OOTD/A Crafter's Wet Dream

Today I took myself on a date to Mahmoudpaşa, a tangle of streets wedged between the Grand and Egyptian Bazaars that are packed to the gills with street vendors selling scarves, football jerseys, tea sets, and, most wonderfully, craft supplies. Imagine all the sequins in the whole world crammed into tiny basement shops and strings of semiprecious stones hanging from the walls.

I nearly had to take out my smelling salts, y'all.

(Outfit: Dress, Yargıcı, also seen here; muscle tank, Zara; flats, Benetton; sweater, street stall; cuff, Mango)

 

 (Just a few of my purchases: druzy, fang, and evil eye charms for about $10 USD!)

I've been having a lot of fun layering less delicate pieces with this dress, and although I try to avoid muscle tanks that scream "KATE MOSS WOULD TOTALLY WEAR THIS!!!" I was really won over by the flattering cut and the textured linen-cotton blend.

I bought the sweater for about 10USD from a street stall. It's acrylic but has the softness and warmth of cashmere. Half-sleeved sweaters are one of those things that make no real sense but are actually incredibly handy...

Hope you're all having a fabulous week!

-B

The EMMY'S

Sunday night was the Emmy awards, and I have a few things to say about that fashion!

This comes, like the Harry Potter Series, in 7 parts.

1) I am so excited about all the structured, architectural details that are on trend. 
Sexy, edgy, figure flattering...

                                                    Zosie Mamet                                 Emily Van Camp
                                               in Bihbu Mahopatra                                in J. Mendel

                                           Jenna Malone                                                Glenn Close
                                                in J. Mendel                                       in Bihbu Mahopatra 
                          (watch that Angelina leg sweetheart!)

DIY Embellished Shades

 DIY embellished sunglasses are everywhere right now, folks. Inspired by runway looks such as Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana, sloughs of fashion bloggers have been posting creative tutorials on how to spruce up your sunnies for cheap!

It goes a little something like this:

Steps 1-3: Hot glue a ton of sparkly shit to your sunglasses.

Step 4: Wear them and be fabulous.

(Top left to right, click for tutorial: Glitter n' Glue, Refinery 29, Studs and Pearls, A Matter of Style)

(The ladies at Nissa Jewelry added some chains to their sunnies- expect to see more of these)

The beauty of this project is that you can be as subtle or outrageous ad you'd like. Pictured above are seed beads, cabochons, nail decals, and even repurposed earrings! Istanbul has a sad lack of craft stores... but it does have a CRAFT DISTRICT. And you can bet that I'll be there this weekend with a keen eye for anything that might look great on a pair of shades. I have a feeling it will be sparkly.

What do you think of these DIY eye candies? Would you rather stick with your unadorned wayfarers?

Etsy Roundup Part Deux

Ladies and Gents, we present to you another Etsy Roundup, curated with love! Leave a comment and tell us what your favorite pick is!

(From left to right: Unicorn ring, Rorschach Ink Blot print, Booksi for iPod/iPhone, Butterfly collar, Nightmare Before Christmas Converse, Lolita skull earrings)

-Claire & Berit

Fall Style Tips II: Right on Time

I've never been much of a watch person. Maybe it's because I've grown up in the digital age, always using my cell to check the time, or because watches have always felt more like an adult necessity rather than another accessory. 

 For reasons unknown even to me, I brought my watch to Istanbul and haven't stopped wearing it since I arrived. I've also noticed that Turkish people are really into watches -my Turkish friends own as many stylish watches as they do bags, and they're sold everywhere by street hawkers. 

If ever there was a right time to invest in a timepiece it's Fall, when we all have to start checking the clock again and act like grown-ups. Watches are practical, versatile, and sophisticated (outshone only by the monacle). Plus, you're guaranteed to find one that suits your style and purpose. 

Fall Style Tips II: Right on Time by raincitystylistas2 featuring asos

Rubber watch, $64 / Watch / ASOS / Geneva wrap watch / ASOS , $35

(Via LookBook)

I'm beginning to appreciate watches as both a practicality and an opportunity to make a statement. What's your verdict?

-B 

Style Profile: Florence Welch

Can we all just stop for a minute and recognize how amazing Florence Welch is?

(If you don't know, she is the Florence from Florence + the Machine.
If you don't know, Florence + the Machine makes great music)

Her voice is both powerful and tender, her hair is fiery and fabulous, and her style is superb.

Plus she is british so she speaks english in a far more attractive way that I do. 

She effortlessly blends romantic and dreamy with edgy and punky 

and tosses in some eccentricity and weirdness to boot. 

I love her penchant for evocative bohemian prints and floaty fabric. 

And man can she bring the DRAMA.  

It's astonishing how hard she rocks her look, this sugar is taking no prisoners.   

Let her be an inspiration to us all.  Oh, I love you Flo.

Any celebrities/artists that you think have inspiring style?

Stay lovely!

♥ 

Claire

Trippy Business: Prabal Gurung's Orchid Rorschach Collection & OOTD

I've always been really taken with the use of symmetrical inkblot-style imagery, especially Rorschach patterns, in fashion. I think it began with Alexander McQueen (doesn't everything begin with McQueen?), but at any rate, it's a technique that has surfaced here and there on the runways but rarely in places where non-millionares can purchase them. 

The most recent appearance of of these acid trip-evoking textiles in couture was executed most elegantly by Prabal Gurung, a newer kid on the fashion block who has lived, worked, and studied all throughout Southern Asia. Here's a few pieces from his Spring 2012 collection:

Botany + Psychology: Prabal Gurung's Orchid Rorschach Collection by raincitystylistas2 featuring a floral blazer

Prabal Gurung floral print dress, $1,120 / Prabal Gurung floral top, $670 / Prabal Gurung floral blazer, $1,485

Imagine my delight when I found this floral shift on a sale rack in Turkey for under $20 USD! Though the pattern is much less subtle than Gurung's, sometimes you just have to wear the plainest shoes you can find and let the garment do it's thing.

 (Plus the *subtle* presence of flora on my pelvis is totally a metaphor for my feminine mystique!)

Do these kind of prints whet your whistles whatsoever? Alliteration. 

-B 

P.S. Happy September! 

UPDATE:  
Guess what Kate Middleton wore this week during her Royal tour of Asia with the Duke?

NEW SERIES: Etsy Roundup!

We are pleased to announce a new series here at RCS! As some of you may know, we're pretty big fans of Etsy around here (and also the satire site Regretsy, which skewers the stranger items on the site). Not only is it a venue for purchasing unique items you can't find anywhere else, but your money directly supports small-scale crafters, designers, and vintage curators (Just watch out for those resellers though, a.k.a. avoid owl pendants).  

So, from time to time we'll feature some Etsy listings we've picked out of the fray, because they're stylish, intriguing, or simply amusing. We're always doin' it for the lulz.

Without further ado:

(From left to right: Finger Print Embroidery Hoop, Gem Brooch Set, Batman Pendant, Lionel Ritchie Tea Mug, Mermaid Fins, Crochet Viking Hat)

What do y'all think of our picks?

-Berit & Claire

P.S. If you have a moment, check out Berit's Etsy shop! Because what's a post without some shameless self-promotion?

OOTD: Floaty Fabrics

Today I did that thing where I combine two pieces that don't match at all, but somehow work because they share the same texture. This dress was a gift to me for Bayram from a Turkish-designed label called Yargıcı (Yar-guh-juh) that specializes in soft, feminine pieces nautical-inspired gear.

(Dress, Yargıcı; scarf, Grand Bazaar; boots, GeeWaWa; earrings, Mom's; bangles, Pull & Bear; necklace, Istanbul boutique)

-B

Fall Style Tips: Metal Capped-Toe Shoes

As Fall quickly approaches, many of us will reluctantly bid farewell to our sandals in lieu of more weather-appropriate footwear. In the fashion world, Autumn is synonymous with chicness and polish because of the melding of summer and winter styles, plus consistently mild weather that lends to layering for the purpose of style rather than utility.

Enter the metal capped-toe shoe. In a myriad of styles and colors, this trend offers polished intrigue without sacrificing versatility. It looks expensive without trying too hard and is a great building block for accessorizing.

Valentino kitten heel shoes / Yves Saint Laurent cap toe shoes, $710 / Rachel Roy slip on shoes / ASOS high heel pumps / Wallis flat shoes / Oasis cap toe shoes, $60

Blessedly, this smart-looking trend has descended from the upper echelons of the fashion heavens to more affordable locations, including, not surprisingly, your local Forever21.

 I don't know about you guys, but I'll be snatching up a decently priced pair of these shit-kickers ASAP. Thoughts?

-B

T-Shirt Makeovers!

Why buy new clothes when you can just spiff up the ones you have!

 1. Revamped Button-up

Blinged out collars are everywhere right now, and as much as I think they are totally hot, 

I am not paying 50$ at Urban Outfitters.  

So, I rummaged in my closet and found a 10$ H & M button up I used for band concerts in high school.  The fit was hideous, so I cut off the sleeves and the reshaped the bottom, 

and used some brats that I bought at Joanne Fabrics to embellish the collar.  

Easy, and cheap!

2. Tye dying madness!

All my white T-shirts got really dingy from the red desert dust in Israel, 

so I chopped them up, bought some fabric dye and made them awesome and fun!

I hope you all are savoring the last few weeks of summer!

♥

Claire

Clarks Desert Boot: Not Just for the Dudes

Y'all know I'm a huge proponent for gender equality, and that conviction extends to even to -especıally to- style. Clothing and how it is worn/who wears it has played a historic role in the women's movement (Just a few decades ago women were being kicked out of court for wearing slacks) and is also an important tool for validating self-identity in many spheres of society, gender and ethnicity being just a few.

So when a neat pair of Clarks "Desert Boots" caught my eye and a male friend informed me they're "more of a guy's shoe" I thought to myself: yeah, fuck that. I see this style of shoe frequently worn by men in Seattle but rarely by women. Why should dudes have all the fun when it comes to these delightful kicks? 

 Plus you know I'm a sucker for boots.

Clarks boots, $155 / Clarks boots / Clarks boots

And here's some ladies showing us how it's done!

(Photos via Lookbook)

On Trend: Floral Denim (Istanbul Edition!)

Hi everybody! Berit here, writing from Istanbul, Turkey! I'll be spending the next four months here for school. As always, apologies for our frequent and lengthly hiatuses. Sometimes adventures happen and we forget about blogging.

On my current adventure, however, I've discovered something: Turkish people are stylish. As in, wear whatever the f%*! you want, rock it hard, and wear something completely different the next day.
Their ability to simultaneously hop on trends and flaunt complete relativism to them has me constantly confused and impressed.

In my two weeks here, I've noticed a trend that was just beginning to catch on as I left the US is in full tilt in Istanbul: Floral denim. In homage to an exciting season for denim (patterned denim is and will be huge this year), I put a few looks together to demonstrate the myriad of ways in which floral denim can be flaunted this summer:

On Trend: Floral Denim by raincitystylistas2 featuring a floral jacket

Dorothy Perkins rose print dress / rag & bone boat neck shirt / Button shirt / Free People floral jacket / French Connection flared mini skirt / Superdry cable knit socks / rag & bone leather booties / Dune jeweled sandals / Carven slip on flat / Ralph Lauren Collection leather shoulder bag / Felix Rey straw clutch / Marc by Marc Jacobs yellow gold jewelry / Beaded necklace / Wooden jewelry / Miss Selfridge feather hat / Alexis Bittar vintage style sunglasses

 It's important to note that floral jeans can be a little tricky. Depending on their color, pattern, and scale, it might be difficult to find a pair that is flattering to your body type. My favorites are the jeans in muted or same-family tones (pictured above) and faint white printing on regular blue denim (such as in the dress on the right), in a medium-size flower print. They offer intrigue and an element of fashion without overpowering the most important part of the look: you.

What do y'all think? Is this trend one you'll be trying this summer?

-B

New Year's Nails (On a Budget!)

As New Year's Eve draws closer, I thought I'd give myself a spiffy at-home manicure for the event. Personally, I find the holiday to be a little disappointing when it comes down to it, but at least I'll have pretty nails when I'm sitting on the couch contemplating which celebrities will divorce in the new year. 

I borrowed this colored french tip tutorial from Studs & Pearls, who does awesome DIY projects. So check it!

(What I used: Paper reinforcing stickers, Revlon in Minted, OPI Nail Envy topcoat, and Hard Candy in Trailer Trash.)

(Apply basecoat and bottom coat of polish. Allow it to dry WELL, if you apply the tip color too soon the stickers will ruin it.)

(Place stickers so that you've got a couple centimeters to paint. You can cut the stickers in half or use the whole thing if you're lazy, like me. Apply your tip color and remove the sticker once it's dried a little bit.)

(Sorry, Instagram made my hand look gnarly.)

Apply topcoat and ta-da! You'll look real classy when the ball drops, and hopefully thereafter... lawl. Be safe and have fun!

-B

P.S. The best colors for the tips of your nails are better if they're darker than your base polish or metallic. It'll show up better.

Band of Outsiders Pre-Fall 2012

Band of Outsider's Pre-Fall collection for 2012 is one of my favorites to date. Perfectly tailored blazers, pencil skirts and pants with feminine colors and subtle touches of leather and stripes galore. They may not be show stoppers, but they sure are classy as hell. 

Plus they have cutie models. (Donald Glover, Dave Franco, and James Marsden)

Check out Band of Outsider's full collection here and other Pre-Fall 2012 collections here. 

-B