Safety is the name of the game when it comes to all things Fashion and Designer DIY.  Right now delicate metallic safety pins are all I can think about.  They are truly a marriage of fashion and function for all.  Versace’s Verses, Vena Cava, Moschino, Marc Jacobs and Tom Binns all look to the safety pin to adorn apparel, accessories, and jewelry with an incredible embellishment.

I picked up some gold-tone safety pins at my local hardware store.  Dollar Stores and Art stores carry as well.  Slip several pins together, creating clusters. Pin all over the collar and attached clusters to create a bold effect around your neck.  Get creative with colored safety pins and adorn other apparel and accessories!

P.S.- Pin it to win it!

Denim on denim it a DO for Spring 2010.  The lovely ladies from Who What Wear and I both agree that Chloe’s cool and casual indigo layered look is one of the strongest trends of the season and we want IN! Style together for a full on runway repertoire or rock the patch-worked pieces separately.  Dig into your closet for medium and light wash jeans or pick up a new pair to embellish. Check out Forever 21 for a wide variety of denim and also over-sized Denim and Chambray shirts. 

After cutting up your jeans into patches, pin and sew accordingly.  If you’re not the best seamstress or want to cut some corners- opt for fabric glue!  Just make sure you wait 72 hrs till dry and wash inside out. 

My heart goes pitter patter for all things painted with a splatter.  Recently we’ve been seeing loads of this refined messiness.  The Jackson Pollock-esque painted fashions are in full force right now.  The late and GREAT Alexander McQueen last graced us on the runway wearing a pair of butcher oxfords with a splatter finish and used in his Spring collection. Tory Burch and Proenza also recently rocked this artistic touch on the runway during Fashion Week.

Throw a few brush strokes down and then dip ur brush in paint and flick your fingers away creating a haphazard design on jeans and oxfords.  I used Urban Outfitters jeans and Oxfords (Frye brand)- they have loads of cool oxfords, so peep ‘em and paint ‘em.

We’re all Material Girls, living in Material worlds, thanks to Madonna and Maripol!  Although Madonna knew how to “Express Herself”, it was her friend and mother of all stylists, Maripol who created and crafted iconic looks into Fashion’s hall of fame!  A recent comeback and kick a** capsule collaboration with Marc Jacobs, has old fans freaking and newbies in the know.  The entire collection pays homage to her rubber stretchy bracelets, bobby pin necklaces, & neon flairs, all donning her signature tri-bolbus DNA structure-like tag.  Get ‘em while you can… P.S. the packaging is also DOPE (wouldn’t expect anything less).

To make your own stunning chic collar statement necklace hit up your local coffee shop.  The lovely people at Dunkin’ Donuts had these cranberry colored coffee stirrers for my Designer DIY.  Get creative with colors and collar shape by shaping with a few snips after you sew the straw on.  Make sure you double up your thread for extra support.

P.S.- Check out Maripol’s site to get inspired, and see more of her outrageous Polarama world!  http://www.maripolitan.com  Thank you Marc and Maripol for teaming up-truly J’amazing!

Confession:  I’ve recently fallen madly in love.  Who’s my new lover you ask? Ohhhh, It’s Chanel’s Spring Couture collection.  My eyes were locked on these delicate tulle and lace frocks that were topped off with sweet and chic headpieces that made my heart go pitter-patter!  Between Uncle Karl’s new collection, Victor & Rolf, and Marchesa’s delicate drama, massive amounts of tulle and rosette details make me do pirouettes and pas de bourrée like a Prima Ballerina!

This Valentine’s Day, fall in love a little harder with a headpiece. All you need for this whimsy accessory is some scrap fabric, ribbon and a needle ‘n thread.

P.S.- Love is in the air!

I’m over the moon about getting to work with one of my all time favorite brands, HELMUT LANG!  To inaugurate & celebrate this refreshing Spring collection, I have created necklaces, bracelets, and scarves out of their amazing  leathers, denims, and t-shirt materials.   These accessories are currently paired with their spring looks in the windows of BLOOMINGDALE’S Lexington Avenue Flagship location! 

Click Here to check out Modelina’s coverage of the windows and the DIY event I hosted on February 3rd!

The lovely ladies from http://www.whowhatwear.com gave me a spectacular springtime summons for a Designer DIY that was inspired by the dashing duo, Proenza Schouler.  We both agree that the tie dye trend is full on and in the fashion house’s fore front. PANTONE named TURQUOISE as the color of 2010, which was the foundation for this vivid Surf infused Spring/Summer Collection, which left hearts pumping and toes tapping to try on.  I’m not only partial to Proenza because we share the same “PS” initials, but I truly admire the staggering talents of Jack and Lazaro as they continue to wow us season after season.  They just announced their online click-able shop http://www.proenzaschouler.com where we’re counting down seconds to snag a mini PS1 purse!

PS- I LOVE PS! That stands for Proenza Schouler for all of you abbreviation illiterates

Pick up some to DYE for colors here for your own take on this designer inspired look http://www.ilovetocreate.com/tulip.aspx