Look for Less | DeSmitten Design Blog

102 articles Articles posted in Look for Less

DIY: Céline Structured Clutch

by Christina on 05/23/2013, 0 comments

The simple structures that Pheobe Philo creates for Céline, both in her clothes and accessories, have a complex simplicity that I find fascinating. A few months ago, I tackled the leather knot bracelet from the Spring 2013 Céline runway, and today, I’ve moved onto one of the more structural clutches for Fall 2013.

For this project, I teamed up with Kyson Leather, one of the leading leather providers in the United States. Based in North Carolina, the family owned business sells wholesale priced upholstery leather to the public. With thousands of qualities, in every color and exotic skin pattern you can think of, its hard to believe that everything is made from cow hide. Their leather quality has great structure, which is perfect for this project. I chose to use the Ivory Gator quality, I loved the color variation in the skin. Their customer service is fantastic, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you don’t see what you want on their site.

Gather your tools: Two square feet of heavy structured leather + scissors and exacto knife + thread and sewing machine + large jump ring + closure of your choice

Click Here to Download the Celine Structured Clutch Pattern. Print out the pattern and lay it out on the wrong side of your leather. Be sure to trace all the markings onto the leather.

And finally, wear it! I am wearing it with Helmut Lang Jeans / Chloé Sandals / Raquel Allegra Tee

Weekend Essentials

by Christina on 05/03/2013, 0 comments

This week my Mom is in town, which is fantastic! Although it left me postless yesterday, so I apologize. This weekend is all about easy tees, sunnies and angular jewelry. Yesterday I hit two major sample sales, Creatures of Comfort (read my review here) and Elizabeth & James (read my review here) where I picked up some key pieces for my weekend look. I love my new Elizabeth & James dark green tortoise sunnies, they couldn’t be more perfect for my summer wardrobe.

(Side note: remember my post about ethnic rugs? We finally found a vintage Turkish rug for the office., pictured here) Weekend Essentials: Raquel Allegra Shredded tee, Gorjana V-Necklace, Elizabeth & James Green Tortoise Sunglasses, Vintage Weight Necklace, Women's Fashion | DeSmitten

Gorjana V-Necklace / Vintage Weight Necklace / Raquel Allegra Shredded Tee / Elizabeth & James Sunglasses

DIY: Sporty Tee

by Christina on 05/01/2013, 6 comments

This is the closest I’ll ever get to talking sports, so take note. The sporty trend we’ve seen for a few seasons won’t be going anywhere this year. An easy way to get the look without looking like you’ve just left the gym is to incorporate small details into your otherwise stylish street ready wardrobe. I love this DIY because you can apply these sporty stripes to any t-shirt in your closet. I chose to use a men’s white tee that I usually sleep in, because I liked the over sized look. I also think these stripes would look awesome on a vintage graphic tee. Gather your tools and supplies- Your choice tee + painters tape (or masking tape) + sponge brush + water based black fabric paint. I used this kind.

When taping the front of your sleeve, cut a long enough piece of tape so you can wrap it around the back of the sleeve in one continuous piece.

Because you are painting on a knit tee, do not use long brush strokes, just dab the paint onto the sleeves until it is saturated.

DIY Sporty Tee, H&M Sandals, Gar-de Silk Vest, BDG Skinny Jeans, Cheap Monday Bangle, Women's Fashion Spring 2013 | DeSmitten

And finally, wear it!

Wearing with: Gar-de silk vest / H&M Sandals / BDG Skinny Jeans / Ray Ban Sunglasses / Cheap Monday Bangle

DIY: Tassel Necklace

by Christina on 04/26/2013, 2 comments

I love the bohemian essence that a tassel brings to any outfit, whether it be on the end of a belt, a scarf or in this case on a necklace. For spring and summer I wear more white, so I thought making a black tassel necklace was ideal.

First, gather your tools. You can use any beads, or stones. I chose to use lava beads which have a great texture and are charcoal in color. I had a few crystals left over from another project, so I decided to incorporate them into this necklace.

Knot the end of your string, and string your beads onto your necklace.

Make your tassel and attach it to your necklace by tying it on.

And finally, wear it!!

The Simplest Spring 2013 DIY: Denim Vest

by Christina on 04/16/2013, 1 comment

The key to a sustainable wardrobe is editing the collection of clothes you already have to make them work for your current lifestyle. Last week I posted 3 Ways to Wear a Denim Vest because this is an item at the top of my list for Spring 2013. Instead of investing in a new vest, I decided to reinvent an old denim jacket. This is seriously the simplest DIY I’ve ever done.

If you don’t already have a denim jacket in your closet, another sustainable solution is to pick one up at the thrift store. (Buying pre-owned clothing give the garments an extended life). Be sure to keep an eye on the details that appeal to you when picking out a thrifted denim jacket. For me, stitching color, hardware color and the shape of the pockets and collar are important details. Also, the proportion of the jacket- is it short or long?

Tools: Good fabric scissors and your denim jacket of course!

When cutting the sleeves off, cut on the sleeve side, so the stitching around the armhole will stay on the vest. This helps the vest look more finished. Be sure to pull the sleeve when cutting so you can get a close cut.

And finally, wear it! (Worn here with: Helmut by Helmut Lang Blazer, H&M Striped tank (similar here), BDG Skinny Jeans, Vintage Sandals and Sunnies

(this post was inspired by IFB Project #91)

3 Ways to Stick to Your Shopping Diet

by Christina on 03/27/2013, 1 comment

Spring is in the air which can only mean one thing- shopping! As most of you know, I love to shop, but this year I am on a major shopping diet. Sticking to your diet is all about portion control, when it comes to food and in this case when it comes to spending money on your wardrobe. When I first started my shopping diet, I refrained from going into clothing stores all together, which was torture, I do not recommend it! Throughout the past few months I’ve perfected the 3 guaranteed ways to stick to your shopping diet while continuing to build your wardrobe. Proof- My Spring uniform I bought for under $70 (which retails for over $1000).

1. Exchange I found the best way to satisfy my shopping craving was to sell my old clothes at Beacon’s Closet in exchange for store credit. Fashion is all about evolution, so turning your old clothes into new ones is like a fairy tale! I never go into Beacon’s Closet without a bag of old clothes to sell because it is inevitable that I find a must-have piece like this black A Detacher gauze dress I picked up last week (for under $30).
2. Sample Sales: I am lucky to live in a city like New York where sample sales are abundant. Reading Racked is the best way to ensure you won’t miss out on sales (Racked has sites for New York, LA, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago or Philadelphia). Also, following your favorite brands and stores on twitter is a great way to stay up on the latest deals. This past fall I went to the Opening Ceremony sample sale and snagged these Rodarte sandals (that I’d been eyeing for a year) for only $35! 3. eBay- I was never a huge fan of eBay until I downloaded the eBay app for my iPhone. It sends push notifications for when items matching my saved searches are listed, or when the auction for my watched items are ending. With the saved search function, you can refine your searches to only show items under $100 (or whatever your budget may be). This way, you won’t fall in love with an unattainable designer dress. The key to not going over budget in a bidding war- wait until 3 seconds before the end of the auction to place your bid. This will almost always guarantee a win without going over budget.

I am so looking forward to living in this black gauze dress (similar here) and flat suede sandals come warmer temps!

(This post was inspired by this week’s IFB Project)

3 Ways to Update Your Winter Coat

by Christina on 03/06/2013, 1 comment

Yes, March is here! But that doesn’t mean sandal weather just yet. In an effort to inspire your last weeks of winter coat wearing weather, here are 3 easy ways to update your outerwear.

1. Put a belt on it. My winter coat has lasted me 3 years but the belt buckle has seen better days. This year I switched out the self belt for a vintage one with more color. Be sure to pick a belt made of sturdy leather so it compliments your outerwear.

2. Layer a vest over it. Layering outerwear is a big trend on the street this year. I layered this vintage cheetah vest over my coat and belted it to create the illusion of a peplum. Make sure your vest is big enough to fit over your coat so you avoid looking constrained.

3. Wrap a scarf around it. Wearing a scarf in winter is a no brainer, but wrapping it around your body instead of keeping it confined to your neck is an easy update. Bigger is better when choosing a scarf for this look. Use a belt to secure your wrapping. I love my Pendleton blanket scarf because it is also reversible.

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