Easy fashion tip for more supportive shoes

For more support when you’re walking in your shoes, take a pair of scissors and scratch the bottom of them.

The scratches, will give your shoes a little more friction against the ground as you walk, and make you less likely to slip and fall. Also, because it’s on the bottom of your shoes, no one will see it or notice it.

Models have been using this tip on the runway for years, so why not apply it to your everyday life.

 

Your suit and tie: 8 rules when dressing dashingly

At some point in a man’s life, he will wear a suit, and when he does, he might make a mistake. In fact, he might make the same mistake more than once. No judgment! There is no shame in this because we have all been the bearers of some unspeakable fashion errors in the past.  Still, to help all of you dashingly dressed dudes out there, I have complied a list of 8 simple rules to remember when wearing a suit.

Photo by Alexis Carthan

1.  Know what type of suit best fits your body type. Everyone’s body is shaped differently; therefore, designers make suits that come in dissimilar styles which are often proportioned for specific body types and heights.
2.  Invest in a good multi-occasion suit. Every man will need a suit at some point in his life. Repeatedly renting suits for special occasions will have you looking like a million bucks and your bank accounts looking dryer than the Sahara Desert!
3.  After you’ve bought it, get it tailored. An oversized suit is NEVER attractive… unless you are going as a pimp for Halloween. Find a good tailor and use his or her services to your advantage.
4.  Accessorize well. Don’t overdo it. A simple watch and ONE ring will easily do the trick. Watches are always great additions to a suit because they allow the wearer to show a little bit of his personality in his suit.
5.  Wear suits according to occasion. Enough said.
6.  Ties are important. Pay attention to tie etiquette. Like the suit itself, learning which ties work best for your body type will give you a much more polished look. Hint: Skinny ties only look cool about 5% of the time.
7.  Shoes and Belts should be carefully thought out… or should they?  It has been beat into our brain cells that these two accessories have to match… traditionally. The way I see it, it’s 2014 and nothing matches anymore anyways! However, if you think the pair does not look good, it is probably a mess. No sense of style? Ask the salesperson.
8.  Play with prints and colors. Not only are you faced with the monstrosity that is pinstripe, but you also have a plethora of prints and hues to choose from! Conveniently enough (well, almost), many of the not-so-classic designs you come across can be pulled off when done correctly! 

Style Watch: Recreate Beyonce’s look

Photo from Beyonce’s Instagram. Courtesy of Just Jared.

Beyonce posted a few photos of herself out and about  on her Instagram yesterday, and she was rocking a very bright summer time looking outfit.

While Mrs. Carter’s outfit is a great daytime look, there is a way to recreate aspects of this look and make it into a vampy nighttime outfit as well.

1. Buy a basic black corset and pencil skirt. Both of these things can be easily found at places like H&M or
   

   Outfit collage created by Raven Schley.

   TopShop. You may even already have them stashed in your closet somewhere.

2. A faux fur vest goes well with this look because it helps give the look a little more personality, and it ties into the vamp theme.
3. Pair this look with some black strappy heels. The stiletto portion of the shoe doesn’t have to be too large. A three inch heel would be perfect.
4. To finish this look off put on some silver accessories. Do dark smokey eyes for your make up and keep the rest of your face neutral.

Now you’ve taken Beyonce’s carefree summer out fit and turned it into a vampy nighttime look.

The Perfect New Year’s Outfit

The New Year is upon us, which means that there will be tons of parties going on to usher it in, and with all of the celebrating, the last thing you may want to be worried about is what to wear.

 The thing to remember when picking out a New Year’s outfit is how to balance comfort with style. If you’re going out to a party, you want to look nice, but your outfit still needs to be functional so that you can maintain a level of warmth for the cold weather and not be in pain by the end of the night.

 So, here’s an outfit that will allow you to do just that!

Created by Raven Schley via Polyvore

1.  A velvet bodycon dress is simple and sexy. Plus the material is a little thicker, so it will keep you a little warmer than a normal cotton bodycon dress. 
2. Pair the velvet bodycon dress with some black tights. You can choose sheer or opaque ones, but the opaque ones will be warmer.
3. Put an oversized black cardigan on over the dress. A batwing cardigan is a good choice because it complements the dress in a nice way, while also working to keep you warm.
4. Wedged boots are a great way to make an outfit look more dressed up, and they can also be very comfortable. So, wear this outfit with a pair of black ones.
5. To complete your look, put on a black slouchy beanie and accessorize with some slightly tarnished grungy looking jewelry.

 In the end you will have a completely functional outfit, that will look good and feel good.

 

Create your own chunky knit Infinity Scarf

When facing cold weather, a chunky knit infinity scarf is one of the best accessories you can have.

They’re great because of their warmth, and you can throw them on with almost anything and they will look good. However, depending on where you go, they can be a little pricy, and many of them look the same.

By using a thrifted sweater, scissors and a no fraying solution, you can create your own unique one of a kind infinity scarf that can be thrown on at any time.

•  First, go out to your local thrift store and find an oversized sweater. The thicker the sweater is, the warmer your scarf will be. Also, try to find a sweater with a cool print or design on it because it will make for a better looking scarf.
• Once you have your scarf, lay it out on a hard and flat surface. Then, grab a pencil or marker and lightly mark a horizontal line from one side of the sweater to the other. Start the line right below the arms of the sweater.
• Grab your scissors and cut along this line. Remove the upper half of the sweater that you just cut and leave the lower half where it is.
• Now take your no fray solution and lightly line the edges of the scarf where you made your cut. It is best to place some paper in between the two sides of the scarf to keep from making a mess. The no fray solution will bond the edges of the scarf so that there are no hanging strings.
• After you have applied the no fray solution to one edge of the scarf, let it sit for 20 minutes. Then flip it over and do the same to the other edge.
• When the edges are completely dry, remove the paper and stretch the scarf out a little.
• You should now have a chunky and warm infinity scarf. Take it and throw it around your neck.

This do it yourself accessory is easy to make and super inexpensive. Plus, you will be guaranteed to be the only one wearing it since you made it yourself!

Easy Fashion Fix: Wear your dress as a shirt

Photo from Hello Hue

If you’re like me, then you’ve probably experienced the “I wish this dress were a shirt because it’s so cool” problem. However, with this quick and easy tip you can do just that.

Grab the dress that you want to make into a shirt and layer it up by either putting a skirt on over it and belting it at the waist, or by folding the bottom half and tucking it into your jeans.

This way you can create a complete new look without sacrificing or damaging any of your clothes.

DIY Corner: Homemade Halloween Costume Tutorials

Dress up like Katniss from The Hunger Games!

 

What You’ll Need:

• Light Green V-neck Shirt
• Khaki Cargo Pants
• Black or Brown Jacket
• Black or Brown Combat Boots
• Mockingjay Template (see below)
• Piece of Cardstock
• Safety Pin
• 1 Package of Gold Glitter
• 1 Package of Silver Glitter
• Paint Brush
• Hairspray
• Side Braid Tutorial (see below)
• Elmer’s Glue
• Scotch Tape
• Scissors

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Katniss-Inspired-Braid

 Time to Make It:

1. Print and cut out the Mockingjay template.
2. Trace just the circle part of the template onto the cardstock. 
3. Draw a slightly smaller circle inside the larger circle.
4. Cut out your new circle template so that it resembles the original.
5. Cut out just the Mockingjay from the original template.
6. Paint a layer of glue on both the circle and Mockingjay.
7. Mix together the silver and gold glitter on a stable work surface.
8. Dip the circle and Mockingjay cut-outs into the glitter, glue-side down.
9. Once the glitter dries, tape the safety pin to the back of the Mockingjay. 
10. Tape the Mockingjay on top of the circle, like in the original template.
11. Coat a layer of hairspray over the glitter side so that it will set.
12. Now, you’ve successfully made your Mockingjay pin.
13. Attach the pin to the collar or breast pocket of the jacket. 
14. Follow the hair tutorial in order to recreate Katniss’s signature braid. 
15. Complete your Katniss look by pairing the jacket and pin with a green v-neck shirt, khaki cargo pants, and combat boots.

Dress up like Daisy from The Great Gatsby!

 

What You’ll Need:

• Black or Gray Eyeshadow
• Black Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Red Lipstick
• Red Lipliner
• Dark Pink Blush
• Make-Up Brushes
• Smokey Eye Tutorial (see below)

• Black Fishnet Stockings
• Black or Silver Pumps
• White Gloves
• Pearl Necklace
• Short Black Slip Dress
• 6 Yards of Black Fringe (6” wide)
• Measuring Tape
• Black Thread
• Sewing Pins 
• Sewing Machine
• 1 1.5-Yard Lace Trim (1” wide)
• Metal Headband
• Rhinestone Appliqué
• Red Lipstick
• Glue Gun and Glue
• Scissors 

http://www.thewonderforest.com/2013/08/easy-black-smokey-eye-tutorial.html

 Time to Make It:

1. Fit the lace over the headband and cut the lace to size.
2. Hot glue the lace over the headband and let dry.
3. Hot glue the appliqué on one side of the lace headband.
4. Now, you’ve successfully made your Flapper hairpiece.
5. Cut the hem of the slip dress so that it falls above your knees.
6. Drape and pin the top row of fringe to the neckline of the dress.
7. Make sure the fringe drapes along both the front and back of the dress.
8. Turn the dress inside out and attach the fringe on a sewing machine.
9. Once the top row of fringe is sewed to the dress, remove the pins
10. Turn the dress right-side out and repeat Step #6 on the hem of the dress.
11. Repeat Steps #7 and #8 to attach the bottom row of fringe.
12. Measure the distance between where you want the second row of fringe  from the top to start and where you want the second-to-last row of fringe on the bottom to end.
13. Divide the measurement by how many rows you have left to sew on. (If you’re using 6” fringe, you have 6 rows left to sew on.)
14. Repeat Steps #6, #7, and #8 to attach the remaining rows of fringe.
15. Now, you’ve successfully made your Flapper dress.
16. Follow the make-up tutorial in order to recreate Daisy’s smokey eyes.
17. Apply a thick, theatrical layer of blush to your cheeks.
18. Use lip liner to trace the outline of your lips, then draw a cupid’s bow where the top lip dips.
19. Fill in with lipstick, concentrating the color in the center of the lips.
20. Complete your Daisy look by pairing the dress and hairpiece with black fishnet stockings, high-heel pumps, white gloves, and a pearl necklace.

 

 

 

DIY Corner: Turn your old maxi dress into a stylish vest

Photo courtesy of Etsy.com

Maxi dresses are one of the best pieces of clothing to have because of their ease. You can throw one on without worrying if it will be cute or not, and you don’t have to fuss too much with accessories.

 However, over time maxi dresses can become worn out depending on how frequent you wear them. That doesn’t mean that you have to throw them out or get rid of them though. Instead, you can repurpose them and breath life back into them by turning them into vests. 

 Heres how:

1. Grab one of your old maxi dresses, some tape, a pencil, and some scissors.
2. Lay the dress out on a flat and stable surface. Then take your pencil and in the center of the dress lightly trace a line from the top of the dress to the bottom hem.
3. Once you have traced your line, grab your tape. On either side of the line, place tape from the top of the dress to the bottom hem the same way that you drew the line. Make sure that the tape is right next to line. This is done to help make the fabric a little sturdier when you begin cutting.
4. Now, grab your scissors and cut along the line. It is easier to start from the bottom and slowly make your way up.
5. If your dress has sleeves on it you can cut them off or leave them on. It depends on what your personal preference is.
6. Lastly, to get rid of any jagged edges in the places where you cut, pick the dress up and stretch it out a little at the cut lines.

 If you want, you can stop right there and wear the vest like this. However, if you want to kick it up another notch you can continue by adding fringe at the bottom.

1. Lay the vest back out and decide how far up you want the fringe to go. Once you have figured it out, use your pencil to place a small mark there as a reminder.
2. Take your scissors and cut small strips into the vest. Start from the bottom hem and go up until you get to the point where you placed the mark. Do this around the entire  vest.
3. Once you are done cutting, pick up the vest and stretch it out at the bottom where you have just made all of the strips.
4. Lastly, place knots at the ends of all of the strips.

 You should now have a stylish fringe vest to spice up your wardrobe! 

DIY Corner: Collar Necklace Tutorial

Courtesy of Beadandcord.com

In just six foolproof steps, you can take an outdated blouse from blah to bling-tastic by repurposing it into a unique and versatile piece of statement jewelry, that’s perfect for layering with your favorite fall knits!      

What You’ll Need:

• Collared Shirt
• Various-sized Beads
• Needle & Thread
• Scissors

Time To Make It:

1. Cut the collar off the shirt, right under the band seam.

**Make sure you do not cut off both the top button and button hole!**

1. Lay the collar flat on top of a stable work surface.
2. Arrange the beads on the collar in your desired pattern.
3. Snap a picture of the pattern, so you can refer back to it.
4. Sew the beads to the collar, securing each bead twice. 

**Make sure you run the needle through only the top layer of fabric!**

1. Remove the button and replace it with a large bead.
2. Rock this accessory with a scoop-neck sweater, floral-print denim, and oxford flats. 

DIY Corner: Stay warm and look cool with this fresh fashion tutorial

Fall trends are all about layering. So embrace your playful preppy side this season with an oversized sweater boldly thrown over a tailored blouse, turtleneck, or Abercrombie polo. Since the cold weather is creeping up on us, there’s no better time to pick those dust bunnies off last year’s knits and pullovers stuffed in the back of your closet and re-purpose them into cute, cozy cardigans. So, grab some wardrobe-rejects in need of a makeover, cuddle up with a pumpkin spice latte, and let’s get crafty. With any luck, you’ll feel like a Pinterest pro in no time!   

TheNotoriousKIA

What You’ll Need:

• Pullover Sweater
• Scissors
• Needle and Thread
• Buttons, Studs, Spikes, Etc.

Time to Make It:

1. Lay the sweater out on a flat and stable work surface.
2. Cut the sweater straight down its center, starting from the neckline.
3. Clean up any jagged edges, threads, or frays along the cut.
4. Sew some bling on one side of the sweater’s newly made opening. 
5. Rock this look with skinny jeans, combat boots, a fitted top, and simple pearls.

Inspired by: The Notorious KIA