New Stuff for Cool Girls: Fine Featherheads Make Sense

Summer is a time for us to relax, loosen up, and enjoy ourselves. What better way to do that then by making a fashion statement! Feathers have been jumping up the style ladder for over a year but as of right now they couldn't be any hotter. With celebs like Jennifer Love doning these boho chic accessories how could people not catch on?

Word has it that so many people are wanting feathers in their hair, as accessories, on jewelry, you name it...that there is a shortage of them! Crazy huh. Not to worry though, I've been following a company called Fine Featherheads on Facebook for a while now and they consistently produce good quality feather extensions. Though I notice they run out of stock quickly it's only because so many of us want them, they are just as quickly re-ordered and back in stock. (very professional) These can be washed / dried / styled just like your natural hair and their patented bonding technique leaves you satisfied in knowing your fashion investment won't fall out the moment to jump in the shower. The selection they offer is unsurpassed! So many hand chosen color schemes so they match oh-so-perfectly. You can tell these people really love what they do. From their photo shoots in sunny California, to their high quality fashion pieces, Fine Featherheads set the standard for permanent hair accessories. If you want the best of the best, go where the stars go. Oh, & for all you salon owners...WHOLESALE! Yes, they offer amazing bundle packs of this product that's sure to fly off your shelves. Fine Featherheads make sense in more ways then one! That's why I'll definitely be starting off my chic summer with some (:

Like them on Facebook!

To order, visit their website at finefeatherheads.com

xoxo,

- Mj

DIY Tribe Princess

Here it is people, my version of the DIY feather hair accessory. Before I continue, or rather, you begin, be sure to cut some time out for this craft. Before I knew it an hour and fifteen minutes had gone by the time I was finished. The time is worth it though, the feeling of wearing something you really like is even better when what it is that your wearing was hand crafted by you. Be warned, the quality of my photos are horrible. I won't even get started on how much I hate my digi camera but the short of it is...I got it for free as an incentive for signing up for college. As if I would really be THAT much more inclined to attend school upon finding out you get a "Free Digital Camera Purchase for Enrolling!" ugh. I hate bribes. Anyway, the pictures suck, try to deal with it until I buy a camera of better quality. Until then we're workin' with what we got. Sorry in advance, I don't have photo's for every step. Try to visualize as much as you can.


Preparation.
You will want to have everything you need right in front of you because working with little pieces of jewelry that get lost oh so easily can get a little tedious, so make it as simple as possible by setting up a nice work station including, but not limited to, the following:

Supplies

- A Small, thin strip of leather ( I un-braided this old head piece / necklace and cut one strand about 4 inches long for mine )

- Chains from an old necklace ( whichever sizes you prefer )

- Several jump rings, size depends on the size of the chain you use.

- Feathers, these below make things even easier because if you can see they already have jump rings attached. They're from various earrings and necklaces I never use.

- Charms, beads, anything you want to add, really.

- Scissors

- Thread

- Jewelry tweezers ( really, you can use your hands, it's just a little harder )

- Little tiny black or brown rubber bands ( like the ones you use in your hair, they're tiny and actually rubber, not covered with material or anything )
- MOST IMPORTANT: Patience. Be patient with yourself especially if this is your first time making it.

*Remember, this is your accessory, the great thing about DIY is you can make it how ever you'd like so don't limit yourself to only these supplies. Grab some old jewelry you never wear and rip it apart to use the chain or charms from it. Adding your own sparkle is what makes these so great.

Now we begin.
1. You're going to start with the small strip of leather, this is going to be where everything attaches to, well mostly everything.

2. To add a feather: Take one of your little rubber bands, now place a feather wherever you would like it to sit on the leather and wrap the rubber band around both the leather and feather until it's secure.
3. To apply more than one feather: You can apply as many as you'd like at different areas of the leather, so if you'd like to do that just repeat Step 2 until you're satisfied.
4. To add chain: Open a jump ring so that you can place the end of the chain onto it, then close it. Be sure it's secure and the chain won't slip out. ( I know it's bad but I use my teeth ) Next, feed the leather through the jump ring, make sure the chain sits on top of your first feather so it won't fall. 
5. To add thread: You can make a variety of things using thread. In this particular piece I braided together 2 different color threads, along with braiding, I also wrapped them around one another, just anything really. It doesn't have to look perfect.

6. To add beads: I like to add beads when I use chain because they hold the chain and everything else in place and also look amazing. Feed the leather through the beads as you did with the chain. Put the beads on top of the chain to hold that in place.

7. Finally, add one last rubber band above your highest addition to the accessory, this is where you will attach your hair to it. I like to create a small braid wherever I want my feather to be so it has something sturdy to attach to rather that a straight piece of hair that will slip off much easier. Once you've braided your hair and secured the bottom of it with a rubber band, place your accessory wherever you'd like it to fall in your hair along side the braid ( I like it kind of low and toward the front so it's more visible ). Take the rubber band that you secured to the top of the leather and wrap it around both the braid and itself until you feel it's on there good enough. 

There are a million ways to do this, and no one way is 'better' than the next ( maybe easier though! ) it's all about personal preference.

Here are some photos for more inspiration:

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Floral top

LISKA Mink fur shawl

TopShop denim cut off short

Jeffrey Campbell high heel shoes

Malababa leather handbag

Feather necklace

Club Manhattan metal ring

House of Harlow 1960 cocktail ring

Jody Candrian quartz ring

ALDO, how could I forget you?

My best friend just sent me a random text telling me she just purchased "the most gorgeous earrings in the universe', so my initial and rather instinctual thoughts are; from where? and how much? because if she has found literally the most gorgeous earrings in the world, I HAVE to buy them, but they have to be at a store or website that is accessible because she lives on the East Coast. I lucked out because they are from ALDO Accessories. Which has totally slipped my mind for being one of my favorite places to get accessories. The prices aren't too bad for great quality and an array of different styles of jewelry. I'm babbling, so here are a few of my favorite pieces from ALDO's newest promotional collection, Global Inspiration.

^ --pair this with a plain white shirt, blue jeans, and some funky shoes; perfection-- ^

^ --favorite-- ^

^ --this also comes in a stunning powder blue, I love wearing a million rings-- ^

^ --the scarves they're offering right now are so eclectic and give off a kind of Aztec feel, love the idea for summer-- ^

These got your fashion mouth watering? Pick them up here

Birds of a feather flock together

Feathers are in. Pretty much all things native american are at the moment, and being a descendant of the cherokee tribe has given me the genetic upper hand. So, I take full advantage of my DNA by wearing many indian inspired looks. Including, one of my favorites, feathers, may it be on your clothes, incorporated into accessories, or in your hair. Today I'm talking about feather hair accessories they're great because of there versatility, salons now offer actual extensions that you can wash and curl that are feathers ( I'll get more in detail with this in a future post ), or you can just tie some random feathers to your hair for an equally eclectic and totally awesome look. This particular day I went for a sort of charm bracelet themed hair accessory with feathers, beads and chain all included. So many people loved it and asked how I did it or where I got it so there's the photo for your inspirational pleasure.
*tutorial coming soon with step by step instructions
Happy Fashioning friends, until next time
- Mj