Archive for December, 2008

Thanks to all who entered the first giveaway for the Miss Oops Holiday Survival Kit. The winner will be selected tonight and announced in the next post.

For the second Clutch giveaway, you might get to win…Passport Panties, Instant Buttons and a stylish keepsake box:

For this giveaway, the winner will receive a few items from my gift guide that make great stocking stuffers.

Retailing for $26, these Passport Panties by MMK are light pink with hot pink lace trim, size small and come in a red case. Not only are they adorable and flattering, but they make a great gift for girlfriends and once the holidays are over, keep them in mind for bridal showers!

The Instant Buttons are a genius tool for resizing the waist of your favorite pants, whether too tight or too big. I lost the button on a pair of my favorite jeans, and used one of these to save the day.

Finally, I’m including a cute little wooden gift box from Bluedogz Design. Feel free to use it to store your business cards or to package a gift for someone special.

To enter, leave a comment by 9PM Pacific tomorrow, December 19.

Stay tuned for the next giveaway!

**Special thanks to Ashley Beardon, Dana Hanh Contey and Nadine Lerner for coordinating and sending these products!

As called out in my holiday gift guide, I’ll be giving away a number of items featured in the video over the next week or so. This is my way of wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and  showing my appreciation for reading Clutch22. While the products were kindly donated by their respective companies, the shipping is on me (limited to US residents only, but will make exceptions for those living outside the states willing to pay for shipping).

Each contest will run for 24 hours and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment – no strings, I promise. Winners will be selected at random (draw a number out of a hat style) and announced in an upcoming post.

For the first Clutch giveaway, you might get to win…A Miss Oops Holiday Survival Kit:

The kit retails for $18 and includes three necessities for surviving the night in a little black dress…perhaps New Year’s Eve? It comes with fabric tape to help keep a strapless or deep V style dress in place, a lint roller to keep your dress fuzz free and rescue sponge to remove the little white deoderant streaks that appear no matter how careful you are when getting dressed.

To enter, leave a comment by 9PM Pacific tomorrow, December 18.

Stay tuned for the next giveaway!

**Special thanks to Dana Turek for coordinating and sending this product!

Not done with your holiday shopping? Don’t stress! Here are a few gift suggestions for your stylish fam and friends that won’t break the bank.

Exciting news! Most of these products will also be featured in upcoming giveways over the next week and a half. Stay tuned for separate posts where, to enter, all you’ll have to do is leave a comment – no strings.

Happy holidays and hope you enjoy the digital yule log in the background of my video.

In case you’re wondering where to purchase any of the items seen in this video, please reference the list below.

From top left (starred items to be featured in holiday giveaway):

• *SPUN Boat Neck Top, $52 – Fashion Ethic
• *Cmarchuska Christine Dress and *Hunter Scarf, $110 and $50 - Cmarchuska
• *The Debs by Susan McBride, $8.99 – Amazon
• *Bronze Glitter TOMS, $48 – TOMS Shoes
• Studded Bracelet Set, $4.80 – Forever21
• *Passport Panties by MMK, $26 – Passport Panties
• *Instant Buttons by KTR, $15 - Instant Buttons
• *Lucky in Bed Necklace by Jess LC Jewelry, $40 – Jess LC Jewelry
• *Miss Oops Holiday Survival Kit, $18 – Miss Oops
• Seven Daughters Wine, $14.99 – Seven Daughters
• *The Wine Club, $17.95 – Amazon
• *Sunset Floral Shopper Set, $65 – Fine Stationery
• *Bluedogz Teeny Tags and Boxes, from $2.99 – Bluedogz Design
• Set of Six Latte Bowls, $24 – Anthropologie
• *Custom Apron, from $14.90 - SpreadShirt

I had so much fun crafting feather hair clips a couple of weeks ago, I decided to create some more…only this time, they’re on steroids.

For my company holiday party last week (thanks to all those who voted on my outfits!), I made a funky red feather clip for Jess and deconstructed a gold, sparkly flower holiday decoration for myself (not a feather, but very festive).

Over the weekend I put these together and am sending them to a few special people as a thank you (can’t giveaway the surprise). You might notice from the photo above I switched from metal to plastic combs. Despite the fact the metal looks better, I discovered the Goody style plastic combs have a much tighter, sturdier fit.  

Want to make your own?  I’ve included a few tips below, but feel free to reference my previous post on DIY feather clips.

All you need is a trip to your local craft store for fun materials (like feathers) and the following supplies:

• Hot glue gun (a proof point to how impatient I am when it comes to crafts)
• Scissors and/or wire cutters depending on materials
• Hair hardware (clips, combs, pins, etc…try Fred Meyer or Target)

When rummaging through the fabric store, I suggest finding different pieces you can add together. For example, along with feathers, I found a sparkly bouquet of leaves for a dollar that I cut up and used in almost all my creations.  Buttons add a lot of character too!

Here are a few other pics including an example of another way to style them:

My friend (and Clutch22 frequent commenter) Jenny DB hinted on my last post she might like some feather goodness for her birthday, so I made the green and brown clips for her.

Below is a close-up of the green…

Finally, here is one way I like to wear the comb style, all up and a little messy.

My friend and colleague, Ashley gave me an idea for a new string of regular posts pertaining to questionable designs – What Were They Thinking? Staying true to the generally positive tone of this blog, I don’t plan to rip anyone apart…it’s just a little playful Q&A.

Here goes…I tend to love ugly and/or rejected pieces because I like the challenge that comes with trying to make them work. However, when it comes to this Burberry skirt, I’m afraid it looks as though they tried to save budget by buttoning a scarf around the waist to call it a “skirt.” What were they thinking? Dare to wear it?

I haven’t been able to make it to the last few CRAVE events, but am excited to attend CRAVEshow ’08 this Wednesday in Seattle.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 10th, 5-9pm
WHERE: McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center (map)

Along with being a great place to do find great holiday gifts for sample sale prices, there are lots of fun demo’s and sessions taking place throughout the evening. As many of you know, I’m a sucker for wardrobe reinvention and am excited to see Fashion Ethic’s tips on transforming pieces from day to night (they carry one of my new fav eco-chic designers, SPUN).

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets ($15). Let me know if you’re planning to go!

The latest buzz from the fashion blogosphere:

Links à la Mode : December 4th

• 39thandbroadway.com - The nitty, gritty, down and dirty, details of working in the fashion industry that nobody prepares you for!
• A Few Goody GumDrops – A Few Goody Gumdrops is giving away two to-die-for Katherine Kwei ever so chic handbags!Enter to Win!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy – Look divine this season, whatever your budget, in hot holiday jewellery
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog – Which came first…the button or the button-hole?
• Clutch 22 – Clutch 22 cut up a dress to create DIY Studded Oxfords
• Couture Allure Vintage Fashion – How to party like it’s 1959! Vintage looks for a 50th birthday gala.
• Daisy Fairbanks Vintage – Bringing out your inner Betty Draper, channeling the glamour of the early 60s with Mad Men fashion.
• Debutante Clothing – Vintage Fashion History – What’s Wrong with Bows and Zippers?
• dramatis personae – An interview with Xenia of Lime Crime Makeup (and Doe Deere Blogazine) about her new make-up line.
• fashion in my eyes – Word on the street with Sasha Pivovarova
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse finds ways to get all gussied up for holiday parties via Target for under !
• Fasshonaburu Fashion – Gift Guide for shopping for the label-obsessed, Gossip Girl watching teen during these economic hard times.
• Flights of Fab Fashion Fancy – Flights of Fab Fashion Fancy is loving these effortless-looking, chic looks! Yay for black! It always works!
• If Wishes Were Clothes Horses… – My exclusive interview with eccentric stylist, editor, notorious club personality and club night host JACK MITCHELL. He doesn’t mince his words, check it out…
• In Life and In Fashion – Handbag Heaven or Hell? A perfectly organized handbag!
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – How To Write The Perfect Holiday Gift Guide
• Mademoiselle Robot – My crush on Claire Fisher from Six Feet Under.
• MY Fashion Frenzy – My FIRST ‘Black Friday’ experience. “The phrase “crazy holiday shoppers” is an understatement!”
• Nothing Elegant – Artist Gustave Klimt and his lifelong partner Emile Floge were influential fashion reformers, and their work is still inspiring designers today.
• Or False Glitter – Advertising perfume: the mystery behind a physical representation of smell
• Pencil – sd looks at how some bloggers use what they already have to create a completely unique and one-of-a-kind look.
• Petite Bourgeoisie – John Caplan – The Man Behind Ford Models
• respectfully yours – stylish gentleman: daniel craig as james bond.
• Shopping and Info – Shopping and Info has the info on what Demi Lovato wore at the Twilight Premiere.
• Smart Geezer – Girls! 10 Tips For Men’s Clothes Shopping!
• Style Discovery – Who’s liking to my blog? Style Discovery’s 3rd bloggin tip post.
• Style Symmetry – Stop by and Celebrate our One Year Blogaversary!
• Stylish Thought – The Good Side of Sequins
• Technology Starlet – The Technology Starlet chicBuds Holiday Gift Giveaway
• The Bare Skinny – Fashion on the Go…Fabulous Iphone Apps.
• THE COVETED – Lucky 13 Vintage Holiday Dresses
• The Style PA – Going gaga for Lady Gaga. How one women is changing my mind about eighties fashion…
• we wear things – We Wear Things goes Masked Avengers!

Proudly sporting a recessionista badge, I refuse to spend money on a new holiday dress this year and decided to put together a few options from my closet. Now my only problem is choosing an outfit to wear tonight for my company holiday party and I need your help! Which one is your favorite?

Coincidentally, each look has something remaining from the previous.  Don’t be alarmed by my lack of accessories, I have a few planned out and will post the final look in the next few days.Are you contemplating what to wear to your upcoming holiday soirees and gatherings? Let me know if you want a second opinion, I’d be happy to help.

A few weeks ago, I came across these Kurt Geiger studded oxfords and found immediate inspiration for a DIY project.

For the shoes, I found a similar pair of platforms from Forever 21 for about $30. Here’s the best part – I was planning to order studs online, but came across a damaged dress with studded trim at Arden B for almost nothing (they were having a really good sale on top of the damage discount). I cut strips of studs from the dress and hot-glued them onto the shoes.

In total, it took about 15 minutes. Gotta love quick/easy DIY projects! Here’s a side by side comparison of the inspiration and the final product.

Not feeling crafty? The Kurt Geiger shoes just went on sale for $140 at Asos (from $180).

I wore them out for the first time over the weekend for Jordan’s (my boyfriend) 26th birthday. My only complaint is they are a tad high to be walking around in the city, especially after a glass of wine (rolled my ankle a few times…ouch).

Wearing: 

• Dress: Arden B
• Pants: Black Rats by Sass & Bide
• Bracelets: H&M and Forever 21
• Shoes: DIY/Forever 21

In honor of World AIDS Day today, I wanted to help spread the word on (PRODUCT) RED’s efforts to fight the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Here’s quirky video from William Sledd (aka YouTube’s “Ask a Gay Guy”) where he ambushes a shopper at his local mall in Kentucky to give her a (PRODUCT) RED makeover.

Polyvore is also helping support (PRODUCT) RED’s efforts with their latest contest. Click here to design your own set.

See more on PolyvoreFor those in Seattle who have noticed the Space Needle is glowing red today,  Starbucks arranged this for World AIDS Day in light of their joining the RED campaign.

Want to help? Consider (PRODUCT) RED items for your holiday shopping and grab a Gingerbread latte from Starbucks! Visit www.joinred.com.

Photo credit: Seattle Times