DIY: Sheer Crop Top!

It’s everything you want in a DIY! Quick, easy and CHEAP! A few easy snips, and you have a versatile top for spring and summer!

What you’ll need:

Cut open the toes!

Cut out a small “U” or “V” from the crouch of the tights. It will stretch when you put it on so keep this in mind and alter based on how big you want your neckline.

You know that old trick you used to stop a run in your tights? Well its the same thing you will do next to prevent any huge runs in the fabric. A few are ok it adds character and a nice deconstructed quality.

I ran clear polish around the sleeve hem and neckline.

As an after thought I realized I could have used black polish (or any color that would match your tights of choice.) Also FABRC GLUE! Duh, it dries clear and will do the same job. 🙂

As a disclaimer the clear polish kind of flaked on the tights when it was stretched, so my future ones I will use fabric glue or the colored polish. You live and ya learn though right??

See how the neckline stretched out? 🙂 Also my black tights are a “one size fits all” and my blue ones are a “queen” size. I prefer the queen size, the top ended up being longer, the sleeves were longer and there was more room to breath! 🙂 So the lesson is, the bigger the better.

So whip out some old tights or buy some new ones and give it a go. Leopard would be fun or tights with fun patterns! You can rock this top over, under or layered for endless style combinations 🙂

Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show 2013

On a rainy overcast Saturday morning hundreds of women rolled out of bed to witness all the glitz and glam of the 2013 Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show! Hours before the Michigan Ave store opened we were treated to sneak peeks at products not yet launched to the masses, hot spring fashions and talks from creators and vice presidents of brands such as Jane Iredale and Chantecaille.

Perhaps the highlight of my morning (other than the loads of beauty deals I snagged!) was hearing from and meeting Virginie Courtin-Clarins. The gorgeous and super sweet french granddaughter of, Jacques Courtin-Clarins, founder of the luxury cosmetic giant, Clarins. Not only is she a makeup heiresse, taking a prominent role in development of the brand, she is a fierce force in the fashion world. Her bold and eye catching style has been the talk of bloggers and designers alike.

pics via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

She flew in from Paris (her first time in Chicago) to specifically speak at the trend show and launch the updated anti-aging Double Serum. I total feel in love with her french accented english, she was totally endearing and spoke to us about the Double Serum. First explaining it’s benefits in the scientific way then bringing it down to earth for us with a cute story about a princess and a prince. Her story demonstrated the five things the skin needs, (hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, regeneration and protection) not only was it cute it honestly helped me remember!

I was honored to meet her after and receive a signed copy of A Beautiful Success: The fabulous adventure of Clarins. All and all it was a whirlwind morning wit lots of goodies and good times.