for a bright (out)look.

We're having an unseasonably warm streak in Chicago; I wanted to wear something nice and bright to celebrate the great weather. I got this Tibi shirt at Crossroads for $55 (regular $310)! And remember my second DIY American Apparel clutch? I added that in for another pop of color. Bring on Spring...

top: Tibi jeans: J.Crew clutch: DIY American Apparel shoes: Kate Spade

to create a monochromatic monogram.

I had so much fun painting my American Apparel clutch last time, I decided to give it another go- using stencils to add my monogram this time around. I'm loving browns and golds lately, so I went with a yellow base and yellow/gold paint. Can't wait to take my little masterpiece out on the town.

shirt: Land's End Canvas cardigan: J.Crew shoes: Cole Haan necklace: F21 clutch: American Apparel

to rock it out.

I brought my DIY clutch on her very first outing today- to see Rock of Ages at the Oriental. She's a big fan of 80's music, just like her momma.

Hope you all had lovely weekends!

jacket: BR (old) shirt: F21 pants: J.Crew shoes: J.Crew (similar) 

necklace: BR (old) purse: American Apparel

and does it herself.

I'll start by saying that I am not artistic in any way, shape or form. I've always wanted to be, and I so admire people with an innate ability to create something beautiful, but that quality bypassed me in the birth canal. As did any cooking skills. That shopping gene, however, that one seemed to stick.

Anyway, there was a little blurb in the November issue of InStyle about how to paint your own American Apparel leather pouch. It didn't look too hard to mess up, even for me, so I decided to give it a shot. I bought a neutral, camel-colored clutch from American Apparel ($50), three different colors of acrylic paint from an art store that I didn't belong in ($9), three of those foam brush things ($1) and three different kinds of tape ($9), because I don't know what masking tape is, apparently. None of the three kinds of tape I bought ended up being masking tape, by the way, but the clear kind worked just fine and didn't leave residue on the bag. So for $70 and hours of entertainment/fun, I got myself a new accessory that I can carry with pride.

Before:

Halfway there...

After:

Last note- when I was shopping for the bag I told the salesgirl what I was planning to do, and she showed me some pictures they had at the counter of similar projects- including one of the fabulous and adorable Blair of Atlantic-Pacific and her patriotic clutch!