Remember the days when you only wore a sweatshirt to work out or schlub around the house? You wouldn’t want to sweat it out in these tops. Sweatshirts have gone upscale, with rich embellishments ranging from leather to jewels. And of course the prices have rocketed up to match. Luckily this is another trend that […]
DIY Inspiration: Houndstooth
Houndstooth is one of those patterns that seems to make a resurgence every few years, and this fall it’s back in full force. Like plaid, it’s a classic that can look prim or punk, depending on the rest of the outfit. I’ve been seeing it in oversize scales, non-traditional fabrics and colors, and grungy versions […]
DIY Inspiration: Leather Accents
Lately I’ve been seeing a ton of clothing with just a touch of leather here and there. From leather pockets to leather trim, there’s tons of DIY potential. Many of these looks would be easy to accomplish with small pieces of leather, or even leather trim, which often can be found in the trim section […]
DIY Inspiration: Paint Splatters
Lately I’m intrigued with splattered paint, especially in inky hues. With the right paint or dye, the effect looks like it would be pretty easy to achieve, and there are tons of possibilities for fashion and housewares. You can even paint splatter your nails. I’m itching to give it a try, how about you? 1. […]
DIY Inspiration: Collage Necklaces
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of what I would describe as “vintage-collage” style necklaces. What I mean by that is necklaces that appear to have been assembled from disparate vintage (or reproduction vintage) elements. I really like the effect, so I’m thinking about ways to make a DIY version. 1. Roberto Cavalli 2. Anthropologie […]
DIY Inspiration: Bungee Cord
Kate Spade Saturday has gone crazy for bungee cord, which means lots of DIY inspiration for us. 1. Multistranded Necklace 2. Corded-Handle Bucket 3. Tray 4. Knot Necklace 5. Multistranded Bracelet 6. Earrings For the jewelry, pick up some colorful nylon rope (available at hardware stores), and some metal jewelry endcaps. Last year I did a […]
DIY Inspiration: Fancy Friendship Bracelets
Left: Shopbop Center: Anthropologie Right: Nasty Gal When I was a kid I made friendship bracelets, but I never managed to finish any with complicated designs. They seemed to take forever to make. A couple of years ago I made a few, and to my surprise, they didn’t actually take that long. All you’d need […]
DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
In the US, Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 12. I went through my archives and found some projects that might make great Mother’s Day gifts. You’ve still got a week, which is plenty of time for a DIY project, and moms always love stuff you make with your own two hands. These […]
DIY Inspiration: Concrete
Concrete is one of those materials that we see every day, so it’s easy to take it for granted. Most of us literally walk on it on a daily basis. But its DIY potential never struck me until recently, when I came across some cool concrete projects. Here are some of those projects, plus some […]