Creating Your Signature Style With Accessories

Accessories, accessories, accessories.....I love accessories!  There are so many ways to create your signature style using accessories with the items in your current closet.

As a (re)fashion expert it is always my goal to listen to the individual and her image desires when it comes to the signature style she is wanting to use to express herself. I have found that accessories are the best way to showcase her personality within any outfit.  This is a cost-effective way to create a unique look or try a new trend.  She can dress up/down an outfit using a fabulous bag, a chic scarf, a bold necklace or statement shoes. My head is always twirling to find ways to help a client use accessories to personalize   her look.

One way to begin this journey of discovery, is to scour fashion magazines

for photos of accessories you love. Make a collage of images that speak to you as an individual to help organize our thoughts and identify your signature style. It will also reinforce what accessories you like before you shop.

On a personal note...I do this exercise for
myself with one thought in mind.  "What do I already have in my closet that could be used in a similar way as the picture in the magazine to create a new outfit?"  This is (re)fashion in action!  Plus, I am not adding more clutter to my closet!   

One Dress....Five Sharp Outfits...So Fun!!!!

One of my Image clients came for a visit this morning seeking help. We had some great girlfriend time together.  I just love helping a woman style up using their existing closet.  Angie is traveling next week and wanted some tips on how to pack without taking her whole closet.  The key to packing light and tight is to pick one or two basic colors and one pop color to use throughout the whole trip.   Mix and matching skirts, slacks, tops, and jackets.  

Angie had a very "On Trend" dress within her basket which needed my attention. So many outfits were created with just this one dress alone...5 are pictured.  More could have been created, but we needed to move on as there were other outfits needing my developing attention.  I am sure Angie will not wear this dress every day on her trip....but she could wear it to work every week for the next 5 weeks and it will have a different fashion flair each time she steps into the office....

This dress is sleeveless and since we live in a snowy climate we added leggings, turtle neck, and boots.  Leggings are a personal favorite "basic" staple.   They are so comfortable.....much better than tights!  Also...Angie didn't know if she would be able to pull off wearing a belt....Without a doubt....Angie has the figure to wear belts!

 This is the outfit Angie had put together on her own.  CUTE!   All we had to add was the layering of the black turtleneck sweater and the leggings....She loved it and so did I!

 Changing up the look when we added this neutral sweater jacket.  We both thought it gave Angiet a longer leaner look to her body silhouette.  We loved this one so much we were both jumping up and down with excitement.

 When Angie added her black puffy vest, we were amazed with how it gave the outfit a fun casual....ready to meet people...kind of feel!

Changing it up one more time with her stone grey vest totally made the deep gray colors pop.  Totally excited about how this dress has so many versatile looks when all it took was changing the jackets.

We had fun with scarves, belts, leggings, jewelry and much much more during our two hours together.   When we were finished we were thinking of how my services could be utilized next....hmmmmm...when it comes to fashion...I am ready to jump in with both feet!

Novemeber And December Produced Many Beautiful Creations....

DH Dream Design Designs spent November and December producing many Christmas gifts.  Custom designing these creations with a specific person in mind made the process even more meaningful for Designer Deb!  Enjoy the many creations as your browse the below before and after pictures!

Party Bags... 

A Mother gave me two dresses from two daughters to make them some fun accessory options for their next party outfit!  This began the concept of creating "Memory" bags from items carrying a significant meaning.

The red Clutches were named Isabella and Emily and the Blue Set was named Bri and Alexa.

 

Another "Memory" piece was created from a dress worn in a wedding.  

Her name is Elizabeth.

A Mother had me use one of her daughters T-shirts to create this 4 in 1 bag...       

Her name is Grace.

Many husbands and fathers became hero's in the lives of their wives and daughters 

this Christmas when they had me create a DH Bag!

                                                                                                         
                                                                                    Alyssa

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Samantha

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Abigail, Alexis, Addison

                                          Hailey                                                                  Avery

Some really cute totes were created for a work gift exchange.

                                                                               
                                                                                                    Mindy and Michelle

 And then the last 2 bags created during the Holiday season opened a new concept for DH Dream Designs...A friend of mine wanted me to create a bag to celebrate her daughter using her little baby clothes....We picked two of her favorite dresses so she could give these bags to the two Grandmothers.  Since their creation little Ella was diagnosed with a fatal genetic disease giving her very limited time here on this earth.  Erica and DH Dream Designs have teamed up to create Ella's Legacy Collection  To date 15 bags will be created for those who want to celebrate Ella.  Read the Ella Legacy Post for more details and be sure to visit ellaslegacycollection.blogspot.com  to follow the creation of these special bags and Ella Lanay Hunt community Facebook page to follow their journey.

Ella's Legacy Collection

DH Dream Designs is developing a collection of bags called Ella's Legacy! Designer Deb is very excited to use her creative gift to partner with Erica so Erica can share Ella's story.

Ella is a 4 month old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy....SMA a genetic disease that diminishes her muscles.  Unfortunately this disease is fatal for little Ella.  Mounting bills are piling up and in an effort to raise funds for Ella and her family Erica has asked me to develop a line of bags using Ella's little dresses.   These little dresses will be used on the front of the bags to create an outside pocket.  A picture of Ella in her dress will be included on the inside pocket of each Ella Legacy Bag.

What a treasure this will be....many dresses are being given as gifts so Erica can have the enjoyment of making Ella look and feel like a princess.  At the same time the dress allows the "giver" an opportunity to purchase the Ella Legacy Bag at cost and then adds her donation.

Click on my website link above to email your interest in participating in this give back project...
I can send you detailed information as to how you can help honor and celebrate Ella.

Monique and Claire from my earlier collection were adapted with Ella's dresses to create two bags for Erica's Mother and Mother In Law for Christmas Gifts....The beginning of....

Ella's Legacy Line! 

So Grateful To Be Designing!

                    Before                                                   After---Hailey

                                                                             DH Dream Design #46

This bag was designed specific for the wife of a business networking friend.   He cannot wait to surprise his wife with this fun unique creation!

Hmmmm....Where are all the other new bags DH Dream Designs has been creating over the past several weeks?  Be on the lookout...they will be posted soon.  Twenty Five Dream Design bags have been developed or are in the process of being developed for individuals who want to give them as Christmas gifts.  Because of this, their stories and pictures will not be posted until the week of Christmas....don't want to spoil a Christmas giving surprise.  

Some of my design work has been centered around using items that were meaningful to the "giver".   This work has  expanded  to offer a "memory bag" option.   Do you have something in your closet that has great sentimental value but you would never think of wearing this piece out in public...ever?   It just remains stuffed back in the depths of your closet only to be enjoyed when you are editing items seasonally.  You may want to consider making these items useful and purposeful by having me create a designer labeled  DH Dream Design bag!

Item's of sentiment have varied....

Daughter's party dress

Bridesmaid dress

Granddaughter's first dresses

....just to name a few.   The list keeps growing!   These items are so precious to work with and at the same time scary as I am taking a scissors after them.  

I am in heaven within my Dream Design Creation Room.  Striving to spend time there each and every day...because my joy bubbles over with each and every new Dream Design creation.    What a blessing it has been these past 6 months to realize that my God given gift of design is still alive and well even though I have not nurtured it for the past 21 years.

The finishing touches were put on DH Dream Design #51 last evening.   All have been adopted and have homes except for 10.  Many people have encouraged me to consider selling them and future designs online.   This concept is being Considered for 2012.

So grateful to all those who have nudged me to step into my strength and try....can't wait to post my latest greatest Dream Design creations....You will be sure to find a post December 26th!  

Fourteen New DH Dream Design Bags To Enjoy!

The past two weeks have been spent in my Dream studio designing new bag creations.   Some of the dresses I started out with were very out of date.   It is so much fun to give these items a new purpose so they can be enjoyed once again.  Take a look and enjoy!

Before

 Introducing Olivia!   Olivia was made from a dress, a colorful curtain panel, a scarf,  and a great macrame' belt.   She has an outside bonus pocket.
Great for a 13" computer or as a purse.  It is a very "sophisticated 70's" look.

After...
Introducing Olivia

Introducing Saralyn!  She is made from the same cloth and has a western personality.  

Amazing what a belt vs. a scarf can do in the dressing process.

After...
Introducing Saralyn

 

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Before...

When I found this treasure..I immediately visualized 4 bags...only 3 were created due to a mistake in production.   This dress had great design both front and back.  She is made from this pictured dress and two other dresses to complete the project's back side and lining.   They all three have pop as the lining is red.  I used leather belts for Tamara and Tyra's shoulder straps and a self made handle for Taylor.  All three totes are padded and safe for computers or can be used as a purse as well.  I love the tribal feel of all three.

After...

                   Tamara                                  Tyra                                   Taylor

             

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                                  Before                               

Back by Popular Demand!  Emma was such a hit and I have had so many requests for this style.  This dress and skirt created a unique bag with a lot of class.   Her name is Mariah.  Mariah is great for the woman who loves a small bag but wants a big bag option without purchasing another bag.   I love how Mariah looks different depending on how she is carried.

 Introducing Mariah....

After...Another 4 in 1 Bag

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My daughter and I were out shopping for "treasures" last weekend and came upon these two tweed skirts.  Tweed is a very fashion forward trend for this fall.  These bags will be the perfect accessory for any winter outfit.  Simple, Classic, and Clean!

Two Beautiful Tweed Skirts...Before

Make Two Beautiful Tweed Bags...After

                                            Ashley                            Natalie

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Before...

I love green.   The color gives me such a peaceful warm fuzzy feeling.   This dress along with the two earth tone dresses make up these two beautiful bags.  Faith and Serenity both have a square bottom giving them the ability to stand on their own.  The belts give them unique personality.   Serenity has an outside back bonus zippered pocket.   Faith and Serenity make a great tote for shopping!

After..

                                            Faith                                Serenity

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Before

I purchased this ugly dress for its beautiful brushed gold buttons.  The skirt was pleated allowing me to give two of these clutches a touch of the ever so on trend tuxedo look.  The buttons came from the button find I shared on a previous blog post.  I love rooting through these treasures to dress them up a bit.  Amazing what a button can do to change their personality.

After

Rochelle, Ronda, and Roxanna

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Before

After 

Pad Pouch 
Fits the IPad and IPad 2