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(Spiegel Signature Two-Way Stretch Ruffle Collar Jacket, QoJelly draped convertible chiffon top, oxidized jigsaw puzzle necklace from Japan, unknown crepe convertible skirt I got at Sears (!), DIY sheer black pantyhose, Forever 21 wedge heel booties, Forever 21 rhinestone bracelet, unknown skull-studded white leather bag I got in Honolulu, Forever 21 hammered silver armor ring, Cartier & Tiffany wedding rings)
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The weather’s warming up here, Spring is giving way to Summer, but mornings are still nippy and prone to showers.  I’m loving layers and lightweight tights at the moment (perhaps also wanting some physical protection from continuous employment rejection?  Ack, who knows.).

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What I wore to yet another networking event on Saturday.  Got tons of useful information and met lots of people, and have since been on a whirlwind personal quest to fix up my webpages(s) and get some professional-looking artistic presence out there on the WWW.  (Can’t believe I was desperately trying to get Blogger to post my files via FTP to my webhost and wondering why all the FAQs and how-tos on doing this had screenshots of a screen that didn’t exist in the Blogger interface…and then finally found it I was trying to do this May 2: the day AFTER Blogger discontinued their FTP functionality.  Hello, Blogger – what’s wrong with you???!!!  And my current hosting svc. doesn’t allow domain CNAME editing – which is Blogger’s “quick fix” to the “we no use no stinkin’ ftps no more” standpoint – AND my webhost’s PHP Elefante scripts aren’t compatible with Blogger’s platform.  Arrrrrrrrghhhhh.  And to the jerk who bought www.ChicSteals.com a year ago and paid for the name registration up until 2011: better watch yo back.  Remember the days when there was no such thing as the Internet?  I don’t understand why it needs to be this complicated.  Anyways.)

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Just about all the pieces in this look are convertible – I just love multifunctionality!

I saw this ruffle-collar jacket on Spiegel.com, of all places – and fell on love.  Upon receiving the size 6 I found it cut too generously in the body, so I moved the button further to nearto the side seam to make it fit tighter.  The collar’s cool and chic in a Rick Owens-sort-of-looseness – it looks great as a piece in a work wardrobe but can do just as well in a casual sort of look, like here – it’s lightweight, so it works for warm weather too – and the best part is that it was only $49! (hmmm.  technically its shape isn’t quite Rick Owens…the sleeve seams need to be set further in at the shoulders…or the sleeve needs to be thinner just below the sleeve cap…ohwell, yadowhatchacan.)

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The top has two layers of chiffon – the bottom on two drawstrings so that you can customize the look and the fit – I bought it in Japan at LaForet Harajuku and just love it!  The skirt is actually a little longer (I rolled it at the waist) and it has these ties on the inside to create that scrunched-up effect.  Really cool – thanks Honolulu Sears Junior’s Section!!  (Gosh – I had no idea how rumpled I was from the back until I saw these photos!  I was sitting on it all day long which is why it looks sadly crumpled at the back…I think I started out the day okay…ohwell.)

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I am very self-conscious about showing my bare legs…note to self: get back to running ASAP!!!…so I DIY’d these pantyhose for days when I don’t want to wear a thick opaque pair of tights (which would usually be my go-to solution for this).  Just a cheap pair of sheer “black”-colored L’eggs with the feet chopped off – and it doesn’t look as dark and wintery, but still hides what I need it to.

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Well, this week has just flown by.  I have another DIY to contribute to another magazine that contacted me…better get that done pretty soon.  And rehaul Chic Steals by mashing my super-minimal *non-existent* programming skills with my rudimentary web graphix skills and seeing what I come up with.  You guys may see the layout to this site changing slowly over the next week or two – so don’t be shocked if it looks totally different or the layout is messed up (which is more than likely to occur …frickin’ CSS and Blogger skins.  Can u tell I’m not a web person??)

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Is it Friday yet????  Hope you guys are enjoying your week!
xoxox
Carly


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