The Glamourai's scarf dress DIY

I have had this project bookmarked for over a year! When The Glamourai did this amazing scarf dress DIY, I knew that one day I would replicate it. For more than a year I had been searching and searching for the perfect scarves, so when my sweet friends at Accessorize offered to send me some accessories, I immediately asked for two big scarves so I could do Kelly's DIY.

I wore it a few weeks back at the Crave launch. It turned out great and this is easily one of my favorite dresses now:

Please see The Glamourai's instructions here. The following are my own specifics just in case you want to try it, too!

To start, you'll need some stuff:

The scarves I used were 35'' square, 100% silk, and were identical. The grommets I used were 7/16''.

Step one: sew.

I used a comfortable fitting dress as a guide. I simply laid my dress on top of the scarves, pinned the scarves together, pinned the dress on top of the scarves, and then used a sewing machine to sew about an inch outside along the sides of the dress (this could be done by hand much easier!). Make sure to leave extra room because there is no zipper, no stretch, and the finished dress needs to fit over your bust and hips.

Step two: add the grommets.

I had originally purchased grommet pliers, but I later found out that grommet pliers are for very small grommets and snaps. I had to go out to buy a grommet anvil, instead. As you can tell, I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I got the grommet anvil home and was totally clueless. Everything I looked up didn't seem to help, so after some trial and error, I finally figured it out. If you're attempting this project, too, and have never used grommets, here's a guide to the setting tool:

On the back of the package of the anvil, it said that thin fabric had to be at least three layers thick. I remembered from studding my blazer that things like grommets and studs stay in place better with a little felt backing. Thus, why you need some felt. Cut some little squares that just barely cover the back of the grommet, cut holes in the squares the same size as the grommet holes, and insert the squares behind the scarf (body side). Next, hammer the grommets! Whack 'em hard! I hammered mine outside on the patio. Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang! I recommend adding a towel underneath so your grommets don't get scratched up.

Step three: add the chains.

I don't have a photo of this (sorry!-- Kelly's instructions are spot on) but I will tell you that I thought I could wing it, and I didn't measure. I ended up needing pliers... often. I should have measured how long I wanted the chain straps to be before I started. I kept having to take out links to make it a perfect fit. I have a photo of that. Step four: wear the dress.

Add a belt if you want to.
Bam! You made a dress out of two scarves. Easy, huh? (Well, once you get past the grommetting).
I want to send a huge thanks to The Glamourai for always being such an inspiration and for providing great details on how to do this, and I also want to thank Accessorize for sending me these perfect scarves.
More photos of this dress here. If you end up making this dress, too, send me a photo. I'd love to see your take on it.

Ten bloggers, one shirt

American Living, which is a new line at JC Penney, asked ten bloggers to style up this light, summer, chambray blouse. I originally had it on with a pair of white jeans, but the waist ruching made it ride up so that my midriff muffin top was showing. Trust me. No one needs to see that.

Paired with my new lace skirt and cowboy boots, I feel a little more Austin and a little more me in this combo.

date: 6 July 2011 | occasion: Costco run
blouse: c/o American Living for JC Penney | skirt: c/o Lulu*s | boots: Steven Madden (similar) | belt: vintage (similar)

(Sorry for this paltry offering of only two photos. Jude's having a tough day, and this was all I could squeeze out during his brief nap).

See how some of the other bloggers styled their shirt below:

Eat.Sleep.Wear. | Color Me Nana | Profresh Style | See Jane | Viva Fashion Blog | Wit & Whimsy | Zarna’s Runway

Inspired by Claudia and Veronika (and a watermelon)

One of the best compliments I have ever received was from my friend Jess. When we were first getting to know each other she said, "You know who you remind me of? Please don't take this the wrong way, but you totally remind me of Claudia from The Babysitters Club." Best compliment, ever! I tore through the Babysitters Clubs books in elementary school, and my favorite parts of each book were the descriptions of Claudia's outfits. I particularly remember one of her outfits as being inspired by a watermelon: striped/ tie-dyed green leggings and a bright pink shirt. I blatantly copied style chained Veronika's Striped Shirt outfit (seen here) but put a watermelon twist on it alá Claudia Kishi:

date: 29 June 2011| occasion: Tamale House lunch, city group dinner
tee: TxSCC gift from Striped Shirt | shorts: Lulu*s | shoes: Deena & Ozzy (UO) | bag: MapTote

Please note: this is not the first time I've dressed like a character from a preteen novel series. I once channeled Stephanie from The Sleepover Friends. Who's next?

Chris' shirt inspires others...

The very first outfit post I did after having Jude was this. I wore Chris' clothes as an experiment because nothing really fit me well. Who knew that it would be a hit? Francesca's liked it so much that they did a shoot based on it and posted it to their blog:

The blog article that accompanies this photo is really great: "The Basic White Shirt: 1 Shirt 4 Ways". Most style bloggers would call this "remixing" but most regular folks would call this "wearing a shirt again with other stuff".

Thank you, Francesca's, for featuring me! I've never had someone take an outfit photo of mine and do a shoot based on it! I feel flattered!

2/30: Style Chain- Chambray shirt, Black skirt

Whoa! I haven't done a style chain in a while (since last July, actually)! I saw this outfit on LizzyPunch yesterday who saw a similar one on Fashion Me, and realized that I, too, had a chambray shirt and black skirt in my 30x30 fodder and could do my own take on it. This makes me the third link in this style chain:


2/30 of 30x30
date: 2 Feb 11 | occasion: vet visit, city group
shirt: trouvé | skirt: F21 | heels: Isaac Mizrahi target |
belt: Savers | tie: sash from this DIY dress | tights: Target
I hate my indoor photos, by the way. I am still wait-listed on the photography class I've signed up for, but I'm hoping that once I get in, they'll be able to show me how to take beautiful indoor photos. I'm sure it's all about lighting, and I'm okay with turning our guest room into a mini-studio. Since I'm now a spoiled Texas summer princess, there ain't no way I'm going outside in the below freezing weather to snap my outfit pictures. By the time I set up the tripod and figure out how to focus on myself, I'd be a popsicle. Ladies with photographer husbands and boyfriends, in the winter, be thankful you're not a tripod/ self-timer lady!

Style Chain: Miroslava Mikheeva-Duma

More over, Angelina. You've just been usurped of your "Most Beautiful Pregnant Woman Ever" title. World, meet Miroslava Mikheeva-Duma, the fashion editor at Russia's Harper's Bizaar.

Chaucee gave me the heads up on dear Miroslava, and I've been Googling her and feeling inspiration out the wazoo! In fact, I felt so inspired that I decided to Style Chain one of her outfits. I haven't Style Chained since November. Youch!

I am now convinced that I need a boater's hat.

date: 15 July 2010
occasion: filming a stop-action movie with Hubs
dress: GAP
tank: Old Navy
sandals: Volcom courtesy of Pac Sun
teacup necklace: courtesy of A Box for my Treasure
bag: courtesy of American Apparel SXSW flea market

I'm trying not to complain about my body too much, but let's be honest here. Women in America, for the most part, are inundated with messages saying we have to be thin. These messages do not go away just because you're pregnant.

I've have always been okay with my body (even when I was sixteen years old and my old modeling agency told me to lose 15 pounds when I only weighed 110). You'd think that when you're pregnant that the pressure to be a certain size wouldn't exist. But the sad fact is, it does. And it doesn't help that the body you've known all of your life has suddenly become totally different to you.

Even when you look at maternity clothing online, the women there are thin everywhere, save for their glorious, perfect baby bumps. They have thin arms, thin faces, small legs, little butts, etc. Note: most of these "maternity models" are not pregnant at all. Trust me. I recently went on a casting call for the part of a pregnant woman in a commercial and thought I had it in the bag. Turns out they went with a non-pregnant girl and padded her up!

This is why I get so much inspirational from the blogging community. The blogs I love are by women who aren't professional models ('though yes, some of them could be!). We all have different body shapes and styles, and it certainly takes a nice dose of healthy self-esteem to put our own photos online all the time. Sure, fashion magazines are great for an occasional escape from reality, but when I am having a fashion conundrum about what to wear, I usually head to the blogs instead of to the latest issue of Vogue.

Style chain: scarf, belt, and tights

There's a million things I'm supposed to do today, but I just can't tear myself away from witnessing the beginnings of dog world's newest friendship, as I'm dog sitting this little fluff ball while B. Sterling and Jess Archer are away. World, meet Lupe:

Probably because my brain has been fried with seeing all the above cuteness in person, I had the toughest time picking this morning's outfit. When I have no clue what to wear, I usually style chain. Luckily Orchid Grey, Second Skin, and This Time Tomorrow already had the ball rolling on this one:

date: 25 November 2009
occasion: grocery shopping, errand running
dress: Express
scarf: ModCloth (prize from I Spy Thursday)
tights: We Love Colors
shoes: Payless
belt: thifted

Eegads! How am I ever going to leave the house with this puddle of cuteness curled up on my lap?

Thanksgiving is depending on me! Must! Break! Eye contact! Go!

style chain photos ©Orchid Grey, Second Skin, and This Time Tomorrow.

Style Chain: floral dress and black blazer

When I saw the amazing Jen Lula from Jen Loves Kev don this look last week, I knew I had to style chain it!

She got her amazing dress for only $3 at the thrift store. I procured my dress, blazer, and new old man shoes yesterday from Savers. My dress was a dollar more, and I made sure to wear my awesome handmade Jen Loves Kev brooch to top off the ensemble:

date: 21 November 2009
occasion: improv afternoon at my house, dinner party tonight
dress: thrifted (Savers)
blazer: thrifted (Savers)
tights: We Love Colors
shoes: thrifed (Savers)
brooch: Jen Loves Kev

I am totally stoked about my new tights that came today. I ordered the rubine ones in addition red and teal. I'm so excited to eschew jeans this fall for colored tights and leggings:

These are my first three pairs of tights from We Love Colors. Forty eight more pairs to go!

top photos ©Jen Loves Kev

Style chain: plaid shirt, leather skirt

It's another test run day! Today I'm trying out the black leather skirt I got yesterday from Buffalo Exchange, and I thought it'd be fun to do another style chain. This time I wanted to use Orchid Grey's leather skirt/ plaid shirt post from last month. Then I remembered that she was inspired by This Time Tomorrow. I know that I'm seriously jacking Krystal's style again (le sigh), but I just can't help myself! Krystal herself used Judy from Atlantis Home as her style mentor.

date: 16 September 2009
occasion: heading to the farmers market
skirt: Wilsons Leather, thrifted
shirt: Polo, thrifted
shoes: Christian Louboutin
feather necklace: F21
elephant necklace: thrifted

Since my skirt is lacking the big brass zipper like on the skirt on my fall wish list, I am greatly considering taking my skirt to a seamstress to have her cut the skirt down the front and install an 18'' heavy duty brass zipper, like this skirt on net-a-porter. If I get sick of the zipper on the front, I can always wear the skirt backwards. Of course all this will have to wait until next month since I've tapped out my September wardrobe monetary allotment!

By the way, today's style chain means that I make the fourth in this leather skirt/ plaid shirt pairing. I'd love to see #5 and so on. If you partake, make sure to post the links so we can all oooh and ahhh at you.

[photos © Atlantis Home, This Time Tomorrow, and Orchid Grey]

Style Chain: Risky Business

I think it would be fun if I incorporated some sort of "style chain" here on Adored Austin. My idea is this: each week, I would use another blogger's style photo and try my own interpretation of it. First up is the Risky Business Look demonstrated by Krystal over at This Time Tomorrow and Kate who was featured on The Sartorialist last September. Kate subsequently made it into The Sartorialist Book that came out last month, too!

date: 9 September 2009
occasion: lazing around, stuck at home
Hubs' shirt: thrifted via Savers
shorts: Golds Gym (hahahahaha!)
sash: remixed from a Laura Dahl dress
shoes: Donna Lawrence

ring: bought off a vendor on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, California
bag: Marshalls (no tag)
bracelet: Buffalo Exchange

Fact: In the Midwest, most people have a concrete goose on their porch and they dress it up for different holidays. This is a true story, people! I couldn't make this stuff up! In Texas, the concrete goose phenomenon is extremely rare. In fact, I may be the only one in Austin with a concrete goose on my porch. Also, my goose needs more outfits. He only has a witch's costume. Perhaps he should launch his own fashion blog once his wardrobe gets pumped up.

Lament: I can't go anywhere today as Hubs took my car to the shop. One of my tires got a hole in it, so now I'm stuck at home. I need to wear this outfit out in public to see if people challenge me to slide across the floor in my socks. If Bobby Knight can do it, I think I can, too.

Observation: I am convinced that Hubs is much smaller than the men who originally owned the shirts Kate and Krystal sport. There is absolutely no way I could have rocked it without the biker shorts underneath. Yowzers! And also... Dear Hubs, I borrowed your new shirt without asking you. Major fashion faux pas! Yikes. Sorry!

Challenge: Who's up next in this Risky Business Style Chain? I'd love to see additional takes on this. Just don't be inconsiderate by stealing your man's shirt without asking (especially if he hasn't worn it, yet). Geez. Rude!

[inspiration photos © The Sartorialist and This Time Tomorrow]