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)

Mixed Bag

I’ve been awful about posting to my blogs lately – so sorry! Hopefully I can get back into it soon because I miss my favorite hobby. Life has been crazy lately with many exciting changes.

That said, I have a couple questions for my (scanty) readers:

1) What do you think of harnesses as fashion?

(from iheartnorwegianwood)

I am kind of digging it – seems like a nice way to define your waist.

2) My priest-fashion post was pretty popular: should I feature some more fashion-forward priests on my blog?

In budgetary news, I’ve used my book budget for the past two months to subscribe to Vogue for a year. Can’t wait for my first issue!

Lingerie on the Outside

What do you think of the lingerie-on-the-outside trend for the ladies? I think it can be done tastefully, and with a little layering can make an outfit deliciously feminine. I’m not really into the over-corseted dominatrix look, but this slip dress from Topshop would be lovely over an onionskin tee and leggings.

It is warm outside and I am getting very excited for Spring. Today is the first day I wore a short-sleeved top.

As soon as I get my hands on a camera I will post photos of my Portland purchases!

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!

Military Fashion

From Vogue.com

I saw the military spread in the latest issue of Vogue…is anyone else drooling over the look as much as I am? I can see incorporating some girly florals to offset all the khaki…

(More pics from Mario Testino’s shoot here.)

High Fashion Temporary Tattoos?

Believe it or not, yes.

The models showcasing Chanel’s Spring 2010 collection wore chain-link temporary tattoos around their wrists and legs. I am quite taken by this look though I know for certain I would NEVER be able to pull it off myself.

If you also like the look and could wear it well, you could go the cheap “I want the same look for less” route or you could wait until mid-February and invest in the Chanel packet of 55 temporary tattoos selling for $75. It could be your new spring accessory!

Stripes and Dots

Normally sensible about these kinds of things, Ann Taylor LOFT is telling us that stripes and dots are “two playful patterns that look pretty on their own – and surprisingly stylish together” and that “opposites attract”. More notable, however, is that none of their models on the flyer I received in the mail are wearing stripes *and* dots – only one or the other. For me, stripes and dots are too reminiscient of scrapbooking (great if you are a scrapbooker!) or the nursery, ALTHOUGH I am perfectly willing to be proven wrong if someone can find a nice combo of the two.

Another combo gnawing at my brain these days is the Fall-Winter ‘09 trend of shorts and tights. I resisted with all my might because I thought it too trendy, but now all the shorts are on the sale racks and I happened to try on a pair of Alpine-ish wool ones with tights a few weeks back. I actually really liked them and loved how I could have shown off my legs all winter long and remained modest at the same time. Oh well – could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. Too late to ride the trend now.

A rule when it comes to trends: you need to buy trends new (hopefully with coupons!). By the time they are on sale, they are usually ridiculously silly-looking.