IFB's Links a la Mode

Always Be Prepared
Links à la Mode: May 30th
It may well be the Scout Motto, but any good fashionista knows that preparation is the key to impeccable style. Whether it be DIYing the latest fashion trends, beautifying yourself, finding the best deals, studying up on classic prints, or getting everything ready for the oncoming season, for most of us it actually takes a lot of effort to carry of that effortless chic. This week’s roundup has almost everything you need to get your summer preparation going so you can have a wonderfully chic season!

SPONSOR: Shopbop Real Style Salvatore Flats, Sol Sana, Matiko, Ileana Makri, Karssen, Meredith Wendell, Blanca Gomez, Band of Outsiders, Vera Wang Flats, Genevieve Jones, & Red Valentino
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Out of Commission

The past month has been a rough one on my electronics department. First my computer got a bad virus, then my tripod broke and my camera fell, breaking my 50mm camera lens. I must admit, I did cry a bit. Of course, these things happen and it isn't the end of the world. But unfortunately I won't really be blogging much in the near future.

I guess the good thing about this bad situation is that I'll have plenty of free time to wear sweats, pick up an hourly job, experiment with the 8mm camera on my iPhone, and do some re-grouping In the meantime, is there anything my readers want to read? Would you like more polyvore-style posts? High-low shopping guides for a particular look? Recipes? Wanna see me cut my own bangs? Leave me a comment or shoot me an email!
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How To Care For Your Clear Bag

What do we call it?
In this post, I'm referring mainly to bags made with PVC, either clear or tinted. However, many faux-leather purses and shoes are often made of the same stuff and can benefit from similar care. The heavy, flexible plastic used in handbags and clear accessories is usually PVC, while those rigid, structured, often box-shaped plastic purses are made from a kind of shatter-proof acrylic glass, commonly referred to by their trademarked names, Lucite or Plexiglass. Vintage and thrift store fans might recognize this material on the handles of bags from past decades.
clear bags how to care tips marc jacobs valentino roxy pvc clear plastic
From top left: 3.1 Phillip Lim handbag / Valentino studded handbag / Marc by Marc Jacobs clearly top-handle 
 kids' clear backpack / Sperry Top-Sider tote / Roxy beach handbag / BCBG clear pinkclutch


How do you choose?
   Warning: gals who tend to "throw" their purses around might want to be wary of investing in a mainly PVC purse, because you must be pretty careful with them! Consider how and where the purse will rub against you when you wear it: will your studded belt and dark wash jeans become a sudden danger? Does your favorite jacket have toggles or clasps that will brush constantly against your bag? A big drawback of PVC as a handbag material is that there's not much you can actually do to buff out scratches or pen marks once they are there. 
   If you are contemplating a see-through tote or expect to be carrying some weight in your clear purse, make sure to steer clear of any thin, flimsy options and closely examine the straps. The material at the seams of plastic purses is somewhat compromised by the actual stitching itself, as it has created tiny holes in the PVC. Thin, cheap plastic could rip right out at the seams like a sheet of binder paper.

clear bags how to care tips marc jacobs valentino roxy pvc clear plastic

How do you clean it?
   Use soapy water and a clean sponge to wash away dust and debris. Make sure to change the cloth often, to keep from dragging debris over new areas and making new scratches. You can also use a clean t-shirt to wash and dry; jersey makes a great soft, lint-free cleaning cloth. Keep water/soap away from any genuine leather or other permeable parts of your bag. Never use nail-polish remover, paint remover, bleach or any other solvent on a plastic purse. Harsh chemicals like these could eat into the plastic or make it appear cloudy.

More tips & tricks
No more loose items! This purse organization rule is one I adopted when I got my first clear bag. I am a messy person who tends to have a lipstick/candy/perfume/cookie spill in every bag I own. But contemplating a giant melted blob of lip gloss inside my pricey precious made me realize, okay, it's time to bust out all those zippered pouches I've acquired over the years. And using them really does help keep any bag clean and tidy.

   While researching this article, I read a few forum suggestions that involved using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on PVC, as a sort of polish or treatment. Rub onto clean PVC, wipe off, buff with a fresh cloth. Hard water spots marring your life? Try rubbing them with half a fresh lemon!

Check out this thoughtful post about clear purses (actually, that Valentino Rockstud above!!) on Wendy's Lookbook. I love her descriptions of what it means to her.


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Summer Sunnies & Striped Sundress

We've got our sunshine back in Santa Cruz, and multi-colored stripes scream "hot weather alert!" Maybe because bright stripes bring to mind beach towels, cabanas and ice cream parlor awnings? I found this twirly dress in a sale pile and immediately got hooked by it's mix of bright orange with pastels. It paired perfectly with my well-loved orange loafers and wacky blue sunglasses.
Target dress, $8 on sale | A.J. Morgan "astro" sunglasses | Nine West loafers, 
Crossroads Trading Co. | H&M cardigan, old | Forever 21 spike necklace

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