Thursday 28 April 2016

Today's Tip:DIY BALENCIAGA Inspired Crop Top

DIY Balenciaga crop top a pair and a spare
You may have guessed that the Balenciaga SS13 collection was by far the most inspiring for me this season when it comes to potential DIY projects (remember this?).  It’s so funny, as soon as I saw this crop top on the runway more than 6 months ago I knew it was going to be a project I would try, but it took me so long to work out how I would do it and to make the time. Sometimes life gets in the way of DIY (inexcusable I know!) but when I finally had a crack at it I found it to be quick and requiring only minimal materials. What more could a girl want?Wearing: DIY Singlet, Vintage black silk palazzo trousers, necklaces from Rose Jewelry, Coach Watch.As usual I went with an’ inspired by’ version of the original (like this) – not quite the same, mainly because the construction is very different.




You need:DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 211

A white tank dress (mine was from H&M) or extra long singlet. Pick one in a thick jersey fabric so you don’t have to worry about fraying fabric (the edges will roll rather than fray).
Scissors
Needle and thread (optional for if you want to gather the straps like I did).
DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 211

How to:DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 212

1. The first step is to cut the back out of the tank to create the crop, so measure a line a few inches below the bottom of your bra strap when the top is on where you will cut to. Then lay the tank face down and cut out the back, following the line of the seams (I left the seams on rather than cutting them out) and the horizontal line.

DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 212DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 213

2. This is how the back should look.

DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 213


3. Turn your singlet over and mark the very middle of the front. Cut a straight line down the middle, as if you are cutting the opening of a cardigan.

DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 214

4. Cut all the way to the bottom.DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 214

DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 215

5. This is the shell of your top, you’re practically there!
 DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 216
DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 216

6. Now mrs mannequin is going to demonstrate how to wrap the top. Pretty simple! I simply tied the leftover fabric in a knot and let it hang down but you can also cut it short if you like. When you are wrapping you could choose to do it so that two slits of rib cage are showing like in the original but I just felt that was a little too much for me.DIY Balenciaga crop top a pair and a spare

DIY Balenciaga crop top a pair and a spare

7. Tuck the top edges of the singlet in, when I have the top on with a bra underneath I tuck the edges into my bra (for a little extra security you could pin the edges to the underside of your bra, or pin the fabric together where it crosses over between your breasts).
 DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 219
DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 219

8. Finally, if you like the look of the gathered straps, use your needle and thread to sew a little dart into them.DIY Balenciaga crop top a pair and a spare

DIY Balenciaga Inspired Crop Top A Pair and A Spare 220


Voila! I contemplated wearing it with the matching DIY Skirt but thought that might be overkill – what do you think?

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