It's Sad How Accurate This Is

Everything in this video is so true, it's hilarious. Please watch it. It's only 1:58 and totally worth every second.

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Current Obsessions: Costume National

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a brand called Costume National. I don't remember how it happened--probably while reading a magazine--but I do remember that I was instantly in love. I actually wrote a Facebook post about it on my blog's page, which means it was really important. I'm not much of a status-updater.  That's irrelevant though, because I need to open your eyes to the beauty that is Costume National.
I actually looked as far back as Fall/Winter 2010 (that's like a lifetime ago)...that's how obsessed I am.

The thing that I love about the brand is that they do incredibly new and innovative variations on classic silhouettes. That's what most designers strive for because women (and men) are always looking for investment pieces that are timeless, but they don't want to be boring either. When you mush those two characteristics together, you have a beautiful baby, something that might resemble a union between Darren Criss and Emma Watson. Below are a few of my favorite pieces from assorted collections dating back from F/W 2010 to Pre-Fall 2012. Get ready to be blown away.

All photos courtesy of style.com.

Fall/Winter 2010

Pre-Fall 2011

Fall/Winter 2011

Spring/Summer 2011 

Resort 2012

Spring/Summer 2012

Pre-Fall 2012

Yeah. 

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B.F.E.: Before the Facebook Era

Facebook was created in 2004, but it didn't really become like, a big thing until a few years later. But we're going ignore that little fact and say that the Facebook Era began in 2004, for my purposes. What are my purposes, you ask? To be punny, of course. Nothing new there. I was originally going to name this post "B.C.E.: Before Chain E-mails" because I wanted it to be even punnier, but I couldn't find out when chain e-mails started going around. The reason all of this is relevant is because the outfit I wore a few days ago reminded me of something from the 90's (not like I spent much time there). I felt like I'd walked out of "Empire Records," if only a little. Anywhoozles, I tried to find a clever way to refer to the early 1990's, hence the title of this post. I will shut up so you can see what I'm talking about.

Photos taken by me.

Dress: Palumayo (it was my mom's) 

Jacket: Lush (it was my mom's friend's)

Coat: New York & Company (this is mine) 

Choker: an old birthday present

Now you finally know what I look like on the streets in my black peacoat that I've been wearing since (gasp!) last winter. It's actually the greatest coat, but I'm kind of wishing I'd been daring and bought it in red. Hey, I got it before I started my blog, when I was just a wee 8th grade nugget. 

 

Socks: my sock drawer

Boots: my cousin's old riding boots

This is what I call my Sergeant Pepper jacket. I said that one of my resolutions for this year is to wear more jackets, and so far I've been successful. Ten points for Hufflepuff!

Gah! My leg is gone! Just kidding, I just put it on the wall in an attempt to be a model. I still have two lower limbs. 

How cute is this little choker? My friend Danielle got it for me several years ago, and I was always hesitant to wear it, but I kind of just knew instantly that I had to wear it with my outfit. It's like me and this necklace have a telepathic connection, or something. 

You know me: I can never wear just black. There has to be some cheetah print color in there somewhere. Cue the choker and leopard print socks that I refused to wear as a young girl but have worn at least three times since the start of this school year. 

I've officially begun freaking out about Fashion Week. It's in exactly one week, and they've begun setting up the tents--I pass them on my way to school everyday. I can feel the tension rising. On Wednesday, I'm going to the IFB Conference and a fashion show that evening, and then I have five shows to attend that are a part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I shouldn't say have to; let me revise that sentence. There are five shows that I am dying to attend that are a part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Throw school into the mix and you've got yourself a hot mess (a.k.a. me, all next week)!

Number of times I said "week" in that itty-bitty paragraph: five. 

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We Have Miuccia Prada To Thank For This DIY

Miuccia Prada: the designer behind the brands Prada and Miu Miu. Coincidentally, those are the two labels I drew inspiration from for my newest DIY: glitter creepers. 

I know what you're thinking: "Glitter shoes is a lot to take in by itself, but then you had to throw them on a platform? No. Too much." Skeptic, I thought this too. But then I went for it. I figured, why have just a pair of sparkly slip-ons when I can be three inches taller while wearing them? Are you beginning to see my logic? Good. If you're a more concrete person, here's a mathematical equation to help you out: 

I've never made platform shoes or glitterfied anything before, so I used this Miu Miu shoe tutorial and this Prada creepers DIY for some help and I just built off of there. 

My DIY's are really not all that practical to replicate because I just make it up as I go along, but please attempt to follow my bizarre steps if you are so inclined. The product will be fantastic and completely original, which is always a plus. I don't know anyone else with shoes like mine. Anyway, let's get to it. 

Warning: There are an ungodly amount of parentheses following this sentence. Just be ready.

Things you need for glitterfication: 

1. Fabric glue 

2. Glitter in a color of your choice (I went with coarse-ish gold glitter with a touch of fine red glitter because I really dig sparkly red things; two ounces should be plenty. Buy a four ounce bottle if you're nervous you won't have enough.)

3. A pair of old (or cheap and new) shoes that you won't mind destroying if you completely botch this up. I chose my old pair of Christian Siriano for Payless slip-ons because I have an identical unworn pair in my closet. I would never jeopardize the well-being of my Christians. 

4. A sponge brush or paintbrush

5. A large area and proper surface coverings (i.e. a towel, paper, a shoe box to contain your glitter, etcetera). This is essential: there is glitter in every corner of my apartment. Literally, it's everywhere. 

*Optional*: 1. A few Dixie cups to hold your glue for easier application

                     2. Several colors of glitter, for your entertainment 

                     3. Any embellishments you want to add, like those studs on the toe that were in the original        

                      tutorial 

Things you need for platformifying: 

1. A pair of old flip flops 

2. Old shoe soles (I ripped them off of a pair of demolished rainboots, but you can supposedly buy them from your local cobbler if you're lazy. If you have any old pair of shoes, just cut the soles out and save yourself the money/trip to the store. I don't even know if cobblers exist anymore, so...)

3. Wood glue or another ridiculously strong adhesive (like a hot glue gun) 

4. Really sharp/intense scissors (or moderately sharp) 

5. A Sharpie 

6. Something heavy to weigh down your soles 

7. Fabric, raffia, trim, anything like that to cover up the edges of your platforms 

Let's begin! 

Steps 1-7 and 10-12 have to do with the platform-making process, so if you're not doing that, just skip them.

Step 1: Cut the straps off of your flip flops. 

Step 2: Place your shoes on top of your flip flop soles and trace around the outside with a Sharpie so that they are the same shape as the bottom of your shoes. Make sure you trace along the very edge of the shoe or else you'll have baby-sized platforms and it'll look funny. 

Step 2

Step 3: Cut out your new flip flop sole shape with your mega scissors. This was actually a somewhat painful step, jus' sayin'.

Step 3

Step 4: Cut out/obtain your other shoe soles (here you can see my nasty little rainboot soles--yum.)

Step 4

Step 5: Lay out your carpenter's/wood glue, brush of choice and assorted soles. This is not a legitimate step, really, because it's kind of just common sense, but I have a picture, so it gets its own instructions.

Step 5

Step 6: Apply glue to all four soles and sandwich together the corresponding ones (right flip flop goes to right shoe sole, left flip flop goes to left shoe sole).

Step 6

Step 7: Toss (not literally, that would be dumb) something heavy on your soles to make them stick better. I used some 10-pound weights because my family is full of champion weight lifters, no big deal. Just kidding.

Step 7

Step 8: Let your soles dry while you glitterize your shoes. I'm trying to see how many new verbs and nouns I can make out of the word "glitter." Right now I'm up to three. Get out your shoes and place them in your work area. Notice my computer in the background, and also note that this is not a good idea. There will be blood so much sparkle. More than you may be able to handle.

Step 8

Step 9: Apply glue first to the tongue and toe of your shoe and generously sprinkle glitter all over the glue-y area. Shake off the excess and repeat the process if you deem it necessary, based on your sparkle needs. Then proceed to do the same thing for each side, but do each one individually because fabric glue dries rill quickly. Do this for both shoes.

Step 9

A glittery close-up

Step 10: If you're just making glitter shoes, you can stop here. Congratz, you're done! Well, after you've sprayed them with waterproof shoe spray, if you've got it. If you're making them into creepers, keep reading. Let your shoes dry for a few hours, and then glue the bottoms of them to your platform soles (put glue on soles: glitter shoe and platform) and weigh them down to let them dry. I just filled my shoes with pennies because those 10-pound weights would have just smushed my pretty shoes.

Step 10

Step 11: Once your shoes have dried for another few hours (no one said this was a quick DIY), use your trim of choice to wrap around your platform soles to camouflage the fact that there are actually three soles under there. No one has to know. Just use wood or fabric glue to attach the fabric/raffia/ribbon/fur/cat hair/live plants that you want to have on your shoes. I used left over fabric from my last DIY and some white ribbon.

Step 11

Step 12: Let 'em dry, spray 'em with waterproof shoe protector spray to keep them from dying in the rain (although I don't suggest wearing them in the rain or snow if you can avoid it; it will cause you to leave a trail of sparkles wherever you go, which will make it easy for people to track you down if you're running from the CIA, or something.) and wear 'em!

Let me know if you try it out by leaving me a comment below, by sending me an email at youreatulle@gmail.com, Tweeting me @youre_a_tulle, or writing on You're A Tulle's Facebook page. Or all four, if you're really enthusiastic. 

Peace out, unidentified-gender scouts.

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