Bringing in the New Year with Vintage Sequins

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, I've got sequins on the brain.  For the holiday season I love sequins dresses from the 80s.  I'm not a girly girl, so I love balancing what otherwise might be super feminine with power shoulders.  And to avoid looking like a member of The Golden Girls or ironic hipster, I like to wear 80s dresses with modern pumps and booties.

If you're looking for the typical sexy New Year's Eve dress, you can stop reading this post now.  If you're open to trying something fun and funky, I hope you'll enjoy some of the vintage dresses I found on Etsy and the new shoes I've paired them with.

Vintage Adrianna Papell silk sequins dress, $88

Dolce Vita Kemp, $179.99 on sale (retail $189)

Vintage Laurence Kazar silk sequins dress with collar, $65

Eric Rothberg Rolv, $260

Rebecca Taylor Skylar, $149 on sale (retail $295)

Accessorize Your Collared Shirts

Collared shirts are great.  They add a little structure, and they're especially great when you work in a business casual environment.  In the past, I've worn my collared shirts with statement necklaces, but inspired by a recent trip to Denver, I've started borrowing from cowboys and ladies of the 80s.

Horse pin bolo tie, a souvenir from Denver landmark Rockmount Ranch Wear

Stud earrings worn as collar tips

Recycled Fashion: Vintage Finds

I love vintage shopping. Correction, I'm obsessed with vintage shopping.
1. Fashion recycles itself. Many runway trends borrow from previous decades.
2. It's fun. It's like a treasure hunt, and you can end up with something that feels one-of-a-kind.
3. It can be affordable. With some dedication and good luck, you can score some great deals.
In my last shopping post, I wrote a bit about the shopping in Chicago. The vintage shopping here is pretty great. It's less picked over than New York and full of gems. There are plenty of curated boutiques to browse and thrift stores to scour.
Here are a couple of my recent finds, inspired by items from my wishlist.

Whistles Hilda Leopard Collar Cardi, $170.72

I've become a bit obsessed with Peter Pan collars, specifically leopard, so I decide to buy a detachable collar that I could wear with a variety of cardigans and sweaters.

1940s collar from Etsy.com, $30
You can plenty of faux fur leopard collars on Etsy, both vintage and newly handmade for $20-$50. ModCloth has one that's a bit bigger than I would like, but priced under $20, it's an affordable option.

Collar of the Wild, $17.99
The other item on my wishlist was a pair of finely studded flats. Knowing that wearing heels daily isn't healthy, I find myself wearing heels more often than I'd like, so I've been on the hunt for a pair of classy flats.

Pour La Victoire Radley, $125.95 sale (retail $229.00)

Loeffler Randall Blaise, $325.00
Last weekend while I was helping my coworker search for jewelry to wear to a wedding, I came across these adorable vintage Anne Klein flats at Buffalo Exchange. They fit perfectly, so they were definitely meant to be!

1980s flats found at Buffalo Exchange Wicker Park, $14.00
For more vintage shopping tips, check out this old video from me and Erin entitled "How to Shop Vintage". It was one of our first videos, so it's a bit dated and sound quality isn't the best but the tips are still relevant!

Home Decor: Recent Purchases & Shopping List

If you follow me on Twitter @djlanilove, you may have seen a couple pictures of my recent home purchases.

Purchases
Nothing is quite as satisfying as organizing my jewelry collection or in this case my ring collection. I've been searching for cute ways to organize and display my accessories, and finally I found this deer head by imm Living.

I purchased mine from Naked Decor, but you can also find it at Belljar and Modcloth for $35.

Photo courtesy of my friend Foss&Felix Photography

While browsing Naked Decor, I came across these adorable LOVE coffee mugs, and since they were on sale for $19.95, I couldn't help but add them to my cart. Now they're on display in my kitchen beneath the birds. Love birds?


My apartment gets pretty cold at night, so I searched Amazon for flannel sheets and found these cute sheets for just $35. I love the print, and they keep me quite warm.

Shopping List
I've been eying this lovely piece from a seller on Etsy, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend $80 on a doormat. One day maybe, but probably not today.

Instead I might get this doormat from the New England Trading Company; it's made with repurposed lobster rope. I love the idea of reusing materials and lobster rope is super durable. At $40+ they're not cheap, but they're currently 20% off and a good value because they will last a long time.

The other thing on my shopping (wish) list are decorative pillows. My roommate and I finally bought a couch, so now it's time to decorate!
My friend Claudia makes these adorable geometric shaped pillows, and she scents them with dried lavender. Across from the couch, I have an Ikea Tylosand chair that would look great with a cube pillow - or is it pillow cube?

And for the couch itself, I'm thinking about a set of these Robin's Egg Blue pillows. The color is adorable, and you know, I'm obsessed with prints.

I'm also searching for some 3D wall decor to put on the wall above my bed.
I'm learning towards these wallflowers from Urban Outfitters, but I'm also into these delicate paper butterflies from Etsy. They're practically the same price $40 verses $34, so it's just a matter of which look I want. Decisions, decisions. What do you think?

iWant: Octopus Me

Maybe you’ve realized my love of the strange, the unexpected and the slightly dark when it comes to jewelry and other accessories. Maybe because when people see me they expect me to be this sweet girly girl and I suppose I can be at times, but I use accessories as an outward expression to signal that things are not always what they seem. I find contrast to be sexy, intriguing and captivating. Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to this fabulous ring that I found on the Etsy shop Octopus Me thanks to a discussion with my friend RY. I’m more than a little obsessed with the idea of tentacles wrapped around my little finger and the oxidized silver ring is the perfect interpretation. Unfortunately I’ve been shopping a bit incessantly lately and I’ll have to hold off on this obsession for now. But maybe you can indulge on this ring that can be work in multiple directions to create a new look and organic feel. If the ring doesn’t catch your fancy I’m also feeling the Baby Octopus Pendant! Delicious.

Tentacle Wrap Ring, $225.

Dupli-CAUGHT: Etsy vs. Target

Acrylic pendants and charms have been growing in popularity and availability over the past few years. Some of the first pieces I ever saw were from Alex & Chloe almost five years ago.

Since then I've seen a lot of sellers pop up on Etsy, and a few with "diamond" rings. These rings are pretty cute, but keep in mind they are totally 2D so they look like thin bars from the top.


3 Carat Diamond Ring by jujulee, $9.95


Laminated Bling Acrylic Ring by Weaselfactory, $12.50


Diamond Ring by cbtscloset, $8
Target has jumped on acrylic jewelry, selling sets of two rings $20. They're cute, but I prefer the ones from the Etsy sellers above with the cutouts because they look more like diamonds and less like little nubs.

Acrylic Diamond Silhouette, $19.99
While we're on the topic of acrylic rings, another one of my Etsy favorites is the mustache ring.

Mustache Ring by Isette, $9.00

Trends: Naturally Navajo

One of the trends that I noticed pop up during the Pre-Fall 2010 collections was in interest in the patterns, textures and colors of the Navajo Native American people. It may be subtle, like the fabric at Derek Lam and Matthew Williamson that is reminiscent of Navajo weaving & rugs. It could be playful and graphic like at Louis Vuitton or it could be almost literal like at Nicole Miller. The look seems to led itself to being paired with texture whether it be fur, fringe or feathers. One thing is clear, Navajo is hot so be on the lookout!

You can get the look now with these adorable earrings on Etsy by Beadlady 61.

Trends: Agate, Geode & Druzy

A trend I've been noticing recently has been drawn from nature and has ended up in retail stores are Rocks! Well not just any rocks but rocks that are layered, crystalline and colorful like agate, geode and druzy. I first noticed it on Marios Scwab's Fall RTW 09 collection but more recently in the prints from Alexander McQueen's current collection in stores. He created an agate print dress as well as accessories including this scarf. Yves Saint Laurent's current jewelry collection also includes agate in the form of the lovely purple earrings that seem to glow from within.

A more recent discovery for me is by jewelry designer Dara Ettinger whose fabulous jewelry includes this amazing gold dipped druzy geode ring. This is jewelry with a cause! For a limited time until March 31st, 2010, Dara Ettinger is donating 30% of all sales made on this website will go to support the rescue and relief efforts to the Haitian people. So feel good if you purchase :)

But if these options are a little out of reach, Etsy never fails to impress. My fave finds include this Maya pendant by eringotz, the brazillian necklace by anabananajewelryinc and these slice agate earrings by indiablue.

Trick or Treat: Not just for Kids

Sure we all know that ubiquitous McQueen Skull Scarf that is everywhere and even at one point imitated by Topshop. But what about checking out other sources for your creepy fun fix?
Whether you dress up for Halloween or not, these pieces grab my attention no matter what time of year it is. Maybe it's the somewhat Gothic imagery, pieces that are not so obvious what they are, or tongue-in-cheek factor here are some of my picks that work for more than just Halloween.

Paraphernalia - Anatomica Red Heart Necklace $25

I've loved Paraphernelia ever since it first launched on Etsy, but this red heart is a great new twist on an old favourite piece.

Button Diva - Anatomy Bones and Brains 1" Pinback Buttons $6.85 on Etsy

These black and ivory illustrations of anatomy would look super fun pinned on the lapel of a jacket or tote bag.

Jessica Hicks Web Earrings $250

This is a bit more of a splurge item but there is always some sort of beauty and strength in spider webs. These web earrings would definitely make a statement with whatever they're paired with.

Giles & Brother - Hook-fastening leather bracelet $125 on Net-a-Porter
This bracelet is so simple, but the knots and the fun hardware look anything but grim.

Michelle Chang Jewelry - Baby Skull Earrings in Sterling Silver $44 on Etsy

I've admired these studs for sometime, but previously they only came in a diamond eye version. Fortunately for the more budget conscious these skulls are well within reach.

Neurotica Bat Drape Dress $135 on Pixie Market

Neurotica always has fun prints and silhouettes, this Bat Drape Dress is no exception. The bats are definitely bats up close but from a distance look almost abstract.

Etsy Pick: dirtystory Jewelry

I love (and I mean love) arm jewelry, so I was pretty stoked when I found dirtystory on Etsy. Her store features lots of stunning arm cuffs - many made of old brass cuffs and some of newer aluminum ones. The details on her pieces are amazing, especially the peacock designs. And these pieces would be great for a summer boho luxe look, day or night.

Based on the feedback I read, it sounds like the cuffs would fit small wrists! That statement gets an exclamation point because I have freakishly small wrists, so it's always a challenge to find bangles or bracelets that won't fall off. You can't see, but I'm totally smiling and looking for my credit card right now.

Etsy Pick: Three Horses Fringe Necklaces

I'm feeling this fringe necklace from Three Horses on Etsy. I've been thinking about crafting a fringe necklace myself for awhile now, but I'm sure many of you can relate when I say there simply aren't enough hours in the day!

This necklace caught my attention with its fun colors and gradient. I'm a sucker for dip dye, and at $36 for a handcrafted piece, it may find its way into my collection soon.

Shop Vintage & Green With 20% Off

In honor of Earth Week, Etsy sellers of vintage are offering all kinds of vintage goodies from the Vintage Market Team at a discount of 20% or more, now through April 25th, 2009. Just type vmteamearth into the search engine under the vintage category to see over 800 items on sale.

Special Thanks to reader Siobhan for the amazing tip :)

Check out items like this awesome bow back dress that's only $18! Really wish it was in my size ;)

iLike 2ReVert Recycled Skateboard Necklace

I found this necklace on Etsy from husband and wife team, 2ReVert. And guess what? It's made with recycled materials. The charms are cut from old skateboards and sealed with non-toxic gloss. And because skateboards have two sides, not only are they one-of-a-kind pieces, they're a two-in-one necklace. Oh snap!

You can pick up the necklace from their Etsy store for $26, and while you're there, check out some their super cute earrings too!

Handmade Nation Film Premiere

"A new wave of craft is catching the attention of the nation. It has emerged as a marriage between historical technique, punk, and the DIY (do it yourself) ethos while being influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism, and art."

Attention New York craftsters, Handmade Nation is premiering in the city this week. In June 2006 director Faythe Levine set out with her one camera crew to document the indie craft movement, visiting 15 cities across the nation. Thursday night the documentary will premiere at the Museum of Art and Design, featuring segments on influential indie craft community members. Following the screening, Faythe Levine will be joined in a post-film panel discussion about the indie craft movement by artist Mandy Greer, and Kate Bingaman-Burt, Handmade Nation typographer.

Handmade Nation NYC Premiere and Director's Panel
Museum of Art and Design Theater
Thursday, February 12 6:30-8pm
2 Columbus Circle NYC
Tickets are available online at madmuseum.org - $15 for non-members, $13.50 for members.

Special thanks to Ruby for the tip!

Featured Friend: Brit

Meet Brit. Her style is vintage, girly, and bohemian. She's usually in a vintage (or vintage-inspired) dress or skirt, but from time to time, I'll see her in jeans. Whatever the ensemble, her style always comes through.

I choose to feature this outfit because it's a perfect example of how accessories can make a look. She started with a basic white tunic and slim black jeans, and by throwing on statement pieces like the scarf, bangle and red boots she created a look of her own. I also love that Brit's outfit was cohesive without being matchy matchy. Her scarf, boots, clutch, and coat weren't the same color but all had shades of red or blue - not to mention their own story, very bohemian.

The piece that caught my attention was the scarf. I found it amusing and fascinating that she managed to find a 1950's floral keffiyeh. She didn't actually find it. It was a gift from her friend Melissa. You can check out more of Melissa's scarves and designs at her shop on etsy.com.

Embellished print scarf - melissaloschy.etsy.com
Multi-color coat - Kenzi, a gift from Mom
White tunic - Min Chan Hollywood, a hand me down from a friend
Silver bangle - vendor at Pike Street Market in Seattle
Red leather boots - Aldo from a couple years ago
Blue leather clutch - a hand me down from from Grandma

Trend Report: Fun & Fabulous Hair Accessories

LuLu's Wood Nymph Feathered Headband $22
Hot Topic Mini Feather Cocktail Hat $19.99
Pluma Jessica Headband $48
Urban Outfitters Bow and Chain Barrette $18
Chapeau Claudette Wool Take A Bow Hat £31.32
Forever 21 Silk Rose Headband $7.80

In my opinion, headbands and hair accessories never really went out of style. Girls just forgot about them until the adorable Blair Waldorf and the Gossip Girl crew came along.

Mini hats, cocktail veils, fancy feathers, ribbons and bows, we love it all. Hair accessories are great because they are an easy way to jazz up an outfit. They're especially great for girls with super straight hair because they add some volume and texture to a look. You may remember seeing me and Erin rocking some feather headbands in previous Style Diary posts.

We made the headbands ourselves with some glue, sewing, and some serious patience. But with the trend spreading like wildfire, you can find accessories just about anywhere - Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Etsy.com, and even Hot Topic. Ha! Yes, really.