Wallace and Grommet

The pages of Vogue, ELLE, and other fashion publications have screamed with headlines proclaiming the heavy metal look as hot hot hot with titles such as "Iron Maiden," "Rock Revival," and " What a Stud" over the past year. Everyone and their brother in the design world is capitalizing on the craze that swept the DIY blogging world by storm. Case in point (from left to right): Downtown kid Alexander Wang's grommet detailed sweatshirt, Matthew Williamson for H & M's grommet studded vest, and It-Brit (and animal friendly) Stella McCartney's silk grommet dress.


Just when you thought you'd scream if you saw one more editorial or blog post featuring biker chic wears (I may be a wee guilty on the latter point), Marc reinvents the wheel. For his Spring 2010 Marc by Marc Jacobs show he pairs heavy metal purses with tribal print clothes in vibrant oranges, yellows, purples, and blues. The resulting look is quite a departure from the tired neutral hues found on most rocker garbs. His collection is the refreshing oasis we all needed to liven up the rather barren season thus far.


xx,CC

Bonus: The bucket bag is the new "It" shape on the rise, so this little baby is screaming for a DIY!

Balmain Bonanza

Perusing Net-A-Porter.com the other day, I fell in love with what I thought was a studded Balmain blazer. Not that I had the extra $5,000 lying around, but I wondered why a blazer - albeit Balmain - was several thousand dollars? A closer glance and some research turned up the blazer's counterpart. This was actually a jacket constructed out of what appeared to be the smoothest, softest leather I'd ever seen on a pixelated screen. Don't get me wrong, the leather is gorgeous, but I actually liked the notion that this leather jacket had been masquerading as a neat little blazer punked out with studs. The rock-n-roll vibe is a bit more ironic on a stereotypical workplace item. With studs popping up everywhere these days, I thought the trend had just about overstayed its welcome. However, there's no one quite like Christophe to transform tacky bling and cliché 80s silhouettes into something fabulous.


What You'll Need:
Blazer
Black or silver studs (about 150 medium sized)
Seam ripper
Pliers

Studs seem to be all over the blogging world, so I don't want to be too redundant by explaining the process again. See this bag and these shoes for a detailed lesson. The design on this blazer entails three rows of studs covering the entire lapel and wrapping all the way around the back of the neck. Make the row closest to the inside of the blazer about four extra studs longer than the second row.
The second row will be three-four studs longer than the third row (and so on). If your jacket has a wider lapel, keep adding rows until you hit the outside edge.


Throw on with cigarette pants and structural heels for that avate-garde Parisian feel or over a silk dress for a night out on the town.

xx,CC

Iron Maiden

I've been obsessed with these beat-up studded combat boots from Bess NYC, but I am less than keen on the $320 price tag. I walk by the store on my way to class everyday and stare longingly at the gorgeous (over-priced) studded goods. Left with an abundance of studs from my last project (below), I figured there was no better time than the present to fashion my very own pair. Given the snow storm that left Manhattan a slushy, disgusting mess today, they're sure to keep my feet firmly planted on the slippery sidewalks.


What You'll Need:
Boots (think Target or Goodwill)
Pyramid studs
Seam ripper or other sharp object
Pliers

I have a wee obsession with ankle boots, so I folded the tops of my boots down until I got the height I desired. Next, decide the placement of your studs. I followed the curved seam around the heel. With the prongs of the studs, make a mark on the leather where they will poke through. Use the sharp end of a seam ripper to make little holes where the marks were. Now, the prongs of the studs easily slide into the leather. Using pliers, reach inside the boot and flatten the prongs so they won't poke your feet. Continue until you've studded to your heart's desire!


I love using my boots to toughen up flouncy skirts and feminine frocks!

xx,CC

Stud Muffin

Ever since Riccardo Tisci accented everything from delicate, chiffon tanks to heavy, leather bombers with large gold studs on the runway at Givenchy's Fall '07 show, the fashion world just can't get enough. Not sure if I was ready to dive head first into the stud tank, I decided to test these babies out on an accessory. Seeing as my staple gold and black bag is in the shop (Chanel will refurbish your old bags and send them back looking brand new; downside is that it takes 8-12 weeks), I was in desperate need of a temporary replacement. Not wanting to break the bank on another investment bag (the saleslady at Chanel kindly suggested I pick up a temp bag to hold me over until mine returns, HA!), I figured I was going to have to resort to alternate options.

The Givenchy "Studded Shopper"

What You'll Need:
Black bag
Pyramid studs (assorted sizes)
Seam ripper or other sharp object
Pliers

The fabric on my bag wasn't thick, so I found it easy to poke the prongs through with my hands and bend them closed with pliers. If you can't work the studs through by hand, use the sharp end of the seam ripper to puncture two holes where the prongs will easily slide in. Starting at the center of your bag, work your way toward the outside edge following parallel to the top curve. Next, you will make an upside down triangle. Start from the center stud and make a line of four studs in both direction. In groups of two, work your way down the bag to a point. Now it is time for the larger triangle. Alternating large and small studs, make another line of four studs in both directions above the first triangle. Work your way down the bag in groups of two, just as before, but mix it up by adding a large pyramid in place of two small ones occasionally. Finish the point with a group of three large studs.


The arrowhead-like nature of the triangular pattern makes the bag look much more sophisticated than others with haphazardly placed studs. I think it gives off the perfect undertone of Native-American-meets-modern-New-Yorker. Yes, I'll get along just fine with this until my precious baby returns from the Paris shop looking buffed, shiny, and sparkly.

xx,CC
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While you're sprucing up your handbags with flashy and eye catching garnishes, why not do he same to virtually any outfit you own? Hop online to find chic and highly affordable jewelry, for half of designer prices. Check out anything from custom pieces to diamond engagement rings.