DIY Inspiration: Turn A Mini Into A Maxi (Sorta)

From this photo, it looks like Miroslava Duma literally just belted some extra leather onto her dress, turning the mini skirt into a fall-appropriate maxi/pseudo-fishtail dress!

But these photos show it's actually just a slightly less-mini overskirt. But still! A maxi version of this could so be DIYable.

Images via twitter and Nobody Knows Marc

Outfit: Fall Essential Bits And Pieces

Best pair of jeans ever? Check. Flannel? Check. Incredibly soft but super edgy brown leather jacket? Check. Wrapped curls? Check. Leopard print loafers? Check and check. Super huge cranberry-colored infinity scarf? Umm, like 2/3 of the way done being knitted... Bring on fall weather!

Jeans: old Levi's
Leopard loafers: White Mountain (sooo comfy!)
Leather jacket: William Rast for Target
Flannel shirt: old Target
Necklace: Charmin' Charlies
Belt: thrifted
White tee: Urban Outfitters

P.S. sorry about all the headless shots recently... makeup has not been a priority recently :(

DIY Inspiration: Asymmetrical Wrap Skirt

My namesake over at Late Afternoon posted this outfit recently, and my first thought was "oh geez, I both love and could totally make that skirt!" It's a beautiful leather (which, by the way, is so totally unbelievably in this fall) asymmetrical skirt by StyleStalker that basically looks like it's being held in place by a zipper on her left hip.

Oversized leather skirt + scissors + zipper = so easy (at least in my head). Definitely need to see if the reality would work out well. Goodwill here I come!

Images via Late Afternoon

Dudely DIY: Leather Wallet

Update! Love the idea of this DIY wallet but can't/don't want to actually make it? Buy it at my Etsy shop over hereeeee!

I woke to a text the other day from my good friend (who is also an amazing dj/musician/drummer - check him out via soundcloud here or here if tumblr is more your jam) asking if I could make him a new wallet. I've been trying to figure out a way to include all my dudely followers, since my DIYs tend to be on the feminine side, so I totally jumped at it.

However, I've never made anything even remotely similar to this before and in all my excitement, I totally forgot to take any process photos. So the steps sound complicated, but it's really a simple project!

What you'll need:
Leather pieces a la picture below
Waxed thread
Hammer
Nails
Glue

Six inner card pockets, and the two larger base pieces for where bills go. 

What you do:

1) First, I glued down the top inner card pocket to hold it in place. Make sure to only glue down the very bottom, left and right edges of each pocket - NOT the top or in the middle!

2) Punch holes along the bottom of the pocket using a hammer and nail (much easier than trying to force a needle through two layers of leather)

3) Sew just the bottom of the pocket, and repeat 1-3 on the second rows of pockets.

4) Place the other large base piece (what will end up on the outside of your wallet) underneath the piece with the pockets sewn on so the "nice" sides face out. Punch holes along the entire bottom of the wallet, sewing the last row of pockets down as well as attaching the outer piece to the inner.

5) Punch holes for and sew down the inner sides of the pockets. Make sure you only sew through ONE layer of the larger base piece not both of them, otherwise you won't be able to get your bills inside the pocket!

6) Punch holes for and sew the outer edges of the pockets and the larger base pieces together.

 7) So awesome.

Summer Shorts

As I sadly transition into the stifling heat of a Southern summer, I've come to the shocking revelation that I only own one pair of shorts. And they're great, but not so great as to totally dominate my summer shorts category.

So while shopping around for shorts, I've found that it seems as if anything goes for shorts this summer. Anything that is, except boring. Distressed denim, yes. Studded and/or lace pockets, doubly yes. Printed, super yes. Leather, yes but only when the humidity is under 60%. Tribal, hell yeah all the time yes. High-waisted and teal, yes but only with faux hipster glasses. Plain denim shorts, NO WAY JOSE.

My goal for the summer is to acquire and/or DIY each and every one of these shorts. Ready, set?

via: A Pair and a Spare, Classy Girls Wear Pearls (x2), Because Im Addicted (x2), Christeric, Could I Have That, DesignLoveFest, Fashion Toast, HonestlyWTF (x2), lefashionimage, Sincerely Kinsey, and Vanilla Scented

DIY Inspiration: David Koma Spring 2012

Cut-outs and tribal and neon colors and leather AND amazing hair??? David Koma, you are my idol. I mean, seriously, this is amazing. Take a sharpie or fabric paint to some sheer cloth or neons maybe? Adding mesh inserts, leather pleats, or leather fringe to a plain skirt or dress (and don't forget on those shoes!)? Yes, please. My favorites are the sheer-front pants, and the full-skirted dresses, just beautiful.

Huge kudos to 5 Inch and Up who brought this beautiful designer to my attention!

Backstage photos via 5 Inch and Up, runway photos via Style.com

DIY: Leather Fringe Crossbody Bag

I've been seeing inspo fringe purses everywhere, and yesterday realized I have this ivory leather clutch that I made last summer yet never use, plus tons of leftover leather. So I made myself a crossbody leather fringe bag in literally one step. So great for when I'm going out and only need a small bag to put my phone, camera, and wallet in, instead of my usual massive mom-purses.

What you need:
A purse
Fringe (or fabric to cut into fringe)
Fabric glue (or you could sew it)

Sorry for my very un-vacuumed floor... I'm in the process of packing up my room

What you do:
1) Take bag, glue on fringe.

2) DONE!

And as a teaser for tomorrow's post featuring my friend Ben's (not so) secret inner model, here he is working it with my new bag.

DIY: Tribal Mixed Metals Necklace

Free People gets me and my hippie alter ego. If I had enough money, I would buy almost everything they make. They've even gotten me obsessed with fringe (along with LoveMaegan and TMR). Exhibit A through infinity:

I have a DIY planned literally for each one of these photos. And here's the first, inspired by that last photo.

What you need:
A variety of chains (different colors, thicknesses, patterns, etc)
Jump rings
Pliers
A clasp (optional)
Leather scraps
Sharpies
Thick needle or safety pin (or a leather punch if you're a pro)


What you do:
1) Make your fringe by mixing various chain colors and types, or creating some sort of pattern like this one.

2) Measure how long you want your necklace to be and cut a piece of chain this long. Attach to either side of the fringe.

3) Cut a piece of leather into your desired shape and decorate with a tribal pattern (you could also glue on fake flowers, leave it plain, add feathers, etc). Make a hole in each corner of the leather with your needle/punch and attach to the chain above the fringe using jump rings.

4) If you need a clasp to get the necklace on, cut the chain in the middle of the "back" and attach one. I wanted mine to be long, so I didn't have to do this as I can easily slide the whole thing over my head.

5) Take selfie photos.