How to: DIY High Waisted Denim Shorts

*WARNING: VERY PHOTO HEAVY

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to restock on denim shorts! These cuffed, high waisted shorts have been really popular the past few summers and here's a post on how DIY your own pair and save a ton of money. 

I went to my local thrift store (Value Village) and went straight to the men's jean rack. 

(Men's jeans tend to have a higher rise than women's, so its much easier to create a high waisted look. It's also great if you're plus sized because there will be more size options.) 

There will always be a good chance of finding some vintage looking Levi's, but any pair will do. After looking through different shades and washes, I found this pair for only $4.99! 

Here's a before photo on how they looked on me.

*Make sure you try them on before you purchase them. If they're men jeans, you still don't want them to be too baggy around the hips and thighs. 

While I had them on, I marked how short I wanted them to look. Then measure out an extra 3.5-4 inches beneath it (This length is left to cuff them). If you're extra paranoid, leave extra extra room because you can always cut more off after seeing how they look cuffed. 

Cut off the desired length using strong fabric scissors (I used my rotary cutter). You don't need a perfect line if you're cuffing them. 

Go ahead! Cuff them, (I cuff mine twice to hide the cut edges) and try them on to make sure you're comfortable with the length. 

You can leave them as is, but they become really annoying when the cuffs unroll. I took some white thread and sewed the sides (I have no sewing skills so I think anyone can do this!) 

 Here are the finished results! 

You can get creative and stud them or even ombre them! Check out my older post on how to bleach ombre denim shorts.

I found these amazing women's acid wash jeans as well ($5.99!), and made them into shorts as well. I'm super sad that they're a bit loose on me, so I'm going to figure out a way to shrink them :)

Happy DIY'ing everyone!!

Love,

Michelle

My Favourite Thrifts - Room Decor

I know a lot of other lovely ladies and gents in the blogging community are already well-aware of the unique joy that comes with thrifting. Every time I walk into a Goodwill or Value Village, I feel like a kid on an Easter egg hunt, minus the post-chocolate-sugar crash. Over the past couple of months, I've acquired a lot weird/really awesome stuff to decorate my room after it was re-painted from green and pink (think Maybelline mascara bottle) to its current demure beige. I was originally going for a mature look, but then realized that I'm still 22 and still live at home with my parents, who have always thought I was a bit off. Regardless, I'd love to share some of my favourites with all of you.

The "Itty-Bitty-Kitty-Committee"

I'm pretty impressed with myself, in that I've trained my boyfriend to be a lean, mean, thrifting machine and spot things I'd like when we're shopping together. He even knows my preferred department order (start with the shoes and bags, move to novelties, books, and house decor...) I am his sensei and he my thrifitng grasshopper. Anyways, he spotted this amazing, stuffed cat pillow that currently resides on my bedroom floor. The Committee already crept up in the background of other posts, like Michelle's most recent outfit post. It's adorable and just ridiculous enough that I'm still enamoured with them. We're still working out names for each cat, but I think Matt's leaning for all the dwarves from The Hobbit (though personally, I hope we skip Thorin, because he's a bit of a moody princess at times, just saying).

Three (of I think and original five) Elephant Stacking Dolls

My obsession with stacking dolls began when I visited Ellis Island in New York two summers ago and bought my first lovely set of five, handmade pieces. Since then, I've been lucky enough to acquire a few more used sets that I can't wait to show off in a future post. I bought this set even though it was incomplete because I love that they're elephants and still in great shape!

 Bunny Tea Mug with Lid

I was so stoked to have my regular evening Chai tea in this badboy the night I got home but found it couldn't really stand-up to boiling water (and now has a small crack in the side - sad forever). I still so do not regret the $2.00 I spent! I'm currently using it to store a lovely gift from Matt, featuring tiny scrolls of paper full of lovely little messages for when I need a pick-me-up. Plus it's just so happy - look at its wee smiling face. Tee hee.

Wicker Picnic Basket

There's usually an abundance of old wicker/woodwork stuff at most thrift stores and I've found them to be the perfect storage tools, as opposed to less glamorous tupperware. I use this large box to store my collection of classy lounge footwear (read: worn out slippers).

Stained-Glass Candle Holder

This candle-holder gives me a reason to use the bajillion tea-light pack I bought at Ikea on a whim some time ago. I love the colours, which can actually be eerily calming during a middle-of-the-night exam prep extravaganza. I'd love to have a full-out candelabra, but I don't really trust myself with things like fire or responsibility.

What are you favourite thrifitng treasures? I'd love to know!

Happy Monday! 

Amanda :)

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How Amanda Styles Doc Martens (Part Two)

This is my second outfit for our How We Style Doc Martens series. You can check out our older posts here and here!

So, I figure I should tell the story of how I got this lovely pair of boots. Similar to my floral Docs, I purchased this pair on complete impulse - one of those browsing-on-Ebay-at-4am kind of nights. I won the auction, and was excited. This was double-trouble for my bank account, paired with the fact that I was still relatively new to online shopping (recently getting my first credit card) and not understanding of how customs worked. Long story short, I ended up paying $30-something in customs fees, after several phone calls to understand why, and it made me sad. Looking back, I also didn't bother to check if they were even authentic Doc Martens (not so much for the brand name itself, but rather the high quality that makes these boots worth their cost). Go me!

It's really hard to not stand-out while wearing pink and white printed Doc Martens (did I mention the pink portions are actually a faux-suede material that's soft to the touch?!) - so I generally dress more funky when I break out these badboys, while still maintaining an overall cohesive look. I bought this black cotton dress from H&M for exactly that purpose - balancing out my crazy accessory/shoe collection. My tights are from American Apparel's opaque collection, and though kind of pricey, they are totally worth it. On top of everything, I threw on this over-sized, almost Sailor-Captain style cardigan that I picked up at Value Village a while ago. It's so big and cozy and perfect for sitting around the campfire - or taking outfit pictures in your background when it's minus two degrees, and Tobi is laughing at you from the comfort of her winter coat. Those kinds of moments.

So remember, when buying Doc Martens online (don't make Amanda's mistakes!):

• Definitely look online if you're into more unique styles/colours that malls won't carry - most stores I've seen carry only solid colours in leather, along with some floral prints.
• Have an idea of your size/comfort level with these boots beforehand (they take some getting used to!). You can always try a pair on at the store to confirm that they're for you.
• Buy from a reliable source - make sure the seller on Ebay has a high percentage of positive feedback, and has sold other items in the past. It's common sense, but can save you a lot of drama!
• Make sure the seller is clear on the condition of the shoes - if they've been worn, if it includes a box, all these items can affect value and you should have an idea of what you're buying before receiving your shipment.
• Finally, it's difficult to know exactly what customs fees you'll run into (depends on where you live, where your Docs are coming from, how much the item was worth, how much it weighs, etc.) but it's good to expect them and do some reading. Here's some information I found for Canadians to get you started.

Have a great Tuesday! Let me know what you'd style these lovely Doc Martens with, I'm curious to hear your take on it! 35 days until Christmas, and two weeks until my university classes are officially over! Exclamation points!

Excitedly yours,
Amanda

Outfit Details:
Circle Scarf - H&M
Oversized Cardigan - thirfted
Black Dress - H&M
Pantyhose - American Apparel
Leg Warmers - Bluenotes
Doc Martens - Ebay
Earrings - Forever 21

Seven Nation Army

Fun Fact of the Day: Jack White has said in interviews that "Seven Nation Army" is what he used to call the Salvation Army when he was little. And fantastic segue, I bought this military-style jacket while thrifting this summer! (It took me ten minutes to write that out the way it sounded in my head and the pun still didn't work. Phooey.) I hate buying clothes that I can't wear for months because it feels like I'm adopting a puppy only to take him home and not play with him until September. Too dramatic? Maybe.

Can't believe it's already, what, the last week of September? This month has been a whirlwind of doing stuff, maxing out my credit card to pay for textbooks (sad forever), and generally doubting that I'll ever, ever graduate from school. The usual. And then I had a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks and really soaked in the fact that this will be my life for the next nine months or so. Except around Christmas, I get to drink Peppermint Lattes instead.

And so, I'm developing my own school uniform - mainly skirts, leggings/pantyhose, and over-sized tops. Is it weird that I really don't like how pants look on me anymore? This striped sweater that I bought at H&M a few years ago has been my go-to, because it goes with everything. I'm also leaning away from a lot of colour, which is new. I used to never wear any black, or own any for that matter. Look guys, I'm getting all mature!

Also, yes, that is Michelle's shadow of her taking a picture of me being introspective while she takes my picture next to a school portable wall. Just so we're clear.

Also, I love these shoes. They are so comfy and make my legs look long and stuff. Old Navy is a great alternative to Forever 21 for cheap, trendy shoes. And that's my final thought.

Happy Tuesday! 

Outfit Details:
Military Jacket - Thrifted (Size: L)
Striped Sweater - H&M
Skirt - H&M (Size: 10)
Leggings - Costco
Wedges - Old Navy
Earrings - Aldo Accessories

This brick, normally used to hold down my barbeque cover doubled as Michelle's photographer's stool.

It's Not Easy Being Green

I've always had this secret wish to be one of those really cool people who can pull off long flowy clothes, and long flowy hair. You know the type. They're on stage performing at poetry slams and sipping lactose-free lattes at a java place in the city. I, however, am socially anxious and get my caffeine fix at my local Starbucks. While I try to make it from A to B, I find myself modifying my appearance in attempts to channel my inner powerful, intelligent woman on stage - Suheir Hammads, Margaret Chos, Fiona Apples. Hence the floor-length skirt and hippie-wannabe hair. Since starting the blog, I've been more conscious of my appearance and whether or not I should spend a lot of time caring about how I look. So far I've come to the conclusion that you can look feminine, care about how you're perceived, and still be an intellectual - something I have to remind myself as I continue my education (for the next million years). /end philosophical spurt

 

Okay, to the outfit itself. I picked up this skirt during the madness of Value Village's last 50% off everything sale. It's a light-weight material, and has pockets (!) which is usually an easy deal for me. I really wish it was a few inches longer, and then I remembered being strangely tall is not your clothing's fault. The shirt is an old t-shirt from Gap that shrank in the wash, and my shoes make me feel like Robin Hood, which is always a good thing.

I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knuckle. Are Skyrim jokes still cool?

Enjoy your Saturday, blog amigos!

Uncreatively yours,
Amanda

Outfit Details,
Sparkly T-Shirt - Gap
Grey Tank Top - Old Navy
Skirt - Thrifted (Value Village)
Shoes - Spring Shoes
Arrow Ring - Aldo Accessories
Chained Earring - Aldo Accessories
Necklace - Forever 21
Bracelet - Value Village (necklace)

I Dream of Catching Denim

 

Michelle and I were bored and thought - Hey, let's take outfit pictures at night! It'll look so cool! And shortly thereafter, the mosquitoes took us alive, so please ignore the lack of variety in these photos. I also apologize to my neighbours who dealt with my shrieks after seeing a mosquito land on my hand - I don't do nature well.

A thrifting pro-tip that I swear by is taking the time to sift through the racks upon racks of t-shirt, particularly the men's section. While the majority are t-shirts from old fundraising events, and others don't seem like they should have ever been made, you'll find some gems, like some of Michelle's awesome finds, or this dream catcher t-shirt. It's a tourist shirt from Banff, Alberta (or so it says). I cut the high crew-neck, sleeves (not shown), and shortened the bottom.

Speaking of thrifting though, my greatest t-shirt find would be when I unearthed an enormous blue t-shirt that read "Herb's 90th Birthday!". Every time I wear it to do my stats homework or eat lunch, I feel like I'm raising a metaphorical glass to good ol' Herb. We hardly knew ya! Oh yeah, blog post.

  

I used to never wear bracelets, because I feel like they make me jangle when I all I want to do is type or make a sandwich. I've been trying it out again, though. My Aunt came to visit from the Middle East, and brought me a whole bunch of jewelry under the pretense - "I know you like strange and weird things, Amanda." I'm hoping there was a language barrier in there.


Strangely and/or weirdly yours,
Amanda

Outfit Details:
Chambray Shirt - H&M
T-Shirt - Value Village (modified)
Shorts - Gap
Shoes - Soft Moc
Earrings - Pearls (H&M), Skulls (Etsy via lightenme)
Bracelets - Etsy (same shop as above), Value Village, Middle East

Amanda's Mending Box - Dress Hemming Time!

This is my mending box. I keep this box in my room full of all my clothes that got lost along the way. Forever 21 dresses that fall apart after two washes, pantyhose with holes at the toes (stupid size 10 feet), and things I find shopping with potential to fix eventually.

My latest project was this beauty I found shopping with Michelle and Tobi at Black Market on Queen Street in Toronto.

I loved the button-down front and the stitching of the high-waist. My friends also told me it was somewhat of a departure from my usual colourful/printed palette. I wouldn't have minded it if it was maxi-length, but cutting me off mid-calf made it reallyyyy unflattering. One of my favourite things about thrifting is being able to modify clothing to my body. Having hips and thighs means every skirt/dress I own rides up a few inches, making dressing for summer an uncomfortable affair. Now I get to customize the skirt length and style.

The first step was to put the dress on and decide where I wanted it to fall - just below the last button. Next, I took the dress off and lay it on a flat surface. Using my measuring tape, I lay out an approximately straight line. Since I didn't have a fabric pen, I used a concealer pencil to draw a line to cut above. 

The hem came out like I hoped - with the back slightly longer than the front. The messy lines weren't an issue since hemming came next. I folded the edges of the hem to create a smooth, even line and used pins to hold it in place.

Then came the fun part. Since I'm still learning to use my sewing machine, I thought it best to hem the skirt by hand. I use a really simple method my Mom taught me. Turning the dress inside out, I cut a long piece of thread, and tie a knot at one end. I then move the needle under the fabric about 2cm and pull the thread through. Then, I pull the needle back, into the fabric where I entered the first time, only to pull the needle out about 4cm after, ultimately creating a loop. I guess a good analogy would be two steps forward, one step back. After watching a few hours of TLC, it was finally done.

You can see how it looked here.

-A
(P.S. You can follow me on Tumblr here.)