Showing posts with label scarves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scarves. Show all posts

3.30.2009

expensive shit you can actually just make yourself, vol. 1

this edition of "expensive shit you can actually just make yourself" is all about our favorite piece: the scarf. while perusing the free people website one day we came across the plaid scarf pictured below. its a decent scarf. plaid is pretty awesome most of the time and these colors are interesting. but in the end, the truth is that this is a tiny scrap of flannel that you will be paying $32 to own when you can easily DIY. we thought we could do better! turns out, we did...

the free people menswear stripe skinny scarf


step 1. we found an xl men's flannel at a thrift store for $2.99. note: it has to be flannel! any synthetic fabrics won't rip the right way.

step 2: make a tiny cut at the bottom and rip straight up the grain of the fabric. we made three equal-length sections to put together, and even included a pocket on one.

step 3: sew pieces together with contrast zig-zag stitching to complete the well-worn/rough edges effect. we used a bright turquoise thread.

the end result is a soft, funky, hip plaid scarf that cost $2.99 and took a total of fifteen minutes to make. the best part is that by DingIY you can choose the fabric, width and length you like. 

all-in-all, making this was literally easier than going to the store and paying money for the free people scarf, even if we would've been okay with spending the $32 (which we wouldn't have been). happy sewing!

cheers!

3.15.2009

fashionista of the month: miss carrie lindberg

every month we ask the same 5 questions of our fellow fashion-loving coloradoans who have enough style and sass to stand out against the sea of northface jackets, beanies, and ratty tshirts we so commonly encounter. now, that being said, carrie b. lindberg doesn't live here in denver and never has. but seeing how this blog is so new and she's been mentioned twice in it already, we thought it fine to break the rules we set for ourselves and interview miss CB lindberg for the march edition. when was CB lindberg mentioned in the blog you ask? remember when elinor referenced huge glasses, saying she only knew one girl who could pull off that look? that girl is carrie lindberg (yes, she IS very special). and the blog previous to this one when el talked about how going to a co-worker's fabulously decorated home inspired her to color-block her bookshelf? that co-worker was none other than carrie lindberg. carrie currently lives, shops, and organizes things by color in seoul, korea. hailing from the wonderous city of minneapolis, she will surely bring the heat this week to valentine on the side. give it to us carrie!


1. why do you think you're so fashionable?
CBL: i think i'm fashionable because, well, to be honest, i don't think i'm fashionable. i like clothes and i like looking nice, but for the most part, i toss on jeans and a tshirt, and possibly a sweater vest and cardigan. i tend to wear standard pieces and add some flair with scarves. prints and patterns are really appealing to me, and that could very well be something that makes me seem more fashionable and put-together than i actually am. i can pick out a great scarf from a mile away.

2. what's the LEAST fashionable thing about you?
CBL: i'm a sucker for irony. i buy clothing that is funny more often than i buy clothing that will work for me or last for a long time. for example, i am sitting here typing in a peach shirt that says "lovers" in cooper black (the font). i also have a navy blue sweater with an intarsia ghost. i also love giant, stupid glasses like no one else you will ever meet.

3. what current trend or trends do you hate the most right now?
CBL: brand names. logos emblazoned on any and every item that someone is sporting is such a huge visual turn-off to me. there are definitely things that a lot of people i know are into (chuck taylors, vans, chrome bags---mostly shoes and bags now that i think of it) that are obvious whether the tag is clear and easy to see or not. there is something about paying an insane amount of money to advertise a brand to the world that is so counter-intuitive to me. being brand-loyal because of durability and ease: that's a whole different animal.

4. what is your secret fashion vice?
CBL: its not really a secret, and i'm totally jumping on the bandwagon with this one, but as i've mentioned i'm really into scarves. in fact i fear this vice may bankrupt me. i bought three scarves yesterday alone!

5. who or what is a fashion inspiration to you?
CBL: colors are what really get me going. i find a color or color combination i love and will follow it hard. i went through a serious yellow and gray stage that i'm just now coming out of, and am transitioning to red oranges and corals with ashy blacks and slate blue grays. color combos that kill me usually involve something citrusy and something very neutral. oddly, i am also really into grey and khaki together. it is delicious in the most boring way possible, i guess. cannot get enough.

undercover fashion correspondent cb lindberg


as a BONUS, we asked carrie to give us a little dirt on what the scene is like over there in seoul, a.k.a. to be our VOTS asian fashion correspondent. here's what she noted....
CBL: fashion in seoul is conservative in a really strange way. everyone here wears tops that cover pretty much everything. turtlenecks, scoop-necks, layers, scarves, etc. its a big deal, even in the summer, to keep covered in that way. buuuuuuuuttttt, they also wear really insanely short shorts and skirts. even in the winter you'll see girls tromping around in barely-there skirts with either nylons or colored tights (adorable). high high heels are another thing that i can't seem to wrap my head around, because in korea you are forever walking and/or climbing flights of stairs. but girls here are like robots when it comes to this. they will rock 4 or 5-inch heels every day of the week, no matter what.
fashion for guys is pretty typical and similar to what's popular in the west i think. men here are generally quite thin, tall, and gorgeous. the majority of men wear thick-framed glasses, have shaggy haircuts, wear skinny jeans, blazers, scarves, and man purses. in fact i have seen a few really spectacular man purses which are much more feminine than anything the girls i know would have. but that, i presume, has more to do with culture and gender roles/gender identity than anything else.

thanks carrie!
until next time...
cheers!




2.14.2009

fourteen things to <3 this valentine's day

What better way to celebrate v-day than with things that warm the heart? For Valentine on the Side, that could only mean our very favorite fashions. We've put together fourteen of our all-time favorite styles, looks, and pieces. No matter where you live, Denver or beyond, THESE THINGS ARE FUCKING AWESOME.

Bustiers. Alot of designers are making dresses with fitted, feminine bodices. They look especially great, we think, if you have smaller boobs. Although if you are more busty, you will certainly be making a statement. Holla!
an amazing bustier by D&G


Black and white. Forever a powerful combo.
how classy is this Burburry number?

Eco-conscious fabrics. We love that green design is becoming more of a standard. Stella McCartney often uses organic fabric (like the jacket below), H&M recently came out with a whole organic cotton line, and bamboo is becoming quite popular as a fabric that is both amazingly soft and sustainable. Yay!



Huge Scarves. They give any outfit bonus points, in our opinion. 

The Modern Cowboy Boot. Kendall is not talking about your grandpa's dirty clunky cowboy boots---she's loving the ultra feminine cowboy boots that make any dress or skinny jeans look ultra modern and sexy. However El loves the cross between clunky and sexy found in the expensive but amazing Frye boot collection. Pick your poison.

Frye dream boot a la el
Jessica Simpson dream boot a la Kendall (don't judge J. Simp makes some rad shoes)

Cobalt Blue. This color is our new favorite and looks great with so many skin tones. 


Fingerless Gloves. Long or short, they add a certain femininity to an outfit, and leave your fingers free for things. 
chanel and valentino

Knee-high stockings and socks. You may remember these from their brief popularity circa Clueless. We love that they keep white, pasty legs looking great and slim, and you can pair them with flats, heels, or boots. 
SJP has the right idea

Mixed Prints. Anyone who is a bit of a Bohemian at heart will love this new trend.
from china's 2009 fashion week

Accessories in Primary Colors. There is no better way to make a drab outfit a hit than with a shockingly bright pair of shoes, chunky necklace or bracelets, earrings, bag or scarf. You can wear black every day of the year and always look unique if you have bold colors to highlight with.

Big collars. An old friend once told me that wearing a big collar is like putting your face on a shelf. Nothing could be more true. It highlights the most unique thing about you whilst being both stylish and cozy.
Beautiful high collar jackets by Anna Cohen


Tiny Vests. With a nod to style icon Annie Hall, these vests are both classic and totally unexpected. It takes a certain confidence to pull off a fashion piece that is this eccentric but if you can do it with confidence, you will turn the heads of everyone in the room.
Vest by Alexis Lamontanga

Clutches. Weather you are a lover of big, dramatic over sized bags or petite purses, a good clutch is a fashion staple. If you are going out for a night at the opera or just trying to jazz up your friday night post work get-up, a clutch is an elegant must have.
Clutch by local Denver designer Ollie Sang using recycled fabrics www.olliesang.com

High Style Jackets. Throwing away a good chunk of a pay check on a killer jacket is an occasional absolute. A truly great jacket can take jeans and a t-shirt and make it stunning, it also does every lady (and fella) good to have a unique piece that will follow you through many seasons and trends. Skip the price tag and listen to your heart if you find a truly great jacket, they pay for themselves (not to say you can't find amazing vintage and thrift jackets for less dough).
a few on the street examples of eye catching jackets

we hope your valentine's day was filled with love and if not that, then we hope this blog post gave you a few ideas about true fashion love in the near future. <3

cheers!