Creative Recycling

After having been stuck on the couch for a week with a killer case of poison oak and having to skip church in the process--something that throws my schedule WAY off--I thought that it would be good to do something fun today. Good for you, hopefully, because it will give you some ideas as to what to do with some of your old t-shirts, and good for me to prove that there's still some beauty in the world. (Oozing rashes and yoga pants get really old after a while!) ;)

This year I am attempting to revamp my wardrobe a little more proactively than in years past; usually I just wait until the new season is upon me before weeding out worn out items, figuring out what I need to complete outfits, etc. But now I am trying to discipline myself to take a quick inventory of my clothes once a week and pull out at least one item that needs to be tossed or donated. That way they are not taking up needed space in the closet and I can start planning for the next season in time to hit the thrift stores.

T-shirts are almost always the first things to go in my wardrobe; they never seem to last beyond 2 seasons. Pilling, holes and shrinkage hit with a vengeance, but I never can seem to throw the beloved things away. ;) This year, though, I am revamping my favorites as accessories so that they can live a long, happy life beyond their 2 seasons!

Here's the shirt that I am recycling today, one that I practically lived in all Spring and Summer (that's the back, obviously ;):





The shirt had become much too pilled to wear but too pretty to throw away, so my first project was to create a t-shirt scarf from the bottom, banded section (that you can't see in the picture).





I cut off the bottom half of the shirt just below the lace section.





And then I cut from the raw edge of the material up to the band in 1" (or so) wide strips.





I pulled each of the strips to stretch and roll them (sorry that the picture is blurry--it's really hard to hold the camera with your right hand, pull the strip with your left and keep the rest of the material anchored with your right elbow, trust me!).





Once I pulled the strips to my heart's content (they didn't roll as much as I'd like, unfortunately) I took the banded section of the new scarf, slipped it over my head and wrapped it around my neck twice. This is the closest that you're going to get to seeing it actually on me, since my neck and face are covered with a poison oak rash. ;)





Next I decided that I wanted to make a little rosette bracelet out of some of the material, so I cut across the front of the shirt on a diagonal line, creating a 2" wide strip of bias material.





Here's the strip along the armhole...you can see just how pilled the fabric is.





Once again, I stretched the strip to make it roll...





...and started to wind it up in a rosette, stitching at each turn with purple thread, since life should be full of color, right? ;)





I left a long tail on the rosette and stitched two buttons, one shell and the other a tiny little blue button, in the center of the rosette. I pulled the tail as long as I wanted it and tied it around my wrist. Ta-da! A bracelet.





But wait, that's not all! I really wanted to use some of the lace from the back of the shirt, so I cut out this little flower...





...and used the vaguely-triangular piece leftover from cutting my previous strip on the bias to make a little knotted necklace.





I rolled, tied and tacked it (with turquoise thread...there goes the color again!) from the back.





I love velvet ribbon and decided to make it a prominent player in this necklace. I cut a length of ribbon that was 36" long and used matches to burn the ends to keep them from fraying (and that was impossible to take a picture of while doing, so you'll have to take my word for it ;).





I sewed the lace flower into the center of the knot, put on three little buttons and attached the whole thing to the ribbon, slightly off-center. I trimmed up the ends of the knot and voila! A necklace. Or a hair ornament. Or another bracelet. The possibilities are endless! :)

So, before you toss a beloved (but well-used) t-shirt into the trash, think about ways that you can recycle it. Trina has a great post on her blog with some other ideas about what to do with knits, so check it out for more inspiration!


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A Flower of Spring: Erdem's Spring 2012 Collection

Yes, yes. I know that I just wrote a post about being happy and content with what season we're in, and not looking ahead too much to the next one. But I can't help looking forward to Spring when there are such beautiful dresses making their way slowly towards our stores! And what better way to whet our appetites than with some gorgeous Erdem designs?





Erdem is probably best known for his lovely lace dresses, including one that Kate Middleton wore for her arrival in Canada after the royal wedding. Erdem's gowns are the epitome of ladylikeness...soft, floral, flowing and oh-so-flattering.





Of course, there are definitely some styles that are odd; his combinations of certain florals are right on-trend, but not as pretty in my opinion. (And if you don't think it's pretty, don't wear it! ;)





But I just love how feminine the whole Spring line is! If we find mainstream designers who copy these styles for the Spring, we'll be set.










And these are definitely some designs that will lend themselves well to home sewing interpretations. So keep your eyes open for good floral or lace fabrics and see what you can create! :)

If you'd like to check out Erdem's current collection for some more Winter inspiration, you won't regret it; he has some of the loveliest Winter outfits I've seen!

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Colours for Spring 2012

One thing that I hate about fashion (and yes, I said hate and fashion in the same sentence...did I just disqualify myself from being a fashion blogger?? ;) is the inability to enjoy the season that we're in at the moment. The Spring shows come out every Fall and by the time we get around to actually wearing those adorable Spring fashions, we're bombarded with Fall's new line! Rush, rush, rush. It's seriously time to stop and smell the...well, it's Winter, so...the frost?

But, unfortunately for us Thrifty Fashionistas, we have to be several steps ahead of the game so that we can keep our eyes peeled for great items at great prices before we're neck-deep in the new season. So today I will swallow my hatred of the "Next Season" mentality and present you with Spring 2012's colour palette.




(Pardon the emaciated models...I guess fashion designers won't be happy until their models have to be pushed down the runway in wheelchairs.)

As you can see, we have some lovely colours available to us this coming season! I am particularly happy about the poppy, orangeade, canary and ink colours, because those will all go well with my personal neutral. Just for fun, let's look at the colours that were popular last Spring:





As you can see, the shades this year are bolder and brighter, almost more of a Summer palette to my eye. I have to confess, I'm more of a grey girl than a honey or sandstone, so I wish that those two could be swapped out with last year's grey. On the whole, though, Spring 2012 definitely gets my vote for better colours!

Starting on your next thrifting expedition, keep your eyes peeled for items in the new colour palette. I like to start with solid basics, such as camisoles, tees, skirts, light sweaters, etc., that can also be used with your Winter fashions right now. Save the flirty, floaty dress purchases until it's actually Spring in your area unless you find something that you just cannot leave behind. However, I have found that when I shop for a season so far in advance, I tend to buy something that is not as practical for my needs; the concept of "Spring" is such a far-away, nebulous one in the dead of Winter.



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The Perfect Fit: A Bra How-To

This post was written by guest writer DeeDee J., who was trained to measure and fit bras during the time that she worked at Dillards, and who has some fabulous insight for all of us ladies! You're probably going to be like me, and find out that your bra just doesn't fit like it's supposed to, so sit back and learn from someone who knows her stuff. Since a well-fitted bra is the foundation for a well-fitted wardrobe, I thought this would be a great way to start off the blog posts for the New Year...enjoy! :)

Boobs, nipple, breast… I just kind of wanted to get those words out there before I continued so the giggles are over with now. It’s just a part of the body, so chill.

I really do not know many women who like to shop for bras. They love to shop for dresses or jewelry or shoes, but never bras. That’s typically because there are a million styles or you don’t know what size to look for and it’s sometimes embarrassing to ask for help in that area. Please don’t be embarrassed! They are just boobs and every woman has them. Plus, if you fit them properly, your outfit that you put over them will look even more amazing!

Why They Are Necessary...

Just for your information, if you wear a size double d, the combined weight of your breasts can be 25 pounds. Seriously! 25 pounds! Crazy, right? If that is not properly supported it can do serious damage to your back. Even if your cup size is not that big, (even an A cup,) you need to have plenty of support. If you have ever felt little twinges of pain in the very top portion near where they connect to your chest, that is breast tissue ripping, and the only way to fix that is through surgery. This is especially something to think about if you are exercising. If you are trying to purchase a sports bra, jump around. If they are bouncing, you either need a smaller size or need to wear two at once.





If you look at the first picture, it looks like a ton changed with this woman, but the only thing different is her bra. She came in with one that did not fit, and left with one that did.

How They Should Fit...

This is the part that everyone wants to know about. What size am I??? You will need a partner and a flexible measuring tape for this. First, you measure just above any part of the bust, around your body, and to take the measurement you need to drop your arms to your side, so that the tape rests near your underarms. (This is why you need a partner because it is impossible to take the measurement yourself with your arms down.) The first measurement should be taken with the tape snug. Not so tight that you have skin rolling over it, but pretty fitted. The reason you measure above the bust instead of right below is that your ribs can protrude slightly, causing the measurement to be off.

The second measurement is going to go over the largest part of your chest, which is typically at the nipple line. This is going to be a little bit looser measurement. It will still be touching the skin all the way around, just not as snugly. Make sure to drop your arms to your sides on the second measurement as well. Jessica Simpson is going to be our model for this because she is pretty full figured so it is easier to see on her. The blue line is measurement number one and the red line is measurement number two.





Measurement one (blue line) is your band size. Band sizes only come in even numbers so if you got 35.5 round up to 36 and if you got 34.5 round down to 34. If you are right in the middle at 35” (or 33” or 37”, etc) I would calculate try on both sizes. It will depend on the style which size will work better for you. To find the cup size you simply subtract the first measurement from the second measurement. The number of inches will
determine the cup size, i.e. 1”=A, 2”=B, 3”=C, 4”=D, 5”=DD/E and etc. (By the way, DD and E are the same, DDD and F are the same, and DDDD and G are the same. It will depend on the brand which they prefer to put on the tag.) So if your measurements are 32” and 36”, you would be a 32D. Sounds simple enough right? It generally is with the exception that all styles are not created equal. This is why you MUST try them on in the store and make sure it is fitting properly and you are not having any of the issues in the picture below.

When you are trying on a bra it is recommended that you hook the bra on the center hook unless it is that one week per month you are retaining water weight. This will allow you to be able to loosen the band on that week and allow it to be tightened once it inevitably stretches out a bit. Another option is to try it on the loosest hook so you will have even farther to take it in when it stretches out. After you have it on, you want to make sure the straps
are tightened just enough where you can still two fingers underneath it. For the cups, you need to reach all the way in and lift your entire breast up and into the center to make sure the underwire is not on any breast tissue. Make sure you are standing straight up, not sitting or leaning over when you are adjusting the cups.

The first part of checking if it is fitting correctly is checking the band. Eighty percent of your support is going to come from the band, not the straps, so if it is wrong, it’s a big problem. When looking at the front, the center part between your cups should be laying flat against the body. If it is poking out, there is a good chance the cups are too small or the band is too big. The underwire should also be flat against the body and not laying on any breast tissue. This is especially true on the sides of the cups. The underwire should be behind all of the breast tissue or there is a good chance you are bruising yourself on a daily basis.

If you have what looks like back fat hanging over the back of the band,
there’s a good chance the band is just too tight. If that’s the case, it doesn’t matter if you are a size 2 or 22, it will not look attractive. On the other hand, if the band is riding up in back, the band is typically too loose.

Onto the cups… it should be one seamless line from the bottom of the underwire to your neck. If there is a gap between your breast and the cup, the cup is too big. If you have spillage, which is where the breast tissue is bulging over the top of the cup, the cup is too small.





Not All Boobs Are Equal...

One thing that most people don’t talk about is that, unless you have had surgery to make them that way, your boobs will not be even. Some people are lucky enough to have them be close enough that you cannot tell while others can be several cup sizes different. Typically it is just one cup size or
less and there are some really quick and easy ways to fix this.

First, take measurements just on the larger breast side from your sternum to your backbone. You always want to fit the larger side because you need to have as much support as possible.

Next, start with a molded cup bra. This is just one that has a form already. Some full busted women are concerned this is going to add more to them, but that is not the case. It is just creating a nice form and also preventing everyone in the room from knowing you are cold. Some molded cup bras come with a little pocket and inserts which make the next steps much easier. One that does this is Frederick’s of Hollywood’s Liquid Lift Smooth Bra.

You also want to get familiar with inserts. They can be filled with air, water, gel, or just foam. As far as which you use, it’s simply personal preference. If there is a large difference between the two breasts you might consider the gel or water, just to give you the weight to match the other side.
To make the breasts look even, if you are using the Liquid Lift bra, pull out the insert on the larger side and make sure that side fits well. On the smaller side keep the insert in the pocket provided. If you are purchasing one without the pocket, just put the insert in the bottom of the cup along the underwire in the deepest part of the cup. You then want to reach in and pull
the entire breast up and in like you normally would. If there is still a gap in the cup, add a second insert just on top and above the first one. To hold it in, consider purchasing dress tape which can be attached to the insert and the bra.

Proper Care...

Bras should not be worn more than one day in a row. It takes a minimum of 24 hours for the elastic to go back to its original form. If you do choose to wear it more than one day at a time, just know that it is going to die faster. Because of this, you should have a minimum of 3 good bras at any given
time. If you only have 3 though, they will typically only last about 6 to 8 months on average. If it is a really good brand like Le Mystere (a.k.a. the Oprah bra because she recommended it on her show several times) it might last a year if you are lucky.

When you wash them, they should always be either hand washed or they can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, preferable in a lingerie bag. Make sure all hooks are hooked if they are going in the washing machine. To dry, they should be laid flat. Never invert the cups or you will
get creases that are nearly impossible to get out.

Where To Go...

If you are not confident enough to fit yourself, that is perfectly all right. There are many places where trained professionals in this type of thing are waiting to help you. One I know that will measure and fit you correctly is Dillard’s, because that’s where I used to work. The Certified Lingerie Fitters there actually have to take a course, fit a certain number of people and then take
a test to be certified, so you know they know what they are doing. Some others that I have heard can measure you are Frederick’s, J.C. Penney’s, and Victoria’s Secret. I would be cautious about the last one though, because when I went in, they measured me incorrectly. (Rachel's note: The same thing has happened to me, so I wouldn't recommend VS.)

Some specific brands and bras for certain sizes I like are…
Nearly – If you are a nearly A, A, or nearly B, Wacoal and Cabernet have some really great options for you. Both can be found at Dillard’s.

B, C, or D – You are a pretty lucky person because you can walk into nearly any store and find a style that will fit. Some of my favorite brands for you would be Calvin Klein or DKNY. They have some seamless bands that look great under any outfit.

DD+ - Make sure you are supported because chances are you are carrying
quite a bit of weight in that area. If you can afford it, try Le Mystere which is really amazing. You can stop by Dillard’s toward the end of the season and they will have fun colors that have gone on sale. I picked one up recently when it was 75% off. If they are too much, try Modern Movement. It is a Dillard’s brand that is still very supportive and about half of the price of Le Mystere.

So there you have it! Thank you for your wonderfully informative and helpful article, DeeDee! I know that all of us will benefit from this knowledge and will hopefully be able to start the New Year on a more solid foundation. ;)



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Future Topics and Choosing Your Neutral

This year I am determined to keep up with the blog more faithfully, so I've been brainstorming some topics for future posts...it's harder than it looks! ;) But I've come up with some fun ones that I think you will all appreciate, and I am definitely hoping for some requests and/or feedback. Your input helps to fuel my creativity, so please keep the requests coming!

To begin with, we are going to focus on some ways that you can revamp your wardrobe for the coming year in some (hopefully) inexpensive ways. I don't know about you, but I always get the "new clothes" itch after Christmas and that's generally when funds are tight (not to mention my existing wardrobe...thank you, Christmas indulgence!), so this year I'm taking a creative approach to scratching that itch. Here are some things to look forward to:

1) Shopping your closet--how to reinvent items you already have in new ways (and encouragement to rid yourself of items you don't need anymore).

2) Choosing your personal neutral

3) How to measure yourself/fit a new bra--a fabulous guest post by a young lady who used to work at Dillards and KNOWS what she's talking about!

4) The evolution of your personal style

Today, I'm going to focus on the second topic--choosing your personal neutral.

Now, I know that most folks would classify the term "neutral" as anything but ambiguous: it means a color that meshes well with other colors, that doesn't stand out on it's own, that blends colors together or serves as a bridge between two bolder colors. I'll bet that when I wrote "neutral", you all thought of beige. ;) The truth is, we all have our own "personal neutral" that works with our own style in a unique way.

For instance: my personal neutrals are purple (any darker shade) and chartreuse. I can pair these colors with almost any item in my wardrobe and it will work. Granted, sometimes I like to add other colors alongside these to make the outfit "click", but these are my go-to neutrals. I have tanks and camis in both colors that I wear under just about any of my dresses, shirts and sweaters to make my personal statement. I also have the traditional white, black and gray tanks as well, but they're not nearly as much fun to wear. ;)

So, how do you choose your personal neutral? Well, the fact of the matter is, it's probably already chosen you! Accessories are probably the best place to spot your neutral, so take a glance through your jewelry box, scarf collection and purses. Generally speaking, your neutral is probably some shade or variation of your favorite color.

If all you see in your jewelry box is gold or silver, all of your scarves are gray and all of your purses are black, then you get the fun task of actually choosing your neutral! Here are some quick rules:

1) Glance through your wardrobe; do you see a predominance of black or brown? If black, you can choose red, purple, blue, green, pink, cream or gray (though the last two are definitely neutral neutrals, so choose a secondary color as well) to accent with. If brown, you can choose any of the colors above along with orange and yellow. Of course, these are not hard-and-fast rules and they are made to be broken!

2) Are your clothes typically bright colors? Choose a lower-toned neutral. Do quieter colors dominate your wardrobe? Go with a neutral that is fun and bright to spice things up.

3) Once you have chosen your color (and it might take a while, so be patient) experiment with saturations and shade...if blue is your neutral, try turquoise with your browns and royal with your blacks. Or reverse them! The main thing is, have fun with your neutrals.

Now that you know what color you'd choose for your neutral, head over to the nearest clothing store and purchase a couple of tanks or camisoles in that color (but try not to get the same shade--variety is the spice of life!). Even if you don't normally wear a tank underneath your shirts, this is a great way to introduce a secondary color and give your wardrobe a shot in the arm. And the next time you're out shopping and think, "This could use a black cami underneath..." remember your personal neutral and try that first. It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.




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A Confession and a Choice

As the New Year has dawned and the Old Year has passed, a sense of self-evaluation and consideration has filled the air...everyone is making resolutions, schedules, choices. Workout plans are forged, gyms are joined, secret chocolate stashes are thrown out (or moved ;)) and the world has a general sense of renewed enthusiasm for Doing the Right Thing. The enthusiasm is contagious and I catch it every year, with varying degrees of success. I didn't make any true "resolutions" last year--nothing was written down or declared on Facebook, that public soul that we all bare--but I did have some goals, most of which I kept. I stuck with my goal of eating more healthily, of working out, of being a better housekeeper, etc. Oddly enough, these are the same goals that I make every year! Either I'm a slow learner (obviously) or I'm a human being who falls off the horse eventually and vows to get back up there and try again.

This year, however, my goals are slightly different. I still aim to keep up with the good habits I formed last year (all of which disappeared with glee over the holidays. Ahem.) and I know that they will be challenging enough for me. But I want to begin this year with a confession and follow it with a choice.

The Confession:

I am horribly camera shy.

Okay, so that's not really an earth-shattering or life-changing confession. But it comes from something deeper that has been nagging me for a while, and it needs to come out.

I am not camera shy because I don't want my face plastered all over the Internet. I am not camera shy out of some false sense of modesty or humility, secretly WANTING my picture taken so that folks can tell me how pretty I am. No, no. I am camera shy because I am not perfect, and the camera doesn't lie. The camera shows all (and then some). The camera is brutally honest. And I don't like to have my faults aired in front of the whole world. I have bumps and lumps and rolls and sags and wrinkles and lines and frizzy hair and they just don't look that great. When a picture of me appears online or on someone's phone or camera, I automatically see all of the faults and know, deep down in my soul, that everyone else sees them too. And that they judge me for not being perfect.

Or do they?

My husband, who is probably the most gracious person that I know, reminds me that I need to give folks the benefit of the doubt. After all, he reasons, do YOU judge people's pictures like you judge your own? Of course I don't--I always look at the pictures and enjoy seeing the person's personality show forth, their beautiful smile, their unique sense of style, and it reminds me of what I love about that person in particular. But surely, I say, no one will do that for me.

So whenever a camera comes out, I run and hide. If I have to stand for a picture, I am constantly thinking, "Suck in your stomach" "Stand at an angle" "Lift your chin" "Don't smile too much--your eyes will wrinkle up and your face will look pudgy". And the ironic thing is, you can tell that I am thinking that when you see the pictures! I don't look like I'm having fun or enjoying the moment with friends and family. Nope. All I'm thinking about is myself.

The Choice

So this year my choice is to be gracious. To be gracious toward myself, toward others and toward the poor, innocent camera. Sure, there will still be pictures that I will hate of myself and think, "Boy, do I really look like THAT??" and there will be some that will surprise me. But I want to be a better sport and not take myself too seriously about these pictures--they are, after all, just pictures. They are not my life. They are not my relationships. They are not my God. And, ultimately, they are not what matters.

Does this mean that I will start running at the camera whenever it comes out? I doubt it. But I will try to help the camera see what's really me: the joyful, thankful, sometimes-has-a-bad-hair-day-and-fat-jeans girl who loves her life. "...let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

So Happy New Year from the Queen of the Camera Shy! May this be the year of pictures I may not love, but won't hide from anymore.





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