How to Create a High-End Look on a Low Budget with Stylist Amia Serrano

How to Create a High End Look on a Low Budget with Stylist Amia Serrano Amia Serrano is a noted fashion stylist who has styled photo shoots and editorials for numerous magazines, lookbooks, and websites, and is able to make the most mundane items sing by pairing high-priced with affordable finds. She is guest-posting today to offer her tips for getting a designer-inspired look-for-less just in time for Summer. Take it away, Amia!
xo

Carly


Hi Chic Steals readers! My name is Amia Serrano and I’m so eager to share my great finds for you. Enjoy!

Many designer looks walk down the runway, leaving audience members and online viewers in awe, but these are already known to have a hefty price tag attached.

As a fashion stylist I often work to re-create designer-style looks, but on a real-world budget. Today I’m here to show you how to style a designer-inspired look from Alice + Olivia’s S/S 2013 Collection without breaking the bank. It mixes pops of bright color and on-trend florals: the perfect match for a Spring-meets-Summer ensemble.

Here are some affordable yet chic pieces to re-create the Alice + Olivia look for a fraction of the cost:
How to Create a High End Look on a Low Budget with Stylist Amia Serrano Rhinestone Cluster Stud Earrings – No need to over accessorize, so keep it subtle with these everyday studs.

Merona Women’s Trench Coat - A colored trench is a perfect way to add a pop of color to any look, especially for gloomy rainy weather.

Camellia on Club Ivory Floral Print Romper - This versatile floral dress can be worn casually or for a night out on the town.

Studded Faux Leather Wristlet – The studs outlining this handbag keeps the edge going, allowing the whole look to flow.

Embellished Spike Heels – Spikes are trending and pairing these edgy beauties with an overall feminine look goes perfectly.


This fun ensemble will take you from a a Spring day of shopping or to a fun Summer girls’ night out!

Until the next post, take advantage of this one and please do share what you find and come up with. I’d love to see them!

~Amia


Thanks Amia! It was wonderful having you here. Don’t forget to leave a comment, lovely readers – did you like this feature? Want to see more Chic on the Cheap from Amia? Let me know below!!

xo

Carly

How to Create a High End Look on a Low Budget with Stylist Amia Serrano Fashion Stylist Amia Serrano has styled photo shoots and magazine editorials for publications such as Open Lab Magazine, Relapse Magazine, and Bridal Tribe Magazine. She has also worked with recording artist Mashonda to style the inaugural video of her video series #LifeStyleHer for GlobalGind.com, and Hemma Collection’s New York Fashion Week show. Working with brands such as Rehna Pendse, joe Dahan’s Seduka Jeans, and GET NYCE Clothing, her philosophy is to find great style using the resources you have.  Check her out here:

Website  /  Instagram  /  Twitter

Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection

Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection

Elizabeth Dye, the owner of the Portland boutique The English Department, is known for her thoughtful details and delicate embellishments on her swoonworthy wedding dresses. Starting in the custom wedding gown business in 2000 after making wedding dresses for her friends, she created her first full-fledged Collection in 2010. The English Department and Elizabeth Dye dresses have been featured in numerous publications as the go-to bridal line in the Pacific Northwest. Her 2013 Collection is called “Two if By Sea” 2013 Collection, evoking 1930′s glamour in scalloped lace and frothy layers of tulle.

Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection Lookbook from Portland: Elizabeth Dye 2013 Collection

You can order one of her custom-made gowns at The English Department store, on her website, or through her Etsy shop.

If you were getting married, which would you choose? (Mine is the seafoam wrapped tulle gown – I always love a pretty blue!!)

xo

Carly

Outfit 6.16.13: Savvy Summer in a Dress from London Times

Outfit 6.16.13: Savvy Summer in a Dress from London Times

Flower Hoop Earrings: DIY (quick how-to here). Tropical High-Low Hem Maxi Dress: c/o London Times. Bangles: Pineapple County. Gold Woven Clutch: c/o Accessorize.com. Mixed Material Wedges: Mossimo (Target).

 

Outfit 6.16.13: Savvy Summer in a Dress from London Times The fashion-forward dress company London Times is hosting a Savvy Summer campaign and invited me to be a part of it!Read More—>

New: Little Warrior June Playlist to Play on Spotify While You DIY

New: Little Warrior June Playlist to Play on Spotify While You DIY My good friend Alexa Raquel Casciato, AKA Little Warrior, is an amazing musician and up-and-coming tour de force in the world of music. I asked her to start a brand-new post series here on Chic Steals curating monthly original playlists for your to stream on Spotify, add some background music to your space, mellow out to, listen to while working on your latest DIY project, and add a little music into your life.

Here’s what she says about this month’s playlist:

June is a transitional month. We move into summer, days get longer, and we are get more active. As we glide from spring into summer, we feel the warmth of the sun on our skin and breathe the fresh air in a little deeper.

I’ve chosen this June playlist with this transition in mind. I wanted to keep it balanced between a mellow, lounge-like mood with peaceful moments and a solid, grounded beat that transitions into an energetic dance. May this mix carry you into summer with a blissful state of mind.

~Little Warrior

Listen and enjoy!

Listen to Chic Steals June 2013 Lounge Playlist by Little Warrior

Feedback please: what do you guys think of it?

xo

Carly

New: Little Warrior June Playlist to Play on Spotify While You DIY Described as Portishead and Oh Land meet David Bowie and the Chemical Brothers around a campfire with a drum machine, Little Warrior‘s music advocates peaceful revolution and equality for all. Active on social media, she posts inspiration quotes and upbeat ideas, spreading positivity through images and music. Find her on:

Bandcamp  /  CD Baby  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Instagram  /  Tumblr

Arrived in Tokyo!

Arrived in Tokyo! Arrived on the other side of the world yesterday and still getting acclimated. Day and night are reversed after a 10-hour flight, utterly confused by all the newfangled gadgets in my in-laws’ newly-renovated house, and completely unable to post anything marginally coherent on my blog. Finally figured out a cellphone connection so I’ll be Instagramming my trip over the next month- follow me on Instagram to see tons of #traveldiary photos of Tokyo, yummy eats, and uniquely Japanese products and locales. Above, top row: my in-laws’ new foyer and floral arrangements, a mini peach pineapple from Okinawa, a deodorant that acts like roll-on paint primer (!) to block any unwanted smells, roasted green tea and black bean ice cream, tempura shrimp carcass, a tempura master at Tenyu.

Follow along to get a daily window into Tokyo!

Follow Me on Instagram

Hopefully in a day or two I’ll resume posting as normal.

xo

Carly

Creatively Chic Podcast Episode 13: Beautiful 3D Paper-Crafting: Handcraft Your Life with Lia Griffith and Your One-Stop Paper Shop Paper-Papers.com

Creatively Chic Podcast Episode 13: Beautiful 3D Paper Crafting: Handcraft Your Life with Lia Griffith and Your One Stop Paper Shop Paper Papers.com photo from LiaGriffith.com

Lia Griffith, the founder of LiaGriffith.com is already making a name for herself as a talented paper-manipulator. On her blog she shares her love of all that is paper, including free downloadable templates for gorgeous flowers, wreaths, labels, and gift tags. Her work has been featured on the DIY Network, Martha Stewart Radio, and Babble.com, just to name a few. Check out this episode for her tips and tricks for creating realistic blooms with only a few tools, to make your own custom wedding or gift decorations with ease. This episode also features a Spotlight interview with Lori Olson, the owner of Paper-Papers.com (a one-stop shop for all your paper-crafting supplies), and a DIY Challenge for trying your hand at making something out of the humble paper sheet.

Listen to Creatively Chic: Beautiful 3D Paper-Crafting: Handcraft Your Life with Lia Griffith and Your One-Stop Paper Shop Paper-Papers.com

xo

Carly

Lookbook from Japan: Snidel Summer 2013 Collection

Lookbook from Japan: Snidel Summer 2013 Collection Snidel is a fast fashion Japanese brand created by the mash style lab conglomerate [I've featured a lookbook from another of their brands, Lily Brown, here]. Snidel focuses on simple, pretty details for feminine clothing with a twist. Headed up by mash style lab’s Chief Designer Asami Kusakami, Snidel is arguably one of the group’s most successful brands, launching in 2005 and now available in over 60 stores in Japan and China. Price points for the pieces range from around $50 for a simple T-shirt, to $220 for a tailored trenchcoat. The brand also launched another division in 2013: Snidel Girl, catering to – you guessed it! – girls.

Lookbook from Japan: Snidel Summer 2013 Collection Lookbook from Japan: Snidel Summer 2013 Collection Read More—>

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants

Neon bra: Aerie. Vinyl Eyelash Applique T-shirt: DIY (tutorial here).  Yellow wrapped rhinestone bracelet: H&M.  Gold Rhinestone-Detail Watch: DailyLook purchase. Double Spike-End Bangle: DIY (tutorial here). Neon Yellow Transparent Clutch: DIY. Colorblock Zip-pouch (inside): Vivi Magazine freebie. Poly Floral-print Pants: Forever 21 (similar here). Patent Wedge-Heels: Zara

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants Once I made this DIY Eyelash Applique shirt, I started to think of all the ways to wear it. Wearing with a pair of jeans is awesome, and makes a casual outfit a little more tongue-in-cheek (or eyelashes-on-mammaries?) Pairing with a sweet flippy skirt was how I wore it at the latest Portland Bloggers Meetup a couple weeks ago (though you can’t tell in the picture).

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants But on this day, to make it a little more dressy and to counteract a pair of very sleepy boobs, I added a loose pair of crazy jungle-print pants from Forever 21.

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants I’m in love with the crazy floral and leafy-print, so much so that I’m willing to overlook the flimsy material that seems to rip each time I wear them. I know have to do some serious mending! *sigh*

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants I DIY’ed my own version of the ubiquitous transparent clutch, but I’m not loving it so much. I have to do a couple tweaks on the design before I can share on the blog, unfortunately.

Outfit 6.7.13: Sleepy Shirt and Wacky Jungle Pants
I’m now off to a dinner at my husband’s workplace…it’s Hub’s birthday in a couple days and so his coworkers are throwing him a party. The sleepy boobs shirt is staying home, though! Hope everyone’s having a great weekend!

xo
Carly

DIY Summer Net Bag for London Times Blog

DIY Summer Net Bag for London Times Blog Today my tutorial for a DIY Summer Net Bag (made from a men’s T-shirt) is up on the London Times blog. Check it out, dust off your cord-knotting AKA macrame skills, and make your own mesh Summer beach bag!

Read DIY Summer Net Bag on London Times Blog

DIY Summer Net Bag for London Times Blog

Happy DIY’ing!

xo
Carly

Announcement: Changes Are in the Wind for Chic Steals

Announcement: Changes Are in the Wind for Chic Steals Hi all! Big changes are on their way here, so I just wanted to let all of you know what’s in store.

First: An entirely new logo + branding. I’ve been working on this awhile to create something that’s hopefully a little more reflective of the Chic Steals aesthetic.

Second: A whole re-design to the site. It’s amazing. And oh so chic. But it also means that things might look a little funky here and there, as I cull plugins and create re-directs and fit the content to the new design. The new design + logo is rolling out within the next 2 weeks, so stay tuned!

Third: New content and post series. Yes indeedy, I’ve been hard as work on some new (and hopefully interesting) content (and some of it you’ve seen already – including my new Monday Lookbook feature, F.I.L.L.: Friday I Love Links, and One Piece, Three Girls). Collaborations. Guest posts. Videos. More features of Portland. And I’m deleting old posts that don’t fit in with the new look and theme.  But don’t worry – there will still be a ton of fashionable DIY’s and tutorials going forward!

Fourth: Better interaction. I’m upgrading a lot of things besides the site’s design, including moving soon to MailChimp for my newsletters (now with photos, yay!), and new strategies for Facebook + Twitter. Up until now I haven’t done a lot on either platform, but I’m figuring it out, and as a result, there will be more posting and more info on both of those networks coming in the next month.

Hope you guys like the new look to everything! As these new things come about, please feel free to give feedback~

Thanks so much for sticking with me so long, and welcome to the new!

xo
Carly

Copyright 2008-2012 by Carly J. Cais and Chic Steals, licensed by Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.