Chain Gang Swap: Beaded Jacket

Hello faithful readers. It's been a minute, but we've been getting revved up to show you some great and simple new ways to alter your wardrobe. And what better way to kick off than by announcing our latest contest for this vintage jacket we showed you at the top of the year!

I found this vintage shirt last year and wanted to do something special with it. Since it was really bulky, Tanya suggested we turn it into a jacket, but I wanted to create something that could be worn several ways. So I took in the side-seams by about 2", pulled up the shoulders by inserting pleats, and cut it, right down the center!  It can be worn open and loose, but I decided it might be fun to turn it around.

So I did, and wore it belted as a top.

 Jacket: Redesigned vintage by Secondhand Star, Jeans: Main street Boutique, Bangles: Trade, Belt: Amici, Kitten heels: Charles David

If you've got a unique idea of how to wear this and want to take this baby for a test drive, (front or back) head on over to my personal blog here to see more images, check out the rest of our illustrious "Chain Gang" swappers, and snag a chance to win it!

With Love,

Noa  B

Spring Cleaning, Spring Color

Ladies, are you feeling the warm rush of approaching spring? Are you getting ready to rev up with some color? Well here at Secondhand Star we love nothing more than bringing our clothing back to life through the process of dyeing and refreshing them for a new season!

I love my old, classic, Jones NY trench but it's definitely been fading in color over time. When I first bought it, the fabric had a sheer, sparkly, gold tint to the threading. Over time it's become a dusty, beigey-nude. Not bad, but it could have a second life in a more springtime friendly hue!

So last week I got busy prepping a dye bath. I bought a liquid bottle of Scarlet Rit Dye and poured it into a small, washing machine load. However, because the coat had some metallic threading it took two bottles and two loads to get the color more pronounced.

After two washes I achieved this soft, mauve-y pink! Very springtime!

 

I threw it over a silver sweater, silk pencil and heels and left for an appointment feeling bright and springtime ready. Now if only the weather would comply as well!

With Love,

Noa B

Trench: Jones NY

Heels: Seychelles

Choker and feather earrings: Boutique Unknown

Sweater: H&M

Skirt: Vintage silk, 1$

Best of 2011

Well we're already two months in to 2012, and we've been looking back at all we accomplished over the past year here at Secondhand Star. We sought, we bought, we doctored, we altered, and we strove to find the coolest, (and in some cases, most in need of assistance) vintage and thrift items we could lay our hands on!

Here's a look back at our favorites from 2011. And while we've both been insanely busy lately, we promise to dig in for more exciting remakes in 2012! See you back here soon!

Noa's top 6:

 {Look 1 & 2}

 {Look 3 & 4}

{Look 5 & 6}

Tanya's Top 6:

 {Look 1 & 2}

 {Look 3 & 4}

{Look 5 & 6}

And there's our annual re-wind. 12 looks, 12 months. Now let's see what 2012 has in store!