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Fashion - Fall 2011 Couture Fashion Shows, Part 1

Fashion show slide shows are available on Style.com

I just wanted to record my "first thought" on each of these shows. You know, the first opinion that pops in your head when you see and interesting piece. Honestly, I wasn't blown away with beauty and awe from these first 5 shows. Some I didn't consider couture at all while others were too wacky to be pretty. There are a few pieces I liked but they were generally half of the look. Check out the slides.

Alexis Mabille

Doesn't she look like a bond villain? Not a fan.

Not one part of this dress fits this model. I'm not sure that this dress would fit anyone actually.

Did she lose her top? Where did this look come from?

Is this and evil fairy queen? Gorgeous but confusing.

What a mess!

Anne Valerie Hash

Boring student work.

Love the drape of this top but I am bored by this skirt.

Armani Prive

Ancient Asian Cougar

I love the abstract print but I hate the headdress. Why Armani? Why?

Kio Chic

Azzedine Alaia

Hey! Something I like! I would wear a less-full version of this dress-jacket all winter.

Does this one have worms?

I love the girlie silhouette of this full skirt.

Bouchra Jarrar

Oh good, more boy's prep school looks. A little too much slouch.

Unless this has some amazing seaming on the inside, I'm not sure why this dress is in a couture show.


More shows to come!

Eat - Baked Cake Donuts

The other day I came across this recipe on Alisa Burke's blog. I LOVE cake donuts and this seemed so easy I knew I had to make them right away.

I can't lie, hers are much prettier than mine, but I don't own a donut pan. Instead I made baked cake donut muffins...which I think are just called cupcakes...but the recipe is delicious in any form!

Here are mine right out of the oven (9 min bake time!)

And here they are after being dipped in melted butter and cinnamon-sugar!

I think we've already eaten about 10 of them...2 for boyfriend and 8 for me :P
<3 these! PS - In case you were wondering the nutritional facts, I measured them out for you on MyFitnessPal.com. These are the the tiny versions. The larger donuts are approx 300 calories each. I think the smaller, 75 Cal servings make me feel better...until I do the math haha! I added the cinnamon-sugar glaze in there too, so if you don't do that part, ignore the last 3 lines.

Harry Potter and DIYs

First off - OMG I'm going to see that movie probably 5 more times.
Second off - I went totally nerdy on this one and made myself a tshirt and a snitch necklace so I would be the coolest girl there. It worked!

I borrowed the idea from this tutorial I mentioned yesterday.

So I tried my 'gel' bleach pen. Looks pretty cool in the 'before photos right?

WRONG! Bleach gel apparently doesn't change the color of a 100% cotton block tshirt...

So I tried again with regular bleach and a paintbrush. This worked pretty well until the bleach deteriorated my brush. Pretty cool actually.

2nd project! I really wanted a dainty little golden snitch necklace. Well...so much for dainty. Hobby lobby really let me down on this one. They didn't have one single piece I needed, but since I had a coupon I decided to make it work. I bought 1" silver (plastic) beads with a flower etched around them. I liked the texture and could live with the chunky size, but the color was all wrong. I've seen filigree wing beads everywhere...until today! I came across some large filigree butterfly wings. Again, I would make do. Then I lucked out and found the perfect gold paint. I had to go to Micheal's for gold chain though...

I cut the wings in half, which was nearly impossible without the incredibly strong boyfriend. Then I painted the bead and attached everything. LOVE!

On my way to the movie this morning!

DIY - Top 5 Fave DIY on Pinterest

Are you tired of Pinterest yet? Yeah me neither! The only board I'm currently pinning to my DIY one it seems. I even troll all the staff favorites for even more DIY's that I might have missed in blog-world. Here are my top 5 in the order that I want to complete them, but due to supplies on hand I can tell you this is no where near the real-life order. I hope to have a few 'results' posts for you soon!

1. Beaded Leather Wrap Bracelet from How-To-Make-Jewelry. I've seen these everywhere and I want one NOW! Luckily I remembered the random strings of leather I picked up in NYC a couple years ago. YEY stashbusting!

2. Large Knit Wrap from Behind The Seams. I am obssessed with anything flowy and oversized and made from a giant square! So easy! Now I just need to stock up on knits.

3. Rustic Spoon Pendant from Busily Spinning Momma. I knew as soon as I saw this tutorial that I would be emptying out our silverware drawer. Seems like a quick and satisfying (beating the crap out of something) project!

4. Ruffle Sundress from Lil Blue Boo. Such a cute and comfy looking dress! I wanted it the minute I saw this on someone else's board. Again, I need more knits stat!

5. Bleach Pen Tshirts from Show Tell Share. The designs they came up with are so cute. I don't know if I'll have that kind of control over the bleach pen but I'm certainly going to try for block letters!

Critique - Vogue Patterns Fall Collection

I just Vogue Pattern's new Fall Collection of patterns via email and I might have to toss out my ban on buying more patterns I'll never use but have to have because they are adorable! I think I consider shopping for patterns too similar to clothing shopping. I seem to forget that I also need the fabric and notions and TIME to sew the garments and that what is on the envelope cover will not be shipped to me ready-to-wear. Mass-frustration everytime I do this. Have you seen my pattern wall? It's not overflowing! I've probably only used about half of these patterns, and when I was a much smaller size in high school....Totally useful to keep every single one though!

**See my DIY for this wall sized pattern holder here

SOOOO my favorite pages of the look book:

Elizabeth Gillett Scarves (V8762) $18.00
I like 1/2 the scarves but what really drew my eye were the embellishments. Might have to do a knock-off of the twisty-pearl one on the right.

Vogue Pattern Bags (V8760) $16.50
I really want this bag. I was getting sick of the fold-over type bags but this might be the right amount of slouchiness for me.

Alice + Olivia Blouses (V1261) $19.20
This is exactly what I'm talking about when I saw I buy patterns hoping the garment on the envelope is already in there. I think the knit for this shirt will cost just as much as buying it ready-made but I will probably buy this one anyways and (dream of) making it in every color!

Rebecca Taylor Blouse (V1255) $16.50
This blouse would be more fun as a shirt dress. Done and done.

Tracy Reese Dress (V1253) $19.20
Could they have picked a sadder fabric/color/manish model/limp pose for this dress? However, I like the lines so it's still on list.

Vena Cava Dress (V1258) $19.20
I wish this wasn't so boring in the back because the front is so much fun! Even just one ruffle or knot or something in the back would make this a winner. Well I guess it is a winner because regardless of the die-from-boredome-back, I loved the fabric they picked, the sleee cuff thingies and the front tie a lot.

The collection can be found here . The patterns are for sale alrady, just search using the V# listed. However, they haven't gone on sale yet so they are around $20 for JUST THE PATTERN. I need to get into that business!!

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