
Now that it finally feels like summer here in Portland (hellloooo, 90-degree days!!), I celebrated by making this jumpsuit from a man’s button-down shirt. I used almost every little bit of the original shirt!

With ruched shoulders, belt loops, and self-tie at waist.
It took awhile to formulate the how-to, but I figured it out and shared the tutorial a couple days later here. Check it out if you’re interested in making your own!!

I took an instant liking to this cute little wallet from Target. You’d never think it was actually a wallet once you add a chain handle to it! (I’ll probably change the chain to something a little less bright, but overall, I think this is a great little purse for going out. Just the right size for the bare essentials!)

I made this faux fur fox fur tail recently. I’ve been seeing them starting to crop up in photos around the blogosphere, and something tells me they will be a HUGE trend from Fall ’10. I can only find them online made of REAL fox’s tails. I’m so turned off by this idea (of using a real fox’s tail and hanging it off your bag –*blech*) that I decided to make my own. So for those wanting to get the look of the foxtail accessory, but not inclined to use real fur, I’ve created fake fur tails – out of the most luxurious faux fur I can find. Seriously, I’ve been searching for about 5 years for faux fur that looks like this and has all the beautiful variegation of real fur (and is sold by the yard to non-wholesale customers – something more rare than you might think!). It’s just lovely. This is the Brown-Tipped color, and I’m also offering pure White, solid Black, Orange-tipped Cream, and Brown in my Etsy store!

I also added this tiny pewter fox charm – to indicate that no foxes were harmed in the making of this piece (and still paying homage to the animal that inspired the design;-). I’m offering the tails with and without the charm – and I donate 10% of sales to the Humane Society, who has worked tirelessly to create regulated fur-labeling standards in regards to fur-trimmed fashion products, and advocates going “Fur-Free” when it comes to fashion.

Haha! I just had to try these babies out!


You can also wear the romper without the belt, and with the collar open for a more relaxed look.

Hope everyone’s having a great week!
I have an interview tomorrow for a potential job…so psyched! Wish me luck~
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
You did it again. Awesomeness. It always amazes me how my fvorite bloggers are able to see so much potential in every-day-items. Great idea. I'll get there…
Looks definitely not homesewn (I don't know about you but that really concerns me whenever I sew something. I don't want to look like I've just rolled around on my crafting table before I left the flat.) and I'm looking forward to the tutorial. With kind regards, Katarina
WOW! This is so cute Carly! How creative. You did a great job. I ADORE the faux fur fox tail. I probably need one. So cute!
Cool Romper! I re-structured an old polka-dot dress into a romper this summer – sadly the rain and cloud came before I had a chance to photograph or wear it out properly, but I will definitely be wearing it when the sun comes out again 🙂
wow I love the jumpsuit. can you please make the DIY? I'd love to make another piece of your DIY creations! <3
judith
WOW! This is adorable. I can't wait for the tutorial!!
No way!I can almost squeal! That romper is awesome! AND it looks awesome on you too, love the color also. Can't believe it was made from a man's shirt! Super creative!
I must make it, definitely, I hope I can see the tutorial soon because I was just about to donate two of my husband's shirts and I have them all packed up and stuff, but I don't think it's going to happen, not when I can make a super cool romper like this one!
By the way, the second pair of shoes are pure awesomeness, love them!
Wow wow WOW! This is such a FANTASTIC D.I.Y. And so creative! I'm also really digging the faux fox tail, please let us know when they are available in your Etsy store.
PS-I have that wallet and love it. I think it looks so much more expensive than it actally is. Definitely going to try adding a chain to mine.
loving the romper, and thoes shoes are fantastic! (wait am I the only one using that word anymore?)
xo
ari
You are amazing! I adore your blog and your hard work shows so well. Can't wait for the tutorial. Love the faux fur fox tail too!
-Jocelyn
Wow, those shoes are so badass. I'm so lad to see a blogger do some good. Faux fur all the way! I'm a big supporter of my local humane society.
Wow, those shoes are so badass. I'm so lad to see a blogger do some good. Faux fur all the way! I'm a big supporter of my local humane society.
I am completely loving what you did with the shirt! Why the heck don't I sew??? You look so chic and freakin' fabulous – I can't stand it!
I am completely loving what you did with the shirt! Why the heck don't I sew??? You look so chic and freakin' fabulous – I can't stand it!
SHUT UP! You are too talented. It's not right. The romper is gorgeous and the fox tail is amazing! I looooooooove the charm. Super cute. Just a quick philosophical question: how do you feel about thrifted fur? It's Love Maegan's official fur policy and has always been my unofficial fur policy as well. Thoughts?
Aw, thanks everyone!
I just got my white faux fur in today, can't wait to make some more tails with it.;-) And the jumpsuit tute might take me a little while…it was a bit complicated…but I'll get it done!
@406 Olivia: What I believe is that if the fur has already been used in a jacket or whatever, then to merely discard it or to NOT use it and enjoy it would be so wasteful, and disrespectful to the life of the animal. Logically, that makes sense to me, but yet I still feel a bit of an emotional pang when I see a woman wearing a full-on fur jacket. I'm not interested in the jacket's origins – just wearing a jacket that uses a number of pelts in it “feels” thoughtless and cruel to me. Reconciling that logical belief with that quick emotional response I find very difficult and it's something I still struggle with.
So should you donate all your fur jackets to baby animals in shelters?
Should you eschew fur altogether?
What should be done with all those used fur pieces at thrift stores?
What's ethical in all of this?
My personal belief is that I would like to see the fur trade abolished (apologies to the many workers whose livelihoods depend on it:-( and I think we should work on technologies to create eco-friendly faux furs (i.e., not utilizing petrochemicals). We have so much technology and scientific skill, why can we not simulate the beauty of real fur? Why must we kill for it?? If the fur trade canNOT be abolished completely then it would be great for it to work in tandem with the meat industry (fat chance, I know) so that no hide is wasted. It's the sheer waste and disrespect for creatures that I can't stand – and the disconnect that many fur-loving people have.
It's very hard to appear ethical whilst wearing fur if you're not wearing a big sign around your neck that says “This was thrifted!” I really wish there was a way to celebrate people who find use in items that other people discard – and call that ethical, frugal, and eco-friendly, without having the stigma that wearing real fur promulgates.
So, my answer to wearing thrifted fur? In *theory*, eco-friendly and laudable. In appearance, the exact opposite! It's a real tough call, and for me I think it's okay to wear it if you are paying homage to the animal and its life in your choice.
Thanks for your question!
xoxox
Carly
Wow Carly, that romper is amazing!
And we are on the exact same page with the fur thing, even down to feelings about thrifted fur. I was disgusted the first time I saw hipsters wandering around with real fox tails hanging from their pants or purse. I much prefer your cruelty-free version.
The romper is so cute, but not at all “cutesy” like so many of them are. Love it! And I really love the fox tail and the wallet.
I agree with your stance on wearing fur. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't wear fur and I only wear thrifted leather. But you're right that thrifted fur is tricky to wear because you can TELL that it's thrifted. The way I see it, NO ONE needs to buy fur when there's so much faux fur out there that's just as soft and pretty looking.
WOW! It's WOW!
I love what you do! You are so creative!
would you explain how you did this?
thank you.
I love the outfit. Nice legs!
can’t wait for the tutorial!!! This would be great for our trip to phoenix in may!!!!
Ooooohdear. The tutorial is here….I just didn’t link it to this post. Sorry about that! Hope that helps out a little…good luck making your own and let me know if you run into any problems!!
xoxox
Carly