Polyvore: Casual Elegance / Retro Glamour

Don't forget to heart my set!

FFR: Pink and Silver Secretaries

I've been so inspired by the elegance of the 30s and 40s lately! It just so happens I have a few secretary blouses from the 80s, when 40s-styling was trendy. Amazing how fashion gets recycled, isn't it?

Pink polyester blouse with shoulder gathers - Rachael (1980s) - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL ($2)

Plastic pearl strand - heavily tarnished brass clasp, 50s? 60s? - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL ($0.50)

Double-strand wired pearl bead cuff - 50s or 60s - thrifted ages ago

Chinese brass bangle - $5 at a Chinese shop

Brass and pearl bead cocktail ring - thrifted ages ago

Basic face (foundation, mascara, highlighter)

Crease: Avon pinks shadow duo in dark pink (discontinued)

Lid: Avon pinks shadow duo in light pink (discontinued)

Avon lipstick in Pink Light (discontinued)

Polyester silver brocade blouse - Shirtmate (1980s) - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL ($2)

Steel grey glass pearl beads - Dollarama - $1

Pearls and chains bracelet - made by me!

Jointed finger armour ring - Ardene - $2

Basic face (foundation, mascara, highlighter)

Crease: Avon In a Blink liner-shadow in Onyx (not available online)

Lid: Avon monoshadow in Citrine (not available online)

Avon Ultra Rich Lipstick in Sheer Natural

Now I Have One: Chains and Pearls Bracelet

Inspired by the very-awesome Flamingo Toes, I just HAD to have my very own Chain and Pearl Multi-Row Bracelet!

Modeled by my giant wine bottle!

Montage!

I made my own S-clasp and triple brackets, deconstructed a ring for the pearls and a wallet chain for the medium weight chain, and took the various bar doohickies from two pairs of earrings. The smallest and largest chains are from the dollar store!

It was very challenging, and VERY satisfying! I can't wait to wear it!

DIY Distraction: Pearls with Chains and Ribbons and Lace!

If you're like me, you just might be enamored with the ways pearls have been used in jewelry lately. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, even embellishments on clothing! With some basic tools and supplies, you can create your own one-of-a-kind piece:

Satin Rosette and Pearls Necklace Tutorial - Vibrant Designs

Inspiration: Elegant, Ladylike, Sophisticated - Pearls!

If there is one recent trend in jewellery that I'm all over like cat hair on your favourite (insert garment here), it's the prevalence of pearls! It's a trend that's been trickling down to the masses since October 2010, when Fashion Weeks around the globe hosted the SS 2011 collections. Like many excellent trends, it was the small-scale designers who inspired the Big Names, with innovative usage of pearls as early as 2009!

I've been fond of pearls since girlhood, but I always viewed them as being for special occasions, a bit of living history when women were ladies and elegance was the truest expression of feminine beauty. I think my uber-stylish Grandmother had something to do with that!

But pearls aren't just for family photos, or Christmas, or evenings out anymore! Modern living, modern values, modern fashion means we, as fashionable women (and some men), get to wear what we want when we want to!

BEHOLD! Pearls for the everyday, or at least in a modern way!

Pearl Mega Cluster Necklace - Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta

FFR: Retro Casual in Myriad Colours

I love vintage clothing and have since forever ago, and I'm a self-avowed thrift-junkie. My affection for retro looks isn't confined to one era, either! Today, let me share my interpretation of the feminine androgyny of the 1940s and the almost-ridiculous exuberance of the 1970s.

Powder blue polyester blouse - Mantles Petites - thrifted years ago

Cranberry mohair grandpa cardigan - hand knitted - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL

Flared jeans - Calvin Klein - thrifted years ago

Multi-coloured silk scarf - Anne Klein - thrifted years ago

No make-up, I just ran some errands!

Brown eyelet cotton blouse - Jessica Sport - thrifted years ago

Psychedelic granny-square vest - hand crocheted - thrifted @ Salvation Army in KL

Bell-bottom jeans - Manager - thrifted years ago

Single brass box-chain and red freshwater pearl earring - found on the streets of Sudbury

Labradorite 2g plug - $10 @ Weggies in KL

Wood bangle - Ardene

Red octagonal bangle - thrifted

Chinese brass bangle -$5 at a Chinese goody shop

Basic face (foundation, mascara, highlighter)

Lid: Avon shadow duo in pinks - dark pink

Crease: Avon shadow in Turquoise

Brow: Avon shadow duo in pinks - light pink

Lips: Avon Shine Divine Sheer Luminous Lip Colour in Juicy Bronze (discontinued)

DIY Distraction: Tiny Hats

I've always been a hat person. The retro and steampunk trends have led to a resurgence in the wearing of adorable hats, which is something we fashionistas should take advantage of!

If you happen to be even half-way crafty, you can totally make your own cute little hat using one of the many excellent tutorials that fellow hat enthusiasts have put on the web. It can be as easy as a cereal box, some fabric and white glue, and as complicated as a leather full-size chapeau!

See all the yummy tutes after the jump!

My name is Anna, and I'm a Thriftaholic...

I'm in the midst of a style-revolution, and the easiest way to restyle myself is to get new clothes! So what is this revolution? What caused it? What are my goals?

1. I'm 27, and I want to look my age. I'm a mature woman, darnit, not a 20 year old "girl" that I'm often mistaken for. I want to look polished, stylish, and like I know what I want (even if I don't).
2. I'm an individualist at the core. I want to be distinctive, memorable even.
3. I used to dress uniquely in university, and even before. Then I dropped out of school. Then I dressed like every other 20-something. It does not make me feel good to be lost in the crowd, like a number, like a non-person.

Goals are good! Goals with parameters are even better!

I hereby solemnly swear to utilize as many pre-loved articles as possible.

DIY Distraction: Leather Lunch Bags

I love multi-functional things, and I love things that look like other things! Case in point are these delicious leather bags made to look like simple lunch sacs. I will DEFINITELY make myself one!

Anve - Saco del papel grande - black

See more inspirational pieces, plus the tutorials after the break!

FFR: Ruffles and Pheasants

This post truly encapsulates the breadth of my fashion forays! In two days, I wore two VERY different outfits. The first is sort of a modern "gothic romance" look, with frothy pink ruffles and black "leather." The second is about as colourful as my personality, because taking two colours from a print just isn't enough!

Black vinyl moto pants - unbranded - thrifted ($5 bag day)

Pale pink polyester tuxedo blouse - Rhapsody - vintage 80s, thrifted (Value Village, ages ago)

(Want to own it? There are several on Etsy, one, two, three, four, five, and even a blue one!)

Black cuff watch - Ardene ($5)

Strand of black glass pearls - Dollarama ($2)

Sword 2-finger ring - Ardene ($2)

Basic face (foundation, mascara)

Avon In a Blink liner-shadow pencil in Onyx (not available online)

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Sheer Natural

Green raglan tee - Garage (~2008)

Pheasant print tulip skirt - handmade by me!

Sparkly purple knit tights - Ardene ($2)

Purple net hair bow - handmade by me!

Pink/black feather earrings - a gift from RangerBeth in a swap

Pink elastic belt - vintage 80s, thrifted (Value Village, I think...)

Pink/purple/black elasticized cuff - vintage late 80s/early 90s, thrifted (Salvation Army in KL, $1)

(I had one as a child that was candy pink, sky blue and white!)

Basic face (foundation, mascara)

Avon shadow in Bronze (discontinued)

Avon gold dust (discontinued)

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Sheer Natural

Inspo: Gluing Sh!t to Other Sh!t

If there's one craft trend I've been cringing at lately, it's the "let's glue sh!t to other sh!t" mentality. Mainly this is because of the over-saturation of the hand-crafted market with "steampunk" jewellery. Gluing gems and a brass octopus stamping from China to the guts of an old watch does-not-steampunk-make. I'd link some photos, but that would just embarrass the creators and make me look like a wanker. To avoid that, yee who doth gluest watch parts to octopi, takest thou thy medicine:

HOWEVER!

I have seen some examples of LGSTOS that are, simply put, things I COVET! You can see them after the jump:

FFR: HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 is here!

Happy 2012! I don't know how happy a year it will be, but I'm determined to make the most of it! Here's my very happy, snappy, snazzy New Year's Eve outfit:

I made this!

Boyfriend's tuxedo jacket pinned at the back w/ a pineapple brooch (Moore's/thrifted)

Carroll Reed lurex tee (thrifted)

Unbranded pleather pants (thrifted)

Single black 80s spike earring

Goldtone articulating collar necklace worn as a bracelet (thrifted)

Chinese brass bangle

Miniature top hat fascinator (handmade by me!)

Bonus shot of Neko, aka "Top Hat Cat:"