DIY Distraction: Awesome Yarn Things - Crochet and Other Stuff

Do you crochet, or macrame? Perhaps tatting is your thing? Check this stuff out!

Polyvore: Isabel Marant Striped Sweater DIY

Isabel Marant Striped Sweater DIY by alexus1325 on polyvore.com

DIY Distraction: Awesome Yarn Things - Knitting Edition

If you knit, or like knitted stuff, you just might like this stuff!

I knit socks. Lately, I knit lots of socks. When I discovered Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel, I just about died!!! A triple-mitered heel that sits much more smoothly than a regular wrap and turn mitered heel, this heel design is the basis of her new eBook. You can also view her free video tutorial.

Do you love ombre/gradient fashions? Now you can knit up your own Chrysanthemum Hat with custom ombre-dyed yarn you can make at home! Xandy shows us her ball-in-KoolAid method.

Broomstick lace is so pretty, but crocheting it is such a pain in the wrists! Which is exactly why wrist-strain-prone Karlie Robinson developed a knitted version.

"Deadbeat" for Contributing Editor by Ben Morris, on Models.com

Paris street fashion on Real Men Cry

Isabel Marant's jumbo-knit sweaters have been on my to-do list for awhile! I love super-bulky sweaters, I love colourful stuff, and I can knit! But where do I get yarn this big?

Easy! You make yarn out of old t-shirts! If you want to dye your yarn, Dmariemart of Imagine Mechanix suggests dying the trimmed shirts before turning them into yarn.

Martin Margiela AW 2008 silk sleeve top on 1stdibs.com

And for the truly unconventional, thank you Mr. Margiela! Yet another WIN from your crazy, crazy mind! It's so tempting to go to Salvation Army on the next $5 bag day just to get a whole bunch of long sleeve shirts! A knock-off could conceivably be knitted from tubes of fabric, using up some of our copious stash fabrics, right?

FFR: March Outfit Backlog

March, alas, was the month I lost my job at the bar. So no more crazy shooter-girl outfits, just crazy-girl outfits :P

Vintage silk knit dress - XOXO

Vintage 1970s blouse with knife pleats and lace trim

Genuine 1920s sealskin medallion belt originally owned by my great-grandmother

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Stupid-expensive blouse from a fashionable women's workwear store whose name I don't remember

Pre-loved leather vest

Double-layered recycled sari skirt from Nepal

Faux-amber bracelet, labradorite ring, labradorite pendant

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Black cotton velvet 80s-90s-cusp blazer

Pre-loved black vinyl moto pants

Pre-loved black silk blouse

Floral brass cocktail ring, Me-Made clip-on collar chain

---------------------------------------------------------------------

More velvet blazer action!

Pre-loved pink silk blouse

Pre-loved (80s?) tulip-print trousers

Floral silver cocktail ring, Me-Made floral collar chain

---------------------------------------------------------------------

This is what I wore for the bar's Tropical Party!

Pre-loved Le Chateau faux-wrap dress

Pre-loved brass and bone bead necklace

Brass half-hoop earrings, brass ring, brass bangle

Teak wood bangle from Ardene

Pre-loved brass on wood bangle (which I've since broken, ARG)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 80s dolman sleeve tee with satin and sequin applique

Silver hoop earrings, silver and pink agate ring, silver fishes bangle

Pink resin bangle

FFR: February Outfit Backlog

Slick and Prim

Cotton crop-sleeve blazer - Cartise Sport - $80 at a boutique in Sudbury (~2003)

Black vinyl moto pant - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $5 bag day

Black silk blouse - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $3

Vintage "Victorian" stamped tin brooch with glass gems and chain (likely 40s) - thrifted ages ago

Basic face with "jade" Avon shadow

--------------------------------

Victorian Sparkle

80s polyester "Victorian" dress w/ lace inset - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $5 bag day

Silver/black lurex tights - thrifted @ Value Village in Sudbury many moons ago

Basic face with "onyx" Avon shadow, "chili" Avon lipstick

Braided knot bun

---------------------------

Upside-Down Iris

Green silk Alfred Sung blouse - thrifted @ Salvation Army - $3

Danier Leather plum skirt - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $2

Matchy, matchy! Basic face with Ardene metallic shadow palette in lavender and turquoise, and gold liquid liner on the lower lashline

---------------------------------

Tiny Shiny Bow Ties!

Black vinyl moto pant - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $5 bag day

80s polyester blouse w/ bow tie print - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $1

Feather charms necklace - Ardene - 3 for $10

Avon silver rose ring - bought by Mom

Basic face, "onyx" Avon shadow, Ardene spring 2012 tropical palette in silver

---------------------------------

Silk Loves Velvet: Green Edition

Green silk blouse - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $3

Black cotton velvet blazer - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $4

Vintage "Victorian" stamped tin brooch with glass gems and chain (likely 40s) - thrifted ages ago

Basic face with "jade" Avon shadow

------------------------

A Night Out or In?

Dynamite grey camisole - $$$$ way to much for a bloody camisole!

Black cotton velvet blazer - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $4

Glass crystal necklace - thrifted ages ago

50s rhinestone brooch - thrifted ages ago

Crystal earrings - gift from a friend

Basic face with "onyx" Avon shadow and Ardene tropical palette in violet

------------------------------

Pineapple Librarian

Yellow polyester blouse - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $1

Danier Leather plum skirt - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $2

Black cotton velvet blazer - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $4

Gold vinyl belt - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $1

Goldtone articulating collar necklace - thrifted ages ago

Goldtone w/ rhinestones pineapple brooch-pendant (50s?)- thrifted ages ago

Basic face, Ardene tropical pallette in violet, gold liquid liner

FFR: January Outfit Backlog

What in Blue Blazes, Purple Monochrome???

80s cobalt blue blazer with star studs - Thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $4

80s lavender polyester blouse - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $3

Danier Leather lavender skirt - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $2

Gold vinyl belt - thrifted at Salvation Army in KL - $1

Gold tone w/ pink gems cocktail ring - thrifted ages ago

-------------------------------------------------------------

There's Flowers in my Coral!

90s jacquard Michael K . & Company Blazer - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL on $5 bag day

Coral silk blouse - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL - $3

Aqua leather belt - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $1

Aqua polyester scarf - thrifted @ Encore Club in KL - $0.50

Fashion for the Mentally Unstable: Mind Over Matter

Don't you love when life just feels so meaningless you stop doing the things you used to enjoy? And by "love" I mean feel completely ambivalent about. I'll be honest: I'm mentally unstable. Like many people with depressive anxiety, I get listless, unable to focus, and freaked out by every tiny thing that goes wrong. I get angry with myself for being angry/sad about everything. I lose sight of the little things that usually brighten my day.

This is a perpetual cycle. Over and over, throughout my life, I've had episodes where I felt like nothing was worthwhile, that my efforts were wasted and nothing truly lasting would come of my existence. Eventually, I would get tired of feeling like a slug and continue my "futile" efforts at fitting into a society that doesn't seem to have a place for me.

So what's this have to do with fashion?