DIY Leather Insert Jeans

Glue some leather onto your jeans like this. Or cut a strip of denim out of an old pair of jeans and wear over leather look leggings. Perfect for when the weather gets cold.

Image: ? Does anyone know where this came from?

DIY Denim Waistcoat with Shoulder Pads

Love this cute little waistcoat with strong shoulders. Cut the sleeves off a denim jacket - leaving a couple of inches of fabric after the shoulder seam. Sew some thick boxy shoulder pads onto the jacket, then sew the edges of the fabric underneath tightly, so the rounded hard shoulder is created.

Image: Studded Hearts

DIY Safety Pin Designs

Yes, I know I know, safety pin designs have been on the DIY radar for a while now (I promise I try to post new things you won't have seen too many times!) but I like this look - where the safety pin designs follow the print on a dress or top to give some texture.

Image: Ma Masha via Park and Cube

DIY Cropped Tops

Next time you get the scissors out to do some t-shirt cropping - choose a circular cut like this, and then either leave the back hanging down or crop that in a similar way!

Image: Stolen Girlfriends Club via Studded Hearts and Because I'm Addicted

DIY Knotted Skirt

Love this gorgeous maroon colour - and the knotted bottom is so cute and such as easy DIY.

Image: Anywho

DIY Leather Belt

The girls from Anywho never cease to inspire me with their looks of the day, they always put together the most amazingly toned outfits (my favourites being the grey, maroons and blues).

Loved the look of these belts as soon as I saw them - then noted it was a DIY job. I can imagine that they sewed a long strip of leather (at least I think its leather? maybe its matte lycra or jersey?) around some foam or cushion stuffing. Has a certain jetsons feel.

Images: Anywho

Ps. Am crazy busy getting ready for my trip to spain and portugal. Won't be posting from there but have scheduled a few automatic posts over the next two weeks. Gotta keep the punter 'appy!

Today is also the last official day to enter my DIY Toolkit Giveaway. Have you entered? I will be drawing a winner and posting off the kit when I am back in London in 2 weeks (although if you want to enter between now and then I may turn a blind eye to the whole competition close date thing...).

x

DIY Mexican Poncho

Please don't hate me for repeating myself with the whole blanket as a cape thing. I am addicted.

Image: Honestly WTF

Doing a bit more than DIY...

Loved seeing my friend Emma and her sister Milly on the Australian Vogue Galley looking stylish as ever. Milly moved on from DIY when she was, erm, about 13. Now she designs for her own brand Ziesemer. Check it out!

Image: Milly and Emma via Australian Vogue

DIY Spray Dye

Saw this amazing top on Christeric's blog a while ago and fell in love with the colours. Then happened upon this dress on Nasty Gal and knew that it wasn't just me that thought it was cool. Has a certain Dion Lee galaxy feel to it no? Could you, and would you, take a few spray bottles with different coloured dyes in them and go to town on a sheer silk top or dress? Please let me know if you can think of a more effective technique!

Image: Christeric / Nasty Gal

Ps. Shout out to the following blogs who have added me to their blogrolls (I am FOREVER in your debt!)
Outsapop
Park and Cube
Fashion Stereotype
Let me know if there are any I have missed because I can't always tell.

x

DIY Strapped Poncho

I'm off on Portugal and Spain for two weeks tomorrow, and have been looking for a DIY that I can take on holiday with me to do on the plane/beach/car (talk about the productive holiday!). I stumbled upon this strapped jacket on Nasty Gal and thought it would be a perfect holiday romance, because all I need to take with me is a roll of black canvas ribbon and a sewing kit (cue sweet little Indian man at the Walthamstow Markets practically giving DIY materials away). Hopefully I will have a finished product to show you when I get back!

Image: Nasty Gal

DIY Trench Coat Dress

Make a dress out of an old trench coat by removing the sleeves.

Image: Jak & Jil

DIY Leather Pocket Dress

Add some leather pockets to a thrifted dress. Great for warming chilly hands as the weather cools down (ok so obviously this is for my Northerm Hemisphere readers...).

Image: Hanneli Mustspata

Blogger Yard Sale

The lovely Hannah of  His & Hers Daily Styling took a few snaps of the Bloggers Yard sale (at a quiet 3pm - apparently it went off like a frog in a sock at 10am.... and I was still in bed!), and happened to get me in a few (in the leather skirt, breton striped top and black hat). Not wearing anything DIY which I can see now is a massive faux pas...

The second streetstyle image is of the lovely blogette from Styleeast.

Images: His & Hers Daily Styling , The Portmanteau

DIY Lace Skirt

The last days of summer are upon us in London, and I am feeling slightly manic in terms of my seasonally appropriate posting. Recently I have posted about capes and jackets, as well as cut off shorts and lace dresses. My only excuse is that I get readers from all over the world and everyone likes to see something that suits their season... So Aussies, this one is for you and I hope it takes you through to the hot summer months.

Grab some cute lace edging - I buy mine from a sweet Indian guy on Chapel Markets in Angel for next to nothing, and simply sew it underneath a floral dress or skirt - instant petticoat feel.

Image: My Daily Stylings

DIY Hanelli's Bolt Jewellery

Found this on Style By Kling. She snapped Hanelli Mustapata's armband on a night out. So cool and incredibly DIYable! Take a few strips of leather and layer on some different sized bolts and washers.

Image: Style by Kling

DIY Patterned Trousers

I am all for hand painting a pair of thrifted trousers for a cheap way to get amongst the patterned pants trend. This looks like just about the easiest pattern to copy. Or grab a whole heap of different coloured paints, and flick the pants to create rainbow patterns.

Image: Late Afternoon

DIY Colour Block Moccasins

The lovely girls, Erica and Lauren, from Honest WTF sent me the link to their gorgeous Colour Block Moccasin DIY. I have to say that I love it, and not only because it meets my current craving for all things tribal! Its such an easy update to an age old classic.  Congrats ladies, and keep them coming!

Images: Honestly WTF

Ps. Have you noticed I have a new header bar? My lovely bf did it for me last night (in true bf styles he then had a few things to contribute to how I should organise and structure the whole blog... haha). Hope you guys like it!

x

DIY Bodycon Skirt

As you can probably see, I am addicted to DIY, and love everything about it. It never ceases to amaze me the commitment that other bloggers have to detailed, complicated and time consuming DIY projects (take Luxirare for example). But what I find even more satisfying, is stumbling across bloggers who have done the most simple and effective DIYs in no time and using virtually no materials! This DIY bodycon skirt by Lions, Tigers & Fashion Oh My!  is everything a simple DIY should be. She took a thrifted tank top, cut off the straps and sewed the armholes shut. Then wore it as a bodycon skirt! Fantastically easy and perfectly simple.

Image: Lions, Tigers & Fashion Oh My!

DIY Kaftan

Here's a sneaky little DIY Kaftan done by Dirty Hair Halo. Cute!

Image: Dirty Hair Halo

DIY Sass & Bide Zip Pants

Love these zip pants by Sass & Bide, DIY your own by adding zips to the front of some thrifted harem pants - sew the zips on the outside with a fold of fabric underneath so that you can unzip them for the full effect of wear them zipped up to gather the pants.

Image: Sass & Bide

The Ultimate DIY Competition Brainstorming

The ideas are flowing for this competition.... now I just need to buy the materials and mark off some time in my diary for some serious DIY (before I go to Portugal on Thursday that is!).

Image: Le Fashion

DIY Cut Out Tank Top

Love the look of this white cut out tank top - a very easy DIY too!
You'll need:

• A white tank
• Scissors
• Cute bra

Cut your white tank all the way down the side seams, wear with a cut lacy bra/sheer body. I would probably tuck mine into a high waisted skirt so just a bit of side boob and ribs is showing.

Image: Christeric

Ps. Went to the London Bloggers Yard sale yesterday, and was completely overwhelmed by the turn out of London Blogging Royalty! I saw a whole lot of bloggers in the flesh that I am only used to seeing on the www. Susie, Shini, Kit and many more were there with their bundles of yard sale items (which, I'm sad to say, by 3pm in the arvo were well picked over).  Took a few sneaky snaps and will post soon!

x

DIY Weekday Clear Plastic Knee High Boots

Ummm not sure if I love these, or whether they are better suited to something that the Man Repeller (LOVE this website) would write about. While I'm busy trying to decide, why don't you DIY your own - using the arms of a clear plastic rain coat or maybe even some cling film?

Image: Weekeday via Anywho

DIY Chanel Inspired Hair Bow

Loved the Chanel hair bows that were on the runway a while ago - heres a tutorial showing how to do them yourself - as long as you have long hair! After seeing this I am regretting going short...

Images and Tutorial: Fashion Girls

DIY Cape

I have been posting about capes for agggeeesss, as they just appeared to me to be pretty DIYable. Have found a great tutorial at Dana's Fashion Blog of how to make your own - how to turn that cool blanket into a cape. Go here for the tutorial. I am thinking a Leopard Print one? Wait and see!

Images: Dana's Fashion Blog

DIY Shorts made from trousers

Charity shops are absolutely overflowing with high waisted trousers that can be made into cute shorts with a rolled hem. Don't overlook a pair of trousers because they don't have a straight leg - cut them off! You more often than not find gorgeous ones with pleats like the ones below.

Image: House of Balfour Pink Slouchy shorts via Pixie Market

DIY Ripped Tee

Give the back of your tee a good rip.

Image: Vain and Vapid (Jak & Jil?)

DIY Fashion Essentials Giveaway - The Collar

I made this collar a little while ago - it looks gorgeous with a long sleeved bodycon minidress. And guess what? Its part of the giveaway! One lucky person will get the box with all the DIY goodies, and will be able to DIY this collar to their hearts content - add studs, Miu Miu inspired birds or even little bells!

If you haven't entered you should do it now here!

DIY Cut Off Trench

The cut off trench coat is perfect for for the whole awkward summer/autumn which jacket to wear thing. I particularly love the really really short bolero style cut off. You can easily make one of your own by cutting off a thrifted trench coat and hemming.

Image: TFS

DIY Spiked Headband

This is another great take on the Givenchy spiked headband. For some reason spikes are totally still doing it for me - hope I'm not too last season....

Image: Is Mental

Blogger Yard Sale

This looks like so much fun! And I live about 5 mins walk away. I may need a trolley for all the treasures I find....

Image: Park and Cube

DIY Cut Out Shirt

Yet another gorgeous way to show off a cute lace bra. Pick up an oversized white collared shirt from a charity shop, and cut a slit in the back so that it drapes down.

Image: Jak and Jil
(LOVE the 'my favourite things' shots by Tommy Ton of Christine Centenera. If there was one persons closet I would burgle... And the golden sunshine in all the images makes me a teeny tiny bit homesick for aus)

DIY Cut Off Tank

More 'side boob' action. This never gets old. Get out the scissors pronto!

Image: Christeric