Friday, February 28, 2014

Congratulations to this week's winner, Erin Sands!

Thank you to all who entered our weekly Free Shoes Giveaway. 
Congratulations to this week's winner, Erin Sands! 
To enter our weekly Free Shoes Giveaway, visit our Facebook and follow the instructions. Link does not work on mobile devices. Good luck!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Balenciaga Runway at Paris Fashion Week!

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

Right off the heels of New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week 2014 is in full stride this week. Showcasing all the top designers fall 2014 collections, the runways are ablaze with stunning new trends, and some former friends.

Starting off the week of shows, Balenciaga has had a glorious run.  This marks the third season for Alexander Wang as the creative director for the Fashion house Balenciaga, and he is looking quite at home by now.  This collection is all about structure. Simple silhouettes, leather dresses, chunky metal accessories, and some bold trimmed details. In fact, it's all about the details for this collection.

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

Carefully detailed perforations over letter added simplistic, yet precise texture.  The tunics highlighted very bold X zippers crisscrossing over the bust, as well as down the pant legs of several pants.  And oversized parkas complete with fur trimmed details, and muumuus, where the eccentric extras.

The 2014 fall collection is all about minimalism, and covering up every inch of skin.  Long gloves, quilting, leather boots, and chunky accessories were paired with each piece from the collection.

I am very much a fan of the structured elements of this new collection, and think it's perfectly fitting for the fall season. What is your favorite look from the collection?

Posted by: Spankie
Facebook: @SpankieValentine
Instagram @SpankieValentine
Twitter @SpankieV

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)

(photo: Indigital / Vogue UK)



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Jennifer Lawrence New Photos for Dior!

(photo: courtesy Dior)

Stunning.  One word says it all.  Stunning.

That's really all that needs to be said about Hollywood's favorite golden girl Jennifer Lawrence's appearance in the new Dior campaign, set to roll out officially next week, just in time for the Oscars.

Gorgeous headshots in black and white showcase J-Law's now signature pixie haircut in a perfectly tussled fashion, which is personally my favorite way she's styled the look.  And the soft, natural makeup and demure expression is simply lovely.

(photo: courtesy Dior)

The campaign features Jennifer sans pants in a luxe overcoat and snake leather handbag in one, and a texture printed maxi dress with blush perforated satchel and gold chain in the other.  The advetorials are simple, and classic.  True Dior style.

What do you think of the campaign?  And of course, do you think Jennifer Lawrence will be wearing Dior to the Oscars this weekend?

Posted by:  Spankie
Instagram @SpankieValentine
Facebook @SpankieValentine
Twitter @SpankieV

(photo: courtesy Dior)

(photo: courtesy Dior)

Friday, February 21, 2014

DIY Colorful Headphones!

Who's ready for a fun DIY project?! (Video Tutorial at the end)

So I saw some super cute colorful headphones in a store the other day, and thought to myself, "that would be so cute to DIY!"  And lucky for us all, not only are they super cute, but they're easy and cheap to make!

All you're gonna need is a pair of headphones you already have, some colorful thread floss (I got mine at Michael's for less than a dollar per color, and some glue (I found a liquid Elmer's glue stick at the 99 Cent store).

I found two simple methods to wrap your thread around your headphones:  one involves actually spiraling the thread around the cable, the other involves rotating the cable around the thread. Both are simple methods and I'll show you each.

Method one: start off by placing some glue at the base of your headphone cable near where the actual ear bud is.  Taking the end of your thread pressing firmly onto the gloom section.


 Then you want to run a short strip of glue down the cable about an inch long, and begin wrapping the thread around the cable.  You're going to continue this process down the length of the cable, making sure to apply your strips of glue in short sections, so that the glue doesn't have a chance to dry before you've been able to wrap your thread around the cable.


For the second method, which may wind up being a little easier for you depending on your preference, you're going to do the same thing with your glue, placing short segments of glue on the cable, and you're actually going to hold your thread, and wind the cable up the thread. Basically what you're doing, is you're wrapping the cable onto the thread, versus spiraling the thread around the cable.

I found this pretty easy to do by holding each end of the cable in my hands, and holding the end of the thread with my first and second finger of my right hand, while rotating the cable with my other fingers.


For either method that you choose, if you want to switch out the colors in segments, simply trim off the thread that you were wrapping, and start by gluing down a new color. Just make sure that the ends are firmly glued. It's best if you're using a glue that dries clear that way you can cover over the ends of your thread without worrying about the glue showing through.

And you should wind up with something looking like this!  One of the great added benefits of wrapping thread over my headphone cables, is that the stiffness of the thread actually keeps my headphones from tangling. Can we say added bonus?!


And there you have it! Pretty simple to do huh? It's a lot of fun, and you can personalize it to make it all your own simply by choosing the colors that you love. This also makes a really cute and fun gift! If you want a video tutorial to see how to create this, you're in luck! I've posted my video tutorial below.



Instagram, Tweet, or Facebook me photos of your creation so that I can like them!  Make sure to @ me below and use #SpankieValentine so that I see them!  And check out the video below if you want to see me making these step by step, along with a few other DIY gift ideas!

Instagram @SpankieValentine
Twitter @SpankieV
Facebook @SpankieValentine

Have fun,
XOXO Spankie Valentine

Congratulations to this week's winner, Kayla Blanchard!


Thank you to all who entered our weekly Free Shoes Giveaway. Congratulations to this week's winner, Kayla Blanchard! To enter our weekly Free Shoes Giveaway, visit our Facebook and follow the instructions. Link does not work on mobile devices. Good luck!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Jason Wu Fall 2014 Collection NYFW Runway

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

Elegants meets her match with demure sophistication for the fall season.  And should we be surprised?  Of course not, when designer Jason Wu is at the helm.

Pieces seemed to float down the runway at New York Fashion Week for Jason Wu's new Fall 2014 collection, and we weren't the only ones captivated.  With sumptuous silhouettes that skimmed curves in delicious silk, and oversized boxy pea and trench coats, the collection was a divine return to conservative elegance and prestige.

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

And we're especially adoring the palate, comprised of luxe gray, deep burgundy chocolates, and rich blacks, it's a color scheme flattering to any contemporary minded dresser.

But don't take my word for it.  Preview some of the looks here!  What was your favorite?  Tell me about it with a comment!

Posted by:  Spankie
Instagram @SpankieValentine
Facebook @SpankieValentine
Twitter @SpankieV

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

(photo: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

DKNY Runway at New York Fashion Week

(photo: Jeff Bachner/ for New York Daily News)

What's black, white, red, and furry all over?  Why, none other than the DKNY Fall 2014 fashion show this past week during New York Fashion Week.

And what a sight to be seen.  Taking a pretty large departure from many of the other collections we previewed during the week from other designers, DKNY went for a supremely edgy, urban athletic twist to her collection for fall.

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Massive furry coats, vests and textures, masculine tartan, baggy and boxy silhouettes, and leather, leather, leather made this collection a bold and daring statement.  And color?  Only the occasional pop of a pink lace dress, and deep midnight hues sprinkled throughout, as it was clear from the theme, that black and white was to reign king.  Though I must say, it was gorgeously set with a crimson wall backdrop to enhance the powerful statement.

So as it would seem, clothes for the fall are going to be roomy, comfy, and sporty.  Some of my favorite highlights:  varsity jackets over leather, oversized camo print trenches, and white flatform ankle boots.  And did you see those calf-high lace-up sneakers under dresses?

What do you think of the collection?  Tell me all about it!

Spankie
Instagram @SpankieValentine
Facebook @SpankieValentine
Twitter @SpankieV

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
 
(photo: Jeff Bachner/ for New York Daily News)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo: Jeff Bachner/ for New York Daily News)

(photo: Jeff Bachner/ for New York Daily News)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
 
(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

(photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)