Sunday, November 15, 2015

How to Dye Leather

I had some leftover dye from the last leather dye DIY and decided to make an extreme change with another bag. My Alexander Wang Rocco Duffel bag in Latte has seen better days. You'll see that a lot of areas became darkened from use, especially the satchel handle and the top part of the bag. There was also some wear on the piping, and though nothing was exposed yet, the leather was scratched and thinning.

The process of dyeing leather is pretty simple once you have the right tools. The dyes cost under $30 and this was the second bag I was able to use these materials on. Take a look at the before and after photos and if you want to learn how to do it yourself, check out our previous post with a video tutorial.

How I dyed my Alexander Wang Rocco Bag Black for w hole new look! How to dye a leather bag, fiebings and tarrago dye kits

How I dyed my Alexander Wang Rocco Bag Black for w hole new look! How to dye a leather bag, fiebings and tarrago dye kits

How I dyed my Alexander Wang Rocco Bag Black for w hole new look! How to dye a leather bag, fiebings and tarrago dye kits


Some frequently asked questions:
Does the black dye transfer onto your clothes?
Nope! With daily use and a mix of dark and light clothes, no transfer at all from this purse or the last one.
Does the dye come off?
The first dye used is "penetrating dye" so it's dye that doesn't just sit on the surface of the leather.
Are there other colors of dye?
Both brands have a variety of colors! I have only tried black so I can't comment on how the other colors match or work.

I recommend the process for those who want to refresh a worn out bag and are willing to commit to a new color. The softened leather of the bag was getting a bit delicate and the dye definitely helped to stiffen it up a little bit and breathed a new life into it!

See the original post with video tutorial HERE:





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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Why I finally bought rain boots

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Every year we go to tons of summer music festivals and concerts. It combines our love of music, food and just lounging around with like-minded people.

Without fail, every year it will rain on at least one of the concert dates. Whether it's a small sprinkling or a crazy downpour, it happens. I think in my mind I assume that it won't be too bad to get a few drops of rain on my head. In reality though, the rain turns the ground into a mud pit and I'm instantly regretting my choice of impractical footwear.

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(Silly me on the right)

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(Smart Sam in her cute rain boots)

Three summers in a row, I dealt with muddy shoes and wet socks. This year I had made my final mistake and caved... I bought my first pair of Hunter rain boots.

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I had put off the purchase for so long because the concept of cost per wear is so important to me. When thinking about how many times I could potentially wear rain boots in an average year I really couldn't think of more than once or twice a year.

Since buying them in August though, I've been able to wear them in the summer to a festival and then at least 10 times this fall through all the frequent rain storms. (Is every year this rainy in the fall? I can't remember)

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The unexpected effect of buying these? Instead of feeling fearful that I'll be ruining a pair of shoes, I actually look forward to looking cute on rainy days! No regrets.


Wearing: The Sakura mini convertible dress and:

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Seasonal Wardrobes (and GIVEAWAY)

Living in Canada means experiencing the most extremes of the weather spectrum. Within a calendar year it's not unusual to experience temperatures that feel as low as -40C to as high as 40C (that's -40 to 104 F!). For most people this means having completely seasonal wardrobes that require a storage rotation. Even though I remember my mom doing this for me when I was younger, I always wanted to access my summer wardrobe in the winter and vice versa. So my closet is stored in a way that I can access all of my clothing always (with a huge exception for my winter parka and snow boots).

My Elsy Tights subscription service


So I have a question:

Do you rotate your seasonal wardrobe OR do you keep a wardrobe with all-season pieces?


My Elsy Tights subscription service

My Elsy Tights subscription service

As a non-rotator there are certain pieces that are key for transitioning between seasons. What some may call a "summer dress" I say is just a great dress for any weather if you know what to pair it with. Never underestimate the power of a leather jacket, booties and the right tights.

My must-haves for tights? Soft, black, and no uncomfortable seams. Check, check and check.

My Elsy Tights subscription service

My Elsy Tights subscription service

A new startup called Elsy Tights is now offering a service of quality tights delivered monthly at only $20 with free shipping! You can choose to get tights monthly (if you're like me and have the tendency to rip through them. Hello, long nails!) or every two or three months.

My Elsy Tights subscription service

Elsy Tights was kind enough to send us a free month of their service and we want you to win your first month of Elsy membership free too! Enter below!

Elsy Tights - One Month Subscription Giveaway


Ready to get started now? Elsy Tights is offering our readers 10% off their first month with Elsy promo code: LIPGLOSS10



Wearing Elsy Tights the Henkaa Ivy Convertible dress & :

Monday, August 10, 2015

Time after time

It feels like we've been taking longer and longer breaks from blogging lately but I'll refrain from apologizing every time we return. Life happens and things have changed, but we always have reason to come back.

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches
The lucky thing about starting a blog with your sister is that there's really no room for growing apart with us. Things that will never change: our love of fashion, DIY and of course caffeine. 

Our favourite summer past time: drinking beer in the hot sun. Whether it's by the pool or at music festivals, we love to get outside because Canadian summers feel so short compared to the winters.  

Check out our long weekend picnic outfits, inspired by our lovely watches c/o JORD Wood Watches

Samantha's Summer outfit with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches
I chose The Fieldcrest in Black for the gorgeous sleek dark finish and Sam picked The Sully in Natural Green for the natural wood grain that stands out with lighter wood. The watches are really lightweight for their size and the wood picks up a bit of polish and character the longer you wear it.

Sylvia's Summer outfit with Jord Wood watches



Samantha's Summer outfit with Jord Wood watches

Samantha's Summer outfit with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches

Samantha's Summer outfit with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches

Syl and Sam - Summer outfit photos with Jord Wood watches
Watches c/o JORD Wood Watches.
On Syl: The Fieldcrest in Black, on Sam: The Sully in Natural Green


Wooden Watches by JORD


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Monday, February 16, 2015

Tutorial - Faux Marble Table DIY

The marble look has been having a major moment in interiors and fashion. It can get a bit pricey to invest in marble furniture or counter tops, so I've discovered a blogger secret-- everyone's been using faux marble! Here's how to get the look on a major budget (like $10!). Bonus: if you get sick of the look, it's removable! Follow along below to see how to get the marble interior look yourself and take your instagrams to the next lev.
how to diy a faux marble table surface
on the table: sunglasses, happy plugs in-ear headphones, three hands antelope skulldiptyque candle, the collection candlelady gaga x terry richardsonalexander mcqueen savage beauty

how to diy a faux marble table surface
You'll need:
- Marble Contact Paper
- Scissors
- Small hand towel
- Ikea Vittsjo or any table or surface you would like to marbleize


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