iheart Festival Fashion

The Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Studded DIY Sandals

One of the many perks of having my own channel on iheart Radio is VIP tickets to the iheart Radio Festival where I can get up close and personal with all the fabulous fashions and details the singing sensations and their celebrity fans are wearing. And it’s not just the amazing outfits, see-through pants (Miley) and spectacular accessories. There are also the shoes—omg the shoes.

This year I was totally into the simple black heels adorned with delicate chains that country star Chelsea Ballerini wore. They are so simple to make—you just need a plain pair of strappy sandals (preferable with a band by your toes and around your ankle), fabric glue and lengths of chain trimmed to fit the straps.

Make a line of glue along the center of one strap; affix the chain to it and let dry. Repeat on other straps. You can also do this with mini pointed silver studs, crystals or glitter.

Slip them on and wear with long or short dresses, to dress up jeans or with a fab pair of leather pants.

Voila!

iheart Festival

The Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Tye Dye

So fun to be at the iheart Festival in Las Vegas last weekend where not everything was the same glitz we always see. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love it but also get totally into when celebs get more fun than glam gowns. Sorry Not Sorry—Demi Lovato’s Faustian Steinmetz tye dye jacket and pants were amazing and so easy to make your own.

You can transform a jacket, pants, jeans, a t-shirt and more. Whites and lighter colors work best. This look is a crumple tye dye. To make, you will need garment, rubber bands and garment dye.

Crumple the garment up—don’t roll or do anything uniform—and secure in place with bands. Follow instructions on dye package to soak garment. Make sure you are working on a work surface that you’ve covered and with bowls etc. that are for project purposes only as dye can get pretty messy and that you wear rubber gloves. Again, follow instructions to use dye on garment, let sit and then rinse or submerge in bath.

Once garment is rinsed, remove bands and open garment on clean work surface. Let dry.

Fabulous!

iheart Festival

The Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Fringe

On the red carpet at the iheart Festival in Las Vegas this year, there was everything from sequin dresses to jeans and oversized sweatshirts. While I was totally mesmerized by the selection of styles, I was definitely still into the glam factor that Heidi Klum and Miley Cyrus brought with their fringe short dresses.

Miley’s fringe swayed at the hem of her dress while Heidi’s was more of an all over swag. The easiest way to replicate the look is by adding fringe all the way around your jacket, your jean hem, a button down or tshirt. All you need is the garment, fabric glue and the fringe trim of your choice.

Measure all around your garment and cut the trim to 1/8 inch longer. Using fabric glue, starting with one edge of trim, affix top of triim to bottom or hem so that fringe hangs loosely down past fabric edge. Follow al the way around garment edge and trim before adhering second edge so that edges butt each other. Let dry.

When you’re all finished? Take yourself out for a twirl!

NYFW Street Style

Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Patchy Street Style

Fashion Weeks have begun in some of our favorite cities in the world. And do you know what we like even as much as these fabulous runway shows? The street style of some of the more fashion forward celebs, that are there to sit front row or even to walk in other shows during the week. This year at NYFW they certainly did not disappoint.

Kaia Gerber rocked the runways but looked just as spectacular out and about in a Pepsi themed patched jacket. Guess what? You can make one that looks just as ah-mazing. All you need is a satin or leather short bomber jacket (I like black because it’s a chic and rocker chick at the same time) and a bunch of patches—one that’s super oversized for the front, fabric scissors, an Xacto blade and fabric glue or an iron.

This is the kind of project that’s really easy to do on a budget. If you don’t own a jacket to work on (that’s the best), look for one at a thrift store, the flea market or even at an inexpensive mall store like H&M or Forever 21. And look for patches at the flea market or online at sites like Amazon.

Depending on the material you are working with, you will iron or fabric glue patches onto jacket. Start with the oversized patch that will go front and center. Zip up jacket, center patch over jacket and adhere, making sure that patch does not attach at zipper. Then make vertical cut into patch along zipper line; making sure to glue/iron down edges once cut. Use blade to trim away patch at any snap spot or button. Then, Make use of every area—like sleeves, shoulders and chest—but don’t saturate the jacket. Leave plenty of breathing room.

Pair it with a crop top and fab leather pants and boots like Kaia did or throw your new jacket on with jeans or denim shorts.

How fun is this look?

NYFW Street Style

Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Faur Fur Footwear

While everyone’s eyes are runway focused this week, I am also spying the best celeb street style at outside the fashion shows. This is the real stage where celebs, models and fashion forward girls bring it big time—and it’s the ultimate place for DIY inspiration for my closet and yours.

Take Gigi Hadid. As if her sparkly mules to offset her hot pink (my favorite color!) cropped sweater weren’t enough, the were perfectly trimmed in a hot pink fur along the top open edge. Well, we can Camp DIY that.

Start with a pair of mules. If you don’t have, they are all the rage now so you can find the most plain pair at any inexpensive retail store. Spray them with tacky glue and cover in multi color glitter. Let dry and shake off excess. Then cut a piece of faux fur trim (in any color, but one that definitely pops) to fit perfectly along the open edge of the mule (where your foot slips in to). Using a hot glue gun, glue the fur just along the edge and over the top of the opening.

Wear them to add drama to a pair of jeans and plain white tee or slip them on to tie in a fab colored sweater just like Gigi did.

NYFW Street Style

Fashion Inspirations!

Here we are with the Camp DIY tips of the day!

Up Your Shoe Game

Designers spend months even a full year prepping for fashion weeks—and we appreciate the results. But the street styles outside could easily have come together in a matter of minutes, even though they certainly don’t look like they do. Sometimes it’s an entire outfit that inspires me to get out my fabric and sewing machine or it might be just a tiny detail that is my takeaway to transform the simplest look into something fabulous.

When I saw Ciara’s booties laced up with a gossamer red ribbon, my mind went into overdrive. Changing out laces with something as demure, stylish and simple as a beautiful treatment like that is probably the easiest DIY to tackle and the results are huge.

Floral Fashion

Inspired by red carpets and our favorite brands and stores

We love fashion, we love style, we love DIY. When these are all combined, it’s everything. 

Finding the perfect fashion piece is a major coup, especially when you need to take into account the occasion, the season and the fit to say the least. So, with the fall wardrobe decisions and the holidays coming up, we are sharing our secret, most importantly that it’s always a good idea to look for inspiration—to shop smart or Camp DIY it yourself. We focus in on celebrity red carpets and some brand favorites for our ideas—then shop everywhere from online, to vintage stores, department stores, boutiques and more before adding your own special details yourself!

We were uber-inspired by this year’s awards and premiere red carpets—that we were so thrilled were in person this year with myriad fashion fodder to indulge in. Taylor Swift kicked it off at the Grammy’s earlier this year in a stunning Oscar de la Renta mini dress. This summer, Sharon Stone brought the drama to the Cannes Film Festival in a floral wonderland Dolce & Gabbana ball gown. Fast-forward to this season and Amandla Stenberg in a shimmery Gucci gown at the Toronto Film Festival, her skirt festooned in silvery florals. The Met Gala never disappoints—we were enthralled with the cascading blooms on Lili Reinhart’s Christian Siriano gown (each one, in keeping with the “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” theme, representing one of the 50 United States—stay tuned as we have some related upcoming blog posts!) and those on Irina Shayk in Moschino. Then Cynthia Erivo brought it at the Venice Film Festival in a sheer and colorful Oscar de La Renta. And the roses on Aidy Bryant’s Emmy dress by Simon Rocha were equal parts delicate and whimsical.

Other spots that do floral oh-so-right that we look to see what we might like—to splurge on, add to a wish list or simply use for more inspo at our go-to shops? Brands like Gucci, Love Shack Fancy, For Love and Lemons, Faithfull, V. Chapman, Free People, Anthropologie and so many more.

For these looks, floral stencils, fabric appliques and a glue gun, fabric paint and glitter can transform what’s basic into a fabulous floral frock.

Please let us know your favorite floral fashion brands!  And, as always, don’t forget to check back for Camp DIY fashion in step with trends and all the hottest red carpet events. 

Holiday Glamour

Glitter Makeup

For the holidays, glitter adds a little more magic to any makeup look. Whether for an office soiree or ringing in the New Year with family and friends, the shimmer can go from a hint of sparkle to a dramatic shine for both the eyes and lips. Then come the new year, you’ll be well schooled in how to work it for those times when you want to add a little twinkle to your style. Look for glitter makeup to complete these looks from Camp DIY by a slew of brands or mix your own with skin/eye safe craft glitter from Michael’s craft stores.

Glitter Lips 

Glitter lips make a statement all their own, especially these done up in a cool berry red, so pair them with more neutral eyes. Create a desired base color first and then add the glitter. Start with a lip hydrator like Jouer Cosmetics Lip Enhancer. Next, line lips with Three Custom Color Specialist's Lip liner in Cool Red. Then apply Jouer's Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Fraise Bonbon. Jouer's Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Monaco, a sheer red, came next. For this shimmer on top, two different shades of red glitter (safe craft glitter) were mixed in a small bowl and carefully applied with a small stiff flat brush by patting over entire lips.

Glitter Cat Eyes

This look is neutral everywhere…with a pop of glitter on lining the lid. The effect is all the more dramatic when using larger glitter flakes as opposed to fine glitter—but any shimmer will do. Begin by creating a wingtip cat eye using Clinique's Gel Liner in Black, apply several coats of black mascara and Ardell full Strip lash in #113. Over the black liner, apply TOO FACED Glitter Glue Glitter Shadow Primer with a thin liner brush. With a tweezer, carefully place silver glitter flakes over the black liner along glue line. If you are working with smaller glitter, use a small flat brush and carefully pat the glitter unto the glue line. Brush away excess glitter that has fallen onto your face with a clean blush brush or a take a piece of Scotch tape to pick up any fine glitter that has fallen. 

Glitter Smokey Eyes

This show-stopping look is as gorgeous as it is glamorous. Start by lining the  inside of eyes with MAC black eye liner in Smolder. Then line around entire eyes with Toofaced BULLETPROOF LINER in "Get Lucky" and Clinique's Gel Black Liner as a base on lid. Next brush lid with MAC Studio Eye Gloss / Brooke Candy BlackYang for a wash of glossy color. For the glitter effect, mix three shades of Michael’s craft glitter together—deep blue, black and bright blue—into a small bowl. Then apply across the top lid over the eye gloss to just below brow bone. Brush along bottom lid—edges of top and bottom lid should fade to a lighter glitter coat. This amount of glitter is best applied using a special tool like Make Up Forever's SILICONE APPLICATOR - 224. This flat, pointed silicone applicator is designed to precisely apply glitter and collect any wayward glitter without the product scattering or falling onto your face. Refer to last line of Cat Eye to learn other cleanup tips.

Updos of the Moment—again

Simple steps to re-create some of the hottest classic hairstyles Kendall Jenner wore so well

It may be 2022, but hair from the teens is coming back—strong. Some of our favorite looks from a few years book came courtesy of Kendall Jenner. Here at Camp DIY, we show you just how you can don these “classic” runway and red carpet looks that never went out of style.

For starters, super clean hair is hard to style so to give your hair some body to work with prep with first by using a texturizing shampoo and conditioner. We recommend Matrix Rock It Texture.

1. Ropey Ponytail (MTV Awards 2016)

If using hair extensions, attach first.

1. Starting from front of head toward top of the back, take small sections of hair down center of head and tease from the base to about three inches up. Let each section flop forward after teasing.

2. Spray hair and then brush backward, brushing through the teasing, which will leave you with volume at the base.

3. Gather hair into a low pony.

4. Tease top sections of pony tail, closest to the elastic and a few inches down. Then, about 2 to 3 inches down from first elastic (shorter distance if shorter pony), wrap hair in second elastic.

5. Repeat teasing and wrapping until pony is separated with multiple elastics.

6. Spray all over.

7. Cut fabric trim to as many 5-inch pieces as you have elastics in pony tail. Attach one small safety pin to one side of each trim. Wrap trim around elastic to hide, then secure safety pin and turn trim so pin is on underside. (Courtney’s trim is from Michaels Art’s & Crafts)

2. Double Buns Bejeweled (Coachella 2016)

1. Make a center part down front and back of head.

2. Make two high, tight ponytails on either side of part. Pull tight and tease both pony tails from the base of elastic for a few inches.

3. Starting on one side, split ponytail in half, twirl both halves and then cross both sides, pull one end through and pull tight (like the first step in tying a knot or a bow).

4. Wrap ends around the “knot” and secure with bobby pins. Once in place, pull gently all around bun to loosen slightly.

5. Repeat on other side.

6. Using eye lash glue, dot a stripe down front center part.

7. Place a length of rhinestone chain over part, making sure to start one end slightly below part on forehead to create the look of an exotic bindi beading. (Courtney used an anklet from Forever21)

8. Spray all over.

3. Messy Top Knot (American Music Awards 2016)

4. Chignon (Chanel Fall 2016 Fashion Show)

1. Make a center part down front of hair. Mist the front.

2. To create this dramatic and large chignon, use two bun forms for this look. Cut each at one point to center so that “O” becomes a “U”.

3. Cover form with hair extensions that match the base of your hair, not, the ends. Secure to form with bobby pins and spray.

4. Gather hair into low ponytail. Pin up pony into a low bun; after bun is secure, gently spread it out so it is more linear than round.

5. Place one form over bun to cover, making sure that chignon expands up toward both sides of head. Pin in place. Place second form on top of first so that Chignon sits on the center back of head.

6. Pin in place and spray.

5. Pin curls (Marc Jacobs Fall 2016 Fashion Show)

1. Make a center part down front of hair. Spray crown with water until wet. Coat with sculpting gel over front and top section of hair. (I love Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt)

2. Place alligator clips about 1 inch apart on each side of part; hair will naturally create the pin curls/waves from the clips but you can gently push up hair between the clips to make the effect more defined.

3. Blow hair dry.

4. With clips still in, gently brush the hair below the clips to keep straight.

5. Gently remove the clips

6. Spray in place.

6. Slicked back (Met Gala 2016)

1. With damp hair, tease hair at the roots.

2. Spray with styling gel and then water so product is not so dense. (I lover Loreal Wet Denomination Extreme Splash)

3. Brush hair back from hairline.

4. Use a thin-toothed comb to lift and push hair at sides slightly back from face.

5. Use alligator clips to hold in place and let set. When set, gently remove clips out.

Choker Style

With the onset of spring, we are in the throes of fashion weeks and celebrity watchers are abuzz with the runways and red carpets once again. But perhaps what’s more fun to watch than any haute couture runway are the celebrities sitting front row, strutting their street style and walking the red carpets in the moment’s hottest trends—and then using those as inspiration to create our own. Camp DIY’s Courtney Sixx is on-task for this, showing us how to transform the latest color and details to get in on the sexy choker trend.

Bright Yellow/Flower Power

You will need: satin or velvet ribbon, hot glue gun, silk flowers.

Choker Inspo: Trim yellow ribbon in satin or velvet to fit around neck with length left to tie. Hot glue on blush and pink silk flowers. Secure in back by tying ends into a bow.

Blush and Stars

You will need: satin ribbon, fabric glue, silver mesh fabric, star sequins.

Choker Inspo: Trim a blush satin ribbon, leaving enough length to tie into a bow. Using fabric glue, cover surface of ribbon with silver mesh fabric. Sew silver star sequins in place. Secure in back by tying ends into a bow.

Shiny Stuff

You will need: 3 types of metallic fabric or trim, fabric glue and Velcro dots.

Choker Inspo: Using fabric glue, layer pieces of metallic trim or fabric on top of each other or sew together by hand or with a machine. Trim off extra fabric. Secure with adhesive Velcro dots, two per side.

Sheer Silk and Sequins

You will need: black silk fabric, hot glue gun, sequin trim.

Choker Inspo: Trim black silk fabric to size. Using a hot glue gun, adhere two pieces of sequin trim to top and bottom of fabric strip. Hot glue 2 pieces of black thin satin ribbon to each side of back of choker and tie in a bow to secure.

Blush and Bling

You will need: nude mesh fabric, fabric glue or sewing machine, crystals, thin satin ribbon, Velcro dots.

Choker Inspo: Cut nude mesh fabric into a 4-to-5 inch strip. Fold in half. Adhere together using either fabric glue or a sewing machine. Fold to hide seam in back. Flatten and add crystals using a hot glue gun. You can also use earrings or costume jewelry; to do so, snap post off earring with pliers before gluing. Tie a thin satin ribbon into a bow and adhere to top center of choker with hot glue. Secure using two Velcro dots on each end of choker.

Sequin Patches

You will need: Green sequin fabric, fabric glue or a sewing machine, sequin patch hot glue gun, Velcro dots.

Choker Inspo: Cut green sequin fabric to 6 inches. Fold in half. Adhere together using either fabric glue or a sewing machine. Fold to hide seam in back. Add sequin patch off to one side of choker using a hot glue gun. Secure using two Velcro dots on each end of choker to secure.

All fabric and ribbon available at JoAnn’s Fabrics.
All other materials available at Michael’s.

English Garden Tea Party

Inspiration for summer style and entertaining

A party in the garden is a perfect and festive way to celebrate a warm-weather bridal shower. And taking a nod from our friends across the Atlantic pond who are serious about their gardens and parties means tons of inspiration for decorative ideas. Camp DIY founder, Courtney Sixx, is a big fan of outdoor style and entertaining ideas as well as  traditions, so for these ideas she looked to English tea parties as muse for planning a bridal shower or any party filled with flowers, tea service and pure girlie fun in her California garden. Here at Camp DIY, we show you how to do it too!

Patchwork Tablecloth

For this detail, Courtney chose nine fabrics to create this summery, quilted look perfect to cover a six foot rectangular table. Courtney used a combination of different florals and textures.

1. Cut each fabric into two 18-inch wide by 60-inch long “strips.”

2. Lay one set of strips out on a work surface side by side to create a quilt type pattern.

3. Sew together along each side of each fabric with edges together so there is clean line in between each fabric.

4. Lay out the second set of strips in a different order than the first; the tops of both of these fabric panels will be sewn together to complete the cloth and varying the fabric order will add to the quilted appearance.

5. Repeat sewing up the fabric sides of second panel.

6. Line up both panels along top and edge to edge. Sew along top. This seam will run down the center of the table.

Peat Moss Runner

With this runner (see table shot opposite page) the garden is literally brought to the table. You will need three runners to fit down the length of the table.

Unfold the runners from packaging and line them up down the table.

Floral Centerpieces

A grouping of floral teapots, tea bag canisters and teacups are transformed into the perfect vessels for arrangements.
For this project you will need 3 teacups, 3 tea pots and 3 tea bag canisters. Depending on size of table you might need less or more pieces. You will also need a package of peat moss as well as peonies, roses, English garden roses in pinks and fuchsias as well as chamomile and greenery.

1. Cut floral foam to fit in to three teacups; soak in water for 5 minutes and place in teacups.

2. Trim flower stems so that blooms sit just over edge of tea cup.

3. Arrange flowers and greens by poking stems into foam.

4. Arrange flowers in teapots and canisters, finish with greenery and fill all with water.

5. Arrange down center of table, alternating teapots, teacups and canisters.

6. Tear pieces of peat moss to fill in spaces on top of runner and between vessels.

Rose Petal Dessert

The English garden theme is carried through with a beautiful rose petal cushion for the dessert.

1. Large fuchsia rose petals, folded gently in half are placed around and just inside the edges of an antique plate border.

2. Place a large store-bought tarte on top of petal cushion. Then place two petals on top of tarte to garnish.

Lavender Tea Favors

A tea inspired favor makes a lovely reminder of the day for guests. You will
need tulle, ribbons of patchwork cloths, gold teaspoon, loose lavender and a mini mesh tea diffuser.

1. Place 2/3 cup lavender in center of tulle

2. Gather ends of tulle to create a pouch and secure with fabric ribbon ties (each fabric should be used for a total of 9 ribbons; lay all together evenly and then tie as one ribbon).

3. Before tightening ribbon completely with knot, insert bowl of spoon into lavender pouch so that tip of spoon stands at the center of tulle fluffed ends on top.

4. And before tightening ribbon completely with knot, secure tea diffuser to package by securing chain end of diffuser into knot before knot is secured.

Tea Party Sandwiches

Sandwiches in keeping with the floral color scheme are as equally pretty as they are delicious.

1. Make tiny chicken salad and arugula sandwiches on sliced French baguettes. Garnish with cherry tomato slices and arugula shavings.

2. Dilute pink food
coloring in water
and lightly brush
on to top sandwich
piece. Be sure not
to over saturate or
bread will become
soggy. (If making own bread, add food coloring to dough).

3. Place sandwiches on cookie sheet in oven at 300 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes.

Fabrics from JoAnn’s Fabrics
Floral porcelain ware, peat moss runners, peat moss, gold spoons and tea diffusers from Amazon.com
Table, benches, chairs and white dinner plates, courtesy of Ventura Rental Party Center, Inc.; venturarental.com