"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

DIY Project: Chanel inspired bracelet

If you didn't guess in from the quote, today's inspiration is the timeless style icon, Coco Chanel.

Chanel has made lasting impacts on the fashion industry. Her revolutionary fabric choice—most notably the unexpected use of jersey—and her modernist menswear inspired designs helped to solidify her as one of the most important couturiers of the century.

In addition to her unforgettable work with the Chanel brand, Coco herself was—and remains to this day—an influential fashion icon. One of the most notable features of Coco Chanel's style were her signature layers of pearls.

Today's project is inspired by Coco Chanel's timeless pearls.

What you'll need:

-a strand of small faux pearls (I used an old necklace, but you can usually find these in the ribbon sections of craft/fabric stores)

-2 ribbons (I chose black to go along with the classic Chanel theme, but you can use any color. In the words of Coco Chanel, "The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good on you!")

-

Step 1:

braid the three strands together. Use a safety pin to hold them together while you're braiding them so the braid doesn't unravel.

Step 2:

Stitch the ends together and remove the safety pin. Before you sew then ends, you can check for size and trim the ends if necessary.

Step 3:

Wear with an air of fabulousness!

Cost: about $3

Difficulty: Very Easy

Fascinating Feather Fascinators

DIY Project: Feather Fascinators

Fascinators are fun and easy to make and are a totally unique accessory. Fascinators have been worn by stylish women since the 1800s, but have made quite a comeback in modern times. Many of today's fascinators are reminiscent of those worn in the 40s and 50s.

A woman sporting a feather fascinator circa 1953

image (http://hereiam.typepad.com/the_pesky_bombolino)

I made my first fascinator in 2008 after watching an episode of Project Runway and seeing a contestant, Kenley Collins, wearing her homemade feather creations inspired by 1940s calendar girls. After making it, it soon became my favorite accessory and I started seeing them in mainstream stores in the following months.

Kenley Collins

image msnbc.com

Today my fascinator collection has grown and whenever I wear one out, people always ask where I got it and are always shocked to learn that I make them myself. The next question is always "How?" Well, lucky blog readers, today I'm going to show you how!

What you'll need:

-hair clips (big/wide ones are best)

-feathers

-hot glue gun (if you're likely to burn yourself, tacky glue works fine as well)

-scrap fabric (i like to use felt)

-sequins and/or rhinestones

-old brooches, buttons, broken jewelry, etc.

Step 1:

cut a tear drop shape out of your fabric. The size of your fabric base will determine the size of the finished product. This is going to be a relatively small one. My largest fascinator has a base that measures 4.5" by 3.5" at the widest points. Keep in mind that the feathers will extend a bit off the edges, especially on the back. As far as fabric choice, pretty much anything you have lying around works; however, I would advise against especially flimsy fabrics as they wont hold their shape well.

Step 2:

Arrange and glue the feathers on to the fabric piece. Start with large feathers at the back and layer smaller feathers in the front. Be sure to cover all edges of the fabric with feathers so none of it shows when it's in your hair.

Feather choice is one of the most important aspects of this project. Most craft stores carry bags of feathers for around $3 a bag. I prefer natural looking feathers, but they are also available in technicolor varieties.

One important thing to keep in mind when choosing feathers is type of feather. Some feathers mimic actual bird feathers and make excellent fascinators, while others are more of "boa fluff."

this is boa fluff. Can you tell I'm disgusted by it?

When you try to make a fascinator out of boa fluff, it turns out like this. Ew.

Step 3:

Glue your hair clip to the back of the fascinator, Make sure that the part you want for the front of the fascinator (typically the small end) corresponds with the front part of the clip (in this case the wide end)

I have seen other people stitch on the clips or glue loops of ribbons down to put clips through. Feel free to experiment with these methods, but I like gluing because it's easiest.

Step 4:

Personalize it! This is the most fun and creative part. I chose to use an old locket and some green rhinestones on this one, but you can really let your imagination run wild. Just avoid anything too heavy, because it will weigh the fascinator down and it won't stay in your hair.

Step 5:

Wear and look fabulous! Don't forget to send me photos of your finished product. I'd love to see!

Cost: <$5

Difficulty: Easy

What is Art For the Starving?

Who I am:

My name is Sarah Jean. I'm a 19 year old graphic design student living in southern California. I love art, culture, design, art history, travel, fashion, music, and all things vintage. I recently (and rather miraculously) scored a dream internship and am officially a working graphic designer.

me on a good hair day

What is Art For The Starving:

Art For The Starving plays off the common phrase "starving artist." I remember when I was very young, I told my mom I wanted to be an artist. She responded "Sarah, do you know what starving artist is?" In the last few years I've had the opportunity to learn. Of course, I'm not actually starving, I have the privilege of having a place to live, food to eat, an education, and wonderful friends and mentors in my life. This blog is in no way intended to make light of the very serious issues of hunger and malnutrition in our world today. It is merely a twist upon the cliche of a "starving artist" and also a metaphor for my insatiable love of all things related to art and design.

What to expect:

Although my blog is anything but predictable, there will be some continuous themes.

DIY projects: I love DIY projects! The major focus of Art For The Starving is achieving a fashionable and inspired lifestyle on a very slim budget. One of my favorite ways to achieve high fashion glamour without the high prices is DIY projects inspired by my favorite designers' collections. Throughout this blog I'll show you how to make everything from accessories, to clothing, to housewares.

From a design perspective: I'm a HUGE design nerd. Everywhere I go I see layout, kerning, font choice, and composition in the world around me. Even when I'm "off duty" I can't stop thinking in design terms. I suppose that's just how my brain works. I'll commentate on life from a design perspective, which hopefully should be painlessly educational and entertaining.

My world: What I'm doing, where I'm going, how i'm feeling. I'll keep you updated. I love going on adventures, and I'd love to share them with you.

Inspiration: What's inspiring me at the moment. Inspiration can take any form: people, places, art, food--absolutely anything! Hopefully I can inspire you too with your own art. (If it does, I'd love to see what you come up with)

Fashion Report: I love fashion and love to write about it. I'll blog about the latest trends I notice, designers I love, what I think of the latest collections, and what I'm wearing. More than anything I love style that is completely unique and daring--not exactly things you'll find at the local mall. This blog will feature many "dear to wear" styles, which I hope some of you will try.

What I'm working on: As this is primarily an art blog, I'll be showing you my latest projects, whether it be graphic design, drawing, painting, photography, craft--whatever it is, I'll share it with you.

Thanks so much for reading! I'll try to update as much as possible. Let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to see. I'd love to hear from you.