Tie-Dye Spotlight: UPSTATE

Cool Hunting Video: Upstate from Cool Hunting on Vimeo.

It's always a pleasure to see excited artisans sharing their inspiration and techniques with the world.

The Forest Floor

 

Yesterday I stopped in to Anthropologie to see what's new from a display viewpoint and found a woodsy environment complete with cut logs, vegetation, mushrooms and moss as decor. Back to nature is a big trend, especially with all the woodland critter motifs that continue to be popular in all things home decor - owls, foxes, hedgehogs, stags. This latest look for Anthro for fall is all about the forest floor. What do you think?

Celebrity Tie-Dye Sightings

Look who's wearing TIE-DYE! Take a peek at more of your favorite celebrities wearing this trendy summer print here.

Handpainted Leggings

It's cruising toward the middle of August and here in central California it is still pretty hot outside and probably will stay that way well through mid-October. However, we are currently under the triple digits and a light breeze in the cooler evenings makes me long for autumn and the chilly nights that are so yummy! All you DIYers, why not get a jump on your fall/winter wardrobe and style yourself some dyed or painted leggings? Here are some handpainted garments that will get your creative juices flowing. [HINT: If you want to save some bucks and make your own, all the products you need can be found  right here.] If you aren't the creative type, by all means throw some love and financial support to these fabric painting artists.

Custom made by Hodgepodge Farms on Etsy these doily print leggings are made with a bleached-out doily stencil print in a lighter shade of the ground color. [Looks like a doily and some Tulip Fabric Sprays could do the job, too! I'm just saying.]

 

 

 

These aren't actually leggings -- they are thigh-high socks that have been tie-dyed for a bold color statement. Here's how to make them.

 

These super comfy leggings are from artisan made Blue Fish Clothing.

 

These handpainted Tribal Leggins by SiamicWear on Etsy are 'CRAZING' - that's crazy amazing!

Get more inspiration on refashioning, handpainting, DIYing and finding your creative 'flow' here.

Lust For Valentino

I'm am having some serious lust over this new studded collection by Valentino. I can only dream about these things, as I have limited personal resources due to marriage, children, pets, and life's funny little mishaps that suck the dollars right out of my coin purse.

 

 

 If I could only pick one thing from this collection, I would have to choose the reasonably priced (ahem, throat clearing) little number below. I LOVE IT!

Kimono Jackets

The kimono jacket was first called out as an upcoming trend in 2011 when top designers were featuring them on the runways. Now they are everywhere for spring/summer, especially amongst the festival-goers. They work because they are easy to wear for most shapes and sizes. These looks incorporate trends like fringe, tie-dye, ombre, block-printing, geometrics and floral prints. The versatile kimono jacket can be worn as a swimsuit coverup, a light evening wrap, or as a statement piece. Would you wear one?

 ASOS

 ASOS

 ASOS

 ASOS

 ASOS

 ASOS 

 ANTHROPOLOGIE

 ANTHROPOLOGIE

 URBAN OUTFITTERS

 URBAN OUTFITTERS

 TOPSHOP

TOPSHOP

Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas

Traditional brides wear white wedding dresses and get married in June, right? Isn't that every girl's dream? Not always. Sometimes a girl likes to shake things up and do things a little bit differently.

My best girlfriend got remarried last weekend at the resort at China Peak and had a not-so-traditional cake topper on her wedding cake.

 

Add a personal touch to your big day by writing a special message or favorite line from a poem for your guests to enjoy - like the one on these coasters.

 

Bling it yourself! Add some sparkle to a pair of flats by adding glitter or rhinestones at a huge cost savings than if you bought them already embellished. 

Want an alternative to the traditional wedding bouquet? Make your floral arrangement using crocheted flowers or recycled doilies. Great idea, huh?

Finally, be yourself! If you aren't a white wedding dress kind of girl, do what songstress Avril Lavign did - she rocked a black gown to exchange vows with Nickelback front man Chad Kroeger last weekend.