Gold dipped hands / BEAUTY

New Years eve is almost here and I know most of you are probably getting ready to celebrate with your loved ones. If your nails are not done yet, here’s a solution that will be extraordinary and add the perfect amount of shine to any simple and minimalistic outfit out there - spray paint you nails and a bit of your fingers golden. I’m not going to lie, this manicure will probably last only one night as the spray paint washes of pretty easily, but that’s all you need for now, right? And you don’t have to worry about your jewelry either - gold dipped hands are enough.



Happy New Year, my babes!! I’m extremely thankful for each and every one of you and wish you all the best. You know it. If you need any help setting goals and getting yourself motivated for the next year, just remember all the things you dreamed of after reading this post.

Much love, see you in 2013!!!

I’m all UrbanEars / OUTFIT

vest - Christmas gift / skirt - DIY (see here) / headphones - UrbanEars via Bloggers Wardrobe

"Build bridges, not walls.” Something that I heard and it has stuck with me. What does that mean to you?

Also, what are your plans for NYE, babes?



And, since I’m a bit of a music junkie, I’m really excited about my new UrbanEars! Thanks, friends at Bloggers Wardrobe! I’ll be listening to this:

Télépopmusik - Smile (Natural High Remix) (2012) by Natural High Music

Merry First Blizzard !

hoodie - NIKE / coat - thrifted + DIY (here) / beanie - husband’s high school

I hope it has been merry for you and yours, my loves!

We are snowed in so I’ve been embracing my old Nike hoodie with a beanie and a long coat. I really like the way my “dressy” coat contradicts with the hoodie… and I’m also embracing something that caught my eye on Marc Jacobs Spring 2013 runway. Can you guess what? After holidays are over, spring is just around the corner!! (My thinking during the FIRST snow-storm of this winter)

Also, I’ve had the honor to guest blog for IFB! Read my article on why your income follows your personal growth here. 

Much love, babes!!

Black, White, Gold / Outfit

coat - vintage + DIY (instructions here) / sweater, jeans - thrifted / boots - UO + DIY (the post where I spray painted the tips golden has disappeared (!), but that’s really all I did ) / clutch - Vintage by Fe via Bloggers Wardrobe

It was a mild Sunday. I could wear my coat open and have my ankles exposed.

°N Style Magazine / Interview

     

Photographer : Duo Blau / Stylist: Malin Lindqvist
/ Makeup & hair: Hanna Birgersson / Retouch: Johanna Widblorn Hilli /
Model: Nike P (MIKAs Agency)


Photos  - ℅ Soffía
Theódóra Tryggvadóttir

Strong yet minimal styling, goal setting mindset and courageously stepping out of the box are just some of the characteristics that describe °N Style Magazine and it’s editor-in-chief Soffía Theódóra Tryggvadóttir, thus it seemed natural to share the magazine with you. Read my interview with Iceland native now living in NYC Soffía and keep pushing.

1. What motivated you to start Nordic Style
Magazine?

My drive to be independent and work with beautiful
and inspiring things motivated me to start the magazine. Every time I visit the
Scandinavia and Finland the fashion always amazes me and I have multiple times
wondered why fashion from this part of the world doesn't get more exposure. The
Nordic countries are known for its designs and have been for a long time. But
it is evident that fashion is on the rise in Scandinavia so I wanted to
participate in the growth and do my part in giving Nordic fashion and design
more exposure.

2. How do you set goals for yourself?

I have always been a big goal setter since I was
just very young. I set short term and long term goals for my personal life,
work and school, which I adjust according to where I'm headed. From the first
day when the idea for the magazine came about I made goals for the first year
of the magazine and then what we want to achieve in five years time, I hope
some of the goals will come true. Goal-setting is an important
tool to let you keep going and aim for something. If you don't know where you
are heading or trying to head, you just go through life aimlessly and most
likely achieve less than your potentials.

3. How do you overcome challenges?

I just keep on going. I don't think I have ever
quit something that I have started because it was difficult. I like challenges
and I like overcoming them, I just try not to let the challenges overwhelm me
and prefer not to think about how difficult things can be. It helps just to
have faith in yourself and that you are confident that you can achieve what you
are going for.

4. How do you perceive minimalism in fashion and
lifestyle?

For me minimalism is obviously not overdoing it in
how you express yourself or live your life, letting fashion pieces or design
pieces own its space. Make something wonderful from what you've got. Minimalism
in lifestyle is I think what the Danish like to say "at hygge sig",
just relax, enjoy the moment and don't worry to much. I actually find that
hard to do.

Check out °N Style Magazine website and read
the first issue right here!!

the invisible pants

blazer - ℅ Sugarlips / boyfriend jeans, silk tee - thrifted

Thanks to lovely Jackie from Sugarlips for this blazer that I fell in love with because of the contradicting combination of a casual material that jersey is and chic cut of a blazer. Best things sometimes are created when two unrelated concepts come together. Have a week full off pushing contradictions, babes!!

DESIGN your joy

sources are all pinned here

First off, I want to warn you. The more you’ll close your mind, the less you will like this post. So before you read this, decide if you’re going to be open and try to get something out of this for yourself or be all “judgy”. If you are the case NO2, don’t ruin your mood and day, and just skip to the next blog post in your reader. :)

When being in an industry such as fashion or really any creative industry, one can have very high highs and super low lows. One day, week, month you are a part of it all, in the middle of action, creation and adoration. Cloud 9, I’d say. Then a few days pass, and everything gets quiet. If you are in a creative position and always striving, you know how that feels. It can get pretty depressing. In a video with Coco Rocha, Zac Posen shares a very simple reality. He says, “Fashion is interesting. People love you one minute, they don’t like you the next minute.” So how do you go through these times where you are feeling that the world is spinning without you?

I am not religious (the word religion actually means “back to bondage”), but God IS my NO1 priority. So as I was reading the Bible and praying the other day, something came to my mind. “My joy comes from the Lord.” Obviously, I had read that before, but this time it really hit me. My God is never changing and always trustworthy. And if He’s my priority, and He is never changing, and if I put my joy in Him, then I better make sure my joy never changes as well. So no matter how high or low I’m feeling, I should always be joyful, because my never changing God is the source of my joy.

Now how can you apply this if you are not a believer? Look at your priorities! Is it family? Appreciate it! So maybe today the fruit of your hard work and creative passion are not showing. It’s ok! You know they will tomorrow, you will be on your high again, believe me. Everything always ends well, deep down you know it. However, today is the day you will find something in your life that is not changing, that really matters and gives you joy.



PS. Those of you that are still questioning the reason of this post on a so called “fashion blog”, please remember that I’ve always said that as cliche as it sounds, what is going on on the inside is what really affects the outside, and I care about your over all well being. Let’s DESIGN our clothes, styles, and LIVES! Heated comments are always welcome ;) I love you!

Faux Leather Vest - Harness / DIY

All I want to do lately is listen to Lykke Li (yeah, I might have a slight crush on her and probably not very good remixes) and create. Once you start, it’s easy to just keep going. You make a top and then you have scraps to make a tote. You make another tank and then you figure you can make a collar and a leather harness. Then a skirt/dress that is followed by a fanny pack. And then another different top… And this is what I made from the scarps that were left from making it - a faux leather vest / harness. Just eating cookies, drinking hot cinnamon tea with lemon, listening to some good music and creating. That is what I call a good night.

Much love to you, my babes!! If something is not clear on the making steps, please feel free to ask questions.

I Follow Rivers - Lykke Li (The Magician Remix)

black on black on a search

sweater - Whyred via Bloggers Wardrobe / coat - thrifted + DIY (instructions here) / clutch - Vintage by Fe via Bloggers Wardrobe / boots - Jeffrey Campbell

How interesting that one moment a person can be overflowing with inspiration and motivation and another moment one can feel so dried out. Where do you get your visual inspiration?

Also, if I disappear like this again, make sure to check my instagram (@karinadej), there might be more action going on there because I’m out and about searching for inspiration.

Simple Holiday Inspired Makeup / Beauty

If you’re like me, you’re not a big make-up guru and you like to keep it simple and natural looking. However, during holiday season there are all types of festivities going on, and let’s admit the truth - girls like to look a bit extra pretty during celebrations. It just adds a little something more to look forward to. Above you can see a makeup look for natural beauty obsessed minimalists in my interpretation. A very simple smokey eye in brown tones. Note I used brown mascara as well to keep it as monochrome as possible and a nude lip to create a really minimal look. But if you are going out at night and you want to be a bit bolder, you might want to add a dark lip as in the second picture. I chose purple (which, I think, I’m actually going to look for a darker version) because it’s not going to be as popular as the red lip, and I really like the contrast it creates with the brown eye shadow and mascara. Just carry 2 lipsticks in your purse and you can change your look in 2 seconds. I’m just all about efficiency, am I not?!

Here’s how I did the smokey eye:

1. Apply a nude eye shadow to your whole lid

2. Apply the darkest brown eye shadow you have close to your lashes and a bit under your eyes towards the corner of your eye

3. Use the second darkest brown shadow on your crease

4. Blend the eye shadow on your crease with a big brush

5. Use ivory eye shadow under your brows to highlight them

6. Apply brown mascara

I am a bit frustrated with youtube butchering the quality of the video. Have any of you also uploaded videos and the same thing happened? Do you have any suggestions?

Happy weekend, dolls!!

Thrift and Custom Your Oversized Coat / DIY

BEFORE                                                                                                         AFTER

BEFORE                                                                                               AFTER

You have probably noticed that long, oversized coats are the “it" thing this season. In my opinion, a good long coat is a timeless piece so some of you might already have one in your wardrobe. If not, however, do not think you have to run out and spend half of your paycheck on a great coat. A few months ago I bought this coat at a thrift store. Now, the problem I often have with thrift stores is sizing - a lot of garments are too big, but that is not something that is a problem in this situation. If you look at the first picture, you’ll notice that what emphasizes that the coat is too big are the too wide shoulders. The natural conclusion - fix the shoulders and the rest of the coat can stay huge, but it will still look like it fits you. This actually creates a great effect of an oversized coat.

What I did:

-turned my coat inside out

-made a little incision in the lining and removed the shoulder pads (they were under the lining for this particular coat. Your coat might have them visible or not have them at all)

-pinned where I needed to make the seam to take in the shoulder part and sleeves

-made a seem to make the shoulders and sleeves smaller

And the result is before your eyes!!

Much love, babes!

 

Design your LIFE / Different DIY

image source

Counting today, there are 38 days left in 2012. In the beginning of this year we set ourselves goals. At least a lot of us did. Now, I feel, is a good time to look back and evaluate what we have accomplished, what we still need to accomplish and start planning for the next year. Holiday season is a time when everyone just wants to enjoy, party and spend. And I’m not saying these things are bad, they can actually be very energizing (enjoying and partying, not so much spending) if executed correctly, but too much of that can cause us lose focus and and wake-up on January 1st with a lot of regret. Last night my husband and I were craving pizza. Well, actually, we were hungry, and we thought that pizza would be the best way to satisfy our hunger instantly. However, instead of ordering pizza, we decided to push ourselves and cook a healthy meal. Why? Because pizza would make us fat and broke. Same as pizza, jumping into the holiday spirit and forgetting everything might provide us with instant gratification, but it will not last. Let’s not be fat and broke this holiday season, but instead push ourselves to spend some quality time with our families and friends, and accomplishing our goals.

To look back at my year and set new goals I’ll be using a template posted by Hillary of Dean Street Society (she also had an article on IFB). Thanks so much for inspiration, Hillary!!

- learned to be thankful

- signed with 2 modeling agencies

- saved up enough money to not work most of the summer, but instead…

- … develop my modeling portfolio

- … double my blog’s traffic

- … contribute to my husband’s school payments

- … make an investment

- attended NYFW, IFB Conference, and FSTS seminar

- developed new contacts

- traveled to San Francisco, NYC (x3), Moscow, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, and enjoyed time with family in Atlanta and Cincinnati 

- gained more focus for my blog and redesigned it

- figure out how to put more focus on other people through what I do 

- help people achieve financial independence

- figure out how to help the elderly in Latvia

- move to NYC

- sign with a modeling agency in NYC

- make modeling and my blog my main income streams

- learn how to be an awesome, super supportive and more caring wife

- go back to Latvia to see my family

- develop a clothing line

Few things to remember the 38 days left in this year and next year:

“Nothing becomes dynamic until it’s specific,” Dani Johnson. Even though I have set these big goals, that is not enough. I have to set specific dates by which they will be achieved and figure out exactly how I am going to achieve them. That leads me to other thing Dani has said: ”Look at people that have what you want and do what they do.” I will be learning, learning, learning from successful people, and I will be investing in my skills.

If you need more encouragement and a clearer vision for how to push these 38 days, I highly recommend this audio.

So what did you get done this year? What will you do the next 38 days and next year?

If you decide to answer on your own blog, please, let me know!! I want know more about you :)

Be your best, babes!!!

PS. You might wonder, why I am posting all this on a fashion blog. Well, since the beginning of the blog, it was never intended to be just a fashion blog as one of the categories always have been “words". It’s not enough that we design our styles, looks and clothes. We have to design our lives. Also, I have disclosed some goals to you that are very personal so I really count on you being discreet and open to be honest with me as well. 

“A” line skirt / Outfit

jacket - ℅ Sugarlips / skirt - handmade / sewing machine - vintage Singer

“A” line skirts is something that has gotten a lot of my attention this season. They are not very flattering, especially if knee-length or longer, but for some reason that is exactly what I like. Yesterday my mom was nagging me about my bleached eye-brows (again), and something she said stuck with me. “Why are you trying to take away from your beauty?” was a question she asked and, to be honest, I didn’t have an answer. I never thought of it that way, but I guess I am somehow attracted to things that in our world might be perceived as unattractive and maybe even ugly.  Why is that? What do you think? Is there something you like that the majority of people might not agree with?

Shirt Dress / DIY

monochrome venice beach

top - DIY / pants - vintage

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, you probably already know that my husband and I have been in LA since yesterday morning. We're here not only to relax, but more so to learn. I will tell you more when we get home.

Be good, babes!!

long sleeve leather top / DIY

An angel from the sky  My American mom decided to give me my Christmas/birthday present yesterday. A sewing machine. I don’t think I have to tell you how super thankful and excited I am since everything I’ve made so far I had sewed by hand. So last night we spent making me a wrap skirt which turned out really good and you’ll see it in an outfit post soon. It was another awesome Sunday. And here is what I made today - a long sleeve version of my pleather tops.

I used:

-1 yd vinyl

-scissors

-thread

-sewing machine

Trace the shape of the top on vinyl. I used another top for a size reference. Cut it out and use to trace the other side. You will have something that looks similar to first picture - two the same looking pieces. Stitch the bottom of your pieces, bottom of sleeves and the collar part the way it is shown in the second picture. Put both right sides together, pin them and start sewing it all together seam by seam. And that’s it.

I made a mistake of not leaving enough space for the armpits thus the sleeves cannot be totally straightened out - make sure not to make the same mistake if you don’t like the scrunched sleeves.

I cannot wait to wear it with my oxblood colored pants for a super monochrome look.

Make it a beautiful and productive week, babes!!

SUMMER VS. WINTER / How to wear it.

jacket and dress - ℅ Sugarlips / pants - vintage / shoes - vintage

When trying not to clutter your closet with million things, but instead get the maximum use out of every garment you own, using the same clothing article in different seasons is definitely something one should consider. Simple layering plus a little bit of out of the box thinking results in success. So this is what I did here - styled this beautiful white dress the way I’d wear it in summer and how I am wearing it right now. Now I know, I can wear it all year round. And yes, I am seriously crashing on oversized pants and pointy pumps this season - timeless classics.

Have a great weekend, my loves!!