DIY Chain Bracelet Tutorial

I've been getting interested in chainmail recently and was inspired to whip up this simplified chain bracelet. It's super easy to make.

For this bracelet you'll need:

1. Jump Rings. I picked up a value pack from the craft store and that was more than enough. You could also use different color jump rings to make a pattern.
2. A clasp. I chose a heart toggle clasp, but you can use any type of clasp you like as long as it has a loop to attach a jump ring.
3. Pliers to open and close your jump rings. 

1. Start with one end of toggle or clasp and attach a jump ring to it.
2. Add 3 more jump rings to the first one, then close it.
3. Open a jump ring and loop it through the 3 you just added.
4. Add an additional three jump rings, then close it.
5. Repeat this 3-1 pattern until you've reached the desired length.
6. End with one ring and attach the other part of the toggle or clasp.

And that's it! Now you're ready to add it to your army candy.

Vintage Button Bobby Pins

A friend of ours was cleaning out his attic and I ended up with boxes of vintage buttons! My mind has been spinning with projects to make with them. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I recently chopped off lots of my hair (which was not entirely intentional). I've been struggling to keep my bangs out of my eyes, so I thought some bobby pins made using these buttons would be a cute way to pin them back!

For this project you'll need:
1. A tool that has a wire cutter on it (I used my all in one jewelry tool)
2. An adhesive that works with plastic, glass, and metal (I used Goop for this project, but E6000 would work well too)
3. Buttons!
4. Bobby Pins with Glue Pads (I picked these ones up in the craft section of Wal-Mart for around $1.50)

1. Start by using your cutters to snip off the thread loop on the back of the buttons if they have one. These buttons were older, so the plastic came off easily. 

2. Next be sure to clean the buttons so that there's no dust or debris.

3. Add a small amount of adhesive to the glue pad of the bobby pin and attach it to the center of the button (you can use the spot where you snipped off the back as a guide)

4. Be sure that the two surfaces are parallel and that there is enough contact for them to adhere.

5. Allow to cure overnight and voila...cute hair awaits!

Fashion Friday {Gold & Black Brooch}

One of my all time favorite things to do is hunt for vintage costume jewelry. Thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls--you name and I'm game for an adventure. Specifically, I collect brooches, interesting clip on earrings, and just about anything with an art deco influence. When I was treasure hunting at the Value Village here, this pin caught my eye right away. It is a gold-tone metal filigree base with a large black faceted crystal in the middle. It appears to be unmarked, but I love it all the same. And, it set me back less than $2. Now, that's my kind of deal =)

What's your favorite thrift store find?

Fashion Color Collection {Mint}

Mint has become a recent obsession for me. It started with an infinity scarf my mom made for me around the holidays followed by my Icon bag from just fab. Now I'm always looking for ways to work it into my wardrobe. Mint can range from a light pastel to a bright shade making it appropriate year-round. Pair it with basic black or white pieces for a classic look or mix it with other colors and patterns for a trendy take. Here's 11 of my favorite reasons to love this color:

1. Cotton Jersey Dress from H&M

2. Patent Love Me Pumps by Michael Antonio from Zappos

3. Convertible Envelope Crossbody Bag from Forever21

4. Hepcat Shades from Madewell

5. Mint Green Jacket from Wallis

6. Swinger Sandals from Steve Madden

7. Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish by Essie from Cusp

8. Ankle Pants by Mossimo from Target

9. Silver and Mint Stacking Rings from Guess

10. Twist Knot Headband by Carole from Nordstrom

11. Big Bow Phone Case from Wet Seal

My Week in Shoes {Week 2}

This week I was running errands and prepping for the husband's 30th party, so I was all about comfort. I've been hitting up the sale rack at Wet Seal in Arundel Mills for the last few months, so a lot of the flats and sandals are from there. I'm most of the way through those though!

Jeweled American Eagle Flip Flops from Payless

Silver Glitter Fabric Ballet Flats from Wet Seal (What I love about these is that there is no actual glitter on these shoes, it a silver shimmer fabric)

Cherry Print Canvas Wedges from H&M

Braided Flip Flops from Wet Seal

Pink Braided T Strap Sandals from Wet Seal

Gladiator Sandals from Wet Seal (If the backs of these look broken, it's because I unbuckled them during the birthday party yesterday and the buckles got stuck in between the deck boards. The only way to get them free was to break the buckle off. I'm going to cut off the heel straps at the second ring and wear them without. They will still be super cute!)

Total Pairs of Shoes in Closet: 170

Total Pairs Saved: 13

Want to learn more about the Shoeper Shoe Challenge? You can check out my post about it here or visit the shoe challenge page on the Shoeper Woman blog. 

Fashion Friday {Crystal Earrings}

Sorry the posts have been a bit sparse this week, we've been going through some family events and I've been busy planning my hubby and his friend's 30th birthday party. It's a casino night with lots of fun DIY projects that I'm going to share once everything is all done.

Okay, on to Fashion Friday. This week I'm lusting after these vintage looking Swarovski crystal earrings from Max & Chloe. I love statement earrings because I prefer to wear my hair down instead of an updo and want my jewelry to show through. Pair these with a solid color cocktail dress and you're ready for a night on the town.

Beach Wish List

I can't stop daydreaming about a tropical beach vacation. I'm not sure if one is in the cards this year, but I'm sure we'll at least make our way out to Ocean City at some point. In the meantime, I'm having fun window shopping and creating my beach wish list. I love mixing classic pieces and cuts like this black one-piece suit with pops of bright colors like the striped bag and beach towel. Here's what's on it so far.

1. These Metallic Rim Sunglasses by Tory Burch add a touch of glamour.
2. Black swimsuits like this Miu Miu Bow Embellished Bandeau One-Piece Suit from Net-a-Porter are universally flattering and always chic from season to season.
3. The fringe adds a little something extra to this striped lilac Pastema Foutal beach towel from Overstock.
4. I have always wanted an oversize straw hat like this one by Collection XIIX from Piper Lime.
5. This South Beach Cream Crochet Tunic from New Look is perfect for sunset drinks at a beach bar.
6. These London Rebel sandals from ASOS will transition easily from the beach to dinner.
7. I love this delicate silver starfish pendant necklace from BaubleBar.
8. This colorful striped tote from Forever21 is perfect for stashing beach reads and sunscreen.

***

What's on your beach wish list? Any exotic vacation plans? Tell me about it below!

My Week In Shoes {Week 1}

I finally finished organizing my closet and had the chance to count up all of my shoes. I decided to include everything--flip flops, running shoes, you name it. I ended up with 170 pairs (sheesh that seems like so much more in black and white!). So now begins my challenge to save them or donate them. Many of them have seen better days, so I doubt they'll all make it through the challenge.

This week was definitely all about comfort. You just can't beat ballet flats and sandals for cleaning and running errands.

Bronze and Snakeskin Print Sandals by Apt. 9 from Kohl's (you can also get 10% your Kohl's purchase if you use code BLOGGER10 before July 11)

Silver Ruffled Sandals by Candies from Kohl's

Quilted Sandals with Rhinestone Bows by SimplyVera for Kohl's (can you tell that these are my favorites right now!)

Black Knot Ballet Flats from Wet Seal

Sequined Floral Flats from Forever 21

Black and White Sneakers from Wal-Mart (bought these in a pinch and need to replace them with something better)

Purple Velvet Ballet Flats from Wet Seal

Total Pairs of Shoes in Closet: 170

Total Pairs Saved: 7

Want to learn more about the Shoeper Shoe Challenge? You can check out my post about it here or visit the shoe challenge page on the Shoeper Woman blog. 

Fashion Friday {Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch}

I'm not usually a watch wearer. I always feel like they get in the way while I'm typing or I inevitably break them due to some clumsy incident. But this Marc by Marc Jacobs watch totally caught my interest. I love the rose gold tone and coordinating face color, with the little touches of sparkling stones on the face. This is a timeless neutral piece that I can picture going with just about anything.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Fashion Color Collection {Coral}

In these Fashion Color Collection posts, I'm rounding up my favorite fashion and beauty items of a specific color. This week I'm giving you a peek at my coral wish list. There's something about coral that just exudes an essence of summer. Whether you wear a coral dress, a pair of flats, or just swipe on some coral lipstick, it instantly brightens your look. One of the great things about coral is that you can find pieces in many shades, so you're sure to find one that will suit your skin tone. If you're not much a bright color person, start small with a pair of studs or try out a dress in a paler shade.

1. Coral Bramble Bloom Bracelet by BaubleBar ($24) / 2. Full Tilt Owl Charm Necklace by Tilly's ($5.99) / 3. Top Ford Beauty Lip Color in True Coral from Bergdorf Goodman ($48) / 4. Small Square Studs by Kate Spade New York from Zappos Couture ($38) / 5. Coral Enamel Signature Stud Earrings by Fossil from Macy's ($34) / 6. Love & Beauty Nail Polish in Sugartooth from Forever21 ($2.80) / 7. Strappy Dress with Frill by Zara ($79.90) / 8. Taleeka Embossed Leather Clutch from Ted Baker London ($105) / 9. Ravesh Pumps with Bow Accent by Steve by Steve Madden from Lord & Taylor ($149) / 10. Coral Abby Criss-Cross Gladiator Wedge from Avenue ($19.99) / 11. Casey Flats by Coconuts from PiperLime ($39.99)

Shoeper Shoe Challenge {Join with me!}

Ok, well maybe a pair of shoes won't change your life, but they will complete an outfit, give you an extra couple of inches, or boost your confidence. I have a serious obsession with shoes. Actually, I consider them to be a collection. My husband collects DVDs, some people collect baseball cards or figures, for me it's shoes. I even have a dedicated shoe closet in my walk-in. Maybe I'll share a picture in a future post. As much as I love my shoes, there are some pairs that I have never one or rarely wear. 

Enter the Shoerper Woman S.O.S. Save Our Shoes Shoeper Shoe Challenge. This is essentially a use them or lose them challenge. The goal is to wear every pair of shoes you own within the span of a year or lose them (donate them!). 

I love this concept. For me it's motivation to pull out and find a reason to where all of the shoes I've collected instead of defaulting to the same few pairs. I still have to do a complete count, by my estimate is somewhere around 130 pairs. Taking a page from the author's book, I'll do a "my week in shoes" post to document which one's I've been wearing and  I'll add an updated total and running count of how many I've worn.

Sounds like fun, right? It's an ongoing challenge that you can start whenever you want. I encourage you to check out the Shoeper Woman challenge page and join too!

Fashion Friday {Tory Burch Sunglasses)

While the hubby and I were in Saks Off 5th at Arundel Mills (an awesome mall here in Maryland that's a mix of regular and outlet stores), I spotted these Tory Burch sunglasses. They had a hefty price tag of $149.99 putting them out of my price range, but definitely worth lusting after. I love the retro cat eye shape and the metallic tops give them a modern edge. I'll be on the lookout for something similar.

Hope your having a fantastic start to your weekend and that its not all rained out like it is here!

5 Gorgeous Pearl Cluster Necklaces

If you know me, then it's no secret that I love pearls. When I was trying to pick a necklace to go with a simple black v-neck sweater the other night, I found myself wishing for a pearl cluster necklace. A statement look that is effortlessly elegant and chic. So I did some research and found five swoon-worthy pieces that can easily be dressed up with a cocktail dress and some heels or down with jeans and a sweater like the look I was going for.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

From this sampling, you can see that these are available in lots of styles and at comfortable price points. Definitely a great investment! Pick one that can be mixed and matched with other jewelry in your collection. Number 5 would pair great with crystal studs or a cuff bracelet and amber earring would make the tones in 3 or 4 pop. 

***

• What is your favorite statement necklace?
• How would you style these?
• Do you have a pearl obsession to?

Let me know below!

Finding the Perfect Sunnies {Tips + My Obsession}

Confession: I have a bit of an obsession with sunglasses.

Ok, that last photo was just for fun, but sunglasses are an everyday staple for me. You can see a peek into my sunglasses collection and how I organize them here. I love to experiment with different shapes and styles and just have fun with them. 

So what should consider when you're picking out a pair? Here's my tips for shopping for your new favorite sunnies and a round-up of my favorite picks for this summer.

Shape: Aviators, oversized, cat eye, wayfarers, circle frames...so many to choose from! There are loads of articles out there that try to tell you "how to pick frames for your face." While there is some merit behind that advice, I think the best way to decide what you like is to try on lots of pairs. Rules are meant to be broken after all--at least when it comes to fashion. It's important for you to pick sunnies that are comfortable and for you to like the way they look (you're the one who has to wear them after all!).

Metal vs. Plastic Frames: This is often a make it or break it decision for me and there are pros and cons to each. Metal frames are more adjustable and have a looser fit, but at the same time can get warm in the sun and may also bend easily. Plastic frames will hold their shape, but sometimes can fit tight around the temples and are difficult to adjust, especially if your ears aren't quite even like mine.

Frame Color: If you're buying metal frames, you'll be able to choose among gold, silver, gunmetal, and sometimes colors (check out these pink aviators I gave away a few weeks ago). With plastic frames, you can find just about every color under the sun and even patterns. One of my favorite pairs has a floral print. If you're just buying one pair, I would suggest finding something that is neutral to your style that you can wear with the majority of your outfits.

Color of Lenses: Another consideration is the color of the lenses. The color of the lenses will affect two things. First, is the tint when you look through them. Some just make colors a little darker others may make things appear rose-colored or sepia-toned. This is another reason I recommend trying sunglasses in-person on before purchasing. Second, is the outside color of the lenses that everyone else will see. These might just be a color of the lens or they could be mirrored. This is a personal preference (I tend to stay away from mirror lenses).

Embellishments: Want rhinestone-studded wayfarers? Go for it! A little detail on the sides of the frames like filigree or a pearl cabochon can add a bit of elegance. There are no rules, just have fun and wear what makes you happy.

Shop these looks by clicking the corresponding pair below.

Dana Renee Style Shop Re-Launch!

If you've followed my blog or Facebook page for a while, you probably know that I also design jewelry. Well today I am super excited to share with you my new online shop! After lots of searching, designing, and picture-taking, I am happy to announce that it's finally up and running. You can check it out at http://shop.danarenee.com or you can find it through the shop link on my Facebook page.

Here's a look at some of my favorite pieces that are currently for sale in the shop. I'd love to hear your feedback and I look forward to sharing more creations with you soon!

Affordable Accessories {$10 or less}

Affordable Accessories {$10 or less} by Dana Renee Style

The right accessories can transform your look and brighten up an outfit. Here's some that won't break the bank!

Clockwise from top:

• These beaded bobby pins are perfect for pinning back your bangs or accenting a tousled up-do ($5, JC Penney)
• Pair this adorable elephant necklace with a basic tank or t-shirt ($2.80, Forever21)
• This French Heart Shopper's Tote would be great for the farmer's market ($1.50, Forever21)
• Brighten up your travel bag with the orange satin train cosmetic case ($8.99, Macy's)
• Bring some edge to a sundress with this spike stud necklace ($7.98, Nordstrom)
• Wear this turquoise cuff bracelet alone or add it to your arm candy party ($8.80, Forever21)
• Use this simple belt to cinch dresses or shirts at the waist ($5.60, Kohl's)
• This chic lightweight scarf can take you from day to night ($4.99, Charlotte Russe)

How I Organize My Sunglasses

I sort of have an obsession with sunglasses. I always stock up when they go on sale in the winter  because I'm guaranteed to break a few pairs each summer! When we moved into our new house two years ago, I was excited to finally have room organize all of my clothes and accessories where I could see them. I converted an upstairs bedroom of our cape cod into a walk-in closet. 

When I was looking for a way to display my sunglasses, I had to think outside the box a bit due to the sloped ceilings and relatively little table top space. I picked an area the wall that wasn't being otherwise used and bought small command hooks (like the ones you use for cords or Christmas lights - I found them at Walmart in the holiday section last year). These hooks were the perfect size to fit the folded sides of the glasses. I spaced them out on the wall and then hung a couple sideways to fit a few more pairs vertically. And voila! An easy way to see all of the different styles and keep them accessible.

Do you have a different way of organizing your sunnies? I'd love to know!

Spring Sunglasses Giveaway!

What is the perfect accessory for any spring outfit? A fun pair of sunglasses! So in celebration of spring, I'm giving away these adorable pink metal frame aviators. The pictures don't do them justice. You can rock these with your favorite floral print sundress or with a tank and jeans. I have a pair of my own and I love them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is not sponsored, I purchased these sunglasses and am giving them away.

Heading to InterGem This Weekend!

I'm heading up to InteGem in Philly this weekend! The International Gem and Jewelry trade show is one of my favorite place to source supplies. They are open to the public (bonus if you're a hobbyist and just want great deals) and they also have a marked off area that's specifically for those shopping with a sales tax exemption.

You can find everything there from stones, beads, and findings to precious gems and fully finished pieces. And you can't beat the prices! I love browsing booth after booth of walls and tables filled with items I've never seen before. I love to be inspired by the materials.

Here is a peak at some of my favorite pieces crafted from my finds at InterGem last year.