DIY Rug Bustier Top

Last week I posted here about the outfit that I planned to wear to the wedding while I was in Thailand, but in true Geneva style decided to change it last minute. A lovely girl over at the AP&AS facebook page commented that I should make a top out of the rugs (I am sure by now you are familiar with the rugs!), and really the rest is history. I made this cropped bustier before I went on holidays and paired it with my watermelon high waisted trousers on the day. Who said you can't wear a doormat to a wedding?

And just in case you thought a girl can't have fun while wearing a rug...

Wearing: DIY rug bustier top, A Pair & A Spare watermelon trousers, rope bag from Thailand, Karen Walker 'Number One' sunglasses, River Island tan heeled sandals, pendant necklace from a boutique in Le Marais.

ps. how cute is the elephant trainer's denim getup? oh so very Stella SS11!

DIY Side Slit Pants

Wide leg pants are obviously back back back. Cut high side splits in a pair of thrifted wide leg pants. How good!

Image: Fashion Gone Rogue

Shop my closet here!

DIY Wide Leg Pants

Ok so flares flit on and off the menu depending on the season, but the wide leg silhouette is definitely a classic, and it pays to have a nice pair in your wardrobe that you can pull out whenever the shape gets revived. Shannon of Dirty Hair Halo has DIYed her own flares by cutting open the seam and adding a triangular lace insert. Genius! The lace is a very cute touch, and you could also use this technique to turn some straight leg pants into wide leg ones. Insert some black fabric into some black pants and hey presto, who would have thought they used to be of the straight leg variety? You can always remove the insert and sew back to straight when you feel like it too!

(Peg) Leggin it around the subcontinent

A uniform of vintage peg leg trousers and tees for travelling around Sri Lanka, perfect for getting through the heat and past the curious eyes of the smiling locals. These are just a two of my massive collection of pegs - what did we do before we discovered this silhouette?

red vintage peg leg trousers 2 quid in east London, white tee thrifted, zara satchel, river island gladiator flats, ebay cat eye sunnies, antique buddha prayer necklace // green peg legs bought by a friend in a Camden op shop, witchery long sleeved top, zara satchel, river island gladiator flats, ebay cat eye sunnies, antique buddha prayer necklace

The top photo is of an Elephant Orphanage in the hills. The elephant standing behind me only has three legs, he lost part of one from a landmine blast! Awwww. There was also a 3 week old baby elephant that was about the size of a large dog, ahhh so cute!

DIY Inspiration - Alexander Wang Dress Pants

Love these pants found on Knight Cat (one of my favourite blogs for sourcing images) by Alexander Wang. Very cool. Next time you wear belted trousers, attach the belt through the two front loops, leaving the back pulled high around your shirt (or bare skin). Put the belt fastening at the back.

DIY Leather Pants

The lovely DIY guru from The Palpable Obscure has DIYed these leather pants, by simply sewing (you could glue if you preferred) some leather onto the front of a pair of black cotton tights. Inspired!

Image: The Palpable Obscure

Lunchtime thrifting yesterday yeilded a pair of leather pants (3 quid) and a chunky knit white cardigan(50p). Not too shabby.

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 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

DIY Handpainted Pants

Next time you are doing some house/fence/finger painting, wear your favourite silk pants and wipe your hands on them when you're done. Or do it on a worn pair of boyfriend jeans for a more hip pocket friendly option.

Image: TFS

DIY Scarf Belt

Belt your high waisted pants with a scarf and some black rope.

Image: Stockholm Streetstyle

DIY Alexander Wang Sheer Trousers

MJ of Dreaming Spires and Old Car Tyres made these Alexander Wang SS/10 style sheer trews from an old suit of her grandmas. See my post here showing how you can DIY them.

Image: Dreaming Spires and Old Car Tyres

DIY Fabric cuffed jeans

Grab any fabric you want, and stitch about 10cm on the inside of a pair of jeans. Roll and go! Love th army look but would also look good with floral or anything else.

DIY Sheer Trews!

Have loved these sheer pants ever since I saw a similar version on one of the Olsens (who ever knows which?). Found a great DIY from Jazzi McG.  She hits the nail on the head when she says that she doesn't want to shell out an arm and a leg for something that can be found online for nothing - she recommends searching ebay for sheer/chiffon/silk lounge pants) - or even thrifted! She bought a 'sexy' sheer pj set on ebay (third photo). I am planning on doing as she advises and sewing black cuffs on sheer pants  so that they are tight around the ankle. Wear high waisted, wack some cute shorts underneath and voila!

Image: Jazzi McG / Olsens Anonymous

DIY Harem Belt

This gorgeous outfit has been put together by wearing a long sleeved jumpsuit as pants, and then wrapping the top of the jumpsuit like a belt. So cool!

Image: Anywho

DIY Ribbon Suspenders

Wrap some ribbon around your waist like a belt and either tie in a bow at the back or stitch in place. Then measure and cut two pieces of ribbon to sit like suspenders. Sew onto the belt at the front and the back.

Image: Tobacco and Leather

Thrifted Brilliance

Perfect example of thrifted outfits killing it over designer wear - Lucy from Lucy Laught was photographed by Jak & Jil in these camel pants, bought in an op shop for $12 aussie. RESULT!

Image: Jak and Jil.

Highwaisted, Pleated and Rolled

Images: Brook + Lyn/ Jak and Jil/ Garance/Burda/ Le Fashion/ Garance/The Satorialist

Shoe perfection

And pants that show just the right amount of ankle

Image: Jak & Jil