F*ck Yeah, Lanterns!

I bought a whole heap of these lantern lights to go on a friend's rooftop and around the flat while I was in Malaysia. Aren't they pretty? I'm sure if you've been to Thailand you will have seen them in every market - was very pleased to find them in Penang too. Can't wait to show you pics of them strung all over the house and the rooftop. (The bf is well pleased by this thought as I am sure you can imagine).

wearing: DIY tassel earrings, lace shorts designed by me, thrifted red silk shirt, studded pouch bag.

Handmade Sequin Shorts

I am COMPLETELY in love with these black sequin shorts I designed and got made in Shenzen. They are so fun! Don't they just scream 'let's go party!!'. Couldn't help dancing around the bedroom when I had them on... (ignore my ridiculous starfish-like dance moves...) They are a similar style to the lace ones I also got made and blogged about yesterday- with a high paperbag waist and belt loops. I chose a small square sequin as they aren't as shiny as round ones, in an attempt to keep them a bit low key. Hands up if you want a pair? (would be perfect worn with some eye catching tangerine lippy - need to get onto that asap!)

wearing: handmade sequin shorts, perfectly soft white tee from some random japanese brand, zara boots.

Perfect DIY lace shorts

Got my delivery from the tailor on Friday (yay!). The tailor got all the things I designed bang on - so happy. I have been wanting a pair of lace shorts for so long - but never found the perfect ones (within my price range). I chose the cutest lace and got them to put in belt loops so I could add a little ribbon belt. I am in love. Can't wait to show you all the others things that came. (ps. I know getting things made by a tailor isn't exactly DIY, but oh well).

Wearing: handmade shorts, vintage camel silk tee, mango boots

DIY Knitted Shorts

I know I wasn't the only person lusting after the Stolen Girlfriends Club knitted hot pants (seen here in brown in a pic taken by Shini of Park and Cube). And of course I got to thinking about how I could DIY them myself. The closest I got was to thinking of making a pair of shorts out of a knitted sweater - which is still very doable mind you. But this morning I received an email from the lovely Barbro of Barbro Andersen with her tutorial of how she knitted these herself. Amazing! They are absolutely gorgeous and although the DIY isn't for the faint-hearted, she proves that you can definitely do. it. yourself. Go here for more pics and the tutorial. And keep the DIY projects coming - I love it when my readers get in touch.

DIY Spotted Cullotes

Jessie of The Velvet Bow continues to delight me with her amazing DIYs, I was obsessed with her pink scalloped DIY shorts she recently sold and now these have me enchanted all over again. I must say she definitely knows her way around a bum covering! I love this type of DIY so much, recycling something that didn't appear to have any potential into something amazing. If you haven't DIYed yourself some shorts out of a pair of pants or trousers, get down to your local thrift shop and get amongst it. Jessie cut hers off and then used a sewing machine (and created a gorgeous wavy hem) but you can always hand stitch. Isn't the bow she sewed for the waist tie from the scraps just too cute?

Shiny and Bright

Gala, you have inspired me to get a pair of rough sequin shorts like these made next time I am in Shenzen (the list for trip number 3 is growing verrrry long!). At least now I know what I am going to get made out of the racks and racks of sequins. I am also endeavoring to make your amazing spiked belt.

I am also addicted to these amazingggg silver sequin pants below. They definitely make the list also.

Images: Inside Am-lul's Closet, sequins fabrics in Shenzen, Yeojin Bae via Honestly wtf

DIY Weekly - Tan Suede Shorts

Found a gorgeous pair of Guess vintage tan suede pants at my local thrift market for $60HK - about £5. They were really cute but when I tried them on they were a little bit too early 90s (friends circa season 1) for me to wear them much. Decided they would make a very cute pair of shorts. So did my usual thing and cut them off. To hem them I actually turned the hem in, ironed flat and then glued the hem down. I had noticed previously that hems on leather trousers and shorts are often glued. Was so easy and worked really well. So next time you make some leather shorts out of trousers, get some superglue and glue the hems down instead of rolling or folding.

The weather is supposed to be a smashing 25 degrees celsius this weekend (4 day weekend for Chinese NY!) and planning on getting out on the boat, these shorts will come in handy.

Before:

 After:

Wearing: DIY shorts, thrifted white tee, zara wedge boots, zara satchel, asos floppy fedora, neon orange ribbon worn as bracelet.

Are we friends on twitter? I love to ramble about DIY inspiration and upload pics of DIYs I see on the street. If you don't have a twitter account (like I didn't for agessss), think about getting one - its actually pretty fun and only a tiny bit lame haha.

DIY Folded Hem Leather Shorts

Found this tutorial on Fashion Nicotine for making leather shorts out of pants, I have made quite a few pairs in my time but I really like how she has folded the hem inside and then over so the right side of the leather shows on the outside. I have a tan suede pair of shorts that are going to get this treatment this weekend. Securing the hems with a few stitches at the sides will make sure they don't fall down.

The Best DIY Trends of 2010

What DIY trends rocked your socks in 2010? I have gone back through my archives and had a look at the DIY trends that got a whole lotta of airtime. But don't think for a moment I'm saying these DIY trends are passe. Not at all! I'm not a trend hunter and I don't really buy into the 'new trend of the moment throw everything else you own out' attitude to fashion. Feel free to take these trends from 2010 through to 2015 if you you feel like it. A good DIY never gets old.

Collars
Miu Miu and Carven inspired a wave of collar DIYing, with most of us recessionistas preferring to DIY rather than buying for an arm and a leg. Why not cut a collar off a thirfted shirt or make one out of leather? Embellishment such as beads, studs, sequins, buttons and fringing added to collars on shirts was also seen on blogs, editorials, online stores and designers alike. A very satisfying DIY trend indeed. Check out all my posts on collars here for a bit of inspiration and some tutorials to make your own.

Images: Le Chic Muse / me

Shorts
All eyes have been on shorts in 2010, and they were (and still are) the bum cover of choice for festival goers and picnicers alike. Those of us not wanting to splurge on such tiny items went in droves to thrift stores and set about customizing denim, leather, linen and cotton shorts or trousers. Cutting off and making highwaisted is an easy and cost effective way to get amongst it. The adding of scalloping, lace, studs, rips and a whole host of other embellishments took the DIY a step further. As a rule I didn't buy shorts from anywhere but thrift shops as they are just so easy to DIY. If you don't have a sewing machine, a double fold over of the hem and then a light hand stitch works just as well in taking them up. Check out my shorts posts here if you feel you didn't get amongst it enough and need to get some inspiration. I know all the southern hemisphere peeps will be thinking about getting into shorts right about now so why not pop down to your local thrift shop and DIY your own?

Images:Transient Expressions,  Internodiciotto , SRC783, my own, The Velvet Bow, my own

Chain Harnesses
A very easy DIY that has been pretty popular for a while now (don't hate me if some of these trends have roots back earlier than 2010 - I'm definitely no fashion historian!). I think Rumi from fashion Toast and I Heart Norwegian Wood had a hand in the popularity of these body embellishments. So incredibly easy to make - basically all you need is some chain, jump rings and some small jewellery pliers. Check out this tutorial from Monoxious here for some inspiration. Don't buy when you can DIY.

Images: Fashion Toast 

Shoulderless
Just about everyone who saw this gorgeous picture of Hanneli Mustapata was inspired to make a shoulderless shirt. It helps that she is so utterly adorable and makes it look so chic. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that it was this image that sparked a whole series of designer copies, and millions of DIYs. I was very happy with a similar one that I made, and it was incredibly easy. Check out my tutorial here.

Images: Hanneli Mustapata, my DIY, Sophia from Owl vs Dove

Turbans
Channeling the 50's vibe, who doesn't love a good turban? The blogosphere provided a multitude of great tutorials for all of us to copy this past year. The Man Repeller and Honestly Wtf did a great job in showing us what to do so we could rock some great bad hair day headwear. Head here for some inspiration and a few tutorials.

Images: Man Repeller, Honestly Wtf, Frassy, Studded Hearts

Mouse/Rabbit Ears
Again, not going to bother to go back and analyse where this trend surfaced (I'm sure that Marc Jacobs and Madonna weren't the first to get amongst it) all I'm going to say is that ears as headwear is fun. And DIYable. Totes. Check out this great tutorial here from Carolines Mode. Its well easy to do, innit.

Images: Vanessa Jackman, Carolines Mode, me, Asos, Studded Hearts

Embellished Shoulders
Shoulders were big in 2010 (and 2009? I can't remember), both physically and metaphorically. Eager DIYers added embellished shoulder pads to cardies, blazers and plain tops. Fringing, sequins, studs, buttons and just about everything else was added to shoulders. Truly easy and always cute. Still loving this look.

Images: Anywho, Style Scrapbook, LFW day 2, Gary Pepper Vintage

OK there are sooo many more DIY faves from the last year, what were yours?