MissAmy |

This is a pretty simple outfit that I used to highlight a pair of shoes I DIY’d.  It’s been a long thought process to get to these as I’ll explain lower down in this post.

Initially I was inspired by the Dexter chair in the Metropolitan Homes Showtime Showhouse.  It’s funny because I had the next issue of Metro Home & read a write-in where someone complained of “glamorizing violence” or whatever and referred to the chair.  It piqued my sick interest so of course I tracked the chair down online.  I received the earlier issue later on & this is their mini-article about the chair & the Showtime Showhouse.  BTW, the “blood” is embroidered on white leather.  Divine!  So, liking the splash of red on the white, I started thinking about that but with shoes!  I also cross-referenced this obviously macabre leaning with Louboutin’s red soles (obviously, how could I not?) 

So, I got myself some shoes  that I wouldn’t mind ruining.  My first thought was to pick up paint at Joann’s fabric store since I’m there all the damn time.  I bought the Liquitex acrylic color in Cadmium Red Deep Hue in a tube. 

In the meantime I had found a puffy white heart necklace at Walmart (took me 3 tries to buy it – a story for a different day).  When I first spotted it I thought immediately to dip IT in red.  (By this time I had read a couple of the Twilight books & was loving Edward & that whole creepy vampire/blood thing so the heart was really more about that.)  I dipped it first as the shoes wouldn’t fit in the small bowl I had.  Here’s the heart necklace:

Then, I tried the paint I had on the first pair of shoes:

They’re, ahem, a little chunky due to the thickness of the paint.   My dear, patient husband suggested I try the more liquid type wall paint.  I took myself off to a jaunt to Lowe’s and picked up some liquid red:

And here they are.  FINALLY.  I’ve had this in my brain for so darn long it was getting a little uncomfortable. 

I was playing around with these calf-length boots (I don’t wear them a lot because of how tight they are on my calves).  This image on Jak & Jil inspired me to try something other than zipping.

Look #1 – the half-zip & fold-over.  Kind of Pirate-y!

Look #2 – the knot

The knot certainly looks good but I would have to find something to help keep them tucked in.  The boots that inspired this were probably much taller to begin with, making them easier to wrap & knot.

Anyone else have a creative way to wear your boots?  Share!

I FINALLY dye-ed a couple sweaters that have been on my “makeover” pile.

Unfortunately, I don’t have before pictures so I’ll just have to describe:  The hoodie is from Victoria’s Secret, was off-white & just got kind of dingy – my water does that.  It’s impossible to keep whites white & most off-whites turn dingy grey after several washes.  I had picked up the other sweater at TJMaxx for $1.  It was white so I knew I’d have to modify it.  There was also a tear at the neckline. 

(Side note on how I feel about torn clothing:  I’ve never been bothered by tears in clothes.  I think they give them personality.  Besides, I was in high school when grunge was big so I’m pretty comfortable with it.  PLUS, after seeing the Elizabeth & James deconstructed tee being sold for $90 I feel that torn clothing is pretty much accepted.  But I’ll have mine at a lower price point, thanks.)

I called my dad’s girlfriend & had her give me the basic steps to do it since the instructions on the dye boxes always overwhelm me.  (Am I alone on this?)  The two tops came out very similar in color which I had wondered about since one was white & one was more ivory.  Another not unpleasant surprise, the zipper on the hoodie did NOT dye (cuz it’s synthetic?) so I ended up with a kind of modishness to the hoodie. with the effect of white piping down the front.  One more thing – the neckline had actually unravelled more, which I’m digging.

Below are photos plus the super easy instructions I used.  They’re not gospel but they got me to dive off the dye cliff & into some new, more wearable tops!

Simple instructions for dyeing clothes:

Set the washing machine to small load.

Let it fill, then pour in your dye.  (I used two of the RIT dye boxes for 2 lightweight sweaters.)

Let it agitate for a bit while you wet your clothing in the sink or wherever.

Put the clothing in the washer, make sure it is all submerged.  (Poke it with a stick!)  And let it sit for 5 minutes.

Then run it through another cycle.  You can dry in the dryer when it’s done.

Afterwards, be sure to clean your washer by running a cycle with bleach & detergent in it.  AND, wipe up with bleach at the very end.  I neglected to do this & have blue speckles everywhere now.

P.S. I’ve heard that adding salt at some point helps keep your colors true longer.  I think that direction is on the box.

Happy dyeing!

I saw a pair of D&G pumps in June’s issue of Bazaar with silk ribbon that wraps around the ankle & I thought, “Wow, that’s cute!  Geez, I could do that with ribbons for like $4 though.”  So I did.

All I did was buy a roll of fat black satin ribbon, cut it long enough (do 2 strips the same length so both feet match).  Then I looped it under the foot & crossed it over the top of the foot, wrapped it around the ankle & tied.  I think they’re super cute.  Kind of a more chic-er version of the infamous Lara Flynn Boyle ballet look.  You really could take it as far as she did & go all the way up the calf but I don’t necessarily recommend it.

They will also look different depending on the shoe you use.  I used these slingbacks because they were handy, even though I had originally pictured them on plain heels.  I would love to see some tone on tone takes on this.  Also flats would be adorable done up this way.

So, let me know if you try it.  I’m sure you’ll all come up with some stunning things!

Here’s some lovely links I’ve been saving up to share with you all:

DIY Marc Jacobs – Dusty Dress via Outsapop

The Balmain look for dollars – Bleach Black on The Pipeline

So freaking in love with this suitcase cat bed over at Craftzine

Another suitcase project – make an ottoman! – Craftzine again

Shoes for your Balmain look – again from Bleach Black

Hope you found something new to your in there!

This is the second outfit I worked the capelet with.  It’s a little more casual which I like.  I actually built it around the shoes which, sadly, are just too small on me.  I couldn’t even wear them to work that day.  They are pictured further down & will be on ebay soonish.  They are GORgeous!  I didn’t even know Talbots made shoes but I found them at the thrift & talked myself into thinking I could deal with the squeeziness.  Nope.

Talbots shoes (thrifted), Kikit jeans, Target tee, DIY capelet, Ellen Tracy scarf, DIY necklace (from my jewelry making days – also on ebay soon in a batch of jewelry for jewelry making)

More of the shoes:

This is only the third time I’ve worn this dress & I’m so glad that I figured out how to wear it in a more casual way.  I originally bought it for my birthday dinner over a year ago now.  It was a fairly expensive (for me) impulse buy that I never regretted.  I wore it out to dinner with a friend after that.  And this time – I wore it to work!  Finally, all the pieces converged in my closet to make the perfect maxi dress outfit!  Also, that amazing necklace was a great thrift find.  It doesn’t seem like it under the jacket but it’s quite large & makes a statement.

Target gladiator sandals ($10), Casting dress ($60 – a rare treat), Hanes tank, Gap jacket (thrifted – $3.99), thrifted necklace ($10)

Details:

Please, no comments about the bun in the oven.  There isn’t one.  I just happen to look pregnant-y in this pic LOL.  Actually this dress always make me look a bit pregnant-y but it’s comfy, what can I say?  Plus, the jacket makes it look less pregnant-y, after all.  Glad I figured that out!  And, had I just cropped the picture you wouldn’t have had to suffer through this paragraph at all.  My apologies!

The second DIY in my outfit from yesterday is the t-shirt I was wearing.  It was a super giant over-sized tee which I made into the “Boxy Tank” from the Save This Shirt book.

Here are a couple images of the tee in progress:

It was a really easy one, again.  I won’t brag about how cool I am because I just followed the super easy instructions.  I will occasionally be doing more projects from that book & will share as I go.  I really like how this one required onlyscissors.  Easy peasy!

My friend Mel photoshopped me into a Cullen.  I love it!  Actually, I don’t think she had to lighten my skin AT ALL LOL.  (I’m pretty much transparent if ya’ll haven’t noticed yet.)

There are two super easy DIY’s hidden in this outfit.  Can you find them?  One is so simple I’m actually embarassed to give it its own post.  Scroll down for that one.  I’ll post on the second one tomorro. 

Keds sneakers, Kikit jeans, ? tank, Peace Frog tee, DIY bracelet, earrings & necklace from the thrift

Details:

The bracelet was inspired by pretty much anything Chanel.  Obviously.  Here is a close-up below:

This DIY was a simple as finding a rather large chain at the thrift store which I removed links from to be a good length.  Then I wove a black velvet ribbon through it & tied the ends around my wrist.  It could really be anything – bracelet, necklace, belt – depending on the length you make it.  I’m also sure I’m not the first to think of this way to mimic Chanel but think it’s neat anyway.