LOFT OOTD - Too much going on?

(Sorry about the slightly fuzzy pic!)

Cardi: LOFT Ruffle Front Cardigan, SP

Top: LOFT Multi-Tier Shell, XSP (also reviewed by PAG here)

Jeans: Old bootcut jeans from The Limited

Silver Bow Belt: Old Navy

Short drive-by posting!  I'm really drawn to the combination of pale peach with this turquoise cardi, but I'm not sure if I have too much going on with all the tiers / ruffles?  Then there's also a question about the belt, but I feel I need it to give a little shape to the fluffy tiered shell.  Thoughts?

Milly Inspired Chain Cardigan DIY Tutorial

Left: Milly Chain Cardigan, $367,  Right: DIY Version, materials = $18

Here's another fun and easy DIY project on my favorite type of clothing - the cardigan.  I really loved the chain detailing seen on Milly cardi and set off to makeover one of my plain black cardis.

Tutorial and more pics after the jump...

I Need a LOFT Intervention...

I was positively giddy this morning when I got an email from LOFT about their "Buy 3 @ regular price and get 40% off" promotion.  I've been lusting after their striped v-neck cardigan for weeks.  Due to errands on the other side of the city, I went to the LOFT out there.  It was PARADISE.  For whatever reason, they had a crazy abundance of XSP sizes in styles that have long since sold out online and in the other LOFTs I frequent.  So though my goal was to only purchase the 3 things for the 40% off, I wound up taking home an armload of LOFT goodies.

So despite what I said about the plethora of sizes, I could only find this in a regular S, so it was a tiny bit big on me.

But I think the belt helps with that and makes it a keeper at $36.  I also have on the denim trousers in sz 4.  I thought they fit nicely but not well enough for me to want to buy them then and there.

More fitting room pics after the jump...

Ruffle Neck Sleeveless Top DIY

This is an oldie but goodie :)  I made this early on in my sewing "career" and it's one of my favorites.  I love the dramatic collar and how it makes a bad-hair-ponytail-day special.  I'm thinking of recreating this in a steel gray color.  Any interest in a tutorial for this?

More pics after the jump...

Petaled Shoulder Sleeveless Top DIY Tutorial

Ahh, the petaled shoulder top - this is one of my favorites and it's easy to boot!  The very first step to this tutorial is to create a basic tank (1st part of this post - directions here).  I used a navy polyester from Joann's that was labeled as "Baby Silk" and indeed it does feel very silky.  It has more of a matte finish so it doesn't look 1970s polyester which is also a plus.

Another retroactive tutorial after the jump...

My Cluttered Closet (55 Cardis Continued)

This is my closet.  It's organized by garment type (pants, sleeveless, short-sleeved, cardigan, button down, long-sleeved, sweaters, blazers, and dresses) and by color from dark to light.  Man alive, the more I type, the crazier I sound!  This closet is about 6 x 12 feet (ish, I was too lazy to measure) so it's a good size but it also makes me feel like I never need to get rid of anything.  I graciously reserved about 5 feet on one side for hubby.  He was not as impressed by this generosity as I was.  :P

Here is my crazy 55 cardi collection by color (but this doesn't include the 16 short-sleeved cardis).

                        

I'm in midst of switching over all my hangers to those slim, huggable kinds so it will look nicer and possibly allow me to cram more stuff in.  Kohl's has a good sale right now on these hangers: 50 hangers for $16 bucks (I was lucky to get the extra 30% card, but you can use SEPTEMBER30 for online use)!  Don't forget that you also get $10 Kohl's cash for every $50 you spend.

LOFT Cardis and How Many Is Too Many?

Oh LOFT, why must you tempt me?  When I saw the email for $25 long v-neck cardis, I knew I would be paying a visit to LOFT (3rd time in the last week) to check them out.  Originally, I was planning on purchasing the Berry since it was a color I do not currently have (and it looks awesome on PAG here), but when I saw the rich purple-y Vintage Blue, I had to get that one instead (also seen on PetiteXXS here).  While I was there I saw that they had a charcoal grey cardi too with short sleeves.  I had been searching for this and I had finally found it!  So I left with 2 LOFT cardis to add to my collection which brings me to my question:

How many cardigans are too many cardigans?  I currently have 55 long-sleeved cardis and 16 short-sleeved cardis.  Insane??

Draped & Gathered Cardigan and Ruffled Button Down DIY

 This won't be a formal tutorial since these are just follow-the-pattern creations (modified Butterick 5498 and Butterick B5284) but I wanted to show you all what I worked on this weekend :)

This draped / gathered cardi used a lightweight knit and was created by widening the front flaps by 4" (left flap that's swept over) and 2" (right flap).  Then I just manipulated the left flap a little bit for frayed edges and scrunched it for some pleating.  The buttons are decorative rather than functional and the closure is a simple hook and eye.  Total project cost: $6.

Here's another picture to show the shoulder detail:

The second project was inspired by all the J. Crew and LOFT ruffled button downs that I've seen all over the place lately.  This is a shirting fabric from Joann's.  Total project cost = $9.

                     

Woohoo - I've been featured on Cut Out and Keep :)

Just wanted to share a quickie  - I saw this today and was just tickled that I was a featured project!

Basic Tank and Bow Ruffle Top Tutorial DIY

Top: Bow Ruffle Top DIY, $3 materials

Necklace:  Pearl Cluster DIY, $5 materials

Pants: LOFT Gray Cropped Pants, $15 (final sale find!)

I'm going to try another retroactive tutorial with illustrations so please bear with me :)  Today's tutorial will focus on how to make a basic tank and then embellish it with a bow ruffle as pictured above.

Instructions after the jump...

LOFT - In the Fitting Room Part 2

Ok, so as you all know, LOFT added a few more items to their sale and extended the extra 40% off sale prices from Labor Day weekend.  One of those items happened to be the coveted Ruffle Front Cardigan.  I had this in my cart last night and when I was ready to check out, it disappeared.  But no matter!  I called nearby stores and had them hold one for me to pick up today.

I was originally planning on buying the iron grey in S for it's versatility as a neutral staple, but unfortunately, this had a big snag and the next smallest size was XL so it was  a no go.

Then I happened to find the turquoise in SP unceremoniously stuffed into the far reaches of the rack and wound up really liking the color - the fit was better than the grey too.  It's a keeper and on sale too for $32.99!

Aside from ruffles and flowers, I'm also a large fan of sparkle and beading details so I was excited to find this beaded tee in S.  It's a little loose but fitted enough to not look shapeless.  It's also a tiny bit lower than I like, but that can be fixed with one of those cami bras.  At $24.99 + 40% off, it was a completely justifiable  buy :)

And here is the green top from yesterday, but in XSP with a purple cardi:

Necklace: LOFT, sliced purple agate

Cardi: Simply Vera, Vera Wang @ Kohl's, XS

Top: LOFT, Drape Watercolor Print Cami, XSP, $18

Pants: Banana Republic, Ryan Fit, Sz 4

LOFT - In the Fitting Room

2 posts in 1 day!  I'm on a roll :D

I'm a nut for a good sale and with LOFT's extra 40% off sale prices this weekend (and still going on with code NEW40), I booked it to the nearest LOFT, grabbed a small armful, and beelined into a fitting room.

Soooo...I'm not sure if I'm box-shaped or if everything was just super boxy on me...

but these 2 tops just looked absolutely ridiculous on me!  Left (can't find this one on the website anymore, but should be in stores) is sized XSP and right is sized SP.  I think these can be fixed with a cardi or belt but definitely can't stand by itself (at least on me).  I wound up finding a XSP in the green top and that fit much better (forgot the pic though!).  Each were 29.99 before 40% off.

More fitting room items after the jump!

Chan Luu Inspired Wrap Bracelet DIY Tutorial

Chan Luu bracelets, typically around $295

My version using this tutorial (sorry the original link no longer works, but click here for my version of the tutorial with video), total materials = $16

I saw this tutorial and just HAD to give it a shot.  My first try was an utter failure but once I got the hang of it, it got easier. One tip is to secure the leather laces to something so they're not flopping around when you're doing the weaving. I used a piece of cardboard and 2 binder clips to keep them stable and it was smooth sailing from there.


That said, I don't think I'm hip enough to actually rock the look...

Cardi Clips DIY a la Emma from GLEE

Cardi clips!

Short blurb today (just got back from a wedding) - I was looking for the clothes from GLEE and came across this tutorial to create your own Emma-esque cardi clips and it was super easy too!  I just needed clip-on earrings, chain, 2 jump rings and some jewelry pliers!

Here are Emma's:

So cute! :)

Burberry Kids Tee Review

I was one of the lucky people to get a $50 NM gift card for being a customer they "missed."  As I perused through the site, I decided to try a Burberry Kids Tee for $55.  For $5, it was a steal!  I figured that tees were generally pretty form fitting so though the size chart suggested sz 14, I didn't want to take the risk of something emphasizing my belly pooch and went with sz 16 just in case :P

I made the wrong decision!

 

It fits fine at shoulders / arms / chest, but the rest is a bit of a shapeless blob.  Way too much room in the tummy department, even for me!  Oh well, for $5 you can't really be too demanding.  Next time I'll go for kids sz 14.