Proenza Schouler Fall 2011

Proenza Schouler Fall 2011 campaign

images via FashionGoneRogue

Professor

snakeskin envelope clutch - $3; vintage Coach leather loafers - $5; brown blazer - $2

On Friday I found myself with an entirely free afternoon and the urge to wander. I wanted to go somewhere, to just take a walk through a quiet neighborhood on a quiet afternoon. I've had the busiest two weeks, with midterm exams and assignment due dates trickling in, meetings with advisers, minors to apply for, store visits to document...I actually missed an appointment I had with my Art History professor to discuss the largest project of the term. Oops. In the midst of writing up several papers last week I also forgot to send out emails regarding photo passes for an upcoming concert, but luckily enough I found a way on one band's list. I've also been taken on as a photographer for my university's newspaper and really excited for the opportunity to build my photo resume! What I'm even more excited about is an amazing vintage buying internship opportunity that has come my way through a very kind classmate. I had never planned on taking the buyer route, mostly because it never interested me, but vintage buying sounds like it would be amazing! Like professional thrifting! 

My most recent thrift store finds are possible some of my all-time favorites. Just imagine my expression when I spotted the Coach label in these leather loafers. My jaw hit the ground. They're marked half a size smaller than I normally wear, but I tried them on and they fit! It's a vintage miracle! With a little bit of polish they'll look as good as new. I came across this blazer which kind of reminds of what professors are always shown wearing in film and on television (most of my professors wear polos or graphic t's, but maybe that's just because I'm in the design school). I put it on with the button-down shirt I was already wearing that day and I felt rather academic. Had the strap on my vintage leather satchel not broken I would have had a head-to-toe professor inspired look. 

I can't wait to enjoy this weekend and do absolutely nothing. 

DIY: Turn Shorts into a Skirt!

When I go shopping or thrifting I always make sure to keep an eye out for pieces with "potential." I figured out how to turn a pair of shorts into a skirt after mistaking several vintage rompers for dresses, and I've successfully converted quite a few into totally wearable pieces. Now I know not everyone is super-crafty and you may not have a sewing machine at your disposal, but I promise you this is easy!

You'll need:

- 1 pair of shorts

- scissors or fabric shears

- seam ripper

- sewing machine or needle & thread

- pins

FIRST, turn your shorts inside-out. Then locate the seam that runs across the crotch of your shorts from one pant leg to the other. This is the thread you're going to rip out. This is easiest to accomplish with a seam ripper, but if you don't have one you can use a pair of scissors. Just take your time and be careful not to cut any holes in the fabric.

SECOND, pin together the front two edges and the back edges of your skirt. You are basically extending the seam that runs front-to-back, so use the existing stitches as a guideline. I find it easiest to do so by pulling the new edges taught. Having a bit of extra fabric along the inside of the new seam is normal, you'll just trim it off after you're done sewing.

THIRDLY, sew the two front edges together. Remember that you're extending the existing front-to-back seam, so you should either start or end as closely as possible to that existing seam.

Do the same for the back, following the line of the existing seam to make sure your new stitches blend in. After you've sewn both the back and front edges together, you should see a garment that looks like a skirt! You're almost done!

LASTLY, finish the hem. This is easily accomplished by folding the raw bits of fabric under and aligning their folded edge with the existing hem. Make sure you sew along the thread line of the existing hem so that your new stitches blend in. If you'd like to be especially thorough, you can press these new seams (but they should fall into place after you wash your new garment).

That's it! This project shouldn't take more than half an hour to complete. I didn't think to showcase this DIY until someone asked me about it on tumblr, but it's one that I do rather frequently. Next time I turn a pair of shorts into a skirt I'll be sure to photograph each step. If anyone takes a swing at it post a photo and let me know!