Sponsor Spotlight: AichyCreations

If any Etsy shop embodied all my favorite things in one spot, it would be Aiyana’s AichyCreations. For example, not only does her shop feature her simple and elegant jewelry and cozy crafts, she makes her fantastic creations in her living room while watching Breaking Bad. How cool is that? Plus, she and her husband are saving the money she makes from her shop “for their future travels together to change the world.” Read on for more behind-the-scenes, Aiyana’s tips for shopping online and her favorite piece in her shop! xoxo


Keep in touch…
Official Web site: AichyCreations
Become a fan on Facebook
Get inspired on Instagram

Tell me about your shop. What’s the inspiration behind its launch?
I have always loved simple designs and a classic look. Everyone needs a pair of simple earrings to wear on a casual day-to-day basis or to fill in their extra piercings. And it’s one thing to look trendy & chic, but we all want to be unique in our own way. That’s where my feather & bead pieces come in; with a touch of flair, you’ve got simply made, chic and unique all in one piece of jewelry while staying on a budget!

Your shop features so many inspiring finds. What inspires you the most?
My inspiration comes from my desire to have continual growth in my artistic abilities and expansion in my work. I LOVE creating things, and I pull inspiration from anything I see and work at it until my hands are sore.

What are your top 3 tips for shopping online and finding great deals?
1). Always ask for coupons & about sales.
2). Find ways you can trade your own skills/services for another’s.
3). See what’s trending or whatever style you like, and go for look and quality — don’t bother spending a ton just to wear a big name brand!

How can people still look chic for less?
Thrifting. The best way to look amazing for so little! Also, clothing swaps, trading, etc.

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?
I really love my tiny triangle earring hoops because they’re unique, fun & geometric! Also, this winter season, I brought in a few different scarves, and my favorite so far is the comforter scarf, which is more than 7 feet long and super cozy!

Sponsor Spotlight: PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

I’m always shocked to learn of the hefty price tag that comes with even the most basic of wedding dresses. It’s easy to see how the dress could quickly become the most expensive wedding accessory. And in an age where brides-to-be are all about savings, I love the idea behind PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. Think of it as the eBay of the wedding world, a hub that connects buyers and sellers of new sample and used wedding dresses. With nearly 20,000 new sample and used designer wedding dresses at all price points, there is something for every bride, says Josie, who founded the site in 2004. Read on for her take on winter wedding trends and what brides should keep in mind when shopping for their all-important dress! xoxo

Keep in touch…
Official Web site: PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Get inspired on Pinterest

Tell me about the history of Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses. What’s the inspiration behind its launch?
I started PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com in 2004 when I tried, unsuccessfully, to sell my own designer gown. I decided I’d create a better way to buy and sell wedding gowns based on my own frustrations with the process. I started PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com and sold my gown five months later.

What’s the response been like? Why do you think brides love it so much?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. I started the site to sell my own gown, but quickly realized that there was a definite need for brides to find their dream dress for less, and for past brides to share their gowns instead of keeping them in a closet.

What wedding trends are looking to be popular this winter?
One of the most enduring recent trends is lace (thanks to Kate Middleton). Lace is still very on trend. Especially lace sleeves (again, thanks to Kate). Vera Wang’s latest collection featured all pink wedding gowns. Pink and the use of color is trending and very popular with brides who want to really personalize their wedding-day look.

What should brides keep in my during their dress hunt?
When looking for a dress, brides should really keep two things in mind…

1). Their personal style
2). Their budget.

A wedding dress is a great way to express yourself and make a statement. Romantic, glamorous, whimsical, traditional, fashion-forward are just a few of the styles a bride can express through her dress. Knowing how she wants to look will help guide the dress search. The budget is the second biggest factor to keep in mind. It’s easy to fall in love with a dress that is outside of your budget. Don’t tempt yourself by trying it on; it’s just asking for disappointment. And there’s definitely a dress for every bride — within her budget.

Anything else you think my readers should know?
The most surprising thing to me is how many brides tell me they are selling their wedding dress not for the money, but because they love their dress so much they want to share it with another bride. What could be better than getting a beautiful dress, at a fraction of the retail price, with some good karma and happy memories already behind it? :)

[Dress by Melissa Sweet Fern on PreOwnedWeddingDress]

Sponsor Spotlight: Obo Creations

I may be known for my brightly colored polo shirts, but never let it be said that I don’t understand and appreciate the wonders of understated jewelry. As the saying goes, “Less is more.” But Olya from Etsy shop Obo Creations manages to do both with her colorful yet delicate necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets. She paints her vibrantly colored pieces by hand in her Switzerland-based studio. Read on for the history of her shop, her favorite trends and a special discount code for So About What I Said readers! xoxo


Keep in touch…
Official Web site: Obo Creations
Become a fan on Facebook

Tell me a bit about your shop. What’s the inspiration behind its launch?
The story of my shop is the story of discovering one’s self. I never considered myself even remotely artistic or studied jewelry making or painting until a few years back. I discovered that I find great joy in painting. My first object that I turned into a bright colorful piece was an Easter egg. Beads followed shortly, and once I discovered the technique and material that you see on all my pieces, I could not stop anymore. Everything I saw, I wanted to paint in bold, bright colors! I discovered a talent I never thought I had, and most importantly, made my own life full of colors and joy.

What are some trends we’re seeing this the fall? What are some of your favorite fashion trends?
This fall comes in spectacular color shades of terracotta orange, teal, hunting green and curry yellow. You can find them in my shop, and I am creating a few new items right now.

What are some things people should keep in mind when shopping for jewelry?
I would recommend everyone to shop on Etsy. There are so many talented artist there, and you can buy something truly unique that has a soul. This is so different from mass-produced items.

What are some ways that people can still look chic for less?
Buy handmade — you buy directly from the producer, and most artists are offering very reasonable prices for what they make.

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?
These earrings are my latest creations. They are nicknamed eyelashes, and I find them to be the cutest piece I have.

*Special offer for So About What I Said readers: Get 15% off your order! Just enter the code melissa at checkout! :)

Sponsor Spotlight: Shop Boxie

By now, it’s pretty obvious that my sense of style is pretty casual and laid-back (two words: polo shirts). But don’t let that fool you — a casual style certainly doesn’t mean boring. It can be both fresh and simple at the same time. That’s the beauty of Boxie, the Los Angeles-based clothing boutique full of tops, dresses, sweaters and bottoms. And even better? Boxie is a family business, says owner Tracy. Read on for how architecture influenced Tracy, her fashion tips and her favorite item in her shop! xoxo

Keep in touch…
Official Web site: Boxie
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Get inspired on Pinterest

Tell me a bit about your shop. What’s the inspiration behind its launch?
I started working in the tee shirt world when I was fresh out of college. My aunt and uncle owned a great company called Grassroots that was located in Santa Monica. They were very cool to hire me, and I apprenticed under them. There has always been a drive I recognized at an early age that I wanted to own my own business, and while working for Grassroots, it hit me…this is what I want to do! So, 11 years later, I finally felt the time was right to start on my own. Grassroots was a beginning inspiration for Boxie Tees but, as Boxie develops, I can see how our look comes from a source I found much earlier in my life. “Form Follows Function,” the main principle behind modern architecture, was ingrained in me through my architect father. I always use this as the essence for designing Boxie Tees. It should feel fresh and new but be perfectly simple. Each piece should be so easy and comfortable you want to wear it every day. This is where the “wash, rinse, repeat” part of our name came from. Boxie is eponymous for our most popular tee, the Original Short Sleeve V-neck, as it has a boxy shape but is a perfectly simple women’s essential. We also make all our clothing domestically. U.S.A. Made! It is very important to us to stay in Los Angeles and support what is here, to keep it here.

What are some trends we’re seeing as we move into the fall? What are some of your favorite fashion trends?
There are so many continuing trends for fall/winter 2013 that I just love and think of as classic: animal print, camo print, the sweatshirt, the tee shirt and leather. We get to continue wearing these trends in ALL forms (i.e. leather tee shirts!). There is a military influence that I am really feeling right now, and I like it in its most stripped down form: a bomber jacket and aviator sunglasses. Think Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Love it!

What are some things people should keep in mind when shopping for clothes?
Two things come to mind…

1. Always, and I can’t stress this enough, stay true to what you like and know what works best for you. Right now, there are so many overwhelming trends that it can be very confusing. There’s no need to try and do it all. Pick what you love, and go with that. It always works.
2. Be aware of what you are buying. Research it. For example, I am a supporter of Made in U.S.A. and have to be true to that. Most of the clothing some of my favorite brands produce is made overseas…and I choose not to purchase what isn’t made here in the States.

What are some ways that people can still look chic for less?
Recycle! Seriously, I shop in thrift/vintage stores a lot. You can find amazing pieces that add depth to your wardrobe. If second-hand doesn’t work for you, then being an educated shopper is key. Window shop and compare prices. Make sure to edit your wardrobe regularly. You will be amazed at how different a simple sweater from last year can look this year and how to play with it and make it a fresh item to wear. It is all about how you pull it all together.

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?
This is a very difficult question for me. I tend to love so much! But at this very moment, my favorite piece I keep wearing over and over is the Teresa Stripe Sweatshirt for fall. I wear it in indigo blue, and I wear it with everything — over a maxi dress, with short shorts, with boyfriend jeans, etc. It’s a bit oversized and can drape off the shoulder and it’s just…cool.

Sponsor Spotlight: Keecie

We all know that a bag obsession sort of runs in my family. Remember my mother’s purse curse? Well, Klaartje de Hartog knows a thing or two about this very subject herself. She’s the creative genius behind Keecie, an Amsterdam-based line of wallets, bags and accessories. Each design will surprise you, she says, with a unique shape or original print. Read on for her tips and tricks and her favorite item in her shop! xoxo

Keep in touch…
Official Web site: Keecie
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter

Tell me about Keecie. What’s the inspiration behind its launch?
We started Keecie on Queens Day, the day in the Netherlands when everybody can sell anything they like on the street. Mostly second-hand. And there is music everywhere. We chose to make bags, and we sold almost everything we had made in one day. That’s when we decided to start Keecie.

Your shop features so many inspiring clutches and bags. What inspires you the most?
Most of the times, I start with the print I want to put on the inside. Like the Room Service bag. I always wanted to design a bag with a carpet on the floor (eh, bottom!).

What are your top 3 tips for shopping online and finding great deals?
I do not shop that much at all. Sometimes you just find something really nice in the shop next to the place where you had coffee. For online shopping, I find nice shops via blogs like Bloesem. She is a Dutch woman who writes about nice design, and there are so many nice online shops and brands I did not know about but got to know through her blog.

How can people still look chic for less?
Buy second-hand and change it a bit, so it looks nice for your figure. And buy basics you can wear for years. Buying nice quality items, such as wool, is also a safe bet.

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?
At the moment, it is the new Elephant Joke bag. It has a print of an Elephant and a mousse on the inside.