DIY fringe scarf inspired by Isabel Marant for H&M

diy fringe scarf

Did you shop Isabel Marant for H&M? I didn't join this year but I shopped a few past collections. It's a kind of surreal experience that has a little to do with reason, but with muscles, sweat and adhrenaline. It's not a football match, it's serious shopping. Women queueing outside the store aren't girls,  they are soldiers with a mission, athletes waiting at the starting blocks and when the shop opens, when the scared H&M employees open the doors, no one can stop those girls from having what they want. The queue is still manageble while controlled by bodyguards. Some girls have the right to shop, others don't and have to watch them shopping outside the fence, how cruel! It's the tough rule of the bracelets. Mystical objects conquered by the bravest camping outside H&M. As the prophecy says " One bracelet to shop them all". The competition to grab these bracelets is fierce. Many girls are serial campers, staying among them you will listen to their stories. Someone camped outside apple stores for the launch of the ipad and waited seven hours standing, others camped for a spot front row to a concert, if you're a novice you cannot beat these early risers, but don't give up.When all the owners of the bracelet stop showing off their trophies, their freshly filled shopping bags, everyone can finally shop. It's a fight for the leftovers, a tank or a belt, whatever is it. You can feel it in the air,  no one wants to go home without buying anything. If you waited for long keep calm. Many girls filled their hands with everything they could possibly grab, but they rarely buy everything. Slowly, but steadily even that iconic piece will be back on display. You may now notice some gals lose their savoire-faire and fight tooth and nail to grab that designer piece. Be careful when you put your hands on the prize, the feeling of accomplishment may overwhelm you and you may hear the crowd clap hands in your head as you walk your way to the cashier. A swipe of the credit card seals your victory.  You overcome cold, competition, you rushed, but got a designer piece for free. Well not for free, but it must have been 70% off. Wait, the credit card statement says you spent $299 at H&M for a jacket...

It's shopping, sometimes we get carried away. Words like "limited edition" and "designer" are music to our ears of  fashionistas and H&M knows it well. It's because shopping is also an emotional experience.
One of my favorite pieces from the Isabel Marant collection is the fringed scarf. I had some fun crafting an inspired version in red  that is one of my favorite color of the season.
Are you always rational when shopping? Did you ever regret a purchase?

the inspiration: Isabel Marant for H&M silk fringe scarf

You'll need:

• 70 x 70 cm  or 30x30 inches piece of fabric (I used jersey fabric) 
• 280 cm or 120 inches of fringe trim
• 4 big glue on studs
• 32 small glue on studs

Cut a 70x 70 cm or 30x30 inches square of fabric. 
The size of the scarf can be varied to your needs. You can get a nicely big scarf with these measures that can be wrapped around the neck.

Decide where you want to place the studs and draw your pattern on a piece of paper. You will able to place all the studs exactly where you want and in the same place in the four angles.

Cut the paper and place the studs into the holes. Iron the studs in place.

Remove the pattern and repeat the steps above on the other angles.

Stitch the fringe on the edge of the scarf all around. I used a zig zag stich.

Fringe-tastic DIY ideas

fringe jumper milano fashion week street style via neiman marcus blog - Roberto Cavalli via fashion edonist

 In the last few years fringes never got really out of fashion. They became like studs or leather. You don't identify fringes in a specific fashion niche anymore like you don't visualize studs like "punk" or leather like "aggressive". Fringes became an endemic decorative element and the reason why it happened is maybe because fringes make a look more interesting, more alive, it has its own swing and yes, it's a little edgy. How much? You decide. It depends by the amount of fringes and where you place them. Do you see the black jumper above? It's the perfect answer to the question: how do I transform a boring black sweater into something cool? For a more casual effect use shorter fringes and bring up the v shape. Place fringes on the sleeves of a garment for an aggressive look and you'll swing at every move.  If you're too shy to wear clothes decorated with fringes focus on fringed accessories like a bag or a scarf or even a necklace. You can make your own leather fringes in matter of seconds and you can find a great variety of fringed trims at the haberdashery. Why not make fringes with metal chains? Get inspired then check out some of my diy with fringes like the leather fringe skirt, the mega fringe necklace made with 6 meters of chain and the convertible fringe boots, the Burberry inspired fringe earrings or the statement fringe hair earrings.

via fab sugar

via ashley loves

via kitty cooper

McQueen bag fall 2013via fab mania

Ralph Lauren fall 2013 bag

fringe knit jumper via dudes that knit

Roberto Cavalli via fashion edonist

Roberto Cavalli fringe necklace pic via consumption

Isabel Marant for H&M via become gorgeous

Armani Privè fall 2013 fringe clutch bag pic via Vogue Fr

13 inspiring knitting patterns for fall

from left: aran jumper pic via Esquire - Tommy Hilfiger big cable sweater fall 2013 pic via knitting bee - Alexander Wang open lattice cable jumper 2010 pic via shopbop

Feed your inspiration with new knitting patterns. If you're thinking about building your winter wardrobe around few key pieces, choose a garment that will become a staple: a statement jumper.  For those who want to wear their sweater from am to pm I suggest to make a monochrome jumper with textured pattern. Dip into this collection of incredible patterns and make your standout piece.  Some patterns are easier and suitable for beginners (be patience, watch the video and try to make a swatch, knitting patterns are almost all approachable) others are more advanced, but very inspirational; check out below an unbelievable knitted 3d spider.   If you're just starting out and want to explore the relaxing and rewarding experience of knitting read " How to start knitting" here.
And you? What are you knitting for fall?

Aran basketweave stitch tutorial by knitting bee

knitted bat pic via Stitches of Violet

  Advanced stitching - stitch any pattern, these bats are fantastic, perfect for Halloween.

diagonal basket knitting pattern tutorial by How did you make this

 Beautiful basket pattern, despite the appereance, it's easy to do! Try it!

knitted bat pic via Stitches of Violet

 A spider? I never thought about stitching such incredible patterns!

tree knit pattern - tutorial by Miss Motleys via Etsy

Leopard pattern tutorial by Knitaholic

 Leopard is always on trend.

Loose Lattice Lace stitch pattern tutorial by learn knitting stitches

 My favorite! I want to make a sweater with this pattern as soon as possible.

How to draw a cable pattern- brilliant tutorial by See Eunny Knit

What do you do when you want to make the same pattern seen on a jumper,but you don't have any instructions?? Eunny tells you how to make yours from scratch, brilliant!

Braided lace stitch pattern tutorial via Knitting bee

 Lazy link stitch how to by New Stitch a day

Aran basketweave stich 2 pic via Amstrongs vintage

basket weave pattern tutorial by fiona's place

How to knit a rhombus

Honeycomb knit stitch via hello yarn

 Honeycomb stitch video tutorial by Newstitchaday

Stylized roses DIY manicure inspired by Lanvin

Stylized black roses over pink silk, it's the beautiful fabric of this striking Lanvin dress. Here's the  inspired DIY manicure smaller, but still eye catching. Want to see how it's done? Follow me!

You'll need:

• nail polish in two colors

• nail brush

1. Draw little "c" shapes
2. Overlap the "c" shapes as shown, close them over one another
3. Add more "c" to get a stylized rose 
4. Add little leaves to complete the drawing

Kisses from Paris : Slimane's tribute to Yves Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent spring 2014 pic via Style.com

Saint Laurent spring 2014 pic via Style.com

The Saint Laurent collection that just walked the Paris runway is very Heidi Slimane and  little Yves Saint Laurent. Love him or hate him he's continuing on the way mapped out since his arrival to the french house: deliver dresses that youth generations want to wear inspired by the world of rock music. For many Slimane is making dresses that sell and he's choosing business over innovation. And what is a fashion show without pure creativity? As fashion enthusiastic we want to see collections that push the limits of creativity a little further, we want to fall in love with clothes we have never seen before and from that moment on we cannot live without, but that's not always easy or profitable for a fashion house to do that.  Let's forget for a second the name of the label  and watch the collection. It's youthful and very wearable with a lot of short dresses for party girls, a lot of black and leather for the dark lady and a few polite suits made sexy is worn with see through shirts (watch the full collection here). It might not being innovative, but maybe it's just what young (rich) girls want to wear now. For Slimane his line is a start over. Forget Yves Saint Laurent, this is Heidi (Saint Laurent). And while we try to find answers to questions like: what should be the difference between a clothing line and a fashion collection? Why can't Slimane have his own line? How hard is it to collect the heritage of a brand and make up-to-date collections? Look at the tribute to Yves Saint Laurent that Slimane put in his latest collection: the dress with the "lips print". Originally designed by Yves Saint Laurent in 1971 the "lips print" becomes a short dress for  2014 and even shiny on the top decorated with sequined lips appliques.

The easiest way to decorate a top with the funny lips print is to buy iron on lips sequin appliques and iron them on  or you can glue a trim of sequins giving them the shape of lips. If sequins are too flashy for you can just draw lips over a t-shirt with fabric markers.
Below you'll find more "lips print" inspiration.

Saint Laurent spring 2014 pic via Style.com

YSL  dress  1971 pic via Artfact

Lulu Guinness purse pic via Vintage&Couture

Prada spring 2010 pic via Searching for Style

Prada Smoking lips shoes pic via Gotham Magazine

Alice & Olivia resort 2014 pic via dusty burrito

Alice & Olivia resort 2014 pic via dusty burrito

One Great way to use grosgrain

 

Lela rose dress - Pics by The Glamourai

Just for pretty edges? No way. Like this dress shows, grosgrain ribbon can become a fabulous decorative element. Get several meters, pin it randomly on a dress or on a plain tee to get unexpected graffiti effects. Sew and wear it. Quick, chic and different!

Print your high fashion stickers

Marie Claire July 2013 cover pic via Style.it

There's no summer without flower prints. Don't worry if your clothes are not in full bloom,  you can stick some flowers on your summer staples just like Holly Fulton s/s collection suggests. She decorated plastic garments with flower stickers.

If you want to get this look there are a few options you can consider.

• Buy plastic tablecloths. They are sold by the yard. Plain clear plastic and those with printed flowers are both available. Use them  as a fabric for your Holly Fulton inspired garment. Plastic is not very comfortable, but you can use it successfully to make clothes that don't cling on the body (like a circle skirt for example) or you can make plastic inserts on your everyday clothes like a front panel on a cotton top. 

•  Make your stickers Print some images of flowers on adhesive paper, spray pray them with transparent paint to protect them from liquids and stick them wherever you like, on plastic garments or on accessories. Last year I made a plastic bag using printed flowers, you can read the instructions to make it here

• Make your fabric stickers aka your custom patches. Iron a sheet of heat and bond on the back of your floral fabric. Cut out the flowers, the fabric doesn't unthread now. Remove the protective film behind the adhesive sheet and iron your custom patches on your clothes wherever you like. To get an idea of how it is done read my tutorial: how to make an embroidered top without embroider, the method is the same.

More Holly Fulton inspiration below.

Holly Fulton spring 2013 pic via style.it

Holly Fulton spring 2013 via Style.it

Clear bag DIY TUTORIAL here