Dollar Store Fashion

When I think about places that are known for fashion, I often think of some of my favorite stores (Loft, Forever 21 or H&M) or places I go to learn more about fashion (Barnes Noble or the library). These places always make me feel the joy of fashion and style.

You wouldn't think that going to the Dollar Store would have the same affect. While walking through the $1 book selection, a book jumped out to me. Any book that has style, fashion or beauty on the cover stands out to me. This book I grabbed is titled, A Life of Style by Rebecca Moses.

The drawings in this book are so fun and artsy. Instead of photographs of what you should have in your closet or pieces of furniture to own in your home, there are drawings of these pieces. Each so whimsical, they make you want to own every thing.

How do we communicate our style? There are countless ways. Pink lipstick. Fake and real jewels. Curly hair. Perfume. Chignons. A laugh. Social. Very social. Shoes. Stilettos. Vintage bags. Vintage shopping. Peonies. Diamonds. Florals. Social butterfly. An addicted shopper. Online shopper. Discount shopper. (sensing a trend) Extroverted. Feminine blouses.

Some of my favorite highlights from the book are.

-Style is putting our own signature on the things we wear and the way we live.

-A look is not about pretty or beautiful. It's about leaving an impression...a lasting impression.

-Creating a home is creating a world of your own.

-Some people speak and others write. These are the desk setters. The style they use is what makes them individual. Where they write is as individual as what they write. What they write is as private or as public as they choose. How they write tells you everything, right down to their soul.

-Define your loves. Be brave. Rely on your instincts. Get passionate. Search for inspiration. Don't rely on money. Develop the sixth sense. Mix it, don't match it. Embrace imperfection. Communicate with color. Cultivate versatility. Do as you dream.

Not bad for a one dollar find. I'm pretty impressed with what it had to offer.

The results.

Project Fargo Fashion Week design competition was last night. It was a blast. I met my models at 5:00 during rehearsal and was so happy to have such beautiful girls. I started talking to them about their modeling careers and what they were going to school for. One model, Elizabeth had done all the makeup for the other models. It was clear she enjoyed doing it because the makeup was flawless. My other model, Natalie was young and just entered the modeling business. They were both such sweethearts and I felt lucky to have them chosen for me.

At rehearsal, the producer of the show explained that 4 designers would be selected and they would make a 10 piece collection for Fargo's Fashion Week in September. This was news to me, I had just signed up thinking it would be fun entering my designs. No way did I know that I'd have to make a small collection. I tend to jump into things without fully thinking them through. The pressure was on!

Out of my personal collection, I selected 2 outfits that I had made in the middle of having babies, so I wasn't sure how they would fit. My green ruffle dress was a little snug on Natalie, but she rocked it and looked amazing!! I included the shoulder piece made from unconventional materials that I had planned on entering the West Acres Recyclable Fashion but was never held. Last night was the perfect night to use this piece. I absolutely love it and would even consider wearing it myself on a date night or special event. Natalie gave a power stance at the end of the runway that was so fierce it commanded the room. I was so pleased how she walked and felt comfortable in the mini-dress, even though it may have been too tight.

The other piece I selected was my blue/orange splatter print jumpsuit with pockets. Ever since I found that fabric at Joann's it has been one of my favorite pieces. I almost had to part with it last night because Lizzie loved it so much, she offered to buy it. I was so flattered that something I created was really liked. My design aesthetic is prints and lots of color. I get that it is not everyone's taste. So it's nice to hear that those who like prints, like what I create. I had to turn her down on buying it, just because it was a favorite. But I would make anything for her that she needs for pageants. Just let me know, Lizzie!

Well, I didn't win the show. But that's ok. I'm not ready to make a 10 piece collection right now. Life gets in the way and it would not be my best work. Maybe in the next few years I'll be able to go back and win it with my designs. Watch out for Style by Kari in 2020, I'm going to crush it!

Glitter Gala 2017

I attended the 1st Annual FirstLink Glitter Gala last night at the Delta Hotel. I must admit, I didn't know anything about FirstLink or what it was. I only saw 'glitter' in the event and I was intrigued. - I often search through community events to see what our 'big city' is doing in the world of fashion. I met up with one of my friends I met through a mom group. I felt completely underdressed in my vintage sequin blouse and boyfriend jeans, compared to what she was wearing. She had a black formal dress and more bling than the richest rapper, tastefully worn of course. She was beautiful, I was lucky to stand next to her for pictures.

As I sat and talked to her more, I learned what FirstLink was about. Her husband had committed suicide several years ago and FirstLink was there to help her and the emotions that go with that. I have never been directly affected by anyone who took their own life, but I believe it is a condition that is kept very quiet and needs to be talked about more.

The theme of the event, glitter, fit perfectly. We are to show the shine and sparkle of those we love, lost to suicide. There was so much glitter, sequins and rhinestones, it was as if the girls bathroom of my high school blew up. Doesn't anyone remember that glitter eye gel we used to all wear? I can remember the little Carmex size jar I had.

Besides my friend's dress, a few of my favorites were these two beautiful ladies. The nude color dress and sequins are such a classic look, even if they are covered with sparkle.

I had a wonderful time and it was amazing to hear inspiring stories from my friend and others who have been affected by suicide. I am excited to attend this event next year and bring even more awareness to this cause.

With every fiber of my being.

Threading a sewing machine or even a needle can become old news and routine when I do it over and over. But something that I don't often think about is how that thread came to be. I went to the Fiber Arts Festival on Saturday and was not prepared for what I saw. When I first stepped into the park where it was being held, I saw several older women knitting and I didn't think it would be like this.

But that changed at the next area of the festival. I found something called Crazy Quilting that I'd never heard of before. Essentially, it's putting anything you want on a quilting square and creating a quilt based on those individual squares. These squares had beads and several different types of fabrics sewn with no real pattern. My fashion eye immediately thought of creating those crazy blends of materials on a garment, similar to the Dior Fall 2017 collection.

Not only did I learn something new with quilting that could be used in fashion, I saw different types of materials that are used for dying fabrics. Green ferns, red cabbage and cochineal bugs were a few of the things I hadn't seen used for dye before. Tea and coffee as dyes were common, but bugs? A couple fabrics were dyed using marigold flowers and it was such a beautiful golden color. White muslin fabric is always cheaper, so maybe next time I'll dye it with flowers instead of buying a already printed floral fabric. This will be more of a unique print compared to those in a continual pattern at every fabric store.

I was so inspired at this festival. I can't wait to try some of these techniques on designs. While I was walking out, I already had sketches going through my head with what I'd like to create. And you thought quilting was just for your grandma!

Project Fargo Fashion Week

Do you have those friends that give you a compliment and while they may be telling the truth, you think they are totally lying?

So many times my friends and clients have told me that I should apply to Project Runway. Each time I hear that, I'm flattered because I don't think I would even make the top 50. I enjoy sewing and designing, but let's get real. The last time I actually created the pattern myself was when I went to college at NDSU in 2003-2005. Over 10 years ago! That is definitely not like riding a bike. Arm holes, darts, bodice, there's no training wheels for that.

I tell you this because I finally did something similar. No, it's not Project Runway. But it's the North Dakota version; Fargo Fashion Week. I applied to enter one of my designs into the competition. I applied before I decided which one I would enter, before I had a chance to back out and before I could nit-pick each of my designs thinking it wasn't good enough. I found myself entering my name, address and email for the registration.

Now, how do I decide? Do I pick something I've never worn before and not sure I can squeeze into after baby? Or do I pick something that I've worn to a Christmas party? The first splatter print on the left is a jumpsuit with wide mid-calf legs. The second green dress is short and has petal-like ruffles on the skirt. The third is one of my favorite pieces that I designed inspired by a dress Courtney Cox had on at an award show. I've worn it to a Christmas party last year and loved it. Or lastly, a floral mix of prints dress? The bottom knee length skirt is floral and the top is plum with gold rose accents.

I know I shouldn't play favorites, but I think the jumpsuit and the navy/black dresses really embody me as a designer. I like prints and color. These 2 pieces show this.  

The competition is August 17th and the Fargo Fashion Week is September 18, 2017. I'm sure I'll have something narrowed down by then. If I have an extra 48 hours, I may even create something new. Nothing like a Project Runway style challenge for this competition.

World Breastfeeding Week

As the World Breastfeeding Week comes to an end, I wanted to share about my two passions; breastfeeding and fashion. It's not always easy to be fashionable and still feed an infant or a toddler (as I plan to). They are always pulling at your clothes and jewelry or demanding the boob on cue. Just one of the many joys of motherhood.

After 23 months (between Edison and Linus) and still counting, here are some tips I have for dressing your best self while nursing.

Dresses. I'm a total dress girl. But, it can be hard to nurse in a dress because you can't pick it up from the bottom. You could, but that would be a whole other topic. This green sage one is from Old Navy and is a stretch jersey that can be stretched under the bust. I bought a size larger than I normally would to make sure there was enough stretch. P.S. It's on sale right now. Get it.

Some other dresses I've worn are button down dresses, spaghetti strap and strapless dresses. With the thin strap, I pull it down and take the strap off my shoulder. Those are often not a stretch material, so pulling down the strap seems to help better than stretching it. When the one strap is down, the other stays up and keeps you covered.

I've seen dresses that you can nurse from the side. This might be a halter type neckline. I would love to find one that I can nurse from the side. This one from Forever 21 might be fun if you don't mind showing this much skin.

Button down blouses. These are some of my favorite tops to nurse in. The top 2 buttons can simply be unbuttoned and still have the other side covered. Most nursing women will use the layered method and have a tank top underneath the shirt to keep their stomach covered. A button down blouse does the same thing while only wearing one layer.

We often think of button down shirts as a business casual look, but this could easily be your favorite flannel or chambray shirt. Check out this from Maurices. With this price, you won't be worried about sneaking the bag inside the house in front of your husband either.

I never thought that this would become my life. It's something I'm so passionate about and love to encourage other women to succeed at. It's a good thing that it is so important to me because it sure hasn't been easy. At least I look good though the pain and struggles.

Do you have a library card?

When I was in college at NDSU for Apparel & Textiles, I used to love going to the library. I would often do research through books and text instead of online. Having a book in my hands made it feel like the information was somehow better. I could spend hours at the library looking at new books. It's a good thing that my dorm, my first year was within a block of the library.

I headed to the public library today. But unlike my college days, I brought my 3 boys with me. After playing eenie, meanie, minee, moe with the children's books, we finally decided on 3 that we would bring home. In addition to those 3, I grabbed 3 fashion books for myself.

The Big Book of Fashion Illustration. The painting on the cover of a woman in a bumblebee dress stuck out to me and made me want to open it. Who says we don't judge a book by the cover? It had pages and pages of drawings. Women, men, children and accessories. Some had me more interested than others. Here are a few that drew me in.

Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls. When I worked as an intern for a brand showroom, I got familiar with the Man Repeller (Leandra Medine). She would frequently give press for the brands we sold and so I started following her on several social media outlets. She's quite influential in the fashion industry. She's interviewed and sat with Sarah Jessica Parker, Iris Apfel and Betsey Johnson. She is all about flaunting your own style. If you want to wear a bra outside your shirt or carry a pom-pom handbag, it's your style so own it.

Man Repeller

Barbie: The Icon. I still have my first Barbie. I remember the day I got it, as a Christmas present in 1993. She has long brown hair and a short red Lee jeans dress. I'd dress and accessorize them in outfits for any event. It's easy to see now that I was always meant to love fashion. Fashion and singing. I always thought I had a talent for both, I'm not 9 anymore. I know singing into a vacuum handle will never make me a star.

I'll be starting the Man Repeller book just as soon as I finish Wildflower by Drew Barrymore. Check it out!