Solving Fashion's Little Problems

It's Not Solving World Hunger, But It's Still a Problem Worth Solving

Ever have a stuck zipper?  No, it's not the name of a new cocktail.  Wondering how to remove deodorant stains from your favorite shirt?  Even worse, perplexed about how to get rid of dreaded sweat stains?

One of my favorite blogs, WhoWhatWear, recently posted the article "26 Fashion Hacks Every Woman Should Know."  Read it here.

They share the genius tricks your mom didn't teach you.  And, yes, they solve these and more, little fashion problems.

Very helpful, indeed.




Happy Friday!

Positively yours,

Paula Chamblin Aulino

Interior Designer, Associate ASID


#WhoWhatWear
#FashionGirlProblems
#PositivelyChic

5 Things That Make My Life More Fashionable

1 Statement Jewelry, 2 Prada Platform Heels, 3 Dolce and Gabanna Passion Duo Fusion Lipstick, 

4 Redken Steam Fusion Flatiron, 5 MiH Marrakesh Jeans

#fashionessentials

#postivelychic

#prada

#MiHjeans

#D&Glipstick

#redkenhairproducts

Red Carpet Ready

Are You Ready for Your Red Carpet Moment?

Positively Chic and BFFs at the 2013 Emmy Awards

With the 86th Academy Awards coming up this Sunday,  I started thinking about life's "red carpet" moments. You don't have to be a Hollywood celebrity to grace a red carpet.  I'm living proof of that!

I so enjoy getting dressed up!  Don't have a black tie event on the calendar? Create your own.  Make life a celebration.



Host Your Own Oscars Viewing Party
Not making the trek out to La-La Land for the awards show?  Host your own soiree.  Gather up the girlfriends, roll out the red carpet and rock it in style.  Check out my "The Oscars" board on Pinterest for some creative ideas to host your own Hollywood-chic Oscars viewing party.

And the Oscar Goes to….

Tune in Sunday to find out!

Positively yours,

Paula Chamblin Aulino

Interior Designer, Associate ASID

All Hail Chanel

Coco Chanel

The Chanel 2.55 Bag: An Icon

In February 1955, Coco Chanel first introduced her 2.55 bag.  At the time it was revolutionary as it was the first bag designed to allow the carrier to free up her hands using a shoulder strap.  Yes, ladies, a purse helped take us toward even more multi-tasking, as well as independence.

A timeless classic, the 2.55 bag's original style has remained largely unchanged in its nearly 60 year existence. The creative genius who has been leading the house that Coco built since 1983, the one-and-only Karl Lagerfeld, has created many seasonal interpretations of the classic.

Regardless, the bones of the 2.55 -- and the fine art and craftsmanship that go into its creation -- have never varied.  Rather, we may see the 2.55 dressed in leather, exotic skins and fabrics in a broad color spectrum, layered in sequins, with different hardware or wearing heavy leather bound chains to reflect the mood of the fashion season at hand, but always with the same classic style and shape.

Mojie Baharlou, Chanel Specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue Columbus, is my go-to source for all things style related…my own style mentor, as well as dear friend.

Me with Mojie Baharlou, my style mentor

Mojie recommends that you start your Chanel collection with the 2.55 as it is a "generation" bag -- a bag you can pass down generation after generation.  Most importantly, it is timeless and always insures that you stay fashionable.  I agree!

A 2.55 bag (or two, or three…Why should a girl limit herself?) is a must for a positively chic wardrobe.

A Few of My Favorite Things

How an Icon is Made

The positively chic people at StyleRepublic were lucky enough to have a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing process of the Chanel classic flap bag.  We are lucky enough to share the fascinating pictures to show us exactly how the magic happens.  Follow this link to read their report in full.  It's ahhh-mazing (and labor intensive)!

I don't know about you, but I was thinking fabulously chic "CC" laden glittery fairies worked hard under the direction of one suave Karl Lagerfeld to bring us these must-have bags.  I'm not so sure about the magical fairy part, but I do know the people who create these bags are skilled craftsmen and women with intense attention to detail.

Here are pictures from StyleRepublic's report
(Photos courtesy of Chanel, via StyleRepublic).  Enjoy!

Get Real
Our friends at Portero Pre-Owned Luxury recently posted a YouTube video describing how to tell a real from a fake Chanel bag.  Check out the link here to learn the basics.

Remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is, my friends.

Positively yours,

Paula Chamblin Aulino
Interior Designer, Associate ASID

#2.55bag #cocochanel #fashion #fashionicon

Getting My Mardi Gras On…the Door!

Yes, I'm a bit crafty.  With Mardi Gras just around the corner, I thought it was time to take down the Valentine heart wreath and trade it for a festive Mardi Gras-inspired door confection.

Supplies needed for your own Mardi Gras wreath:

One 18" Wire Wreath Form
Package of (at least) 50 Pipe Cleaners (if you don't use them all for this, you'll use them elsewhere)
Two rolls of Decorative Mesh -- purple and green
One roll of Wired Ribbon -- gold
Various Mardi Gras beads
Mardi Gras Masks
And anything else you'd like to use to put your personal stamp on it!


A couple of great (and by "great," I mean quick and inexpensive -- but always chic) sources for wreath supplies:

1.  Joann Fabrics -- Sign up for their app and instantly receive coupons.  Cha-ching!
2.  Mardi Gras Outlet (online store) -- Their selection of beads, masks, and all things Mardi Gras will make you want to pour a Hurricane and eat a slice of King's Cake.

Wreath Making Steps:

1.  Cut approximately 25 pipe cleaners in half.
2.  Cut the deco mesh into a 16" length.
3.  Fold the 16" length of deco mesh to form an 8" loop.
4.  Fasten the base of the loop with a pipe cleaner.
5.  Continue creating loops with the two rolls of deco mesh.
6.  Starting on the inside edge of the wire wreath form, attach the deco mesh loops with the pipe cleaners.
7.  Continue working around the interior edge of the wire wreath form, attaching loops and fluffing each one out as you go, around the perimeter of the wreath.
8.  Once the interior perimeter of the wreath is covered, progress to the exterior edge.
9.  Once the entire wreath is covered with deco mesh loops, fill in any bare spots.
10. Attach decorative extras such as Mardi Gras masks, beads, additional ribbon using the pipe cleaners.

Approx. time to complete:  30 minutes

8" deco mesh loop

Mardi Gras Colors

Purple stands for justice.

Green represents faith.

Gold symbolizes power.

Now what are you waiting for?  

Get festive and make your own Mardi Gras wreath!

Tonight's the Night

Congratulations, Jimmy Fallon!

Source:  Associated Press

Tonight marks the beginning of Jimmy Fallon's reign over late night television.  As I write this, I am thinking to myself…"Wait a minute.  How is this different from last week?  He already ruled late night in my book!"

Of course, he is assuming the coveted lead role in NBC's crown jewel, "Tonight," and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.  He's following an impressive list of hosts with, most recently, Jay Leno, then -- my personal favorite until now -- Johnny Carson, and the original host, the witty Steve Allen.

I had the chance to talk to Jimmy behind the scenes at the 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards.  He is as genuinely charming and down-to-earth "for real" as he is on tv.  He and his wife had just had their baby and she was the main thing on his mind that night.  Cue:  Sigh.

I'd wish him luck, but he doesn't need it.  He has talent.  

Enjoy it, Jimmy!

Me, Jimmy, Mojie, Arya, and Vida at the 2013 Emmy's

Positively yours,

Paula Chamblin Aulino
Interior Designer, Associate ASID


#jimmyfallontonight
#emmyawards

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chic Valentine's Gift:  No Shopping Required.

Yes, you read that correctly.

NO shopping required.  Sometimes it's the simple things that mean the most in this busy world.

On this Valentine's Day, take the time to tell the people who are special to you 

just how much they mean.

Or how about WRITING them an actual note…putting pen to paper…to express your thoughts.

I adore getting a handwritten note.

Call me old-fashioned.  I'm comfortable with it.

Chic Chocolate Martini

This libation is a decadent piece of chocolate in a glass.  

4 oz. Godiva chocolaté liqueur

2 oz. vanilla vodka

Splash of Half and Half

Chocolate syrup

Chocolate candy stick for garnish, if desired

Swirl chocolate sauce in a martini glass.  Set glass aside.  Mix liqueur and vodka.  Add a splash of half and half and shake over ice.  Pour mixture into the martini glass.  Garnish with a chocolate candy stick, if desired.

Rossini Cocktail

Strawberries and prosecco.  As the Barefoot Contessa would say, "How easy is that?"  Postively Chic says, "Cheers!"

1 pint (2 cups) ripe strawberries, hulled

2 1/2 Tbsp sugar syrup

1 tsp Grand Marnier

1 (750 ml) bottle prosecco, chilled

6 slices orange zest

Place berries in a food processor and puree until completely smooth.  Pour strawberry liquid into a fine meshed sieve.  Discard seeds.

Add sugar syrup and Grand Marnier to puree, and refrigerate.

When ready to serve, rub the rim of each glass with orange zest.  Pour cold prosecco into a champagne glass until 3/4 full.  Carefully add 2 Tbsp puree into each glass and serve VERY cold.

"To make sugar syrup, boil 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water until sugar dissolves completely, and chill.  The syrup will last a few weeks in the refrigerator."

Ina Garten

Recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof

Not All Pink

While j'adore PINK, not all Valentine decor has to be rose-hued.

Cheers!  

XXO

Positively yours,

Paula Chamblin Aulino

Interior Designer, Associate ASID