Style Me Green: fashion

Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts

DIY OMBRE T-SHIRT

I am FINALLY getting to some of the DIY projects that have been cluttering up my office. We've had a super busy, fun-filled summer- and between buying a new car, and our summer road trips we finally had an easy weekend at home. This project takes about 15 min. plus running it through the wash. If I had more time I would have boiled my own dye, but I was using this same tub of leftover dye to fix some shirts that got ruined in the wash, so I just used that dye for this project. If you have the time and patience I recommend making your own natural dye, here is a link.

Supplies:
T-shirt
Dye
Basin/sink
Rubber Gloves
Hanger
Hair Clips

Directions:
1. Follow the instructions for mixing your dye, and be sure to read the safety and cleaning labels because when they say it will dye your sink purple, they don't lie. (Stainless is easier to clean than white porcelain, so line your sink with a wash tub if you are unsure.)
2. I got my t-shirt wet first, and used a chip clip and a hair clip to hold back the sleeves from the dye. Hang your shirt on a hanger and slowly begin to fold it into the dye.
3. Once you have reached the desired height of your color lift your shirt out, you only want the color at the top of the shirt to be submerged for about 1 second.
4. Slowly pull the shirt out, I mentally divided it into 3 parts and let the shirt sit for about 3 min. at each level. At this point I felt like the bottom looked great, but that the line between the white and the first bit of color was too harsh, so I diluted my dye with some water, and I dipped it back in about an inch above my previous line. (it was so much better, so I recommend this technique for blending the color into the white.)
5. Then empty your dye and rinse the shirt until the water runs clear. Make sure you don't let the dye run into the white part of the shirt while rinsing. Hold the shirt with the white on top and let the faucet run through the dye until its clear. (If you have a sprayer on your sink it helps to use this too.)
6. Wash the shirt according to your dye instructions. Be aware that the white part of your shirt will probably get some of the dye run off in the washing machine, but that it's not a lot, or even enough to really worry about, and it helps the shirt look more blended overall, and not like stripes. You can see in the last two images above the shirt before washing and after washing.

HALLOWEEN 2012 COSTUME IDEAS

I hate store bought Halloween costumes. I get that they are super convenient, and they can look just like Spider-man or Cinderella-- but I love coming up with a fun costume idea, and spending time finding or making all of the pieces and parts that go into it. This year I was racking my brain as to what to go as, but as soon as we saw Moonrise Kingdom I knew exactly what our 2012 costumes would be:

Three years ago John and I went as the statue of Liberty and Mt. Rushmore. It was my favorite costume to make and was basically free, we were only out a can of black and green spray paint, and 2 sheets of foam board! We still have the mask and crown just in case we find ourselves in a costume pinch!

We have some friends who always come up with the best costumes ever... as you can see here:

And if you still are stumped for some fun make at home costumes try out some of these ideas:

Mary Poppins

Bandits

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Cast of Mad Men

VEGAN BOOTS

I have had to come to the reality that fall really is here last week when I need a jacket for my short walk to work. Of course I haven't gotten any of my fall/winter clothes out of storage. I have been dreading having to say good bye to the summer sun, but there is one thing I have been looking forward to. BOOTS! I love boots, well shoes in general. But I started searching the web for a great new pair of brown boots that were eco-friendly and I found so many styles I ended up loving. Of course half way through my search I had to go into the office and "hide" because John was catching onto my plan. I just have to start typing in the phrase "target" into the search engine and he takes away my computer. I am (maybe) addicted to online "window shopping" I ended up finding a great pair, for a steal. Here are some of the other finds I was loving. Click images for link.

GIVEAWAY: FUTURE STANDARD

I am excited to announce the August Giveaway, and it's right in time for all your back-to-school fashion needs! We are giving one lucky reader a $75 gift certificate to Future Standard. Jessica Althoff is the founder of Future Standard, an online boutique that provides ethical clothing and accessories. I love their motto, "We do not compromise on style and do not think our values should get in the way of looking great."

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Like Style me Green AND Future Standard on Facebook

2. After you've done these 2 things leave a comment below stating how you would use your gift card, if you don't have a blog or google account please leave an email with your comment, so we can notify you if you're the winner!
FOR AN EXTRA ENTRIES
1. Follow Style me Green on twitter/pinterest, be sure to leave an additional comment on this post (up to 2 extra entries).

2. Mention this giveaway on twitter/facebook/personal blog, be sure to leave an additional comment on this post (up to 3 extra entries).

3. Pin this giveaway on pinterest, be sure to leave an additional comment on this post (up to 1 extra entry).

The giveaway ends Monday August 27th at 11:59 PM.
One winner will be selected using random.org and will be notified by email!

*Remember you have to comment to be entered, if you don't comment you can't win.

ECO SWIMWEAR

Memorial day is just around the corner, which means one thing. Swimsuit season is upon us. Soon we will be in the line at the market staring at the headless photos of celebrities who had the best and worst beach bodies. To ensure you are all toned up and in shape we shared a beach-ready workout on Wednesday, but today I want to share some great swimming suits with you. All eco-friendly options.

Eco Swim by Aqua Green

The line can be found at stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s and Everything But Water. You can find a complete store listing here. They have great modest options and mix and match pieces.

Kelly B has some fun and modern looks in her latest collection

This Vintage-inspired polka dot bikini by Kathrine Hamnett is available at YooX but they are going fast!

LAIDBACK LONDON SHOES

This weekend we ended up pet-sitting and my little bedroom DIY spruce has taken a backseat. So instead I did a little online sandal shopping, which means my feet will have to come out of winter hibernation! I found this great brand that not only looks fab, but all of their shoes are handmade by Kenyan artisans. Laidback London is a company committed to sourcing raw materials locally where possible and using various recycled materials including scrap metal, brass and bone to embellish their sandals. They work closely with local artisans, training them with new skills and offering ongoing support, and making sure the workers receive a fair wage. The employment created and income generated helps improves lives and has a significant impact on the local communities.

ECO STYLE: COPY KATE

Duchess Cathrine has such great style, but who wouldn't if you were married to a prince right? I love this look on her, maybe because I love kelly green, maybe because I love nude heels. Here's how to pull it all together with some earth friendly accessories.

HARDWARE STORE CHIC: JEWELRY

I love this trend that I've seen lately for DIY jewelry made from things like nuts, bolts, washers, rope, and cord. It seems so easy and chic. Check out these awesome tutorials, I bet most of us already have most of the supplies, I know I can't wait to start digging through John's toolbox and see what I can make.

image via

DIY COLORBLOCK BAG

DIY: Colorblock Bag
From 3.1 Phillip Lim to Chloé, we've been seeing lots of colorblocked bags on the runway. Check out this DIY on how to make your very own colorblock purse!

For this DIY you'll just need spray paint, tape, and an old or used purse! Wipe the surface of the purse gently. Tape off all of the parts of the purse you don't want to add color to (including the clasps). Place the purse on newspaper and spray a coat on the area you want to color. Let it dry and then apply a second coat. Wait for the second coat to dry before showing off your awesome runway-inspired DIY to your friends.

Thanks to @handmademoon for the awesome DIY!

ECO STYLE: GLAM

Looking for a great date night look, or just a night out. There are so many great options out there these days. I have a soft spot for sequins, and pockets in dresses, so this little shift stole my heart. Pair a colored dress with nude heels and simple gold jewelry and you've got the look.