Jul 25, 2013 | Fashion
It’s the middle of Summer, temperatures are rising, and it becomes so much harder to look chic and effortless. Plus you’re not covered with accessories and coats and scarves and hats and the like…so it may be more difficult to incorporate DIY pieces into your outfits. But here are some great ideas from street style photos for you to start your DIY list for the [mid-] season:
via Obaz.com
Jazz up a pair of cutoffs with sequin and beaded trims (M&J Trimming has some great ones!)
via WiolettaM’s Lookbook.nu
Add a pretty printed fabric over a panel on your satchel with some Mod Podge.
via MeganCavallo on ModCloth Style Gallery
Liven up a plain black skirt with fabric paint in wide bands.
via Ashley Tarkington on Lucky Community
Craft up a Trina Turk lookalike dress by adding some bright bias binding to the edges of a neutral dress, and wear with a black stretchy elastic belt.
via FashionDistrict.org
Add some pretty felt flowers to the brim of a straw hat to match your outfit…extra points if you put them on a pin-backing and make them removable. 😉
via FashionDistrict.org
Add fun to a plain cotton blouse by printing it with tiny animals (using a stencil or stamp) and fabric paint or ink. Instant DIY print!
via Atlantic-Pacific
Add a favorite saying to a loose sweatshirt or T-shirt with some bold iron-on letters.
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Try your hand at ombre-dyeing by dip-dyeing a white silken blouse with indigo hues.
via FashionHotbox
Make that plain tote you carry everywhere tons more fun with a bag- or box-shaped iron-on graphic. (You could also just paint your own, or try just outlining it trompe l’oeil-style with a Sharpie!)
via With Love From Kat
Hand-sew colorful tassels to the edges of a printed scarf for a Moroccan vibe and a punch of color.
How are you DIY’ing your outfits this Summer?
xo
Carly
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Jul 24, 2013 | Fashion
I can’t get this image of this chic woman at the Milan Fashion Week Spring 2014 out of my head – I pinned it to my Pinterest board recently and have been lusting ever since! Her outfit is totally next on my DIY list! It’s so perfect for Summery weather, and yet so incredibly polished. (And so DIY’able!)
Just pull your hair back into a low bun and pair with some sunnies you’ve DIY’d with some cut metal pieces (a la my DIY Alexander Wang Zipper Sunglasses tutorial) or added a couple white stripes with nailpolish or washi tape to. Cut the sleeves off a tight black T-shirt and chop is to rib-length. If you’re comfortable with sewing, the skirt you could make yourself from a basic pencil skirt pattern, using a graphic striped fabric (I swear Jo-Ann’s has something really similar to that lattice!). Add a black flounce to the hem using a curved piece of fabric, then applique over it with fruits cut from quilting fabric and use Heat N Bond to secure! (Like how I made my DIY Floral Applique Cardigan.) Pair with a pair of navy satin pumps and a dark green perspex clutch (you could totally use a clear lucite jewelry box and paint the inside with green glass paint) – and you’re good to go!
And if you’re not following me on Pinterest yet, please do! I’d love to see you there! Lots of outfits and DIY ideas to get inspired by:-)
xo
Carly
image via Fashionising.com
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May 11, 2013 | DIY
Mother’s Day 2013 is almost upon us…how are you doing for finding that perfect thing for that special woman in your life? Flowers, chocolate, a handmade card expressing love, even a thoughtful gesture can go a long way in showing her how much she’s appreciated! If you’re looking for something to give, here at the very, very last minute, are some Mother’s Day Gift ideas to DIY for that lovely lady:
DIY Vintage Photo Throw Pillow with Freezer Paper
Try using a treasured photo of Mom’s, family photos, or a snap of you + Mom together, for an extra-special way to preserve memories.
DIY Paper Gardenia Bouquet
Real flowers wilt and die…a bouquet of these will last forever! Love the Scrabble tiles anchoring the bouquet, adding a personalized touch.
DIY Geometric Paperweights
These are super-chic and can totally be customized for Mom with a coat or two of paint, glitter, or tape.
DIY Geometric Triangle Art
Or how about this pretty piece of Washi Tape Triangle Art for Mom? The end result is amazing and all you need is a little tape.
Pleated Tote Tutorial
This tote could be made in Mom’s favorite fabric (or even in fabric printed with family photos – see #1). Of course there are a ton of DIY Bag and Tote tutorials out there on the internet if you’re looking for a different style…this site offers a great roundup.
DIY Perfume Locket
Making perfume is surprisingly easy…and a solid perfume locket allows the wearer to carry it around all day, refreshing as needed. You can get all your supplies at your local natural foods store, and fill a locket…or a necklace vial…or a ring…or a compact case…the possibilities go on and on!
DIY Chevron Patterned Party Tray
Find a pretty fabric – and glue it to a tray for a whole new look. (You could even decoupage it with Mod Podge instead of using an acrylic sheet to make it permanent!)
(Hint: If you’re looking for a low- or no-cost alternative gift, Moms also really appreciate a meal made for the family by their partner, kids taken care of and put to bed, and a long, uninterrupted bubble bath all their own…without any little floaty toys or random kidparts and splashes in it. Just sayin.’ 😉
Do you have any favorite Mother’s Day projects to share? Add them in the comments section!
Hope you and all the mothers in your life enjoy a wonderful and relaxing Mother’s Day!
xo
Carly
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Apr 2, 2013 | DIY
I love lurking on street-style blogs for many reasons, one of which is the MAJOR DIY inspo I can find there. Looking at the variety of other people’s outfits always gets my creativity wheels a-churning, thinking “oh, I could do this to a skirt I already have!” or “use an applique and you’d be able to make that!” etc. I find that the street-style blogs geared towards a younger audience (Lookbook.nu and Chictopia.com, for example) are such a treasure trove of inspiration for embellishment, cutting, studding, and clothing alteration that you can’t find anywhere else (and that you can easily make yourself). Given that Spring is in full swing already and skirt hemlines are rising, here is some mini-skirt inspiration sourced from Chictopia’s member style photos and shopping section:
Tibet Cross Skirt, $47
If you’re one for embroidery, you can embroider little crosses all over a chiffon skirt like in Hetterson’s Embroider a Pine Tree Dress for Frolic! Tutorial. You could also use fabric cut into cross-shapes, backed with Heat ‘n’ Bond…or even tiny cross appliques.
from user MARSELL
A DIY tutu is no problem…you just need a couple yards of tulle, a little time, and this great DIY Tulle Skirt tutorial from Cotton & Curls.
from user STYLELIMELIGHT
Looks like that white Zara wrap skort is suddenly having a moment. You could totally DIY something similar with a bit of white, stiff fabric using my DIY Simple Wrap Skirt tutorial.
Vintage 90s Corduroy Zip-Up Skirt, $30
Create a zipped-up look to any skirt by tacking a zipper down the front.
Aloha Peplum Skirt, $34
Make this yourself by using A Matter of Style’s DIY Peplum Skirt tutorial – it’s so detailed and the finished product is amazing.
from user THECOVERTBOUTIQUE
You could totally change the look of any skirt you own by throwing on a removable peplum over it…I did a tutorial for a puffy DIY Jil Sander Gathered Removable Peplum awhile back, and ...love, Maegan has a great tutorial for a flippy, soft removable peplum of leather (easily converted to use with your favorite fabric).
from user ZEANVO
I love this pretty yellow skirt with this contrasting black print! You could DIY this by hand-painting trees onto the bottom of a skirt with fabric paint…or even going the extra mile and making your own DIY Screenprinted Tree Skirt (and my tree image is available here if you’re interested).
Punching Leather Skirt in Black, $58
To DIY this takes a great deal of time and precision…but you could do it to a thrifted leather skirt, using a leather punch and Syl and Sam’s DIY Scalloped Skirt tutorial.
from user TWENTY7THINGS
Easily make a wrap-style tulip skirt from a large scarf like Lions, Tigers, and Fashion Oh My!. Perfect for a beach cover-up or a chic boho look to any outfit!
What are your favorite mini-skirt tutorials?
Happy skirting!
xo
Carly
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Nov 12, 2012 | DIY
Create a quick butterfly clip with a faux butterfly decoration from the floral decor section of the craft store (at Michael’s Arts & Crafts, they’re with the fake birds, nests, twigs, and vase filler).
Have you ever noticed that the most eye-catching Fashion is all about the details?
Make a pretty wrapped bow bracelet with some dead-soft brass wire, available at any craft store, in spools in the jewelry-making section.
Wrap some contrasting soft leather or fabric around the tops of your ankle booties, tying in knots at the sides. Instant colorblocking!
Take the street style photos of Tommy Ton on the JakandJil blog, for instance. His amazing photos capture all the little details of outfits, accessories, jewelry, and all the tiny details about a time, place, and the fashion therein that make the viewers feel in the moment. Plus those little details that feel fresh and unique.
Scribble a favorite saying on your dark bag with a silver paint marker. (Practice first in a piece of a paper before committing to something permanent!)
(And ohmigosh I just realized whose bag this is! I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. It’s Vivi model Sara Mary‘s bag, signed by Jane Birkin herself!)
Re-string your front-laced heels with an unexpected material, like regular shoelaces, for a sporty look.
The detailing is what makes us individuals.Â
Click to Tweet the Above!
It’s a way to express oneself, to make that white blouse less standard, that LBD not just off-the-rack.
Cut a tissue-thin tee at the shoulder seams – then re-tie in little knots to create a peekaboo effect at the neckline.
Tack on some veil netting to something surprising, like a knit beanie (such a popular DIY!)
And the details are soooo easy to DIY. (Way easier than patternmaking, sewing from scratch, or even refashioning.)
If you’re into stitchery, make a hybrid coat from parts of other coats. No so much? Cut contrasting pieces of fabric – the add some Heat ‘n’ Bond fusible to the back, and fuse onto the front and inside lapel of a blazer you may already have. Instant facelift.
Make a one-of-a-kind necklace by twisting and knotting different-colored chains together, even incorporating some different materials, like cord or lacing. Add some charms to make it your own.
Practice looking for those details, and noticing what makes it different. If you see something you like, emulate, recreate, re-master, re-mix.
Click to Tweet the above!
Change the look of any sandal by adding a swatch of fun fur to the front (tack in place with a couple stitches under the lacing; the fur will hide it completely). This place sells some great, and very realistic, choices.
Do like Prada did and add chandelier drops to a plastic rainhat for some reflective rain protection.
Add Grandma’s crocheted flowers or doilies (or crochet them yourself!) to the front of a sweatshirt for a modern vintage feel.
You are the genie of your own identity.
Click to Tweet the Above!
xoxox
Carly
All photos from JakandJil.com.
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