My New Year's FASHION Resolution.

As important as it is to have a New Year's Resolution, I feel like everyone should have a Fashion Resolution. A Fashion Resolution is a promise you make with yourself to take your style to the next level. Whether that's shopping smarter, trying to define your style, or even just dressing up a bit more, you should come up with your own Fashion Resolution!


How to maintain a New Year's Fashion Resolution:

• Come up with a list of individual small goals that can help you reach your ultimate Resolution
• Use a calendar to mark specific times in which you plan to reach a certain goal.
• Give yourself reminders: Send text messages to yourself(that works great for me!), put post-its above your bed, send yourself a facebook message reminder, or come up with your own ways.
• Tell your friends about your goal and get their support. Having people support your goals will give you the guidance you need to stick to them.
• Write about your experiences and how they help you: Keep a journal(handwritten or on the computer) and write in it often. It will help you keep track of your progress and you can actually see the differences.
• Take pictures of your changes. By maintaining a scrapbook or online catalogue or your fashion adventures through pictures, you can track your progress, refer back to styles you like, and as you go look at things that need to change or things you liked.

Or come up with ways that work for you personally. Think about things that have helped you keep goals in the past and go from there!

My Fashion Resolution for 2011:

Find new unique ways to wear clothing and to help spread the word on the importance of fashion, style, and being thrifty to the world. I will maintain this goal by creating a calendar of projects I will post on my blog. In the new year, I plan on posting at least once or twice a week. I will also research new ways to advertise my blog in order to reach a broader audience. By finding at least one new advertising outlet a week I feel like I can maintain my goal. 

In my personal style, I hope to build my wardrobe with new pieces to make my style more sophisticated but yet still maintain my sense of fun. I plan on photographing my own outfits for my personal records so that I can see how my style changes throughout the next year.

What's your New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let me know!

Looking Ahead...

Hey blog buddies,

So I've been taking a little break for the holidays. I've been brainstorming a few great ideas for new projects. Here's just a few upcoming posts I have planned

- Trends I LOVE and HATE
- Things to do with christmas gifts you don't like
- Dollar Store Fashion!
- Spray Paint Shoes
- Staple Fashion

Have any suggestions? What do you want to see in the new year?! Let me know, leave a comment!

What Inspires Me To Be Creative

Ok, so during the christmas holiday I'm back in Chicago. I'm away from my typical full wardrobe and usual art supplies, but I'm going to try to post some new projects. This week, I wanted to do things a little different than my usual. I am going to talk about the things I am inspired by to be creative. I think it is vital in fashion and in life in general to find things that inspire you personally. Whether its friends, artists, celebrities, objects, locations, or music, they all should have a major impact in things you create. Here are just a few of my favorite inspirations:

Creative people in my life:

Having people in my life who see the world differently than the average person inspires me greatly. Some of my best ideas have come from these people. They inspire me to change my own perception. I think it is important to take others opinions in your work. Try new things that are outside your comfort zone. Over the years, I have photographed a lot of inspiring people, which has created some of the most beautiful images I have ever taken. It is such a privilege to photograph these people, because it is my goal to capture a piece of who they are. Here's just a few of my favorites:

Portrait of Annaliese Lengerich

Portrait of Jessica Service

Portrait of Austyn Davis

Portrait of Kathleen Tirrel

Portrait of Monica Wicklund

Portrait of David Norman

My Musical Inspirations: 

I am not typically inspired by lyrics. I don't know why, but I have never had a deep connection with music. I think I'm such a visual person, that I forget about the lyrics and the sounds of the music. My musical inspirations come from the people who make the music. I enjoy the characters they create. Here's a few of my favorite music artists:

Pete Burns: For those of you who don't know who Pete Burns is, you probably have heard his voice before. He's the guy who sang "You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record)" in the band Dead or Alive during the 80's. The lyrics of the songs aren't that great, but its all about his attitude. He blurs the line between gender and sexuality. I find that to be such an inspiring thing to me personally. His ideas of what is considered "beautiful" is something I don't think the world had ever seen before he became famous. He is such an icon to me. Here's some of my favorite videos of him:

Here's what he's probably most famous for:

Here's a video of pretty much everything he stands for:

Boy George: Another one of my musical inspirations is Boy George. He's the lead singer of the band Culture Club which was also a british band popular during the 1980's, similar to Dead or Alive. Boy George is such an inspiration to me because of his androgynous sex appeal. Unlike Pete Burns, who's more in your face, Boy George has such a quiet sex appeal which is absolutely beautiful. Here's my favorite video of Boy George:

Object Inspiration: 

Seeing details in the world around us is something that should inspire us all. Whether you live in the middle of nowhere, or in the heart of downtown, there is inspiration all around us. I grew up in a midwest suburb outside of Chicago, and let me tell you, it is BORING. But when there's nothing to do I would drive around and photograph little things I found to be special. I mainly looked for seemingly ugly things, and tried to photograph them in beautiful ways. Here's a few examples:

An Old Spider Web

An Abandon Building

A Bush Coated In Ice

These are only a few of ideas of the types of inspiration I look to. What things inspire you? Leave a comment! 

What To Do With Torn Clothes

Do you have shirts or pants with rips or holes in it? Well here's an easy solution: Rip it more! This look was inspired by my roommate Jessica (also a fashion design major at FIDM) who had a pair of leggings and a shirt will holes in it and ripped it up more to make an exciting new look.


The best way to rip your clothes to make it look intentional and fashionable is to rip it in areas. Do not over  rip up a piece of clothing, it will look like your dog tried to eat it. As shown in Jess's shirt, she decided to make small holes near the hem and at the shoulder.

I love how she paired it with the combat boots, makes it look casual, cool, and trendy.

Another way to wear this look is to layer things under the holes. Try wearing lace tights under holy jeans or leggings. Or wear a patterned shirt under a hole-y shirt. The possibilities are endless!

My Top 10 Under Ten Dollar Thrift Store Finds

#10 Armani Exchange Hoodie

For all you label whores, this went for a retail value of $115.00. I got it for $5.00. The reason for number ten is that I'm not all that into labels, but its cute and comfy.

#9 Vintage Plaid Dress Shirt

I love finding colorful patterned shirts. This shirt is a few sizes too big, but I kind of love how slouchy it looks. It makes a dress shirt look fun and casual.

#8 Turquoise Leather Purse 

Come on, how can anyone pass up a genuine leather purse? And its in one of my signature colors!

 #7 Brand new (at the time) indigo/gray double tounge high top Converse

In my size, never been worn before, in my favorite color. This was one of those times I knew I was destined to own something. AND only $6.00!

#6 Vintage Teal Cardigan Sweater

This was a great find. I wear this sweater all the time. It has great construction, looks good with everything. Definitely one of my go to pieces.

 #5 Vintage Swimsuit

I love this swimsuit, its definitely one of a kind, fits me like a glove. It also has this cute little change pocket detail on the side. You simply cannot find this quality for this cheap!

AND only $0.25!! Thats right, 25 CENTS!

 #4 Fitted Gray Blazer

This is another go-to piece piece of mine, it looks great with everything, fits great, and was only $5.00! Also, its a women's blazer, so all you guys out there, don't be afraid of the women's section!

#3 Reebok's with the straps!

These are true reebok's with the straps from the 80's. So cute, they look cool and casual. And they were

practically brand new when I bought them!

#2 Graphic Ties

I couldn't pick just one, so I grabbed my two favorites. These are awesome ties. They may not go with every outfit but they are greatfor special occasions. They are great conversation starters!

#1Vintage Women's Military Jacket

Without a doubt the greatest find ever. This jacket fits me like a glove, and is true vintage. The construction is impeccable, and you simply cannot find a jacket made like this today. Every detail is something to be appreciated, even the lining and finishing details are amazing! I LOVE THIS JACKET.

Leave a comment on what types of things you find at thrift stores or send my a picture via email (blogforpoorcreativepeople@gmail.com) and I'll post it! 

Rorschach (Ink blot) Test T-shirt Design

Here's a really simple way to add a cool design to any t-shirt for little money. It's very easy to do, takes little time, and adds an exciting touch to any plain old thing.

This is the front panel of a hoodie I'm sewing for my class.

Here's what the t-shirt will look some what like when your done.

Look at all the possibilities!

What you need:

• T-shirt (traditionally, its most effective with a white shirt, but I urge you to experiment!)
• Plastic bags/newspaper
• Fabric Paint ( I use Neo Opauqe by Jacquard, Do not try to use water colors or oil based paints, it'll be a disaster, use fabric safe paint)
• Piece of Cardboard.



You can find fabric paint at any craft or fabric store. It usually comes
in a tiny jar like this. For best results make sure the paint says "light
body opaque acrylic". This little jar costs about $5, but it can make
about four shirts.

How to do it:
Step 1: Place plastic bags or newspaper inside the t-shirt to keep the paint from bleeding through to the opposite side of the shirt.
Step 2: Lay out the t-shirt flat on a layer of plastic or newspapers.
Step 3: Fold the shirt in half, and crease the fold. When you open the shirt, you should have a faint fold line down the middle.

Step 4: Randomly put down paint on ONE side of the t-shirt. DO NOT cross the center line. I just dropped the paint straight from the bottle, it forms a more organic shape.
Step 5: CAREFULLY, fold your shirt back on the center line. Make sure that the shirt doesn't crease as you fold it back.
Step 6: Using the piece of cardboard, press firmly down on the folded shirt.
Step 7: Open the t-shirt! Your design should be reflected over the center line, showing two equal halves.
Step 8: Allow to dry, and wear it! Easy as that!

Just so you know, the way you spill the paint is how you change the pattern. Its difficult to have a defined shape, so just go for it and experiment!

Other ways to use this technique:

• Pair of pants: Use the same technique, but on the leg of the pant.
• A hoodie
• Back of dress shirt: Try to make it look like angel wings
• Try different paint colors together to make a tye dye effect
• A bandana

The possibilities are endless! Every design is unique, so you could potentially have a whole wardrobe of completely different t-shirts!

What do you see? Leave a comment!

Paint Chip Necklace

Here's a project I've been brainstorming for quite some time. It's a necklace made of paint chips found at Home Depot (for FREE might I add).

What you need:

• Paint Chips- These are the color swatches found in home supply stores, they're usually free and can be found at stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, or any paint store.
• Scissors
• Stapler 
• Chain (or a chain necklace you already own)

How to make it:

1. Cut your paint chips into whatever shape you want. In the necklace I created, I cut mine into 1 inch squares, but you could cut them into circles, diamonds, etc.
2. Plan out the motif. Place the paint chips into different shapes and color patterns. You can create any shape with the paint chip. I used colors that went on the color wheel together for mine.
3. Staple the motif together. Simply go piece by piece stapling the chips together. Make sure that each paint chip has TWO staple that attach to another piece, otherwise the staples with move and ruin the shape of the motif.
4. Finally, pierce two holes at the top of the motif to attach the chain. Place the chain through the hole. I used a necklace I already had to attach it to. The ends of the necklaces had a clasp end, which attached to the paint chip.

Another idea would be to fold the paint chips which would create a 3-deminsional effect. Also, if you don't like the staples, you could glue the chips together from the back. Be creative and share you ideas in the comments! Also, send me a picture if you try this project out.

It's that simple!

Personal Style is ALWAYS in.

What is personal style?

There are nearly 6 billion people on earth, and there is not one person that is exactly like you. That is a powerful thing. There are those people that take advantage of their individuality, and those people are the inspiring few who help shape the world. Taking advantage of your unique qualities can begin with gaining a sense of personal style. Having personal style refers to people's individual and unique takes on what is going on in fashion today. Whether people adhere to modern trends or go against them, they all say a lot about who we are. 

Developing Your Personal Style

When developing a personal style it is majorly important to stay true to who you are. For instance, if you don't enjoy punk music, then don't try to look like a punk, or if you're not a very feminine person, then don't try to dress like a prostitute(trust me, I've seen butch girls try to slut up their wardrobe and fail miserably). It doesn't matter what type of style you like or enjoy, there is no wrongs when it comes to personal style.

1. Self Evaluation:

When starting to create your style, the first question you want to ask yourself is "what are you interested in?" Make a list of the activities, hobbies, and social activities you partake in. Your clothing should suit your lifestyle, NOT the other way around. Also, think about your personality. A majorly important thing about personal style is that is should match who you are inside. If you are a business oriented person who wants to be taken seriously all the time, then dress more formally. On the other hand, if you're humorous and outgoing, the reflect that in your style. Fashion is really about taking what's on the inside and showing people on the outside.

2. Research:

Research styles you enjoy and ones that fit with you lifestyle. Find out where people like you shop, what designers cater to that style. Also, its beneficial to think about a style icon, which is someone famous who's style you admire and Idolize. 

3. Obtaining the style:

Finally, find out how you can create the same effect of the style. Money should not be an issue unless the style you want to achieve is designer label whore. If you see styles that are out of your price range (which most are for me), "take apart" the outfit. Look at all the individual elements of look, from color, shape, graphics, patterns, fabrication. Then figure out which of the elements you like and make the outfit so successful. Then, when shopping think about all the elements of the outfits you like. Shop for those individual elements at stores that fit within your price range. DO NOT shop without a budget. Keep in the amount of money you want to spend in mind and strictly adhere to that budget. After all, fashion should come second to life's basic needs, because if you don't have enough money to eat, you won't be able to live long enough to wear your fabulous clothes (Am I right?!)! 

Having a signature piece

My collection of ties.

My grandfather's watches.

A signature piece is an item in your wardrobe that you very personally relate to. In most cases, it's an accessory or pair of shoes, because they are items that can be worn with a multitude of items. A signature piece should have a meaning behind it or have some history to it. For example, almost everyday I wear three of my grandfather's watches together. The are antique looking and have a worn look about them. I wear them because its reminds me of the lessons I learned from him. I also have all of his vintage ties, which have similar sentimental value. Another signature piece of mine is pair of beat up old converse I wear often. I've had them for many years and have seen a lot of crazy times. For you, a signature piece could be a necklace, a ring, a handbag, or really anything that says something about you as a person. Signature pieces make an outfit YOURS. Hundreds of people own the same clothing, but no one else owns your piece. Another benefit of signature pieces is that they are conversation starters. On almost a daily basis, I get complimented on my beat up collection of watches and ties. I've even had people take pictures of my converse because they were so beat up.

Following trends successfully

Following trends is good for the most part. They make you look fresh, modern, and make you look "fashionable." My problem with trends is when people follow them WAY to closely. Piling together 10 trends into one outfit looks like costume. Outfits like those lack creativity and personality. My suggestion on how to use trends effectively is to wear one at a time, or one small combination. Another great thing to do is to put your own personal twist on trends. For example, lace is a great trend right now. So instead of just wearing a pair of lace tights, try putting lace on your nails, or craft a lace hair bow, or a lace necklace of some kinds. Think outside the box beyond the obvious ways to wear trendy items.

Where to find trends:

A great place to find trends for the season is Style.com. You can see all of the latest runway shows from all over the world. They also provide article about the trending looks from top designers.

http://www.style.com/

Another great place to find trends is Lookbook.nu. Lookbook is an online collection of people's outfits from all over the world. Average people upload pictures of what they wear. People rate the outfits and comment. You can see what other people find trendy and get some inspiration for you own look.

http://lookbook.nu/

A final place to look for trends is Pantone. Pantone gives you color inspiration for the upcoming season. They work seasons in advanced to give everyone from top designers to budget designers the newest colors for the season. Also, you can see sketches from top designers to see the latest silhouettes and styles that will be coming out.

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20738&ca=4

The Dreaded Fashion Budget

Budgeting is something no one likes but is always essential to the thrifty fashionista. No matter how rich or poor you are, creating a fashion budget should be a priority. Here are some easy tips for creating a basic fashion budget:

The "Essentials" List

Make a list of the items you most need to the pieces you least want. The pieces you need are at the top of your list and should be wardrobe essentials and versatile items that can be worn for multiple occasions, such as a spring/fall jacket, basic pencil skirt, or white dress shirt/blouse. Then make your way down the list to the things you don't necessary need but want like a feather skirt or new pair of heels. By creating a list like this you can spend your money in the most effective way possible. Save for the pieces at the top of your list before spending money on the less important pieces. 

The Mental Budget

Creating a mental budget means that before you make it to a store, figure out how much you want to spend, and on what items. For instance, lets say you go to a store looking for a jacket. You create a mental budget of $40 and intend to find a jacket under that price. The downfall of this tip is that most people start off with good intentions of not going over budget, but after finding one they absolutely love they tend to spend more. There are two solutions to this problem:

1. Do not even consider anything over your budget. Even if you find an item you absolutely love that is over budget, I can guarantee in most cases you can find a similar style for cheaper. You must have the will power to MOVE ON.

2. The second is a more practical to the issue of going over budget. If you find an item you feel that you NEED and is absolutely perfect (which happens to me often), go ahead and purchase it. BUT, plan ahead. Now that you have made the decision to go over budget, you need to make sacrifices else where, such as not buying your morning coffee for a week or not buying a luxury item that you want. Mentally think of what you can sacrifice BEFORE you make the purchase though. Otherwise you will overspend, and then realize you can't make any sacrifices elsewhere.

Comparative Shopping

Do your research! Research is the key to being a thrifty shopper. Know how much something should cost before you buy it, a very simple concept. When trying to find a specific type of item go to a variety of store websites and compare the costs. Then when you go to purchase the item while out shopping, you can know if something is over priced or a good deal. The uninformed shopper is an over budget shopper.

Creating a Savings Goal

A big complaint I hear from people is that they never have enough money to go shopping. Well I would say that most of the time that is not true. Almost everyone has the ability to put at least some money aside. This concept comes from kids who save money in piggy banks. Simply put any left over money aside until you save enough for major purchase. It may be difficult to save, but either hide the money or trust it to a family member or close friend to help prevent you from spending the money until you save enough for the item you originally intended to buy.

Grandma Sweater Tank Top

Ever see those horribly fitting "grandma sweaters" in thrift stores? Well, here's a creative solution on how to wear these one of a kind pieces.

What's great about old sweaters is they usually have bright colors, and are very unique. The downfall is fit. They're baggy, and most people can't pull of the potato sack silhouette. My solution? Turn it into a tank top!

Where to find them:
The first place to start hunting is your mom's or grandma's closet. I guarantee they have a few old sweaters they're willing to get rid of. I also have very good luck in any thrift stores such as goodwill for around $5. Look for interesting patterns or graphics. The size of the sweater doesn't make a whole lot of difference, even if the sweater is HUGE, the tank looks great because it adds the flow of the fabric. BUT, beware or large knit sweaters that you can see through. If the sweater's knit is too spaced out the entire thing will unravel.

How to do it:
1. Take a tank top you already have and lay it over the sweater.
2. Then cut out the neckline and sleeves to match the tank top you placed over it.
3. Finally, if the sweater has a fitted bottom, cut it off. That's all there is to it!

Ways to wear it:
As shown in the pictures, they usually look great with a fitted blazer or vest over it. Another way is to wear it with a large belt around the waist. If the sweater is large enough, it could be worn as a fall dress.

Using the scraps:
After cutting off the sleeves and neckline, you'll have some left over pieces. Find ways to wear to these pieces! As shown below, the sleeve can be used as a winter neck warmer. Another idea would be to use the neckline as a headband, or you could make cute knit jewelry or a purse.

How to wash and care for it:
Most knit sweaters are dry clean only. But if you're like me, hand washing it with detergent and letting it air dry does the trick. Do NOT wash in the washing machine and dryer. It will most likely fall apart or shrink horribly.

A Guide To Thrift Store Shopping

Are you a first time thrift store shopper? Or do not find good things at thrift stores?
Well here's my "expert" advise on the ways of thrifting.


The Basics:

Have an imagination:
The number one problem I see with people who don't know how to handle thrift stores is creativity. Everyone tends to look at old clothing for face value. What I challenge you to do is look for colors you like first. When you find an interesting pattern or color (no matter how hideous the garment itself looks) take a moment and think through the possible uses for that garment. Remember, thrifting is inexpensive, there for it is more than OK to cut up, redesign, and experiment with clothing.

Take your time:
One thing I can not stand about inexperienced thrift store shoppers is rushing. Thrifting is about the thrill of the chase. Therefor you must TAKE YOUR TIME. Go through the clothing on the rack INDIVIDUALLY. I guarantee you that 98% of the things in the store will not work for you personally. People tend to generalize areas of the store, if they see a rack of dresses with a few really hideous dresses, they tend to skip the entire rack. Do NOT do that. Look through, and see each piece as a unique different item with different value and end purposes.

Bring an experienced friend with you:
Bringing someone who knows a thing or two about thrifting is majorly helpful. People who are good at thrift store shopping are people who normally do not look like they wear second hand clothing. People like that can help you see beyond the idea that its second hand, and can help you begin to build thrift store creative skills.

Look in unexpected sections:
Something that I like to do is to not only look in the men's small section of the store, I look EVERYWHERE. Look in the guys section if your a girl, and look in the girl section if your a guy. I can almost guarantee you can find some really interesting pieces.

Finding Accessories:
Thrift store accessories are great. A lot of times you find good staple pieces that are inexpensive and have a vintage look. Do not be afraid of large piles of chains and metal, dive in! Another accessory trick is to find strange pendents or trinkets of sorts and put them on chains. Such things could look really nice with a day dress or casual T-shirt and jeans look.


ADVANCED THRIFTING TIPS AND TRICKS
Special Discounts and Sales

"Bins":

"Bins" are a big collection of clothes, nicknacks, and random items all in a huge cluster. They're cheaper items, and all have the same price. These bins can look intimidating, but don't be scared! Dive in. A lot of times you can find some great odd pieces, and they're cheaper than regular items on the racks. 

Become a member:

Becoming a member or signing up for a loyalty card can also save you some money and gives you great benefits in the long run. They're usually free to sign up for. Most likely they'll give you a discount right away for signing up, but also gives you discounts for special sales or discounts for buying over a certain amount. Many times, stores like Goodwill have special sale days, such as student discount day (every Saturday), and Senior Discount Day. A lot of times too, they will send you emails also about upcoming sale events and special discounts to members.

Special Tag Sales:

Another benefit of becoming a member is special discount sales. In stores like Goodwill they will have days where different colored tags have different discounts. So everything with an orange tag is 15-30% off. By becoming a member, through email the store will let you know when these super sales are. Prepare yourself! Go early, because those grandmas will fight you for items! 

The Benefits of Donating or Selling:

Donating to stores or selling your clothing has several benefits. Stores like Plato's Closet or Buffalo Exchange allow you to sell your used clothes for cash. But beware, a lot of people don't make a huge amount of money and are usually disappointed for how much they make. If you just want to donate your clothes to stores such as Salvation Army and Goodwill gives you special tax benefits. Just ask for a receipt after you drop off your goods. Also, a lot of times stores give you store coupons or discounts that you can use in the store to buy more clothes. Not only can you clean out your clothes you don't want anymore, but you can buy new ones for cheaper!

Damaged Clothes

Once you find an item you like, study it closely. Look for damage, lose stitches, missing buttons, set in stains, etc. If the damage is beyond repair or too noticeable, its sometimes best to pass it up. BUT, if the damage is not too bad, or you can live with it, bring it up to the register or speak to a manager to get a discount on the item. In most cases, pointing out damage on items can get you at least a 10% discount. This applies to normal retail stores also. Its a great way to save a buck and also really look at what you're purchasing.

........................
And here's an outfit in which all the things are bought at a thrift store. I have really good luck with shoes. The coat I'm holding is a vintage military jacket I bought for $10! Nothing in the photo I purchased for more than that.  (Notice the price tags in the shoes...I've worn these before, but I keep the price tag in them.)

Have any other suggestions of how you like to thrift? Give me a comment and I'll add it to my guide! Or send me pictures of great things you find at a thrift store near you!

Bleach Painting

Bleach painting is an inexpensive way for you to reinvent old t-shirts.
All you need is:
-Paint brushes
-Bleach
-Plastic bags
-Colored cotton t-shirt

First place plastic in-between the layers of the fabric, otherwise the bleach may bleed through to the other sides of the garment.

Then, Use the bleach like you would paint. I recommend using Splashless bleach, its a bit thicker than regular bleach, and would drip and spread as much, if you're looking for a clean line look.

An added technique is to have different ratios of water to bleach. By adding different amounts of water, you can different values of bleaching. You can have a more 3D effect that way. I suggest using scrap fabric to test the effects of bleach. I also suggest you layout the design first. The bleach is VERY permanent, so be careful!

                                                            

     Here's the back of dress I did where I used the same bleaching technique. 

There's a lot of different ideas you could do. I thinks stripes or flames would be a really cool effect. Or, just painting a really cool graphic would be a real exciting design.

Spray Paint Pants- Viewer Project!

Robert Alberts was inspired by my spray paint paints post and created this pair of pants! It says "create"!

I like the subtle detail on the one pant leg.

What I'd Like To Say About Fashion.

Why is that I am a fashion design major, yet I basically undermine the entire industry by telling people to stop spending money on clothes and make it yourself? Well, I guess its because I am trying to make fashion more creative. Fashion in its very origins referred to the way people would take a particular style and make it unique. The example that comes to my mind first as picture I saw in costume history class. Its a middle ages painting of a man wearing a shoe on his head. That's how fashion started. People take things, and change them. But I feel as if we've gone away from this idea. Yes, people have different styles, but we as consumers buy into things that make us fit in. So I probe the question next time you shop for an item of clothing: Why do you want that item?
So this is my quest to get back to the roots of true fashion. I want people to feel inspired to create, to rethink, to problem solve their way through style. Do not look at ANYTHING face value. There's a million possibilities for a single item of clothing, or for anything for that matter.

Using Ties Creativily

Ties are great accessories for guys and girls. Ties are cheap at thrift stores, usually ranging $1-5. When looking for a tie, I try and find unique patterns and colors. Ties instantly add a pop of color to any outfit. I like to wear ties with a neutral outfit, or with a contrasting shirt pattern. Here's just a few ways you can wear ties casually:

Head Band

 This look is very simple to execute. All there is to it tying it just like you would shoe laces. Just make sure you have equal lengths of tie when you start tying.

The Casual Knot

I like finding unique graphic ties. They're really fun to mix and match and they instantly add humor to any look. 

Experimenting with knots

 Try to experiment with tying the tie. Even if you don't know how to tie it correctly, it doesn't really make a difference. Some of my favorite looks have been created by accident. I like to think of this look as an oversize faux bow tie. 

I also created the graphic on the tie using black ink splatters on a white tie. I bought the tie for only $1! 

These are just a few suggestions, but I advise you to experiment. A lot times I get really creative cool looking tie knots by just fooling around a tie. I've also seen ties used as belts, which would look really cute tied into a bow around a high waisted dress.