I almost handed over good money to a well-known high street chain for a top very much like this one yesterday. I'm now very glad I didn't, because Make It and Love It have a tutorial here on how to spruce up your shirts with luxurious ruffles right here, and it's a stunningly simple process.
All you'll need to make this stylish and fashionable top is one of your favourite comfy-knit tees, pins and a needles and thread. The actual 'ruffling' process is so simple I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the instructions and there's no need even for a sewing machine. Good old-fashioned fun!
Related: Yummy autumnal berry set in pure cashmere | Wednesday Wearables: how to make a Christopher Kane style scalloped skirt
Over on The Bag Lady, I recently blogged about Miu Miu's embellished luxury socks, which are essentially a pair of ultra soft cable-knit socks decorated with beads and sequins. They weren't joking with the 'luxury' bit though, as these socks are priced at £245, which is significantly more than most sane people would spend on shoes, let alone the bit of fabric that goes under them!
So I was rather pleased to see that one cunning craftster, Carbon Couture, had taken it upon herself to make something similar, resulting in the cute, embellished socks shown above. The full instructions are here. If you wanted something a little more like the Miu Miu socks it wouldn't be difficult to alter the pattern - just start with a thicker sock and add a few extra sequins. Total cost? Certainly under a tenner!
Patterned and decorated tights are big business at the moment and once the mercury drops a little further, warm hosiery will be essential wear for anyone in a skirt. Why not make them a bit more interesting with some DIY design? There are plenty of fabulous decorated tights available to buy at the moment but dear God are they expensive!
There are so many ways you might want to decorate your tights that it would be impossible to put an exhaustive list here. But the main thing to remember is: be creative! At the moment, the wilder the style, the better: so take advantage of fashion's whim and get decorating. If you're handy with a needle (and patient) you could have a go at making some sequin embellished Doo.Ri-style tights. An easier method is just to stick them on as PS I made this have done (see above). Or, you could do as Naughty Secretary Club did and simply paint on a design of your chosing: in this case, a lovely reminder of summer! All you'll need is tulip fabric paint and some ideas.
I'm completely in awe of crafters who have the knack of transforming old shoes into amazing one-off pieces with just a lick of paint, and here's one of the cutest I've seen recently: delicately painted russian dolls on a gold background that makes them positively glow.
This pair have been customised by Etsy seller Scolarly Articles, and you can see more of her inspiring work here. These are on sale for $75 at Etsy
Related: Wednesday Wearables: painted shoes | How to customise shoes with studs
New York Fashion Week is now well underway with London following hot on its trail from Friday. So to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with our fashion comrades on both sides of the pond, I've chosen a DIY couture project for today.
These creations from Love Meagen are more like shoulder 'embellishments' than pads, but I love them to bits and think they'd work a treat on a plain, tailored suit jacket. You could even make them removable for days when you're feeling less brave! For the full pattern, head along here.
Related: How to make a Christopher Kane style scalloped skirt | How to make Doo.Ri style embellished tights
'Scalloping' has got to be my all-time favourite fashion technique, and Brit designer Christopher Kane has used it heavily in his catwalk collections this year.
While gearing up for London fashion week (my pass finally arrived last week!) I stumbled on this clever tutorial that shows you how to create interesting 'serpentine' edging on a skirt, resulting in a stylish garment inspired by current runway creations. The method is simple once you know how, so you may end up with some DIY designer gear of your own.
Related: Wednesday wearables: animal-print playsuit | Make your own 'catwalk copycat' PVC necklace | Sonia Rykiel's Paris Fashion Week show is a knitted sensation
When I heard that there were going to be rhinestones on everything in the coming season, I have to admit I hadn't thought underwear would be affected by this onslaught of studs and sparkles. But I was wrong, because there are crafters out there, and crafters will stick anything on everything they can lay their hands on!
Acidtrix on Craftster decorated a plain black bra with rhinestones in a project that displays all the obsessive characteristics of the true craft devotee. Just look at the precision of the placement of all those gems! The result is certainly eyecatching and would put any burlesque showgirl to shame. Yee haw!
digg this |
del.icio.us this
| 
Stumble It!
