DIY: Crop Top with Elastic

Missing from the materials: a large safety pin. A diaper pin works!

I've had this thrifted, vintage top for years now, but I've never been completely satisfied with the boxy shape (not the good kind of boxy). I decided to chop the bottom off and add some elastic at the hem for a crop top that wasn't too frumpy. Here are the steps:

1.) Fold up a new hem, which will be the elastic casing, leaving enough room for the elastic of your choice to fit. Place pins along the fold for precision when sewing. 2 & 3.) Sew down the new hem, but leave an opening as wide as your elastic. 4 & 5.) Insert the safety pin on one of the elastic ends and insert in the hem (casing) through the opening. Slide the elastic through the casing by pulling and sliding using the safety pin, until you reach the other end. When sliding it, make sure not to let go of the other end (the one without the pin). Otherwise, it will get lost inside the casing and you'll have to start all over again. 6.) Finally, overlap both elastic ends, sew down as shown in picture, and close the hem opening. 

Worn with: DIY cuffed shorts, Earrings by Honduran designer Lutfi Janania & Deandri Helga booties. 

I'll definitely be wearing this top more often now. Maybe with a sleek A-line skirt or graphic high waisted trousers. The skin bearing shorts are a little too much for my small town, so I'm leaving this outfit for hot days spent at home with the family.

Go on and chop chop your tops and show me what you come up with on Facebook! <3 

But before you do that, lemme share a project I've been working on that's really close to my heart. If you followed TWF part 1, you'll remember my "fashion" education consists mostly of sewing courses in government institutions for troubled teenagers and struggling women. These sewing courses were less than promising and motivation in class was extremely low. This hasn't changed, and that's why I decided to create Seams & Dreams, free workshops with both creative and self-esteem boosting activities. Watch this video to find out what Seams & Dreams is all about (it's in Spanish, but I can assure you no translation is needed):

I've submitted this project for the Creative Diary competition for a scholarship to an IED school. It would mean the world to me if you voted or left a comment on the project by clicking here.

I admit at first I had no intentions of posting about it, but I was touched by messages from people who wanted to know how they could help and be a part of the workshops (It's currently just me with a little help from my sisters). Why not share it even more? It makes me so happy to know people are not only willing, but also eager, to help in any way they can. Thank you all!

♥,

Fabi

Skorts & Eva Magazine

I do love a nice skort for hectic days. I found this one in a 10 lempira ($0.50) box at a thrift store, but it was pretty torn up.

The darts were split open and a few buttons were missing. I brought it home and gave it a new life, with cute gold buttons and a shorter hem to flatter my vertically challenged frame.

By hectic days, I'm referring to the last weeks of school filled with exams and final projects. I've finally finished my Interior Design program (woohooo)! My dad snapped these pictures near a tire repair shop right before he dropped me off at school.

If you follow TWF on Facebook or Instagram, you prob already know about my cover for Honduran magazine, Eva. Thanks to all of you who sent me pictures of my big ol' face in magazine stands, it's all been so exciting!

I was shocked they would 1.) let me be on the cover in the first place, 2.) let Lutfi style me as he pleased and 3.) allow me to mention my online vintage shop, Bultique.com, despite the taboo surrounding the name*. Thank you Eva! ♥

Blazer: Lutfi Janania, Skirt: made by me, Gold hoops: Bultique.com, Necklace: Primark

Lutfi and I know that when it comes to styling, I can go a little crazy with the prints and he can go a little crazy with the accessories. Burgundy lipstick, humongous hoops, print on print...we really did it all. Here are some behind the scene outfit shots: 

Left: Bultique top and earrings, Lutfi Janania skirt.
Right: Bultique two-piece (coming soon) & earrings, Zara belt & my own vintage choker.

Thank you everyone for being so nice to me, for all those sweet comments and messages. Things can get a bit lonely when you're into what I'm into, but your support makes everything much, much easier. :)

*Bultique is a Honduran slang word, used in a derogatory sense, that refers to second hand stores where things are found in "bultos" (piles) in boxes. No one would admit they went to a "bultique" without embarrassment...not until Bultique.com, of course. Hehe.

OOTD + Clutch Giveaway Winner!

I never really spend much money on clothes, I think I've made that pretteyy clear on this blog. However, there's something about interesting vintage pieces that just makes my heart melt and shell out the cash. I found this lovely denim jacket with tiny little studs and surprise pleats in a charity shop in London.

The price wasn't as attractive but...who could resist? While my friends were losing their minds in Topshop, I was going nuts in charity shops and car boot sales!

This is pretty much my school uniform: skirt + tank + jacket + platforms. In fact, these shots were taken by my sister right before I went to my accounting class. 

I'm kinda done with the green hair, by the way. I'm just reeeally scared to use any permanent dye and mess it up, I've heard so many scary stories down here! Any suggestions?

Denim jacket: vintage, Skirt: self-made, Faux fur bag: souvenir gift from Thailand, Shoes: Deandri nude Helgas.

And now, time to announce the clutch giveaway winner! I used a random list generator to pick the winner (I would've gone mad trying to pick one myself). And the lucky soon-to-be owner of the amazing clutch is:

azaria.canales@gmail.com

Check your email! As soon as I get your details I'll send the lovely clutch your way. :)

Thanks to all who participated, I really appreciated all the lovely comments. I promise there are more gifts to come for all my lovely readers. 

♥,

 Fabi