End of an Era: My Last College Fashion Post

Today my last College Fashion article of my internship was published.
Here it is ladies and gentlemen:
Our Top Ten Favorite DIY Projects of 2011

It was very bittersweet. Bitter in the sense that I will miss having such a large reader base for my articles and some great reader interaction, and sweet in that there will be no more late night I-still-have-homework-and-OH MY GOODNESS A CF POST IS DUE TOMORROW-type freak outs.

It has been a wild and wonderful experience though, and I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to write for such a great website. It has given me so much more faith in my own voice and expertise and it is a large part of the reason Favor the Brave exists. It has also taught me to break up my paragraphs, use bold type, and add lots of pictures, because that's really what's fun about blogs.

So here's a complete list of my articles on College Fashion with links. Feel free to check them out and let me know what you think in the comments here, there, and everywhere.

The 9 Things You Need in Your DIY Toolbox 

4 Ways You Can DIY Today

4 Creative Ways to Store Your Jewelry at College

Packing Shortcuts: 6 Tips for Bringing Your Stuff to College

How to Remake a Thrift Store Dress: Part One

How to Remake a Thrift Store Dress: Part Two

Sewing 101: 2 Basic Clothing Alteration Techniques

The Shopper’s Guide to Fabric: Natural Fibers

The Shopper’s Guide to Fabric: Synthetic Fibers

5 Quick Halloween Costumes Made with Things You Already Have in Your Closet

How to Use Rit Dye to Update Your Clothes

DIY Gift Idea: How to Make Beaded Drop Earrings

DIY Gift Ideas: Three Easy Stocking Stuffers

peace&love,

Jill

Need a Costume?

Check out my newest post on College Fashion:

 5 Quick Halloween Costumes Made with Things You Already Have in Your Closet!

Happy Halloween!

I Made It: Modern Librarian Dress

I fell in love with this dress the first moment I saw it. Here's what it started like:

And here's how it looked when I was done:

I added a longer in front and back hemline and some neckline/sleeve fixes, as well as once again nixing those pesky shoulder pads. I cut the button off the top of the neckline and sewed the tab under on each side so is wouldn't look like someone was missing if I didn't button it. 

Hemline in progress:

I also edited the sleeves a bit. No more flutter sleeves, just a little bit of puff.

And there you go! 

I'm a fan.

peace&love,

Jill

I Made It: A Polka Dot Dress

This dress started it's life as a super unattractive, shoulder padded, white tie collared monstrosity.

Now it looks like this. 

So here's the before picture.

So I took out the shoulder pads, cut of the weird white ties, and chopped it off quite a bit shorter.

And voila! That was all it took. One of the easier reconstructions I have undertaken.

I think it's just about perfect with some nude heels, red and blue elastic belt, vintage color block purse and some pretty red lipstick. That was my most recent beauty purchase--always good for pretending you're grown up.

Looks pretty good, right?

peace&love,

Jill

Gang Aft Agley

Before I get all caught up in talking about unrelated things, I have a new post up on College Fashion:

How to Remake a Thrift Store Dress: Part One

Makes you excited for Part Two, doesn't it?  All in good time.

(And more is coming about the dress pictured above... 

I just finished the revamp and I think you're going to like it.)

And now, my life.

Ahh what a week/end, a half-word, half-not-word that I just made up to encompass Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Feel free to spread it around.

It was all about the dramatic contrast, which I normally appreciate, but a girl has limits.

My computer hard drive failed, my car died, my credit card bill tried to pay itself out of a closed bank account, and my legs exploded with a million bug bites.

But I also got to spend three days with my fiance, looking at wedding rings, walking around the town where we fell in love, eating at the Cheesecake Factory, watching the sun set and playing Zelda. 

Makes it hard to be mad about the first part, right?

It all brings to mind the poem by Robert Burns called "To A Mouse," especially these few lines:

But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley 

(Gang aft agley here meaning "often go awry." Appropriate, right?)

Burns is really not a favorite poet of mine, but we've been studying him in British Literature. 

And I've been to his museum. In Scotland.

Just saying.

Got that incredible and frustrating thing going on all over the place, haven't we?

peace&love,

Jill

Packing for College

 

Yeah, I had to fit this all in my car.

Luckily I'm already in the throes of unpacking, but for those unlucky among you who still have moving to do, check out my post on College Fashion: Packing Shortcuts: 6 Tips for Bringing Your Stuff to College. 

peace&love,
Jill

A Dream...

...has come true. I, your lovely friend, will be writing for College Fashion as an intern for the next six months. My first post on the 9 things every girl needs in her DIY toolbox is up and I am very happy.

And if you're a College Fashion reader than found their way over here, then welcome! Look around, leave your comments and consider following me!

Can't wait for this semester!

peace&love,
Jill