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$

From prissy to Pucci: Before and After

Hi Friends,

We're back from our holiday, Etsy promotion, and revving up for holiday renovations...

Like this little number! I've always liked the look of bright, brash prints, (even though my own wardrobe has a tendency towards the more "demure" tones.) But when I found this adorable dress at Out of the Closet for 9$, I knew there was a little gem waiting to be born.

I tried it on and found it roomy in the waist, and a bit too old fashioned in both the hem and sleeve length. But there was definitely something cute and fresh and totally salvageable about this number.

My goal was to convert this from a semi-house dress with a rad pattern, to a fun, Pucci-inspired, mini dress.

 I shortened the hem by about 8 inches and took up the sleeve from a frumpy 1/4 length to a petite cap. (As seen pinned above). Lastly, I took in the waist from the back by a good three inches or so.

And here's the result. A little less mumu, and little more rock n' roll!

A little sixties-love, a little spiked heel, and Voila! Now, what's your holiday inspiration?

Love,

Noa B

Vintage Hat: Regeneration, Detroit

Spike heels: NYLA

Studded Belt: Zara

Dress: Out of the Closet, Vintage

Babydoll shirt redefined

I love this chic, silk-chiffon shirt I found in a vintage shop for a buck.

It's super cute, but there's something just too big and flouncy, and a little matronly about it whenever I try to pair it with a sleek, fitted bottom.

So I think I'll hack off the arms and take in the side seams just a little, to give it that babydoll, 60's edge and then couple it with a wintery mini. I want to keep the slits, so I can only take in a couple of inches. But a few inches all around can make all the difference! Voila!

This hounds-tooth mini is a vintage find I scored last winter. It was a super long, librarian skirt that I hacked up and took in to make a "mod" mini skirt. It's a classic pattern and shape. It was just waiting for the right top.

My favorite cargo jacket is so soft on the inside, it's like wearing a PJ top. So it was perfect to wear to an early matinee, Thanksgiving movie.

Happy Turkey day all! Whatever you choose to do with the holiday, do it with those you love!

Love,

Noa B

Shirt: Vintage, reconstruct
Skirt: Vintage, reconstruct
Boots: Michael Kors, many seasons ago
Tights: Charlotte Russe
Bangles: Thrift
Jacket: Charlotte Russe, last winter season

From checks to Sexed!

This fall I came across a pantsuit I can only dub, "extra's wardrobe". To put it another way, this pique cotton, twin set looked like something the 60's era ladies on the block would've worn in a Tim Burton movie. Can't you picture this number with a bouffant and a cigarette in hand?

However, I'm a sucker for good fabric. There's something really cute about the matching set and the colors. It's so creamy and fall ready. It just needs major renovation. I held onto this baby until Tanya and I had a chance to meet. As you can see, it's a little big. But big means there's lots of room to work and play with the fabric!

The color is really perfect for her porcelain skin and rich hair color. Plus, the pants, (while short on me, were just about perfect on her frame as far as the inseam).

My original idea was to make the pants into high waist-ed shorts, and create a streamlined, lengthy vest in keeping with fall trends. (A look we've both come to adore this season). But then "T" put it on, and she had an ever better idea that was much more wintery and cozy! So we started working on shortening up the vest significantly.

 There was a lot of nipping and tucking. We pinned it more than halfway up the length.

And we grabbed the back of the pants through the crotch and pulled in about 6 inches! But the main idea was to keep the pants long, lean, and high around the waist. Then the big change would be to create a cropped jacket and make this a winter, wonderland suit! Less Edward Scissorhands, more Madmen...

 

So I got to work. After taking in the pants, I hacked the entire bottom half of the vest off.

 I serged the seams and took in the back just a tad. 

Then I hand placed a row of pearl buttoned snaps to keep the "vintage flavor". This is something you don't need a grommet machine to do at home. You can purchase the snaps in various sizes and color, and you only need to employ plyers and a hammer to get them inserted.

 Like so!

The final touch was to hem around the bottom and pop in our new, SHS labels!

Tune in tomorrow to see the results and how "T" styled it!

Love, 

Noa B

Pantsuit: Out of the Closet, Vintage. 1$

Style watch: Get Molly's Quinn's Look

This summer I had the pleasure of doing makeup for film and television actress Molly Quinn, star of the hit show, Castle. Molly is a big fan of vintage, mod, and mini-dresses, and I was delighted to see when she donned this little cocktail affair for a wedding, that it closely resembled one of our own Secondhand Star creations!

Being a fan of brocade and older fabrics, Molly had this adorable little number made for her, and actually purchased the material herself. (Don't all you DIY'ers just love her)?!

She managed to impress us not once, but twice in two days, donning a fabulous, toile printed cotton vest for a press event, which once again was home-made. This gal knows her way around a sewing machine! But we love her in the soft, brocaded satin she chose for this mod-inspired mini.

We think Molly's on to something. Here's our past take on a similar cut, fabric and color.

We thought the comparison was so apt, we wanted to show you how to achieve this look right here on SHS, here, and here! Check out our previous tutorial as we prepare to bring you more clothing makeovers in the weeks to come.

Love,

Noa B

Blue Blazer Makeover!

When Tanya showed me this adorable, albeit dated, Sassoon blazer she'd scored for a buck I was a little skeptical. Yeah, it was cute. But we've both accrued a truckload of retro jackets throughout the summer, and I wanted to see something fun and different. Fortunately Miss T was already one step ahead of me!

She had an idea to cut it higher in the back like a jacket she saw on a favorite blogger here. Different indeed!

When we met for an afternoon of relaxation, (i.e. a mani-pedi) recently, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to do some co designing and brainstorming on how to make this beauty come to life! We've both been so busy, but leave it to us to literally pin the jacket to Tanya's body while waiting for our chairs at the nail salon! (See this post here!)

I took it home and marked the jacket with straights pins and took in the sleeves, the side and back seams, as well as the cuffs, which I shortened by about 2 inches. Tanya's frame is very petite, so the whole jacket had to come in a full dress size all around, but we wanted to maintain the integrity of the pockets so we made sure to cut where they were still functional...

And the result?

 A super cool tailored piece that Tanya unexpectedly wore in a very relaxed and layered way.

 The best part?

 The decision to keep the pockets in front, but raise it higher in the back. A-DOR-able.

And that's how you do a color-blocked, drool-worthy, blue-blazer for a buck!

Love, 

Noa B

Blazer - $1 Redesign

Black Honeycomb Shell - $1 Thrifted Find

Cargo Jacket - Free People

Silk Gray Pants - Via Buffalo Exchange (Label Unknown)

Shoes - Ash

DIY Feather Skirt!

Hey Ladies,

Are you as excited as we are about these amazing, holiday, feather skirts that have been seen all over the runway? We love this from little, black gem from ASOS, and this neutral one from Calypso St Barths! So they inspired us to create this season's hottest look with an old, thrift store piece and some fabulous remnants! 

On a thrifting Sunday I found this blah, black mini skirt for a buck. I didn't really care about its appearance other than it being a decent fit, because I was looking for something to use as a building base. I snagged it for a buck and got busy prepping it for a renovation.

 

I measured and cut about 4 inches from the hem, which was also kind of wavy and dated.

Then, I got down and dirty sorting through some trims. I'm not a pack rat at all. In fact, quite the opposite. However, as luck would have it I had saved some extremely expensive trims from my design days over 15 years ago. Who knew they'd be back again, and so on point with trend?

I had three styles to work with: mixed browns, Indian inspired, and jet black. And I decided to combine all three for two reasons:

First, I didn't have enough for a whole skirt in one tone, and second, the mixture of colors created a more casual feel to the garment. At about 15$ per yard back in the day, I figured, waste not!

So I got busy, and pinned and draped and pinned and stitched!

 

And the result...? A fall friendly mixture of colors and tones for any occasion

There were so many ways to rock this trend. I loved mixing this skirt with a nubby sweater as well as with a rock and roll t-shirt. But the easiest thing right out of the closet was a basic, black blazer and some booties along with a hat, to give a little Fosse, Broadway appeal. 

As a final touch, in-between the tiers of feathers I added a row of large size sequin discs, and below, a row of black, beaded fringe for some razzle-dazzle.

And there you have it. One trend, one used skirt. One kick ass, holiday bottom. Check us out next week when we reveal our jacket re-vamps and some new love for old items. 

 Love, 

Noa B

Skirt: Thrift 1$
Trims: M&J Trims New York
Jacket: Thrift, 1$
Booties: Dior
Earrings: Re-sale boutique, Manhattan
Fedora: H&M