Happy Friday! The last few weeks have been crazy over here, mostly with the end of summer, and mostly with the start of school, but in huge part because there are some big changes I've been working on that are coming to Merrick's Art, one of which is DIY FRIDAY, which will now be a permanent thing! So if you're looking for my tutorials, make sure you stop by every Friday, because I'll have something new for you to make every single week!
To kick off DIY FRIDAY, I have a super fun tutorial and giveaway for you! Last month, during the Nordstrom Sale, I ran across this amazing leather Halogen dress, and instantly wanted it. It was a little too short for me, and a little too expensive, so instead I teamed up with Leather Hide Store and made my own, and today I'll show you how!
I had some serious doubts about this dress up until the very last seam, and sewing through this thick leather was not very easy, but I feel so proud of this dress and learned a ton while making it. I'm so excited to share it with you!
dress made by me (tutorial below) -- fabric c/o leather hide store
similar bag -- splurge or save
shoemint heels, c/o
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE
Find the full tutorial after the jump, and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the very bottom!
Welcome back to another round of DIY Friday! I'm excited to share an easy sleeve tutorial with you today!
As much as I love short sleeves, and even long sleeves, I think I like a half sleeve the very most. They're super flattering on everyone, and add a little feminine element to a shirt or dress. I've made a couple of pieces with these half sleeves (like this cobalt one I shared on instagram), so today for DIY Friday I want to show you how to make them. They're super easy, and it's a great pattern to have up your sleeve (pun intended) for shirts and dresses, or if you want to add sleeves to a sleeveless top or dress.
For this yellow dress, I used my Tee Dress as a base, and then change the sleeves to these puffed half sleeves and changed the shape of the dress to add a hint of swing. Super easy!
dress: made by me (tutorial below -- similar here)
These weeks are flying by -- somehow it's time for another round of DIY Friday! Lulu*s sent me this dress a few months ago, and although I totally loved it, I don't wear sleeveless tops, so it was super annoying to have to wear a jacket or a sweater over it all the time. We've been having a crazy heat wave here as well, so layers were completely out of the question.
In an amazing stroke of good luck, I found a similar printed chiffon fabric at the LA fabric district, so I brought it home, lined it with some lightweight white cotton, and whipped up some sleeves for this dress. Now it's the perfect dress -- this silhouette is maybe my favorite ever for my body.
So today I want to show you have to make a simple sleeve to add to a sleeveless dress -- it's so easy! Keep reading to find the tutorial!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JYLARE
lulu*s dress, c/o (no longer available -- similar here, here, and here) similar bag chinese laundry heels michael kors watch
dress made by me, similar here, here, and here (25% off with code HAPPY)
dolce vita shoes
lulu's clutch, sold out -- similar clutch here and here
urban outfitters sunglasses
michael kors watch
stella and dot bracelet, c/o
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE
This dress has seriously been the longest time coming. I started it back in May and then didn't touch it for the entire summer. Finally, a month ago, I busted it out and finished it in one night, photographed it that week, aaaand then I had a million other projects lined up for DIY Friday so it's tutorial kept getting pushed back. But here we are. Finally. You guys, go make this dress right now -- it's THE BEST.
It's one of those dresses that is not only flattering on nearly every body type, it's also great for dressing up and dressing down, and it's perfect for all seasons. This is how I wore it during the summer (and a casual summer version here and here), but during the Fall it's great with a scarf, jacket, and booties, and during the winter it would look amazing with tights and a colorful wool coat.
topshop dress // similar fur vest here and here// black tights //
similar black booties // baublebar earrings
Outfit 2:
topshop blazer // topshop dress (worn as a blouse) //
boyfriend jeans //similar black heels // similar cobalt bag
Outfit 3:
topshop dress (worn as a top) // similar leather skirt //
similar heels // mirrored aviators // similar clutch
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE
As I get older, building a capsule wardrobe becomes more important to me. Don't get me wrong -- I love a good inexpensive, trendy piece, but I'm trying to be more methodical in my purchases and find pieces that are well-made, classic, and super versatile. For as long as I can remember, I've had friends that were obsessed with Nordstrom, but it wasn't until this last year that I discovered that goldmine. Not only does it have the a huge selection, a million different designers and brands, and the best sales, it sells well made pieces that will last me for years and fit right into that capsule wardrobe I'm trying to build.
TopShop is one of my favorite shops in Nordstrom, and as soon as I saw this grid tunic dress, I had to have it. It's so versatile, so I wanted to show you three easy ways to wear it:
1. With Tights. A tunic with tights and booties is one of my favorite fall/winter looks. Pair your black tights with a pair of black heeled boots to make your legs look super long and lean. I added a touch of glam to this look with a fur vest and some sparkly accessories.
2. With Jeans. This tunic has pockets (my favorite!), so turning it into a shirt is a little tricker if you want to avoid bunching at your waist. So I tucked it fully into my boyfriend jeans and then pulled it out to give it a loose and blousey look. Then I threw on a blazer, heels, and a brightly colored bag for a casual work day or pretty date night look.
3. Tucked Into A Skirt. The A-line silhouette is so feminine, and this pretty top was just screaming for a classic look. I paired it with my A-line pleated leather skirt, some basic black pumps, and some edgy mirrored aviators for a classic feminine (with a touch of edge) look.
Now tell me, which look is your favorite??
Also, there's tons of other good stuff at TopShop right now -- check out my favorites in the widget below!
