Add Scarf to Handbag
Handbag scarf 1 x handbag + 1 x scarf = tres chic Here's a really easy one for this post. No sewing. No nothing. Take a favorite bag. Add a scarf. Voila! You double up the impact of your handbag. I showed this idea on one of my tote bags in an older post. It's an easy...
Knotted Bead Necklace
Bead and knot bracelet Beads knotted into thread Is it just me or does anyone else think the poses models hold in fashion magazines look a bit daft? These poor woman are usually draped awkwardly across some item, or bent backward, in a pose not even a seasoned yogis...
Biker Chic, Washer and Charm necklaces, Slip top
Styling with DIY fashion Biker chic Every now and again I style my model with my own clothing. It helps me to see how wearable the stuff I am making actually is. Or isn't as the case may be. I also give my model an eco rating. In this post the model is wearing a...
Rubber Band and Rubber O-ring jewellery
Rubber jewelry Mixed rubber accessories And now for something completely different. Phew! After a hectic half day reading up on all sorts of unusual ways to make clothes and accessories out of discarded items, I thought I would make a contribution. The eco fashion...
Brooches on a Bib Necklace
Bib necklace inspiration Brooches on bib necklace I have pondered my reasons for writing this blog before. It's not a blog dedicated the aspiration to buy this or buy that. But rather, my attempts to make do with what I already have. The reduce, re-use and recycle...
Make a Chanel Style Chain, Change Strap on Bag
Upcycle a handbag chain Making a Chanel chain One of the hallmarks of a Chanel bag is the chain. The ribbon threaded through the chain is distinctively Chanel. If you are wanting to give one of your bags an upgrade, you could do the same to the chain of the bag you...
Cascading Chain Necklace and Gym Bag, Sewing
How to make a multi chain necklace Cascading chain necklace and gym bag This is a closer view of the cascading chain necklace I showed in the previous post. You can see how I literally took whatever came to hand and jumbled it together to make the chain. The...
Cascading Necklace with Vintage Shirt and Headband
How to make a chain and ribbon necklace Cascading necklace These cascading chain necklaces are so easy to make. In the photo on the right I took anything I could lay my hands on and mixed it all together to make a long chain. I used bits of thinner chain, bits of...
Wear Brooches on a Chain
Easy DIY necklace Add brooches to a chain This is a really quick and easy way to whip up a sparkly necklace for a special outfit. You need a neck chain. Either make one up or use an existing one. And a pretty brooch, or six as in the photograph. To make your own neck...
Longer Length Skirts and Metal Washer Necklace, Braided Cardigan
Styling with home made and upcycled clothes Longer length skirt Skirt lengths are longer. Maxi length is not ever going to be my thing. Not sure what it is about floor grazing hemlines, um no more like dragging on the floor, that irritates me. Maybe a steady stream of...
Easy to Make Medals
How to make fashion medals Easy "medals" In this post I show how to make military style medals to wear on your jackets. It's a small touch. But rather than splash out on a couple of new jackets, you can lend a military look to existing jackets by styling them...
Three Different Lariat Necklaces
How to make a lariat necklace Three different lariat necklaces After styling my model with that Aventurine lariat necklace two posts back, I got into them all over again. I bought the one in the middle of the photo as it is. It is made of polished quartz crystal...
Chandelier Bead Earrings
Teardrop wire bead earrings Easy bead earrings In today's post I am showing a pair of earrings my daughter made for me on the right. See how they were made here make your own bead earrings Inspired by the pair she made, I made a pair myself. See the earrings on...
Vintage Shift Dress, Beaded Lariat Necklace, Easy scarf, Obi belt
Styling with DIY clothes and accessories Vintage shift + obi + scarf In this post I am going to prattle on about the four elements of this outfit. All home-made or vintage. Oops, except the sunglasses. That's the fifth item my model is wearing. The black shift dress...
Red Lips
Simple affordable ways to stay on tred Red lips and lipstick It's not only clothes and accessories that constitute an outfit. Hair and make up are part of it too. It's amazing how you can tell a persons age by what they wear. Whole generations cling to the clothes...
Changing Buttons, Making Buttons
Easy ways to upcycle clothes with buttons Selection of buttons This post is about changing buttons to alter the appearance of an item of clothing. I showed in a previous post how I gave an old jacket more of a military edge. Most cardigans, jackets, shirts,...
Rope Bracelet
How to make a rope bangle Rope bracelets Today I thought I would show you some rope bracelets I made. The idea is not mine. I got the idea from the PS I made this website. Have mentioned them before. Synchronicity must exist as I found similar ideas to mine on their...
Watch Straps and Skinny Belt
DIY fashion with strapping Ribbon and tape for skinny belt and watch straps Following on from the last post I was pondering the ins and outs of fashion. Thin belts are in this year and medium to thick belts relegated to last year. What's a girl to do? Keeping up with...
Skinny Belt
How to make a belt Vintage dress plus home made skinny belt Another easy way to update your wardrobe is to incorporate a skinny belt. They work well over a jacket or with a pullover. I took a look at my current crop of belts and found not much to work with. I...
Black Ribbon Necktie and Scarf on Tote Bag
Tie a scarf to your bag Black velvet necktie Everyones favorite it girl, Alexa Chung, has been named most stylish person in the UK. She certainly has bucket loads of style. Pity we can't bottle and buy it. Her ability to put classic pieces together with...
Bangles, Accessories, Fashion on a budget
Stack of bangles Bangles galore I was having a bit of a discourse in the last blog about wearing bangles or bracelets as an easy way to accessorise. They do have limitations as mentioned but they are also an affordable way to update a wardrobe on a budget. And of...
Vintage Black Chiffon Top with Home-made Necklaces
Vintage fashion outfit Selection of homemade, vintage and recycled In the photo is the most beautiful black chiffon pussy bow blouse. I bought it second-hand years ago and have worn it to death. It cost the equivalent of a cup of coffee. I think it's a relic from...
Mixed Medium Rings
How to make plastic coated wire rings Scooby Doo rings mixed with classic rings I like mixing up items of varying value. Like in this picture. Scooby Doo rings made from plastic coated cable have been mixed with other classic rings. It's also the addition of colour to...
Punk Tank Top with Safety Pins
Safety pins on clothes Adding safety pins to a tank top This tank top got a punk inspired make-over. About a season back I saw these divine box jackets at Topshop with loads of safety pins all over them. This is a home-made and much simpler version of that safety...
New Nail Colours
Easy and affordable fashion updates New colour nail polish We have a store here where they sell magazines that didn't sell at the newsagents. Effectively we can buy high end magazines at a fraction of the price we would have paid. The caveat - they are a month or...
Military Jacket with Medals
Making medal accessories Military restyled jacket This jacket was minding it's own business being a regular muted green basic. I like the military trend, so I tried to give it a bit more metal. First to go were the plastic buttons. In came some metal buttons. Next I...
Festival Wear
DIY festival clothing Festival staples - trilby, wellies and wayfarers As temperatures plummet in the northern hemisphere, we here in the southern hemisphere, are gearing up for summer and a slew of festivals. I love music and I've been around long enough to have...
Twisted Bead Necklace with Lapel Flower
DIY fashion outfit Twisted bead necklace In my last post I was on about how I am trying NOT to buy the latest this or must-have that. I'm not going to tell a lie. It's hard resisting gorgeous things out there. I am tempted to spend all the time. I swear the shops are...
Twisted Beaded Necklace
Twisted ropes of beads Twisted rope necklace I've been trawling my way through a bunch of fashion blogs the last few days. They rather are the flavour of the moment and differ quite considerably in content. Some are snaps of stylish people on the...
Lace Belt
How to make a lace trim belt Adding lace to belt Could old be the new, new? We've had phases where navy or another colour was the new black. Improved health awareness means 40 is the new 30. Can wearing old clothes be the new thing to do? As awareness of global...