41 Amazing Free People-Inspired DIYs

If you love Free People, but don't love the prices here is the ultimate list of Free People inspired DIYs. Have Fun!

41 Amazing Free People-Inspired DIYs

Free People Exclusives DIY Inspiration

Mirage Print Shapeless Gale Dress

This dress will be one of the easiest DIY’s you’ve ever done. While technically the top of this is made slightly different, you can create the same look using the the basic instructions from a pillow case dress. Here are a couple tutorials from around the web:
http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2008/08/lace-dreams-tutorial-for-pillow-case.html
http://www.aroomsomewhere.net/2007/07/pillowcase-dress-tutorial.html
You’ll want to use a fabric that is lightweight and flowy. If you use something sheer like a chiffon, then the dress will need to have two layers, one top layer of chiffon and a bottom layer of lining fabric.
As far as sizing and the amount of fabric necessary you will need approximately 1.5 yards of 45 – 60 inch wide fabric. The wider the fabric you use, the fuller the dress will be.  You will cut your fabric in half length wise and length wise to create your front and back piece.  Then just follow the pillowcase dress instructions. Easy and cute!

Chambray Bandana Inset Buttondown Top

Start with a plain button down top, this particular one is chambray, but yours can be any button down top you choose, preferably made of cotton. You’ll need two bandanas. To make the shirt more like the original the bandanas should be matching, but you could use two bandanas in coordinating colors for a more fun look. just pin the bandanas in place, and either stitch them down by hand, with the sewing machine, or glue them down using fabric glue. Voila…you have a new shirt!

O-Town Muscle Tank

I know I said the first DIY was easy, but this one is even easier. Take a slightly loose fitting crew neck tee, measure approximately 2 inches out from the neck seam on the shoulders and make a cut from this point to right under the bottom of the sleeve.  Now, because knit does not fray, it just rolls in on itself you can choose to stop here and voila…you’re done! If you want to give it a more finished look then fold the cut edges under just a bit and hem them with a stretch stitch or zip zag stitch. Now you can turn any of your tees into a cute tank top.

Labels: diy inspiration, free people

Spring Free People Inspiration

Here’s some more DIY inspiration for you courtesy of Free People.

The Caftan

This is so ridiculously easy. If you search DIY caftan or caftan tutorial you will find tons and tons of tutorials.

Here’s a video on YouTube  showing how to make a no sew version. In this video the final product is not sewn, but you easily do the same thing with a sewing machine.

If you want it to actually have something that looks more like sleeves, then this tutorial for a dolman sleeve top should be helpful. Just remember, if you aren’t using a stretchy fabric make sure to leave enough room in the sleeves so that you can move around comfortably.

The Layered Mini Dress

No DIY is even necessary here. Simply layer a crop top over a simple tank dress.  Don’t have a crop top…easy…. crop it your self (Oh, and leave the back slightly longer than the front)

The Destroyed Tee

Do I really need to explain this?  Well, here it goes… You can do any or all of the techniques I am going to mention.

1. Bleach – Fill a spray bottle with diluted bleach (about a 1:1 ratio), spray on desired areas, let sit for a few minutes until desired color is reached, then wash and dry.

2. Shorten – Chop it off.  The length is up to you. Shorter in the front and longer in the back is always a cute option.

3. Chopped Up Sides – Make cuts about an inch apart all the way down the side, then pull to stretch them out.

The Floral Mini

This one can really be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.

1. Super Easy – Find 2 matching/coordinating scarves and sew them together to create a tube. Then sew a casing around the top, thread elastic through and voila.

2. Still Easy, But Slightly Harder - Find 2 matching/coordinating scarves and sew them together to create a tube. Attach a strip of extra wide lace to the top front, and add straps with matching fabric or ribbon.

After writing this I think I see a couple of DIY’s in my future, so further instructions may follow.

Labels: diy inspiration

Runway Inspiration – Diane von Furstenberg

I was over at Tom and Lorenzo perusing the writings of two of my favorite online gays when I came across Dian von Furstenberg’s Fall 2012 Bags…well I found an easily DIY-able dress too. Let’s check it out.


I love the hands on this. The concept can easily be translated onto a ready made dress, skirt or top. It can even be done using a couple techniques.
1. You can trace your hands in the desired pattern and fill how ever you wish with fabric paint. This would be the easiest way.
2. You can do this with fabric by creating the hand cut out design and appliquéing it on.
This reminds me of a local designer’s recent lingerie collection. See Sally Ann’s Hands-on Collection here.
Now to the bags! These are so fun!

Most of these can be created using an existing bag, just find one similar to the original shape.

• For the lips you could simply paint them on, or for a 3D version you could sculpt them out of clay or make a pair of stuffed lips using metallic fabric and glue/sew it on.
• The domino bag  can easily be painted to have a similar look.

I hope these images and tips inspire some of your wn creativity.

Labels: diy inspiration

DIY Tutorial Link - Missoni Sneakers

Did you miss out on the Target Missoni Collection? Refinery 29 can show you how to make your own.

Check out the tutorial here.

DIY Inspiration - D&G Spring Collection

I am in love with the D&G Spring 2012 collection. You could totally take a cue from them and create some awesome looks of your own using scarves.

Photo Credit: firstview.com