D.I.Y. time again...

As you know, I'm a huge fan of DIY projects, especially when it involves clothing or accessories. One of my favorite sites ever, BurdaStyle, an excellent on-line community/open source for people who sew "with style," continually posts new creation ideas and how-to's in addition to hosting a space for cool, creative people all over the world to share their own stuff.

This week, BurdaStyle introduced a super-easy project for a chic, eclectic accessory - the Susanne Necklace. The coiled fabric beads require no sewing at all, perfect for those new to DIY and/or too busy/excited/impatient yet still wish to be uber-fashionable.

Love the gold spandex fabric and leather cord, but there are a gazillion different possibilities for this (colors, fabrics, sizes) to make it your own or as a gift! I can already picture this seriously dressing up a t-shirt, tank or casual dress. After all, elevating existing basics is what we're all about, right?

And won't you feel cool when someone asks you where you got your necklace? It might go something like this:

Gushing Girl: "OMG! Such a great necklace! Where did you get it?"
You: "You won't believe this, but I MADE it."
Now Jealous Girl: "No way, really? You are so crazy talented/gorgeous/cool that I can never, ever compete."
You: "Oh, stop." (Insert secret grin here)

Now go roll up your sleeves and bust out your glue guns girls - fashion isn't always found at the store!

New wardrobe essential alert...

Finally, the trend of volume and draping has made its way into mainstream fashion! Not only is it more comfortable, but it is often more flattering and interesting - 3 things that are great for anything you have to wear for more than a couple of hours.

Take, for example, your basic t-shirt. While that standard white, ribbed neckline and tiny pocket version may still work as a classic, why not update it a bit for your every day AND going out wear? Try something with much more volume and in an unusual color (gray? fuschia?), some new details (ruffles? pintucks?) and more luxe materials (bamboo jersey? silk?). Then pair it with the usual - a little pencil or mini skirt, jeans, shorts or the UNusual - a suit or leggings, maybe...

I especially like the look of reining in some of the blousiness with a wide or skinny belt or layering a bunch of long necklaces over the top of it, turning a basic outfit into something much more special.

Need some examples?

American Apparel Viscose Dolman Sleeve T
Anthropologie Captured Furrows Tee
Splendid Jersey V-Neck
Free People Draped Scoop Muscle Tee

Now, newly inspired, give your closet a new definition for t-shirt!

Oh, oh UNIQLO...

It's been said that if you were to take H&M and American Apparel + add a dash of Japanese fashion flair, you'd get UNIQLO. If you love the Euro and/or Japanese feel in your fashion and have a serious addiction to solid colors and well-made, affordable, comfy basics that you can make your own, this is the place to go.

The Japanese characters for UNIQLO sound like "U-NI-KU-RO" which is, to a Japanese ear, the shortened version of "unique clothing." "Clothes as lifestyle components" is the Japanese retailer's mantra, and I'm so loving that this Tokyo-based export wants us to be part of its world!

Unfortunately for us American ladies, the only U.S. store is the NYC SOHO Store, the brand's largest retail outlet in the world. Thank goodness for the Internet!

UNIQLO's website layout is pretty genius - super-clear pictures, great tidbits of global fashion snapshots, fun interactive features and search tools that are ridiculously easy to use and make a lot of sense (a combination that is very rare in online shopping these days).

Some of my favorites are:

*DI Shipley & Halmos Waist Sache Dress
*DI Shipley & Halmos Sleeveless Dress
*EFC Hooded S/S T Tunic
*LTWT CNT Stretch Layered Dress
*Dry Stretch Full Zip Parka
*Illustrators S/S Graphic T

Now go explore the rainbow!

Angel of Cool...

I first discovered Angel D'Amico when perusing Etsy.com for some interesting new finds to share with my fellow fashion junkies. Her etsy shop, AD Love, sells one-of-a-kind, hand dyed, hand screen-printed wearable works of art that are so urban-chic that you can't help but hear your own soundtrack in your head while you wear them. Plus, she prints on a lot of American Apparel basics - bonus!

D'Amico is a Chicago-based freelance illustrator and designer with a BFA in Visual Communications. She not only creates an incredibly wide range of artwork but also plays and composes music and designs/illustrates TrueStar Magazine, a magazine dedicated to keeping teens off the street with an after-school program that gives them real experience in the media field.

So, in other words, she's a pretty amazing, creative, one-woman army of cool. Find out more about her on her website.

Pssst! AD Love is having a $35 hoodie and sweatshirt sale only for January. I suggest you get your online shopping fingers tapping now...