The Blue Fringed Bag

Another man repelling wardrobe item? You got it! I love this bag I bought in Thailand, but the bf and my brother were completely against it. Men. have. no. idea. Right?

Outfit - DIY rug skirt, blue tassel bag, AP&AS white silk singlet.

DIY Fur Chain Bag

This woof woof chain bag DIYed by the lovely chow of heart+bleeker has me all hot and sweaty. I HAVE to make my own - thrifted fur/fauxfur coat and a sewing machine? Check! Wayyy more cuddly than a tamagochi for those of you wanting a puppy as much as me.

Also, I know I have slowed down on posting inspiration pics recently - but have decided that my blog's not the same without a steady flow of Inspiration and other blogger DIYs. Stay tuned!

Favourite things...

When you live in the smallest apartment known to man (welcome to hong kong!) you need a few pretty things to keep you sane and make you smile.

Blogger DIYs

So I've been so busy making dresses and earrings and working on a few other little projects that I haven't had the time to post some of my favourite DIYs from other creative bloggers. Shame on me! I'm drawn to DIYs like a moth to a flame, so here are some of my favourites.
This gorgeous T strap bra by Ivania of Love Aesthetics is amazing and soo simple! Ivania also made a great wrap skirt using a grey marl long sleeved sweatshirt.

DIYs jewellery using fluro/nautical rope are very popular at the moment - with good reason! This one by Andy of Style Scrapbook is amazing. Being a rock climbing enthusiast it the clasp particularly appeals to me. Check it out here.

Another perfectly executed DIY by A Matter of Style - why buy (from Zara) when you can DIY should be my new motto.

Another great DIY clutch from the adorable MJ of Dreaming Spires and Old Car Tyres - made using a thrifted leather skirt. Perfect!

How amazing is this beaded collar from the lovely Alexandra of She is Red?

DIY Gold Pyramid Clutch

Loving this gold pyramid clutch DIY I found over at Oracle Fox. Its proof that the addition of really awesome fabric makes such a difference to such a simple design.

DIY Zipper Clutch

Life has been so hectic recently, and although I bought all the stuff to make my zipper clutch, I haven't had a chance to sit down and make it. Sob! Was very happy to see that the lovely Andy of Style Scrapbook has put up a tutorial here, and it really is so easy. Head over and check it out, and while you're there why not have a look at the AMAZING camera bag she has designed in collaboration with Kipling.  I really really want one.

DIY Square Leather Clutch

Now that I have a new sewing machine these oversized clutches are just some leather and a zip away. Started one tonight, can't wait to show you the finished product.

Images: Tommy Ton for Style.com, Facehunter, Facehunter, AfterDrk, Who Is Bobb Parris, Because I'm addicted.

DIY Paper Hermes Birkin

This is so amazing I hardly know what to say. The lovely blogger from A Matter of Style made this amazeballs birkin bag out of paper. She even went as far as to stitch the details on. I am in awe. She has a knack for mastering the most difficult looking DIYs. A true genius.

DIY On the Streets of NYFW

I have to say that style on the streets of the fashion weeks always inspires me to DIY soooo much, its always so much more quirky, real and do-able than what you see in magazine spreads and on the runway. Don't let the relaxed nonchalance of the subjects fool you though, these outfits didn't happen over night. What you are seeing is the culmination of hours of outfit planning. I've trawled the net for some up to the minute streetstyle DIY inspiration. Enjoy!

Wrap a very long length of black chain around your neck like this, amazing update to any outfit.

 Ok so this Celine clutch is beyond amazing, head to your local stationary store and find an oversized neon pencil case. In fact oversized pencil case style clutches have been all over the street in NY in a whole range of colours. Go for it.

 This has just got to the the most perfect jeans length. I Die! Or something like that... Anyway, this DIY is pretty straightforward, scissors, opposable thumbs, jeans, done.

Love these snuggly mittens, take a regular pair of wool mittens and sew/glue some faux fur fabric onto the front. Perfect for keeping the winter chills out.

Another oversized pencilcase you say? Why yes! This one has a black tassel attached, thats not too difficult is it.

Images: StreetFSN and Honestly WTF

DIY Alexander McQueen Knuckleduster Clutch

Saw these fierce McQueen clutches in a store in Soho yesterday. They fit so snugly in your hand! Glue a knuckleduster ring to your favourite clutch bag, for instant coolness. It also makes it quite difficult to drop your clutch which is always a worry for me when I use one.

Images: Net-a-porter

DIY Transparent Clutch

ANOTHER gorgeous tutorial from the ladies at Honestly...Wtf. Cutest transparent clutch ever  inspired by the runway trend (although am a bit worried about where you put your tampons when carrying these sorts of transparent bags). The girls just keep on whipping up amazing creations. Crossing my fingers that I get an invite to their next DIY tepee session.... hahaha.

DIY Ethnic Print Bag

Ammmmazing DIY ethnic print bag made by adding ethnic print fabric to a leather shoulder bag. Molly from Rackk and Ruin made this bag here using some leftover fabric, gluing it onto a bag and then using leather dye to darken the leather of the bag. So Amazing and very very easy to do.

DIY Pencil Case Clutch / Wallet

Ok so the good old pencil case of all shapes and sizes is continuing to make a come back (check out my other post here). Did you ever have those huge oversized tartan ones when you were at school for putting all your pencils and scientific calculators in? Maybe it was just in Australia? Who needs hand bags when you have office supplies? Hand paint yours for a custom look.

Image: Vanilla Scented / 5 Inches and Up

DIY Book Clutch

How cute are these little book clutches spotted being carried by Olympia and Clemense? This is as DIYable as they come. Take a hardback book, cut the pages out leaving the edges so there is a compartment, glue the pages together and the back cover to the pages - add a clasp to secure and way you go! This is a new take on the secret books that had the compartment for hiding bits and pieces. I am definitely going to do this to one of the books that was going to the jumble!

Image: Jak and Jil / Somefashiontipsblog.com

DIY Belted Bags

Have been seeing belt style buckles on bags everywhere. Make like the pros and wrap a few belts around your handbag.
Images: Alexander Wang via Knight Cat, Marc Jacobs and Reed Krakoff via net-a-porter

Ps. I caved and got a facebook page for A Pair & a Spare. Check it out and 'like' it here, and feel free to suggest it to your friends. I'll be putting up some exciting updates - including info about the DIY leather collared shirt giveaway I am doing this week.

DIY Painted Birkin

I am thinking of giving my birkin bag a lick of paint to make it a little bit more trendy, after all I do have two others. Ok just kidding, but I like this look and may try it out with an old tan satchel I have at home.

Image: The Nyanzi Report

DIY Clutch Bag Hand Harness

Spotted these images on Because I'm Addicted and fell in love wirth the studded hand harnesses. I am going to add my own to a thrifted clutch using some studded leather and a glue gun. For a more polished look, cut two slits into the front of the bag and thread both ends of the leather through, gluing on the underside.

DIY Envelope Clutch

For LFW, I ditched my big handbag and took a small envelope clutch. I'm not going pretend it was 'liberatinggggg darling' to 'throw off the shackles of a big handbag yahhhh' because its a handbag innit. But while I was carrying it along I realised the simple construction it was and how easy it would be to DIY something similar. Today I saw this little clutch that Maria from Vanilla Scented had made herself and I knew it wasn't just me. So friggin easy. Take a long strip of leather or other stiff fabric (you could cut up a men's leather jacket if you wanted a really soft supple leather - they are always in thrift stores and are cheap). Choose the width based on the size you want your back - an oversized one would look great and would require a wide strip of fabric. Fold inwards into three, with the top third being shorter than the other two. Sew the edges of the two larger thirds together. Easy.

 

Images: Vanilla Scented

You obviously need a sewing machine for this which is annoying, but don't despair if you don't have one. I have one in Australia which is obviously no good to me given that I live in London, so I go to a place near me called the Make Lounge. Most of the times its the territory of hens parties and playgroup mothers -but it has a room of sewing machines and rents them out sometimes by the hour. Check in your local area - there may be something similar.