The "Whimsy" Giveaway!

Hooray! A giveaway! 

ConstantlyAlice will be giving away a prize package that includes the Sweetheart Beret from my recent blog tutorial and 50% off any one item in the ConstantlyAlice Shop! 

Entering is simple..simply be a subscriber of the ConstantlyAlice Newsletter "Whimsy".

When you subscribe, you will be eligible for exclusive reader discounts and special features (so really, it's a win/win ;) You can subscribe here on the ConstantlyAlice blog , or on Facebook.

Contest is open to all entries and will run until 12/15! Good Luck ♥

Hugs and Smooches,
D

A Sorta Fairytale..

A while back, I wrote a post about some changes to the blog, the shop and my life in general.  I felt like I had lost a little of my direction and needed some time to find my way.

After some brainstorming, I've come up with a few ideas:

• The stunning model in the photo above is my lovely daughter, Shannon.  You will be seeing some more of her and her best friend, Jules, as I transition the clothing photos in the shop over to live models.
• The appearance of the shop and blog will be taking on a bit of a vintage/fairytale/literary quality.  You will see a more consistent theme and a lot of the new handmade jewelry and accessories coming into the shop will be inspired by my love of literature.  (Plus there will still be plenty of vintage!)
• I am moving towards making ConstantlyAlice a more permanent source of income.  This means you will see more merchandise coming to the shop on a regular basis.  You may also see me branch out to ebay in addition to my etsy store to give you more purchase options.  Finally, you will certainly begin to see more activity here on the blog!

I have some other treats in store for you..like a holiday season launch beginning at the end of september/beginning of october and maybe even a look book to show you some styling options :)

It's good to be back, and I'm so glad to be sharing with all of you again!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Signature Style Project - The Closet Clean Out

Now that we've covered the portion of the Signature style project that addresses discovering your signature style, I'd like to move on to how to implement it.  (If you missed the previous posts you can find them here, here, here, here and here).

First let's discuss your closet...ready?

Credit

How many of you have clothing in your closet that you never wear?  (No need for a show of hands..I have a pretty good idea ;)  We all have that shirt we love, but can't seem to find anything to go with it, or those "skinny" or "fat" clothes we keep, just in case.  Today, I'd like to talk about cleaning house.  Those garments are weighing you down!  You don't need them!

Begin by grabbing a notebook, a pen and a box of large trash bags.  Grab 3 pieces of paper and some safety pins.  Write one word on each sheet.  "Donate", "Trash", and "Storage".  Pin each sheet to a trash bag.

Now empty out your closet, your drawers, anywhere you keep clothing, shoes and accessories!  Put your hands on each item, and be sure to ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it fit my signature style requirements (is it the right color, texture, shape?  Does it evoke the feeling you are looking for with your signature style?)
• Is it in good shape, or can it be repaired? (if it can be repaired, but you know you won't do it, put it in the donate pile!)
• Does it fit me properly?
• Is it an item I won't wear anymore, but would like to store for future generations?

Be VERY honest with yourself.  It doesn't matter how much those jeans cost, if they don't fit you, they aren't worth it!

Sort your items this way:

• "Trash" Bag - Anything beyond repair
• "Donate" Bag - Anything that is in good shape or can be repaired, but doesn't fit (you or your signature styel!)  You can also do some research on local consignment shops if you prefer to sell your items and make a little extra cash to buy new items that fit your style.
• "Storage" Bag - Anything you would like to keep for future generations.  Be sure to NOT actually store the items in this trash bag.  If you want to keep them nice, invest in a vaccum sealed storage bag to keep them clean and mildew free!

Now take that notebook and pen that I mentioned earlier and jot down notes on what you have left.  Do you need to fill in key pieces?  Are you without a pencil skirt?  Do you need more tops?  Now is the time to make a note of it so you have a reference next time you're out shopping!

Also, be sure to put the items you are keeping back neatly (I like to organize mine by dresses, skirts, jackets, tops in my closet to make them easier to find.)  It will make it SO much easier to put an outfit together!

Hope this was helpful!  Next up...Accessorizing your signature style!

Hugs and Smooches,
D