Blog

October on Instagram

November 1, 2013 By Chie

1. I took the full advantage of Shopbop family & friend sale (25% off!) earlier this month! I bought Rag & Bone Hallow booties (available here), and although they were expensive, they are the most comfortable and walkable heels I have ever worn. As soon as you put your feet in the booties, you feel the soft leather wrap your feet! I just can’t believe how comfortable they are.
2. I decorated our master bedroom with wall decals from etsy, ikea light hande me down from Taren of Oslo and Alfred, and handmade pillows.
3. After a few months of putting my hair in a bun because of intense summer heat, It finally began to cool off so I was able to get a my hair straightening treatment and cut. It feels so nice to have a smooth hair.
4. Simple DIY: Decorate a dollar shop mirror with pretty washi tape.
5. Happy Halloween! We went to a punpkin patch, blogged here.
6. I found this black chandelier on craigslist and bought it for my sewing studio. I like it, but Andy detests it. He thinks it looks vampireish. Yay or nay?
7. Delicious Japanese lunch box.
8. Behind the scenes of Fall2013 lookbook shoot.
9. Hello from me and mini me.

Find me @vivatveritas.

{find me elsewhere: shop, facebook, etsy, twitter, pinterest}

Made:: Ashley Madekwe Dress Knock-off

October 31, 2013 By Chie

Ever since I saw this dress on Pinterest, I saved the image on my iPhone “to-make” list. It is a dress by a designer, Cushnie Et Ochs, worn by English actress, Ashley Madekwe for NYFW. I think the dress is trendy in every possible way: cutout, higher neckline, and midi length pencil style skirt. I decided to replicate it for myself to wear to an upcoming wedding. I had this chocolate brown jersey or pale pink in my stash, and I chose the brown. I wore a pink dress for the last wedding I attended, so I thought brown would be a nice change. Also, with pale pink, I was afraid that the midriff cutout won’t stand out and blend too much with my skin color.

Sewing the dress was fairly easy and quick. I bought a zipper for the dress, but ended up not inserting it because the fabric had enough stretch. The skirt is pencil skirt pattern I drafted myself a while ago, and I lengthen and added a vent in the back. From the photo I had, I could not tell what the back of Ashley’s dress looked like, so I just made the back without any cutout or low back. I hope I don’t look scanky with this dress. I hope the quiet color and the midi length skirt counteracted with the bold cutout..if not, please tell me before Sunday, when I have to go to the wedding!

Worn with ASOS pumps, vintage clutch, Michael Kors watch & forever 21 necklace.

{find me elsewhere: shop, facebook, etsy, twitter, pinterest}

Behind the Scenes:: Fall 2013 Lookbook

October 30, 2013 By Chie

Over this summer, I worked on a few weddings (here and here), and everything else related to my shop update had been pushed back. Now that I am done with big projects, you can expect to see new items in the shop soon.

Last weekend, we went to Yume no Shima park (夢の島公園）in Shin-Kiba (新木場) to shoot our fall 2013 lookbook. This fall had many typhoons in Japan, so I was worried that we would not be able to shoot on the day we set, but thankfully, it turned out to be a beautiful, fall sunny day.

I am really into the knee-length or midi-length pencil skirt look right now. You will see that in this lookbook..I can’t stop making simple pencil skirts in many different fabrics. This year’s trend is pushing me to try the styles that I would otherwise never try, like cropped top or turtle neck sweaters. I detested turtle necks before (it always made my neck itchy), but since I see them all over the place now, I started to like them. What is your favorite fall/winter trend this year?