Metallic Effects T-Shirt
Metallic paint T-Shirt Both Zara and H & M had sweaters and jeans with a metallic wash in their stores this season. Love, love, love. I thought, why not try my hand at a metallic effect? I never wear anything busy or fussy on my hips as I am a classic pear...
Colour Dip Earrings
Use nail polish to upstyle jewelry Colour dip earrings These two-tone earrings were inspired by ones I've seen in the retail fashion shops. River Island had a pair with metallic chain dipped in neon colours. Topshop had a pair with mixed...
DIY Chanel Inspired Jacket
How to add trimming to a jacket for Chanel effect Chanel inspired jacket I seriously think every woman must want to own a Chanel jacket. There's so much to like. No collars that wear and never sit properly. They are soft as a cardigan but still pack a whole lot of...
Rubber O Ring Bracelets with Charms
How to turn rubber O rings into bracelets Rubber O-Ring bracelets South Africans love wearing black rubber O-Rings as bracelets. I was given a few by a girl in my yoga class that I wear from time to time. Recently I saw some on sale at River Island with cute...
DIY Peplum Top
How to upcycle a tank to a peplum top Peplum T-Shirt I love all the varieties of peplum going on right now. It's just . . . I like them on other people. I've been a little uncertain how they would look on me. My body is pear shaped so I strictly avoid anything...
Curtain Ring Choker Necklace
How to make this necklace from curtain rings Curtain ring choker necklace We needed a single curtain ring a while back but could only buy them by the bag. And since I am always saving things for my DIY stash I've been wondering what to do with them. I was inspired by...
Make a Designer Charity T-Shirt
Instructions for a DIY Chari Tee The M and S T-Shirt before the makeover Have you have been craving designer charity T-Shirts made by Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Illincic and Richard Nicoll et al but can't get your hands on one? Then do the next best thing and make your...
Recycled Glass Necklace
How to make a necklace from Ngwenya glass Recycled glass necklace A friend brought back some recycled glass beads as a gift for me from - Ngwenya glass - in Swaziland. Some of those beads were strung onto a piece of net to make - this - necklace....
Asymmetrical Hemlines
How to cut a hi-lo or asymmetrical hem in a dress or skirt Asymmetrical hem Asymmetrical hems are turning up on dresses, skirts, T-shirts and shirts. They are also called high low skirts, fishtail skirts or mullet skirts. Although these hemlines are typically...
Plastic Packaging Earrings
How to make earrings from food containers Earrings from food containers I showed how to make a tribal inspired necklace from old plastic packaging a few weeks back. see here This week I show how I made two pairs of earrings from the leftover packaging from that...
Slouchy Slogan T-Shirt
Instructions to use fabric paint on a T Shirt Slouchy slogan T-shirt Loose slouchy tees have been around for a while now. Henry Holland brought them back. And brought them back again. And they are staying - season after season the coolest ones...
Fabric Bracelets
How to make bracelets from strips of fabric Fabric bracelets I have made fabric bracelets before - see here - with a pretty piece of floral chiffon. The tribal influence is still strong and fabric bracelets are in keeping with the trend so I wanted to make more....
DIY Fringed or Tassel T-Shirt
How to cut fringing into a T shirt Tasseled or fringed T-Shirt I keep seeing fringed or tasseled T-Shirts in the retailers. Why go out and buy a new one when they are so easy to make? I had this mans tank T-shirt which I picked up for 50p at a charity shop around the...
Tribal Inspired Necklace from Recycled Food Containers
How to make a necklace from food packaging Food carton necklace I've been wanting to do this DIY for a while now. We keep throwing out food packaging and I've been wanting to come up with a way to re-use it. The nice thing about most plastic packaging is that it's...
Lace Edged Socks
How to make your own lace edged socks Lace trim socks Socks and strappy heels are not a combo I would ordinarily think of wearing. To start with, I hardly ever wear heels, and when I do I'm always reminded why I don't wear them. Socks and sandals immediately make me...
Dip Dye T-Shirts
How to dip dye clothes at home Dip Dye T-Shirts You would think I've had enough home dying but I keep finding new ways and new things to dye. Plus, I left my favourite Two Colour Tie Dye Scarf behind in South Africa. I've been looking for an excuse to make another...
DIY Headband/Fascinator
How to make a fascinator Headband/Fascinator This is not a look for wallflowers or a job interview. This is all about a night out partying or a festival. It's about having fun and being playful. I often braid my hair or twist it into knots which adds to the...
7/8 Trousers
Raising trouser hems 7/8 Trousers I'm always on about eco fashion. Two great books to read explaining why we should strive to be as green in our fashion choices as possible are Over Dressed by Elizabeth L Cline and To Die for by Lucy Siegle. On to this week's...
DIY Rope Necklace
Easy rope necklace Rope Necklace The gist of this blog, first and foremost, is to try and make clothes and accessories out of old stuff. Next best is to make or DIY. Buying vintage, retro or second-hand is also great.The very last course of action is to buy. You don't...
Turban Headband from a T-shirt
How to make a turban headband Turban from an old T-Shirt Some DIY projects spring easily to mind. Others come about by default. The idea to make this turban came from a need to keep my ears warm after I went for a run on a particularly cold day in Scotland. My ears...
DIY Colour Blocking T-shirts
Contrast color sleeves DIY Colour block T-Shirts If you are looking for a DIY project that will bring the colour blocking trend into your wardrobe then you have found one. The hardest part of this project, is unpicking the sleeves of the T-Shirts. You also need a...
Button Rings
How to make rings This is another DIY project involving buttons following on from last week. You could make both and have matchy matchy rings and earrings. I would have used regular ring bases from a craft or bead shop but I saw this video and I really liked they way...
Button Stud Earrings
How to make stud earrings I made little stud earrings from glass head pins a while back. You can find that post on the Greenie Galleries at the top of this page. Been wanting to make stud earrings from buttons for a long time. I quite enjoyed perusing the button...
Tribal Print Tote Bag + FREE Pattern Instructions
Tote bag tutorial A really, really easy way for someone like myself to get in on trends is to add one small element at a time. I can't begin to count the times I've dismissed an emerging look in horror, only to discover that actually, I do like it and wish I had...
Bandeau Top + FREE Pattern Instructions
How to make a bandeaux top I loved the idea of the sexy bandeau tops at Prada. See here - Prada SS 2012. Perfect for our warm African summers. Except I require a more modest version for myself. My version is similar but fuller and not quite as midriff baring. If...
DIY Pearl Bracelets
How to make pearl jewelry Thread your beads onto the clear stretchy thread Once I decide I like something, and I figure out how to make it, I tend to make them and make them, and make more of them. Tie dye scarves spring to mind. See how to make them here - how to...
Patchwork Jeans
Patchwork jeans tutorial Old pair of jeans This in one of the trends I've been a bit slow to connect with. Luxe casual is great, but distressed and tatty? I'm not so sure. Certainly not at first glance anyway. I did a bit of distressing to a pair of black jeans quite...
Crochet Necklace
Make a crochet necklace Crochet necklace I have tried and tried to make these crochet/weave chain bracelets and I cannot get it right. Mine come out all lumpy and uneven. I have seen pics of other DIY fashionista's attempts so it is possible. Click on - this link...
DIY Clutch Bag
Easy clutch bag tutorial There are probably millions of fashion bloggers out there. If you trim it down to DIY fashion bloggers the field becomes much narrower. I have a few that I follow. Broadband is slow here and blogs with lots of heavy photos just don't load. So...
Adding Stripes to your Trousers
Side stripe trouser tutorial The plain black trousers before the make over The best thing about up cycling old clothes is they become new. Sure they may be a bit worn, but stuff that has been lurking in the back of my wardrobe for a while, is now being worn again. I...