Dare to DIY
This fall season, save a few pennies and turn a few heads by daring to DIY (do it yourself!). In honor of today’s featured Best Creative Girlfriend, we’ve taken some of this season’s hottest trends and found out how you can get the look for a lot less money and a lot more fun.
Ever notice how ripped jeans cost more than their non-ripped counterparts? Create the look for cheap by taking your comfiest, oldest pair of denim and reincarnating them as a shabby-chic destroyed pair. Place a brick, plank of wood or any other hard surface within the pants so your tears don’t break on through to the other side. Take a bladed tool, like a cheese grater or pair of scissors, and let ‘er rip. Rubbing sand paper will add even more wear and tear. Wash and dry, then rock your badass pants.
Inspiration: Blank Denim Cropped Boyfriend Jeans ($78 at Shopbop.com)
How to wear: Cuff ripped jeans and pair with a sophisticated button-down for a comfy-meets-classy look!
Tie-dye isn’t just for your kid sister’s team t-shirts anymore. It’s so cheap—all you’ll need to buy is dye. Take an old undershirt, tee or anything white (fabric headband, scarf, socks!) and dampen with a spray bottle, or soak completely and wring out. For a classic swirled design, pick up fabric in center and “swirl” it around your middle point, to create a circle. Take as many rubber bands as desired and place them around the ball of fabric. Apply dye (warning: wear gloves!) to each section, you may also leave “blank” (white) sections. Keep rubber bands banded and place in a bag or plastic wrap in a damp place for six-eight hours. When time’s up, reveal trendy tie-dye, wash (separately from everything else!) and wear all season long!
Inspiration: True Religion Rib Tank Top w/ Starburst Tie Dye ($59)
How to wear: Rock tie-dye with solids (like leggings to the gym) for a fun and bright addition, especially on a gloomy day!
This is fairly simple…take old tees and soak in a combination of water and salt (equal parts) for a few days, then wash like normal. The salt soak will cause shirts to become impeccably soft whether they’re actually old and worn in or not. Leaving tees out in the sun to fade will further the old-school style. Rubbing sand paper will increase the tee’s wear and tear appearance, too. Create a cropped style by cutting at desired length, and washing and drying so fabric naturally rolls.
Inspiration: Chaser LA Burgundy Jersey ‘USC’ Cropped Tee ($34 at Bluefly.com)
How to wear: Pair with skinny jeans for a night out, or for a real rock star-inspired get-up, pair with your ripped jeans!
-Lynden Halpern
GIRL TALK TIME: Have you ever made your own clothing? What trends will you try? What is your favorite thing to DIY?
PLUS, NATIONAL GIRLFRIEND AWARDS
PSST! In honor of National Girlfriends Day (it was Sunday, August 1!) and the NEW Sheckys.com, we’re celebrating you and all of your fabulous girlfriends with the First Annual National Girlfriend Awards. Throughout the month of August on Sheckys.com, you can nominate and vote your best girlfriends for any of our 10 awards. Each winner from every category gets OMG Points and FAB goodies! Tell us your stories RIGHT HERE!
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18 Comments
Post a CommentThanks for finally talking about > Dare to DIY | Shecky’s < Liked it!
I am not that creative, but it would be fun to do it with a friend.
The tee shirt idea is great! I am going to try that!
Try taking a pair or any color leggings and making razor cuts in any pattern you like (im partial to designs on the outer portion of the leg) and wearing a pair of fishnet stockings underneath. Its definitely a look that no one can match exactly. Make it your own!
love the tee and tank idea
I’m definitely going to try the t-shirt idea this weekend!!
Ilove do it yourself…Not only am i into fashion im into fashion design because i want to start making my own clothing. I think DIY is great because its original
I have a sewing machine at home and I have made a few things. I’ve made a black long dress, a robe, pj shorts and shirt, some slippers,and two dolls!
like the jeans idea. Always wonder how to do it, just might give it a try. Remaking t-shirts is also fun.
great tips. alas, im not that creative.
I used to cut old jeans to make shorts back in the day.
Might have to give the tye dye a try
i think its awesome to have this creative sense. I have ripped some jeans before
i remember back in the day cindy crawford had a tv show on mtv (i think it was called “house of style”) and there was a segment on diy. i cut an old tee right up the middle and turned it into a cardigan! that was like in middle school!
Can’t sew.
Cutting and cropping t-shirts is fun, and it’s so much more comfortable to be rid of that binding neck…ugh! I’m overdue for a tie-dye session, been saving a bunch of white things and have the dye, just waiting for the inspiration…maybe this will do it! Currently without a sewing machine, but when I do sew, I’ve made changes to patterns to suit my style. Never settle for prepackaged!
I made pencil skirts which were easy and looked great. I also made a simple dress with clean classic lines. Sewing is great. I love that show Project Runway.
love pencil skirts. My teenager sews, and I’m trying to get her to make me some new pencil skirts for the fall. any ideas of where i can get a good pattern for her to follow cause she is just starting to make clothing for other people.