DIY Restyle - Denimology

Large and inset image | here

Who doesn't love denim! There's at least 10 pairs of pants (that I can think of LOL) in my closet. Jeans for every occasion.
Jeans for when you feel thin, fat days, casual, dressy, you name it, it's there for the wearing.
The hunt is always on for the perfect jean that makes your body look great, whether for "real", in your own mind or in front of a "good" mirror.
Sometimes plain Jane denim doesn't cut it. Now there is denim available with every imaginable coating and embellishment.
Foiling, bleaching, bejewelling, cutouts, patchwork, distressing, the list goes on and on. For every new treatment, there is a DIYer attempting to personalize their own denim.
When I ran across Denim Refinery, the creative juices started flowing and I was in denim heaven.

Read further for more inspiration, step by step tutorials and videos on how to restyle your denim pieces.

Continue reading...

DIY - Inspiration, Appliqué Embellishment

Image | here

There is no doubt in my mind. Designers are showing all kinds of embellishments in their collections for Fall Winter 2013.
Adornment or embellishment of clothing is not new and is a fabulous way to make a tired garment or even a new garment special.
Bejewelling is the standard when thinking of embellishment but to embellish really means to make something more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
These additions can be bejewelling, embroidery, appliqué, crochet or anything that enhances.
The art of appliqué, to my way way of thinking, is like decoupage. You are "glueing" a variety of fabric types onto a surface whether they are printed fabric, lace or embroidered cutout appliqués.
This "glueing" can be glue, sewing or fusible web fabric.

Read further for examples and how-to techniques for each method.

Continue reading...

DIY Inspiration - Antique Button Jewelry

Top and Bottom Image | here

Antique buttons - admiring them and collecting them is a huge passion.
I have not passed a button and trimming store, a flea market, a yard sale or passed up second hand garments without looking to see if there were interesting buttons.
I've gone through phases as to the types of buttons I lusted for. But pretty much any type catches my eye. Whether they are plastic, horn, wood, glass, mother of pearl or jet they are like beacons that call to me.
But the most beautiful and prized ones to me are the bakelite buttons. They are my happy buttons. Colours are vibrant and inset rhinestones twinkle.
The above brooches are a prime example of how an ordinary lapel, sweater or coat takes on personality, a vintage accent that makes the outfit special.

Continue reading...

DIY Restyle - Bagging a Man's Suit

Handbags | Edson Raupp at Victoria and Albert Museum Shop, London

Handbags are made from just about anything you can think of. There is the recycling of what we consider throwaway materials such as plastic bags cut into strips and then crocheted into a bag or can tops clipped together to make a mesh fabric for totes.
Restyling is huge with belts made into barrel-shaped bags, jeans made into totes and what I found to be particularly interesting, men's suits.
It's a shame to see a good quality suit discarded, a common occurrence when fashion dictates its time for an update and the inevitable weight gain or loss makes it necessary to buy a new one.
All the more reason for a quality suit to be restyled and given a second life.
A variety of rich fabrics including banker's pin stripes are used to make these artistic bags. The Brazilian artist, Edson Raupp sells his impeccably made bags at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, a museum renowned for it's art and design.
Read further for more examples and ideas of how designers have been inspired to use suits in their designs. A French designer illustrates how she utilizes all the parts of a suit to make her bags.

Continue reading...

DIY - Adding Some Sparkle

Top Row:
1. Sequin Trim Panel | This is a simple, effective update, layering rows of sequin trim.
2. Fancy Glass and Bugle Beads | The fancy glass beads are very inexpensive and rimmed in "gold". Bugle beads, sewn in a spray, add texture. Hello Prada!

Middle Row:
3. Beaded Rolled Denim Sleeve Cuffs | No written instructions but visual shows project well. Anything goes here, the more variety in size, colour and sparkle is good.
4. Bejewelled Purse Strap | easy and quick project gluing on flat jewel embellishments, encrusting the whole strap.

Bottom Row:
5. Jewelled Beanie | Large Swarovski crystals were used, read expensive. Any different sized pearls, beads or "jewels" can be substituted.
6. Star Studs and Stripes | No instruction for placement on elbow but project is pretty straight forward. Additionally, would highly recommend stitching a liner behind studs on elbow to eliminate scratchiness.

Bling! Bling!

Restyle - Sweatshirt Makeovers

Top Row:
1. Resizing large hoodie into a more fashionable style.
2. Cutting rows of holes to allow for weaving of fabric strips.
3. Embellish neckline by attaching whole or parts of doilies.
Middle Row:
4. Chainstitch "embroidery" sewn on to create pattern - in this garment, cables.
5. Beading using beads and/or sequins to decorate allover or in parts of garment.
Bottom Row:
6. Hems cut and cutout holes made leaving edges raw or finishing with seams.
7. Combining denim with parts of sweatshirt.
8. Lining hood and ruffling edges or any other part of the garment

Restyle - Men's Hawaiian Shirt Makeover

Source: - denim vest vintage, pants jcrew.com, bakelite pins vintage, handbag freepeople.com, shoes toms.com

Continue reading...

Restyle - Denim Shirt Makeover

Source: - top anthropologie.com, scarf calypsobarth.com, cuff netaporter.com, jeans bluefly.com/RockRepublic, handbag patricianashdesigns.com

Continue reading...

Style Notes - Pocket It

Source: all images

Pockets are the best. Whenever I was put in an unfamiliar situation such as meeting someone new or at a party where you didn't know a soul, pockets were there to comfort you. You had somewhere to put your hands, become relaxed and feel at ease.
Whenever I'm shopping, it's inevitable that my eye is drawn to clothing designs that have some interesting pocket detail. Pockets can transform a garment from being plain into something quite special.
The great thing is you can totally refresh an older shirt, jacket, skirt or any clothing, easily, by adding a pocket or two. Take a look at more different ideas for inspiration after the jump...

Continue reading...