Recycling Fashion

As some of us may already be doing during these penny pinching times, we find creative ways to mix and match what clothes we already have…maybe just adding a new belt or new shoes. Recycling your wardrobe is a great way to save on cash while also pushing your creativity. From what I recently discovered, some fashionistas are taking recycling to a whole new level.
 
Check out www.recyclerunway.com/atl/. There are some amazing dresses made from things you wouldn’t believe! I love the yellow caution dress but might stay away from the rusted nails dress, lol. If you’re daring enough to try that one get your tetanus shot first!

These designs may inspire you to start a new spring project creating your own piece from recycling things around your home. If you feel so inclined, send me a pic and I’ll post your creative piece to inspire our other fashionistas! I'm going to make an attempt this spring to create my own recyled couture. Stay tuned to see what creative mess I make ;)

Happy recycling my fashionistas!

Made out of bicycle tires

My favorite!

Very cool, rusty nail dress and purse

Made out of cereal boxes! Seriously!

SXSW Style X Report

I attended the South By Southwest festival this weekend in Austin, TX.  Style X is a new portion of the festival that was born last year and is a free event. It gives new up and coming fashion designers, make-up artists and stylists a chance to show off their talents.

There were lots of great clothes, shoes and accessories but one great booth that I visited was accessories by Elliot. He’s a pretty cool guy from Dallas, Texas, who has some amazing purses and wallets that had an essence of Andy Warhol paintings. Each purse/wallet had a theme, from everything Austin to Wonder Woman to the purse I purchased of The Beatles. You can check out his collection at http://www.ezduzitbyelliott.com/

While I wandered, I saw some amazingly dressed people. One person in particular I just had to talk to because she really stood out, was Jenny, a stylist here in Austin. I loved her red sequence jacket but I could not stop starring at her shoes! That is something I could see Lady Gaga wearing at the Grammy’s. I applaud anyone who can walk in heels that high. You go girl!

 I attend a couple of fashion panels given by fashion experts from around the country. I really enjoyed their take on fashion and how it’s changing with the use of technology.  I had the pleasure of talking to Sarah Nami Ahn, a doctor turned fashion designer.  She earned her Ph.D. and worked with neurons in the spinal cord. She soon realized this was not her passion and began to study fashion. After only 6 months of school, she won a design contest where her winning design was sold in Nordstroms and Dillards. You can see her clothing worn by actresses seen on Bravo and HBOs True Blood. Check out her collection at http://onnami.com/ 

The finale of the day was the fashion show. I loved that the models were musicians from bands playing at the festival.  But I’d have to say my favorite event of the night was the crazy homeless looking guy who danced on the runway wearing a rubber boot on his head and slapping his @ss. He later announced on his bullhorn that he was running for president and passed out bumper stickers asking for support. If elected, he promises everyone gets a pony and protection from the zombie apocalypse. That was a great way to end the night J

Check out pics below and links to some of the great fashion from the festival. Happy shopping my fashionistas!

Elliot in front of his booth - ez.duz.it

My New Beatles purse

Sarah Nami Ahn



Jenny - Austin Stylist





Crazy Homeless Guy :)



$2 Dress… Yes please!

I was wandering the mall one weekend and found this really cute poke-a-dot dress at JCPenny’s. It's very retro and I loved the teal color and the ruching in the front skirt. It was $60. I tried it on and really liked it; but alas I did not need it so I put it back. As luck would have it, I was wandering the mall again. Something caught my eye. I turned and saw that dress hanging there in a different department. I went over to take a look and could not believe the price tag… $2!!! It was missing a button on the sleeve but it came with an extra that I could sew on. I went to the register to make sure this was right and it was! I couldn’t believe it. And at two dollars, I could pay cash and didn’t have to use a credit card (I’m trying to get rid of those). So I left the mall that day, a very happy camper.

So the lesson I learned here was some things are worth waiting for. If you find an item that you can’t live without or is hard to find, buy it (if you can afford it). If you don’t need it, come back later and if it’s still there (and hopefully at a discount) it was meant to be. Happy shopping my fashionistas! J