Long Live The DIY
Failed galaxy leggings of 2012, Nina Simone, and a Le Labo dupe
90% of all DIY projects are destined to fail. That statistic is fictional, but it’s certainly anecdotal. I’ve been a crafter all my life, just like my grandma. I see something, and sometimes, even before I can want it, I think, “I can make that.” The impulse itself is innocent, but the issue is biting off more than I can chew. The early 2010s created an aura of accessibility around DIY projects. DIY blogs were exploding with cute infographics and can-do attitudes. I was sixteen with a basement bedroom and access to a local Goodwill. Of course I was going to “put my spin” on whatever was on tag sale that Sunday. Here’s a brief synopsis of all my DIYs gone wrong: At home screen-printing, attempting to sew an envelope, spray painting galaxy leggings, altering pants with a single stitch up the crotch, and infinity scarves, in so many capacities.
That’s why, when I admit that today’s newsletter is about a DIY, I do so with a humble heart. What I’m more interested in honing in on is that impulse of what was, “I can make that” and now feels more like, “Don’t I already have that?” If things are getting a little esoteric, let’s pull up an example.
Step One: Spot the blouse on Batsheva sale.
For the unfamiliar, Batsheva is a brand that specializes in straddling the line between unwearbly buttoned up and cool. They put a ton of inventory on sale, and I thought this was a fair price for a blouse that’s mostly a dirndl.
Step Two: Think about the blouse for two weeks.
Buying new clothes is a rarity for me! So I luxuriated in the knowledge that no one else would outbid me in my sleep.
Step Three: Decide to pull the trigger after being paid for a piece I forgot I wrote two months earlier.
So much of writing is tricking yourself into thinking writing is a gateway to new clothes, at least in my experience.
Step Four: Realizing blouse was sold out in my size
Play the old “but if I got it a size up I could just have it tailored” game.
Step Five: Creative inspiration hits!
Staring into my closet, after giving away a black Dries top I held onto for five years and never wore, I asked myself, “Is there really a need here?” This dress I wore for my 24th birthday sat equally unworn. The concept felt similar enough to the Batsheva top to fire up the old DIY sensors.
Step Six: Execution on a Saturday afternoon.
I put off the project for all the reasons I laid out before. One Saturday afternoon, I gave it a whirl. Some loose measurements were made. Hems were folded. You get the picture.
Step Seven: Proud knock-off blouse owner
The end result was way better than I expected. First, I was $90 richer. Second, though the crop of the Batsheva top intrigued me, I’m more likely to wear a shirt I can tuck in. Plus, I just love the sleeves on this former-dress, and can’t wait to wear them more. DIY accomplished. Let’s table the concept for at least the rest of the year.
Archived Outfit
"If you come out and look the way you want to look, you will create a mood before you even open your mouth." Nina Simone shared in this amazing interview with Lillian Terry. She performed in this mesh jumpsuit with a flesh-colored under piece for a whole year. The outfit’s phenomenal, even without context. And it’s proof that the simplest way to create a singular or signature look is to wear something all the time. Maybe that’s not a mesh jumpsuit for you. Perhaps it’s staying true to the part of yourself that always reaches for a striped tee. Wear that striped tee over and over and the mood you create might not be as powerful as Simone’s, but it will speak for you, turning getting dressed into a personal exercise in confidence and consistency.
Nothing compares to Nina Simone, but I was delighted by the plethora of vintage jumpsuits out there. This is made for a Prospect Park wedding. This burnt orange suede number is for the true enthusiast. If cottage-core’s your calling, here you go. These two long-sleeved jumpsuits (velour and otherwise) are best for beginners.
Honorable Mentions
After a brief flirtation with whole milk, I’m back on my almond milk bulls****. Do I swear in this newsletter? Anyway, environmental insecurities aside, I’ve come back to the nut milk of my early twenties with open arms. Those arms are made even more open with my recent restock through Costco. That’s right! Get your Midwestern parent’s (hi, mom!) log in info to receive all the glory of bulk shopping plus two day shipping, sans the frozen yogurt.
In the market for a new candle, but can’t bear the banality of being another Brooklyn girl with Diptyque? My fav for years has been Maison Louis Marie, especially this one. And if you’re in the market for something half the price, try this one from Italic.
If you’re a fan of an essay collection, “cheeky” British humor, and have an Eve Babitz-shaped hole in your heart, try Why Didn’t You Just Do What You Were Told? by Jenny Diski. I’m reading Emily Ratajkowski’s essay collection now, but I don’t want to talk about it.
Thank you so much for reading. This week, I wrote about “feathery brows,” DTC investing, and was on this podcast. See you next Thursday! x
That BLOUSE!! What the h*ck! I'm in love.