Monique's Couture Ties!

Hi darlings,

So I've been crazy busy these past couple weeks and I've wanted to post a few blogs about fashion trends I like as well as show a couple outfit of the days but haven't gotten the chance to. I will post them soon though, but for now I wanted to put up something I've been so excited about. I've made my first tie! It was pretty easy. I came up with a very unique idea and went with it and I'm totally loving the way they turned out. I made them out of satin and black lace for a mysterious and dark romantic look.

I gave them away to a couple friends of mine and they totally rocked it! I'm happy to say I am now accepting orders for these HoneyBliss Couture Ties in these, as well as other colours, and will be putting them up on my Honeybliss website soon! I have so many other great, unique tie ideas that I can't wait to make! Be sure to check out my shop (http://www.honeybliss.etsy.com/) soon for great ties for your loved ones or even for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ciao

I Got It From My Mama

Hi Bellas!

Here's a tribute to my fashionista mom! I made her sunny yellow blouse - puff sleeves, button up and tons of ruffles around the neck. She loves colours and always combines them in outifts in a very chic way.
Like mother like daughter!

Ciao:)

My Room and Re-Decorating Plans

Hi!

So I'm totally slacking on my posts. I shouldn't be because I constantly have a lot of things to write about, one of them being my bedroom/studio. I have my bed and dresser on one side of my room, that I call my bedroom, and on the opposite wall I have my sewing machine and work table, that I call my 'studio.' The table started off being clean and tidy with nothing much really on it. But, of course, it now looks like this.

I tell myself it's only because I am currently working on a few dresses at once, which makes sense because the table is a convenient spot to rest all of my work-in-progress.

I've recently decided to renovate my room. My room is painted a lilac colour that I've grown out of and it darkens up my room. I don't get much sunlight in my room and the cool colour just makes my room look cold. I've chosen to repaint it a peach colour. It's much warmer and my room will look a bit sunnier. Not only will I paint the walls that colour but I will also, somehow, use a stencil to paint over it a white swirly pattern so that it resembles lace. I also plan on getting a new door, new furniture stuff and redoing my closet. Phew.

I'm so excited to be working on this new project! I will be posting pictures and more posts showing its progress. My sister will also be redoing her walls. Her room is a sunny yellow, but she is going to paint it pink with glitter! I can't wait to see how that'll turn out and I'll add pictures of that to my blog as well.

Ciao for now!

So Many Dresses in So Little Time

Hey guys:)

So I've been occupied lately making dresses for a few of my friends who've placed custom orders with me. I was pretty nervous because I've only made custom clothing for myself, my sister and my mom. This was now my first job and I wanted it to be perfect. I've made 4 dresses so far and I must say I've learned quite a bit about proper fit and taking correct measurements. Now I feel that I might be ready to take custom orders for my clothing on my shop.

So here are a few of the many pictures I took of my sewing journeys.

First was a spectacularly vivid green strapless dress.

Taking shape..

Then I worked on a red sweetheart strapless dress.

Forming the heartshape neckline

Almost done..

Work it!!

Next was a white dress that I designed using the same strapless pencil style she liked.

Forming a creative neckine featuing a v-neck and pleats design.

Made the top back stretchy using elastic to guarantee proper fit.

Et Voila! Gorgeous in white.

Right after these dresses I started making my own dress for a party.

Strips of fabric that, when sewn together, magically transforms in to a dress!

It's party time!

Then I started working on a snakeskin dress that was another custom order. I'll put up pics next time!

Celebrating Amazing Style : Whitney Port

Hi chicas!

So I've decided to write occasional posts about my admiration for certain celebrities' styles. To name a few of my favourite stylish gals are Olivia Palermo, Lauren Conrad, Rihanna and Vanessa Hudgens. But today I am compelled to write about my absolute favourite: Whitney Port!




Her style is so full of personality. It ranges from quirky with an eclectic mix of patterns, colours and/or fabrics to glam, downtown chic looks. Her style at times is reminiscent of the 60's/70's which I appreciate because I love the 70s/60s fashions. I love that she isn't shy with colours. She almost always wears bright colours, or muted pastel colour combinations or bold colourful patterns - sometimes toned down with a black or other neutral coloured staple. I love wearing colours (you will not find me wearing head to toe black on black) and my designs are a reflection of that.


This outfit, for example, is amazing. Although it is full black, it is so visually attractive! The mixture of black and white checkered over stripes and the triangular earrings - all these different patterns are skillfully put together. The nightlife heels, the nude chain bag and party hair could not be any more perfect of an addition to this look. This is an example of an amazing outfit I would store away in that 'special part' of my brain for future reference!
I loved watching the City because it was very interesting and inspiring to see Whitney start up her line (which I'm in the middle of doing..on a much smaller scale of course), but I loved watching it because of her style. She had different spring-loving, pretty looks - hair, makeup, clothing - the whole package.


First of all, let's briefly talk hair. She is well known for her full, wavy long hair with a centre part - which is fab in itself - but she also does little unique things like twisting a small portion of the front and tucking it back or braiding both sides of the front and pinning it back. She also does the cutest updo's perfect for summer, like twisting the front portions of hair and pulling everything back into a bun or even sporting a quick, messy-in-a-chic-way high bun on top of the head. I've worn my hair into a side braid with pastel coloured rose stud earrings inpsired a la Whitney:) It kind of reminded me of her when I wore my hair like that with the studs, and when my bestie saw me she was like, 'Omg! That's so Whitney!' And I was like, 'I know right!'

(I absolutely love the way she wore this oversized dvf sequined blazer! It could easily look overbearing but she paired it with mellow pieces to keep the glam under control. Now I feel the need to rock an oversized sequined blazer. I can see it now...amazing.)

Then there's the makeup. Whitney usually sports minimal makeup for a fresh daytime look - pale lips and soft black eyeliner that emphasizes her big round eyes. A few other times she's added a pop of colour to her face with electric pink lipstick and a dewy complexion.

Her accessories are also great. For example, she wears these amazing pearl ball earrings with gold accents jutting out from underneath. They go very well with complementing her look. I think I'm subconsciously on a mission to find a similar pair. They're so chic and vintage looking..can you blame me?

What is your favourite Whitney fashion moment?

My First Interview:)

Hi darlings!

So I was featured for the first time in a blog! Yay me:) I was noticed by Bilyana, a virtual treasure hunter, who has a blog full of great etsy finds and interviews. So I agreed to an interview and you can read it here: http://ammadin.blogspot.com/2010/07/finding-monique.html

Also, my photo gallery was acting up last time I tried uploading pictures here, but it's working just fine now. So here are the pictures of my journey to completing my polka-dot dress available on http://www.honeybliss.etsy.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have a fashionable day!

New Polka Dot Dress!

So on one of my trips downtown for fabrics, I came across this one and fell in love. I loved that it was a cotton jersey material featuring a polka-dot print and I especially loved the soft mauve colour! I didn't know what I was going to do with it yet but I bought a couple yards. I don't know how the idea for the dress came to me, but I love adding bow accents to things, so why not at the back of a dress! So here are some pictures of how this dress came to be!

Ugh. So for some reason I can't see any of my pictures in my photo gallery to upload...it's never happened before and I don't know why it's chosen to not work at this particular time. Oh well, I guess I will try adding those pictures later...

Ciao for now!

My Handmade Outfits

Hi guys,

So I've made a few outfits for myself for a weekend away at a dressy event. I showed you in my past posts the work in progress for my vintage inspired floral shirtdress and here is the finished look!

I paired it with a deep red patented belt, patented red pumps, an off white handbag and red rose stud earrings.

So this was the outfit I was most excited about making because I was/am still totally loving the pastel, soft, neutral - kind of nude - colour palette. So the shoes and earrings I featured in past posts as well as the fabric. And voila!! Here is the final look. So the skirt is just your average pencil skirt. The blouse is a halter style top with ties to tie into a bow at the neck. I also added three rows of ruffles to the front. It is a lightweight top with lining underneath.

This is the same look with the cardigan I carried around just in case it got a little chilly.

So I really love this hairstyle and I feel its so summery and goes well with a variety of different looks. The skirt is handmade and I paired it with a button down white ruffle front top I bought. Wore it with silver heels, an off white handbag, silver bangles (with a white one in between) and silver stud earrings. As you may have noticed, I carried the same handbag with all 3 outfits (gasp!) but it was so convenient packing-wise since I was at a hotel in another city and it went very well with each of the outfits.

So I hadn't taken a picture of this outfit but basically I was going out for dinner and just wore a pink tank top, my grey studded cardigan (that you can see in a couple pictures above with my polka dot halter), skinny jeans and heels. And a pair of light coloured rose stud earrings. Here I was just waiting in the car and really liked the glow of the sun beginning to set. I took a couple shots of the area but it was just mainly of the nearby highway which wasn't so beautiful so I won't post those.

Anyway, that's it for today..I am currently working on something new for my etsy shop that I am very excited about. So I will post some shots of that work in progress soon.

Have a fashionable day!:)

My commercial for my Clothing for Daydreamers Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

So here is the commercial! Thanks to Jessica, the photographer, (devicfotos.com) for putting this together!

New Sweetheart Bodycon Dress

Hi everyone!

So I made a new dress for my shop. What do you think? I had a little trouble with the dress though..I wanted to add an embellishment (silver ribbons at the shoulders to resemble fireworks). Then I had to step back and readjust my thinking. The dress screamed 'New Years Eve party' with the silver-ness on the shoulders..but if I left it plain, it would give the wearer more options with accessorizing and the dress would be more versatile (casual daytime dress, worn to the beach, can be dressed up for a night out). Here are pictures to show what I'm talking about...

First idea..still very fond of it. Would work better I think on a black dress. Must make it an upcoming project.

More firework action..

Decided to go simple after all.

So what's your take on this dress - with and without the silver action? Leave your comments below:)

Btw, I will be posting this dress to my shop (www.honeybliss.etsy.com) very soon..after I decide what pictures to use!

Trip to the Lakeside and Fabric Shopping!

Hey y'all!

So this past Monday was a holiday and my mom, sister, a friend and I went on a nature walk by the lakeside. We went in the evening which cooled us down after a superhot day. There were huge clusters of those tiny flies circling about in midair and my sister tried hiding her face in her shirt, in my hair, in my armpit just to avoid those flies getting into her mouth. It was hilarious! I totally enjoyed the walk even though I was also trying to avoid the pesky little flies too (especially when I was eating an ice cream cone). Here are some of the pictures I took.

Beauty.

So serene and peaceful, isn't it?

Beautiful greenery illuminating in the sunlight.

These rocks are beautiful. I love the colour grey!

Look at the little moon in the sky!


Ahh..the smell of new fabrics! lol The following day my sister accompanied me on my journey downtown to the fashion district to buy some new fabrics for designs I've sketched. So excited to make them all! I'll keep you posted:)

Shopping Finds!

So as you may know I am in love with the nude/beige/peach colour palette this season. I went to an Oriental mall on Saturday looking for a pair of soft neutral coloured shoes and a cardigan to go with an outfit I'm planning to make. I am in LOVE with the shoes I bought and we were able to bargain it down to an unbelievable price! Let's just say I got these shoes for under $40!! They are so stylish, the colour is PERFECT and they are so darn comfortable.

Do you love 'em or do you LOVE 'em?

The fabric I'm using for the outfit I'm planning. It matches perfectly!

This is the cardigan I got. It is so soft, light and super chic. I can wear it very ladylike like I am in these pictures or I can edge it up at night with my over-the-knee black boots.

That's all for now! By the way, I received half of the photos (1025!) from my photoshoot for my Honey Bliss collection. They're awesome! I am updating my shop with the pictures right now! http://www.honeybliss.etsy.com