Jul 02

How To Sew Your Own Bib Necklace

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageNicole Smith is an editor at CraftStylish, a site dedicated to original do-it-yourself projects for home, fashion, wedding, and more. Below she shares how to sew your own bib necklace… and in turn, save yourself from a thousand-dollar debt at Neiman Marcus!

While looking at the inspirational catalog from Neiman Marcus today, I came across this necklace by Ranjana Khan. The necklace retails for $1,200, and is very similar to this project I made for less than $20, which I call the “Bijoux Necklace.” My original inspiration for this project was a necklace by Burberry from their Fall ’08 collections. Chunky jewels have been a runway staple the past few seasons, embellishing everything from shoes and headbands to hemlines and jewelry. Get the look quickly with organza (don’t worry; it’s easy to sew) and faux jewels. A ribbon makes the necklace adjustable for a chocker length or longer. You can also enlarge or reduce the size of the template to any dimensions you like. You’ll need: 1/4 yard of organza, 3/4 yard of 5/8-inch-wide velvet ribbon, assorted sew-on jewels, scissors, a sewing machine, a hand-sewing needle, and thread. Get the full step-by-step instructions, along with the pattern’s template, on CraftStylish!

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jul 02

Go Glitterati with a Sparkling Sequined Skirt

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageGet inspired for fun and frivolity with sparkly sequin skirts. These ‘sparklers’ are not just for Independence Day! Add a new dimension to your wardrobe with the continuing metallic trend. Sequined skirts look best when paired with a solid colored blouse or tank. Two standout styles we love are this light yellow “Lemoncello” skirt from Robert Rodriguez (bottom right) and Proenza Schouler’s swing skirt version in black (top right). Pair your sequined skirt with a pretty solid color sleeveless blouse and statement making chunky woven platforms.

From our friends at TheFind.

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jul 02

Coral Jewelry And Other Sea Life Inspired Things For Your Closet!

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageWhen I was an elementary school, my favorite field trips were the ones that involved the ocean. From going to the beach to find seashells to visiting the aquarium and exploring the shallow tide pools. What better way to recapture those carefree days than to incorporate it into our wardrobes! Before you think that adding things like coral and seashell prints will make you look like your mom, think again. The trick is to go towards a more subtle route. Don’t pile on the coral jewelry with a large sea life printed dress unless you want to look like you’re trying out for a Golden Girls revivial! Instead, layer on a long faux coral charm necklace with other chain necklaces. If you’re going to do a large statement piece like the seahorse printed tank top, then keep everything else sleek and simple. Take a look at my slideshow for more sea life inspired items that will have you singing “Under the Sea.”

view slideshow

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jul 01

The Bowtie Is Back!

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageAre bowties ready for a comeback? I sure hope so! No longer reserved for nerds at prom and Bill Nye the Science Guy, bowties have started popping up here and there. But are they prime for a big return or will it just be a flash-in-the-pan trend like the brief resurgence of men’s short shorts? From hipster to hip-hop and all the way uptown to”Gossip Girl” territory, there’s no denying that the trend is starting to build. Karl Lagerfeld has been spotted wearing a simple black silk bowtie for some time and Kanye West is rocking them in his sneak peak at his new clothing line Pastelle. Forgotten by fashion and relegated to dweeb territory for years, today’s bowtie has a nostalgic kitschy feel that’s fresh and new. Ready to jump on this trend? Check out the slideshow for some favorites. Not sure how to even tie a bowtie? Click “See Video” to watch Avvi66’s YouTube video, “How to Tie a Bowtie” for a step-by-step how-to.

view slideshow

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jul 01

Rollasole: Vending Machine Flats To Save Stiletto-Wearing Feet

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageOn NBC Nightly News last week, I caught a story about 27-year-old UK entrepreneur Matt Horan who started a company based off an ingenious idea. Rollasole is an emergency ballet flat sold in vending machine at UK clubs. For about 5 pounds (around 8 bucks), you can relieve your dancing or partying feet with these comfy and cute ballet flats that roll open and come complete with a little carry pouch (for you to tote around and use later!). Within 6 months of starting his business, Horan has sold thousands of Rollasoles and has expanded to the wedding/special occasions market. The next expansion? Over the pond, of course. Rollasole is coming soon to the U.S. to bring relief to our stiletto-wearing partying feet. Read more on Rollasole at the London Evening Standard and Perez Hilton, and even follow them on Twitter — @Rollasole. Check out more fun fashion finds at Coquette!
No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jul 01

Summer Beauty Picks To Keep You Fresh-Faced And Flawless On Your Wedding Day

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageSummer weddings are beautiful, with the blue skies, lush greens and thriving flowers. The outdoors are alive– what a perfect setting to dedicate yourself to your life-long love! Embrace the season and play up summer’s zest with a beauty regimen that will put you in steep competition with the ravishing landscape. There are, however, some things to caution with such a fruitful time of year, like the heat that can turn a bride from stunning to sweltering. Oil-free foundations are a must, as are formulas that are light and airy to let your pores breathe. However, sometimes light and airy is synonymous with flaky, non-lasting makeup, so you’ll need some of these dependable picks to last you on your ceremony of a lifetime. In the heat of the moment, you’ll need a moisturizer first to start off fresh (oil-free of course), followed by a primer to make everything stay all day. A summer wedding is code for flawless skin, so you’ll want to play up your skin tone with the some sunshine accents. More importantly, you’ll want to brighten up without upstaging your skin with too much color splashing other areas of your face. While you’ll want shimmer and bronzer to brighten your base, you won’t want to get too bold with autumnal plums or merry reds sprinkled on your eyes and lips. For your eyes, soft summer colors will certainly be staple items in your makeup bag: you’ll use those to match your wedding theme’s color composition. Don’t let the lips overdo the statement your skin is making either by choosing a natural, more matte look that will make your lips a kissably-soft surprise for the leading man. Any color like Stila’s Long Wear Lip Color in Darling (Golden Champagne) would be a perfect fit. If you must be bold with color, choose a nail color with some botanical bite. When it’s all said and done, the beauty picks in this slideshow will make you an amazing summer queen!

view slideshow

No Comments | Tags: , , , , ,
Jun 30

Now On SoapNet: Get Southern Belles’ Hadley’s Perfect Curls

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageReading through the “Southern Belles: Louisville” message boards and blogs, one thing is clear: you guys love Hadley’s style! That’s why we’re trying to keep up with all your questions so we can get you answers straight from Hadley herself. The latest? How to score perfect curls. Here’s what Miss H had to say: “I get my hair done at a local place called Joseph’s Salon. They are wonderful! One of the hair dressers showed me how to curl it two different ways. One way is long, soft curls. To do this you simply use a one inch curling iron and start at the root of the hair, and twist the curling iron until the entire piece of hair is curled around the iron. Then viola! Long soft curls, just like Lauren Conrad..

See the rest of this article on SoapNet!

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jun 29

Anna Sui To Launch Gossip Girl-Inspired Target Collection This September!

Posted in: Uncategorized
imagePhotos of Anna Sui’s upcoming Gossip Girl-inspired Target collection have leaked, and so far the looks get an XOXO from me! It’s pretty obvious which outfits were inspired by which character, from Blair’s lacy, bow-adorned frocks to Jenny’s edgier ensembles. Sure, they’re a bit costume-y, but anyone who’s ever watched an episode of Gossip Girl (or just drooled over the outfits in between episodes) knows that the overly accessorized, often times theatrical looks are all part of the show’s appeal– plus, it wouldn’t be Anna Sui collection without her signature girly, rock n’ roll flair. Not crazy about Gossip Girl? The collection’s eerily reminiscent of Anna Sui’s past runway collections, another reason you won’t want to pass this up. The collection launches in Target stores and online on September 13th- what do you think? Will you be checking it out? Let us know in comments!

[via The Cut]
No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jun 29

Trendy Tie-Dyed Pieces That Don’t Look Like You Made Them At Summer Camp

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageWhat is it about tie-dye that seems to just ooze summer spirit? I don’t know if it’s the bright colors or the fond memories of wringing out freshly-dipped t-shirts on the backyard lawn, but I was always secretly rooting for a tie-dye comeback that didn’t look too homemade or too hippie. As if the almighty trendsetters read my mind (it’s about time!), tie-dye has been sprouting up all over the place — high-end and affordable retailers alike — in every place imaginable, from shoes to shades! While stereotypically the print has always been associated with peace signs, flower children, and campy arts and crafts, this season it’s keeping it casual with thong sandals and dressing it up in the form of sexy minidresses. Still not convinced? Take a look at the slideshow and see for yourself how today’s tie-dye has gone from hippie to hip!

view slideshow

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Jun 29

What To Wear With: Levi’s Swank Jeans

Posted in: Uncategorized
imageLevi’s is our go-to source for the best fitting jeans. They have recently launched the “Swank” style ($150.00) which is a great versatile boot cut in a medium blue wash. The Swank jean by Levi’s will take you from Friday at work to dinner to a party. We here at Haute Mimi chose a few pieces to compliment these fabulous jeans with an exotic twist, our specialty here at HM. Oh and recessionistas rest assured, this whole outfit is under $300.00.

Top: tunic via TopShop, $55.00 We love this tunic because of the detailing at the neck and the flowy cut, which will sit well against any figure.

Bag: clutch via TopShop, $50.00 Add a dash of glamour with this amazing snakeskin clutch. Wear it with this outfit and practically any other.

Shoes: wedges via Chinese Laundry, $50.00 Not only will these gorgeous wedges give you mile long legs (a must have with jeans), tey’ll will also be comfortable all day long.

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,