You Can Do It Yourself

     Creativity makes fashion fun. Whether it’s picking what shoes to wear with an outfit or finding just the right jewelry to complement a look, a lot of thought can go into clothing choices. Sometimes, the right accessory or the perfect top doesn’t seem to exist. That’s when you make it yourself.

      Do-it-yourself fashion is an affordable way to create your own unique pieces. It can also be a great way to mimic designs of high-end designers like Burberry and Louis Vuitton. Instead of buying a bank-breaking handbag or sweater, you can create one with a few simple tools. 

      DIY style can also be a fun way to update older clothing and create something completely new. Old T-shirts can easily be made into chic tank tops and torn jeans can be styled into trendy cut-off shorts.

      If you ever need help making your items, there are plenty of blogs and videos that show step-by-step instructions. However, it can be just as fun to learn on your own too.  

      There are even people who have turned their DIY ideas into a business. Christie Kelly, a jewelry maker, is one of these people. Kelly played with clay and beads as a young girl and, though she never had intentions of becoming a jewelry maker, this eventually led to a brand called Ruby Girl Design.

      After having two sons, Kelly chose to stay home and decided that she needed a hobby. One of her girlfriends taught her how to make a simple bracelet and from then on, Kelly couldn’t get jewelry off her mind.

      “I found myself constantly thinking about jewelry design,” Kelly says. As she began creating and then wearing her pieces, many people would ask her to make something for them.

      Kelly’s jewelry basically marketed itself. Before she knew it, her pieces were in several boutiques and stores.

      “Soon I was officially in business,” Kelly says. Her life became a lot busier and managing jewelry making and two young sons became a lot to handle. Kelly moved her business solely online. Items from Ruby Girl Design can be purchased on Etsy, a site that houses many DIY designs.

      Kelly’s jewelry is doing very well online and most of the hype still comes by word-of-mouth. She is constantly getting inspiration from the people wearing her pieces. “The people drive the process,” Kelly adds.

      Much of Kelly’s jewelry features her hand-stamped words and names. The items can be personalized to feature names of family members and inspirational sayings.

A few of Kelly's creations as presented on Etsy. She makes everything from necklaces to earrings to bracelets. (Photo/Christie Kelly)

      The next step for Kelly is to have her own website, but, for now, she is content with selling her products through Etsy and creating jewelry for those around her. “I love the feeling I get when I see and hear how people love their pieces,” Kelly says.

      Kelly is one of many who have turned their DIY skills into a business. The age-old saying holds true; a little creativity can go a long way.

Looking for more fashionable DIY ideas? Check out these blogs.

P.S. I made this...

I Spy DIY 

A Collaborative Success

   Reading through fashion magazines always makes me envious of the clothing I will never be able to afford. The fabrics, the colors and the intricate designs make me fall in love instantly, but then I soon come back to reality.

      Designer clothing can make people feel luxurious and elite, but the price tag on many designer duds is anything but cheap. This may be why designer collaborations have become increasingly popular.

      I know I always get excited when I hear about a new designer-for-less collection at my nearby Target and immediately begin picking out my favorite pieces from the online look books.

      Over the past few years, many retail chains such as Target and H&M have teamed up with well-known designers to create quality clothing at affordable prices. This allows shoppers to buy pieces that still have the designer’s aesthetic, but at a fraction of the price.

      Target has worked with designers like Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler, Missoni and Prabal Gurung while H&M has previously worked with Matthew Williamson, Versace and Karl Lagerfeld.

Model Abbey Lee Kershaw wears a few of the Versace for H&M looks from 2011. The collection sold out in 30 minutes at some locations.

      Many of these collaborations have done extremely well, some even selling out within the first couple days. The Missoni collection at Target created a frenzy in stores and online. Target’s website even crashed because so many people were trying to buy online. I remember how excited I was for the Missoni collection. Unfortunately, I never got my hands on any of the clothing.

      On average, designer clothing can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars, but these collaborations are a great and affordable way to look luxurious and fashionable. Celebrities like Emma Roberts, Katy Perry and Zoe Saldana even sport items for these collaborative efforts. 

      Target’s current collaboration is with stylist Kate Young. The collection has everything from shoes to dresses to handbags and is available in stores and online now. 

A model wears a look from the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection (left) and Katy Perry wears the same  peacock dress from the collection (right). Williamson's collection featured many brightly-colored and patterned looks. 

A model wears a look from the Prabal Gurung for Target collection (left) and Zoe Saldana wears a  sweatshirt  from the collection as she heads to lunch with a friend in Los Angeles (right). Shoppers lined up for hours before the store's opening to get a piece of Gurung's collection.  

Cheap Feat Profile: Emily Albis

      In a world full of fashionable people, it can take a true fashionista to be stylish on a budget. College student Emily Albis may just be one of these truly chic people.

      Albis is a sophomore at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., a seasonal city where temperatures can vary by the day. Albis describes her sense of style as all over the place.

      “I tend to go beachy or boho when it’s warm out and, in the winter, I dress somewhat on the edgier side,” Albis adds. Although her style is constantly evolving, there is one element that remains the same — comfort.

      The Virginia Beach, Va. native is used to the sand, water and laid-back style when it comes to her fashion. Every time she goes home, she makes a stop at Wave Riding Vehicles. PacSun has become a new favorite as well. Similar to Wave Riding Vehicles, PacSun carries California-styled clothing for men and women.

      “The weather is a big factor for me. The moment it starts to transition from cold to warm or warm to cold, I have to run out and buy seasonal clothes,” Albis says.

      When it comes to wardrobe essentials, Target is her go-to store. Thrift shopping is also a favorite of Albis.

      “I love going to the Salvation Army Family Store because it always has so much and my mom and I recently discovered a store called Second Chance Thrift that benefits the SPCA [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals],” Albis says.

      She usually manages to find something when thrift shopping. “I literally go through every aisle because I’m never really looking for something specific,” Albis adds.

      Sometimes that can be the best way to shop. Instead of trying to look for one particular item, Albis lets the clothing come to her.

Emily Albis wears a dress and jean shirt while visiting the National Mall, April 7, 2013, in Washington. Albis and her friends took advantage of the nice weather and the cherry blossoms. (Photo/Megan Marcus)

      Albis and her friend have been shopping at thrift stores for a few years and both used to get teased for their unique clothing choice. Some friends “would roll their eyes at us and say that we were weird,” Albis says.

      Crew neck sweatshirts and sweaters that were made for guys make up a good portion of Albis’ wardrobe. She says, occasionally, this unisex attire would lead to the ‘why do you dress like a boy’ question.

      Albis has a passion for fashion and even if she gets a few weird looks from people, she wears her outfits proudly. She also knows just how to create a great look without spending too much.

      Stores like Target and PacSun carry quality clothing at pocket-friendly prices and thrift stores not only provide a great place to find clothing on a budget, but, most of the time, the store’s proceeds benefit a good cause.

Borrowing Is The New Buying

I am obsessed with fashion. I think about my outfit for tomorrow before I even put on today’s outfit. This obsession means I am always looking for new clothing. However, most of us know clothing can be quite expensive.

I soon realized that constantly buying clothing wasn’t a viable option for me, so I began raiding my parent’s closets. I always thought my dad just wore T-shirts and jeans, but, to my surprise, his closet was filled with sweaters and flannels that look great worn over dresses and blouses. My mom’s closet was another story. I never realized how much stylish clothing she had.

Her closet was filled with a wide array of colors and textures. She had velvet jackets that seemed to glisten in the light and vintage jean shirts. I was in heaven!

I began borrowing clothing from my parents that day and it has been a great way to create new outfits without spending a single dollar. 

Borrowing clothing is the perfect way to fill wardrobes with new pieces without spending any money. Whether you borrow from a sibling, parent or friend the possibilities are endless.

Don’t think that being different sizes will stop you from borrowing. All clothing is made differently and one brand’s small may be another brand’s large.

There are also a few rules when it comes to borrowing. Any borrowed items should be cleaned before returning. That should go without saying. Also, it is very important to return items within a decent timeframe. This means that never returning an item is not a good option!

Needless to say, I now raid my parents’ closets on a monthly basis. To my parents’ dismay, I break the second rule of borrowing clothes. Some of the items I “borrow” never leave my closet. They know where my room is if they want the clothing back!

My closet is full of great clothing to borrow. It is always important to ask before borrowing anything. (Photo/Kaitlyn  Reitz)

Salvation Army: Finding a Hidden Gem

      Salvation Army. That name may hold several connotations. Some view the store as dirty and out-of-date, but the reality is that any stylish person can find fashionable items at a fraction of the original cost.

      Whenever I am traveling, the first thing I do is go to the Salvation Army store locator to see if I will be close to any Salvation Army stores. That store is my guilty pleasure. I get so excited when I go in and see racks upon racks of clothing all arranged by color; I had an affinity for rainbows when I was a child.

      Though the store can be overwhelming, there are a few strategies that make rummaging through the packed racks more manageable. Before I get into these strategies, knowing the layout of the store may prove helpful.

      Salvation Army is split into multiple sections: men’s, women’s, children’s, shoes and home. Within the clothing sections, all items are broken down even further into the type of clothing. There are racks devoted to jeans, sweaters, skirts, dresses and essentially all types of clothing. Finally, within the types of clothing, all items are broken down by color.

Salvation Army is always full of colorful clothing. It may seem a bit daunting at first, but there is always a great piece waiting to be found. 

      This is where things get tricky. Since the clothing is arranged by color, this means that finding the correct size requires searching through an entire rack. Now it is time to strategize.

      “I walk down the aisle and just look for something that catches my eye,” says Liz Mesaric, a 70-year-old who is a regular at thrift shores like Salvation Army and Community Aid. This can be anything from a particular color to a unique print. Mesaric adds, “I don’t look at each piece and move hangers, but if I’m looking at a particular color, I do look at each piece.”

      She recommends that if you can push a bunch of hangers down to make empty space then do that because it allows more space to look at the individual pieces. “The item you want could be hidden in between [other items],” Mesaric says.

      “It also helps to shop at a time when you are not in a hurry and you can really enjoy the hunt for your thrift store treasure,” she adds.

      To sum up the strategies necessary for a Salvation Army outing, it is first important to look for something that is eye-catching. There are simply too many articles of clothing to look at each individual piece. Secondly, make room on the racks to actually look at the pieces. Lastly, go on a day when time is not an issue, then there will be more time to enjoy the experience.

      Not only are all purchases at Salvation Army good for the wallet, but the proceeds directly fund The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers.

      My fellow penny-pinching blogger Kathryn Finney at The BudgetFashionista also makes a note that keeping an eye out for which color tag is on sale on a given day can help to save even more money. Depending on the day, yellow, blue or white tags may be on sale. Also, keep in mind that Wednesdays are the perfect day to shop. Everything in the Salvation Army store is 50 percent off! 

      “There is nothing better than finding that top brand article and then discovering that it is also 50 percent off! It makes the hunt worthwhile,” Mesaric says. With all of these tips and strategies, shopping at Salvation Army should now be a fun experience and a great way to find cheap, yet fashionable clothing.
       Here are a few of my Salvation Army finds!

I am wearing a sweater and jeans from Salvation Army. I usually never find jeans in my size, but I lucked out with this pair. (Photo/Evan Beemer)

I am wearing a paisley shirt from Salvation Army. The shirt was a little eccentric, but I loved all of the colors. (Photo/Evan Beemer)

I am wearing a dress from Salvation Army. The dress was slightly large, but with the belt, it looks just right. (Photo/Evan Beemer)