Showing posts with label boho. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

My Fearless and Feminine Five Dollar Find

My Fearless and Feminine Five Dollar Find

Much like a go to LBD (Little Black Dress), for the summer I have my go to colorful dresses. I'm attracted to ones that can take me from day to night, or occasion to occasion. On a recent trip home to hot Louisiana, I threw some dresses in a carry-on backpack and I was good to go!

My favorites, and the ones I get the most compliments on, are all thrift store finds. Most of them weren't more than 5 dollars! In many cases, I'll do some slight alterations in size or just to better accommodate my body shape. The dresses then feel even more unique.

If you know me, you've probably seen me in this dress. It's one of my favorite $5 finds. I wear it from Spring, all the way into Fall. For super hot weather, I love that it keeps me cool and comfortable. For cooler weather it makes a lovely layer under a sweater or jacket.

I tend to gravitate towards deeper, more saturated color, and this pink print is spot on. I also love that this dress has a little cap sleeve that adds to it's versatility.

I can throw it over a swimsuit, then take it into nighttime with dressier heels or sandals.

Sometimes I add on booties and my bomber jacker to change it up and add a little bit of edge. (I got this jacket when I was 16 and I still love it!)

I altered the hem a little bit and it made the slouchiness of this dress more flattering for my body.

For me, confidence is key. I'm not always the most comfortable in shorts. If I ever start feeling a little anxious when getting ready, I throw on one of my favorite vintage dresses. I instantly feel more confidant and unique, and that's the power of wearing clothes that you love.

If you feel like you're in a dress rut (or a clothing rut for that matter) and on a budget- hit some thrift stores and explore the possibilities!

Thanks for following along friends!

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

It's all in the (Denim) Details!

Hey Ya'll!

I had to throw in the ya'll as I recently returned from a trip home to Louisiana. One of my best friends got married, and it was great to have a little girl time + a little family time. I'm busy with a freelance job this week; and since I don't have the time to create in my home studio, I'm just taking a little time to share about some recent work that came out of the studio.

There's definitely a noticeable pattern in my recent designs - lots of denim details! I love how the neutral denim compliments the bold patterns of these vintage fabrics, while also adding a little structure and edge.

Americana Cold Shoulder Top

Americana at its best. A little bit structure and a little bit boho. This chic and breezy top is made of reclaimed, vintage fabric, as well as light blue recycled denim parts.

Although it make look complex, the fit is actually easy. The trapeze silhouette drapes gently away from the body. The back has elastic, revealing just enough back and shoulders to keep it feminine and flattering.

Shop this top!

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Hawaiian Trapeze Top

Flow-y pieces can be flattering, it's all about shape and proportion. The trapeze silhouette of this tank drapes gently away from the body, and I love, love the print of this vintage Hawaiian fabric. It was salvaged from a shirt I picked up in Hawaii a couple of years ago.

My favorite part of this top is the back, it shows just the right amount of skin. The adjustable tie closures at the shoulders add just the right amount of sweetness.

Shop this top!

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Gray Graphic Print Convertible One-size Maxi Dress

A bold print, denim details, and versatility take this maxi dress to the next level! The black denim details pull it all together.

Ties along each side allow you to wear this dress a few different ways. You can simply tie the sides together to secure it and have them dangle, you can tuck them in and hide them, or you can cinch the front in for a different look. The back tie slides through the denim detail like a draw string, so you can adjust that however you like as well.

Shop this dress

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It doesn't get more classic than denim. A textile that was originally created to make tough, long lasting work clothes, a quality denim will truly stand the test of time. When I walk into a thrift store, I'm always blown away by the racks and racks of discarded denim in perfectly good condition. A lot of my personal favorite pairs of jeans are from thrift stores or are hand-me-downs from friends.

Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely weekend, in your favorite denim ;)

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

1 Super 80's Dress Upcycled into 3 new Pieces

1 Super 80's Dress Upcycled into 3 New Pieces

Greetings!

I hope you all are well. I am currently covered in fabric remnants and thread, and loving it! I'm working on a whole new slew of garments, have one of my first little boutique retail deals pending, and I'm excited (and exhausted!) about what's ahead!

Way back in September, I shared a couple of potential vintage upcycling projects with you. And as life happens, I didn't get to work on all of them right away. Well I did tackle this floral 80's number, so I thought I'd share the results!

Before:

Below is the entry from my original blog post, the before photo, and the results!

The Super 80's Jewel Tone Floral

Ok, ok, I know what you're thinking, but all I see is potential! This is a before photo of a thrifted dress. If I were tall, it could probably be worn as is and look super chic, but on me - it's a bit much. It's also just a little confining to wear in it's current state. The print, however, is great - a rich palette of jewel tone florals that I absolutely love for fall. Transformation in progress...

After:

I didn't finish this in the fall as I had planned, but I think that jewel tones are universally flattering on lots of skin tones and season-less. I think this floral transitions right into Spring beautifully. I ended up creating 2 tops and a headband from the remaining piece of fabric. It's pretty fulfilling when there are zero scraps from a sewing project. I truly hate to waste awesome vintage fabric as I always just have a small limited amount.

Jewel Tone Side Tie Crop Top

I pretty much remade this piece inspired by the top of the original dress, but with a few changes to keep it modern. The shoulders and neck still feel a little 80s, but it's more sleek as just a lone top. It is entirely open on the sides with ties that you can secure however you like. There is a zipper up the back. I've become a huge fan of the crop top and glad that the perception doesn't always have to be trashy. The key is proportion and pairing it up in a chic way!

Shop this Top!

Jewel Tones Floral Tie-Back Top

The style of this top is a complete departure from the last top. It has an easy fit, with a gently flattering drape away from the body. I always let the fabric drape and "speak" to me. When I removed the whacky bottom from the original dress, I immediately saw this breezy top. I also added a few details with reclaimed gray denim and lace, and a tie in the back. These details help to break up the print and keep it from feeling overwhelming.

Shop this top!

Wide Reversible Floral and Denim Tie Headband

And lastly, I loathe the thought of wasting even the smallest amount of vintage fabric. I was able to create this sweet reversible headband as a result of that! That beautiful jewel toned print on 1 side and gray reclaimed denim on the other. You can also fold it in half for a thinner width and a different look.

Shop this Headband!

And there you have it! I love giving old things new life, and salvaging great fabric. Okay, I'm going to keep on keeping on! Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely weekend!

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Spring things are blooming in the workshop...

Greetings! Happy Weekend!

We are nearing the very end of March, and I can't believe that there are snow flurries floating past my window. At least spring is blooming inside the home studio! I have been super busy these past couple of months with freelance styling work, and day dreaming about all the spring things I want to make when I can get back to my design studio.

Finding beautiful vintage, dead-stock, and thrifted materials is really the launching point for what I create. I let the materials inspire me and go from there. I haven't had much time to dedicate to my usual materials hunt lately, and with almost perfect timing, two dear friends have given me some fabrics and items that are just filling me with all kinds of spring inspiration.

I have known my friend Jessica for years, and although we are separated by distance, we stay connected through our vintage love. We are very different, but clicked beautifully when we met, and she knows me very well. Her and her mom love to shop for antiques together and often collect items that make them think of me. It's touching to know that a distant friend thinks of you at little moments, and better than that, they send me these lovely curated boxes of fabrics and vintage bits to repurpose into new modern items. I was so excited to open my most recent box from her and my excitement was met with an awesomely curated bunch of goodies! I'm sharing my favorites with you, and a little bit of the design ideas that they invoke.

It's great to get actual mail in such a digital age, but even better when it's accompanied with a hand written note.

Put a bird on it! The print on this royal blue vintage fabric is so sweet yet modern. I foresee a simple tank, letting the beautiful print take the stage.

Blue clovers? I absolutely love this vintage fabric from the 60s and the quirkiness behind the idea of a blue clover print.

I feel like bold and basic colors bring a freshness to spring- and I'm particularly excited about this tiny, but bold geometric print.

In addition to fabrics, she also included these bits and baubles :)

I fell instantly for this embroidered piece and I wish I had more of it. I can't decide what to do with it yet...

These little vintage remnants really take me back. They remind me of the kinds of things I would get from my grandmother, Elsie. I wonder where they originated and the stories they tell.

It's hard not to like these bold necklaces. Vintage costume jewelry is such a fun and inexpensive way to revive your wardrobe options.

My friend Julia purged her closet for spring, something I wish I was better at! She sent over a bag of old fabrics that exceeded my expectations. They are screaming, "flow-y dresses"and "breezy tops"- can't wait to work with them!

The subtle drama you can create by elegantly mixing prints...

I love a maxi dress with sleeves- so elegant, versatile, and flattering on so many shapes. The perfect item to throw in your suitcase.

Now time to dive into all this design work ahead of me. Enjoy the weekend and thanks for following along.

XO,

-Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com

Follow along my every day on Instagram:@ ErinBlank_Designer

Friday, November 14, 2014

It's Fall Ya'll! Some of my favorite new pieces fresh from the workshop...

It's Fall Ya'll!

Whether your part of the world is cold, or just a little bit cool, fall is such a fun time to layer accordingly. I'm excited about some of my new pieces because they lend perfectly to that idea.

Versatile Paisley Shirt Dress and Kimono

A perfect, timeless paisley print. From the moment I found this fabric, I fell in love with the rich, universally flattering color scheme. This fabric is a lightweight wool, made in France, I reclaimed from a vintage garment with a very dated and unflattering shape (I found the original piece on a recent vintage treasure hunt with my mom in Louisiana, you can read more about that on my last post here.) It was a joy to repurpose this fabric into this beautiful dress and kimono. I also love the idea of taking this piece into summer as a rich swimsuit cover-up. The exaggerated sleeves are super comfy and flattering, adding a fun shape that's not overly dramatic. As the days get colder, just layer it up with tights and/or a long sleeved shirt underneath.

SHOP LINK

Leopard Print Boxy Blouse

Leopard print has now established itself as a versatile and neutral print in fashion these days. I love the idea of interpreting it into chic pieces that you can incorporate into your wardrobe. This leopard blouse is such an easy and season-less one, but lends itself to fall beautifully. It's made from a piece of reclaimed vintage fabric. There are little black buttons down he back, and you can even flip it around to change up the look.

SHOP LINK

Quilted Leopard Print Fabric Fold-over Clutch

I never let good fabric go to waste. I had just enough fabric leftover from making the above blouse, that I was able to create this chic little clutch. I quilted the fabric with cotton batting and lined it in a cute plaid print. It would add a perfect pop to both dressy and casual looks all year around, but looks beautiful with all the fabrics and textures of fall. It would also be a great little bag to just drop in your larger carryall as a wallet or makeup pouch.

SHOP LINK

Alright, back to the workshop for me- more new fall pieces coming soon. Thanks for following along friends, and have a lovely weekend.