DIY METAL BELT

Metal belts have been on my mind  and at the absolute top of my DIY list for a long time. I finally found the material I needed to make my own version when I was back in Australia on holidays - aluminium flashing which is sheet metal used in roofs, found at the hardware store. Read on for an incredibly simple (and cheap!) tutorial.

You need:
- Approx 1 metre of 0.03mm or 0.05mm thick Aluminium Flashing - used in roofing and available in most hardware stores. It cost me around AUD$2.50 for the metre.
- Scissors
- Hammer
- Towel
- Rope, leather or wire to secure at the back

How to:

1. Using scissors cut a strip of flashing to size - I cut mine about 7cm wide and 75cm long to suit my waist with a little extra at the ends.

2. To effectively 'hem' the edge of the metal (so that you don't cut yourself while wearing it), place your flashing on a table with about 1cm along the length of it hanging over the side of the table. Using your fingers, push the metal down so it is flush with the corner of the table. Turn the metal over and push it down all the way down along the edge. Repeat this on the other long edge of the belt.

5. To finish the edges, cover with a towel and hammer lightly with the hammer along the edge so it is nice and flat. You can also place the belt between two phone books and hammer the edges to make sure it is finished well.

6. Carefully bend the belt around your waist or something round like a bucket, making sure not to fold it - the less it folds or bends the better the belt will look.

7. Roll the two ends of the belt over so that you have two tubes at the ends. I rolled the ends around a pencil to make it easier.

8. Finally, thread the tubes with ribbon, leather or rope and tie in a bow or tuck into the tubes at the back to secure the belt. I used some plastic covered fencing wire but you can use whatever you want.

Here's the finished product. Given how cheap aluminium flashing is you can make a few different versions - thick, thin, hammered, smooth etc.

And there you go! How easy is that? The belt goes with just about every outfit you can imagine - and suits summer as much as it does winter.

Wearing: 

Outfit 1 - Something Else wool jumper, Country Road Singlet, Self Designed Lace Shorts, Zara boots.

Outfit 2 -  Country Road Singlet, mini skirt from Korea

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DIY INSPIRATION - NEON ROPE BELT

I recently had the pleasure of attending the British Fashion Council's pop up showrooms in Hong Kong where they had S/S12 pieces from amazing British designers like Mary Katrantzou and  Roksanda Ilincic. DIY inspiration abounded! This amazing neon rope belt by Roksanda Ilincic was a particular inspiration - a big coil of rope covered in a tube of neon lycra and tied in a sailors knot. Amaze!

Very happy to see that brights and florals featuring heavily in S/S12. No need to cull my wardrobe just yet!

bottom image: here

BUY IT OR MAKE IT

1| Balmain Metallic Leather Skinnies. Buy It or Make It - spray old dark jeans with gold paint.

2| Isabel Marant Gown Cotton and Silk-blend Vest. Buy It or Make It - remove the sleeves of an oversized thrifted blazer.

3| Christian Louboutin Artemis Studded Python Shoulder Bag. Buy It or Make It - stud the shoulder strap of a snake print bag.

4| Amanda Wakely Leather Double Belt. Buy It or Make It - Layer two skinny belts.

5| Burberry Embellished Pocket Scarf. Buy It or Make It -  using a long wool scarf, fold over the ends and sew to create pockets for your hands and then embellished with beads.

6| PS1 Large Leather and Jacquard Satchel. Buy It or Make It - Embellish a leather bag with Kilim or Aztec fabric as done here by Rackk and Ruin. Oh did I mention that this is my dream handbag?

DIY ON THE RUNWAY - BURBERRY SS12 [inc BEADED HEELS!]

I'm so delighted to see that the Burberry SS12 collection is an extension of their resort wear that I fell in love with a little while ago. I couldn't resist tooting my horn about the inclusion of wedges with coloured bead embellishments - similar to the ones I made here inspired by the high heels in the Resort collection. It's great to see a look sticking around for long enough for us to have a go at making it! Why not have a go at making them yo'self?

Other Favourite DIY inspirations from the show:

• Wooden bead embellished belts and and collars 
• Straw hats with wool pompoms
• Raffia oversized collars
• Sunglasses with threaded rims
• Coloured wooden shape embellished trench coats
• Coats with knitted sleeves

Images courtesy of Style.com and The Blonde Salad

DIY ON THE RUNWAY - PRABAL GURUNG SS12

Practically dripping with DIY inspiration. Amazing rope necklines, graphic shaped cut outs, violet dip dye, net skirts and corset body belts were all over the SS12 RWT Prabal Garung runway. Now, what am I going to make first?

Backstage images are so much more satisfying to me than the traditional runway images, don't you think? Images via Garbage Dress

DIY Rope Belt

Use rope to belt some high waisted pants.

Image: Knock You For Six

DIY Collaboration with The Style Net - Choose Your Own Adventure!

I am really excited to be collaborating with The Style Net on a few DIY projects over the next couple of months. Head over to The Style Net's facebook page to vote for the DIY project you would like me to do - choose your own adventure (how fun were those books when you were a kid?). Simply 'like' your favourite look in the album and hopefully the project you choose I'll be recreating in the coming weeks. Easy as.

Images from the collage from Stockholm Streetstyle, Autilia, Gary Pepper Vintage, Twin Cat Vintage, Net a porter.

DIY on the Runway - Michael Kors Resort Collection

All these resort collections I'm being bombarded with are very very distracting. Michael Kors' collection particularly caught my eye. Whats even more fun? The collection was inspired by a long trip to Australia - I can totally feel it! DIY details? Yessir. Take your pick from oversized shirts, belted swimwear, neoprene, gorgeous cutouts and thigh high splits. Get some resort inspiration in your life.

Images: Song of Style

DIY Camel Maxi Skirt and Tassel Belt

I very much hope you aren't sick and tired of seeing my DIY maxi skirts. With access to such beautiful fabrics its hard not to make a few. I used the easy method I showed here to make this one in a gorgeous camel colour. I'll be taking it to Malaysia this weekend, but will probably stitch the split shut temporarily as its quite a conservative country, and as you can see in the bottom photo when the wind blows it can be a bit revealing. I'm also wearing a DIY tassel belt - black rope with two tassels glued on. (Also, there's a few more items added so shop my closet here).

wearing: black country road singlet, DIY skirt and tassel belt, river island gladiators, cat eye sunglasses from ebay ('intouchwithstyle' seller). Thanks to my lovely friend Katie for taking these pics - was a very fun day of wandering around HK Island.

DIY Beaded Belt & Side Split Maxi Skirt

 Wearing: DIY Beaded Belt, DIY side split maxi skirt, country road singlet, river island gladiator flats, M&S cat eye sunglasses.

So I found an amazing beaded umm something in the Sham Shui Po Fabric Markets - we weren't really sure what it was supposed to be - a big collar perhaps. I cut it in half and made a belt with it - each half was perfectly symmetrical which was a bonus. I hot glued velvet ribbon on the ends and kapow, really fun belt. I'm making another belt for my friend with the other half (so we can be twinnies). Also, this is the full length version of the side split skirt I made for the wedding I went to. Very versatile. Hope you like it! Shop my closet here.

DIY Sash Belt

I got a gorgeous camel dress made in Shenzen recently - I am going to add some studs to a sash belt of my own. Sash of choice? Soft thrifted silk scarf. 'nuf said.

Image: Who What Wear