Across our HC universities, girls are going wild for jean shorts! Ok, you’re looking at the screen like, uh, duh! It’s the summer! Why not go crazy for jean shorts? Not only are collegiette’s finding inspiration from eclectic stores like TopShop and ASOS, but many are also taking charge and making their very own “do-it-yourself” shorts…the kind that look like the ‘bohemian-dream version’ that every fashionista wants in their closet. Collegiettes, this is your spring DIY guide to creating gorgeous shorts. It is best to use an old or thirfted pair of jeans that you won’t mind cutting and coloring all over! Get ready ladies, and take out your scissors, sharpies and nail filers. Happy styling.
‘90s House Party’ Striped Shorts
Whether you’re going a party at school or at home, these striped shorts will get you tons of attention, in all the right ways. All you need for this DIY is a pair of light colored jeans, a colored pencil, a few sharpies, scissors, and a ruler or straight edge.
- A new technique I found while surfing YouTube is making your shorts shorter in the front and longer in the back (perfect if you have a round derriere like me!) Just take your colored pencil and mark where you want your shorts to stop. For accuracy, mark your jeans while you have them on.
- Take your sharpie and your straight edge to mark how long and wide you want your stripes to be. If you are a curvy girl, it is better to make your stripes a bit wide and long to give your thighs a slimmer effect. Petite girls can get away with smaller stripes, just as long as your shorts are not über-short.
- After marking your stripes, color away! If you are not a fan of the sharpie method, you are more than welcome to use fabric dye or acrylic paint to jazz up your shorts! To each her own! I actually threw my shorts in the wash and loved the faded look of my new shorts! (TIP: you can even fringe the bottom for a more Bohemian feel)
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Bleached Ombre Shorts
Whether your cooling off on Shorty’s patio, or even on the beach, these bleached ombre shorts will have heads turning everywhere! Follow the step one to cut your jeans into a unique pair of shorts.
- After cutting your shorts, take your scissors and fray the cut edges. Fray away, ladies, until the white and blue threads are visible.
- To create a more distressed look, use a pair of tweezers and a worn nail filer. Ladies, don’t be afraid to create holes on the jean legs by making little cuts on the jeans and rubbing your nail filer against the cuts.
- Last but not least, pour your bleach into a disposable bowl and let your jeans sit for at least 5-10 minutes to create the ombre look!
- Immediately drench your shorts in cold water to stop the jeans from bleaching.
- Throw your jeans in the wash and voila! Your very own pair of ombre jean shorts!
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High Waist Bleach Splattered Shorts
Finding vintage high waist jeans at a local Goodwill is easy. These jeans are a stylish homage to ‘90s jeans high school’. Wear them for a modern take on the classic vintage acid wash look.
- Take your mommy jeans and cut them as short as you like!
- Place your shorts into a garbage bag, and pour small amounts of bleach on the front and back of your jeans. Less is definitely more in this case.
- Like the ombre shorts, drench in cold water to stop the bleaching.
- Throw in the wash and parade around campus in your new DIY creations.
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Now it’s your turn to create your very own shorts for the spring and the summer! Why spend ridiculous amount of money on a cool pair of jean shorts when you can make them yourself? The materials needed for these tutorials can be found in your dorm room, or even a friend’s. Go for it, collegiettes, and wear your creative shorts with style!