Make a Spring Scarf

I don't know about you, but I can never have too many scarves. They are one of the ultimate accessories, because you can wear them a million ways. Wrap them around your neck all by their lonesome, twist them up with pearls or another necklace for some extra fabulousness, tie them around your waist, or around your purse handles for panache. Scarves are the easiest way to remake an old outfit, and are warm for slightly chilly spring days.

Yesterday I came across this tutorial on making a trendy scarf out of your old tights that I am hoping to try this weekend. I have literally a drawerful of old tights with runs in them that I haven't had the heart to throw away as they were so expensive. Anyway, check out the tutorial!

(photo from Obstinate Pursuit)

Suit Yourself in a Men's Dress Shirt

This morning I'd like to introduce you all to the creative and fashionable author behind the blog Cubic Dreams. As her "about me" says, she is currently living in London (is there a cooler place to live? I miss London almost as much as I miss Paris) studying Interior and Spatial Design. She also has some fabulous ideas about how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h one's clothing budget.

Suppose you come across a men's dress shirt at the thrift store that you simply love. You love the fabric, the buttons, the color...you wish it were a dress or a skirt and not a men's shirt. At this point, if the shopper were me, I would sigh wistfully, caress the fabric, and put it back on the rack. But not this gal! She makes the shirt into a dress or a skirt!

Here is a photo of the dress she made out of a shirt (too cute!) and the tutorial on her website.

And here is a skirt she made out of a shirt and another tutorial!

Now, make sure you add Cubic Dreams to your Google Reader for some daily inspiration!

(photos from Cubic Dreams and used with permission)

Budget Fashion Tip: Use Shopping Blogs!

I’ll admit it: I am totally addicted to shopping blogs. What exactly is a shopping blog? They are a cross between a fashion ebay and a consignment store, where people clean out their closets and sell their high-end items via a drawing system. When you surf the site and find an item you like, you post your paypal email address to enter the drawing to buy the item.

My favorite shopping blog is Laws of General Economy. It is very active; sellers post several items a day so you need to visit daily if you are serious about it (or addicted as in my case). Currently I have my name attached to two items, and am debating putting my name in for a third.

I’ve bought accessories and shoes on blogs in the past, and I must say I like it because there is such a huge range of items available – literally something to fit every wardrobe/style. The other plus is that you don’t have to get involved in a bidding war. Rather, everyone pays the same price if they win the drawing.

Here’s a sampling of things listed at the moment. Click the image to go to the listing itself:

Ted Baker skirt UK Sz. 2 - listing ends 4/17

Adam Lipps dress Sz. 2 - listing ends 4/17

Calypso dress Sz. XS - listing ends 4/17

Corso Como oxfords Sz. 6.5 - listing ends 4/16

Anthropologie sweater Sz. S - listing ends 4/15

Some other, less active (at least at the moment) shopping blogs are shoes and your mom, Shop it Right Now, and Shop the Stylish Wanderer’s Closet.

Happy Shopping!

(all photos from laws of general economy)

Socks? or no socks?

From Alexander Wang

What do you think of the sock trend for Spring? I haven’t yet decided either way (I mean, I was a convert to the shorts-and-tights trend and I thought I hated it at first)…this post from Nasty Gal may convince me to give it a try.

At least it is an inexpensive trend!