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$

Best of 2011

Well we're already two months in to 2012, and we've been looking back at all we accomplished over the past year here at Secondhand Star. We sought, we bought, we doctored, we altered, and we strove to find the coolest, (and in some cases, most in need of assistance) vintage and thrift items we could lay our hands on!

Here's a look back at our favorites from 2011. And while we've both been insanely busy lately, we promise to dig in for more exciting remakes in 2012! See you back here soon!

Noa's top 6:

 {Look 1 & 2}

 {Look 3 & 4}

{Look 5 & 6}

Tanya's Top 6:

 {Look 1 & 2}

 {Look 3 & 4}

{Look 5 & 6}

And there's our annual re-wind. 12 looks, 12 months. Now let's see what 2012 has in store!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

We'll be on hiatus here at Secondhand Star until the new year, but in the meantime, we wanted to give you a chance to win something really special for the upcoming, new year.

We morphed a vintage shirt into a throw-jacket. It's a truly special piece, with such exquisite detail that can be worn by several sizes and in several different ways. From the above shot where our model rocked it with nothing beneath, to lustrous and loose thrown over a casual tee, skinny jeans and heels.

Want a shot at winning it to start off January 2011 with a sequined bang? Well stay tuned for your chance!

You may remember our Chain Gang Swap posts here and here... well, we're gearing up to do another, this time with six bloggers all styling one item several different ways! It's so much fun and you can be in on the game too! Stay tuned...

See you in the new year!

Love, 

Noa B & Tanya D

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

Frayed vest equals sexy best!

 Ladies,

Do you all remember this adorable vest we created from a linen coat at SHS this past summer?

We love the frayed arms and funky, pleated back!

So if you love the idea of roughed up linen for that holiday mini, look no further!

Find it here at our Etsy store and see what else we've got to offer.

Love,

Noa B and Tanya D

Cap sleeve retro-glam

There's nothing like a mandarin, cap sleeved dress. This vintage number was a delectable item I procured recently, and it just screams, holiday party!

For those of you who love an Asian print, here's your chance to grab a fabulous, accordion pleated number, hot off our Etsy store here.

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 This dress has loops to retain a belt of your choice, a mandarin collar and satiny cap sleeves.

We love the pattern details, and how often do you find dresses like these in mint condition?
If you like what you see, come browse our Etsy store and get yourself on the vintage road to holiday glam!

Love,

Noa B and Tanya D

Festive color blocks for sale

Hey Ladies!

Remember when we brought you this adorable, mini dress yesterday? Well now you can have the longer version seen alongside it.

This vintage, poly-blend is also available for sale on our Etsy store along with its adorable counterpart here, so come take a peek!

Buy it now, before it's history.

Love,

Noa B and Tanya D

Tribal Buys

Hy Ladies,

Remember this charming little number we showed you a "before" and "after" of? This is still one of our favorite, Secondhand Star redesigns. The knitwear, vintage, tribal dress.

 Tanya rocked it over the 4th of July, but we think it screams winter party frock as well.

Visit our store here and grab this cute, vintage number before it's gone. We love it's chic, boho-meets-tribal flavor and you will too! Get it while it's hot!

Love,

Noa B and Tanya D

Gold duster and lotsa luster

 Hi Ladies,

With the holidays rapidly approaching, we all want that standalone dress that enters a room and stops traffic.

And what better way to do that than with a little lamé? This beautiful, vintage 70's duster length dress is a tribute to '54 culture and a cinch in the runway ode to gold!

Find further details on sizing and grab it now at our Etsy store here, cause once it's gone, it's gone!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend all!

Love,

Noa B and Tanya D

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