DIY Inspiration - Balmain Resort

The Balmain 2012 Resort collection was filled with DIY inspiration - draped chains, embellished jackets, thigh high split skirts, and boots with gold embellished points. I have a million ideas about little DIYs to do based on these gorgeous pieces.

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!

DIY Bodychain

Make it, then wear it under your top.

Image: Shiny Plastic Hag

DIY Pearl & Chain Belt

Ok so am posting this image on the pretense that the belt this girl is wearing is TOTALLY DIYable...

However in reality, I'm really putting it up because this dress is one of the most amazingly sexy things I have seen in a while. Will be spending a fair bit of time in Hong Kong next year so am going to make a list of things to get made - this dress has definitely made that list.

 Image: Stockholm Streetstyle

DIY at LFW - Shoe Jewellery

Love the foot chains on sweet and unassuming pumps. Don't buy yours from Litter for a million bucks (I would if I could...), buy some chains/old necklaces and make them yourself this this lovely girl did.

DIY at LFW - Body Chains

If the Topshop Newgen Exhibit is anything to go by this LFW, body chains are here to stay - if you haven't made one for yourself get to it. There are lots of tutorials online including this one and this one.

DIY New York Fashion Week Roundup

Instead of doing single posts I have decided to do one big wrap up from NY Fashion week - bearing in mind that we are going to be moving on swiftly to LFW (yay!)

DIY Silk Shoulders: Add some matching silk squares onto the shoulder of a basic knit or cardigan (Rebecca Taylor via Knight Cat)

DIY Bell Details: Sew some small indian bells onto a dress of skirt for a bohemian feel. (Vivienne Tam via Knight Cat)

DIY Red Velvet (not the hummingbird cupcake kind): This is not strictly a DIY buttt... trawl your local charity shop for red velvet. (via Go Backstage)

DIY Chain Fringed Sleeves: Buy a roll of chain from a craft or hardware store, cut similar lengthed strips and sew to the arms of a dress of long sleeved top to create fringed wings like the ones at Balmain (via Go Backstage)

DIY Wooly sleeves: Our penchant for capes this season (such as the one below from Asos) will mean that when the winter wind comes along (I think I felt it yesterday. sad face) it will probably find its way into our coats through the arm holes! arrgh! One way to combat this is to get yourself some armwarmers. Seen on the catwalk at Richard Chai (images via Go Backstage), these can be layered over short leather gloves for draft free layering. You can DIY your own by unpicking the end of a pair of (unworn) knee high socks and scrunching them down your arms.

DIY Chain Embellished jacket: Glue some chain onto a jacket or dress to emphasise the panelling. (Balmain via Go Backstage)

DIY Rope Belt: Tie a double sailors knot in the middle of pieces of thick rope and secure at the back. (Go Backstage)

DIY Broach Embellished Bag: Attach lots of broaches or detailed buttons to a bag (both can be found at charity shops for next to nothing). (via Go Backstage)

DIY Embellished Dress: Take a whole heap or buttons, flowers, ribbon, bells and basically anything you can find in browns, blacks, golds and bronze - and attach to a dress of top in this way.  (via Go Backstage)

DIY Chain Embellished Tank

Chains like these added to a tank are such an easy DIY, all you have to do is use a needle and thread to sew on the ends of the chai at each shoulder - the more random looking the better.

Image: Net-a-porter

DIY Shoulder Jewellery

Adore this gorgeous shoulder chain harness, quite an easy DIY if you got together a whole heap of different sized chains.

Image: Studded Hearts

Ps. Am back from my trip to Spain and Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra, Oporto, Santiago De Compostella, Santander, San Sebastian)! Had an amazing time and honestly didn't want to come home. Stayed in some gorgeous places, this one recommended by a friend being a favourite - although a 3 storey building across the road collapsed as we were walking down the street... V narrow escape!

Everywhere I went I had DIY on the brain (I am completely infatuated), and I picked up quite a lot along the way. From the gorgeous fringed shawls worn by the traditional portugese women, to the numerous sewing stores throughout Spain and Porto that stock every DIY essential you can image, to bits and pieces in designer stores I drooled over in San Sebastian. The holiday has left me with about 3 quid to my name so expect some inventive Espana/Porto inspired DIYs to come...

Am drawing the winner of the Giveaway tonight!

xx

DIY Jacket Shoulderbag Detail

Saw this on Park & Cube a while ago - the most AMAZING detail on this coat.A chain attachment that drapes the coat to look a bit like a hangbag. So cool! I would even think about doing a cross body one with some thick chain to bring to mind a cross body bag over the coat. (Shini's visit to the Masha Ma studio here has obviously inspired me in many ways!)

Image: Park and Cube

DIY Floral Chain Embellished Sunlasses

Love this. Great for festivals when you are likely to lose your sunglasses. Sunglasses + hot glue + a whole lot of chains + some sweet little plastic flowers = coolness.

Image: In Search of Little Sadie

Ps. I am doing a little DIY giveaway this weekend - so stay tuned! x

DIY Head Chain

More Chains!

Perhaps this is just an artfully placed necklace?


Image: In Search of Little Sadie

DIY Head Chain

Image: TFS

DIY Carpet Skirt + Chain Suspenders

Creative use of a rug - and gorgeous chain link suspenders.

Images: Knock you for six

DIY Inspiration - Head Chain

Image: Sabo Skirt / Studded Hearts

DIY Dress out of scarves

Fantastic DIY from The Glamourai here. A very simple dress with a fantastic drape.

Images: The Glamourai

DIY - Shoulder Jewellery

Shoulder pads are another trend that have been making their way around the blogs and streetstyle websites for a long while now, but in my defense, I really like the addition of the chains across the chest and the jewellery-esque look of the shoulder pads. Definite DIY potential here inspired by a post by Outsapop Trashion.

Image: Outsapop Trashion

Long weekend DIY action

Chain harness skirt. In addition to dismantling and painting my bike, I am thinking of embarking on the below DIY. Have lots of chains left over from my last project - and a few belts that will work perfectly. Will post instructions and snaps when complete

Images: Studded Hearts