We apologize for the delay in posts; due to a variety of issues (technical and otherwise), we at Frickin’ Fashion have decided to put our blog on hiatus.We thank all of our readers for the love and support we’ve received…but for now, guys, it just isn’t working. This is temporary; we will be back when we find that conditions are in our favor. Unfortunately, it’s going to take a while, possibly until summer. Thanks again for all of the support, we love you!
Frickinfashion!
Putting Springfield style in the spotlight
We have an announcement…
Frickinfashion is coming to Youtube!
We’re still decorating at the moment, but the page – which will feature interviews, photos, and access into special events - will be up Sunday!
Until then, here’s the link to our new home: http://www.youtube.com/user/frickinfash – and keep checking out the Frickinfashion blog for your local style scoop.
Got any stylish suggestions for videos? Send ‘em to frickinfashion@yahoo.com!
Trend Thrift: Smart Shopping – and Selling – on Craigslist
Love the idea of a Louis V. bag on your arm, but hate the idea of a weightless wallet? Try Craigslist on for size; believe it or not, it’s chock full of chic – and thanks to all the local sellers there, you don’t even have to stray far from the city to find it.
From big-name bags to supercute shoes, plenty of wares are put up for sale there by people looking to get them off of their hands and into yours. And if you’re looking to make a quick buck off some unwanted clothes or accessories, the site is full of customers looking to snag some new gear on the cheap.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of creepers looking to rip you off (whether you buy or sell), so consider a few of these tips for smart shopping and selling on Craigslist.
If you’re looking to buy:
- Consider creating a new email address under just a portion of your name. When you respond to a seller, the seller can see the name under which you email them. This gives some people the heebie-jeebies; if you’re one of them, a new email address may make you feel more comfortable.
- Unless the seller states in the ad that he or she won’t budge on the price, don’t be afraid to do a bit of bargaining. This may be more effective on older posts – says, a few weeks old or so – than on newer posts, as the seller will have been waiting a while for a customer to come through.
- If there’s no photo of the item, ask for one. If the seller declines, see if you can meet in a public place (during the day and not alone, if possible) to see the item – but trust your instincts. If your gut says no, then don’t do it.
- Don’t be afraid to back out of a sale; you’re not obligated to complete a sale, even if you’re at the meeting spot and about to complete the transaction, especially if you see something wrong with the product. However, if you lose interest after sending an inquiry email (or making a phone call), you may want to inform the seller, so they can take you off of their waiting list. It’s just the nice thing to do, you know?
- If the advertisement for the item you covet is old, the seller may be willing to swap the item for something you’ve got. It can’t hurt to ask, right?
If you’re looking to sell:
- Scour current prices for your item. You’re not the only one trying to sell a pair of shoes or a certain brand name; see how much items like yours are going for, so you can sell at a price that’s fair to both you and the customer.
- Provide pics of your item, if possible. This not only draws more people’s eyes to your product, but allows them to see the item in its true condition; it’s reassuring to a customer to know exactly what they’re getting.
- Speaking of condition…don’t lie about it. If the bag you’re trying to hawk has a few bumps and bruises, state it in the ad or at least let inquirers know when they contact you. They’ll find out anyway when they see the item, and then they’ll just back out of the sale.
- Don’t be discouraged! Craigslist sellers get a lot of initial offers that simply don’t follow through. Don’t forget to renew your posts when you get the chance; this puts your post back at the top of the list. Be patient - you’ll see a sale through soon enough.
Got anymore tips for Craigslist customers and sellers? Post them in the comments below!
UPDATE: New posting days
Frickin’ Fashion will now be publishing new posts every Wednesday and Saturday!
Happy Spring-ish!
It’s nice out today, 50-something and sunny. Figured I’d bring out my favorite spring heels for a little sunshine.
Splendour in the Grass?
Cute for spring, but could they carry over into fall? Knock on wood...
What are your favorite spring pieces? Send photos of them to frickinfashion@yahoo.com and we’ll feature them here!
Spring into Style: Peplums Abloom
One of the sweetest, most softly feminine trends of Spring 2012 may also be the most striking and bold: the peplum. But don’t let the “striking” scare you; the peplum happens to be quite wearable, as well.Okay, let’s back up: what the heck is a peplum, anyway? It’s basically a flared piece of fabric, usually worn just below the waist so as to visually slim it, smooth the hips and create (or enhance) an hourglass figure. Think of it as a mini-overskirt, like this:
Peplums make for easy elegance. Photo courtesy of Vivanista1
The dramatic peplum carries plenty of pow! all on its own, so there’s no need for lots of extra embellishment in your outfit. Try a bold necklace for a strong but simple statement, or a pair of button earrings for a retro zing. Pair it with slim-fitting, no-flare bottoms, like skinny jeans or a pencil skirt. Sporting a peplum waist with flared or wide-leg-bottoms just adds weight to your figure and becomes a distraction; usually, the peplum is bold enough to be the main feature. (If it’s in a simple shade like black or nude, it’s fine to go a bit more wild with accessories.)
This season’s cropped skinnies are perfect for peplums; by revealing just a few inches of skin about the ankles, they’ll lighten the silhouette, so your figure won’t be weighed down by too much fabric. As for shoes, some say heels are best, but I think flats are fine, too, provided they’re on the slim side (bulky sneakers, for example, will drag down the upbeat peplum). Still, nothing too flimsy; the shoes have got to have enough structure to match the strength of your new accessory, lest your look be lacking in balance. For a safe, classic style, go with low pointy-toed heels, like the ladies below:
Old-School Peplums, courtesy of Pennyspitter
Feeling bold? Play around with peplums in different shades and sizes. If you’re still a bit squeamish, try one that’s belted, or attached to a jacket; if you decide you hate it halfway through the day, you can just take it off. Pair ‘em with heels for a look that’s striking and statuesque.
The peplum made super simple. Photo credit: ***~^ ^~***
Trend Thrift: The Clothing Swap Party of Springfield, Ohio
After losing 85 lbs a few years ago, Alyce Comer was delighted with her newer, lighter body – but the heft of her wardrobe still weighed on her.Like many people who’ve dropped a few pounds (including her husband, daughter and son; the family dropped a combined 338 lbs), she found that a lot of her closet staples now slid off of her slender frame. Unfortunately, the rough economy had left her wallet feeling lighter as well, so a shopping spree “was out of the question,” says Comer.
A slimmer, sleeker Alyce Comer
Nothing to wear? No cash to spare? No problem. She and daughter Jamie found a creative and cost-effective solution to their clothing conundrum; they got a few friends together and threw a clothing swap party. The rules were simple: Bring clothes in good condition that you no longer wear (no holes, missing buttons or the like), swap for what you want, and go.
“There were 8 to 10 of us then,” says Comer of the party’s founding sometime in 2009. They decided to take turns hosting the parties at their homes on Sunday afternoons. With the aid of a Facebook page and a few clothing racks, The Clothing Swap Party of Springfield, Ohio was born.
The original Clothing Swap crew
Little did they know how fast their little fête would grow. “It just blew up!” Comer says. At one swap party, two news cameras showed up. An interview with Tom Stafford at Springfield News-Sun led to a feature in Family Circle Magazine. “We made the national news!”
Pondering the party’s success, Comer says it’s about more than style satisfaction; the parties can be therapeutic as well. “People have different reasons for holding on,” she says. Cleaning your closet of old clothes - so often attached to burdensome emotional baggage – is “a way to move on. If it’s been in your closet for more than two years, and you haven’t worn it, pull it out and make [your wardrobe] fresh.”
On top of that, you’ll be helping the community; Comer says that all clothing that’s left over is given to local organizations, “preferably one that doesn’t sell the clothes [but gives them away],” she says. Recipients in past years have included The Open Hands Free Store, which includes a food pantry, and the Promise Neighborhood oganization, which serves children of the Lincoln Park community.
Alyce and her daughter, Jamie
Nearly four years after its inception, the Party is still going strong. The initial hoopla may have died down a bit, but that’s okay with Comer; she doesn’t want hers to be the only party in town. “We want other people to have their own swap parties,” she says. Comer says it only takes a few minutes, and works best with as little planning as possible for the sake of spontaneity. So start a Facebook, grab your gals (guys, too, this is not a “girl thing”), hop on Facebook and launch a stylish swap party of your own. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved…there are uniquethings for everyone of all shapes and sizes. You never know what you’ll get.”
Swap-shopping: All goodies, no guilt
As for her favorite find so far? Comer says she’s joined the legion of Vera Bradley fans – and learned more about fashion as a whole – thanks to the swaps. An avid fan of “What Not to Wear,” she gained an affinity for scarves and accessories, and gets lots of compliments on the pieces she scores. She’s even adopted her own fashion philosophy: “Fashion should be an expression…the person makes the clothes, the clothes don’t make the person.” But with the help of swap parties like hers, clothes just might make the community.
Interested in swapping with Comer & Co.? Check their Facebook for info on upcoming meetings: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clothing-Swap-Party-of-Springfield-Ohio/102728533562?ref=ts
Craft Chic: Running With Scissors Creative Collective
Heritage Center of Clark County, 117 S. Fountain Ave, Springfield, Ohio, 45502
Running with scissors is rarely a good idea – unless it gets you a hip downtown craft-goods store, that is. Ask Ellen Alleman, founding member and manager of Springfield’s own Running With Scissors Creative Collective (RWSCC); after all, it was only a couple of years ago that she and some fellow scissor-happy friends were “just making stuff” – a few greeting cards here, some letter magnets there, and Cuddle Buddies – stuffed dolls made by Alleman’s mom of brightly-colored yarn – to boot, along with a few hair accessories. Sometime in 2010, Alleman and friends convinced a buddy managing the Springfield Farmer’s Market to let them go in on a booth together and sell their wares; by the end of the year, “just the three of us” had turned into six people hawking their crafts with the company, and after another year of marketplaces and craft shows, their small group grew to a dozen.
Today, they’ve scaled up from a primary stock of greeting cards and jewelry, to selling a whole slew of other charming, offbeat pieces in a shop of their very own, housed inside of Springfield’s Heritage Center (right across the hall from the fair trade coffee shop Un Mundo). Running With Scissors sells handmade goods from about thirty different local artists, including Alleman herself and Annette Eshelman, who runs Caterpillar Dreams Studio and also works inside the Running With Scissors shop. Eshelman’s fine artworks, which include one-of-a-kind portraits and journals comprised of colorful threads, sumptuous hand-dyed silk scarves and other pieces, are some of the store’s most popular come holiday season. (Eshelman and Alleman‘s mother have partnered up to work toward the opening of “a gallery with larger pieces of art, classes and possibly even studio space for rent eventually,“ says Alleman.)
Some of Eshelman's silk scarves
Jewelry is always a big seller at the shop. Given a glance at the selection, it’s no surprise; from fabric-covered button earrings to bracelets made of silverware (yep, you read it right – spoons, knives and forks turned around your wrist and too fab to eat with), there seems to be something for any novelty-jewelry fiend worth their frills. And yes, the cuddle-worthy Cuddle Buddies are still there. Add to that a gaggle of other goods, including body care items – the Stinkybomb Soap line bears grenade-shaped bars of soap for the most brutal (and adorable!) germ-killing ever – plus a host of cozy pieces from slippers to winter scarves, for a cute collection of awesomely eccentric accessories.
Cuddlebuddies: Cute, cozy and colorful
At the outset, Alleman says, the setup at this location was only intended as a “flash” store. “These past two summers, as we loaded and unloaded our cars each weekend at shows and markets, we never imagined having a physical store downtown for the holidays…when we did open the flash store Nov. 1, we honestly planned on packing everything up again theweek after Christmas.” Yet, here they are, set to stay at least through September; there’s been some murmuring behind the scenes about the possibility of a longer stay, but as nothing is set in stone they continue to test the waters and figure out the year-round sustainability of the shop in Springfield. “So we’re learning to be a little more open minded and to dream a little bigger, too!“
A bowlful of button earrings!
Could bigger dreams lead to bigger bank accounts? For Alleman, fattening up the pockets of her fellow artists is a reward in itself. “Writing checks to the artists is so cool,” she gushes. “Just knowing we were able to sell all of that work for them…as an artist, it’s cool to see other artists doing well, especially people who have been in the market for a while.”
She also likes seeing customers’ reactions to the shop; they’re often glad to see such unique offerings being sold in Springfield, by Springfield-area artists. “You can’t get [these items] at the mall or Target.”
Spoon necklaces!
Still, it’s not always easy staying so cutting-edge in Springfield; let‘s face it, other cities tend to see trends come and go more quickly than we do here (or in any number of other smallish Midwestern cities, for that matter). “It’s hard to be ahead of the curve, when a trend hasn’t passed in Springfield [but has passed in other areas],” says Alleman.
Trying to keep enough of each product in stock can also put the store in a sticky spot, she says. “Always having enough product, getting it coordinated in time…can be difficult.” So if you’re an artist seeking to sell your wares with RWSCC, do Alleman and company a favor and please refrain from hauling in your goods unannounced; instead, fill out the nifty little submission form that’s been set up on the store’s website, www.runningwithscissorscreativecollective.com (speaking of which, Alleman says they’ll soon be maintaining a blog on the site, as well as boosting their social media presence overall) and someone from the store will be happy to help you to some information. If the company finds your merch to be a match for the store, who knows – you might be running with scissors, all the way to the bank.
See more pics below!
Batik wall hangings
Fiber art
Scarves, bags and more
Letter magnets!
