Virtual Makeover courtesy of In Style

I've been growing my hair out for about a year and I'm at that point where while I appreciate that I can do a lot with it, I'm also sort of sick of having to aways do something with it. With short hair, it's easier to style it quickly. I'm not sure I want to take a lot of length off, but given the sheer number of split ends that have accumulated, it's time for a trim at the very least.

I've never been great at knowing what hair style or color will look great on me and that's why I'm so happy for the many different virtual make-over options that exist. I ended up on InStyle.com for my "Hollywood makeover" and I was thrilled with the results. There are SO many different hair styles to choose from and that's just the beginning. There's eye shadow and liner, plus lashes, lip colors, foundations, blushes and bronzers- it's amazing. It's best if you have a photo of yourself looking straight at the camera and with your hair pulled back. I started with this photo:

First up, I tried out Keira Knightly's sassy bob: 

Totally sophisticated, right? I'm not sure it's what I want, though. I had a similar haircut a few summers ago and while I liked it, I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to it right now. If anything, I might go for something more along the lines of this style inspired by Ashley Greene: 

Next up is a Carrie Underwood-inspired 'do: 

While I enjoy this look, I know my hair and I know that to achieve this effortless style everyday would be FAR from effortless on my part. But that doesn't mean I'm not considering it as an option. For the third finalist of the group, may I present "Samantha Jones":

It's sassy and tousled and while I like that about it, again, I wonder if I could handle styling it myself. I hate when I can never get my hair to look even half as good as it did before I stepped foot out of the salon. 

The thing about these virtual make-overs is that there are literally hundreds of styles that you can snatch up from right off a celebrity's own head. You can leave it as is or tweak it by flip-flopping it to the other side, or changing the color. You can even add high and low-lights. I had a little fun and tried on some crazy celebrity hairstyles- can you guess whose hair I'm wearing in these next four photos? 

If you know whose hairstyle I'm wearing, leave a comment. Even if you don't, feel free to leave a comment telling me how ridiculous I look in all of these photos! 

I mentioned above that there is more than just hair on these make-overs, so to show you how that works, I changed up my make-up as well in this photo: 

As you can see, my lip color changed from bright "Beyonce" red to a more muted mauve. I also gave myself a bit more eye shadow in a deep purple, some upper dark liner and even some more lashes. I also evened out my skin with a bit of foundation and added a bit more rosiness to my cheeks with some blush. How fun is that? The best part is that you literally just point and click- it's super easy! 

Have any of you tried any of the onine virtural make-overs? Take it from me, they're a blast. If you want to check out the In Style virtual make-over, click here. And in the meantime, leave a comment and tell me what you think I ought to do with my hair! Thanks!

The best laid plans...

Because I've been so terrible about photographing my own outfits lately, I resolved to be better about it and take pictures at least a couple of days a week. It's usually not that difficult to do- I just have to leave myself an extra five minutes in the morning. Because of the time change, it's too dark to take pictures after work, but on most days the lighting is perfect if I snap a few photos right before I go into the shop. The other day I got to Portsmouth a little early and decided to take the opportunity to snap some photos. I pulled out my camera, but much to my dismay, it wouldn't turn on. I thought it was strange, but that night when I got home, I plugged it into the charger and an hour later it was working fine again. I was a little miffed that I hadn't gotten a picture that day, despite my efforts to do so, but I figured it wasn't the end of the world, either. A day or two later, I once again pulled my camera out in the hopes of snapping some outfit pictures, but once again, it appeared as though the battery had died. Unfortunately, this time the camera wouldn't even take a charge. So, it appears as though my re-chargeable battery has gone to the Radio Shack in the sky. Until I motivate myself to replace it, I guess I'll be slacking again on the outfit pictures. Cross your fingers and hope that it's soon! 

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite "Rate My Looks" from the history of Style... the New Black: 

I can hardy get over how short my hair is in that 2nd picture! It's so long, now! Anyway, I apologize for being so bad at outfit pictures lately and I promise to get back in the swing of things very soon. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

My first "Wedding Gown"

My friend Kate asked me to make her a casual wedding dress for a photo shoot she'll be doing next year. I have never made a wedding dress of any kind, but I figured, why not try? After an hour at the fabric store and three more hours in my sewing room, I had this to show for it:

The idea was to have a short, casual dress in ivory that she could wear with mary janes and some other casual accessories. The straps aren't sewn in place yet and she's missing a zipper in the back and of course the belt at the waist hasn't been attached yet. There's still a lot of work to be done before she'll be finished, but I'm happy with the direction she's gone in so far. And since I know you want a close-up of the embellishment at the waist, here it is: 

Just in case you're interested in the details, the bodice is made with 100% silk shantung, while the skirt is polyester tulle and ivory sateen lining. The belt is a satin ribbon wth a chiffon flower detail added onto it. This specific dress will go to Kate, but if you're interested in something similar, feel free to email me. I'd love to help you out! 

Calling all Seamstresses!

Sometimes I think that sewing is a dying art form. I am a total hack-seamstress. I have no training, I rarely follow patterns and if I use them at all, it's often to Frankenstein pieces of them together to create whatever image is in my head. But there are truly some amazing seamstresses and tailors out there who sew like true professionals and who create and/or follow patterns- both new and vintage- with ease. I've recently discovered a handful of them online and I thought I'd share them with all of you. And if any of my readers/followers are seamstresses with blogs, please feel free to leave your blog URL in the comments on this post- I'd love to check out your work!

Evie of La Couturiere Dimanche is so talented and I LOVE her blue wool wiggle dress!

Adey of The Sew Convert made a fabulous resort-wear dress with a vintage pattern that is simply adorable.

Peter over at Male Pattern Boldness is working on a fabulous wool toggle coat and I'm really looking forward to seeing the end result.

Mena the founder of The Sew Weekly has been creating one vintage-style dress every week for about a year. Yes, you read that correctly! Check out one of my favorites of her creations, the "I Will Never Wear a Batik Print" Batik Print Dress. (P.S. Not only is she a fabulous seamstress, she's also adorable!)

Sunni's blog- The Cupcake Goddess- makes me smile. She most recently posted a boyfriend jacket that is actually quite feminine in its shape. I love it.

Finally, Suzannah's blog, Adventures in Dressmaking, is also quite entertaining and informative. Lately, she's been doing sweater make-overs. She even turned a cashmere v-neck pullover into a double-sided infinity scarf. Clever girl. One of my favorite things she's made is a wool plaid capelet with a belt. SO chic.

Whenever I start to feel as though sewing is a dying art, I look to these (and other) artisans for inspiration and encouragement. Maybe someday I'll master some sewing techniques and stop thinking of myself as a "hack." Time will tell. And while I may not be an incredibly skilled seamstress, I still feel as though I can hold my own, since what I do know how to do tends to work pretty well for me. If you are interested in learning how to sew, I can't encourage you enough. I do believe it is a skill that can be learned, as opposed to being strictly a talent that some people possess and others don't. If you want to learn to sew, pick up an inexpensive machine at a local shop and take a beginner's sewing class. You will make mistakes, but that's a good thing. I'm a far better seamstress now than I was several years ago, not because of my successes, but because of my failures. The saying goes, "Good sewists are good rippers." Meaning: if you are patient and willing to rip the seams out of the garment you've just sewn and do it again to improve it, you'll become a much better technician than if you simply leave the mistakes where they are or try to short-cut the corrections.

Well, I'm about to head out for a nice lunch with my mom and then, I hope, a trip to the fabric store for some inspiration. After posting about all these talented sewists, I'm dying to get on my machine!

Get Reese's Retro Style for Yourself!

Doesn't Reese Witherspoon look simply stunning here?

While the dress has a decidedly vintage vibe to it, the overall effect is sleek and modern with her platform peep-toe pumps in a bold accent color and her hair and make-up styling choices. A darker lip and eye make-up choice as well as a more "done-up" hair style would all have taken this dress to the pin-up, full-out retro look. But with the soft pink lip, neutral eye and loose, wavy hair style, Reese (and her stylist) created a modern take on the 60's wiggle dress. 

To achieve this look yourself, start with the dress- it can be simple and sleek or have a fun all-over print like Reese. Stick to what you're comfortable in and remember that the stronger the print, the more retro the vibe you'll achieve. Here are some fabulous options that range from very vintage-looking to ultra modern, but all with a nice open neckline and of course in the same sleek silhouette that's just a hair shy of looking "painted" on.

Stop Staring Pink Plaid Dress, Daddy O's, $99.95

Destined for Stardom Dress, Modcloth, $107.99

Coffee with Me Dress, Modcloth, $57.99

Un-Twill We Meet Again Dress, Modcloth, $49.99

Got the Hautes for You Dress, Modcloth, $99.99

For a truly modern look, I recommend starting with the "Un-Twill We Meet Again" dress pictured above. Add a pair of amazing red platform pumps in peep toe, or a closed, rounded toe. Finish it off with modern hair, make-up and accessories and you're good to go! 

Need shoes? Don't worry, I've found some for you. And the best part is that these AND the grey Modcloth dress combined will cost less than $100! It's practically a guilt-free look! 

Bordello Peony Platform Pump, Sears, $46.15

Peep-toe Red Suede Platform Pumps, Sexy Curvy Lingerie, $34

Kvoll Patent Platform Pumps, Yes Style, $42

There you have it- Reese's sophisticated style for under $100. What do you think of it? Leave a comment! 

What's Your Favorite Fashion Magazine?

I don't know about you, but when my new issue of Marie Claire or Lucky or Glamour or In Style arrives in the mail, it's a happy day. I often don't get to it immediately because I love taking my time to pour through each glossy page. I sometimes find myself with a stack of unread magazines and I have to commit to a marathon session to get through them.

Anyway, this got me wondering about what magazines you prefer. Even though it's not as high-end, I prefer Lucky. The advice is often spot-on in terms of body type and current trends, but the options often feel attainable financially. Don't worry, I'm thrilled to look at the high end fashions, too, but I like seeing a trend in a magazine that I love and feeling as though I could achieve that look for a reasonable price.

So now I want to hear from you- what are your favorite magazines (fashion or otherwise) to read? Do you stick with the hard copy or have you transitioned to the online or even mobile versions? I'm very curious, so please leave a comment and tell me all about what you read.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to my Vogue.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Faux fur is all the rage these days, especially in vest form. Thanks in part to Rachel Zoe, the trend has really taken off. Of course, real fur will always be a controversial topic, but I'm not one to judge your choice in the matter. Someone once said to me that they felt less guilty wearing mink when they heard they were fairly wretched, evil animals. I don't really know if there's any truth behind her statement, but if it lets her wear mink and sleep through the night, then that's her prerogative. Personally, I try to only purchase real fur if it's vintage, and I stick to the faux stuff if I'm buying new. I figure that I'm not creating a high demand for real fur that way. Although I do worry with my faux fur choices if I'm purchasing something that's highly environmentally damaging. It seems to me that faux fur, much like many other textiles common to the fashion industry, would be pretty damaging in terms of pollutants and whatnot. If you know more about this or know of a good resource for information on this topic, please leave a comment!

As I said, regardless of your feelings on fur, the trend right now is hot. I've found some really fabulous fur and faux-fur pieces for your shopping and viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Jaclyn Smith Faux Fur Vest, KMart, $29.99

Kennedy Faux Fur Vest, Ella Moss, $258

Kristen Blake Faux Fur Vest, Nordstrom, $108 (Plus size only)

Kristen Blake Cropped Faux Fur Coat, Nordstrom, $138 (Plus size only) 

Vintage Fox Fur Collar, Etsy, $59

Vintage Mink Wrap, Etsy, $150

(WHAT is with this girl's outfit? Seriously? Nude fishnets with a cami and ruffled high waist hot pants? I'm afraid I can't support this decision.The mink, however, is gorgeous. Too bad the photo is ruined by every other garment in it. Tragic.) 

Vintage Fox Fur Fitted Jacket, Etsy, $235

Antarctic Rabbit Fur Cape, LA Vintage, $216

Fur Capelet, XOXO, $49

Copper Tiered Swing Coat, Fabulous Furs, $199

As I mentioned above, I'm not interested in getting into the highly controversial subject of wearing real fur. Instead, I want to offer some guidelines for looking your best in a fur or faux fur piece of clothing. The thing about fur is that it can be rather bulky and heavy-looking. Although the current trend includes boxy vests and coats, I would caution you against them, especially depending on your body type. Since there are so many synthetic options, look for ones with tailoring, like the first and third vests pictured. The fact that they are cinched at the waist helps keep them from looking too boxy and shapeless. If you fall in love with a boxy vest for its soft texture, or its coloring, don't despair- you could always add a belt at the waist to cinch it in. 

When selecting a fur/faux fur piece of clothing for yourself, be honest about how well it flatters your body. Look for pieces that are in proportion with your body. Unless you are very tall and slender, a full capelet (like the white one pictured above) is not going to work. Also, consider how thick the fur itself is and how flattering that is on your body. There are many different types of furs and faux furs and some are actually very sleek and short, so don't feel as though you have to choose a piece that is as fluffy as a Fraggle Rock Muppet. Follow the same rules you would for any other outerwear garment, but err on the side of being even more fitted and sleek because even the shortest fur will be more bulky and thick than your average wool outerwear. 

Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave a comment- I love hearing from the people who read this blog!