Sick

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I will post soon. I have been sick for the last week with Bronchitis. I'm hoping to be back to normal soon and posting more fashion photos and other fashion commentaries.

Vintage Valentine

   Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I don't know about you but I hated Valentine's day for many years. It's hard to hate it now that I have someone but those many years that either I was alone or the person I was with made the day miserable it was hard to find the Halmark holiday enjoyable. However, if you take away all the expectations of this made up holiday and just do something enjoyable it turns out to be a fun day. Plus, it means I get to dress up. This dress, I found last year from some girls who sell vintage clothes at a fair I used to sell at once a month. I'm super excited cause Daniel is going to take me to Beautiful Creatures for Valentine's Day and I can't wait!!!! Well, except for the fact for that I am super sick. So I hope that I won't be sick for tomorrow. I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and just remember to have no expectations. It's just another day when it comes down to it.

Dress - Vintage

Belt - I believe came off another dress 

Shoes- Mossimo from Target

Socks - Forever 21

Necklace - My own making but I sell one like it on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121567021/once-upon-a-time-necklace-wedding

Amber Ily's Steamcrafts

   I haven't had the chance to write about my online store at all on my blog here, so I'd figure I'd post a couple of photos of my Valentine's Day jewelry line. When I hit landmarks with my followers I guarantee that I will do a give-away for a couple of my jewelry pieces. 

  For those who don't know much about Amber Ily's Steamcrafts, the shop is made up of Steampunk jewelry and decorative boxes. Most of my jewelry is upcycled made from pieces and parts of vintage jewelry and watch parts. I also make decorative boxes and shadowboxes like the leaf heart wood box pictured at the very bottom. Check out my store on etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmberIlysSteamcrafts

Pictured Above

Once Upon a Time Necklace -  https://www.etsy.com/listing/121567021/once-upon-a-time-necklace-wedding

Steampunk Rose Necklace - https://www.etsy.com/listing/101818750/steampunk-necklace-rose-with-silver-gear

Victorian Heart Pearl Necklace - https://www.etsy.com/listing/97792643/victorian-necklace-imitation-pearl

Steampunk Leaf Wood Box - https://www.etsy.com/listing/91430182/steampunk-box-red-leaf-heart-box

Skulls, Crosses, and Cogs.

I'm actually wearing two of my favorite items in this outfit. My cog belt buckle and my cross. I got the cog belt buckle at one of my favorite antique stores in Temecula, CA. My boyfriend, Daniel, actually spotted it first and knew it was perfect for my Steampunk outfits. As for my cross, it also has something to do with my boyfriend. He gave it to me for safe keeping after the first three weeks we were dating, when I went to Pittsburgh for two weeks. The cross was his favorite necklace and I knew the second that he gave it to me he really loved me. Corny I know, but we're totally corny. I've worn it everyday since (except when I take it off for a couple minutes while I take the photos).

My Outfit

- Shirt - Skull Shirt - Hot Topic - Was on sale for $10

- Belt and Buckle - Belt I stole from my Boyfriend and the Cog 

belt Buckle is from an antique store in Temecula, CA $15

                             - Hat - I've actually bought this hat from my first job wear I worked                                                       in a little hat shop called Wooleys in a small mountain town in Southern California $30

- Pants - Black and Tan Checkered pants from Forever 21 $22

- Ankle Boots - Clarks - Got as a Christmas present from my Mum.

Spring Flowers

I got this dress at a second hand store in Temecula. I'm in love with anything that has peter pan collars and this dress is so cute. I love the spring chic look. Perfect for a spring day date looking at antique stores and drinking coffee at a local cafe. The Steampunk watch piece is a piece my mother gave me. My father actually made it for my mother when I was little and she passed it down to me. It's been an inspiration to me in a lot of ways when it comes to my jewelry.

 

Open Mic night with Daniel in Riverside

My outfit for open mic night with Daniel and the Daily Grind in Riverside.

This is one of my favorite skirts. I've had this skirt for years probably since I was in 8th grade. The shirt I just got : ) I thought it would be unique to add some Gothic/Steampunk looking jewelry like my lions head brooch and my clock earrings. I have a little bow clip in my hair too but my hair is so crazy curly that you can't see it.


I had a wonderful time at the open mic night. Daniel played his song really well! Also there were a couple of other people there who played really well.

Daniel Cross played Dead Girl Friend on his new Martin Guitar. I think he's so in love with it that I'm a little jealous.

I don't know their names but they were awesome!

The wonderful Leandra Graves

 

Alice in Wonderland

Fairytales have been trending quite a lot lately and not just in movies and T.V., but in fashion as well. I've been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland for the past year. It seems since Tim Burton's release of 'Alice in Wonderland' I've been seeing the trend the past couple of spring seasons. Alice in Wonderland has also been trending on t-shirts and merchandise at Disneyland and even the old illustrations from the books are very popular with jewelry on etsy.
When it comes to the style of Alice in Wonderland, I have searched high and low for something that was close to Alice's dress but, I still haven't found anything that lives up to my standards and also doesn't cost a small fortune. However,  you never know what you can find in the vintage clothes section of antique shops or the Salvation Army.

I've even added the whimsicalness (I know it's not a word, but it works) of Alice in Wonderland, to some of my Steampunk Jewelry. Last spring, I added a line of Alice in Wonderland theme Steampunk jewelry. 

 The March Hare and the White Rabbit are perfect to add a bit of spring to your jewelry. Colors like baby blue, cream, and copper are perfect for a light spring day. Or bolder primary colors like poppy red and lemon yellow for Mad Hatter. You can also wear wisteria and silver for a Cheshire cat look.

The Modern Mad Hatter

The Modern Cheshire Cat