With smoldering summer temperatures coming to a (gradual) end, back-to-school trends are starting to emerge out of the woodworks. What’s hot now? Distressed (and slightly mangled) denim.
College girls want looks that can be worn both to class and at night. And while most of us collegiettes™ are surviving on a college budget, low-cost options are always enticing. So what’s the best way to combine a hot look and low costs (with a spark of creativity)? DIY, of course!
Denim will always (arguably) be the most important staple for any college girl’s wardrobe, but here at Wake, it’s become ubiquitous. The most popular items right now are denim vests and vintage denim tops (menswear is in). Ladies, trust me, it’s easy to follow trends, but it takes a true diva to make the trend bled with her own personal style.
To give your denim that extra oomph it needs for the fall, try bleaching and distressing it. Before getting into the details of this simple DIY, take note that you don’t have to buy a new denim jacket for this project—Goodwill will be your best bet for a super low price tag.
The materials you need are:
1. Denim jacket
2. Scissors
3. Razors
4. Sandpaper
5. Bleach
6. Small Plastic Container (to hold the bleach)
First things first, cut off the arms of the denim jacket. Cut along the seam of the arm where the shoulder fabric and arm hole meet. This will create a clean cut along the arm hole.
Before slashing into your vest, you want the jean fabrics to be looser than what they are now. It’s best to rub the sandpaper in the opposite direction of the jean grain.
After cutting both arm holes, let your creativity loose! Take out your razor and go to town with your vest. Be as edgy or as conservative as you like.
Lightly run the tip of the razor against the fabric to create a thinned, shredded look.
After you have more or less destroyed your denim vest, the nect step is to pour bleach into a small container and let your inner artist come out to play.
For a more refined and conservative look, strategically pour the bleach on certain parts of the vest. For a bolder look, pour bigger blots of bleach on your vest.
Once this step is complete, it is extremely important to soak and rinse the bleached denim in a bucket of cold water (this step stops the bleach from eating through the fabric).
Let air dry, and then throw in the wash (by itself). Next thing you know, you’re ready to hit the town in your uber boho denim outerwear!
*Photo credit: http://ndhrhznl.blogspot.com/