What Andy Warhol's Rejection from MoMA Can Teach Us

Back in 1956 Andy Warhol's paintings belonged in the trash... at least that's what curators of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) probably thought at the time. After Warhol donated a painting entitled "Shoe" to the museum, they sent him the above rejection letter. But guess who got the last laugh? Today,  Andy Warhol's paintings are some of the most recognizable in the world. In 2008, his piece entitled "Eight Elvises" commanded an astounding $100 million dollars at auction. 

I'm sharing Andy Warhol's rejection letter not because it's anything new (the letter was actually released in a book in 2009), but rather because it can serve as inspiration for so many of us. 

While Warhol struggled for acceptance in the art world it's quite likely that he received more than one rejection along the way. So many of us are in that same boat, and we quit pursuing our passions, naively thinking we aren't good enough. Instead, we need to heed Warhol's lessons. Whether you are a high school student, 20 years into your career or simply someone trying to make a life change, keep going... keep pushing... keep applying... keep persisting... keep creating.  You may be on the cusp of something huge. 

What are your thoughts on this letter? Are there any challenging projects that you are currently working on? Do you have any stories to share? Leave your comments below.

xX Helene

Trendspotting: Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses

Summer! The season for weddings is upon us and it can get expensive! 

If you are lucky enough to be chosen as a bridesmaid, get ready to incur a mountain of expenses...  bachelorette party, hair, nails, makeup, matching shoes and accessories, spa packages, travel costs, the list goes on and on. 

While some brides are considerate of their friend's financial situations, others expect bridesmaids to cash out their savings in preparation for that special day. Of course there are costs that a bridesmaid can escape, but the bridesmaid dress is simply not one of them. Bridesmaids are often asked to drop a pretty penny on a dress they don't even like and will never wear again. 

So, Bon Vivant and a Budget presents the perfect solution for everyone...  mismatched bridesmaid dresses. Equipped with a set of guidelines from the bride, each bridesmaid picks out her own dress. This ensures bridesmaids like what they wear (it's flattering for their body types and styles) and only have to spend what they can afford. Most of all, the bride is happy because her beautiful wedding now has a unique flair.  

 

The key to mismatched bridesmaid dresses done right is a unifying thread. This can be accomplished in 1 or more ways. Just remember CLAS(S):

• Color - keep everything in the same color family. A simple trick is to go to a hardware store, pickup paint swatches and give them to bridesmaids. They can then pick their dresses according to these exact colors 
• Length- be consistent... all dresses should be either short, midi or long. Don't mix and match hem lengths, otherwise the look won't be cohesive
• Accessories -  everything can be unified with matching shoes, sash belts, or bouquets 
• Silhouette- everyone wears the same type of dress (e.g. empire waist, one-shoulder, sheath, etc) 

pictures via Stephanie Williams Photography, Keith Cephus, Jill Thomas, Something Blue, Bridal Musings

Do you like the look of mismatched bridesmaid dresses? Would you consider mismatched bridesmaid dresses for your own wedding one day? Leave your comments below.

xX Helene

Scarves.... the cheapest & chicest fashion statement

Two years ago I cut my hair extremely short. Faced with limited styling options, I wanted to change up my look, but didn't have a clue how. Most hair accessories simply aren't made for women with only an inch of hair, so I really had to flex my creative muscles to change up my look... I randomly tied a scarf as a headband one day, loved the look and I've been hooked ever since. Today I probably own two dozen scarves in all different prints, colors and textures. I have a scarf to go with virtually any outfit!

REASONS WHY I LOVE SCARVES:

• extremely affordable accessory... you can buy them for under $5 
• elevate an otherwise plain outfit to something more stylish
• provide a pop of color or print 
• versatile (you can wear them so many ways)
• tied around your waist as a belt 
• worn in your hair as a headband
• attached to your handbag for a dose of bohemian whimsy
• knotted around your neck for Parisian flair
• wrapped around your waist as an obi belt
• disguise a bad hair day
• hold thick hair in place (bye, bye skinny headbands that do nothing for me)
• push back bangs or give short hair a different look

Images via, via, via

How do you like to wear scarves? Which are your favorite looks from above? Chime-in via the comments section.

xX Helene

Bon Vivant + a Budget featured in IFB's LINKS À LA MODE May 24th

Bon Bivant and a Budget is featured on the Independent Fashion Bloggers Links à la Mode, a roundup of the online fashion community's top twenty blog posts for the week of May 24. Checkout their list below...

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: MAY 24TH:

• Aspiring New Moms: Summer in the Office
• Barefoot Duchess: The Top Bun & How to DIY
• Bon Vivant and a Budget: How to Host a Clothing Swap
• Chic Cheat: Oh Miu Miu Stars
• Fashion After Breakfast: DIY Pastel Collar Necklace
• Fashion Love Affairs: 6 Free Ways to End Your Fashion Rut
• Fashion, Well Done: Personal Style - A 5-Year Retrospective
• FashStash: Support Local: Saloni Rathor
• Finely Made: DIY: Lizzie Fortunato Scale Bracelet
• Flounces and Slashes: DIY Swarovski Crystallized Shoes
• I Have a Degree in This: Why You Should Take My Fashion Degree Seriously
• My Confidence and Me: Introducing...(Melissa/For Fi Love, Me)
• My Style Snapshot: Let It Be
• Sea and Swank: What to Wear: Weddings
• Stars For Streetlights: DIY: How to Make a Scarf Shirt
• Style Over Sense: DIY Doorknob Hanger
• The Average Girl’s Guide: Vent Sesh: Consumption
• The Style Safari: Thurs-DIY: Tropical Floral Tee
• Tobruck Ave: BEfriends
• Under the Cottonwood: Trends: Graphic and Bold Prints

SPONSOR:
Spring Sale at Shopbop: Magda Berliner, Weitzman, Rachel Roy, Badgley Mischka, Raquel Allegra, Garde Paris, Rebecca Taylor,Oliver Theyskens & Sonia Rykiel


What blog topics are you interested in? What blogs have you been stalking lately? Leave your comments below.


xX Helene

DIY Silk flower wall

image via

Since I just moved recently, the majority of wall space in my apartment is still devoid of color- an uninspiring white. Unfortunately, my lease dictates that I'm not allowed to paint... booooo... if you rent too, you probably can relate. So instead of buying a hundred pieces of art, I'm toying with the idea of hanging silk flowers on a wall with masking tape (as pictured above) for a super easy DIY flower wall. Stores such as Jo-Anne Crafts, Michaels and the local dollar store have these faux flowers for uber cheap. That said, this project won't cost much as long as the chosen wall isn't huge.


What do you think of the look: yay or nay? Should I try this at home, kids? Leave your comments below.

xX Helene

DIY Spraypainted Desk Hardware

I have to admit I'm not a super handy person; I grew up playing with candy-colored nail polish and worrying about broken fingernails. I never touched a hammer until I graduated college, and didn't buy my first toolkit until a few years after that. Putting furniture together from Ikea is tedious and even the "easy" do it yourself (DIY) projects intimidate me. But lately the blogosphere has become so inundated with the DIY craze (thanks Pinterest) that I simply had to try one for myself. So, without further ado... here's my 1st DIY project for the blog. 

I had a desk sitting around unused for years in my parents house, but when I moved to a new apartment recently, I brought it with me. It has a sense of history, it's real furniture (READ: solid wood, unlike Ikea) and it's in good condition, but it is showing slight hints of age- the brass handles have oxidized quite a bit over the years. While some people enjoy the weathered look, it simply isn't my aesthetic of choice for furniture. Over at anthropologie, they have beautiful hardware for sale, but it's très expensive-  the absolute cheapest pulls I could use were $12 each. I needed 7 pulls for my desk, which would cost me $84 plus tax and shipping. So instead of buying pricey new hardware, I decided to give what I already had a face-lift. I removed all of the hardware with a flat-head screwdriver (you can buy one at a hardware store for a dollar). 

I read online that steel wool and a cleaner called Bab-o would remove the tarnish and bring back luster, glimmer, shimmer and shine. They lied (see picture above)... I scrubbed until my arms were tired and only splotchy portions of the handles shone. After all that work, the handles looked uglier than when I started... at that point there was no turning back.

Equipped with a can of Krylon gold spray paint and an old sheet to protect my hardwood floors, I got to work. I opened all the windows in my apartment, put on clothes that I didn't care about and tied a scarf around my nose and mouth to prevent paint inhalation (thanks Carol). I laid all the handles out on the sheet and sprayed away. Did I mention this was my first time EVER using spray paint??? It was really easy once I got used to spraying lightly. Once everything was coated, I stepped away, admired my work and waited a few hours for them to dry.

About 4 hours later, I reattached them to my desk with the screws and a flat head screwdriver. The shiny updated hardware looks so much better. This project cost me absolutely nothing (that's right $0) because I already had all the materials. It would cost you about $5 for the spray paint and if you don't have any old sheets, you can always use a dollar store plastic shower curtain as a tarp. 

What do you think of the results? Would you try this at home? Do you have any DIY projects that you are itching to do? Leave your comments below.

xX Helene

How to host a clothing swap

A clothing swap is a fun, sustainable way to refresh your wardrobe by trading clothing you no longer wear with friends... and the best part is you usually don't have to spend a dime! Over the past few years I've gone to many clothing swaps- some good, some bad, others fantastic! Each taught me different lessons of how to successfully host a clothing swap party. So when a friend recently asked me for some tips on creating her own, I figured I should just write a blog post about it.  Below I have outlined Bon Vivant + a Budget's rules for hosting a clothing swap (and a few more tips if you are attending one). Happy Swapping! 

PLANNING THE SWAP

• Save the date. Weekends are usually best, just make sure the day you picked doesn't coincide with major holidays, weddings, or travel plans. 
• Make a budget. Many clothing swaps are free, others charge a nominal admission fee of $5 or $1o to absorb the cost of refreshments. 
• Tap your network. Invite your friends and have them invite their friends. This maximizes the diversity of attendees- you want all different styles, body shapes and sizes to ensure everyone who attends can find something.  A good clothing swap should have at least a dozen people. 
• Make invites. Use Facebook, Evite, eventbrite, or traditional paper invitations and send them out at least two weeks in advance to accommodate people's schedules. This will give attendees a chance to go through their closets. Include directions, admission cost, and any special instructions on the invites.
• Call a charity. Clothing swaps are a great way to give to people in need and you can even get a receipt for a tax deduction. Once the date is set, contact a local 501c(3) charity to arrange a pickup the day after the swap; some great charities include Goodwill, Salvation Army and Housing Works. 
• Create signage. Make signs by type of garment (accessories, tops, skirts, pants) or by size. 
• Set rules. Decide on a minimum/maximum amount of items each person can bring. Tell people not to bring damaged clothing. Ask attendees only to bring stuff that's in season. (This is for good reason- In June, people aren't looking for wool sweaters and winter coats)
• Give people something to look forward to. Don't do clothing swaps too often (more than once a season), otherwise you risk people not coming or having little to swap. 

DURING THE SWAP

• Designate a friend to help you sort clothes as guests come in. You need a large enough space, but it can take any form-  tables, on the couch, on clothing racks with hangers or on a clean floor. 
• Give each guest an index card with a number. The number corresponds with the number of items she brought for the swap. When guests are ready to "checkout" this is the currency by which they pay OR you can do a free-for-all, whereby it doesn't matter how many items anyone brings, if she sees something and likes it, it's hers. 
• Provide refreshments. wine, drinks, cheese, fruits, crackers, veggies and dip are perfect finger foods. Sifting through clothes for hours can be draining if you aren't fueled.  You can also ask guests to bring something edible to share. 
• Pass around a mailing list and let people write down their contact info- you can always email this group of people if you want to host a clothing swap in the future.
• Have fun. Play music, take pictures, have a fashion show and allow the clothing swap attendees to model their new clothing, give a prize for the best or craziest outfit. 
• Give a small thank-you gift for coming. Some hosts give goody bags. I have seen other gifts such as nail files, small candles or a blank notebook. This is a good idea because there may be a person who finds nothing that fits- this ensures she doesn't leave empty handed. 

ATTENDING THE SWAP

• Dress in layers. There probably won't be a dressing room, so wear close fitting clothes such as leggings and a camisole as your base layers, which are great for trying things on top of. 
• Only bring items that you are proud of. Don't bring anything with stains, rips, bad pilling, broken zippers, holes or smells. 
• Bring a reusable shopping bag to carry your stuff home in. 
• Keep an open mind. Something might not look great on the hanger, but it might look fantastic on your body... try stuff on that other people recommend for you.
• Inspect anything you are considering taking home for any damage. You don't want to bring it home and then decide that you will never use or wear it. 
• Bring business cards. Although it's a not a traditional place to network, clothing swaps present a unique opportunity to make new friends and professional contacts. 

images via + via

Have you ever been to a clothing swap? What did you think? Would you ever host your own? Do you have any swapping tips to share?

xX Helene

H&M 35% Off Coupon

Whenever I see an H&M coupon code, I have to share it with the universe because these coupons only come along once every blue moon. Click here for a HUGE 35% off H&M coupon for any item until May 27, 2012. If you have a smartphone, you don't even have to print it out... simply show the coupon on your phone.

Enjoy Shopping!

xX Helene

What Can I Buy for $10 in Brooklyn?

This weekend I wasn't planning on doing any retail therapy, but when a visiting friend wanted to explore Brooklyn, shopping became inevitable. As always, I found more than a few things I loved and had to have, but I couldn't justify buying everything in sight- especially since our economy still needs a heavy dose of Prozac... le sigh! Instead, I wandered to the nearest ATM and withdrew a crisp Alexander Hamilton and set myself a challenge budget of $10. Why $10? I did this to prove that there are cool things to be bought for a small amount of money if you know where to look (thanks to my momma for teaching me how to shop and be a Bon Vivant + a Budget). 

My haul included:

Green sunglasses for $5 from a street vendor in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. I've been looking for some interesting sunnies for a while; these were a perfect fit and price. Cheap sunglasses are a necessity since I always lose or sit on them anyway.

Vintage Bareuther flower shaped plate for 25¢. Yes, you read that right; I paid a quarter in a thrift store called Valu-Plus in Brooklyn. This pretty plate will house my frequently used lipsticks and glosses. 

Cute floral dress for $4 at Lora's Clothing in Sunset Park, Brooklyn (this store is so off the radar, it's not even on Yelp). I already know exactly how I'm gonna wear this. I'll probably give it some edge and rock it with a big afro, some black tights and a pair of combat boots.

$5 + $4  + 25¢ = a whooping grand total of $9.25!!!! My shopping craving was satiated and I was left with 75 cents change... I dun' good! What can you buy for $10? Where are your favorite places to shop when the purse strings are tight? Do you think I should turn "What can you buy for __?" into a regular feature on the blog?

xX Helene

Mason Jar Mania

I've always admired the look of mason jars, but never actively went shopping to buy any. So when I found a dozen in my childhood home recently, I excitedly lugged them back to my Brooklyn abode and filled them with a bevy of things. For me, mason jars represent a simple way to display everything from silverware to nail-polish without tacky plastic containers or a cluttered look. It's amazing how a few simple glass jars can elevate random knickknacks to a curated collection of art! I didn't stop there.... I then scoured the internet and found even more uses for mason jars than I could have imagined. The pictures below are some of my favorites, all of which are also do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. While you probably won't find mason jars in the 99 cents store, that doesn't mean they aren't super affordable- you can get a case of 12 jars for less than $10 here. 

 

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Do you use mason jars? What creative, fashionable or affordable ways do you store things in your home? Leave your comments below.  If you enjoyed this post, you might also like this post on jewelry storage. 


xX Helene