Creating Fits: A few requests

By LL in KC

After a brief sabbatical due to work, I finally had a little down time to start working on a few new necklaces. Yes, I have done a few here or there when the need arose. If you follow The Right Fits on Facebook, you might remember this necklace from a few weeks back:

{Inspired by Stella & Dot Bahari necklace}

However, even though I've made a few necklaces, and attempted to make a few more, I haven't been doing it as much as I should - especially since I have been picking up beads left and right. Anyway, after posting the above necklace on Facebook, I had a few requests for something similar. With the purpose of creating something for someone else, I finally found the time over the last two days to sit down and make a few new necklaces. 

{White waterfall necklace paired with a kelly green silk button-down top from Nordstrom Rack}

{Mint swirl necklace paired with a mint top long sleeve top from Target}

{Mint and gold necklace - inspired by the Bahari necklace - paired with a salmon Cynthia Rowley lace top}

I'm glad that my close friend shares my love of the color mint. Making the two mint necklaces for her just gave me an excuse to go shopping for more mint! Now if only I could get by with wearing them myself first!! 

Have a great weekend! Hope the weather improves for those of you who just got more snow!

Fits for Men: Investing in Custom

By: LL
It is amazing how quickly women's fashion changes. The leggings that you bought in September are outdated by Thanksgiving. Or how about that pair of wide leg trousers or the oxford wedges? How long will those last?

Men's fashion is different. I admit, they do have their fashion trends, mainly related to the cut of suits, length of ties, and length of shorts (which also seem to be age-related, not just trends). Either way, comparing apples to apples, style for women shifts faster and more frequently than that of men, which is one reason why women shop so much more often than men - because we HAVE to (seriously!)

I like fashion, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to wear your favorite boots from last fall or wear that tunic that fits so amazing just one more time without feeling outdated. If that were possible, if fashion were more stagnant at times, I think that more women would invest in custom pieces, as many men invest in custom suits or shoes. It would "fit the bill" better to spend a bit more on a solid piece that you would be able to wear for more than one year. Men have it lucky in this sense. Normally they can get 2 or 3 seasons out of a pair of shoes or a lifetime (weight dependent) out of a polo shirt.

Case in point - Last fall, my husband purchased a pair of custom boots from Quoddy. He had been looking for awhile to find a stylish, durable, and comfortable pair. Finally, he stumbled upon Quoddy when he was looking for replacement boaters. Instead, he ended up purchasing their chukkas. A great thing about Quoddy, and many other men's shoe companies (Johnston & Murphy, Hewlett & Dunn , etc.), you can get shoes (at not too crazy a price) that are custom made to fit your foot - including your arch type, width, and foot length. At some stores, you can even choose the leather color, texture, and sole type. It might seem expensive, but once you run the numbers, purchasing such a pair of shoes - and getting exactly what you want and being able to wear them for multiple seasons - it is actually much cheaper than the amount women spend on multiple shoes, year after year. And funny enough, my husband's shoes are still stylish, even getting a feature in the most recent J. Crew catalogue...more than a year and half after my husband first got his.

Seriously, men might be onto something with this custom thing - but then again...

Creating Fits: Handcrafted Necklaces

By: LL
A few years ago, I picked up the hobby (ahem, addiction) of making my own necklaces. Much to the dismay of my husband, I can spend hours in a craft/bead store, trying out multiple different color, texture, and shape combinations until I find the exact statement that I was imagining for one necklace. In all reality, once you add in the cost of the supplies and the labor, it would be more economical just to purchase a similar necklace from a store, such as Stella & Dot (where I get a lot of my inspiration anyway). But there is something special about having a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece; which is partially the reason why I am known to give my craftsmanship as gifts to friends and family from time to time.

Due to my recent wedding and a hectic work schedule, I took a sabbatical from my hobby. But then, I received an invitation to a Stella & Dot Truck Show, hosted by a friend in Chicago. I was bummed that I couldn't attend (there were so many fitting pieces that I was already imagining with my wardrobe), but this reignited my passion for creating necklaces. After a day visiting my local favorites (Ami's Creations and Nancy's Bead Boutique) along with the bulk craft stores (Michael's and Joann Fabric), I was ready to work on creating new fits through accessories.

The following are a few of my fall favorites:

Turquoise and Coral Multi-Strand 

Autumnal Yellow with Bronze Twist

Golden Triple Strand

Naranja

Golden Os and Amber

I always enjoy creating an outfit around a statement accessory (whether a necklace, clutch, shoes), and I have already started brainstorming looks with all these pieces. It is amazing how one new piece can help you reinvent your closet. 

On a side note, if you are interested in making custom pieces of your own, stop back later for a tutorial in our "How to Make a Fit" section. If you are interested in one of the pieces above, or something similar, leave a comment and let me know. Like I said, I enjoy making necklaces (or bracelets, if that is your thing) for others!