DIY ROUNDUP

Posted by Lucy McBride on March 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Lesley and I are crafty ladies…our heads constantly cataloging things we want to create (not just RR jewelry) inspired by what we see on other blogs, in stores, and on the runways and street. Oftentimes it’s frustrating because we rarely have the time or materials to sit down and follow through on these ideas, but when we do, the feeling is glorious. Check out some of my latest creations, and maybe you’ll be inspired to create something for yourselves.

Dip-Dye Blouse: This look was all over the runways in late 2011 and early 2012. Moving from haircolor to wardrobe and everything in between, the ombre trend was absolutely dominating the fashion scene. With so many beautiful and vibrant colors to choose from, there’s something quite classic about a traditional chambray/bleach ombre – and it’s easy to do! Remember this blouse? It was worn by Caitlin Mann in our winter 2011 fashion show; I resurrected this little guy, pulled up a page from fashion news blog Who What Wear and got to bleaching. This was a quick one as the bleach soaks into the fabric FAST.

Halter Neck Tee: I have too many deep armhole tees and wanted to try something new, so inspired by the cut of a Free People tank, I decided to experiment with this little gem from the Salvation Army. This works best on crewneck tees (with that sturdy ripped collar); just cut around the base of the collar and down through the arms. The result definitely made the shirt look more flattering and fun.

Tie Dye Pillowcase: Now I don’t need to provide an instructional guide for tie dying, but the concept of a multi-colored pillowcase is pretty fresh. This pillow definitely helps to balance the very white walls of my new room!

Studded Shredded Cutoffs (with iron-on patches!): You might recognize these shorts from last year….they were in both RR fashion shows, our SS11 Lookbook, and they’ve come a long way from their original form of Calvin Klein mom jeans. If you ever want to make a pair of these babies, all you need is a serrated steak knife; just hack away and wash/dry for a couple of rounds…pretty soon they’ll be as frayed as frayed can be. Ever the embellisher, I added two different sizes of pyramid studs on the front and back (I get mine from Crust Punks) and added a little “California love” with some iron-on patches I picked up on the Venice Boardwalk.

Acid Wash Blouse: I was totally ready to toss this F21 blouse until I had an idea. Inspired by the acid-washed flannels at Urban Outfitters (which were seriously ugly and disappointing in real-life by the way), I literally splattered bleach across the shirt with sharp flicks of my wrist (Jackson Pollock style). I did remember that bleach turns black fabric a fiery orange-red, so I was very pleased with the results!

White-Washed Boots: These were also inspired by Free People with a touch of All Saints. I took white acrylic paint on a brush and haphazardly colored sections of the boot (and laces). When dry, I lightly sanded the surface to create a softer effect.

Platform Sneakers: These are pretty funky and so very 90′s…..I distinctly remember begging my mom for a pair of platform sneakers at Payless….I think I might’ve been in second or third grade at the time. When I saw this tutorial from Vans, I thought it would be easy – nope, this here’s a hard one folks. If you think you’re up to it, watch the tutorial here.

Spiked Doc Martens (with ribbon laces!): Okay, so these aren’t exactly real Docs; they’re by 90′s shoe brand Soda and I found them at Goodwill. they were just a tad too plain, so I added some spikes (from my trusty Crust Punks) to the back heel and switched out the humdrum laces for silky black ribbon. You definitely wouldn’t be finding something like these at Goodwill now!

Neon Rimmed Bicycle: I picked this baby up in Venice for a total steal, but it was lacking the WOW factor. My obsession with neon green is still going strong, so it makes the obvious color choice for my rims. I took some aerosol graffiti spray and just went to town (NOTE: DO THIS OUTSIDE).

And then my most popular DIY to date…

Studded Iphone Case: This thing is a lot easier to make than it looks; it’s actually just a black rubber case punctured with gold studs from Crust Punks. All you have to do is poke the studs through the case and bend them down with small pliers on the other side to secure them in place. Wherever I go, people are fascinated with this thing…it looks a little hardcore but I’ve grown to love it.