Want something a little special and unique to top off your next big event? Then try one of these DIY hairpieces!
Easy floral hairpiece on The Alison Project.
Love is…DIY hairpiece.
A range of nature-inspired fascinators, from simple to complex, on Design Sponge.
Cheese Popcorn Is Delish Rodarte-inspired star hairpiece.
Sincerely, Kinsey coffee filter floral crown and gold-dipped feather hairpiece.
“Prom Dress.” An iconic concept. So why not go conceptual? Here are some great ways to wear pants to prom. Prom Pants. We like it.
Tipsy Pants in NOLA Paisley from Fitzroy Boutique, $136
Sarah Chiffon Detail Playsuit from Boohoo.com, $40
Ditsy Floral Jacquard Trousers, Topshop
Cameo Brakelight Pant, Shop Nowhereland, $218
Katherine Jumpsuit by Motel, Topshop
High Waist Evening Trousers, ASOS, $52.22
Let’s face the facts: pants suck, shorts rule. Let’s face another fact: denim is the best material to ever be created and therefore denim cut-offs are the perfect piece of clothing. Try to debate me on this and you will lose.
Because cut-offs are essential for every almost summer activity, it’s time we have a little crafternoon and make a few pairs—and even make some shorteralls. Here’s how:
Find the perfect pair
Head to your local Value Village, where denim is abundant and the prices are low. The key to making the perfect cut-offs is to find a pair of jeans with a loose thigh, becuase if the jeans are tight on your thigh you will get a strange bermuda short vibe which is no good for anyone. Value Village is rife with vintage Levis if you want to go super classic for this occasion, but you can basically find any pair that fits in the waist and is slouchy on the thigh. If the legs aren’t flattering, it doesn’t matter because they are coming off!
Note: If you don’t find the butt flattering when trying them on, this will not change after the cut, so head back to the racks and find a pair (or eight) that makes you totally bootylicious.
Reverse ‘em
Flip those jeans inside out! You don’t want to cut off the bottom of the pockets because that leads to awkward coins falling out of your shorts, and loosing things just isn’t fun. Take a tape measure and measure approximately five or six inches from the inseam to the thigh and make a little mark.
Draw the lines
Draw a curved line across the thigh that arches up in the middle. This doesn’t need to be perfect because it’s a DIY and mistakes are fun!
Cut, cut, cut!
Cut across the line. You will need strong scissors for this because denim is tough.
Fold and repeat
Next, fold the jeans in half so that the legs of the jeans are same length. Repeat steps three and four and yell “HUZZAH” upon completion because you have a cool new(-ish) pair of shorts.
Cuff it out
Fold a little cuff (whatever length suits your fancy) at the ends and iron it in place. If you want it to be really secure, sew the cuff to the shorts to ensure it stays put when you’re prancing about in your super sweet summer essentials.
Celebrate good times
Do a little dance because you totally just saved $60 and have awesome shorts.
Happy craftin’, y’all!
Fitness is important, this we know. But for those of us who prefer not to partake in sports but rather simply look the part, wearing sport-inspired clothing fills the fitness gap in our lives. Spring is the perfect time to prance, cartwheel, and high-kick with glee because school’s out for the summer and we’ve got nothing but time until September comes around.
Skirts are fun and cute, yes, but being able to race your friend to an ice cream truck without worrying about flashing that old man on a bench is better (I know my friend is reading this right now and thinking, ‘Not everything is a competition,’ but you know what? In my world it is). So let’s frolic and pal around freely in sporty yet trendy clothing and act like we know how many innings are in a baseball game (7? 9? 5? Who’s to say).
T. Babaton Robinson Jacket. While we’re on the subject of baseball, let’s discuss how awesome baseball-inspired pieces are for one’s closet. The arms are a different colour than the rest of the jacket, which makes it kind of funky but also really cool. Dare you to wear this to a Blue Jays game this summer because we all know that’s one of the best Toronto activities. Price: $175, Aritzia.
Topshop Pow Printed Runner Shorts. Cartoons are a Saturday lounging staple, so couple them with a sporty pair of shorts and you’ve got a sweet addition to your wardrobe. BOOM. Price: $24, Topshop.
ASOS T-Shirt with Foil Number 10. Oversized? Check. Football-inspired? Check. Loungey? Check. This shirt would be great to sleep in, roll out of bed in, toss on some cut-offs in, and hit the pavement in. That is, if you’re ok with sleeping in what you wear outside, which is the best thing ever soooo embrace it. Price: $39, ASOS.
Forever 21 Retro Baseball Cap. Hats are fun! And they protect your pretty little face from getting sunburnt which is not—and never will be—attractive. Toss a hat on when you’re hanging out poolside and wear it backwards for optimal fun once the sun has gone down. Backwards caps are so totally ’90s, which is the look we’re always going for. Price: $7, Forever 21.
Joe Fresh Sneaker. Wearing running shoes just for running is so yesterday. Now it’s best to pair your sneakers with absolutely everything from summer dresses to sporty outfits. There’s something so satisfying about looking cute in a pair of shoes and knowing you’re more comfortable than everyone else in their gladiator shoes with 129381 straps. Price: $24, Joe Fresh.
Zara Dress With Cut-Out Shoulders. While no sports other than figure skating require wearing a dress, this one is made of sweatpant material which is just about the sportiest material on the planet. But because sweatpants = bad, wearing a giant sweater dress with cut-outs that let your arms breathe will fill the sweat pant hole in your closet. Price: $60, Zara.
Bobbin Bicycle. You know what the best fitness in town is? BIKING! Biking gets you from point A to point B without having to endure the dreaded TTC, and makes all your outfits look even better because it’s basically the best accessory ever. I even hear there are cute helmets out there on the market so like, double the accessory power, double the fun! Cute AND safe. Price: $500, Wiggle.
Clarin’s Sunscreen Stick. If you’re going to be outside pretending to be doing sports but really just lounging in the sun: wear sunscreen! You will still get a tan and will avoid the dreaded sunburn (see #4 for more details about burns). This one comes as a stick, so it can be toted around in your bag for wherever the summer may take you. Price: $26, Sephora.
You guys, it’s time we gave pink a second chance. Being told from birth that pink is the colour for girls and girls only made me personally reject the colour from my wardrobe, so I opted for blacks and greys. But for Spring 2013, I propose we look through some rose-coloured glasses and embrace pink—but in new and slightly badass ways (floral studded crown, anyone?).
The key to wearing pink like a champ is not wearing too much, because it is still a pretty bold colour. Baby pinks can bring back memories of the Spice Girls (!!!) and hot pink lips have a total Barbie girl vibe, which is also a little bit mysterious in my mind. Go bright and go bold, because it’s time the colour graduated out of our childhood rooms and into our grownup closets.
Topshop Pink Jacquard Mini Skirt. A sculpted floral skirt in pink? Don’t mind if I do! What’s best about this skirt is the fact that it’s jacquard, meaning it won’t fly up in a sudden wind storm (which somehow happens every time I decide to wear a skirt). This cures that problem and adds a cute pop of colour into your spring wardrobe. Price: $68, available at Topshop.
H&M Sport Shorts. I actually own these shorts and definitely don’t only do fitness in them. They are so comfortable and look cute (I think) when I’m running about in my sneakers and a oversized denim button-up. P.S. If you’re travelling this summer, these are perfect—they dry in 30 seconds and manage to never look dirty. Price: $15, available at H&M.
Forever 21 Sheer Striped High-Low Shirt. One can never have too many button-ups, because a) they look cool with jeans, shorts, skirts, or whatever, and b) they can be worn open a la Cory Matthews in Boy Meets World for an airier look. And this pink striped take on the button-up will be a perfect summer staple. Price: $22, available at Forever21.
Casio Digital Watch. So totally 90s! And in hot pink! Yessssss you want this just because it’s perfect. ‘Nuff said. Price: $35, available at ASOS.
Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil. Nars Lip Pencils are Man Repeller-approved, and if you haven’t figured it out, I really like her. Bright pink lips are all the rage for Spring 2013, so pick up a pink that flatters your skin tone. You can never have too many lipsticks. Price: $25, available at Sephora.
Zara Leather Slipper. If you’re super weary about wearing skirts and shirts in bright pink, fret not, because these leather shoes are the perfect solution to your fear. You can keep your look neutral but then add a bright shoe to add a fun little quirk to the look. Price: $100, available at Zara.
ASOS Flower Spike Hair Band. Giving pink a bit of attitude in this floral crown with gold spikes. The perfect summertime accessory—the floral crown—is also a super easy DIY! Head to your local Dollarama and pick up some hot pink flowers and headbands and use a glue gun to attach them. It is the quickest and cutest craft that you and all your pals could make. DIY party, amirite? Price: $18, available at ASOS.
Nasty Gal Shine-Up Shades. These are the rose-coloured glasses we were talking about. Half clear plastic and half pink, they are an unusual solution to statement sunglasses, which Spring 2013 was also all about. And sunglasses are for your health! Protect those eyes. Price: $40, available at Nasty Gal.
Wilfred Free Wasaga Dress. Full disclosure: I own two of these dresses and wear them almost every day. This is not a joke. I almost bought a third just the other day but heard my friends mocking me in my head, so I controlled myself. That being said, I highly recommend you pick up one in hot pink and relish in the fact that it’s the best piece of clothing ever. It’s like a giant T-shirt that looks nice enough to wear to a party and also cool enough for daytime hangs. Trust me on this one. Price: $50, available at Aritzia.
Where did you buy the clothes that you’re wearing?
I bought both of these outfits at Forever 21.
How would you best describe your style?
Fun and girly, I’m not afraid to use bright colours!
What’s the one thing you can’t leave the house without?
A cute pair of flats because they work with almost every outfit.
What style advice would you give to other girls your age?
Stay true to yourself. Dress the way you want to dress, not how other people want you to.
~ Hannah Stein