Jane By Design: Style Challenge #5

Happy holidays! We've been promoted to task #5 in the Jane By Design Style Challenge, and our editor-in-chief Jen is hard at work trying to win YKYLF a mention on ABC Family's new show, Jane By Design. We get judged on 1) creativity 2) how quickly we complete the tasks and 3) fan support. It would mean oodles if you'd visit the Jane By Design Facebook page and say that You Know You Love Fashion sent you!

The task: Yesterday's email came from "Jane" herself: "Using accessories from your own collection, style a white shirt for a day at the office, and a cocktail party. Ask your readers to share their day-to-night styling tips on the Jane By Design Facebook page and mention the name of your blog."

The result: Day-to-Night Barbie's got nothing on Jane.

Let's start with the daytime look. It's buttoned-up but fashionable. Yes, the shirt is plain, but it's salvaged by a status bag, designer scarf, flattering A-line skirt with a big belt, and stylish yet comfortable crocodile pumps.

Plus some demure gold hoops...

...and four simple bangles at the wrist.

What with Jane running around tackling impossible tasks, she needs shoes that aren't too high.

It's five o'clock (or six, seven, eight...whenever Gray frees Jane from the shackles), and Jane has a party to attend. Perhaps a boat cruise? We transform into a cool evening look by:

1) Switching out the leather bag and croc pumps for wedge espadrilles and a wicker bag.

2) Tying the scarf as a sexy top (this requires you wear a backless bra or no bra at all)

and

3) Turning the shirt into a flippy skirt! Here's how to do it.

While I'm not sure that I can pull off the shirtskirt, I have done the scarfshirt, including once while interviewing style expert Robert Verdi. He wanted to know all about how I did it, and I obliged. Watch for that part of the look to catch on!  :)

See?

Anyway, back to Jane's outfit. What of the demure hoops? They've been amped up with a big bangle looped through the center. The remaining two bangles stay on the wrist.

And there you have it! Please go to the JBD FB page and give YKYLF a shoutout...your voice means a vote for us! THANKS, LUV U!

Jane By Design: Style Challenge #4

Merry Christmas, YKYLF Nation! Our editor-in-chief Jen is on task #4 in the Jane By Design Style Challenge. The prize: YKYLF gets mentioned on an episode, but we need fan support to win. Sign up for the "Team YKYLF" newsletter, and we'll let you know how & when you can help. One randomly selected subscriber will be featured on YKYLF!

The task:  Well, this is one competition that's not taking a holiday break. On Friday I got an email which said: "Turn that holiday sweater into something fresh & exciting that could be the next big trend for Holiday 2012. Ask your readers to share their own inspired creations on the Jane By Design Facebook page, and mention the name of your blog."

The result:  What was once an unfortunate vest is now a skinny tank, ready for the most fabulous Christmas parties!

Here's what we started with. I know.

Let's flip it inside out. Hmm, that's sort of interesting...

But there's a lot of extra stitching. Should we clean it up?

Yes, that's much better.

Now, about the shape. I can't imagine it would be flattering on anyone as-is. Let's do some experimental pinning with the shape and also fold back the braid...

Much more flattering.

Too many colors, though. Let's antique the exposed thread with a bit of black.

That certainly makes it more subtle. What to do with all these extra beads? How about turning them into some jewelry...

And we'll top it off with a patterned belt.

Huh. I might actually wear that.

Paired with some nailhead stud leggings, hot heels, and a vintage clutch, it's practically cute!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Please go to the Jane By Design FB page and tell them about a creation you made, and tell them You Know You Love Fashion sent you. We get judged on fan participation...THANK YOU!

Jane By Design: Style Challenge #3

Presenting Editor-in-chief Jen's ongoing quest to win the ABC Family Jane By Design Style Challenge. The prize: YKYLF gets mentioned on an episode. We need fan support to win. Sign up for the "Team YKYLF" newsletter, and we'll let you know how & when you can help. One randomly selected subscriber will be featured on YKYLF!

The task:  Tuesday's email from Gray Chandler Murray (Andie Macdowell's character) says: "I often say you can judge a person based on the purse they carry. The right bag represents you better than any other accessory can. [Photograph one of your bags and] tell your readers why this purse conveys the very essence of who you are. Then ask your readers to share the bags that best represent them here and mention the name of your blog."

Well, this will be easy...

The result:  My go-to bag is a black Dior shopper purchased quite a few years ago with my first big-girl bonus check. Just like Jane appreciates a well-made classic, so do I.

See these straps? These are not the original straps. About four months into owning the bag, the edges began to show considerable wear. Smelling a defect, I returned them to the shop, who sent the purse to Paris for repairs. What? Your bags don't jet off to Paris by themselves?

See how the bottom is all worn and frayed? Oh, that's right...IT ISN'T. Despite years of being set down on all sorts of surfaces, the fabric has held up beautifully.

It's unreal how much this bag holds. You can fit a 13" laptop and a late-in-the-series Harry Potter book!

Not a dachshund, though. Well, maybe when he was a little pup.

So that's my signature bag. Timeless, durable, practical, and elegant. What's yours?

How you can help us WIN:
1) Go to the Jane By Design Facebook page
2) Tell them about your favorite bag, and say that You Know You Love Fashion sent you! (If you tag us, we'll get the notification and personally thank you.)

PS: For your viewing pleasure, another sneak-peak clip from the show.

Jane By Design: Style Challenge #2

Hey YKYLF fans, good news! We made it past the first Jane By Design style challenge and are now onto #2! Here's editor-in-chief Jen's ongoing chronicle of our quest to get YKYLF mentioned on a JBD episode.

UPDATE 12/19: Want to know how you can help us? Sign up for the "Team YKYLF" newsletter and we'll sound the horn when a task is completed, and let you know what you can do to help. No spam (pinky swear!) AND one randomly selected subscriber will be featured on YKYLF!

The email for Challenge #2 arrived on Friday and said "Using items around your house or your office, create a design on the t-shirt found in your trunk, inspired by a fashion icon. Ask your readers to tell you about their style icons on the JBD Facebook page and mention the name of your blog."

I've chosen a style icon that resonates with us here at YKYLF: Aria from Pretty Little Liars. Girlfriend likes to mix textures like nobody's business, and would probably do this to a plain white t-shirt:

Right?

This t-shirt went through some changes. First, a coffee dye, then cut into a halter top, then embellished with hardware and feathers.

Because you know Aria is all about the feathers.

Anchoring the feathers is a rose fashioned out of extra fabric.

Metal, feathers, flowers...she likes to mix it all.

The back is reminiscent of a dress she wore in the pilot.

The t-shirt has been paired with a long lace skirt, much like her getup from "Careful What U Wish 4".

And if she gets cold, she can top it with a leather motorcycle jacket, as she did in "Je Suis une Amie".

The more textures the merrier!

That's it for now, but we need your support! Please go to the Jane By Design Facebook page and voice your support for You Know You Love Fashion!

PS: Got another sneak-peak clip from the show.

Jane By Design: Style Challenge #1

Ok, YKYLF nation. We don't ask you for much, but for reals, we need your help on this one.

A few weeks ago, ABCFamily invited YKYLF to participate in their Jane By Design Style Challenge. JBD is a new show that chronicles the life of high schooler by day/fashion worker bee by night Jane Quimby. The winning blog gets its name mentioned on an episode of the show, and you know we're all about spreading the YKYLF word!

On Monday, editor-in-chief Jen received a (really heavy) trunk from ABCFamily, filled with mysterious objects, all labeled 1-7. Each object corresponds to a style challenge. If we do well with challenge #1, we move on to challenge #2, and so forth. We know, this is totally something out of Pretty Little Liars, right?

Anywho, challenge #1 was to "shoot a video of a shopping haul and post it to your own blog. Then tell your readers to share their own haul videos on our Facebook page, and mention the name of your blog."

Here's Jen's shopping haul video!

And now, your part: upload your own haul video to the JBD Facebook page. We get judged on how many videos our fans upload, so PLEASE help us out. Your vid can be super short and feature just one item, but be sure to mention YouKnowYouLoveFashion.com!

Thanks, kisses, champagne & doughnuts...
YKYLF

PS: If you're on Twitter, use #JBDStyleChallenge. Also, check out this sneak peak of the show!