DIY (SIN)spiration #1

There are just too many things that are so DIY-able, its sinful. Why use the rent money on a new pair of shoes, when it can be made in a day for $3? Yeah, I thought so....
Here is this week's (SIN)spiration:

 Christian Louboutin Glitter Pumps: 

Now, That bad boy retails at a financially crippling (if you're a college kid like me) $795.
Here's the alternative (Which will cost you less than $40):
.
First you need some pumps shaped similarly to the ones above. Something like these:

Platforms by Aldo

You'll also need:
Loose glitter
Outdoor Mod Podge (for water resistance)
Paint brushes
A disposable container

1. Mix the Glitter with the Modge Podge in the disposable container (This ensures that the glitter stays put when you put it on the shoe. Be sure to mix in a lot of Glitter!!)
2. Use the paintbrush to paint the glitter mixture onto the shoes.
3. Let dry
4. Inspect the shoes. Fill in any missed spots and let dry again.
5. Paint a final thin layer of Modge Podge on the shoes, let dry and WEAR THEM!!

This techinque was developed by Annie Spandex, check her out!!

Bloggers Do IT Better: Prep School

So I've officially joined the Bloggers Do It Better movement on PrettyShinySparkly.
The first challenge: the preppy look.

I was so excited to do this challenge because I have an AFFINITY for preppy clothing. My closet has been overtaken by blazers, and I just got a new one yesterday (Will post a pic I promise). Fortunately for me, I gave all my ties away, except for the one my friend wouldn't take. On my most recent thrift store visit, I saw the prettiest pleated peach skirt, and fell in love. I also saw its black twin and left it (Big Mistake? All the skirts in this store are $2!!!). I realized that it would go really, really well with my favorite (red) blazer, another relatively recent thrift store find. So I had the tie, the blazer, the skirt, and two pairs of shoes (My docs, and my Worthingtons), all I needed was a button-up. After much debate, I went with my pleated off-white button-up. I was curious to see how pleating on a shirt and a skirt would look together. This is how the outfits turned out:

 

My new favorite skirt. Peep the Worthingtons on my feet, I wear them every other day (So darn comfortable)!!

 

Did I mention that sometime during the wicked school year that I finally got my docs?? The vest was in my campus thrift store, THANK YOU, OAKWOOD!!

Well, I was feeling like quite the school girl, so I put on a couple of nerdy glasses to remember the good old school days (Yes, I was a nerd...the one everyone laughed at. Good times!!) 

Oh and there is the matter of the bowtie....I tied it out of a necktie......

And that is all Folks!! Oh and in case you are wondering, everything I wore is thrifted.
( ^-^)

DIY The Look: Lesson 10

Acid Wash Jeans by faithliamano featuring vintage retro sunglasses

3 1 Phillip Lim stripe tunic, $375
Dodostyle acid wash skinny jeans, $58
Belle Sigerson Morrison espadrilles wedge, $132
Sensi Studio handbag, 140 GBP
Carolee pearl jewelry, 115 GBP
Karen Walker Eyewear vintage retro sunglass, $180

Hey folks!!! After, Like, a year I'm back!! Here's my latest projects as published.

Here's how to do it:
Materials:
Bleach
Bowl
Paint Brush (The bigger the better)
Scrubbing Brush

Uh, your JEANS?

First you need to dampen your jeans. Pour some bleach into a bowl to get started....
Lay your jeans out on a surface that won't be affected by bleach. Take your scrubbing brush and "scrub" both sides of both of the legs of your jeans. Let it sit until the jeans are 2-3 shade lighter than before. Rinse them and survey the damage your work.
Like it? Good! You are ready to bleach!!
Here are the two techniques I used:
Splatter:

This one is simple: Just dip the paintbrush in bleach and "throw" the bleach onto the jeans (using the paintbrush) as you would if you were splatter painting. Let it sit until you see white. 

Tie dye:

To do the tie dye technique I scrunched the legs of my jeans up like this:

 
Then using my paintbrush, I painted the exposed fabric with bleach. After this, I let it sit for ten minutes, turned the jeans over and let sit for another ten minutes. When I was satisfied with the color, I rinsed the bleach out.

Wash your jeans and wear them =)

 

I love Vintage!!! (Still)

Here are my most recent vintage finds! I'm in love with these!! (Maybe I should just photograph my entire closet?) 

The Blazers:

 

The Dresses:

There are plenty more coming!

Tired of My Jeans Wearing Out!! (How to keep those jeans living long!)

I AM SOOO TIRED OF MY JEANS WEARING OUT!!!

I can only blame myself for buying cheap jeans that probably wouldn't last to long in the first place, but can't a sista' get a little longevity? I've decided to go ahead and thrift the next set I'm buying so that I can buy the better quality brands. But in the mean time, I was looking for ways to increase the life span of my jeans and I found this suggestion in a forum:

"May I suggest that you try to get as much life as possible life out of your cloth by altering your washing procedure?
Here's my rules for washing denim:
1) Wash only when you absolutely have to. I wash my jeans maybe once a month in the summer and stretch it out longer in the winter, maybe once every four months. This may sound gross, but I let my pants hang up between washings so they can air out, it keeps them reasonable for public occasions. A cold water soak (no detergent or agitation) can do wonders also.
2) When I must wash, I wash them inside-out cold water in Woolite Dark Colors detergent on gentle. Some argue that you shouldn't put them on spin, I'm not quite that hard core.
3) Never, ever put them in the dryer. Let them air dry.
I can keep a pair of Levi's going for 2 years using this procedure, and my APC's still look brand new."

Some other suggestions included smearing all-purpose glue on the area that is most susceptible to wear, or sewing on iron-on patches (then ironing the area). I'm Trying all of these!! going to get around to trying some of these techniques.

How do you keep your jeans alive?

 

I'm baaaaaack!!(Well, kinda....)

These days my postings will be irregular because, I'm back at school and have been quite busy with schoolwork and friends. But I will be postings pics of anything I've done recently...
......And with that said, check out my current Pride and joy:

Can't wait to wear it again!!! (^-^)

What I've been up to these days

1. Cutting up sweaters:

Yep I finally got around to that Slit Sleeve project I posted a while back

Note: My room is usually nice and organized, but I'm packin'  for college and so the room looks like the twilight zone, thus the messy backdrop, forgive me.

2. Shopping for school:

Got these for about $22 at Wet Seal

Cost me EXACTLY 1cent(At Wet Seal, mind you!)
BEST DEAL EVAR!!!!

Hmmmm and thaz it!!
^.^

Super Cute PDA pouch DIY

Just thought this was cute! Enjoy!

DIY the Look: American Apparel Edition pt 1 ((RESULTS))

I used a really old Black turtle neck:

I'm currently making another one as I post this........

Tutorial  HERE

Diane Von Furstenberg refashion!!!

So I found this Dianne Von Furstenberg dress while thrifting in NYC (The Goodwill Outlet ^-^):

It was originally missing one button (Dunno where the other one went...), so I got some new ones and put them on:

Mini Make-over successful!!

DIY the Look: American Apparel Edition pt 1.

American Apparel Acid Wash Scarf

So I saw this scarf while scroll shopping on the American Apparel page.....
Oh American Apparel!
What's a sista to say about you?
That your $40 dresses cost me $3 or less to make?
That I can make most of the stuff in you in less than 1 hour? Alas, the musings are endless!
But seriously, American Apparel was the original inspiration behind the whole DIY the look series. Before I started blogging, my home gurl Roro and I would troll the shop nearby our school and I would marvel at how much stuff I could totally make at home. Then I started noticing the same thing in other stores. Then I found tons of fabric........

The rest is history.

Anyway, on to the DIY:

Heres what you'll need:
1 T-shirt
Bleach in a bowl
Scrub brush
Rubber gloves
Scissors

1. Wet your t-shirt and ring out some water.
2. Dip the brush into the bleach and let any excess drain off
3. In a slashing motion, lightly "scrub" random areas of your shirt, until you have "scrubbed" every section of the shirt.
4. Let it soak, and check for color change until you are satisfied.
5. Wash and dry.
6. Cut the bottom of the shirt using the following instructions:

DONE!!!
Hey, keep the top piece as a cropped top! Layer it with some t-shirts, or wear it just so!

Btw, you will be seeing quite a few more of these American Apparel DIYs, at least until I find somewhere else to pick on.......

Peace!

The Vintage Plan: Executed

Hey ya'll. Ya girl Faith Li is in NYC, and decided to put the vintage plan into action.

O

M

Gosh

Remember that Goodwill Outlet I mentioned? It is now my favorite Store. I've spent about $43 in that shop and am now scheming ways to carry 3 big bags of stuff back to GA! I am really psyched about the place, I mean I've gone twice and each time just gets better. However, I'd only go for clothing and bags, the shoes leave alot to be desired.....I do love the vintage suit cases I've seen there, most costing a whopping $4 (Yeah, I know, expensive right?) Have I mentioned my Coach, Louis Vuitton , Burberry (which I now OWN), and Christian Dior sightings? I saw some other big brands too but I can't remember them all. I also saw some  dope Gap, Old Navy and H&M stuff. Any way, reserve an hour (Or two) and look for an outlet near you!!!

Some of my proudest finds:

100% Italian Leather Bag 

(The Cousin is now the proud owner)

Vintage Giorgio Sant Angelo

(MINE!!)

Alice and Olivia 

(The cousin recieved this one gladly)

Lark & Wolff by Steven Alan

(I love this!!)

My New school bag about $4

(Thought I'd have to go to a vintage shop for one of these!!)

I stopped by No Relation and Buffalo Exchange just to cover my bases and heres my report:

No Relation: Three cheers for $10 Vintage dresses!!! And you WILL find at least five dress you like, I saw like twenty, but that Goodwill outlet spoiled me, I dare not buy another dress unless it is from there.....But If you aren't cheap like me, give the place a holler whenever you hit NYC.

Buffalo Exchange: Before I give my personal verdict, I must tell you a story. While shopping at the Goodwill Outlet I saw this pretty tank dress and picked it up, but I eventually put it back because I figured I wouldn't wear it, (Though it was really light and would probably cost  like 10 cents). Well, after looking through some stuff at Buffalo Exchange I see a girl with the same dress which would cost upwards of  $11 there. Moral: if you like it, pick the dang thing up. Now, back to my five second review. After my knowledge of the existence of the Goodwill Outlet, this place would be my go to for jewelry, shoes, and hair stuff. Imagine getting a $50 pair of sneakers for $21 or a $150 pair of Boots for $40. That is what Buffalo exchange can do for you.

But seriously, your vintage-thrift-store-loving life will NOT be complete without finding a Goodwill Outlet.

Now to troll the streets of Atlanta to find an equivalent...........