Happy Halloween!

As some of you guys might know, I'm going through some SERIOUS life changes right now!  My husband and I just bought a house, so we've been trying to move in (yay, but seriously, so stressful!) and if you follow me on instagram (@a_fashion_files), then you've already seen photos of my new little pug, Yurii.  (Don't worry, he'll get a feature on my blog soon!)  On top of that, I also just got a new car (the same weekend we were moving!) and found out that Kawaii Kitsch got accepted into the Unique LA show at the beginning of December (so, so excited!!! but I need to make more inventory!)  These are all such positive changes but I'm so overwhelmed...to the point where I didn't even celebrate MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY EVER (I know, I know, but I will always consider Halloween a holiday!).

I am going to try to dress up Yurii tonight and post some instagram photos though, so stay tuned for that! :)

So, I apologize for late responses, etc.  I hope you understand...life is a bit crazy right now..but definitely in a good way...and I will be back on track ASAP.  In the meantime, I hope you guys enjoy some photos from some past Halloweens! :)

Any guesses at all as to what I was this year?

I should probably just tell you guys- my husband is so not into Halloween- every year I have to beg him to give me costume ideas.  One year he came to me and said he wanted to be a bottle of mustard.  I about squirted ketchup on him ;)

One year, my husband was sooo excited about his outfit.  He wanted to be a UPS man (he is funny, I know).  You can't tell from this photo, but I painted the UPS logo on his costume and even his socks.  He was so excited about it that he put on his socks before they were dry and stretched out the logo....they had to be redone.  

This has to be my favorite Halloween costume EVER because I bought it in Harajuku when my sister and I were in Tokyo.  I was so obsessed with the fashion there and had to bring home a lolita costume.

This is another favorite, because after I had the "sweet lolita" costume, I decided I wanted to try a "goth lolita" look and had this dress custom made from a lolita shop in Japan.

Lastly, I have to share my husband's pumpkin from last year- Hello Kitty nonetheless.  

I hope you all have a great Halloween!  What are your plans?

And please DON'T FORGET to enter my 1500 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY before it's too late!

Fall Flare

Flared jeans are back in this season and I have to be quite honest in saying that I'm not sure how I feel about them.  I think I'm more of a skinny jeans person but I decided to wear a pair with a slight flare the other day and I think they ended up being OK :)  I think I'm still into skinnies.  What about you guys?  Are you back into flared jeans this season?

Top: Dandelion Dance Blouse c/o August Wrinkle

Jeans: Hudson (Similar here & here)

Jewelry: Chain Bracelets (Similar here & here); Gold Diamond Ring- my grandmother's;
Earrings- Shiny & New Earrings c/o August Wrinkle

Belt: Gap (Similar)

Bag: Louis Vuitton Bloomsbury PM

Shoes: 7 for all Mankind (Similar)

Get the look here:

And please don't forget to enter my $50 Chicnova giveaway!! :)

Also, Madewell, one of the BEST STORES EVER, is having 25% off their sale stuff too.  I'm seriously in trouble.  Use the code YIPPEE to save.

THANK YOU x1500 & a Giveaway!

Seriously, when I first started blogging, I never thought in 1000000000 years that I would get to 1500 followers in the first year, let alone the first 7 months.  I can't say thank you enough, but as a small token of appreciation, I've teamed up with Chicnova to give one lucky reader a $50 giftcard.  Please make sure that you follow all of the rules for this giveaway!!  The last time I hosted a giveaway, we had to re-draw the winner because the requirements weren't met, so please if you want to enter, don't just click "enter"---please make sure you do the required tasks :)  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY: Stiletto Legs Necklace

When I first came across a photo of the Yazbukey Stilettos necklace on one of my favorite blogs, it was love at first site.  I then began seeing this NYC fashion week photo everywhere and I knew that I needed this necklace, but it was sold out.  As you guys know, when I want/need something that I can't obtain, I sit at my craft table and get to work, and the stiletto necklace soon became my obsession.  I actually think it turned out quite nicely!  Ready to begin?

Things you will need for this DIY: heavy chipboard or some heavy cardstock to serve as the "legs" of your necklace.  Don't get it too thick that you can't cut through it.  Also, you'll need something to use as your stencil- I used foamboard for this.  For tools, you'll need an exacto knife, a pencil & a marker.  You'll also need various colors of craft paint for painting the legs.  And lastly, for assembling the necklace, you'll need thin velvet cording, ribbon, small jewelry rings & glue (I used E6000).

1. Make your stencil.  Using a pen, I drew out a stencil on the leg on the foamcore.  You'll then need to cut this out so you can use it to trace the shape onto the chipboard. 

2. Trace the shape onto the chipboard several times and cut the shapes out using the exacto knife.

3. Paint the legs using a color of your choice.  I painted them a vanilla color because I wanted them to look as much like the necklace as possible.

4. Using colored craft paint, begin to paint the shapes of the stilettos.

Continue this process until all of the shoes are finished.  

5. Paint the sides black.  Eventually you'll want to paint the back black also, but you can wait on this because we are still going to make the backs a bit messy.

6. Cut 5 small ribbons, about 1.5 inches in size.  These will be used for the loops in back to hold the necklace together.

7. Using glue, make small loops with the ribbons.

8. Glue the loop toward the top of the leg.

Repeat this process, making sure that all of the loops are glued in the same area.

9. Grab your velvet thread, and string through the loop.

10.  Make another loop, around an inch wide, and glue together at the base of the leg.

Repeat this step for all of the legs.

11. Using the jewelry ring, attach the loops together.

Continue to do this until all of the legs are attached.

12. Lastly, on the sides, attach a longer ribbon through the jewelry loops so that you can tie the necklace together.

13. Wear & enjoy!

So, what do you guys think?  Will you be trying it?

Hope you're having a great week!

Feathered Fantasy

I had been wanting a feather/fuzzy skirt for awhile so when I found this in Dubai, I knew it was the perfect one for me.  Being the perfect light shade of pink and roomy enough to allow for sweaters and such to be tucked in, I was smitten.  Once I added a sweater with hearts on it, I was in love and it was the perfect look to wear to dinner the other night (ok, so I may not have been able to eat more than soup, but at least I felt fancy).

Sweater: Loverly Cardigan c/o August Wrinkle

Lace Shirt: BB Dakota (Similar here and here)

Skirt: Topshop (Similar here)

Jewelry: Knot Bracelet- (Similar), Beaded bracelets- (Similar); Earrings- F21 (Similar)

Bag: Chanel Pink Patent Chevron WOC

Shoes: Lanvin (Similar)

I hope you're having a great week!  Thank you so much for reading! :)

Get the look here:

PS- Keeping up with the sale links, Anthropologie is having an extra 25% of their sale section!  Yes, I may have ordered way too many things yesterday.

Fantastical Fall

We've had a nice fall breeze in the air all weekend and it's finally beginning to feel like fall.  Now, if only my throat would completely heal so I could continue taking advantage of the pumpkin spice lattes, my life would be complete.

Top: Sitting Lakeside Blouse c/o August Wrinkle

Pants: Gap (ON SERIOUS SALE!!!)

Belt: ASOS

Jewelry: Earrings- Shiny & New Earrings c/o August Wrinkle; Ring- F21 (Similar); 

Stone Bracelets- (Similar)

Bag: Vintage (Gorgeous vintage ones here & here)

Shoes: Calvin Klein (Similar)

Get the look here:

Don't forget that TODAY is the last day to save 20% at Saks F&F sale!  Enter AFF12 to save!

Also, it's Kate Spades' F&F sale!  Enjoy 30% through the end of the day with the code F12FFUS!