Hi! Just a quick post to show and link to the dress I’m posting on IG this week. I wore this to our Mother’s Day lunch yesterday. I loved the red flowers on the dress, so I decided to go bold by rocking my bright red booties (which I painted myself with Angelus Fire Red paint) and red chain bag.
I think the red booties trend is super cute, and I looked at a lot of bright red boots online, but I ultimately decided to just paint an old pair of Rag and Bone booties instead. This is always a good decision for me because 1) save money and 2) save closet space.
I love Rag and Bone Newbury booties (I have them in several colors), but this camel color looked dated to me. Since I hadn’t worn them in a long time, I decided to make them over. I used Angelus Fire Red leather paint, which turned out a little bit more orangey than I wanted (maybe Chili Red would have been better), but I’m still happy with the results.
Hi. It’s 10pm now and we just got ice cream from the new place that just opened up downstairs. I’m so full right now, but I’ll try my best to power through this blog post. ?
So, a couple of weeks ago I found my 20-year-old platform Old Skool Vans in my mom’s attic. Yep, I bought them during college in 1998. All my skate homies used to laugh at them because back then platform sneakers looked kind of ridiculous and too Spice Girlish, but I loved them. And I was so excited I found them because I know platform Vans have made a comeback.
Found in my mom’s attic: Faded blue Platform Vans Old Skool circa 1998.
Since they were faded, beat-up, and yellowed, I decided to clean them up and bring them back to life. I’ve written blog posts about how to dye leather boots (here) and how to paint leather shoes (here), but I’ve never dyed suede shoes before until now. In this post, I’ll walk through the steps of how to use Sole Bright, how to dye suede shoes (from faded blue to black—it’s so easy there’s not much to it), and basically how I restored these old skool Vans to almost-new condition.
-Paint Brushes
-Painters’ Tape
-Suede Dye (I used Angelus Suede Dye in Black)
-Acrylic Leather Paint for the canvas and accents (I used Angelus Flat Black and Angelus White)
-Newspaper to protect your workspace
-Small disposable cups or bowls for the dye/paint
-Gloves might be a good idea, but I didn’t need them
-New laces (I used BBoy Laces because I like my 90s shoes looking phat!)
-New insoles (I actually kept the original insoles)
Clean the Shoes
First I prepped the shoes by cleaning the suede. I just brushed them with an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of warm water + dish detergent. Then I brushed them again with just warm water to remove all the dirt and soap. I also scrubbed the white soles to get them as clean as I could before I treated them with Sole Bright.
Whiten the Soles with Sole Bright
This was my first time using Sole Bright, but I must say it’s a miracle product. I have thrown out so many pairs of old Nikes because the soles got yellow and the shoes looked nasty. But this stuff can treat the yellow-causing oxidation and restore them back to white. Seriously, it works.
1. Shake the bottle. You can pour some out into a small disposable cup or dip into the bottle like I did.
2. Brush the Sole Bright on to the yellowed soles. Apply liberally, which means you need a nice, kind of thick layer. Be careful not to get the product on your hands or any parts of the shoes or other surfaces that you don’t want treated. This stuff is super strong and stings your skin.
3. Wrap the shoes in saran wrap. Place the shoes on a piece of saran wrap and lightly tap the saran wrap in place on to the soles. This keeps the product from drying out so that it stays activated.
4. Place the shoes in the sun. The product works with the UV rays of the sun, so you’ll need to leave them outside for 2 to 4 hours. You might need to do multiple sessions, depending on how severe the yellowing on your shoes is. I did two sessions.
You can also use a reptile light bulb if you don’t have a place to leave the shoes.
Before and After: Results of using Sole Bright after only 1 session.
Dye the Suede
1. Apply tape to the soles so you don’t accidentally get dye on them.
2. Pour some dye into a small disposable cup and brush on to the suede with a paintbrush.
I feel like I had so much more control with the suede dye than I did when dyeing or painting leather.
Paint the Canvas and Accents
I decided to paint the faded canvas with acrylic leather paint. I don’t think the material would have taken up the dye, so paint seemed like the way to go. Coverage was awesome, but the canvas felt very crunchy when the paint dried. I didn’t mind though because the results were pretty great.
I also repainted the white leather details, logo, and striping.
Lace Them Up and Show Them Off
Once the shoes were dry, I put in new laces. I also used a shaving razor to shave off some lint balls that were stuck to the inside lining of the shoes.
BBoy Laces! The only way I’ll ever lace up my Adidas Shelltoes and I guess my platform Vans from the 90s.
I’m so happy with how the shoes turned out. The whole process was so much fun and painting the shoes was so cathartic. I’m looking for other shoes to transform and restore.
Before and After: Platform Vans circa 1998 restored with Angelus Sole Bright, leather dye and paint, and BBoy Laces
I love how high the platform is, and I like the stripe detailing on the midsole. The current version doesn’t look this cute.
Thanks for reading and stopping by!
Sweatshirt :: Polo Ralph Lauren (vintage; thrifted for $10! similar Champion here)
Jeans :: Frame
Shoes :: Vans (current platform style here)
Bag :: MiuMiu (similar; budget-savvy silver detail here)
Earrings :: c/o @thepaperbeadprincess (I won them on an IG giveaway! I love how she uses recycled paper for her beads, and I love her positive spirit.)
Last month I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a photo of Connie @brownkittycat wearing black high-top Converse Chuck Taylors. Her caption said they were her favorite sneakers in high school, and I realized that I’ve never owned a pair of these classic kicks. They looked cute on Connie (everything does!) and I commented on her pic that maybe someday I’ll get my first pair of Chuck Taylors. In white.
A couple of weeks later, my friend Luke @42._o reached out to me and told me about a cool thing he’s been doing. Luke gets new pairs of Chuck Taylors and adds small accents to them to make the shoes unique and something special–aka Charles Taylors. Even better, he and his wife Amy donate the signature creations to high school students who could really use them. They were kind enough to send me my own pair. In white.
Growing up I wore a lot of junk shoes because that’s all we could afford. And yes, I got teased and felt self-conscious. And I guess that’s why now I am a lover of shoes. Especially when they are cool, rare, limited edition, expensive (bloody shoes), or one-of-a-kind. That’s why I’m stoked on these and I hope @42._o can continue to make kids feel good and confident in them.
If you’d like to help put a fresh pair on a deserving student, click here to make a Paypal donation directly to @42._o. A small amount goes a long way! Thank you!
The small customizations and statement details make these classics stand out. The tongues were lined with thin padding for structure and cool paisley fabric for color, and accented with the All-Star logo tab.
Of all the mods, the lined paisley tongues are my favorite.
Also got red ankle straps and partytime glow-in-the-dark laces.
Also loving the red straps repping the number 42.
Classic but never plain!
I’m really stoked on Luke and Amy for putting this program into action. Not only is it fun to see how the shoes turn out, it feels great knowing that a kid will be getting some clean kicks.
Thanks for reading! And big thanks to @42._o for the shoes.
Happy Tax Day. Actually heard that the IRS had to extend the tax deadline until tomorrow night because of a payment system meltdown. Shaking my head, but I gotta say I generally am for extensions on any type of deadline, except of course when I’m on the waiting end of things.
So without further delay, here’s a post showcasing the coolest and crispest white button-down shirt that I received from New York City brand, Less than none Greater than. If you saw my recent post about their white ruffled Elizabeth Soft Blouse, then you already know that Less than none Greater than has created a beautiful range of 14 minimalistic all-white shirts and blouses, each design inspired by an NYC neighborhood. And more new designs are yet to come.
Here I’m wearing the Lexington Button Down, which at first looks like a simple white button-down shirt meant for serious business–until you take a closer look at its modern and super cute details.
I understand that crisp, white button-down shirts are a closet staple. They’re perfect for the office or hanging in jeans on the street. I chose to wear this shirt as an outer layer over a cropped top because if there’s a way to keep things casual, I’ll find it.
The longer cuff is one of my favorite details on the shirt. I love how it kind of fans out like a bell, similar to the sleeves on the Elizabeth Soft Blouse. But that doesn’t mean I won’t roll them up when I need to, because they look awesome and sporty folded.
Love the front pockets and the feel of the Japanese-made fabrics. The shirt is 6% Spandex, so it has the slightest bit of stretch for that tailored fit.
My favorite detail is definitely the back of the shirt. Loving the waist-tie detail! It’s flattering, unique, and just so darn cute. This is a top that could easily be dressed up for a night-out look as well.
Thanks so much for stopping by! And thank you Less than none Greater than for sponsoring this post!
Hello! So I was selected by the two fun and adventurous gals, Amanda and Courtney, over at Suitcases & Champagne blog to share some personal facts about myself (as a nominee of the Mystery Blogger Award). I’ve been following the two girls on their travel adventures so it was great to learn more about them, and also to read about other nominees and discover new blogs. Seems like a great way to support each other and see what other bloggers have been up to outside the blogosphere! Thanks, Amanda and Courtney!
See outfit details for this daisy floral wrap dress at the bottom of the post.
So here’s how it works:
Thank whoever nominated you and link their blog
Tell readers 3 things about yourself
Answer the questions the blogger gave to you
Nominate 10-20 people
Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
Ask nominees 5 questions of your choice
Share links to your best post(s)
Three facts about me:
1) I know kung fu. I practiced Wing Chun kung fu for over 10 years. I never go to class or training anymore, but I still get the urge to punch a throat.
2) I met my fiancé Eddie online on okcupid.com. We connected on Three’s Company trivia and skateboarding and have already been through so much together.
Forever partner.
3) As you can tell from the first two facts about me, I was and still kind of am a tomboy. I pretty much live in jeans and sneakers, but I do love fancy heels and cute dresses. Especially when there’s an opportunity to IG it.
Questions asked of me:
What is your favorite city or country that you’ve traveled to and why?
New Orleans, Louisiana! That city is so lively and fun with the live jazz and festive party people. I went for a work conference, and I was afraid I’d experience some racism (being in the South and all), but nope. I experienced nothing but kindness and the best of southern hospitality. Can’t wait to go back. Also: great beer and oysters.
Do you have any career goals? What’s next for you?
I want to write a screenplay. It’s an aspiration that’s been percolating for years now. I should make it happen.
What’s the best life advice you’ve ever received?
I have never received good life advice. But I guess whoever said “follow your gut” was the best I’ve heard.
What’s the one thing you let yourself splurge on?
I would have to say handbags. Although I’ve gotten better about it and I try to purchase only preowned or sale items now.
I stopped buying the same bag in different colors.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
True crime and investigative murder TV shows. Some girls get caught up on “terrible” reality TV shows like the Bachelor and Real Housewives, but I’ll take Forensic Files, House of Horrors, and Stalked any day. I can binge for hours. Eddie does not approve.
1 :: Are you a full-time blogger living the dream, or do you have another day job?
2 :: Who has been the most influential or inspirational person in your life?
3 :: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?
4 :: What is your favorite way to spend Saturday night?
5 :: If you could have any famous person or celebrity follow you on IG, who would it be and why?
Don’t forget to provide 3 other facts about yourself!
Thank you all for reading!
Dress :: Fashion Union at ASOS (on sale!)
Belt :: ASOS
Boots :: Tibi
Hoop earrings :: Carbon and Hyde (I received these from Eddie for Valentine’s Day and wear them almost everyday!)
Posting casual outfits and beauty reviews. I’m over 40, but still kind of cool. I love sushi, loud music, my fiancé Eddie, and my cute dog Charlotte. I used to skate.
