Jun 13, 2017 | DIY
This post contains affiliate links, wherein I make a small commission if you click through and buy something. My FTC Disclosure is here.
Lately there’s been a plethora of crafty accessories all over the stores. Colorful tassels, fringe, pompons, and embroidery evoke a 70’s Summer with an 80’s pop flair. This means that any wily DIY’er can easily create the look for less and craft up accessories that look fresh, fun, fantastic, and on-trend this Summer without breaking the bank.
Take this Loeffler Randall Tassel Pouch – a big, trendy investment at $225. (And now totally sold out – for good reason! Similar in beige with silver tassels here.)
Why not be inspired to create your own fun version at a fraction of the cost?
BUY – Original
Loeffler Randall Tassel Pouch, $225 (similar here)
DIY – Your Own Version
YOUNA Small Leather Crossbody Purse, $15.99
1/10yd Custume DIY Craft Leather Fringe Tassel trims, $0.99 per 1 yard piece
Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, and Plastic Adhesive, $10.50 for 2
Pick up some suede tassel trim from your local crafts, notions, or leather working store – or from eBay here. (At $0.99/yard – plus a little wait for shipping – eBay is definitely the most affordable options_though if you can buy local, go for it!) If you’re buying on eBay I recommend these colors from the seller to truly recreate the Loeffler Randall look: Yellow, Watermelon Red, Blue, Orange, Purple, Dark Purple, Pink, and Beige.
Use a plain black zip pouch as your base (or try my DIY Leather Laptop Sleeve to make from scratch – just add a zipper closure to the top instead of an elastic!)
Roll up the tassel trims, spreading some Loctite Adhesive at the base to hold the rolls. When you feel the roll is full enough, cut off the remainder. Allow to dry, holding closed with a piece of tape.
One dry, fan out the pompons (you may need to trim the end of the tassels shorter) and use a generous dab of Loctite on the base to secure to the pouch. If you’re worried about adhesion, a hand-stitch using black polyester waxed thread and a leather hand-sewing needle will secure those suckers on there!
Pair with some natural wedges, some washed skinny jeans, and a wrap top make of striped shirting – and you have yourself a foolproof day-to-night Summer outfit!
Happy DIY’ing!
xo
Carly
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Nov 30, 2014 | DIY
Emmy Rossum always looks adorbs when out and about, and the outfit above is no different. Sure, it may be intended for warmer weather – but throw on a chic coat, a warm pair of tights, a cozy scarf, and you’re ready to face the chillier days ahead. Let’s break down her main outfit, though – shall we? I think this is pretty easy to DIY! Here’s how:
Add some gold leaf-shaped clip-on earrings (these are a great find!…or SUPER-budget-friendly ones under $5 here), pull your hair back in a luscious pony, and you’re ready to go, Emmy-style.
How would YOU add oomph to this sweet little ensemble?
xo
Carly
Emmy Rossum photo source. Collage by me.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you click on a link and purchase something. To read my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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Feb 19, 2014 | DIY, Fashion
When I first started blogging back in 2008, Cut Out + Keep was the very first tutorial-sharing site that I joined. I loved its scrappy, can-do attitude and the welcoming community there. I ended up posting 61 projects on the site over time, as well as being featured multiple times as a Crafty Superstar, a DIY Fashionista, and contributing to their online zine Snippets.
So when the founder of Cut Out + Keep Cat Morley asked me to try to DIY TIlda Swinton’s unique style, I said of course! Who could resist a how-to about that avant-garde icon? (Plus, she’s my favorite actress hands-down.) Click on through to find out how you can DIY her edgy look at home:
Thank you to the team at Cut Out + Keep for the feature!
xo
Carly
Photo courtesy of Cut Out + Keep.
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Sep 9, 2011 | Blogging, Fashion
Though I sometimes post a big-name brands piece that I feel was “inspired” somewhere else in my Inspired Alert! posts…this is an entire blog filled with that – straight from the runways.
I’m utterly inspired in turn…and in awe of how much time is put into all of this, as well as the blogger’s fantastic eye for similarities. Author Diana Marian Murek is a German fashion designer who now lives in Milan and writes for Italian Grazia, and her comparisons of newer runway looks and advertisements with looks and ads from the past is mind-boggling.
from INTO THE FASHION
For tons more whoa!-like moments and interesting similarities that make you go “hmmmmm…..,” check out
Just amazing!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 27, 2011 | Fashion
Remember those embellished Miu Miu flats from last Fall? This morning, I checked the sales at Ideeli.com and was surprised to see an eerily similar Penny Loves Kenny ballet flat in their “Flawless Flats” sale.
I shared a DIY of those gorgeous Miu Miu rhinestone-embellished A/W 2010 ballet flats back in March of this year. The rhinestones, the bow, the beading, the contrast metallic toe – it’s spectacular!! Apparently, Penny Loves Kenny thought so too…and these flats are a pretty good lookalike, and a great bargain at only 10% of the price of the originals.
Detail shot of the Penny Loves Kenny version.
If you don’t feel like DIY’ing, you can always just buy this version – and if you get it at Ideeli, they’re on sale for $39.
And if you’re not a member of Ideeli already, you can get on in the sale action with my invite here.
What do you guys think about this? I think it’s pretty obvious that the lower-priced version is…well, let’s just say it…a blatant knockoff of the Miu Miu design. Sure there are some dissimilarities, but it’s more similar than dissimilar, if that makes any sense.
Is this okay? Would you buy it? Should Miu Miu slap Penny Loves Kenny with a lawsuit? Discuss!
xoxox
Carly
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…or you could just invest in a pretty yellow pair. For under $99 I like 
