DIY Pearls and Olivia Palermo Inspired Top

Extending my underwater obsession into a literal translation, the look seen here was inspired by mermaids, pearls and an amazing Chanel runway show!

All the DIYs were super easy and took under 20 minutes each!

I paired my DIY Olivia Palermo inspired top with a leather panel pencil skirt from Club Monaco, and my DIY Chanel Crystal Cuff. The result was floaty and romantic, anchored by the black pencil skirt. I like to balance out anything über girly with something more structured.

To create the DIY off the shoulder shirt I started with an American Apparel chiffon t-shirt and cut off the collar to widen the neckline. To created a simple hem I cut thin strips of peel & stick fabric fuse, lined the inside of the newly cut collar and folded it over. This creates a smooth hem, no sewing required!

For the arm ties I found chiffon ribbon , secured it to the arm with strips of fabric fuse and tied a bow!
Super easy!!

To create the pearl pins, I simple took a few faux pearls, some craft wire, threaded the wire through the pearl and twisted it onto the loop of the bobby pin!

For the pearls down my back, I found these Martha Stewart adhesive pearl embellishments at Michael’s and secured them to my back with eyelash glue. Use a friend for this project, as it’s hard to make a straight line in the mirror!

Happy Independence day to All my lovely American readers!

Xo

Alana

Reflecting

A couple stills left over from here & here! Next week is going to one of the busiest I’ve had all year, which both excites me and makes me feel queasy. Between finishing and sending out my wedding invitations, to leaving an old job and starting a big new contract, it’s going to be bananas! These photos bring me back to a fun day running around a garden in the sun and my new dress, far away from stress.
I hope everyone has a stress free weekend, and enjoys these photos!!
Cheers,
Alana

Photos by Jeannie Markowsky

DIY no-sew Scalloped Jean Shorts

Welcome to the easiest scalloped jean shorts DIY ever! It’s quick and easy thanks to my latest obsession: fabric fuse! I’m a little too lazy to whip out my sewing machine and set it all up, plus the actual method of making a scalloped hem seems way too involved. Enter fabric fuse which is washable, wearable, and can be applied to a million projects (used here!)

I had this peel and stick fabric adhesive lying around which lent itself perfectly to this project!

1. Grab your old jean shorts, start cutting your fabric fuse into strips. The width of the strip should cover the whole scallop ensuring no part will fray.

2. Turn your shorts inside out and cover the entire edge of your shorts with strips. Since the fabric fuse is double sided, find some scrap fabric of a shade you won’t notice when you are wearing your shorts.  Peel off the adhesive’s paper backing and stick your fabric to your shorts, trim excess. On a piece of paper, draw the curve of the scallop exactly how you like it, this will be your stencil.

(If your fabric fuse is heat activated, simply use your iron on low heat, press for five seconds in each section, first iron the fuse to the shots, let cool then iron the scrap fabric to the fabric fuse. Trim excess)

3. Use your stencil to draw the scallop pattern on your fabric. Take your scissors and cut along your traced line.

And thats it!! This takes under 20 minutes and is such a fun new way to wear jean cutoffs this summer! I plan on wearing mine with taupe ankle boots and comfy shirts, like the photo below!

Cheers!

Alana

(photo of unknown origin)