DIY Crop Top

In my effort to use my wardrobe more creatively, this week I'm showing you how to make a crop top out of old tights or leggings! Re-using old things is all part of living a more sustainable life. This is a tip I've been given by a friend of mine, so I thought I would give it a try. Thankfully, it is super easy to do and you will have your crop top in three simple steps!

But first, here is what you need:

- An old pair of tights or leggings
- Scissors
- Needle & Thread
- Stretchy Lace

I have tons of old or torn tights stuffed into a drawer in my dresser and I never ever wear them! For the project, I chose a pair of thick cream Penneys leggings that have become loose and baggy. Regarding the lace, choose whatever colour or pattern you like, just make sure its the stretchy kind!

To create the neckline of your crop top, you are just going to cut out the crotch of your tights. I decided to cut them in a circle, but you could try going for a V-neck or any other shape. I was worried at first, that the hole may not be big enough, but because the leggings were so stretchy and loose, it ended up being almost too big, creating quite a low neckline.

To stop the top from frizzling out, I trimmed the neckline with black lace. Bending the lace over the edge of the fabric, I made sure to fix it to both the outside as well as the inside of the leggings.
I used stretchy lace, to keep the neckline flexible, making the top easier to pull on and off. If your neckline is wide enough, you could also use regular lace, or a nice piece of fabric!
Trimming the neckline made it a bit firmer and stopped the top from slipping over my shoulders.

And ta-daah! Finished is your crop top, now all you have to do is wear it! As it's already getting colder in Northern Ireland, I think this top will come in very handy as a pair of extra sleeves to wear under some of my favourite t-shirts.

Do you know of any other ways to re-use old tights or clothes? Why not share them with us!

Wear it Seven Ways

 Kate Middleton has been both applauded and chided for wearing the same dresses twice. 'Really?' You may think, 'That actually makes head-lines?' Well apparently it does...  Judging by the endless list of 'celebrity repeat fashion offenders' I found when I googled the topic, there are millions of snap-happy fashionistas out there hungrily waiting to pounce on any star who is stupid enough to show up anywhere wearing the same thing a second time. My goodness - the faux pas... the world will probably end...

Well go you Kate Middleton I say! I hope you wear your expensive gorgeous dresses a million times! Despite feeling ever so superior to all the fashion-slaves out there, the headlines did get me thinking about my own wardrobe choices... How many times have I convince myself that I simply MUST buy something new because I 'just' don't have exactly that top in exactly that shade of grey, or that I absolutely need a new bag to go with this new dress and match my new shoes... Over my year of shopping ethically and sustainably, I've felt challenged to think about sustainability in a more holistic way. I've come to realise that sustainability entails more than just buying second-hand or organic. It it also about versatility and redefining 'need'. Truth is, I don't need 75% of the clothes in my wardrobe. If I lost them today, I could still go on living tomorrow. Maybe rather than always buying something new, we could take a more creative approach to our own wardrobe. To inspire us all to do this, I've set myself a week-long challenge to wear one piece of clothing seven different ways utilizing the clothes I already have. Here are some of the ideas I came up with...

The item of clothing I chose to do my experiment with was this lovely black and white floral printed blouse... I agree the first outfit is a bit of a given... Combined with my fairtrade black cotton skirt from Annie Greenabelle, a black blazer, tights and some heels, this turns into a neat business look. I wore this to work, but would also wear it to a job interview or formal occasion.



To achieve a more summery, girly look I introduced some bold colour. I love this blue pleated skirt I got at a swap shop. Having some uni-coloured items in your wardrobe is always a good idea and makes combining outfits so much easier! Still formal enough to wear to work, this outfit is also totally comfortable - perfect for that after-work drink.



For looks two and five the idea was to wear the top over and under clothes I wouldn't usually wear it with. So in the first one, I've put it on over a dark grey beach dress. Arranged in this way, it turned an otherwise very casual dress into a more formal look. Similarly I love how putting the blouse on under my black Peopletree maxi dress and combining it with a neat little yellow belt and satchel completely changes the feel of that dress. Good-by beach, hello office!

Now this top is not one I would usually wear out... but  the challenge was seven days, seven ways and one day was Saturday. So I combined the top with a second-hand sequins skirt and my vintage silver heels... And - despite what I had first thought - I happily wore this outfit on a night out. Totally disco-ready!

Last but not least, there's always the option to go casual. Wearing the blouse with my mint jeans and throwing on a little denim jacket made for a super comfy casual weekend outfit. 

I actually had so much fun doing this little challenge, and it's made me see my wardrobe with new eyes! I felt really happy about all the clothes I own, when previously I often felt unsatisfied and bored with them. I also made the choice to approach future buys with more caution. Thinking about what I already own and investing in high quality pieces that work well with my other clothes, rather than buying on a whim or being influenced by a sale...

We'll see how long that lasts :).

Many thanks also to the lovely Claire Dalton for taking all the beautiful pictures. You're a star.