DIY Fashionista

Hot off the press, the latest economic figures have revealed that Australia’s economy has grown faster than that of any other developed country in the past financial year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released figures that show the gross domestic product rose 0.6 per cent from the previous three months. In comparison, the median estimated growth for other developed nations was just 0.2 per cent. However despite this positive outlook it appears that many are still returning to the days of old, when all clothing was couture and the concept of ready-to-wear was laughable.

It has been labelled the ‘unfortunate effects of the recession’ by many on the fashion inside. And it is designer clothing and accessories that must suffer, while the lipstick effect selfishly grips onto the purses of Australian women. Consequently, the internet has been flood by a plethora of websites and blogs dedicated to re-creating what we can no longer have in times of saving pennies; those lustful objects of desire that must stand aside when the rent comes calling.

However, fear not. Some needle-savvy bloggers have banded together to stand against the denial of designer fashion by creating do-it-yourself versions of the unaffordable.

As you will no doubt observe, not all require stitching.

1. Balmain Runway Look:

Continuing my love affair with Christopher’s work, the only problem I have with Balmain is its extraordinarily exorbitant prices. It seems that feeling is mutual across all boards. So, Valerie from Bleach Black and Senior Men’s Apparel Designer for Element Skateboards, created a DIY version of the hottest runway look this season (courtesy of Refinary 29).

Materials

*all italised comments are my own

- Thrift Store Blazer: $6.00 (alternatives available at Savers for $17.95)

- Buttons: Approx. $25.00 (assortment of buttons available at Spotlight for approximately the price)

- Braided Trim: $18.00 (also available at Spotlight for $10.95)

- Needle/Thread: $5.00 (available: anywhere)

- Already-owned Element jeans (for super -cheap jeans try k-mart, alternatively Dotti and Valley Girl also have mid-rinse jeans available for less than $50.00)

- Bleach: $4.00 (available from Coles for same price)

- Thrift store pumps: $7 (this may require considerable time spent at Savers. However same-style shoes are also available at Rubi shoes for $49.00)

- Assorted studs: $10.00 (Spotlight)

- Hole Punch Tool: Approx. $25 (Spotlight, Lincraft, Riot Art Supplies)

Method:

Denim:

I used about 40 rubber bands and scissors. Begin by grabbing chunks of the denim and wrapping with the rubber bands. Grab both large and small chunks of denim, so that the end effect is random. Repeat until your jeans are largely covered with rubber bands. Place banded jeans in your bathtub, pouring bleach on the jeans so that they are completely soaked. Wait about 5-10 minutes. Color should start to change. Rinse with cool water. Cut rubber bands. Effect should be subtle. Wash and dry. Effect should be more noticeable. For stronger contrast, repeat by pouring bleach directly onto dry jeans (no rubber bands) in the darkest spots. Wait about 5 minutes. Rinse, wash, and dry.

Blazer:

I used about approximately 5 yards of braided cording, approximately 60 small silver military buttons, scissors, straight pins, needle, and thread. Use sharp scissors to cut the ends of the cording, folding under half an inch of excess on each end. Secure with straight pins, and begin to sew. Remove the pins as you sew to avoid the cording from buckling. This takes a long time–but it’s easy TV work. After the braiding is complete, affix your military buttons onto the ends of the military cording.

Shoes:

Per shoe, I used 4 large tree spikes, 5 medium tree spikes, and 6 small tree spikes. I punched the hole using my crop-a-dile eyelet setter/hole puncher. I punched 3 rows of holes, spaced half an inch apart: 6 holes on row #1: 5 holes on row #2, 3 holes on row #3 (closest to toes). The tree spikes are easy to affix, as they are a male/ female screw-set, which can be easily applied with hands.

2. Marc Jacobs Inspired Hardware Cuff:

There is a saying that ‘it’s all in the accessories’. And this cuff sure lives up to that in all its hardware glory. DIY Chic Steals shows us how to make this piece (courtesy of Fashion Indie) using art shop supplies:

Materials

(visit spotlight and Riot art supplies for everything on the list)

- large piece of stiff black felt (22cm x 28cm)

- black thread

- decorative thread or staples in gold

- 1 decorative button

- heavy-duty gold snaps (2 sets)

- gold soutache braided trim

- 1 heavy-duty jacket zipper (black with gold teeth)

- gold safety pins (1 large, 15 small)

- clear, flexible plastic (like from a vinyl tabletop cover)

- snap setting pliers/hammer+die for the snaps

- stapler

- needle

- felt or fabric glue

Method:

1. Cut the felt into 2 abstract, oblong flower “petals” 2 flower “petals”. To make the triangle-shaped petals, cut the plastic into 2 diamond shapes.Cut the zipper into 3 lengths, each piece measuring 10″ long. Fold each length in the center to make a rounded petal shape; secure the inside with 2 gold staples (or hand-sew stitches in decorative thread).

2. From the felt, cut out the base of your flower parts: a circle measuring approximately 1.25″ in diameter. Then cut a 2″ wide strip that is long enough to go around your wrist plus a 3/4″ for overlap for the snaps. Use snap-setting pliers (like Dritz), or hammer and die to set 2 snaps (and their counterparts) into the ends. Because they are strong, we chose shanked snaps; alternatively, you could use sew-on snaps.

3. Using a needle and thread, hand-sew your parts onto the felt base. Start with a felt petal, then a zipper petal, then a plastic petal in a corkscrew design; repeat, attaching each new petal on top of the previous one. Wind the braided trim in and out of the petals in a figure-8 pattern, securing in the center with a few stitches. Then hide all of your stitching with a button sewn into the center. Pin safety pins haphazardly around the edge of one of the felt petals; thread 10 smaller pins onto the larger pin and attach. Complete the look by adding yet more staples or decorative thread.

4. Glue felt base to the center of the cuff. Secure further by sewing around edge of the circle base with decorative thread.

***I plan to create the Marc Jacobs cuff on the school holidays (which is the only time I will have free time) and will post photos of my masterpiece!

Disclaimer: post header image from Cut Out and Keep.

Advertisement