This ain't YO MAMA'S peplum!

Happy Hump day and welcome to my Wednesday post.

Today, I'm featuring a look that is very dear to me, because I think it might be the most versatile trend currently out there: The Peplum. Being such a "current" trend you might find it a bit hard to find a peplum-ed piece in the thrift store. THINK AGAIN. While, you might not find a piece that comes pre-peplum-ed, I'm going to let you bloggers in on an easy, fast fix. How often do you find a dress with a full skirt that you don't quite like as a dress or maybe it's a little shrunken? ALL THE TIME. Well, my dear kittens, get out your scissors, because that tired old dress, with a few snips is an easy peplum top. 

EXHIBIT A:

A few snips (5 inches off the bottom to be exact) to this shrunken Forever 21 dress, and TA-DA, PEPLUM POWER!

And now, adding loose, purple, high-waisted pants, and some heels and banging (haha BECAUSE THEY'RE BANGLES) accessories, and you've got an outfit that translates to day, evening, whatever. And for how much? OHHHH, $5 for the pants, $5 for the heels, the jewelry I had in my collection, the dress was $3, and well, the master scissor skills? Those came from years of practice (but you've got to start somewhere).

Like I said earlier, the peplum translates, and that's what I love about it. Throw your new top over an old band shirt, some skinny jeans, Chuck Taylors and an army jacket, BOOM! Weekend chic. Put a pencil skirt underneath. WOWZA, that's a sexy dress. The possibilities are endless...

Here's where I want to hear what YOU would do with your "brand new" peplum top....GO!

-g

Oscar Gowns: Successes, Hot Messes and the Look for Less...er.

Good afternoon, SWAPpers:

I woke up this morning, prepared to post a well-rounded style account of handsome DJ, musician, producer and man-about-town Mark Ronson (that’ll have to wait till NEXT week), when I realized that something was terribly wrong.

Then it dawned on me:  before I started drinking all that red wine, I was kvetching and kvelling over red carpet dresses donned by all who attended a little event called THE ACADEMY AWARDS last night.

Let's re-cap the successes and the hot messes, shall we?

Left: Naomi Watts in Armani Prive
Clockwise: Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture; Halle Berry in Atelier Versace; Amy Adams in Oscar De La Renta;
Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton; Sally Field in Valentino; and Stacy Kiebler in Naeem Khan. 

Who wore my favorite dress of the evening? Without a doubt, Naomi Watts! I'm a fan of the chrome
color and architecturally important cut-outs.

Left: Anne Hathaway in Prada
Clockwise: Brandi Glanville in her own Brand B design; Catherine Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad;
Salma Hayek in Alexander McQueen; Kristen Stewart in Reem Acra; Kerry Washington in Miu Miu;
and Nicole Kidman in L'Wren Scott. 

Who wore my least favorite dress of the evening? The biggest disappointment was provided via Anne Hathaway's ill-fitting gown, which resembles a department store prom dress from the 1990's. 

Awards show fashion can be frustrating...especially when an actor or actress gets it all wrong. We're all aware of the extensive teams these people have in place to make sure they DON'T end up on the worst-dressed list. However, sometimes...it all comes together and a gown becomes legendary.

Whether or not you think it is ethical to wear designer replicas, imitations of past Academy Awards gowns are available to you to purchase online through thecelebritydresses.com for extremely affordable prices. How would you feel about replicating a dress you loved on the red carpet?

I asked myself: whose gown would I wear, if given the chance. The answer was simple: the Valentino Julia Roberts wore when she won the Oscar for best actress in "Erin Brockovich"!!! So timeless and chic.

I'd like to thank the Academy for facilitating such important fashion exposure...year after year! I hope y'all enjoyed the show :)

xoxo,

Jordan

On My Radar

Welcome to Friday! I hope you're having a good one so far.

My name is Renee and each Friday I'll be bringing you a few things that are on my radar. Let's talk about me first though: I guess you could call me Swap*Toledo's H.D.I.C., which is to say Head Designer In Charge. I make all the fun visuals you've seen on our Facebook and wherever else. As far as my style goes, it's a little all over the place, but it's almost never conventional, especially on the weekends...thus, my Friday posts. Let's go!

ONE:  I'm going to start with something basic, which is lookbook.nu and The Sartorialist. These websites are dedicated to street fashion and personal style from all over the world. When I'm feeling uninspired or need a quick idea, these are the first places I go.

TWO:  Can I just tell you guys how much I heart Tavi Gevinson? I could probably make this whole post about her, but I won't. She's been a fashion blogger since she was 11 and is currently the 16-year-old founder/editor of Rookie, an online magazine geared toward teenage girls (which is also kind of cool for adults to read too–NO SHAME!). 

I wish I'd been this cool at 16.

Seriously, she's great:

THREE:  As Jordan mentioned on Monday, it's cold and stylish layering can be tricky. I found this picture awhile back and have been wanting to try it. Underneath their dresses, these models are wearing shrugs made from what looks like shredded nylon. This would be such an easy DIY project to upcycle an old pair of tights; just cut off the feet and wear the tights as sleeves! Okay, it might not be the warmest, but I think it's an interesting option. I love the grunginess of it paired with with the formality of the dresses. Certainly something to try in the future. 

FOUR:  If you liked Ginger's post, but don't have an interesting little statement necklace, here's another DIY project. This tutorial uses items from a hardware store to make interesting necklaces. I like them best under the collar, as shown, but I could also see some of these on a longer chain or even as part of a body chain.

My favorites are the two in the center.

FIVE:  HARNESSES, HARNESSES, HARNESSES! I'm obsessed with harnesses and I'm working on a way to make my own (see? DIY!). I'm all about this Prabal Gurung Fall/Winter 2013 collaboration with Zana Bayne Leather:

Left: A good mix of tough and classy
Right: A harness AND a peplum?! SO RIGHT NOW!

I love the way these harnesses look with the most girly or delicate of tops/dresses. They're like polar opposites, and yet they seem to work so well together. 

And there you have it! My first Friday post, and Swap's first week of posts! Here's to many more!

Enjoy your weekend, Toledo!

-Renee

Making Something out of nothing (for well,..nothing)

Hey dudes, ladies, and all you other folks, It's Ginger checking in on my designated Wednesday posting day.  As is it is my first post, let me give you a brief summary of what my little niche is here on this blog and an even briefer background on myself.

I grew up in a almost purely "sustainable living" household. I spent my childhood surrounded by antiques and beautiful hand-me-downs. Weekly trips to the Goodwill were common. So, now, as a young adult it is certainly not surprising that I continue to make weekly (probably more like biweekly..oop's) trips to the thrift store. Sustainability was bred into me, and I hate to toot my own horn, but I am so terribly good at it. ;)

So, as it would seem, my third of this blog is dedicated to thrifting; sustainable fashion on a budget and how to make it work for you. Every week I plan to show you how to take nothing and make it really something (for, practically nothing).

This week, I chose a polka dot dress I picked up at the Goodwill in the DeVeaux shopping center. At first it reminded me of something JC Penny would have mass-produced in the early 2000's, with its cap sleeves and ruched bodice, but then I saw it's potential to look very 60's housewive (something I am dying over right now) and I was smitten. Today, by adding a few accessories from my current wardrobe) I was able to take a piece from a old, exhausted trend, and make it look brand new. And for $15 (the price of my beloved combat boots)!

1. The dress, by itself.

2. I added opaque black tights, my trusty boots, and a skinny black belt to cinch the waist.

3. I then layered on a cropped, knit sweater and a jewel necklace under the collar.

TA-DA!

An outfit for under $20! The boots were $15 from Target. The necklace, also from Target, was a gift from my mom. The belt, I believe, came from another dress, and the sweater was stolen from my brother's closet a long time ago and snipped to a cropped length.

There you have it. A little CAN go a long way, especially when it comes to sustainable, second-hand fashion. I cannot wait to share some of the killer finds I've gotten with you guys! Make sure you check in Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for blog updates! AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 19TH!

<3 g

A Wintry Mix...

Good afternoon, SWAPpers:

Welcome to our very first official post. My name is Jordan and I'm one third (including an honorary fourth) of the SWAP*Toledo team. We created a blog to provide a forum for all things fashion and more importantly, sustainable fashion.We'll post three times weekly to start (I'm posting on Mondays), Ginger posts on Wednesdays and Renee will post on Fridays.

Let's kick this off by stating the obvious, something on everyone's mind: Damn, it is COLD in the Midwest this time of the year. How can one maintain a sense of glamour while it's pertinent to bundle up?? I found some great examples below.

More on the subject....

While sifting through many fantastic examples of wind-buffering jacketed glory, I noticed a silly trend, not just for the cab-to-curb set at New York Fashion week this season but depicted in style blogs the world over: ankles exposed to the cold. In fact, it was so prevalent, I really had to work to find examples not abiding by this trend (excluding the first example)

Enjoy!!!

Xoxo,
Jordan

Via The Sartorialist. Exposed ankles!! But who cares when you've got a great gold brocade pant and shoes your male counterparts would kill for.  At first glance, it appears as if this street style subject is layering a denim shirt with her faux fur coat, but upon closer examination, I have concluded it's part of the coat. Talk about Fozzie Bear chic!!!

Via Chictopia. This ensemble looks cute AND practical.  Love the matching hat to the shearling booties (those ties!!!) and of course the light tan-colored leather gloves for extra warmth. Girl knows what she is doing!

Via Elle.com. Striped scarf, fingerless gloves (great for texting and walking!!!) cowboy ankle boots and leopard. Straight out of the East Village circa NOW.

Via Cheetah is the New Black.  There is so much that is right about this combination. Loving the tie-dye pants and dip-dye hair, complimenting the detail on the studded bag.  This is a puffer coat done RIGHT, y'all! Except wait, aren't those her TOES exposed to the elements? Well, in the name of fashion...

Via Victoria's Secret. This begs the question: What would Liza Wear? Answer: This.

Save The Date!

Last Thursday we announced via our facebook page that our next clothing swap will be MAY 19TH!

We are in the beginning stages of planning, but it is going to be great. For starters, we're opening up the racks to MEN as well! Quite a few guys were interested in participating after coming to our last swap, so we are thrilled to include them. Bring us your best duds, dudes!