photo via >>

Back to School already – and who’s prepared?! Certainly not me.  Although I’m ready to trash my summer wardrobe, I still haven’t wrapped my head around all the coverage of Fall clothing. But Fall means back to business, so a perfect time for a DIY Couture:

I love this site > Ren Ariel Sano of Semi Jewels does the coolest DIYs and makes it all look so easy!

She put together this really easy but very cool Chanel Cut-Out Gloves DIY – And wow, the finished product looks great! All it takes is some leather gloves, a pen and exacto knife and a steady hand.

Although a few seasons old, this DIY Studded Bag would be awesome for Fall. What a great way to make a boring ol’ bag look fabulous!

Ivania from Love-Aesthetics also has some really great, easy DIY’s. Made re-popular by Maison Martin Margiela, this cut out blouse is seems easy enough to DIY >> See how it’s done on Love-Aesthetics >>

photo: The Cherry Blossom Girl

ChickAdvisor.ca asks in their recent DIY Half Moon Manicure blog post – Hot or Not? And I had to share this after seeing The Cherry Blossom Girl’s tres chic, jewelled half moon manicure .

The new trend, following the spring 2011 runway look, is to reverse the french manicure, leaving nails blank and just adding color to the ‘moon’ as opposed to the Dita Von Teese classic of leaving moons white. Two tone would be hot using trendy spring 2011 pastels or grey too.

Apparently celebs are already making this popular (who knew) so I better get on it. Just need to get me some 3-hole reinforcement stickers and try it myself.

photo: jakandjil.com

As always, holiday party dressing is about glitter and glam: sequins, baubles, shine and pizzaz! Nowadays any Aldo Accessories or Forever 21 has you covered in the accessory department, but oh what fun it is to fashion your own!

1. Super easy no-sew Faux-Fur Vest @ psimadethis.com >>

2. Stunning glam Feather Adornments for ankles, necks… @ lovemeaghan.com >>

3. Still fashionably beautiful for 2010 – Embellished tights and nylons @ monoxious.com >>

4. Lace Bunny Ears are sure to stand out @ theseams.blogspot >>

5. Try on a Turban @ apairandaspare >>

Learn to make your own beaded, glam-cycled and feathered creations while you craft up a Christmas storm!

The Make Den and Twitch Jewellery are teaming up to host a 4-week DIY Gift-Giving Series this holiday season!

Runs Saturdays Nov 27th – Dec 18th from 2-5pm
$190~ (includes basic materials)

Week #1 – Working with Feathers. Get comfortable with the basic tools and get friendly with some crimping beads and a pair of pliers! 2+ pairs of earrings will be completed by the end of class.

Week #2 – Found Objects. Head to Value Village for some treasure hunting! Reclaimed chains, old bling and forgotten trinkets become new again – sentimental objects can turn a great piece of jewellry into a treasured object.

Week #3 – Hair with Flare. Make the headband, comb or barrette of your dreams – use fabric flowers, more feathers, giant bows, reclaimed zipper sculptures and fabric origami to create a fascinator to fascinate her!

Week #4 – Use leather and studs to make tough/cool bracelets & anklets. Then we’ll help you work on the perfect packaging for all your gifts and finally open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate. Relax, all your Christmas crafting is done!!!

The Make Den is located at 1207 Bloor St. W
Email themakeden@hotmail.com to register

photo: Christopher Kane for Topshop (2009)

I haven’t done any DIY projects lately (instead have been fixing buttons, linings, soles etc… of my spring stuff I’ve been slowly bringing back to life) – but fortunately came across this great site – http://www.myvintagesecret.com (via another fab site www.eatliveshop.com).

Not surprised it takes a Ryerson fashion student – Kaitlin Simonsen, to maintain a blog, e-shop, school studies and post regular DIY projects (i almost hesitate to share).

DIY Projects on myvintagesecret.com:

Fringe Tee (link)


Grommet Tee (link)


Custom McQueen Tribute Tee (link)

I was invited to a 40s Hollywood glam party recently at Toronto’s luxurious Royal York Hotel. As per my usual, I Googled all things 40s, hoping to find another blogger’s account of their 40s DIY look. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that easy, although I did find plenty of resources of YouTube for hair and make-up; and then searched through vintage catalogues and photos of 40s actresses for outfit ideas.

Amazingly I just happened to have this white chiffon dress with an accordion skirt (me on left) hanging in my closet waiting for the perfect event! I found this photo of actress/model Veronica Lake (right), circa sometime in the 40s!

My Simple Hollywood Glam 40s Outfit Breakdown:

(background: Although the Cold War was going on, Hollywood, as always, seemed unaffected by global deficiencies. Apparently, ‘The Office of War’ declared movies an essential industry for morale and propaganda. People were starving everywhere, yet the silver screen showed glamour, wealth and abundance. Common women attempted to follow fashionable suit, and although leather and fabric were rationed and even if a woman couldn’t afford furs and jewels, she would be sure to do her hair and shine her shoes.)

Dresses: Ladies wore dresses in the 40s and for a party, the silkier and glamorous the better! Preferably light colors, chiffon, silk, lace and satin. Most common evening gown styles are heart-shaped necklines; small-waisted; and even strapless. Length: long or at least below the knee.

Shoes:The most common worn are medium heel height (not too thin), t-strap or lace ups.

Photo: Inspired 40s Steven Meisel for US Vogue September 2009 featuring Coco Rocha, Karen Elson, Liya Kebede, Sasha Pivovarova, and Viktoriya Sasonkina

Accessories: This is what counts for dressing for any occasion:

• flower, feathers or some other hair decoration
• diamante earrings/pearls
• shoulder pads (to balance big hair) if applicable
• fur stoles
• nylons with a line up the back (that was drawn on by women in the 40s)
• gloves

Make-Up and Hair:

YouTube is the best source for this!! So many ‘pin-up’ how-to video’s including how to do hair rolls, rockabilly hair and pin-up girl make-up, etc… For my hair, I used bobby pins to stick in a bunch of faux dollar store feathers and a giant flower. I curled using a YouTube video technique.

YouTube 40s Hair >>
YouTube 40s Make-Up >>

photo: The Cherry Blossom Girl

ChickAdvisor.ca asks in their recent DIY Half Moon Manicure blog post – Hot or Not? And I had to share this after seeing The Cherry Blossom Girl’s tres chic, jewelled half moon manicure .

The new trend, following the spring 2011 runway look, is to reverse the french manicure, leaving nails blank and just adding color to the ‘moon’ as opposed to the Dita Von Teese classic of leaving moons white. Two tone would be hot using trendy spring 2011 pastels or grey too.

Apparently celebs are already making this popular (who knew) so I better get on it. Just need to get me some 3-hole reinforcement stickers and try it myself.

I am a DIYer at heart but rarely have the time to start or complete projects. Fortunately, this time I was inspired and encouraged to come up with a fairly easy, yet super stylish accessory using easy to find items for a recent outfit.

DIY Shoulder Pads – Using dollar store items and leftover fabric – 2 Hours:

Faux fur | Chains & Ribbon (dollar store) | Pendants/Brooches (cheap jewellery store) | Glue | Thread

2. I could have left the fur wild, but chose to glue it under.

3. To keep the fur from lifting around the edges, I attached some iron-able interfacing on the underside (glues everything together).

4. Then I attached some chains, embellishments, and voila! I attached them to my shirt with double-sided tape and safety pins.

* The best thing about this DIY is that you can use absolutely anything you have. You don’t even need shoulder pads but can start off by cutting fabric in the shape you want. You can attach any old jewels, ribbon, feathers… for a custom look *