Thursday 10 February 2011

Hell For Leather



My fab friend Mrs That's Not My Age featured some sleeveless jackets on her blog the other day and I commented that any fool could hack the sleeves of a second-hand jacket and make their own.

And here's the proof!
This vintage jumble sale leather jacket seemed ripe for a revamp, it was tatty but the leather felt deliciously buttersoft and it seemed such a waste not to part with the 10p the volunteer wanted for it.


Mango shorts (50p Cancer Research)
I pimped up last week's charity shop shorts by unpicking the seams and sewing the leather from the discarded sleeves into the sides.


To add to the "Mad Max" feel of the outfit I added a vintage choker I bought from the PDSA for £3.50



And some Topshop earrings bought at a local hospice shop.


What whoppers!



Easy, all you need is scissors and a tatty old jacket. Have a go yourself.

56 comments:

  1. Pimp my shorts. Ha!

    Leather, denim, boots and shorts. Rock chick supreme.

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  2. How creative, the shorts look nice. Rocker chic!:D


    ***** Marie *****
    allthingsmarie.com

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  3. Scrumptious! I'm not brave enough to cut off any the sleeves of my leather coats but I do have a 99p afghan with stained sleeves I've been puzzling over... Food for thought as always Vix! xxx

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  4. Great DIY ! the earings are amazing ! I love this indian touch !
    http://selenite.weebly.com/

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  5. Love it!! The leather additions to those gorgeous shorts is inspired. Was it easy to do?

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  6. Ah, those shorts are so fanciable, too;-)

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  7. You look gorgeous! I have got a few items that I would like to revamp but i'd be scared to mess it up! x

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  8. Fantastic! I was just wondering what you'd done with the sleeves and ta dah.. pimped-up shorts. Perfect.

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  9. Dearest Vix, you've pimped them both up brilliantly! You are clever, I wish I could sew!

    I FINALLY got to the Post Office today. Trust me to pick a day that was pissing with rain to run all my errands in one go. Especially as the sun's been out for the last two days!

    I'm going to call you now but if I miss you have a great evening, bath, flouncy nightie and curry sounds absolutely perfect! Much love, C xx

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  10. Not sure I see the point of a sleeveless jacket but loving the revamped shorts! :)

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  11. You look like you're ready to hop on a Harley. I love modifying clothing, but I hate to waste good material. What you did with the left over leather is very impressive. I aspire to be as crafty as you are and to grow my hair out like yours.

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  12. What an excellent creative idea.. Fab choker and feathered amazing earrings.you surely are mad maxing it Tina Turner style.i know what you can do with left over fabric make a leather bandana to go with this outfit.loving your eyebrows amor.

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  13. Vix, you are amazing, you have a fabulous eye, I love brocante sales and vide greniers (literally means empty attic but it is the same as a car boot sale). Do you know that they don't have charity shops as such in France, I am returning to Blighty for a week shortly, after following your blog, I will be looking in the charity shops with new eyes.
    XXX

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  14. 10p! That is amazing. My friend bought some jeans that look pretty much like the shorts you made for £90 from Urban Outfitters and your shorts look cuter and more expensive.

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  15. Yet again you look fab. Love the shorts, you find the most amazing bargains.

    X x x

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  16. I love what you did with the shorts!! ur earrings are so fab.

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  17. Fecking funakarama!!! Just takes a bit of imagination,daoesn't it?!
    looking smooth,sweetheart!
    LOVE Hlega!!!
    xxxXXXxxx

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  18. That is such a rock chick outfit, Vix! I love the shorts and jacket re-vamp - great ideas xxx

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  19. This outfit rrrrocks! Hell is surely benting for that leather!

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  20. Rocking outfit. You have master DIy abilities. The chocker and the earrings are just fantastic and something I would wear.

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  21. Hi there!! What can I say, a gorgeous, stylish and uniquely wonderful outfit-I love every piece within your ensemble and you always manage to look fabulous whatever the weather too!! Have a lovely relaxing evening my dear xxx

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  22. Rock chick! All you need is imagination, a pair of scissors and a bit time!

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  23. Love the rebel tribal queen look. I have a leather gilet but sadly look like a market trader, not someone riding into movie battle. :(

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  24. Your crafty ways never fail to inspire me, I love this creation, at 10p you really did have nothing to loose and the shorts have had a complete re-vamp in the process too. I guess this same concept could be used with denim jackets as well.

    And thank-you for putting a date to my Old Maid cards, I did wonder :)xxx

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  25. You are so fantastic...Brilliant idea.
    Mil besos GUAPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  26. Always amazed by these outfits when I come here - good one!

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  27. Super-clever Vix, it turned out great. This coat looks wonderfully soft. Leather... the older the better. xxx

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  28. What a fantastic outfit!

    You are THE most stylish and eccentric person I know! Someone should make a TV show all about you and your style. You can dress anything up and make it look good. Love your thrifty ideas.

    In awe xxx

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  29. Oh meow, this looks amazing Vix! So clever of you - I don't usually go for sleeveless things but this looks brilliant, I might have to look out for an old coat xx

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  30. Pimped up shorts has to be the best line of the week!!

    Love the whole look xx

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  31. Hi Vix! Re: your question, I think I got those hot pink tights in Topshop years ago - I just dug them out again recently and they're really great quality I must say. Love your outfit, the leather trim idea is ingenious! xxxxx

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  32. Love the pimped up shorts! I don't have the legs for such things, so you make sure you go for it girl! xx

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  33. How gorgeous you are - and ripe for a Motorhead concert perhaps! You ROCK Vix!

    Sarah xxx

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  34. That is such a good idea! I love how you turned it into a little two piece by sewing the leather to the shorts.

    Love the earrings and necklace, too!

    xx

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  35. I love the idea of adding the sleeves from the jacket into the sides of the shorts - what a great result! Now you have two awesome new pieces of clothing. I love when refashioning works out that way.

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  36. What fantastic revamping. The shorts look fantastic with the leather sides. You are just too talented with scissors and needles!! x

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  37. I love that jacket idea!! I'm inspired to go thrift store shopping in the men's department for a similar jacket to cut the sleeves off! :) You look sultry in these photos. I love it! xoxo

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  38. I love gorgeous soft leather, Vix, what a find! You look amazing xxx

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  39. Dear Vixy,
    Brilliant DIY...why buy when you can DIY indeed!
    I love this look, I can see you & I shooting some pool in a dusty old desert bar somewhere in Arizona...you in this get up & I'll sport my biker inspired look of the other day.
    Those earings are insane & the necklace is stunning!
    Lot's of love,
    Jem
    ...xXx

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  40. Hmm. this post will forever change the way I shop for jackets! er, vests.

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  41. Hoodoo Gurus is suddenly playing in the back of my head...

    That vest looks fantastic, I want one!

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  42. ...playing Hell for leather. That got lost.

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  43. That's fab! I like how you've made a "suit" by adding the leather to the shorts.

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  44. pretty hippie-esque look. love the new leather vest very much.

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  45. Wow, awesome job on the shorts! I'm doing so badly with learning to sew. I know you said the other day that you're not great at making dresses but do those dress patterns that you got work ok for a real sewing simpleton??

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  46. Absolutely brilliant, Vix. I love how you didnt just cut the sleeves off and threw them away, but actually reused them on the shorts- it makes them look so much better! :)

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  47. What a brilliant outfit! ... :0)

    Shirl xxx

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  48. how very creative of you, esp the shorts! :)

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  49. You are a genius V! What a great alteration! I want such a sleeveless leather coat too!

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Lots of love, Vix