Clothes to Dye For!

Yesterday I did some tie-dying...something that I usually have done at camp where it didn't really matter how it turned out because it was a camp shirt that I would probably only wear to bed after that. But yesterday...I took an old, raggy LnA v-neck shirt that I absolutely adored (and in turn, wore out) and made it into something that I can wear again, all for $free.99! Instead of throwing my beloved shirt away, I was able to make it new again, and probably saved money since now I don't have to buy a new shirt. Instead of tie-dying clothes that I probably won't wear, I found that it is better to use a shirt or clothing item that you will constantly wear. In just 10 minutes, I updated my wardrobe, and spiced up an outfit. Now I won't be dreading wearing that shirt, but instead will be looking for fun ways to wear it!

Some ideas to wear with tie-dye items...vneck tie-dye shirt with skinny black or denim jeans and blazer, off the shoulder shirt with tie-dyed headband, tie-dyed socks peeking out from boots, tie-dyed bed sheets or curtains/tapestry, or tie-dye a summer dress. For my shirt I used a lot of blue dye, with some purple sprinkled in here and there. I also tie-dyed my shirt dry. In the past I have soaked it in water, but then the dye will bleed, and it works all the same. Also, when you are washing the dye out after 12-24 hours, wash it in cold or lukewarm water...hot water may take away from the color. Pick a color theme for your clothing canvas, for example, stormy (blue and purple), neon (yellow and orange), rainbow (all colors), and so forth. Be weary of the colors that bleed and blend into brown. There are a ton of different patterns you can do, but in the end, don't think too much about it because it will most likely not turn up exactly the way you want. Do a little spiral in the middle, rubber band it from all sides, and start adding the dye! On dry cloth, the dye takes time to soak in, so do it slowly and rub the tip of the dye bottle on the cloth to help it stain. Make sure to really soak the shirt with dye, and stick the cap into the shirt to get the middle of the clothing article. When you are satisfied, put the tie-dyed item into a plastic bag, and let it sit for 12-24 hours. The next day, wash and enjoy!

Blast from the Past

[Picture credit--www.bbc.co.uk]

Just take a look around you, fashionites. The clothes that you see on the runway and in magazine spreads, even on the street, have most likely been recycled and remodeled from past looks. Looks from Dior and Chanel have outlasted styles time and time again. Chanel's classic suit and Dior's Bar jacket with the pinched waist have managed to stick around for good. As women, we can only laugh at having that perfect Barbie body with impractical measurements and a height to die for. When a piece of clothing comes along that will accentuate and flatter our waists, we'll take one...or two...or three. Especially if it lasts through the constantly changing fashion cycle, that is money well spent! Nowadays there are many pieces of clothing with cinched waists, you can even add a belt around a flowy top to enhance your middle--in a good way, of course! Pay attention to classic pieces that will stay with you forever. You will happily wear a good investment, and look fabulous in it. Besides, when a piece is timeless, you can dress it with anything--dresses, pencil skirts, skinny capris, shorts! Make sure that the article of clothing is well-sewn, fits well on the shoulders, hips, arms, and is something that you absolutely cannot live without. When things are changing so fast, sometimes you only get one chance to get what you want.

It's a Grey's Anatomy-Reese's-Chocolate-Snuggly Kind of Day

[Photo credit--www.catspictures.net]

Have you ever had one of those days when you are just so sluggish and out of it? All I want to do is sit in front of the computer watching week-old shows and catch up with the day's celebrity gossip. I have no motivation whatsoever to write my math research paper or study for my Chinese test. I do not want to update my sociology journal or clean up my desk. I feel so lazy it's disgusting, yet at the same time it's nice to just veg out on junk food and not study. I guess I'll allow myself one, or two, day(s) per week to sit back and do absolutely nothing. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually use my day to do something productive... Don't let the rain get you down--start that project you have been pushing back day after day after day, take out your trash and recycle, make your bed, organize your closet, call your high school friend you haven't talked to in months! Do at least one productive thing per day, and then sit back and relax for the rest of it--so when you feast your eyes on the latest episode of America's Next Top Model and stuff your face with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (ahem), maybe you'll feel a little bit better about yourself!

That Time of Year

[Picture credit: ehow.com]

It's finally that time of year when the Christmas songs have started to play in department stores and fancy, bright, outrageous decorations are strategically placed so that at every turn you see a Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman, or Santa's sleigh full of goodies. While these decorations are sometimes glamorous (see Cartier above), they are often so blazingly obvious that it can be too much to handle--especially when Christmas isn't just around the corner. Even though Halloween just ended and Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away, Christmas is that time of year to make lots of sales and to get everyone in the spirit for the holidays. As much as I love looking ahead and planning the future, and while I do love Christmas and all the decorations and music, I wish we could just enjoy the moment that we are in sometimes. Before the turkeys come out from their year-long hibernation in storage, let's just enjoy ghosts and pumpkins and zombies. Before the ho-ho-ho's, let's say our thanks and count our blessings. And then when Christmas finally does come along, we'll be able to appreciate it even more. If the statue of Rudolph has been out for over a month, by the time December hits, we'll get irritated by the glow of his bright red nose. I'm all for getting in the spirit of the holidays, but when is "too soon" too soon?

Back to blogging. After leaving this blog behind for a couple of months, Partial to the Rain is finally back. I love the rain, maybe you'll come to love it too?

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away...

[Photo credit-umbrella.net]

On gray, rainy days, sometimes all I want to do is crawl back into bed and put on my sweats. However, college classes motivate me to get out from under the warm blanket, put my rainboots on, and trudge across the muddy field to my hour-long class. If I hit that snooze button two too many times, I find myself running to class...without my umbrella. While a rainjacket can keep me dry, it's nice to be sheltered from the millions of raindrops. Don't let the rain get you down. I found this cute umbrella at Bella Pagoda, and with an umbrella as noticeable as this, maybe next time I won't leave it behind...