trends are what they are. The meaning behind clothing is what makes it interesting and more than just a superficial art form, as many may think.

     Trends are not all evil, of course. Sometimes they can give just the right confidence boost to finally use that cool colored dye you've had (ombre/ pastel hair trends, anyone?) or break out of your rut and wear bright, cheerful colors.If a trend suits my personal style, I love to adopt and adapt. But as I flip through the pages of my beloved March issues, I really have to ask myself: Do I like this trend because I'm being bombarded with it or do I like it because it suits me?

     Stay tuned for my next edition of "Trends and Personal Style": Trends and the Style Blogger