Jazzi McG » DIY

What the French, Toast!?

Jazzi — Tue, 18 May 2010 01:36:55 +0000

Altered H&M striped maxi dress, DIY bracelet, random sock garters and OTK socks, Jessica Simpson platforms, rings: Pamela Love, F21, vintage, Made Her Think, Orbit Maui Melon Mint gum

Orbit reached out to a handful of bloggers – including myself – to help reveal their new line of product packaging. I accepted the partnership because I actually DO chew their gum (sugar-free spearmint, baby), I love their ad campaigns (seriously, this is one of my favorite commercials ever) and they gave me creative license to show off the new packaging however I want.

There are like 30 new packages in crazy colors and patterns that aim to go beyond traditional “branding” and venture into accessorizing. Pretty cool. So I’ll be revealing my 5 favorite new packages in the coming weeks. Think of it as fun product placement that shouldn’t otherwise interrupt your (ir)regularly scheduled programming.

Onto the outfit - I snagged this maxi dress at H&M the other day, but standing just 5 feet tall means every maxi dress is super long (and generally unflattering) on me. So I cut it up the front for a different effect. Now my goal is to get the “train” as scuffed up and worn in as possible, which shouldn’t take long. The sock garters have been sitting in my closet for a while and I decided to pull them out as a gum-holster (gum holster, get it!?). More on my DIY bracelet soon, and the hat is Sean’s. He never wears it, so I decided to.

The photos are at F&S fabrics where I was picking up some odds & ends and my nails (trying out rounded nails) are by the amazing and hilarious David at CT Nails #9! Resident L.A. airbrush nail king.

DIY: Alexander Wang SS10 Sheer Pants

Jazzi — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:41:42 +0000

Alexander Wang Spring 2010 look via tFS, Shirley of Hollywood sheer pajama pants, Lace Sleep Shorts, varsity letter patch, Asos baseball jacket

I really love these sheer Wang pants but despite some fantastic detailing, I can’t bring myself to shell out $500 for something easily found in a Fredrick’s catalogue or my Grandmother’s pajama drawer. The whole varsity/athletic runway look isn’t totally “me” right now but I do think the pants are perfect – and surprisingly versatile. Really. I just bought this rando Shirley of Hollywood “Sexy” (ha) sheer PJ set and I’m really pumped about it.

Planning a quick nip/tuck at the ankles, add black shorts, a side-braid for good measure and ta-da! Watch out now. Will post photos when they get here but couldn’t resist sharing now.

(Tip: search for sheer/chiffon/silk lounge pants on eBay – I’ve seen a few good options recently)

DIY: DVF FW09 Gallinet Nomad Hat

Jazzi — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:51:23 +0000

DVF runway photos via elle FZP9856TQF6S

I am almost always wearing a hat. Beanies mostly, but also pillbox, sailor, porkpie, beret – seriously, whatever. So the first thing I noticed, and maybe the only thing to make a lasting impression, from Diane von Furstenberg’s Fall 2009 Nomad collection were the awesome pom pom hats. I assumed the hats would suffer the ill-fate of most over-the-top runway accessories (the ones I want most) and never make it to into production. But wait, it did. But for $200, and in the loudest orange/pink color combo too… but let’s be real – we all knew how very easy this would be to DIY. And a year later, I have.

I wore my hat out to my Grandmother’s 70th birthday dinner tonight (Happy Birthday Grandmother!) & it was a big hit or a good laugh (and I’m not delusional, so I totally get why but I love it). Now deemed “the sea urchin hat” I’ve already gotten a few requests from the family haha.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium // Time: an hour or so // Cost: $8

Materials:

Yarn (1 regular skein is more than enough, I used 3 different colors)

Beanie/Knit Hat

Scissors

Optional: Cardboard (a shoebox top or your hand will do the trick)

Do it to it:

I could step-by-step the process of making the pom poms, but there are some awesome cat ladies on youtube who do it so well! (1, 2, 3)
Pom pom tips: I started out with the cardboard method, but once I figured out just how easy is was, I switched to using my hand to wrap. After the 3rd pom pom you’ll be a pro. I averaged about 5 minute per pom pom by the end.
Make about 10-15 pom poms in various sizes (and colors, if you choose).
Affix pom poms. Sew, safety pin, glue, whatever.

Finis!

DIY: Alexander Wang Spring 2010 Sock Braces

Jazzi — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:52:50 +0000

I feel like I always do my DIYs in pairs… so here’s another!

It seems some designers have hipped to the idea that one standout “DIY” look in a collection goes a long to spread a brand, and potentially spawn a trend, which ultimately equals sales. Alexander Wang (a fellow former Teen Vogue intern, holla!) has been so immensely successful due in part to his masterful branding of a look girls can attain whether they splurge on his impeccable details/quality or put it together from just old sweats, tees, and leather. The downtown tough-girl chic ultimately reads: Alexander Wang, so he still wins at the retail game.

Ok, that was kind of a tangent… but this really simple DIY is an easy way to get a Wang look without the Wang price tag. You probably have the makings of these sock brace/suspenders from his Spring 2010 collection lying around or can them pick up for under $10. I used:

American Apparel Unisex Knee High Socks

White Eyeliner

Fabric Glue

Elastic Band

Scissors

(optional) Fabric Seam Sealant

Trace U-shaped outline using white eyeliner – make sure to do this with socks ON for stretch accuracy – then cut out. Glue/sew on elastic band. I plan to run these through my sewing maching and finish the edges at some point, but they were definitely wearable without and didn’t fray even without seam sealant (but would over time).

The rest of my kinda Wang-inspired look: Aldo hat, cut AA shirt, F21 skirt and belt, Jeffery Campbell potion boots

On another note, posting this at 4am and planning to watch some Mad Men after, then just maaaybe fall asleep. A friendly fist bump to all my insomniacs out there!

DIY: Richard Nicoll Spring 2010, Grosgrain Ribbon Bracelet/Cuff

Jazzi — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:27:52 +0000

Just used a little fabric glue, grosgrain ribbon, and a little snippy-snippy to whip up a DIY of Richard Nicoll’s Spring 2010 armband/bracelets. I didn’t have a suitable brooch, so I layered it with this faux-bling from Forever 21. It took about 3 yards of ribbon, and I’m planning to pick up some brooches at the flea market next week then make some darker, fuller pieces. So simple.

DIY within a DIY: Tom Binns “Get Real” Necklace

Jazzi — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:33:19 +0000

Ah, Tom Binns! I love his designs so so much, but like… well, pretty much everything these days, I can’t afford them. So his tongue-in-cheek “Get Real” collection gave me faith and a really good laugh.

His laminated magazine collage jewels were a call to arms for the DIY set, and I was ready & packing heat… or an x-acto knife. The original Tom Binns versions sell for $200-ish at Collette, and I like to think even that price was Tom’s own little inside joke. Good one, Tom…

What You’ll Need/What You’ll Do:

Magazines (Vogue or an old ELLE Accessories work great)
X-acto Knife
Scotch Tape or Spray Adhesive
One trip to Kinkos
Closure (silk cord, string, safety pin, velcro, whatever)

Cut out your favorite jewels. My thought process was “Oooh, shiny!”
Get creative. Collage them together, forming a ‘U’ or ‘O’ shape, trying it on as you go, and using tape or adhesive to hold together until you laminate.
Optional: make a color photocopy if you want to make more of the same.
Laminate ($1/sheet at Kinkos).
Cut out again, fasten, and voila!

This project also works great with just one “pendant” strung on a string, or safety pinned as a brooch. Soooo many possibilities that will make flipping through repetitive jewelry ads way more interesting. I’ve already started on a few more and, if you’re interested, I might put some (including this one) up on Etsy.

[tom binns images via style.com]

DIY: Maison Margiela Spring 09 Chain Ripped Shirt

Jazzi — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:35:35 +0000

Every season, something from a MMM’s collection steals my heart. And every season, I can’t afford it. Admittedly, most Margiela pieces are so well-crafted, you couldn’t DIY it if you tried. Luckily for me, this shirt practically screamed “Make me!!” so make it I did. Until I can buy the real thing (or at least until I can borrow it for a shoot), I’ll have to stick to my DIY alternative. Which actually isn’t half bad.

Shirt, $4.50 @ Forever 21

Chain from old F21 necklaces (about $10)

Safety Pins

Scissors

Instructions are pretty simple – just slash the shirt until you get the desired effect, then safety pin the chain across and through the holes. I used old discolored chain for a more distressed look and alternated between gold and silver safety pins.

I searched high and low for a runway image of the front of the shirt, but could only find images of the back. I swear, the front images of this shirt disappeared into a black hole or something. If you find, please pass it over!

xo J

DIY: Courtney Love by Hedi Slimane

Jazzi — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:49:34 +0000

When I first saw these shots of Courtney Love by Hedi Slimane I thought “Who made those shoes!?” Then I quickly realized Courtney herself had made them and so could I. Well, I did just that, using:

Scalloped Trim

Beaded Trim

Lace Trim

Buttons

Hot Glue/Needle & Thread

(all from F&S Fabrics)

1. Measure your ankles

2. Cut/Sew 2 pieces of trim together at the seam

3. Glue/sew on flair (buttons, more trim, etc)

4. Attach with buttons/elastic/or safety pins.

I think it’s pretty sweet that Courtney Love made DIY high fashion and from the looks of this shoot, I wouldn’t be surprised if she put out an accessory line in the near future… and I’d be the first in line for it!

Another DIY, JGL, Updates

Jazzi — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:25:00 +0000

Another DIY for Fashionista, and of course the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Haiku was my doing haha. I still need to meet him. Apparently he lives near me, still haven’t seen him. Someone, please introduce me? Thank you.

Mom, Chewy, and Grandmother drop in NYC tomorrow. Excited! Cleaning as I type.

Edit: This cuff is dedicated to Peter because he is awesome.

Today at Fashionista…

Jazzi — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:08:00 +0000

I did a fun DIY project for Fashionista. Check it out.

It actually kept me really warm today and got some “that’s really cool” comments on my way home. Always a plus.