Spring is in the air and girly frocks will define the season.  Lace trimmed camisoles were seen marching down the runways of Dior, Nina Ricci, Barbara Bui, and Antonio Berardi.    This is a great trend for a DIY project, and since I am such a fan of upcycling things from the closet or an inexpensive thrift store find, I would like to show you how you can turn a simple camisole into a great top that fits right in with springs hottest trend.

For list of Materials click Here

Watching Red Carpet events always makes me want to get dressed up for no reason, I fall in love with elegance and glamour on the red carpet. Beautiful statement dresses with simple jewelry pieces or simple dress with dramatic jewelry pieces. I have to say my all time favorite look was Angelina Jolie’s at the 2009 Oscars. She wore a simple but beautiful Elie Saab black dress with stunning emerald Lorraine Schwartz earrings. It’s amazing what jewelry can do for any outfit.

Here is my inspired Red Carpet Earrings, made from Swarovski Rhinestone Buttons

Materials:

• 2 Earring Posts (at a craft store)
• 2 Earring Backs (at a craft store)
• 2 Swarovski Rhinestone Buttons 18mm Style # 29316
• E6000       
• Pliers
• File

Directions

Step 1: Take pliers and cut the shank off the back of rhinestone buttons.

Step 2: (Optional) File down the back of button, making it smooth

Step 3: Glue earring backs to the back of rhinestone buttons with E6000 (let dry for 30mins)

Step 4: Ready to WEAR!

M&J Trimming has been featured in Marth Stewart Living, in The Best Favorites, Secrets & Sources article. We’ve been nominated as one of the treasured New York City sources for “The Best Finishing Touches”.

Embellishing anything with trims makes all the difference. Whether it be pom-pom fringe, gimps or cordage that you use on a simple and inexpensive pillow to liven up your room, you will not be disappointed. It’s a fun creative and money saving DIY that sets you apart from all the rest!

Here are the style #’s and descriptions listed in order with the magazine:

1. – Style# 40071007 Limbardi Gimp 

2. – Style# 38623008 Pom Pom Fringe

4. – Style# 88727059 Leather Cord/ Trim

5. – Style# 88720039 Frog/Motif

9. – Style# 40095005 Naples Brush Fringe

11. – Style# 88706029 Braid

12. – Style# 39637006 Teleman Gimp Scallop

13. – Style# 41165010 2” Genuine Leather

 14. – Style# 00601 3” Rayon Bullion Fringe –Reef Gold

15. -  Style# 88727059 Leather cord/Trim

16. – Style# 41897 Greek Key Jaquard – Orange Cream

17. – Style# 27139 Braided Band Imported Tassel – Amber

18. – Style# 40751002 Nurgali Ball Tassel Fringe

 19. – Style# 40566 butterfly Pleat Taffeta – Mauve

On the Pillows

Orange Pillow

• Style# 88715059 Large Embroidery Applique
• Style# 13916003 Small Metallic Motif

Blue Pillow

• Style# 40095011 Naples Brush Fringe

Round Beige Pillow

• Style# 38634017 Berry Covered Ball Fringe

Milan Fall Fashion Week 2010 

This season for Milan Fall Fashion week, designers like Dolce & Gabbana went back to their roots with sexy hour-glass pieces and signature prints, pencil skirt and lingerie. The details included beautiful gold coins, satin trims, wide elastic waistband and lace inserts. Emilio Pucci’s outstanding collection went for the 70’s details including deep-slashed and front swooping backs, laced, cutouts, silky fringing, and beading details. With overtones of purple, midnight blue, peacock shades, and molten gold.   Alberta Ferretti’s collection beamed with colors of black, smoke grey, ivory, midnight blue, pale gold and sliver. With detailed delicate beading, tucks, pleats and fur trim. DSquared’s feisty collection included tulle bustles, corsets and pencil skirts that were detailed with blood red jewels, blue, and red beading, chain-fringing, metal spike studs, corest lacing, and industrial zips.  Blumarine’s sexy and glamour look was pouring rock-chick studs, rhinestones, fringe and slinky zips.

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

  Dolce&Gabbana

Emilio Pucci

Alberta Ferretti

DSquared

Blumarine

It has been quite a while since my last post, so I think I’m due for another DIY. 

The weather in NYC has been a lot warmer lately, in the mid 50s.  I assume it is also starting to get warmer everywhere else as well.  If you are tired of hibernating for the winter like me, then you’re probably looking forward to spring and the fashionable outfits that comes along with the weather.  So it’s time to shed off that thick coat and start dressing a little more fashionable and creative. 

As the season changes, I’m always in need of something new, but the my wallet won’t always allow me to do so.  Therefore, for this spring, I’m dressing up my outfits from last year with a little bit embellishments. 

This week, I made a shoulder accessory; which you’ll see more of in magazines and clothing stores this season. 

Materials:

• Small Chains
• Suede fabric (7″ x 3″ cut into a simi oval shape)
• 15 inches long of a 4″ wide black lace
• Unique stitch Glue
• Needle
• Black Thread
• Pin back

Directions:

1. Add a line of glue along the center of the suede fabric.
2. Pick up the suede fabric with the glue side up and place along the center of the lace. 
3. Take one end of the lace and place it over the glue.
4. Add glue to the center of the fabric again.  Then take the other end of the lace and place that over the glue.  The suede fabric should be completely covered with the lace.
5. With your finger, pinch the center of the fabric, then using a needle and thread, sew the center in place.
6. Once the center is more table, wrap the center with your chains.  Leave a few inches off so it can dangle. 
7. Now stitch on the pin back in the center of the fabric on the back side where there is glue.

Now you’re all done and ready to add this to the shoulder of  your tank top, t-shirt or dress.  You can also add it onto your clutch or put a clip instead of a pin back and use it as hair accessory.  For a little more glam, you can also add sequins over the lace with glue.

Last nights Oscars were as glamorous and entertaining as ever year. With well deserved winners and great opening acts what’s not to love, but for most of us before the awards even begin the entertainment starts on the red carpet. Here’s a recap of what the stylistas wore on the Red Carpet.

Red Carpet WinnersCameron Diaz in Oscar De La Renta, Sandra Bullock in Marchesa, Diane Kruger in Chanel Haute Couture,  Demi Moore  in Versace Altier

Armani Prive Haute CoutureAmanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lopez

Elie Saab Houte CoutureAnna Kendrick  and Rachel McAdams

Hits Or Misses?Hilary Swank  in Armani Prive, Charlize  Theron in Christian Dior, Zoe Saldana in Givenchy

M&J Trimming is a huge fan of Ruffles and Stuff blog by Disney. She is an amazing DIY-ER, revamping and redesigning things she already has from her own and her beautiful daughter’s wardrobe.

If you love doing projects as much as she does, why not get some gifts out of it! Disney from Ruffles and Stuff is having her very own contest.

The contest is from March 1^st to April 2^nd, to enter in the contest you have to make something-anything centered around the theme of ruffles.  Ruffles can be made from paper, fabric, tissue paper, paintings of ruffles, anything you can imagination. (There are even ruffle tutorial and photo tips on her blog if you need help)

There will be three contest winners with some great prizes including autographed books, custom-made necklaces and M&J Trimming  has also donated a $50 Gift Card to the First Place winner. So check out her blog for the requirements and start making your crafty project for a chance to win!

GOOD LUCK!

It is finally March and I am very excited.  The thought of shedding the many layers worn to keep warm through yet another rough New York winter has got me doing cartwheels.  But, we can’t pack up the sweaters and plush fabrics just yet, the cooler days still linger.  However, there is no reason why we can’t add some spring like accents to help get us in the spirit of the up coming season.  Flowers symbolize spring better than any I can think of and M&J has got a large assortment of flower pins.  A flower pin makes the perfect spring time accessory and is quite versatile. 

 It can be added to a velvet bag or scarf so they can easily be carried over from winter to spring, and of course it looks great on your spring apparel too.

I would like to share with you an idea so you can create your own charmed bracelet using buttons as your charms.

I used:

• 1 button of each style number 27854,  24361, 31325,  23619, 21707, 21815, 21906, 21688, 28916,
• ¼ a yard of gold metal chain 91700299
• Stretch magic elastic
• 1 clasp and 2 rings which I purchased in a jewelry findings carrier

Directions:

1. Choose your chain and buttons then decide the order you would like to place the buttons in
2. The easiest way to attach your buttons to the chain is to use stretch magic elastic
3. Slip the elastic through the shank of your button
4. Knot it as close to the chain as possible than cut of the remaining elastic you have from the  knot
5. Make sure your buttons are not to close to each other you don’t want your bracelet to look too cluttered
6. The final step is adding the clasp to your bracelet in order to close it
7. Start with attaching the two rings to the two opposite ends of the chain
8. Slip the loop of the clasp through either ring you added to your chain and you can use the remaining ring to close your clasp

To celebrate the joyous return of spring, Victoria magazine’s wrote about it’s Rhapsody in Roses, in their March/April 2010 issue.  A feminine fashion statement made for centuries has always been with rose motifs. Use a gaint cabbage pin from M&J Trimming to embellish a straw hat for the spring.

In this picture Giant Silk Cabbage Rose in pale pink was used Style# 30260