DIY Ripped Jeans Tutorial

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the fashion world and watching each season as it creates covetable trends and fads for us to stuff our wardrobes with, but nothing grinds my gears more than a rip-off trend. 

Now what do I mean by a rip-off trend? I'm talking about the popularization of something that's been around for ages and no one batted an eyelid, only for someone to wear it standing outside Somerset House during LFW and suddenly it's worth its weight in gold. OR, having to pay through the nose for a trend you can very easily make at home. 

Now this post is about the latter, and more specifically, ripped jeans! I get in such a rage seeing certain high street brands charge £40 or more for a pair of ripped jeans. Its so ridiculous. The trend is based off something we do accidentally to our clothes at home anyway, so why not do it accidentally on purpose and save yourself quite a bit of money. 

After saying that, you're probably thinking 'Well if it's that easy, what's the point in a tutorial?' Unless you're willing to adorn your unloved jeans and do a few knee skids on the living room floor, there's a quicker and less painful way to create that worn and torn look. 

The reason for the tutorial is that since this trend came about, I've seen a lot of terrible DIY attempts roaming the streets because people think it's as easy as taking a pair of scissors to your denim kneecaps, but for a realistic tear, a lot more commitment is required. 

What You'll Need

An old pair of denim jeans 

Sandpaper or a wire brush

A white pen/ eyeliner/ piece of chalk/ silver gel pen

A small, pointy and sharp pair of scissors

A small piece of cardboard

Step 1: Try on the jeans, and draw a line across the middle of your knee 

Step 2: Stuff the small piece of cardboard inside the leg you're going to start on first, so as to protect the back part of the leg. It also creates a stable surface for you to work with, and saves you sandpapering your own hand. 

Step 3: Grab your wire brush/ rip off a section of sand paper, and start rubbing along the line you've drawn. In most cases the line will rub away, but once you've made a start you'll know where to rub. How long this takes will depend on how thick the denim is, but just keep going until you start making small holes or tears in the denim. It took me a good 15 minutes on each leg, and a whole sheet of sand paper. 

Step 4: Now if you want, you can leave it hear, and leave everyday wear of the jeans to widen the holes and tears you've already made, However if you want the results straight away, stretch the fabric with your fingers and quickly slice along the tears you've already made to create one big tear. Be careful not to stab yourself in the finger like I did. 

I'd love to hear of any fashion DIY's you've achieved at home. Let me know in the comments. 

Steph x x x

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University of East London at Graduate Fashion Week

University of East London followed Instituto Marangoni on the Sataurday of Graduate Fashion Week, and featured some of my favorite collections of the entire event. So without further ado, here they are:

Veronica Peduzzi-Davies

This collection earned itself a finalist place at the Graduate Fashion Week Awards Show. Inspired by youth culture, oversized silhouettes and embroidery worked to create a collection packed full of teddy-bear motifs. This childlike quality was contrasted with the sporty elements of towelling and puffer jackets.

Alexandra Huxtable

A refreshing collection with a citrus palette, Alexandra Huxtable looped yellow and green belts through sea green and beige coats and dresses which featured scissor motifs and gingham check.

Chloe Taylor

Using a bare palette of white and cream, Chloe Taylor was able to focus purely on 3D drapes and layering by folding material around metal loops to create a structural silhouette. The effect was a clever manipulation of the way the fabric moved and flowed as the models walked. A truly stunning collection.

Emma Long

Crisp whites owned this collection, with draped silks, copper and silver washers and arm bangles bringing a Grecian air to the runway. This quite elegant aesthetic was given an urban twist in the pairing of sports socks and heels, and the added accessory of a clear plastic clutch bag.

Harriet Rushmer

A collection so lightweight I can imagine it must have felt like wearing nothing at all. Loose dresses, straight cut skirts and voluminous jumpsuits in a variety of sheer fabrics were adorned with a range of colourful and monochrome graphic check prints.

Hollie Tarrier

A gorgeous display of carpet bag florals and jacquard tapestry motifs featuring on a base of cream and white. Parachute and oversized silhouettes bring a modern feel to the traditional patterns and fabrics.

Joel Boyd

A mixture of sports luxe and street wear, this collection combined cosmic galaxy prints with 90s bomber jackets and hoodies to create a casual retro look.

Kamara Appleton

Matte vs Metallic was the main focus of this menswear collection, with geometric metallic lines snaking squares and rectangles across matte black and white tunics and coats.

Katherine Ogden

The cocktail of tiered pleats, candy stripes, and shaggy silhouettes brought a vivid image of ragdolls to mind.  Exaggerated, thick stitching on yellow, red and cream denim created a raggedy texture, whilst drop waist pinafores added a childish element.

Keishin Hoshiko Barrett

Also receiving a finalist place at the Graduate Fashion Week Awards Show, this collection was a clever mix of sport luxe fabrics, geometric prints, vibrant neons and parachute silhouettes which work to make a refreshing bright collection with a zesty vibe.

Kim Stevenson

For this collection, Kim Stevenson pulled out every textural skill in her arsenal. Ripping, stitching, gathering and embroidering created a textural masterpiece. The patchwork qualities were reminiscent of Peruvian garments, and the earthy, neutral tones with flashes of red and blue brings a bohemian feel to each garment.
  

Kirstie Lee-Eells

One of the only men’s outdoor collections, Kirstie Lee-Eells created a sporty urban nomad look.  A palette of fluorescent orange, dark greys and red appeared on fleece, wool and PVC. A contrast in textures alongside extremely high necks made for unusual layering styles and silhouettes.  

Krasimira Stoyneva-Ivanova

This collection blew me away. The striking use of colour teamed with the precise layering of hair created a visionary spectacle like no other. The use of hair made the garments come alive as the models moved along the catwalk, and the African inspired colour palette was sharp and fresh. Square shoulders and sleek lines packed the collection full of attitude. 

Leanne Beckford

Sports luxe was rife at Graduate Fashion Week, and for that particular style Leanne Beckford’s collection was my favourite. Androgynous black, navy and slate boiler suits were accessorized with oversized bobble hats and coats along with flashing contrasts of fluorescent yellow from sandals and bikini straps. A sporty yet sophisticated collection.

Leanne Bell

Candy colours and playful silhouettes made this collection a sweet treat for the eyes. Iridescent pinks and purples as well as silvers contrasted with matte fluorescents whilst rah-rah skirts and jelly sandals bring an 80s vibe to every look.

Luiz Lula-Filho

Bohemian in style, this peaches and cream collection was the epitome of textural elegance. Cascading chiffon and frayed tassels flowed in ways reminiscent of fine tendrils.

Nicole Da Silva

This collection was a delicate display of feminine shades and fabrics. Creams, lilacs, blacks and greys were teamed with 3d florals, feathers and soft,  sheer fabric to create gracefully textured  garments that exudes summer.

Peter Kyaw

A simplistic base palette in this collection has allowed Peter Kyaw to experiment with lines, shape, and silhouette. Red and pink Tron style lines contour the shape of the models whilst also subverting the rules surrounding form with 3D effect.

Tianyi Li

What better way to close the UEL’s show than with a Gothic collection straight out of a Disney villain’s wardrobe.  Black ruled the runway, with macabre tiered dresses made of tulle creating textured fairytale silhouettes.  Accessories took center stage however, with biker boots entwined in black roses, giant spiked crowns and headpieces, and ghostly capes. 

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