DIY T-Shirt Swim Cover-Up

Easy One-Of-A-Kind DIY Cover-Up Tee

It's FINALLY that time of year! We can now start breakin' out our DIY shorts, tanks and bikinis we've been working on all spring! With that comes all the accessories we need to go with our reduced coverage that we get from the big sweaters and jeans we were wearing all winter.


And for many of us, that means swim cover-ups. There are a TON of options hanging in just about every store right now, but I prefer the DIY swim cover-up options that I can do in under 5 minutes with a simple T-shirt.


The first option is one of my absolute favorites. It's an all-over slit t-shirt that not only looks HOT, it's super easy to do! Here is a pic of a top I recently did using a standard women's t-shirt (large):

WOW! Now THAT'S A SEXY Cover-Up!!

This DIY option is created by simply laying the t-shirt out on a flat surface and making small slits using either a razor knife of a small pair of scissors. You can place something behind the t-shirt and cut through both sides on this one...which is easier than doing both sides seperately.

The key to this look is to get your slits as close to the same size as possible!! You can do this by folding the shirt over and cutting small snips (they'll be double the length since it's folded over) all across the shirt, from left to right.


If you plan on using a graphic t-shirt, or a t-shirt with any type of writing or design on the front, that will dictate where your slits will be placed. For example, I this hand-painted tee had everything to do with where I placed my slits:

This design was created using three rows placed in-line with the design that was already in place. And two smaller rows on each side of the neck. I also completed this DIY style with the 'fringe' type hem, which is totally optional but provides more coverage and width to the bottom of the tee.

I've got a ton more of these DIY swim cover tees that I will be posting in the next few days. These are more traditional cover ups that will give you tons of great ideas to create your own!

~Dovinea

DIY Crinkle Shirt~Easy Method To Give Almost Any Shirt The Crinkle Look

Twisted DIY Design

The crinkle shirts are really trendy right now and they come in all types of styles. While I have no problem paying for one of these tops if I don't already have the style, it's just too easy to DIY the crinkle tops myself.


To get the crinkle look, simply wash your top as normal.  But instead of just tossing it in the dryer, grab each end of the top and twist the shirt tightly. Then, simply lay it out on drying rack to dry.


You can create different looks with this DIY idea. If you twist the shirt holding the neckline and lower hem, you will get vertical crinkle marks. For a tiered-type look, twist the shirt holding each side, just under the sleeves. A diagonal crinkle design is created by holding one shoulder and the opposite side of the bottom hem.


Also, the tightness of the twist will provide different styles. By twisting the shirt very tight and securing with a piece of string, you will get a larger amount of crinkles and they will be more defined. A loose twist will provide you with a more casual draped crinkle (more of a wrinkle). Keep this in mind, because if you don't twist the shirt tight enough, it may end up looking like you just picked it up of the bedroom floor and put it on!


This method works on just about any fabric too, from t-shirts to silk button up shirts. You may need to do some testing on certain types of fabrics to see which method provides the best crinkle results. For instance, button up shirts don't necessarily look their best when doing a horizontal design. They look best when using either the vertical or diagonal method.


For more ideas on this DIY project, you can do a search on 'crinkle shirts' and you'll find a ton of different styles to try yourself.

~Dovinea

DIY Sweatshirt ~ Rockin Off-Shoulder 80's Style!

SUPER SIMPLE DIY Sweatshirt Ideas


Create An 80's Style Off-Shoulder Sweatshirt In 5 Minutes Or LESS!

 I Love, Love, Love the off-shoulder 80's style sweatshirts...and they are SO easy to make!!


The best part is you have a ton of different design options. Anything from cutting just the cuff of the bottom of the arm to taking the arm completely off, or any length in between, with a full scoop neck (front and back) or a simple dip-front scoop.


I like to start on my DIY sweatshirts by creating the scoop neck first. Depending on the look you're going for, a good look for just about any figure is the deep scoop in the front and just about an inch off the back of the neck. To do this you'll start by cutting at the shoulder hem, approx 2-3" from the collar. Start by cutting a half moon shape to about 6" down and bring the scoop back up to the opposite side of the collar. Then simply cut straight across the back of the sweatshirt directly under the collar.


Now, for the sleeves you have a ton of options too. The diagonal cut sleeve gives a stylish look that is super easy to create. To get this look, start about 8" down the outside of the sleeve. Cut a diagonal line that comes down about 2-3" on the inside of the sleeve (from the underarm). This gives a nice light-weight, short sleeve look.


To get more ideas on styles for your DIY sweatshirts, do a search on '80s Style Sweatshirts' or 'Off-Shoulder Sweatshirts'. This will provide you with a ton of options that should all be pretty easy to DIY.

~Dovinea

JEANS TOO LONG? Quick..Make That INSTANT Fix For Shortening Jeans!

Get Some STUDS To Hold Em Up!

So, being only 5'3", I run into a problem I'm sure many of us have at least once in a while. Most of my jeans are too long in the legs!

I had just gotten a new pair of TR jeans that I couldn't wait to wear but they were WAY too long, as you can see in this before photo:

This problem is usually solved by putting on a higher (4") pair of heels, but the problem with these particular heels (which were A MUST for this outfit) is the toe was STILL covered by the leg of my jeans!!

SO...rather than cut them off on the spot (which Seriously crossed my mind), I came up with an idea that not only worked, but looked AWESOME!!

What I did was fold the front of the legs acordian style, with the hem on top and poked a diamond stud through each leg and slid a rubber backer on each one...the result ROCKS!!

I didn't put them exactly center, they're placed about 1" from center. And the placement is totally up to you. You could even use two, one on each side, if you have a really wide cuff.


And after doing this, you can see how you could get really creative and use all kinds of different earrings for totally awesome, one-of-a-kind looks!!

Now I actually look forward to a pair of really long jeans! : )

~Dovinea

Step Up Dressed Up

Customize Your Heels For Perfect Coordination~

Your shoes can make (or sometimes break) an outfit! They are THE most important accessory you'll use to finish off your look!


Now, that doesn't mean you must own coordinating shoes for every outfit in your closet! There are ways to customize the look of the heels you already have...without breaking the bank!


A few simple ribbons or thin scarves are a great way to pull this off. There are a few ways to try this out. The first is to wrap the scarf under your shoe, just in front of the heel. Then simply bring the scarf up to the top of your foot and make a bow. Or you can go for the espadrilles look and wrap it once or twice around your ankle, making a bow in the front of back.


While heels are about the only type of shoe to pull this idea off with, there are similar ideas that can be done with sandals, and even sneakers, that will be given in later posts!!

~Dovinea

The Skinny On Tight Jeans ~ Getting A Little More Wiggle Room!

How To Make Your TIGHT Jeans Fit Better

We all know what it's like when the morning arrives that you're having a hard time squeezing into your favorite pair of jeans. There is nothing more frustrating! And it's not just the fact that you've put on a few extra pounds, it's that it usually happens when you've only got 5 minutes to get out the door and nothing else to wear!!

Well, I have a solution that will help you avoid these types of mornings. Now, not much can be done once the moment arrives, but you can prepare to keep it from happening again.

The Answer? DO NOT dry your jeans in the dryer!
I've learned this after many years of owning designer jeans. The care instructions specifically state to AIR DRY your jeans. And, not only will this make your jeans easier to get on, they'll look better and last longer too!

I know you may be thinking that then they'll end up stiff and crusty, and yeah, they do! So what I do before putting them on (and after they're 100% dry) is to fluff them for just a few minutes. Using low heat on the dryer, throw in 2 dryer sheets and run the dryer for 3 or 4 minutes. This is just enough heat to take the stiffness out and make them wearable again!

**TIP** If you're jeans are WAY too tight, STRETCH the waistband as soon as you take them out of the washer, while they're still wet. Holding one side tightly, pull as hard as you can on the other side, stretching them as much as possible. Need even more room? Use a small piece wood, stretch the waistband over the back of a chair or use just about anything else you can fit in there while they're air drying to give you a bit more room. Just make sure you use something wide, or you'll end up with points sticking off your waist (not attractive)!!  : )

~Dovinea