There’s a reason we continually pack up our favorite seasonal items to take into the next year – we love them. But, truth be told, even our favorite pieces can lose their appeal after a while. Instead of trashing them and splurging on a new wooly number (although this may be a tempting option), give your cozy sweaters and perfectly worn-in jackets (not to mention your long-sleeve tees) new life with elbow patches.

The best part about this little update? You can use practically anything for your patches, from leather and suede to fun cotton prints and corduroy – or, like me, you can buy a cheap pair of socks with a print you like. If you’re looking to also up the sweet factor, cut your patches into shapes like hearts or stars instead of ovals. Okay – enough with the options, here’s how you do it:

Materials:

Any top of your choice. Be wary about it pairing well with your patch material. For instance, thick leather patches wouldn’t be comfortable on a thin cotton shirt.

A 6″ x 5″ piece of material for patches

Thread that matches the color of your patch material (or contrasting thread for an edgy look)

Sewing needle

Straight pins

Flour

Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut your patch material to size. The 6″ x 5″ piece makes two approximately 4″ patches – for bigger patches start with a 9″ x 8″ piece.
2. Fold in half, and then in half again and use the scissors to cut and round the edges. Open fabric up and cut down the middle to separate the two pieces, and clean up the edges of each individually.
3. Put on your top and mark where elbow bends with flour. Simply dip your finger into flour and mark the spot – chalk will also work.
4. Remove your top and secure each patch with straight pins over the marked elbow spots. Be sure to position the patch with the marked spot in the middle. Note that the straight needles should only poke through one layer of the sleeve – you don’t want to sew them closed.
5. Measure a full arm’s length of thread and string through the needle, securing the two ends together. Put your free hand up the sleeve (to ensure you don’t attach the sleeves together) and start sewing. (Don’t know how to sew? Start here.) I recommend a top-sewing stitch, but a simple straight stitch would also work.
6. Once sewn all around, tie off the thread and snip any loose ends. Repeat on other sleeve.

That’s it! The whole process takes no more than an hour and the result is a practically brand new piece of clothing. I went with a festive ski-lodge look – and plan to wear it with leggings and cozy boots all winter long.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

Have a great DIY idea? Share it in the comments below, or tweet us @ruelala.

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Gourds. They’re petite, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are pretty prevalent during the autumn months. While pumpkin picking this year, I noticed a bountiful table covered with these not-so-much-loved vegetables and scooped up an armful to create my next craft: gourd candle holders. Instant fall chic.

Materials:

Pumpkin carving knife
Spoon
Tea light, votive, or candlestick

Directions:

1. Cut a circle around the stem of the gourd. Try to match the diameter of the candle you will be using.

2. Scoop out some seeds and wedge the candle in.

3. Light the wick and set out for the perfect harvest ambiance.

If you plan to use these later on, take out the candle and store them in the fridge. They’re perfect for dinner-party table décor.

By Emily Gibbons of www.LuckyLittleLove.com, Staff Writer

Have any creative candle holder ideas?  Share them in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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As predicted by Peter Som, Rodarte, and YSL (and many others) on the Fall 2012 runways, this dark chocolate-dipped cherry hue has won its way into our hearts and wardrobes. While it works well in full skirt suit form, as sported recently by a certain British Princess, I prefer to let this mystery-meets-chic shade add subtle accents to fall outfits.

Chianti, burgundy, or black cherry – oxblood by any other name still adds a little brass to jewel tones, leather jackets, and jeans.

Cherry On Top
Replace summer’s straw fedora with this cherry-brick wool one. Pair it with a vintage dress and ankle boots, and express a little 1920s flair.

Reveal Your Dark Side
Flattering on every skin tone, oxblood lipstick is a darker and richer alternative to the classic red lip color. One coat with a touch of mascara and you’re out the door.

Dress It Down
There’s nothing cozier in a chilly office than a puffer vest. Pair an oxblood vest or scarf with an oversized sweater and jeans for an on-trend and casual ensemble.

The Saturated Skinny
Shelve mint skinnies until next season in exchange for these saturated blue-red jeans. Make it a biker-chic morning in a leather jacket or do post-work drinks with the simple addition of heels.

Beet Red
Give your nail technician the week off from Pinterest-inspired patterns and opt for something simple, striking, and in season.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

What other ways do you wear oxblood? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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Photo credits: bugaboo, mini, mr & me, Under the Table and Dreaming, and  Happy Mundane

I’d never dream of advising you to forgo the season’s requisite candy corns and pumpkin micro-brews, but I, for one, plan to add a few new recipes and unexpected decor upgrades to my fall favorites list this year.

Rather than embark on an overambitious carving endeavor (last year, I tried to carve an octopus swallowing a tall ship), I’m opting to put my fashion knowledge into play and accessorize this, well, red-headed cousin of squash, with some of the season’s “it” trends.

Decoupage
Big in decorative home accents, this technique is the art of applying paper cutouts and then coating with several layers of finish. Use tissue paper, newspaper, magazine cutouts, and liberal amounts of Modge Podge to create your own en vogue pumpkin, as seen in Country Living.

Studding
This hot trend isn’t just for shoes and handbags. Paint your pumpkin a solid white or black base then embellish it with silver thumb tacks to give it some of that “grit and glamour” look.

Colorblocking
How seriously rad do these colorblocked neon, grey, and white pumpkins look? I’ve never wanted to accessorize a fruit with a pair of heels… until now (and yes, pumpkin is a fruit!).

First decoupage pumpkin didn’t turn out well? Before you do anything hasty, remember there are lots of super-tasty recipes for both the seeds and the pumpkin itself. Obvious go-to’s would be pumpkin pie and baked seeds for snacking, but these pumpkin dumpling and pumpkin seed smoothie recipes are healthy and unexpected takes that I can’t wait to try out.

By Grace Romanowsky, Staff Writer

Do you have a unique way to decorate fall’s favorite fruit? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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A Stylish Necessity
For those of us not fortunate enough to live in a climate that’s 75 degrees year-round, versatile outerwear is more than necessary – it’s a means of survival. Even in the dead of summer, one can be caught in a flash downpour at any time of day, and as a conscious dresser, I could never bring myself to rock a plastic poncho from the nearest Duane Reade. What other choice do I have but to indulge in a variety of lightweight trench coats in shades from stone to camel to midnight navy? I actually don’t even look at it as an indulgence since the trench coat is truly seasonless and has proven to be one of the most timeless options for outerwear.
Continue reading “ELLE Editor’s Picks: Trench Dressing for the New Season” »

BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER

We may be staring down the barrel of summer (someday? maybe? hopefully?) but it was all about fall at Fashion Group International’s (FGI) recent trend seminar. Held in an auditorium at the Time-Life Building in midtown Manhattan, FGI convened a panel of experts to give audience members the low down on next season’s must-haves.

Following a lengthy slideshow (narrated by FGI’s Marylou Luther) that offered an overview of all the trends seen on the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris — from the ridiculous (chinstrap hats) to the sublime (python accessories) — the illustrious panel took to the stage. The question of great debate: “If fashion follows revolution, is fashion in revolt?” This query was based in part by what’s going on in the world at large (war in the Middle East, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes) and by what’s going on within the fashion industry (designers John Galliano and Christophe Decarnin no longer heading the houses of Dior and Balmain, rehabbed models Kate and Naomi reclaiming the spotlight at Louis Vuitton).
Continue reading “Fashion Group International Talks Fall Trends” »

ELLE EDITOR WINIFRED WANG TALKS FALL FOOTWEAR

The boot. It very well could be the most important piece of your fall fashion arsenal. And with such a wide variety to choose from this season, we had ELLE Editor Winifred Wang hand-pick her favorite styles for our ELLE Editor’s Selections: Fall Boots Boutique (opens September 16 at 11AM ET). Here, she dishes on ways to rock every type of boot this season – and kick your look up a notch.

Rue La La: This season, with boots of every height, from ankle booties to over-the-knee, how do you decide which height to wear with each look?
Winifred: It’s all about playing with proportions. If you’re wearing over-the-knee, I wouldn’t go too short on the skirt or dress for risk of looking a bit tart-y. But, you can go a bit shorter with knee-high boots.
Continue reading “ELLE Editor’s Selections: The Boot Report” »

BY CHITOWN FASHIONISTA BLOGGER NIKIA JEFFERSON

Chicago street style is a mixture of various regions, but there is always one central focus: function. Fashion-forward Chicagoans are known for using current trends to create effortless style. In a lakefront city filled with festivals and markets, mobility and comfort are ideal. Since we tend to stick to simple shapes and silhouettes, colors and patterns are key components to one’s individuality.

Here are a few trends that are currently garnering attention on the streets of Chicago:

Screen Ts
These are the ideal combination of comfort and personality. Bright colors, cool graphics, and bold personal statements are the prominent characteristics of the Ts being worn by men and women across the city. Men are coordinating the Ts with classic denim, fresh “kicks” (those are shoes, by the way), and vintage sunglasses. Women, on the other hand, choose to play up their femininity by rocking their Ts with skinny jeans or full skirts. With several local designers launching T-shirt lines in the recent months, this trend may be around for awhile.
Continue reading “Blogger Bliss: Chic in Chicago” »