DIY - Black and Gold Sunnies (nail polish diy #2)

Last year I did a little DIY sunglasses post using nail polish.  It's one of my most popular posts to date. After lots of requests, here is nail polish sunnies DIY, number two.  I spied these sunglasses and knew they were just begging for a DIY. I found a pair of black, plastic sunglasses and grabbed my gold nail polish.

photo credit: eatsleepwear

SUPPLIES

Sunglasses $9.99

Gold nail polish $.50 Full bottle $3 (already owned)

Clear nail polish $.50 Full bottle $5 (on sale but already owned)

Nail polish remover

Cotton swab

_________________

TOTAL $10.99 (with tons of polish left over)

Kenneth Cole Sunglasses       $90

SAVED $79.01!!

I've searched high and low and can't find the inspiration sunglasses anywhere.  Kenneth Cole sunglasses average about $90 a pair.  With a little nail polish and about an hour of your time, you can create your own!

I started by taping off the frame with blue painter's tape.  You could use any type of tape that you have, as long as it's not super sticky. I think painter's tape is best because it doesn't leave any residue.  After taping off the frame, I wiped the area I wanted to paint with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.  This helps the polish to adhere better. Then I started painting.

I applied three very thin coats, using Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polish in Golden-I. It has a great metallic sheen without being glittery.  Once I was happy with the coverage of the gold polish and it was dry to the touch, I painted two coats of clear polish and removed the tape.

I'm very happy with the result. My DIY sunnies look very similar to the higher end pair and they will definitely be coming with me on my beach trip next week.



inside shot



full sun shot (lipstick - Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral, Necklace - Target no longer available)

DIY - Painted Rhinestone Necklace

My house is full of DIY this week.  I'm feeling very creative. We're doing tons of DIY for our wedding. This weekend we are planning a big DIY weekend. My mom is coming to town and we'll be hard at work on lots of wedding projects. Over the weekend I stopped by Forever 21 to check out their rhinestone necklaces.  I've been itching to create a painted rhinestone necklace for a long time.  I love using nail polish as paint on DIY projects. Like on these sunglasses. Nail polish has a built in brush and I have a ton of colors at my disposal (nail polish obsession issue). 

The beauty of this DIY is the cost and how easy it is to make.  Spending a ton on a necklace was out of the question and F21 is the place for inexpensive jewelry.  I found two great necklaces and decided to go with the chunkier of the two for this DIY. Then I got to work with the nail polish.


SUPPLIES
Rhinestone Necklace - Forever 21 $8.80
Nail Polish (colors) - I chose two colors (hot pink and blue)
Nail Polish (clear) - used for sealing the necklace

My apologies for this awful photo.  This is what happens when you only take one picture and don't check your results.  I painted a thin coat on each rhinestone.  Then I went back and did a second coat.

After the second coat of colored polish dried, I painted each of the stones with clear polish.  This works as a sealant, just like on your nails. Then I let my necklace dry overnight.

I know I will be wearing this beauty often.  Forever 21 might be getting another visit.  I want to DIY a necklace in every color imaginable. If you love to read about DIY projects but you'd rather buy it already made, check out this affordable version from Forever 21 (in two color combos).

Frugal Fashion Friday - Ode to Goodwill (and a Grand Opening!)

Thrift store shopping is an important part of my fashion strategy. I love finding great fashion bargains and items for DIY projects. There are lots of thrift stores in the DC area but at the top of my list are some of the area Goodwill stores. On Saturday (tomorrow, September 7th) DC Goodwill will be opening its 15th area store. I thought I'd share a few (just a few) of my favorite Goodwill finds and DIY projects.

From the top...

• Holiday Decorations - using candlesticks from Goodwill, some were DIY'd with paint and glitter.
• Cargo Vest - I cut the sleeves off of a camouflage shirt jacket for this DIY vest.
• Vintage Coach Bag - This red bag (vintage Berkeley Reverse Suede Saddle Bag no longer available) is just one of the Coach bags that I scored at Goodwill. This one only cost me $19 (they are selling for over $100 on ebay and etsy) and it was in perfect condition.
• Vintage Rock T and Pants - I scored this rock t-shirt and great raspberry colored pants at a Goodwill in Florida.
• Neon Jewelry - I bought bracelets and a necklace from Goodwill and spray painted them with neon paint. Fun new jewelry!
• Chain Detail Jacket - Adding chain to this boucle jacket took it from ladies who lunch to ladies who rock.
• Chinese Guardian Lions - All I needed to update these cool bookends was some gold spray paint.
• Mercury Glass Candle Holders - We created over 200 mercury glass candle holders for our wedding using glasses from Goodwill and special paint.
• Mint Sunglasses - Using sunglasses from Goodwill and nail polish, I created these designer inspired sunnies.
• DIY Collar - A blouse from Goodwill and some scissors were used to create this fun collar.

These are just a few of my favorite Goodwill DIYs and finds. There are many more to come. On Saturday I will be helping out at the DIY table at the grand opening of the newest Goodwill store in the DMV.  Come out and see me!  The store opens at 10am and there will be lots of grand opening activities from 10am - 12 noon. Details below.

DALE CITY GOODWILL STORE (#15)

 

Where: Ashdale Shopping Center
2950 Dale Boulevard, Dale City, VA 22193

 

When: September 7th, 2013

 

What: Sales, savings, back-to-school activities,and good merchandise at great prices

I hope you'll join us for the fun.  See you there!  I'm sure there will be some amazing finds.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Great Goodwill Finds

My love for Goodwill shopping is nothing short of legendary. I find all sorts of great items that I wear often and I also manage to buy the starters of awesome DIY projects. All for great prices. Case in point, the black sunglasses I used for my latest DIY. I've been lusting after a pair of pink sunglasses for some time now. When I saw these pink, sparkly sunglasses by Quay, I thought of the black pair I'd snagged at Goodwill last year. I knew I had to recreate them.

My sunglasses transformed by nail polish have turned out great before. I thought I'd try the same treatment for a pair of pink sunnies.

SUPPLIES

Sunglasses                                           $3 (Goodwill find)

Pink nail polish                                    $1 Full bottle $2 (already owned)

Clear nail polish                                   50 cents  Full bottle $3 (already owned)

_________________

TOTAL $4.50 (with tons of polish left over)

I painted  four coats of pink polish. I wanted the finish to be an opaque pink and very thick. Then I added two coats of clear.

Here they are, the finished product!

They will definitely be in heavy summer rotation.

It's more than funny that I'd planned this post today. I  combined a Goodwill find in one of my outfits and I posted it to Instagram and tweeted about it. Unbeknownst to me, my friend the DC Goodwill Fashionista, featured my outfit in her blog today! The blue Talbots silk blouse is one of my favorites and I snagged it at Goodwill for less than $5!! It's a great weekend to hit up your local Goodwill or other thrift store and score some great buys.

 

Happy Friday Real Girls!

.

DIY - Shades of Couture Juicy Couture Indie

Earlier this week I saw a photo from ELLE Spain on Pinterest.  The look was cool but what really spoke to me were the sunglasses. That cool mint sherbet frame was a standout. I knew when I saw them that I had to come up with a great DIY. The shades are by Juicy Couture. They are the Indie style in their Shades of Couture collection. It's hard to find the pastel shades but they are available for $114!

I already owned a pair of retro shades similar to the Juicy Couture style.  I purchased them last summer from Goodwill for $3.  Our local Goodwill stores sell brand new merchandise for a steal.  I didn't have any mint colored paint but I knew I had some mint nail polish.  I thought, why not. I'll try using nail polish.  It even has a built in brush.  I started by wiping the plastic part of the frame (that I'd be painting) with nail polish remover.  The acetone helped to remove the coating from the plastic and helped the polish to adhere better. 

I painted three thin coats on the upper frame to get complete coverage. I decided not to paint the ear pieces.  I waited several hours between each coat of nail polish.  I was going for an enamel look and wanted to ensure that the coating was even.  After I got the desired color and coverage, I painted a clear coat on top. 

SUPPLIES

Sunglasses                         $3

Mint nail polish                   $1  Full bottle $4 (already owned)

Clear nail polish                  $1  Full bottle $5 (on sale but already owned)

                                           _________________

TOTAL                                $5 (with tons of polish left over)

Shades of Couture Indie       $114

SAVED                                 $109!!

I'm really excited with the way these sunglasses turned out.  They look amazingly similar to the original and they cost just a fraction.  It only took me about an hour total to produce these standout shades.  I'm sure I'll be wearing them all spring and summer long.

Accessories - Unexpected Sources

Accessories are the icing on the cake that is your outfit. They elevate a simple gray t-shirt to evening wear status or turn a tulle skirt into day wear. Shopping for accessories is something I do constantly. The best part is finding them in places that you wouldn't consider typical.

Drugstore sunglasses
One of my favorite pairs of sunglasses and that recieve lots of compliments came from Walgreens. These sunglasses are Foster Grant and cost just $12! This style is no longer available from Foster Grant but these are similar.

{msL} and I at the beach last year, both pairs are drugstore shades

Hardware Store jewelry
Rope bracelets have been really popular in past years. I love a good DIY and I constantly look for fun new projects. I've made bracelets from rope, wire, and other hardware. Last year our beach trip turned rainy so I made a trip to the hardware store for copper wire. I made lots of rings and toe rings for the girls.

Airport gift shop scarves
I have a bit of a scarft problem. I've collected pashmina like scarves in every color. They are great for polishing an outfit. Somehow I always think a woman looks more chic wearing a scarf. My best find for these inexpensive scarves is airport gift shops.  They usually sell them in every color and for about $10. Score!

What is your favorite unexpected spot for accessories?


photo credit (scarves bottom): the gloss

Frugal Fashion Friday - Outfit Crush for Friday's Fancies

My recent obsession with floral pants is well documented. I found and ordered floral pants from ASOS.  I got them for the bargain price of $35!  I was thrilled but my difficult to fit lower body doesn't always mean that my orders will work. I tried them on and YAAAY! they fit.  They were a little large in the waist, which always happens for me. If pants fits my hips and booty, then they are almost always too big in the waist. I just take them in a bit and they work well.  I know I'm not the only pants challenged girl out there.  We all have issues, shorter legs, longer torso, long legs, and on and on. We all know that pain. 

Today's challenge for Friday's Fancies was "Outfit Crush".  I decided to duplicate an outfit that I pinned to my "Style I Should Try" board on Pinterest, Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific's chic floral pants outfit.  I couldn't wait to try it using my two new bargain purchases, floral pants from ASOS and striped top from Talbots Outlet.

photo credit: Atlantic-Pacific

I have to confess that I have a huge style crush on Blair Eadie.  Plus, she's a Virginia girl (like me) who now lives in Cali (I wish).  What's not to love?  She's taken the polished style of lady like Virginia society and mixed it with the laid back cool of California.This outfit incorporates those elements, statement bag, crisp white jacket, chic updo and designer sunnies combined with the print mixing of stripes and floral with those amazing blue booties. I had to try my hand at recreating this amazing outfit.

Jacket - Target (similar), Top - Talbots Outlet (similar), Pants - ASOS (no longer available more here), Bag - DSW, Shoes - Nine West via DSW, Sunglasses - Chanel, Bracelets - c/o Stella & Dot, ASOS and Vintage, Watch - Timex (gift), Earrings - Target, Rings - DIY and Engagement

I'm sure you are wondering how this could possibly be a bargain outfit.  This is the breakdown. I purchased the pants for $35 on sale.  The top at the Talbots Outlet for $16 and the shoes at DSW with coupons and rewards for $20.  I have owned the jacket and the bag for many years, so I'm recycling.  The gorgeous Stella & Dot bracelets were a gift from my amazing stylist, Kristin Biggs. I made the ring myself when I took a metal casting class several years ago.  The watch, bangles and my engagement ring were gifts.  The only item I paid full price for was the sunglasses.  I've owned them for eight years and I wear them often so they've paid for themselves many times over (great cost per wear).  They are timeless.

Check out the Renegade Cluster Bracelet, Revival Bracelet, and Toujours Bracelet c/o Stella & Dot

Who is your style crush or outfit crush?  I'd love to hear about your inspiration.

Happy Friday Real Girls!

Insta Monday - Spring Is In The Air

I am without a doubt, a warm weather girl. It's thrilling to see the sun shining, wear open toe shoes and drive with the sun roof open. This weekend was a busy one and I spent more time with family and friends than doing blog posts for the week. I love Instagram but sometimes you want to say more than is possible in the short post. I thought I'd elaborate on a few of my recent photos.



From Top Left (clockwise)

• Blooming Cherry Trees - The area is full of blooming cherry trees (similar to the ones surrounding this National Mall). They signal the start of spring and their pretty pink blossoms always make me happy.

• DIY Distressed Jeans - I created my first pair of distressed jeans (like these expensive ones) recently and I love how they turned out. I am hunting for a few thrift stores pairs to add to my distressed jeans arsenal. I'm planning a DIY post soon.

• Coffee Table Decorations - The tray has been repainted again (you've seen it here in silver). I'm loving it in gold. The candy dish is Depression glass that belonged to my Aunt Em. She used it to hold homemade jam. The pretty roses are from my friends' garden.

• Baseball Game - We received a last minute invite from my sister to attend Friday night's Nationals game. We had a blast, the team won, and we got our faces up on the jumbotron!

• New Polish - This pretty neutral polish (Zoya Rue) was in the People VIP Beauty box I received last week from People Magazine and Klout. It's a fantastic color. I also got a free three month subscription to People Magazine. If you'd like your own subscription, click this link for a great deal.

• New Sunnies from Nectar - I received some new sunnies complements of Nectar sunglasses. I love them. Besides being stylish and mirrored (hot trend that I love) they are super comfortable and affordable. I will be doing a review post soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to check out the sunnies and get a 10% discount on your order, click this link and use the code: lovenectar

To see all of my Instagram photos, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter. My handle on both is @realgirlrunway. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that believe in and support Real Girl Runway. Show them some love by considering purchases from their businesses.

Six Shooter

There has been a little bit of a delay in my 30 for 30 quest.  My mom is in town and has been giving me sewing lessons. I've been elbow deep in fabric, thread and patterns. Since I haven't left the house, my outfits over the last few days have consisted of comfy (also known as super sloppy) clothes. These ensembles also consisted of no efforts when it came to make-up and hair. I'm getting braver when it comes to my outfit posting but I am not brave enough to be seen on the web with no make-up.

I am almost finished with my first skirt! I ventured away from the sewing machine today and actually got dressed in something presentable.

 

That handsome boy is our sweet puppy Blue.

Dress: Target, Sweater: Target, Tights: We Love Colors gift from my sister, Boots: Two Lips via DSW store,
Belt: Talbots Outlet, Necklace: Self-Made Beaux Bijoux, Ring: Marshalls, Sunglasses: Anne Klein via Loehmann's

The tights I'm wearing were a Christmas gift from my sister. She gave me several pairs. They are from We Love Colors. They sell every color in the rainbow and then some. They also sell tights in every size from small to plus, as well as kids and men's. I'm a terror when it comes to tights. I look at them wrong and they run. These are holding up well. They have good stretch, coverage, and no sign of wear so far. I highly recommend them.

This ring was a great find. I got it at Marshalls in a grab bin and I've had it for years. It's been a go to piece ever since.

I made this necklace during DIY Saturday. I love monograms and I had these silver alphabet beads left over from some other projects. I made a necklace for myself and for my sister. We have the same initials. Most people don't believe it but my parents swear that it wasn't intentional.

Summer Breeze

Well not exactly Summer yet but a girl can dream. On Saturday, I took the opportunity of the sunshine and warmer weather to wear the maxi skirt that my Mom helped me make when she was visiting. Here it is, FINALLY!  We made another skirt and I'm sure I'll wear that one soon. I love this skirt for the flowy properties and the fact that it's silk but only cost $18 and some time.

I styled this outfit using some of the pieces from the Spring Picks list. The maxi, biker jacket, lady like bag and scarf (not bright but coordinating), made for an eclectic mix.


Biker Jacket (faux leather) - Target, Shirt - Old Navy, Skirt - DIY Self Made, Boots - Target,
Bag - Urban Outfitters, Scarf - gift, Belt - Torrid, Rings - Various (see below), Sunglasses - Chanel

Our friend Melissa came to visit this weekend!  It's always so good to see her. When she arrived on Friday, I was blown away by the cool trench she was wearing. It looked just like Chanel. So classic. Unfortunately, it's no longer available. We had a great weekend, catching up, talking, and we even did a little shopping.



Minus the Minx nails, I tried to recreate my Friday inspiration. I think I did a pretty good job using the rings that I have. It did make me want to search out another knuckle ring. I know asos has some others that I love. I'll put them on my list.

(clockwise from top right) Mosaic Ring - JewelMint, Engagement Ring - my Honey, Belt - Torrid,
Knuckle Ring - asos, Filigree Ring - ?

Sunshine and Flowers

I had a great Sunday afternoon. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day. My Honey and I did a little shopping and then went to visit family and have dinner. It's so great to see the world through the eyes of a child.  That carefree look at life is amazing.  I got to take some outfit pictures with my favorite modeling partner Laila, who obviously upstaged me.

Sweater - Old Navy, Shirt - Kohl's, Pants - thrifted (Goodwill), Belt - Talbots Outlet
Shoes - Tory Burch via Nordstrom Rack, Sunglasses - Chanel, Necklace - Kohl's, Watch - Loehmann's and DIY

Inspiration - Fashion Illustration

Drawing, painting and all forms of art have been a love of mine for many years. Most of my electives in college were art classes and to this day I regret not minoring in Art. By no means am I an accomplished artist but I love to play with drawing and painting and I make jewelry for fun, as you know.  I was doing a few searches for DIY supplies and ideas when I started to view fashion illustrations and really became inspired.  I had to share some of them with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Great Book on the History of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman

Nothing says FASHION more than NYC - Elena Sofia Tinis

Beautiful Lines and Color - Aasha Ramdeen

Amazing Details - Kelly Smith

Because I'm a Child of the 80's - Patrick Nagel

This Print hangs in my office (with silver sunglasses) - Patrick Nagel