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Divalicious 7 & Style Tips On How to Wear All White

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Posted on June 18, 2015 by Think Outside The Cloth

Photo by Vincent Dayrit Photography

All white ensembles are a classic fresh look for the summer months. I recently attended an all-white party for the Divalicious 7 birthday bash. Myself along with a few other local bloggers were invited to model an all white outfit from Toronto designers.

The event was hosted by DivaGirl Inc, which is an all female community dedicated to empowering women through fun and engaging conferences, events, and workshops. It was a great time! There were performances, vendors, henna and champagne. Here are a few photos from the event.

Continue reading below for my tips on how to stylishly wear all white this summer.

Dance performance by the DivaGirl Cabaret

Me getting some henna done while wearing beautiful Stella & Dot accessories. Photo by Vincent Dayrit Photography

Shop for Jayu accessory table

Bloggers being models for the day

With different shades of white and varying textures it can sometimes be difficult to pull off an all white ensemble. As long as you stay away from the red wine, all white outfits can be easier to pull off than you think. Here are some style tips for wearing all white this summer.

Mix up textures

Photo Eonline

Add dimension to your all white ensemble by mixing up textures. If you’re wearing something made of a heavier material like denim or cotton, pair it with a lighter material such as a linen or something sheer to balance everything out. Sheer materials also pair great with off-white items.

Matching Set

Photo People

If you want to make sure your all white outfit is on-point, invest in a matching set such as a tailored two-piece or matching top and skirt. You can always mix and match the pieces and wear separately. You can count on the set as a go-to source for when you need an all white outfit in a hurry.

Show Some Skin

Photo Express

If you’re comfortable with showing some skin, break up your all white outfit with a crop top and high waisted trousers or skirt. Ripped white jeans can also be a fun way to show a bit of skin and add texture. For the more reserved, clothing with sheer and crochet materials are another great option.

Add some accessories

Photo Daily Mail

Since all white ensembles are pretty much a blank canvas for accessories, use them as a way to dress-up or dress-down your outfit. Layering metallic jewelry can look really chic with an all white outfit.

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

Photo People

If you want to achieve a total monochromatic look and you don’t own white shoes, go with a neutral or tan coloured shoe to finish off your look. If you’re going to wear a darker coloured shoe go for a strappy style heel or sandals with smaller or light straps so it doesn’t over power the outfit.

How do you like to wear all white?

– Shanel

Style Tips On How to Wear a Scarf

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Posted on May 5, 2015 by Think Outside The Cloth

Now that Spring has arrived, it’s finally nice to use a scarf as an accessory rather than as a tool to guard my face against the cold. Scarfs are a great way to add a pop of colour and texture to an outfit and there’s so many fun and different ways to wear them!

On one of the first warm days of the year my friend Kristen (check out her blog here) and I went for a walk and I brought my collection of scarves along. I discovered they are not only great to style, but also fun to take pics and play with.

Here are some style tips on how to wear your scarf this spring and summer.

Wrap It

Wearing a scarf as a head wrap can be a great style addition to an outfit. It can also double as a handy accessory for when you’re having a bad hair day.

To get this look, I took the scarf and wrapped it around my head starting from the front. I crossed the ends of the scarf in the back and brought the ends to the side of my head. I twisted the loose ends into a bun and secured with a hair tie.

Belt It

Throw a scarf around your shoulders and secure with a belt. I love doing this during the warmer months because it looks like a vest and adds another light layer to the outfit. Let the loose ends hang, this can look super cute if your scarf has fringed ends, or tuck the ends into the back of the belt.

Double It

How to wear 2 scarfs

Take your outfit up a notch by wearing two scarves at once. Use two scarves with varying colours or patterns and twist them together and wrap them around your neck.

Handle It

Enhance and add a touch of colour to your darker toned purse by wrapping a scarf around the handles of your purse. Simply tie a knot at one end of the handle, wrap the scarf around it and tie a knot at the other end.

How do you like to incorporate scarves into your outfits?

-Shanel

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10 DIY & Custom Christmas Gifts

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Posted on December 16, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

The countdown to Christmas begins! This year channel your inner craftsman and DIY some of your gifts. Handmade gifts not only help you to avoid packed malls, but they can be pretty inexpensive to make, and they show you’ve put some thought into the gift.

There’s so many great and easy tutorials to create custom gifts. I’ve rounded up a list of 10 custom Christmas gifts you can DIY for the special people on your list, give to a host for a party, or even make for yourself.

Candy Sleighs

For the person on your list with a sweet tooth, this is a simple and easy DIY gift that is inexpensive to make. All you need is some large candy canes, glue, chocolate bars, ribbon, and a bow.

Tutorial and image via Ellyn’s Place

Custom Written Plates or Mugs

This DIY dishware is not only nice to look at but it’s also a sweet sentimental gift. Try adding a quote, story or song lyrics that relate to the person you’ll be giving the dishware to. Use a Sharpie or porcelain pen to write out your message.

Image via List 25

Embellished Candle Holders

These embellished candles are super cute and make a great gift for any party host, or a stocking stuffer.

Tutorial and image via We Heart This

Instagram Calendar

For the Instagram obsessed friend this is a gift that they’ll be sure to use all year round.

Tutorial and image via A Beautiful Mess

Custom Phone, Tablet or Laptop Skin

Make an extra special custom skin for that person who is all about their electronics. LaurDIY has a great tutorial on how to do so.

Candy Cane Flower Centerpiece

Add a sweet touch to flowers for a host by adding candy canes around a circular vase, finish off with a bow or ribbon.

Tutorial and image via Ecopolitan Bride

Tea Wreath

This tea wreath would look amazing in anyone’s kitchen. It’s not only festive, but also a really creative way to organize and display a tea collection.

Image and tutorial via Kojodesigns

Embellished Scarf & Gloves

For the style-conscious person on your list this is a great gift that will keep them warm in style.

Image and tutorial via Clones N Clowns

Photo Pillow

A custom photo pillow is a good gift for that friend or family member who lives abroad. Add an image they’ll be happy to snuggle up to.

Image via Walmart

Reindeer Beer

For hosts of a party alcohol is a pretty common gift, make your booze stand out by bringing reindeer beer! It’s festive, and I’m sure everyone at the party will appreciate the creativity. Make a kid friendly version by swapping the beer with root beer.

Tutorial and image via Life of a Modern Mom

Do you have a favourite gift that someones made for you? Share below!

-Shanel

DIY Pearl & Wire Ring

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Posted on November 6, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

Lately I’ve really been loving the combo of pearls and gold. I’ve always been drawn to gold accessories, I like that pearls add more of a delicate look and a touch of femininity.

I was practicing with crafting wire when I decided to put together this DIY pearl and wire ring. Continue reading to learn how to make it.

The Supplies

Crafting wire I used 20 gauge (.032 inch) wire
Pearls
Scissors
Flat nose pliers
Glue
A thin stick a toothpick will do
A circular item that’s approximately the same size as your finger

The Steps

Cut a 4-inch piece of crafting wire.

Take the end of the wire and wrap it once clockwise around your circular item.

Test that it fits comfortably around your finger. Make adjustments if necessary.

Use the pliers to bend the wire downward.

Bend the wire to the right, so you have a 90 degree angle.

Wrap the remaining wire clockwise around the circular item.

Again, test that the ring fits on your finger.

Once you have your desired fit cut the remainder of the wire off.

Add a pearl and then a dab of glue. Move the pearl to the end of the ring. Repeat on the opposite end.

Let the glue dry.

All done 🙂

– Shanel

3-Step DIY Crop Top

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Posted on October 1, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

If you’re shy about DIY give this a try. This DIY long-sleeved crop top is not only super easy and quick, it requires only two supplies (which you likely have laying around somewhere).

Continue reading →

5 Fix-it Fashion Tools

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Posted on September 24, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

Wardrobe malfunctions are a huge annoyance that anyone who wears clothes has likely experienced on occasion. These tools are great to have handy if you find yourself in a clothing catastrophe.

1. Safety pins

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Safety pins are a great tool for when you need to fix a wardrobe malfunction in a hurry. You can use a safety pin to hide an exposed bra strap by pinning to the inside of your shirt. Safety pins can also help hold pieces of a broken chain together.

Got a broken zipper? they can help with that too, use a safety pin as a replacement tab. They’re also a great last resort for holding material together when you have no time to sew.

Plus, here a bunch of DIYs you can try making with safety pins.

2. Double sided tape

J lo dress

Jennifer Lopez’s epic Grammy outfit probably would not have happened without the help of double sided tape.

Use double sided tape to keep knee high socks and stockings from falling, as a temporary hold for loose hems, and to hold fabric in place for plunging shirts or dresses. For bustier girls, it’s also a great tool for keeping gaping holes in your button down shirts closed, which helps avoid any awkward stares below the neck.

3. Clear nail polish

Clear nail polish doesn’t just make your nails look pretty, paint on a coat to keep your costume jewellery from tarnishing. To stop a stocking run in its tracks, paint on clear nail polish on both ends of the run. Also use it to save time when threading needles by adding to the end of unruly thread.

4. Permanent markers

Use permanent marker to quickly cover up any scuffs or scratches on black heels or bags.

5. Rubber Elastics

If you, like me prefer to hang most of your clothes it’s pretty annoying when you have shirts that constantly fall off. Add some rubber bands on the ends of the hanger and problem solved. If you have a long belt that you want to wear high on your waist, add a small elastic to the same end as the belt buckle to hold up the long hanging end.

Do you have any annoying wardrobe malfunctions stories? Share below!

-Shanel

Image Sources: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, Image 6

DIY Graphic Print Shoes

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Posted on September 17, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

The wardrobe transition has started. It’s that time of year to swap the sandals for closed toe shoes and boots. While I’m clicking my heels together wishing for another week of summer weather, I decided to revamp an old pair of flats and give them a new look. Read on to learn how.

The Supplies

A pair of shoes
Acrylic paint. If your shoes are a fabric material like Chuck Taylors use fabric paint instead.
Paint brushes
Small bowl
*Clear drying finish such as Mod Podge Outdoors

*If your shoes are made of fabric material skip the finish.

The Steps

Clean the shoes making sure they are free of any dirt or debris.

Pour some paint into the bowl, using the paint brush create whatever design you like. You can customize your shoes by splattering the paint or creating polka dots. I created my design by putting a big blob of paint onto the shoes and then I used the paint brush to spread the paint to create lines.

Let the paint dry.

Once the paint is fully dried. Use a large paint brush to paint on the finish, leave to dry for 24 hours.

And you’re done!

-Shanel

NYFW Dash of DIY Inspo

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Posted on September 13, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

With the recent finale of New York Fashion Week. I decided to scope both runway and NYFW street style looks for some dashes of DIY inspiration. Even though winter hasn’t started (**shudders) the collections made me excited for what styles are to come for Spring 2015. Check out the pics below for 2014 NYFW looks and DIY inspos.

Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer 2015

I could see myself twirling in these dresses all day long! To get this flirty fringe take a maxi skirt or dress start from the bottom and begin cutting long narrow strips up to the thigh. Stretch each strip as you go.

As a sucker for colours this statement clutch looks like a bag of fun (lol see what I did there?). To don this as a DIY find a plain clutch and brightly coloured fabrics. Create a stencil with paper, cutting out different sized and shaped pieces. Trace the outlines of the stencils on the different coloured fabric and cut out. Use a good fabric glue to stick the cut outs on to the clutch.

J. Mendel Spring 2015

Love love love this dress. To DIY it grab some black, yellow and white fabric paint and some paint brushes. Create diagonal strokes with the different colours. Try it on a skirt or shirt.

I like how delicate and feminine the lace makes this outfit look. Take a maxi dress cutting out the sides of material, replace the cut out with lace by either sewing or gluing with fabric glue.

DKNY Spring/Summer 2015

Mesh is no longer just for the gym. For a sporty-sexy look get a bunch of mesh fabric and overlay it on a mini skirt that’s either stretchy or has a zipper. Sew the mesh along the sides and to the top of the skirt, like this DIY.

Thom Browne Spring 2015

To get this look simply get a badminton racket (because they are smaller and lighter than tennis rackets) and a headband. Cut the head band tying each end to the side of the racket and wear on your face. LOL I’m totally kidding but if you want to give this a go please make sure to send me a lot of pictures, or at least tag me on Instagram at @outsidethecloth.

Do you have any favorite collections or looks from 2014 NYFW? Let me know in the comments below :).

-Shanel

Sources: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, Image 6, Image 7

DIY Braided Belt

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Posted on September 10, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

Hello!

It’s been a while since I’ve written, but it feels good to be blogging again. During my break I visited New York City, celebrated my birthday and enjoyed the last warm days of summer hanging out with friends. I have to admit I fell out of habit and became unmotivated to write, but I did manage to create some new DIYs and I’m excited to share!

This DIY braided belt is a nice transition back into things because it’s easy to make, and it requires very few supplies. Read on to learn how to make it.

Continue reading →

Necklace Organizer

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Posted on August 14, 2014 by Think Outside The Cloth

coverphoto

For a quick and easy necklace organizer use a memo board and push pins to hang and display your necklaces.

For extra support for the push pins, glue a piece of cardboard to the back of the board.

I customized the frame by adding droplets of different coloured nail polish. You can also customize your board by adding a piece of patterned fabric to the corked area.

How do you keep your accessories organized?

– Shanel