DIY Fashionista

Outfit Details

DIY Dyed Top

Recreate the look with Dus's dyed top tutorial:

Outfit Details

How To Customise Your Own Camera Strap

Recreate the look with Rebecca's camera strap tutorial.

Outfit details:

• Dress - sugarlips
• Top - fhl style 
• Shoes - forever21

DIY Denim Bow Tie Top

Recreate the look with Joyce's Denim Bow Tie Top tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Hmm I'm still trying to figure out what my style is! But especially since I'm going to start college soon, I've been drawn to clothing that is comfortable and versatile rather than super trendy. 

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

A cropped doughnut tee from forever21! I love wearing it with high waisted shorts for an easy summer outfit or pairing it with a fancy skirt for a more dressed up outfit. And who doesn't love doughnuts? :)

Who are your style icons?

I find inspiration from other fashion bloggers. I'm always checking my bloglovin' feed, hahahaha. Some of my favorite blogs include: Ready Two Wear, Flashes of Style, Gal Meets Glam, Brooklyn Blonde, and Signeroo

Do you have any favourite designers?

Forever21, Urban Outfitters, and American Eagle Outfitters

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Not very often! Only if I have a piece in my closet that I don't wear as often anymore and I'm in the mood for experimenting haha.

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

Accessorizing can make all the difference! I love adding scarves or interesting pieces of jewelry to make an old outfit a little more exciting.

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Outfit details:

• Vintage Sunglasses - thrifted €0.20
• Bistro Curtain Top - DIY (see below)
• Beaded Accessories - inherited & handmade €0
• Bell Bottoms - DIY (see below)
• Fringed Bag - thrifted €1
• Schweden Clogs - had for 17 years – now that’s quality! €0 
  

DIY Bistro Curtain Top &  Bohemian Bell Bottoms

Recreate the look with Sherri's bistro curtain top and bohemian bell bottoms tutorials:

How would you describe your style?

Quirky & eclectic best characterize my style and my wardrobe is filled with unique eco-refashions, handmade accessories & fabulous thrifted gear!

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My collection of refashioned vintage cocktail dresses...I just wish I had more occasions to wear them!

Who are your style icons?

Lisa Bonet, Cyndi Lauper & 1980's Molly Ringwald

Do you have any favourite designers?

As an eco-fashion refashionista I firmly believe that fabulous, affordable, unique style can be achieved without supporting the growing phenomenon of cheap, unethically produced “fast fashion” and love spending an afternoon browsing the racks of my fave thrift & charity shops for new-to-me items or discovering fabulous second hand clothing online.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Absolutely! Most of my wardrobe has been refashioned or recreated in some way. 

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

Never be afraid to try something new. Stepping out of your style comfort zone can have a dynamic effect on your self esteem...start small by adding a funky new accessory to a fave outfit and in no time at all you'll be creating your own unique style everyday!

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

• Striped Top: Marshall's (Olivia Moon)
• Maxi Dress: Forever 21
• Sandals: Thrifted
• Belt: Forever 21
• Necklace: DIY (see below)
  

DIY Clay Heart Drop Necklace

Recreate the look with Meaghan's Clay Heart Drop Necklace tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Comfortable, casual, chic and minimal. I wear jeans a lot, whether it be to work or when going out. I like my dresses too, but I don't like having entirely different wardrobes for work and play so it's easier for me to just dress a pair of jeans up or down with my top and accessories.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

Currently this maxi dress. I can style it so many different ways, look cute and still be comfortable.

Who are your style icons?

Modern day would be Lauren Conrad, she dresses her age but still keeps it fun and stays with the trends. If I lived in New York I would dress like Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's) every day, that style just doesn't fit into my little beach town though.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Marshalls and Online. I enjoy the "digging" to find something good, it occupies my mind and allows shopping to truly be therapeutic. 

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I have given a second life to a couple of dresses I would have otherwise sent to goodwill. I would really like to make some more of my own clothes and accessories in the future, if only there was more time in a day.

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

Accessories are a great way to personalize an outfit. It's great that a small item like a necklace can change the whole look of an outfit. 

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Julie Sarinana with Sincerely Jules is my absolute favorite! She was the first blogger I actually started to regularly read when I first got into blogging. She is bold with her California beach style, a lot of what I try to emulate out of work.

Outfit details:

• Dress - BCBG (Purchased at Nordstrom Rack- marked down from $198 to $55.50!)
• Scarf - Pucci (Purchased at the Emilio Pucci store in Las Vegas for $280- a gift from my husband!)
• Shoes - Paris Hilton (Purchased at TJ Maxx for $49.99)
• Earrings - Topshop (Purchased at Topshop in LA last weekend for $28)

DIY Bcbg Maxi Dress:

Recreate the look with Flannery's Bcbg Maxi Dress tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Bright, fun, colorful & sparkly! 

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My gold leather jacket from Zara (seen here).I actually bought it when I was pregnant but it’s definitely not a maternity jacket!  I just needed something that made me feel less of a mom-to-be and more of a glamorous badass!

Who are your style icons?

My mother has been my style icon since I was born!  Because of her love of beautiful things, she helped to train my eye at a very young age.  She also loved to sew, so my sister and I were always surrounded by amazing fabrics and got to have custom outfits made for us all the time!  Some other favorites are Cyndi Lauper, Iris Apfel and Katy Perry.   

Do you have any favourite designers?

Yes!  That is actually what my blog is all about- “Tweaking” things to make them better and/or more interesting.  I have been doing it for years and finally decided to start documenting it on my blog, Fashion Tweaker!

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

Yes!  Get crazy!  Mix colors and patterns and textures and wear tons of jewelry! I always say that life is too short to wear black!

 Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Macademian Girl is one that I regularly read, I also love Winnipeg Style! My sister does some fun fashion posts on her blog, Bombay Blonde, as well!  Everyone that you feature here on the Cut Out & Keep site is amazing too!

Outfit details:

• Dress - op-shop
• Blazer - op-shop
• Shoes - DIY (see below)
• Tights - Sussan
• Top - Ginger Tree

DIY Pom Pom Shoes:

Recreate the look with Jenna's pom pom shoes tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Somewhat clownish, like a young child who was given too much freedom in dressing themselves. Lots of print mixing, statement pieces, pastel or bright colours, (or both) and general eccentric cat-lady style.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My rainbow polka dot 50's style dress. Especially fantastic worn with petticoats and doc martens, so you look particularly sassy.

Who are your style icons?

Anna Piaggi, Iris Apfel, Tavi Gevinson, and the people who wear what they want, and don't give a damn.

Do you have any favourite designers?

As much as I can, yes. I have sewn a few dresses and what-not, but I find handmade accessories are easier and have the same impact. You'll often find me stroking velvet and playing with buttons in craft stores.

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

Learn to sew, even it means re-hemming or changing necklines. Recycling old clothes, making accessories, gettin' crafty with a hot glue gun and embroidery also add a personalised touch, and you can be as insane as you wish. 

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Pineneedle Collective, The Clothes Horse, Mermaidens, Self-constructed Freak, and Scathingly Brilliant. I love blogs that are beautiful aesthetically, but also those with happy, interesting content. 

Outfit details:

• Black Buckle Boots - Crown Vintage from DSW
• Canvas Backpack - Oasap
• Sunglasses - gift from my mom!
• Vintage Blouse - From my shop
• Vintage Pinafore Dress - From my shop

DIY Crop Top And Shorts Set

Recreate the look with Hannah's Crop Top And Shorts Set tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

I always have a hard time with this one as my style is really ever-evolving based on the season, my mood, and whats currently inspiring me! That said, I can definitely say it usually some sort of mix between vintage and modern, and I always try to keep things fun!

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My favorite piece in my wardrobe for comfort is one of my slightly oversized V neck t shirts, which you can find me in on most weekends!  As for a more fashion-y item, my cat- eye tortoise shell sunnies that my mom found for me in a grocery store in Hawaii are one of my very favorite things I own right now!  I know thats more of an accessory than a piece of clothing, but I feel like an outfit is truly complete once I have them on!

Who are your style icons?

Other bloggers are my style icons! I am so happy to be a part of such an inspiring and stylish community.  I am always pinning outfits I want to try out and swooning over things I see on my daily blog feed. 

Do you have any favourite designers?

Most of what I wear is vintage and or/ thrifted, so when I get something that is actually new it feels like a treat.  My usual go-tos are Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Modcloth.  Also, whenever I enter a Target I always end up with SOMETHING new that I really don't need!

Do you make or customise your outfits?

Yes! I love to alter vintage clothing to make it a bit more modern.  My Etsy shop is full of clothing that I have altered and/ or customized!  It's amazing what taking up a hemline a bit or removing poofy sleeves can do!

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

I'd say always have fun with it, and also make sure you feel like "you".  This is not to say I believe people should be limited to wearing one style, but I think its important to feel great and be comfortable in what you are wearing.  An easy way to make an outfit more personal is to have a few favorite sunglasses that can be the finishing touch to basically any look!

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

When I first started blogging, I was very inspired by Steffy's Pros and Cons and Flashes of Style, and they are still two of my favorite reads to this day.  I also love the remixing and swap blog I am a part of called Flock Together!

Outfit details:

• Beehive - See below
• T-Shirt - ASOS (It's actually out of stock, but here's a similar one)
• Skirt - Alannah Hill SS11/12 "She's So Cute"

DIY Beehive:

Recreate the look with Jessica's beehive tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Mostly 50s style, vintage or vintage inspired clothes but it really depends on how I feel when I'm getting dressed that morning.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

I hardly ever get an opportunity to wear it, but it has to be this incredible red gingham 1950s dress I found in Melbourne. I spotted it on the rack in a huge antique/vintage shop and kept thinking about it as I walked all around the shop and when I went back to it I saw that the label inside the collar was "Henry Lee" aka one of my favourite songs by Nick Cave featuring PJ Harvey and also the namesake of my blog, so what I'm trying to say is more than any other item of clothing I own, that dress was meant for me to find it.

Who are your style icons?

I suppose when I first really started experimenting with my style about 5 years ago my biggest inspirations were my favourite bloggers but as my style developed I started taking inspiration from everything and everyone around me. So I suppose there isn't really anyone who's style I try to emulate.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Not really, based on the fact that I don't have a working sewing machine or much free time to learn, but it's definitely something I'd love to be able to do one day.

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

- If you're not overly confident with your style, fashion blogs are a wonderful resource. Scour your favourite blogs for outfits you like and then look through your wardrobe for similar items you can try and recreate the look with.

- As you're looking through blogs, try and take note of the basic pieces people have and use in lots of different ways, i.e. a plain black circle skirt or ballet flats, etc. Build up a solid foundation of basics you can rely on and you can try out a top you're not sure about with a skirt you know goes with anything.

- Op-shopping is amazing because it allows you to try out things you won't find anywhere else and you don't have to spend much money to do it. My biggest tip if you never seem to find anything you like is to pick something out and try and picture it in your wardrobe at home and think about what you could wear it with - even gems look ugly in an op-shop when they're next to all the other ugly things, but they can look amazing with what you have at home.

- Experiment at home when you've got a bit of time, not when you have to pick something in 5 minutes and run out the door - do your hair and makeup the way you like it and try out some different outfits. Take photos of the ones you like on your phone and when you have to run out the door the next morning you can look through the photos and pick an outfit you like a lot more easily - it totally helps avoid that "I hate everything in my wardrobe" feeling.

- Accessories are key - I don't really wear jewellery but belts can completely transform an outfit! And hats are a great one too, I think I have about 10 berets by now.

- Find a couple of hairstyles or make-up looks that you love and practice until they're easy and put these on rotation. Even though they're not to do with clothes, they can really help complete your outfit and make it look a lot more "done" with only five minutes more effort

All of these are things I started out consciously doing and as you get more confident with your style it just come naturally without you even thinking about it anymore.

 Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Old favourites wishwishwish.net & thecherryblossomgirl.com as well as www.harlowdarling.com and not strictly fashion but hannahandlandon.blogspot.com is beautiful

Outfit details:

• Earrings - Wish (Memphis,TN)
• Dress - Urban Outfitters
• Scarf - DIY from sari (see below)
• Flats - H&M

DIY Sari Scarf:

Recreate the look with Priya's Easy Scarf tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Hi! I’ve been quoted (and mis-quoted) as saying “J.Crew in middle school”. I love really classic pieces, but have to have a bright color or fun pattern thrown in the mix. I would also describe it as “quirky classy.”

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

Definitely tough! And definitely always changing. I love a great patterned dress or skirt, so right now I’d have to say this pretty dress I picked up at Gap Factory.

Who are your style icons?

Is it so blogger-y of me to say mostly bloggers? Street style is so much more relevant to me because I rarely attend red-carpet events. Sydney of The Daybook was the first blogger I really followed, and although I don’t identify with her style as much lately, throwback Sydney is near perfection. As for real celebs, Michelle Obama, Zooey Deschanel, Rachel Bilson, and recently Lupita Nyong'o (flawless. Killing it.)

Do you have any favourite designers?

Very rarely do I make things, (and jewelry more than clothing, for sure!) but I would say I customize them (i.e. adding a brooch, cutting something to make something else, hemming, adjusting the fit, etc.)

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

Use accessories liberally! And stash those accessories where you can see them, so you remember to use them. Have a couple pieces that you love and wear them again&again&again, make them your trademarks. Never compromise on fit when you’re shopping, but if you did, think about how you can re-work a piece before you get rid of it (ex: if your dress is too short, cut it to make a top or skirt!) An easy way to start any outfit is pick out a piece you love first, and let the rest fall around it, showcasing your favorite piece! I use that formula a lot!

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

I mentioned The Daybook, which I’ll probably read forever. Of North (formerly Urban Tease) I have also followed for years! A few more gems: Room 334, Here&Now, The Adored Life, and Joyful Outfits.