Constructing: Velvet Bow Belt

We all love accessories, but the price demanded for a bit of leather or

ribbon is generally overwhelming and leaves us shaking our heads.

"Seriously?" we think, "They want that much for a shoestring?"

These bow belts are everywhere right now,

but I can guarantee you they'll cost more than

the $5.35 it cost me to make this.

Plus, this belt belongs to a dress I made for my

black & white collection, which I'll be introducing next week,

so I wanted to go ahead and share the tutorial with you.

I used my sewing machine for most of these steps,

but a hot glue gun or needle and thread will get the job done also,

if you don't have a machine.

I bought a yard of this black velvet ribbon.

Make sure you check the ribbon itself around your waist,

since fabric can stretch more or even have less give

than a measuring tape.

You can also use a hook and bar closure to give more strength to the fastening point.

I made my bow to be approximately four inches wide after it was folded.

After sewing the snaps onto the belt, try it on and remark the center for bow placement.

Constructing: Brycen Tartan Dress

This is my version of the Ruffled Plaid Dress from Anthropologie.

I love, love the dichotomy of fabric normally associated with baggy menswear being manipulated into something with ruffles and structure.

I already had this fabric, but hadn't planned on making a piece so intricate when I bought it, so I didn't really have enough fabric to completely match up the plaid, which will annoy you if you're a stickler about that sort of thing. It bothers me, but not enough that I won't wear this little number out.

Piece by piece, it comes together. It was at this point, my husband saw all this on the table and said, "I just don't get where you're going with this." Aahh, so little faith...

Aren't these horses just so crazy beautiful?

I'm the girl who's skittish around goldfish, so for me to get out in this field with nothing between myself and these huge animals was really sort of amazing. And just look at the mud on my Seychelles (or is that something else...ahem.)

I included a tutorial on how to make the shoelace corsage here.

I actually put in flutter sleeves and bias sleeves before settling on good ol' set-in sleeves. There was already so much going on--the length, the print, the ruffles, that I really liked how these imitated the simple silhouette of the dress.

Hmm...I think I might have made a life-long friend.

I know, I know, a tea-length dress! But if you saw anything from the runways recently,

Nina Ricci

Marc Jacobs

Peter Som

you know that tea-length is going to be trickling down the chain for a while. And if I'm gonna put this much effort into something, I want it to be relevant for at least a couple years!

Come on, big guy...I promise not to hurt you. hehehe...

(Kristina J. Brycen Tartan Dress, Anthropologie Mystery Watch, Target Belt,

Seychelles Kiss At Midnight Pumps, J.Crew Opaque Socks)

So, that's it! I'll be posting another Reader's Choice poll soon with items for you to vote on based on suggestions I've received through e-mail. Don't forget to put your name in for the free dress through the page above and most importantly...

have a FANTABULOUS weekend!