DIY INSPIRATION - MARA HOFFMAN TASSEL TOTE

Tassels have been on my mind ever since moving to Hong Kong where you see them everywhere. I've got so many tassel projects planned I barely know where to start! This one I will save for a long wet weekend.

[HOW TO] TAKE A WORK OUTFIT FROM DAY TO NIGHT

Ok so does anyone else struggle to take a work outfit from day to night?  Around Christmas time it can be a particular challenge – so many things on and places to be after work. The last thing you want to do is have to go home, or worse yet, have to take your night outfit with you to get chaned. Well – problem solved. What you need is a versatile work outfit that can be dressed up or down to make it fun and appropriate for wherever you find yourself after work. For me, the simple addition of a piece of statement jewellery, like these DIY tassel earrings, a pair of very high heels and some bright red lippy is enough to take an outfit from the office to a party.  That’s why I always have these little staples in my handbag in the event that something fun gets sprung on me as I walk out the office door. The ultimate in simple, fuss free party dressing. Let the Christmas parties begin!

Wearing: DIY Tassel Earrings, Country Road singlet top, DIY skirt (shortened from midi length), thrifted belt, navy leather bag.

Photos thanks to Carmen Chan at the Rag & Bone Launch Party

The Blue Fringed Bag

Another man repelling wardrobe item? You got it! I love this bag I bought in Thailand, but the bf and my brother were completely against it. Men. have. no. idea. Right?

Outfit - DIY rug skirt, blue tassel bag, AP&AS white silk singlet.

DIY LBD #4 - Florence and the Machine at Glastonbury

Topshop designed the costumes for Florence of Florence and the Machine's performance at Glastonbury on the John Peel Stage in 2009. I was lucky enough to be in the audience and loved  the ethereal and haunting costumes (almost as much as the music). Who wouldn't fall for fringing, caped sleeves and feathers? These illustrations of the designs have inspired the 4th in my DIY little black dress series, which I am in the middle of creating. Can't wait to show you!

Image via Inside Out - Topshop Blog

Woops, it was 2009 not 2010 as I first thought. Clearly once you've been to a few it becomes a bit of a blur!

DIY LBD #2 - Gucci Inspired Tassel & Rope Dress

A couple of days ago I posted a few inspiration images for the second in the DIY Little Black Dress series (see here). I fell in love with the black tasseled dresses at the Gucci SS11 show, and so this is my LBD inspired by those oh-so-glamourous styles. I went for a much more subtle style than the original inspiration as you can see.

DIY

There are two parts to this DIY - the making of the basic capsule of the dress, then the addition of rope and tassels. You'll need a big thrifted black dress and some rope and tassels.

For the Capsule
1. I turned the sack dress inside out, and overlayed a bodycon dress to get the correct shape - then I pinned it where I wanted to take it in.

2. I cut the sleeves off and the hem of the dress quite short.

3. I took the dress in using the sewing machine and also sewed up the hem.

4. I cut the neckline off completely so I had a tube top style with a kind of cut off triangle neckline. Below is the finished capsule of the dress.

I then pinned and hand sewed 40 tassels on each side of the dress, layering them up for a block effect.

I hot glued two strips of rope together and then sewed them onto the neckline - attaching at the back as straps.

Volia!

I must say that this was quite an involved DIY and took me a little bit of time - you could always add tassels and rope straps to a black tube dress or singlet for a more simple project.

(try not to laugh too hard at my lame pose in these pics - these were the only photos of like 10 that were taken that were passable).

Happy DIYing!

Watermelon High Waisted Trouser Love

This is a relaxed wedding outfit for the Thai beach wedding I'm going to this weekend. I have been wanting a pair of bright coloured high waisted, wide leg pants for ages - so I re-used the fabric from this maxi skirt I made for the last wedding I went to and designed these pretty wide leg pants. Outfit pics to come.

white silk singlet with front pocket designed by me, watermelon trousers designed by me, DIY tassel earrings, reiss mesh heels, thrifted envelope clutch.

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.

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.

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.

This time last week...

I made these using my new glue gun. A present for a friend and a cup of green tea.

DIY Christopher Kane Inspired Tassel Earrings

Continuing the theme on from my recent Jil Sander inspired DIY maxi, I have been feeling very bright and neon recently. It probably helps that Hong Kong winter is pretty damn pleasant compared to London. I absolutely loved the Christopher Kane Spring Summer 11 collection and wanted to make something inspired by the brights. Neon accessories are particularly good if you want to get amongst the brights trend but dont want to go large on a dress or trousers. Found these tassels in a market and was instantly inspired. Bought some little earring studs and tied the tassels on. I can separate them in the future and just wear one colour, very versatile!

 

Wearing: DIY tassell earrings, vintage floral dress, tan sandals by river island.