Halloween: A DIY Journey

This year was Noah’s first Halloween and I really wanted to get into it. I found the cutest shark costume for him online and decided make it a family theme costume – something I vowed never to do but was suddenly excited about. Instead of three sharks I thought it would be fun to do a shark, mermaid, and pirate. This is my mermaid costume DIY journey. Nothing ever goes as smoothly as it seems like it should on Pinterest.

I’ll start by saying my most favorite costume that I ever wore growing up was the mermaid costume I donned in kindergarten. I only remember a few things from that year; making donuts in class, pretending to sleep during naptime, and my mermaid costume. It was modeled after The Little Mermaid, as most mermaid costumes are. My mother sewed it for me. It was a dress; the top, a nude tank top with purple sparkling shells sewn on, and a shiny green skirt with fins on the bottom. The fins stuck out to the sides and would have been pretty convincing if not for my feet peeking out. On my feet I wore my favorite purple peep-toe jellies, which I wore everyday and still think of.

As a 30 year old adult with a small infant to take care of, I didn’t think I’d have time for a full on sewing project. Especially since I’d never sewn on a sewing machine and didn’t own one (you’ve seen my Instagram and know where this is going). I started by scouring the internet for inspiration and a no sew tutorial. There was quite a variety of costumes based on mermaids, from hipster Ariel to sexy mermaid (just Google search "mermaid costume" under images. Kim K was a hot mess as a mermaid and this one girl totally nailed Ariel including the dinglehopper). I found a tutorial on Martha Stewart online by Christian Siriano, a fashion designer and former Project Runway winner (in case you didn’t know). Throughout the tutorial he used encouraging words and phrases like, “simply” “your local craft store” “easily” “just like that” and “hot glue”. This was it! I made a shopping list based on this simple and easy no sew project as promised to me by Martha and Christian.

My local craft store. Funny I never considered whether or not there was a craft store in Kuwait City. There isn’t. We have a fabric souk, stationary supply store, and True Value. The fabric souk seemed the most promising of the three and I enlisted the help of an expert sewer and crafty friend who knows the souk well. It took several visits, but eventually I got some fabric. It was not what Mr. Siriano recommended. They didn’t have organza or stretchy teal fabric anywhere at the souk. I did find one that was made of gold tinsel and red thread, which looked like salmon scales and got totally side tracked. I ended up buying this thinking I’d hot glue it together to make a skirt (wrong). I also bought chiffon thinking it was see-through like organza. this was also a fail, too heavy and not enough body for fins. Tulle would have been a better substitute in case you are thinking of going in the same direction.

Things got more complicated. Having no craft store to simply buy shells from I had to order something online. There wasn’t much and it was hard to determine what exactly I was getting in a 5 pound bag of seashells for $20 on Amazon. In addition, I realized that with a frequently nursing baby who needs to be held at all times, shells on my chest might not be the right choice. Thwarted again. This is where my kindergarten costume became the inspiration. And I bought a sewing machine.

For a first sewing project usually people go with a pillow or a set of napkins. Me on the other hand, I like a challenge, especially when I’m sleep deprived. What started as something I could just hot glue turned into a full on sewing venture. A friend of mine recommended taking classes on Craftsy.com to start my journey. I decided to make a pencil skirt with my fabric and let the costume go from there.

I ventured back to the fabric souk to collection notions with a new project checklist. Once my sewing machine arrived, I panicked upon reading the instructions. Well, trying to read the instructions. Noah was bouncing in my lap, trying to grab and eat them. It all seemed too much. I let the machine sit on the counter for several days before diving in.

Then after taking my measurements, I nearly fainted and it took several more days for me to get the courage to continue. “Don’t let the numbers upset you,” the Craftsy instructor said. How could they not?!

During this time my mother came to town for a visit. As an expert sewer herself she offered to watch Noah for me and encouraged me to continue my efforts despite having to make our own pattern when we realized the one that came with the class was too small (I just about laid on the floor and cried).

 

Keeping in mind the original Christian Siriano tutorial, I bought the recommended shape wear top to hot glue the shells on (before deciding to go in another direction). Besides not having shells to glue onto it, they don’t make those suckers in DDD. My breasts were spilling out. This is not as sexy as you are imagining - my nursing pads were spilling out too. Luckily my mom remembered how she made the shells on my costume 25 years ago and we improvised the rest of the outfit from there.

In theory, sewing isn’t really complicated. Once I got into it, I understood what I was doing and actually enjoyed using the machine. However, sewing tinsel proved rather challenging. So did removing erroneous seams when I did such a good job matching the thread color to the one in the skirt. My thoughts went from “I’m amazing! Once I finish this project, I’ll design my whole wardrobe and I will look fantastic and stylish!” to “WTF is going on? WHY why did I choose to sew TINSEL for my first sewing project? If the needle pulls the fabric one more time I’m going to light this on fire and take a nap.”

A lot of discussion, heartache, and sewing trial and error brought us to a pencil skirt with a short peplum and a nude body shaper with ruched fabric sewn as shells. This was not at all what the original was supposed to be. Nor did it scream mermaid (looking at the pictures now, I think it did but not at the time). No matter how I styled it, I looked like a 1950s housewife going to a Halloween party. I looked like my grandmother going to a Halloween party. My figure, already considered “womanly” now post-baby is overwhelmingly so. It is not the slight boyish figure of the girls modeling their mermaid costumes on Pinterest. I tried to embrace it, after all you’ve to go work with what you have, but in the end left the house wearing a blue t-shirt with my fishtail skirt.

Even so, my costume miraculously proved successful. When we finally arrived at the family Halloween Party, everyone got the picture that I was a mermaid accompanying my little shark - who stole the show anyways! I even got several compliments on the skirt. Although nothing went as smoothly as promised, it was definitely a learning experience and I am grateful for it. I won’t burn the skirt after all.

Have you ever tried a DIY project after seeing a tutorial online? How did it go?

Wardrobe Staple: Grey T-shirt and Jeans

As some of you may know, I kind of have an obsession with wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans. Some of you (like Meg and Katherine) are even in the boat with me. To me this simple, yet chic, ensemble can be worn while working from home, running errands, meeting friends out for dinner, ladies night, date night, or traveling. There are many variations on the theme ranging from super casual light denim and baggy tourist t-shirts to paper-thin tops tucked into dark high-waisted skinnies. You can go full on bling, cowgirl style, or throw on a pair of boyfriend jeans with sandals for a day of playing tourist. 

I like a grey t-shirt versus a white one, because its more modest and I don't have to worry about what I'm wearing underneath. For instance, do you need a nude bra or strapless? It doesn't matter with a grey tee - just throw one on with anything and get out the door.

What I like about it too is that I can wear a variation based on a destination and know that I'll feel comfortable and stylish no matter where I go. Boyfriend jeans for post beach days in Florida, boot cut for dancing in Nashville, dark high-waisted skinnies for shopping in Paris or lunch in Tokyo. You get the idea.

Here are some of my go-to combinations, details after the images...

Look one:
American Apparel t-shirt, low rise bootcut jeans by Wrangler (similar here), Kate Spade peep toe pumps (similar here and here)

Look two:
Tourist tee from Cambodia, Club Monaco light wash mid-rise skinnies (similar here and here), Club Monaco bag (similar, and this one, and here too), Minnetonka Moosehide Driving Moc

Look Three:
Henley (old Urban Outfitters, similar here, and here), Gap boyfriend jeans, Target white and gold sandals, Clare Vivier handbag (updated versions here, here and another tote here)

Look Four:
JCrew vintage v-neck cotton tee, BlankNYC high-waisted denim, JCrew Janey flat, She's Unique gold ring, vintage bangles

Wardrobe Staple: Chambray Button Up

It seems like Gman and I are always getting ready for a trip, on a vacation, or just coming home from one. I like to see new places and visits friends, and each new place has a style all its own. The problem with all that travel is that people in all those different places have different styles. Although it sounds fun, trying to buy a new wardrobe before each trip is both time consuming and eats into my budget for the trip itself. So I decided a few years ago to start building a wardrobe that could be flexible enough to meet the needs of my daily life while also looking stylish and put together no matter where I am. I needed pieces that would look good whether I was living in NYC and visiting Paris or living in DC visiting Buenos Aires. This way I can pack according to the local style (conservative, chic, cold or hot) but also save a little bit of money for a souvenir or spa treatment while on vacation. My wardrobe is by no means complete (after all, I love to shop!) but I do feel like I've gotten to a place where packing for a trip or picking out what to wear for work is no longer a dreaded process (I still have breakdowns now and then, I mean, who doesn't?) 

I'd love to share what I've learned along the way with you. I’d like to expand the wardrobe series on the blog to not include what to pack for a noted destination but also what to have in your closet already so you can jet off in a moment’s notice. I will show you how to style the pieces as well as items in various price points in case you are interested in giving it a go yourself.

It’s important to have classic pieces that you can build on or style with accessories, bags, and shoes. This way you can play with trends if you’d like but really focus on investing in staples that don't go out of style. My goal is to purchase items for my closet that I can use for many years to come no matter where I am. 

I’d like to begin with one of my favorite shirts in my wardrobe: my chambray button up. I purchased the one I’m wearing in the pictures in the spring of 2010. I used to frequent Club Monaco so much when I lived in NYC that I had a designated salesman I worked with when I went in (embarrassing at first, but then oh so helpful!). During one visit, he convinced me that a soft denim oversized button up was the way to go. He paired it with a crepe mini skirt and promised I would be shocked at the versatility of the blouse. 

Three years later it is the most loved shirt in my closet and has been on almost every trip with me. I wear it to the office with black trousers or a nice pencil skirt. I pair it with brightly colored pants for going out or just with boyfriend jeans on the weekends. I’ve used it as a jacket while in Key West and as a layer while snow skiing in Colorado. It’s been a cover-up by the pool and a backdrop for statement necklaces. Its also very comfortable on long flights. I can't think of an occasion I haven't worn it for. After three years of wearing the same shirt at least once a week, I recently purchased the Club Monaco Carter Shirt. It is getting softer with each wash and I couldn't be happier with it. I also have my eye on several from Madewell, which has an entire section of their website and store dedicated to the chambray cause. Huzzah! 

If you are interested in adding a chambray shirt to your wardrobe, you're in luck! They are trendy right now so the selection is fantastic. Here are some of my favorites in various price points...

Clockwise from top left:
1. TEXTILE Elizabeth and James Bianca Shirt $215
2. Madewell Rivet & Thread Workshirt $98
3. Madewell Perfect Chambray Ex-boyfriend Shirt $69.50
4. Leith Relaxed Chambray Shirt $58 (on sale for $34.80!)
5. Club Monaco Carter Shirt $98.50 (on sale for $49!)
6. Madewell Dotted Chambray Boyshirt $72
7. JCrew Keeper Chambray Shirt $78
8. Club Monaco Tatumn Denim Shirt $139.50

While I was away...

After a chaotic week in South Florida then a weekend visit from my mother-in-law, I'm finally getting back into the swing of things back in DC. While I was away, the lovely Hitha of Hitha On The Go included me in her series En Route With... where she interviews travel bloggers and frequent travelers about their packing habits, and airport, and airplane rituals. I pretty much go through the exact same process every time I get ready for a trip. What do you do?

Nicole Aguirre is taking the creative world in DC by storm with her forthcoming The Dream Issue of Worn Magazine and recently launched Worn Creative. I was so flattered when I stopped by her pop-up shop at the DC MEETMarket a few weeks ago and she asked to take my picture. Check it out here. (PS - I had the leather jacket I'm wearing in Nicole's photo custom made by hand in Buenos Aires! I love having a bit of my experience there with me wherever I go. Could there be a better souvenir?)

Style Outtakes from The Magazine

I had a lot of fun shooting my first editorial for High Heeled Traveler, The Magazine. The inaugural issue explores the concept of "home" and I wanted to talk about home in the context of travel. Besides referring to my hotel room as "home" while I'm away, that last leg of the voyage - when you get off the plane but you still have to drive to your house or hop in a taxi - is the most exhausting and always seems to last forever. As soon as I walk in the door I throw down my bags and take off all my makeup. Then I strip down, shower (to get the stale plane feeling off), then put my pajamas on. Gman unpacks his bags immediately then starts the laundry. Another one of my friends does her laundry while on vacation and when she get's home she unpacks clean clothes that are already folded and ready to be put away.

Here are some outtakes from the story in the mag, a little peek inside just for you. What do you do when you get home after a long day of travel?

Purchase a copy of High Heeled Traveler, The Magazine here to see the full story.

and last but not least...

Wardrobe: What I Wore to NYFW

Here's what I wore to NYFW. You may have already had a glimpse through Instagram. Not as lady-like as I imagined for my first time; I was quite possibly the only one wearing Patagonia! I was, however, very warm and comfortable all day long. Some women had their legs exposed and no sweaters. What were they thinking?! I wanted to wear something I could stand outside in for hours so I could capture the excitement without freezing to death. I also packed my bags and ran out the door in less than an hour, so considering that I'm pretty happy with this look.

As a high heel enthusiast, I was disappointed I couldn't wear them but there was a blizzard after all! I've had those combat boots since high school and it was fun to give them new life. 

For a shot of me in full photographer action, check out Cheralee's recap over on her blog, Miss Lyle Style. 

Coat: Patagonia, scarf: DeNada Design, sweater: Gman's, denim: Joe's Jeans, bag: Madewell (similar), boots: army/navy surplus store, Lipstick: my new fav shade from NARS

Destination: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC

Tadashi Shoji

Photog pit

Tadashi Shoji finale 

“Are there any notable VIPs you’d like us to shoot?” Two male photographers were standing near me talking to the stage manager. She was in charge of making sure things ran smoothly and on time backstage. She wore her dark hair sleeked back in a low bun, bright red lipstick, and head to toe black. Many of the photographers backstage were men. Most looked to be in their mid-thirties to mid-fifties and they had the grungy-fashionable-artist thing down to a science.

Their photography equipment ranged widely and was as personalized as each of their tattoos, piercings and beards. Some had zoom lenses, others specially rigged homemade flashes, and some were following around TV hosts.

Two and a half hours before the show the models were starting hair and makeup. There are generally around 40 models per show (one had 200 (!) and others only 10) and each one was assigned to a hairdresser, makeup artist, and dresser. The teams worked quickly and efficiently to get the models ready. Everyone woke up by 4am for the 9am runway show. The models ate bits of breakfast, drank coffee, and played on their phones while being transformed.

Two hours before the show press was admitted behind the scenes for interviews with the designer(s) and a glimpse of hair and makeup. The tent began to resemble controlled chaos as editors, assistants, and managers rushed back and forth and photographers swarmed the already crowded beauty zone. Constant chatter and camera flashes distracted my eyes and ears around the room. It was hard to focus on one person for too long.

Thirty minutes before the show the models were whisked away to get changed with their assigned dresser, who ensured their ensemble met all the designers’ specifications. The entire morning was energized with music pumping through the speakers. The models were lined up behind the runway in order and bounced from foot to foot waiting to make their debut. I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to stand or what I was admitted to do, but somehow quietly made my way to the perfect spot where I could see the models just as they were going out onto the runway. I wondered what went through their heads as they prepared themselves to walk. Then the lights turned off, the music started, and the spotlights flashed. The first girl stepped out, turned, and kicked off Fashion Week. As each model returned backstage, they quickly changed to another outfit or lined up for the finale. 10 minutes after it started, the show was over. Celebration was saved for the very last moment. Everyone backstage clapped with self-congratulation for a flawless job well done. And just like that, it was on to the next.

The chaos consumed me as I tried my best to be a fly on the wall and just take it all in. I never attended a fashion show, let alone had the courage to walk past Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and now I was backstage at the first show on opening day.

Hiding from blizzard Nemo

Two months earlier I was flipping through Vogue and decided enough was enough. It was now or never, I needed to do everything I could to get to New York City and attend a fashion show. It was a lifelong dream. One of those bucket list items you make when you are 12 years old while flipping through your first Vogue, you are captivated with a powerful woman dressed in a white YSL pantsuit. The urge was so strong that I could think of little else.

A few of my friends go to Fashion Week regularly and tried to give me some tips on how to go. But it was generally a blind effort on my part, emailing many, many people and applying for press credentials. It was no from every angle. It was too late. Most people made their fashion week arrangements before Christmas and by mid-January the press boxes were full, credentials denied, and no after no after no. I booked a bus ticket anyways, hoping to be a part of the scene and maybe get some street style pictures for the blog. I planned on going up Friday morning and staying through Monday.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon at 4:02 pm I received an email with the subject “BACKSTAGE CONFIRMATION: Nickolas K, Noon by Noor.” I couldn’t believe my eyes! My heart started racing and adrenalin rushed through my veins. Nickolas K was at 9am the next morning, with backstage access starting at 7am. I started panicking, I had hours to book a train, find a place to stay, and pack my bags. Thanks to Gman’s help, three hours later I was sitting on a train, camera in tow, filled with anticipation.

Backstage at Nickolas K

Before a fashion show, the stylish people poured into the tents, after making their way through frenzy of photographers. For the early shows, they too had been up in the wee hours of the morning to get ready. People joke about “#fashionweekproblems” but its really true! Each show is an emotionally and mentally stimulating rush of inspiration lasting about 10 minutes. If you don’t have a ticket, the waiting in line for each one is exhausting. Your mind races while you wait - Will we get into the show? What will it be like? Who will be there? Will my camera’s battery last? How does my hair look? Once you do get tickets and step inside, the important fashion industry people are already there, settling themselves into place and probably getting their picture taken. Then the lights go down, the music starts, and the first model steps out to the middle of the runway and makes her way towards the clamoring pit of photographers. Before you can fully take her in, the next one comes out, then another, and if you look to long or not long enough you miss it. Throughout the day you go from show to show without much regard for food or sitting until you suddenly realize eight hours in how incredible starving you are. And how much your feet hurt from heels (I imagine. I planned ahead and wore comfortable boots).

A runway presentation is something we have all seen before through the magic of TV and Internet. I used to watch Video Fashion into the wee hours of the night. Back when the production budget was a camera on a tripod at the end of the catwalk. Afterwards they would go backstage and interview the designers and celebrities. How could you not want to be a part of something that exciting?

But being there in person is different. Its something you haven’t seen before and not just because the presentation is new. Each one has a different vibe, different air, ambiance, sounds, and crowd (I’m terrible at spotting famous people, so I really couldn’t tell you who was there). The fabrics and textures blew my mind, laser cut leather that looked like lace on evening dresses at Tadashi Shoji, carefully draped jersey at Nickolas K, and wool beanies with silk dresses at Candela. Woven textiles, cotton, nylon, lace, wool, and cashmere all saturated with such vibrant colors that under the weight of being soaked in dye, the fabric looked like it would slip off the model and into a puddle on the ground. It reignited my passion for clothes in a very real way.

Fashion is bigger to me than the next big thing. It’s bigger than pointed toe shoes versus round toe or blazers versus denim jackets. Those are trends. Those can be fun. But fashion is style. Fashion is a passionate creative process that pushes the bounds of what we can do with technology and how we dress our bodies. It says something about our culture and it is very tangible. I felt like I belonged in those tents. I felt peaceful. I felt the weight of a life long dream lifted from my soul, making room for more dreams to be realized.

Carlis givin' me some sass

my beautiful friends: Sara, Carlis, Natalie, Erika, Cheralee, Katya

Serious Shoe Love