Thursday, February 28, 2013

HIJAB WRAP TUTORIAL—DRAPED AROUND NECK

Over the years, I've tried a million different hijab wraps and have finally picked my favorite three. First, my everyday off the neck, side poof; second, draped around the neck for those scoop and V-neck tops; and third, the special occasions, formal updo with scarf rosettes.  This "draped loosely around the neck" wrap has a more traditional look to it, but with a modern twist. 



Step 1:  I always double up my scarves for two reasons: 1) I tend to wear a lot of silk or chiffon scarves and 2) I like to have a little volume around the back and the sides of my head.  That being said, wrap a solid scarf (similar color to the top scarf) around your head, with the knot at the back of your neck.

Steps 2-3: Fold about 6 inches of the top scarf over and wrap that on top of the first scarf.  Be sure that one side is longer than the other.

Step 4:
  Slightly twist the bottom scarf in the back and pin it over your bun.


Steps 5-6: Take the longer side of your top scarf (left side) and fold about 4 inches of the fabric over.  Drape it over your bun so that the fabric ends slightly behind your ear on the other side. Hold or pin the end of the fabric in place.

Steps 7-8: With your other hand, pinch the top of the shorter side of the scarf (right side) and lift it to your other hand or pin. Pin both pieces of fabric in place, with the front scarf beneath the back one.  

Steps 9-10: Gather the fabric (left side) below your ear and pin it in place. Loosely drape the rest of the fabric (right side) around your neck, and pin the ends either to your shirt or underneath the fabric on the left side of your scarf.

Steps 11-12: All done...You look fabulous!  


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Sunday, February 24, 2013

NEON and STERLING


Spring's not quite here, so I'm taking every chance I have to wear my favorite boots (Bandolino). This outfit is all about comfort, but still looking put together.  Whether it's cold or warm outside, it's the perfect time to add neon to your wardrobe!

I paired the pink tank (H&M) with a striped, heather grey cardigan (J.Crew) and skinny jeans (Forever 21). When deciding which color scarf, I knew a similar shade from the stripes in the cardigan would look best. A charcoal grey scarf would be the obvious choice; however, to add some interest, I went with a deep olive color. A touch of sterling silver accessories and a hint of turquoise from the ring (Macy's) compliment the grey tones and pop against the dark scarf.  



Style Tip of the Day:   Ever have issues wearing thin, chiffon scarves?  Think you can't wear them with low cut tops?  A great trick to making sure your neck/chest is covered, is to double up your scarvesWrap a solid knit or cotton scarf under the top one to add some opacity.



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Friday, February 22, 2013

CLASSIC and MELON



Polka dots.  A classic print in everyone’s closet!

I got this chiffon polka dot top (ZARA) a couple of years ago, and every season I get excited about putting a new twist on it.  It’s an essential top in my wardrobe that can go either dressy or casual.  This week I was inspired by '50s era trends that make this outfit weekend-friendly. I cuffed regular length skinny jeans (Old Navy) to get that ankle denim look.  I went bold on top with a melon scarf (Target) and stayed neutral with nude colored flats (INC).  Next is the fun part…accessories!  Adding a necklace would have competed with the ruffles, so I finished the look with tarnished gold earrings (Lucky Brand) and a coral, mixed-metal ring. 


 


Style Tip of the Day: Lately I’ve been obsessed with ankle length pants.  It’s a flattering style, when you find the perfect length and fit.  Ankle pants look best when they have a slim fit and are tapered at the ankle. When you’re out shopping and find a pair that are a tad bit too long, try cuffing them (yourself or take them to a tailor).  Now you’ve got the perfect pair you’ve been looking for!  


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Monday, February 18, 2013

HOW to BUILD a SCARF RACK

One of the highlights of my trips to Egypt is scarf shopping.  Walking into a store and finding walls and walls of prints and colors is so wonderful.  I'm like a kid in a candy store, so overwhelmed and giddy.  In my head, I'm thinking, "Which 100 scarves can I buy and still have space in my suitcase?" Okay... maybe it's more like 25 or so! If you're like me, plastic bins/baskets/scarf hangers aren't enough to contain my collection. The best solution is a mini display rack. So, here's a super easy tutorial on how to build a scarf rack for your own collection at home!

Materials:
(6) 3/8" x 36" Rounded Dowels
(2) 1" x 2" x 6' Wood Boards
Power Drill
3/8" Drill Bit
Wood Glue
Ruler or Tape Measure
Sandpaper

Step 1: 

Prepare the dowel rods by sanding each one for a smooth finish. Next, lay the two 6 ft. boards side-by-side, 3 feet apart.  Measure and mark the first dowel rod at 2 inches from the top of the board.  The other 5 rods should be placed roughly 1 foot apart.




Step 2:

Using the 3/8" drill bit, drill six holes into the 1 in. side of each board.  After each drill, remove the dust and sand the edges of the holes for a clean, smooth surface. 


Step 3: 

Tilt one of the boards over, so that the holes are facing up. Add a small drop of wood glue into each drilled hole.  You'll need an extra hand to help you in this next step.  Insert the rods into the holes and hold upright for a couple of minutes for the glue to set.  Excess glue can be removed with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Step 4:  

Once the rods have set (and the glue might still be wet), lay the board and rods down.  Now take the other board and add drops of glue to each hole.  Tilt the second board over and insert the rods into the holes.  The best way to allow the rack to dry is to lean it on its side against a wall.  


Step 5:

Four hours later, the glue should be dry, stabilizing the rods.  Now you're ready to start arranging your scarves however you want!



 Finished Product:   
Your very own scarf palette! 

 

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

SPARKLE and RUST


An everyday outfit that makes a statement!

This multicolored necklace (Anthropologie) was the inspiration piece for today's colors.  The silk top (Banana Republic) is a similar hue from the lime green beads and the rust colored scarf is a reflection of the darker tones in the peach crystal stones.  If the kiwi green is too bright or a  hard color to pull off, you could definitely keep this same arrangement, but go for a cobalt blue or teal top (again, drawing from similar colors from the necklace).  Now with every short sleeve or sleeveless top, you have to think about what color long sleeve shirt to wear underneath.  A charcoal jersey knit (Gap) is the perfect neutral basic to choose.  Tarnished gold bangles and a peach crystal bracelet (J.Crew) are added for a little more sparkle!  For the bottom half, I kept it simple with chocolate strappy wedges (DV by Dolce Vita) and straight leg denim (Gap).


  

Style Tip of the Day: When you're coordinating an outfit, pick one multicolored accessory and let that piece do all the work for you!  Pull out colors from the beads or stones and then find similar shades for the scarf, top, and/or bottom. Just remember not to go too crazy with the bold colors.  You should always have a couple of neutral tones to balance your outfit.  


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Monday, February 11, 2013

COCOA and STRIPES


Maxi skirts. So happy that you can finally find them in bright, fashionable styles and colors.  I wear jeans almost every day, so it’s nice to mix it up once in a while!  


With a neutral-colored skirt, such as this cocoa chiffon one (Forever 21), you should go bold with your top.  I’ve belted the skirt and paired it with a tomato-red top (Forever 21). To add dimension to the outfit, I double wrapped a knit striped scarf (J.Crew) around the neck. The accessories should be simple, like these gold and black tear drop earrings. Now you’re probably wondering, what color scarf matches with cocoa, red, cream, and black? That’s easy….teal! This teal colored scarf is one of my favorites and matches with almost everything. Black flats (DSW) complete the outfit and help to tie in the stripes from the scarf.



   



Style Tip of the Day: Wearing scarves around the neck is super easy and a great addition to your outfit, but it could get a little annoying adjusting it throughout the day. My trick to keeping the scarf in place is by pinning either the scarf layers together or scarf to top (of course, the pins should be hidden underneath the top layer of the scarf). Straight pins are the best ones to use. I would advise against using safety pins, since they can leave large holes and pull on the threads of certain fabrics.




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Thursday, February 7, 2013

PEPLUM and LAPIS




Peplum. The trend that's feminine and chic that you've got to have! 

I chose a cream peplum sweater (Loft) as my inspiration piece and then worked my outfit around that. With a solid cream top, the choices of scarves are endless; so I decided to pair it with a yellow floral scarf (Forever 21).  To bring out the blues from the scarf and to add another pop of color, I accessorized the outfit with a layered lapis pendent (T.J.Maxx) and a scattered blue and pearl beaded necklace (J.Crew).  The scattered necklace originally had coral beads (which I wasn’t so crazy about) so I replaced them with square blue ones. The necklaces are simple enough, so you could definitely wear more jewelry.  A tortoise shell watch (Michael Kors) and antique gold and white ring are the perfect additions. For the bottom half, I went with my favorite jeans (Gap) and super comfy wedged booties (Lucky Brand). 



Style Tip of the Day: When you’re out shopping for jewelry; don’t be afraid to buy something you love with a minor fault.  You can always replace or add on beads, lengthen the chain, or add a pendent or brooch!


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