Features
Latest Posts »

DIY Fashionista

Outfit details:

  • Embellished T Shirt - DIY (see below)
  • Patched Jeans - DIY (see below)
  • Jacket - Rugby
  • Shoes - DVF
  • Bracelets - Vintage
  • Belt - Made from ribbon

DIY Embellished T-Shirt & Patched Jeans

Recreate the look with Cathy's Embellished T-Shirt & DIY Patched Jeans tutorials:




How would you describe your style?

Classic with a twist.  But, it’s really hard to describe, I like to change it all the time based on my moods and current inspirations.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My jewelry. I have a huge collection of vintage jewelry (mostly from my grandmothers) and I also love all my DIY jewelry.


Who are your style icons?

I’m a huge Audrey Hepburn fan. I love her timeless style. I’m always inspired by movies from the ‘40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. I love the over the top style of Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame.  I try to live by her quote “Life’s a banquet and most poor fools are starving!”

Do you have any favourite designers?

Diane Von Furstenberg, Anna Sui and Isabel Marant. I obsessed with prints, textures and embellishments.  But, I look everywhere for inspiration for my DIY’s, street style, movies, vintage, art, everywhere.


Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

ShopBop because they have everything. I love vintage shopping to find really unique pieces. I also shop for a lot if inexpensive basics to customize with my DIY’s at UniQlo, Joe Fresh, Target and H & M. Unless I know it’s going to be a classic piece I’ll keep forever, I don’t like to spend a lot of money on clothes and I prefer making things whenever I can.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Yes, I really do stay true to my DIY. I always have on at least one thing I’ve made and/or embellished (usually jewelry). But I try to keep it to a 2 or 3 DIY limit, otherwise it can get a little scary.


Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

Be true to yourself and go with what you like. Don’t try to please anyone but yourself. Be fearless! 


Follow Cathy on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog, Trinkets in Bloom »

Outfit details:

  • Sweater - Ralph Lauren (thrifted)  
  • Shirt - Gap 
  • Cords - Buffalo 
  • Necklace - Vintage  
  • Boots - Duck (thrifted
  • Socks - Target 
  • Bracelet - DIY (see below) 

DIY Leather Bow Bracelet:

Recreate the look with Josie's Leather Bow Bracelet tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

My style seems to always be changing little by little, but in general I'd probably say something like vintage prep with plenty of masculine details.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My khaki skirt! I could easily wear it everyday and not even be bored. It seems to go perfectly with almost anything, and I'd be heartbroken I lost it!


Who are your style icons?

Audrey Hepburn, Kate Middleton and way too many bloggers to name.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Ralph Lauren, Kiel James Patrick and Kate Spade to name a few.


Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

Thrift stores. I worked in malls for years and got so sick of it! I would much rather dig through thrift stores to find those jems! 

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Sometimes. I have a few ideas and plans for making bigger peices this year and using my sewing machine a lot more, so I'm pretty excited about that!

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

Try to just focus on what you want to wear. Personally I like to stick to classics and pieces that I know I'll have for years when I'm buying clothes, but jewelry and shoes are sometimes a good opportunity to incorporate trends you like without going overboard. And vintage is always a great way to add some personality to an outfit!

Follow Josie on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog at Fine + Feathered »

Outfit details:


DIY Beads Of A Bird Neckacle:

Recreate the look with Charley's Beads Of A Bird tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

Difficult question, I’m into so many different looks and own such an obscene amount of clothes, which I’ve acquired over the past decade I don’t think I can generalise or pigeonhole them all. I will say I like anything with graphic patterns, embellishment or motifs. Bright colours also have a knack of grabbing my attention with a vice-like grip. With all those things in mind, I’d say graphic, artistic and colourful, but all in the best possible taste.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My steel cap-toed New Rock boots. They’re probably the most expensive item I own but they last about 5 years so as value for money goes they’re definitely worth the outing. Unfortunately, I don’t get to wear them very often because I cycle everywhere and they’re really heavy but I remember living in my first pair when I got them at the age of 17. They certainly made 6th form life very interesting!

Who are your style icons?

Emilie Autumn. God, I wish I had legs like hers! I love the Visual-Kei look, particularly on people like Kamijo from Versailles.


Do you have any favourite designers?

Well, growing up in the 90s and studying fashion in the early “noughties” I used to be inspired by John Galliano – before his unattractive true colours surfaced -  and Alexander McQueen. They were the two stand-out designers who got me into fashion, as I think they did with most fashion students at the time. I’ve also always loved the graphic, colourful aesthetic of Thierry Mugler and the intricacy of Christian Lacroix.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

For blog projects, Ebay and charity shops because of the endless choice as well as the prices. Seriously, what did we do before the internet came along!? I get loads of my other clothes from Topshop, Miss Selfridge and River Island. I used to be really alternative but now I think I’m becoming a closet mainstreamer (if you see what I did there!) It’s good fun to mix and match. My favourite combinations tend to involve DIY versions of couture items mixed with high street clothing for an authentic-yet-affordable take on the latest trends.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I customise whenever possible. Much as I love to sew, it’s ridiculously time-consuming and if you’re trying to figure out your own pattern that easily adds another few hours to each project. My time’s frustratingly tight so unfortunately sewing something from scratch is a rare treat. Another thing I will say is that there’s so much trial and error in sewing if you’re at a beginner or novice level. Generally you’re better off embellishing or reconstructing something that someone’s already gone to the trouble of making than trying to do it all yourself. If you aren’t absolutely 100% sure of what you’re doing, something minor  - like the wrong choice of stitch or sewing needle, or neglecting to use something like interfacing when you’re machine-embroidering onto jersey, for instance – can completely wreck your work. I’d say customising, where possible, definitely trumps sewing things from scratch.



Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

Don’t throw old clothes out; keep them and re-work them into something else, so you can mix them with newer, more on-trend items, for a cool, considered and totally unique look.


Make sure to check our Charley's blog at Chic Cheat »

Outfit details:

  • Sweater - loft
  • Headband (tie from dress) & dress (as top) - charlie jade
  • Skirt - loft
  • Tights - target
  • Booties - seychelles
  • Bag - DIY (see below)
  • Necklace & bracelet - gift & vintage

DIY Stencilled Tote Bag:

Recreate the look with Katherine's Simple Stenciled Tote Bag tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

I feel like I merge cute and quirky with classic style. I like more traditional shapes, like circle skirts and cardigans, but tend to lean towards prints with animals and quirky little accessories.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My custom made Star Wars dress from Rusty Cuts on Etsy has to be my favorite piece. It fits me like it was made for me (because it was!), features my favorite character R2-D2, and perfectly shows off my back tattoo and still allows me to wear a normal bra. It's perfection in dress form.

Who are your style icons?

I really look up to a variety of people. Zooey Deschanel, Cassey Ho from Blogilates, and Rebecca of the Clothes Horse are all people I look up to.


Do you have any favourite designers?

I really love looking at Etsy for independent designers - my favorite handbags are handmade in leather by Vahalla Brooklyn. There are quite a few brands that design for Anthropologie that I can't get enough of - like Girls From Savoy. Kate Spade is probably my favorite overall designer brand - the fun colors, great use of fonts, and quirky twists on items have always had me smitten. 

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

I scour sites like Modcloth, Anthropologie, and Asos fairly often. I live in a very small city and don't have a wide variety of options for shopping, so I tend to buy almost all of my clothing online.


Do you make or customise your outfits?

In the past, I have made skirts and dresses, but I have learned to pick and choose my hobbies. I still knit all of my knit wear and have tons of scarves, hats, mittens, and dog sweaters that pop up on my blog in the colder months. I will whip out my sewing machine on special occasions, like to sew my dog a bow tie.


Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?
  

I believe in wearing the same thing a lot more than twice, just in different iterations. If I have a dress, I try and think of at least 5 different ways to wear it. I do this when considering a purchase as well. Playing around with pattern mixing has really changed my ability to wear things in different ways. I also love adding different jewelry pieces to an outfit - a large statement necklace can create a completely different look than a small charm necklace for instance.



Follow Katherine on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog, of corgis & cocktails »

Outfit details:

  • T-shirt - refashioned by me (see below)
  • Black skinny jeans - Vero Moda
  • Peeptoe heels - vintage from my Mother's yout

DIY Heart Cutout T-Shirt

Recreate the look with Hanna's DIY Heart Cutout T-Shirt tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

I think my style is constantly evolving, but I guess I do have some signature lines to my style, that haven't changed fo years and that probably never will. I like simple and classic pieces with a hint of retro and romantic to them. I love pretty dresses and cute cardigans, but I wear a lot of pants in my everyday outfits. Mostly simple skinny jeans paired with a cute top and a cardigan. 

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My favorites change constantly. I keep finding new things I'd forgotten about in my closets and then all of a sudden I can't remember what I wore before that. I think this heart cutout t-shirt is actually one of my current favorites. I'm not a t-shirt kind of gal usually, but the heart shape makes it just cute and romantic enough for my style. It's perfect! And, I acquired my first pair of skinny jeans a couple of months ago (yes, my first pair) and they've come my favorite pair ever.


Who are your style icons?

That's a hard question. I don't think I have style icons per se, but I do admire people who have their distinct style and can carry themselves gracefully. I love when a woman know her worth and is confident in her style. 

Do you have any favourite designers?

I wouldn't say I have any favorites, I like a lot of designers' work. I like Estonian young eco-conscious designers who make their collections from cast off materials. That's very inspiring.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

I rarely buy new clothes. Once a year I do the sin of going into H&M. I always feel guilty afterwards because of their production methods, but since I'm a student on a budget and I don't have time to make all my clothing myself, I have to get a few basics for cheap. 


Do you make or customise your outfits?

Most of my clothing and shoes is thrifted and refashioned by me. I used to make a lot of my clothing from scratch, but I quickly became hoarding new fabric, which I didn't have time to turn into clothing. So I turned to thrifting and refashioning. I still make garments from scratch from time to time, but I mostly use materials I already have.

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

I have a series on my blog called "Wardrobe reinvention", which has taught me a lot about mixing up my outfits. I think you should have fun with your clothing and be really creative about how you wear it. A skirt can be worn not only as a skirt and you can mix up a dull outfit by putting your sweater on backwards. Accessories are great for adding some personality to any outfit. It's all about trying new things and having a lot of fun.


Follow Hanna on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog at Pearls & Scissors »

Outfit details:

  • Dress - Shareen Vintage
  • Silver robe - Thrifted and Modern
  • Shoes - Swedish Hasbeens in Silver

5 Min Wreath

Recreate the look with Justina's 5 Min Wreath tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

Globoh (global/bohemian)

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

yikes. that's tough. Right now I'd say it's this dress by Free People.

Who are your style icons?

Frida Kahlo, Peggy Moffit

Do you have any favourite designers?

Right now I'd say Isabel Marant, Suno and Stella Jean.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

Free People, Plumo, Pretty Mommy, Etsy.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Not usually but sometimes I will cut things up a bit or add belts and things where they don't always belong. 

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

I'm a big fan of mixing brights: I love to wear blue shoes, green pants, pink top, orange jacket--for example--so long as they are all solids, they'll never clash.  I also love to mix prints, and layer layer layer. I like to think about the balance of my outfits as well--if I'm wearing something simple, I'll add a chunky necklace to add punch. If I'm wearing something crazy, I'll wear my hair pulled back in a bun to not distract from the outfit. I have been known to use scarves in all kinds of crazy ways too (as belts, head wraps, tops...) and I'm not afraid to wear more than one scarf at a time, either!


Make sure to check out Justina's blog at JustinaBlakeney.com »

Archive

Recent Comments