Welcome to Stripe City: The global destination for horizontal, linear, and colorful eye-candy.  This perfect storm combines unexpected and breezy bold stripes with the hues we are seeing all over the runways.  Prada is clearly the front runner with their SS11 collections.  Prada’s designs use a bevy of bold colors donned on dresses, handbags, and shoes.  Their palette of bright orange, pink, black and white is flawless.  My good friend, style innovator, Andrew Mukamal, and I dreamed up the ultimate ipad clutch inspired by this seasons must have color combo.  It’s perfect for our on-the-go adventures and also works as a non-tech accessories, to tote around town.

To create a version of your own, reach for a durable kitchen drawn liner, heavy duty, colorful tapes (Duck, Gorilla, and Gaffers are my favorites), Velcro and scissors.  Measure (by wrapping your ipad around), and cut to size.  Fold bottom half up, and tape all around to seal and secure.  Continue to tape and smooth away any lumps and air bubbles. Stick pieces of velcro as the clasp and your clutch is complete!  Get creative with your patterns and colors.  Yell it from your pipes: I love STRIPES!

The “Art of the Trench” is a beautiful thing.  The trench coat is quite possibly one of the most classic staples that everyone should own.  My friends, Hillary and Katherine of  WHO WHAT WEAR, who have a new j’amazing book, “WHAT TO WEAR, WHERE”, agree that one of the most coveted pieces this spring hails from BURBERRY.  Designer, Christopher Bailey, added a new spin on the iconic trench coat, giving us goosebumps with metallic accents to embellish.  Severe and sexy spikes are certainly a Spring trend to steal (say that tongue twister!)

Get inspired by Burberry, and create your own version.  Reach for lots of chopsticks (use anywhere from 50-100 pairs or more if you crave more spike-age).  Using a handsaw (carefully) and cut down chopsticks tops.  If you don’t feel comfortable with a saw, try heavy duty clippers.  In a well-ventilated area, spray paint the spikes, gold.  Wait till dry, flip over- and spray to cover.  Use chalk to outline where the spikes will go.  Use droplets of hot glue on the bottoms of the spikes, place down- and hold for a few seconds till they set.  Remove any straggly glue hair strands, let dry- and rock it!

It’s time for a Spring fling with a touch of bling!  I bow down to the masters of bling:  Judith Leiber, Lorraine Schwartz, Neil Lane to name a few.  Adding a touch of glimmer and sparkle to your look, will make everyone look to you as a style starlet!  Boasting a unique accessory such as a decedent headpiece or encrusted belt is all that is required for an instant update to set up your look and kick up those heels.
Creating a convertible accessory will take just minutes!  Reach for a piece of ribbon.  Measure to your size.  I suggest a double-faced ribbon or a grosgrain ribbon option.  Next, choose from a wide variety of gems.  Scour eBay or flea markets for vintage options or try M&J Trimming for oodles of options to oogle over.  Find the center point of your ribbon and use your glue gun to secure down.  Lay flat to dry and you’re ready for any Spring fling!  PS- Get creative with color combos and try your hand at making shorter version for cuff bracelets!

We can’t suspend time, however pants we can.  Enter my friend, Leandra Medine.  Recently, the urban dictionary got a run for its money when Leandra coined the seriously stylish term: MAN REPELLER.  If you’re not familiar with her harem pant, shoulder pad, and turban wearing ways, CLICK HERE to educate yourself and embrace the au courant epidemic.  Man Repellers don trends women think are positively great, and men flat out hate.  Her cool combo of spot on style and witty ways are unconventionally j’amazing.  Leandra told me she had been dying to DIY her current obsession… SUSPENDERS!  We put our kooky, creative heads together and PS’ed these. P.S.- you should too!

Measure and cut two pieces of ribbon and/or material.  The “front” material should be longer than the “back X”.  We chose a wide satin ribbon and delicate organza combo.  Find the center point of each, and slightly overlap, creating a “U” shape.  Loop it.  Slip it. Knot it.  Throw over your shoulders, keeping the “X” in the back and secure by tying knots to the belt loops on your pants.  Get creative with materials and widths and don’t be afraid to indulge your inner MAN REPELLER! 

Brace your waist… because it’s about to get wrapped, roped, and tasseled!  One of the hottest runway trends was the bold belt with accents of adornment that sinch, squeeze, and please in all the right places.  Infusing both the wild waist belt and the tassel trend; Oscar de la Renta’s belt and beaded tassel earrings hail from Chicistan, where all things scream lady luxe!  Neiman Marcus, Fashion Director, Ken Downing, picked his favorite Gucci gold belt as one of his “must haves” for the season that infuses the tassel tie as well.  The wide belt can be styled over dresses and long tunic tops matched with a sophisticated wide leg pant.  Stand out from the rest as you dress to impress and belt out loud!

To create your tassel belt, measure your waist and cut fabric to wrap all the way around, leaving approx. a 4-6 inch gap. Leathers and suede are great options as well. Slice two slits on both sides, large enough to thread through.  Gather and thread your cord/ropes through, knotting tassels on the ends.  Make sure you have enough cord to go all the way around and to tie off in the front.  A monochromatic color scheme is always chic choice, however get creative with colors, textures, and tassels- mix and match ‘em! Have fun getting waisted (no age requirements here).

P.S.- LOVE IS IN THE AIR! Whether you heart St.Valentine’s Day or simply steer clear of it, we should always remember to love ourselves day in and day out, (Hallmark holiday aside).  I will trade a box ‘o chocolates for jewelry any day of the week, and I’m sure most of you would too!  Here is my DIY love life advice: Don’t wait around for your crush to come through with bijoux…. P.S.- MAKE IT YOURSELF!  Follow in the footsteps of leading sweethearts Audrey Hepburn and Carrie Bradshaw, who always seemed to be doused in layers of pearls, while looking for their leading man.

To create a stand out, chunky, pearl statement necklace just reach for 3 strands of long pearl or beaded necklaces (experiment with different colored options), wide ribbon, and a decorative brooch.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HOW-TO VIDEO with Fashionista.com and get ready to fall head over heels in love with this lovely neck candy!  xoxo

“L” stands for Long and Luxe.  The lovely ladies at Who What Wear and I both fell hardcore for Chanel’s dramatic chain earrings, which embody these 2 “L’s”.  Chanel’s SS11 runway boasted gold and black decadence that dripped and made jaws drop.  Karl Lagerfeld’s sophisticated lady, toyed with her inner rebel- migrated downtown- and showed her wild side.  Live long and prosperous, like a Lagerfeld Lady, and….P.S.- create something you’re longing for!

To create a waterfall of wonderful chain inspired by Uncle Karl’s, connect jump rings to long pieces of cut chain using small pliers.  Create two long clusters of chain, attaching them together by threading fishing line through a ribbon clamp.  This will create a full chain with lots of movement.  Triple knot and snip off ends of fishing line.  Use a strong adhesive glue to attach earring posts onto the back of the ribbon clamp.  Hold in place for a few seconds, and let dry completely before moving.  To achieve a bottom of black ombre, lay earrings on flat covered surface and lightly spray from middle down, using matte spray paint.  Let dry- flip, and spray another light layer (PS- spray outside!) When earrings are dry, you’re ready to rock em!

P.S.- I’m a Libra!  And I am  constantly searching for balance in my everyday life.  Since a young age, I have been drawn to things pertaining to the solar-system: the moon, planets, and stars.  Star gazing, soul searching and personal style go hand in hand.  Recently, Susan Miller, world renowned Astrologist, read my chart and blew me away!  Each day, I read my horoscope via her App, knowing that the stars will help guide my way.  Speaking of stars, the fashion galaxy is giddy over Christopher Kane’s astrology-inspired collection, and people are still dreaming about the out-of-this-world-spacey-chic windows by Bergdorf Goodman.

Start crafting and show the world how bright your star shines!  Create a personalized work of art in zodiac form. CLICK HERE to get YOUR sign’s constellation.  Draw it, punch it, weave it, tape it, and staple a milky-way. Mat and frame for wall art OR get creative and turn the idea into astrology note cards, which I have shared with Design Sponge.  Check it out!