Scarves are pretty much the best thing to happen to the world of accessories ever. I have a decent sized collection, and I wear them all year long. There are fluffy ones for winter, and gauzy ones for spring. I have a ton of DIY infinity scarves, and I always love to receive scarves as gifts. Today I wanted to share with you how I’ve been wearing my scarves lately for late Spring. I figured out a really easy way to tie my light scarves to make an adorable kimono-like cover up for over my tank tops. The best parts? You can make this DIY kimono shrug in less than a minute and you don’t need to permanently alter your scarf!Continue reading
Spring is officially here, but my backyard says otherwise – it’s still covered in about 2 feet of snow. Boo! While I wait for the “big melt”, I’m dreaming about wearing Springy clothes and playing outside more often with my girls! I find dressing myself postpartum can be a little tricky, but I want to embrace my body as it is now… and I want to wear cute things. I had a blast this week thinking about warmer weather and putting together some “mommy & baby” spring outfits from Sears. With Easter on its way, I found some adorable pieces that are more formal, and I also found some fun casual outfits that would be great for a mom & kid outing to the park. Continue reading
One of the most popular tutorials on The DIY Mommy (and one of my most favourite DIY gifts to make!) is the 15 minute infinity scarf. It’s a really simple project to sew, and such a great addition to anyone’s wardrobe. I’ve been asked a couple of times to post a video to clarify some of the steps in this tutorial, so during naptime today I did! I hope you find this video helpful when you make your own infinity scarves. These are really fantastic for Christmas gifts!Continue reading
“Don’t wear skinny jeans unless you have skinny genes.”
I’ll admit I did laugh (because I’m a sucker for a good pun), but I really don’t agree with this statement. I don’t think you have to be “skinny” to wear skinny jeans (or leggings or tights for that matter), I simply think you need to know how to style them to make them work for your body.
As a petite & curvy mom (I’m about a size 12 right now), I wear skinny jeans, leggings and tights often. I think I mostly get them right, though I know I’ve had a few style disasters along the way. They’re comfy, and a great basic!
Here are my personal “do’s” and “don’ts” for wearing skinny jeans if you’re a petite, curvy mom like me:
DON’T:
don’t buy the wrong size (make sure they’re not too, too tight – you don’t want to look like you’re “flowing” out of them at the top”)
don’t choose an extremely low cut pant (a higher waistline will also prevent a “muffin top” effect)
don’t wear skinny jeans or leggings with a tight top (unless you’re covering that with a long, loose cardi or sweater)
don’t wear skinny jeans or leggings with a short top (unless you’re covering it with a longer layer)
DO:
do opt for higher waisted skinnies
do try a body shaper beneath your skinny jeans to smooth out any lumps and bumps
do wear longer, looser tops with skinny jeans and leggings (it helps to at least cover the top half of your caboose to create a lengthened shape)
do opt for skinnies in darker colours
do wear bright accessories near the face (like scarves and long necklaces) to draw the eye upward
do think “vertical” – anything to create a long, vertical line will help lengthen your look (open-front, long cardigans; long necklaces; long scarves; vertical stripes; tall boots with a wedge or heel; etc.)
do accentuate your narrow parts (a belt around the waist can really help accentuate your lovely hourglass figure)
Here are my picks from one of my favourite online retailers, ModCloth.com, for pairing with skinny jeans:
Are you a petite curvy mom that wears skinny jeans? What are your styling tips?
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase products via these links, a small percentage of the sale will be given to me at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win – thanks for helping support thediymommy.com!)
Can you believe Christmas is in just over a week? I certainly can’t, and I’ve been busily finishing up some last minute handmade Christmas gifts for my family and friends.
Something I’m making this year are piles and piles of infinity scarves (remember the tutorial I posted in September?). They don’t take very long, they’re so pretty and practical, and you can personalize them with fabric choice to suit the recipient.
I’ve made three more variations of the classic knit jersey style I had originally made, and I really think they’re all pretty!
Sparkly Striped Sweater Knit Infinity Scarf
For a festive and sparkly look (like the first picture above), I made an infinity scarf with a glittery striped sweater knit. I made this one extra wide (the raw fabric measured about 40″ wide before it was folded and sewn).
Woven Burgundy & Chocolate Plaid Infinity Scarf
Plaid is trendy in a big way this year, and I made a second version of the infinity scarf with a plaid woven fabric with a slight stretch to it. This one was also extra wide (at about 44″ before it was folded and sewn). I’m really liking the look of adding quite a bit of extra width to the scarves, giving them a dramatic full look.
Cream Lace Overlay Infinity Scarf
Finally, I made a third version of the infinity scarf by laying a piece of stretch lace over a piece of stretchy jersey (both were about 15″ wide) right sides together. I sewed them together along the length of each side, and then completed the rest of the scarf as I did in my original tutorial. You could use a different colour of knit jersey for a more contrasting look. It’s such a romantic version of the infinity scarf!
Have you tried making an infinity scarf yet? Please share below if you have with a link to your finished project! Or, if you’re planning on making one for yourself or as a Christmas gift – what would be your favourite fabric choice?
Are you joining me in committing to a handmade Christmas this year? Whether you’re making a Christmas gift for your sister, your best friend, your mom or your aunt, the DIY ideas below are easy and unique! I think all of them are lovely, but I’m especially fond of the boot socks and the homemade tea bags.
Summer has come to a close and as of yesterday I am now 30 years old. I’ve been considering doing posts on my style for a little while now, and with your email & comment encouragement and with my “I’m 30 now, so what do I need to feel self conscious for” attitude as of late, I present to you my very first one!
I am rather short at 5’3″ and I wear about a size 10 to 12 in clothing at the moment (that number has been anywhere from size 6 to size 16 since marriage and two pregnancies). I’m not euphorically happy with the shape of my body at present, but I remind myself that it has carried two babes and that my goal is to be healthy rather than some shape that is unrealistic in the near future.
I really enjoy fashion and fashion blogs. I see a lot of images of tall, willowy and gorgeous women in the latest trends and I thought it would be fun (and hopefully helpful to some other women with a body shape like mine) to show you how I put together some of my favourite outfits and what I do to highlight my favourite and not-so-favourite features of my petite and curvy mommy self.
I also love to DIY (of course) and find things on a tight budget, so I’ll incorporate those things into my style posts which for now I’m going to commit to once monthly. It’s darn hard to take pictures of oneself while one’s baby is sitting on the lawn and there’s a toddler that may (or may not!) be napping in the house!
Here, I’m wearing a turquoise boho dress in a gorgeous silk/cotton with pretty lace detailing. I’ve cinched it at the waist with a belt to define one of my smaller parts, added chocolate brown tights for a more fall-ish look, and I’m wearing boots with a hidden 1″ heel to add a little lift to my short self. It’s a simple outfit, but I really love it and it’s comfy enough for doing errands with a baby and a toddler in tow. There actually is a DIY element to this outfit – underneath the dress is a simple slip that I made lat minute because of the sheerness of the dress. I’ll post a tutorial on that soon!
I love scarves; they are the epitome of fall accessories. They’re perfect for layering and transitioning lighter fall clothing into cooler weather and scarves can add a beautiful pop of colour or pattern to what might otherwise be a dull outfit.
Infinity scarves are a kind of tubular scarf that’s attached at both ends. They’re usually stretchy, and you can wrap them around your neck once, twice, or sometimes three times for different looks/warmth levels. This type of scarf is a breeze to make, and I’d love to show you how!
Supplies:
2 yards of very lightweight fabric (I prefer stretchy fabric like rayon/cotton/bamboo/polyester knit jersey but you could also use woven lightweights like cotton voile, cotton lawn)
Cut your fabric in half lengthwise so that you have two long strips (you can make two scarves out of two yards!). Fold the fabric in half again lengthwise with the right sides together. Pin and sew the raw edges together (I used a serger, but you could use a regular sewing machine with a 5/8 inch seam).
Pull the tube to the right side out, and then pull one end over the other so that the right sides are together again and the two raw edges meet, as pictured above.
Here’s the trickiest part (and it’s not even that tricky), but it gives the scarf a cool twist that helps it lay flat: Twist the inside layer so that its seam meets the opposite side of the outer layer’s seam, as pictured above. Basically, you’re twisting the inside layer 180 degrees. Pin the raw edges together..
Sew the raw edges together leaving a 2″ opening.
Turn the scarf right side out and hand-stitch the opening closed. Voila! Your scarf is ready to be worn & loved.
Twist it once for a drapey look.
(I like to model scarves in front of my messy bookcase and beside my full basket of laundry.)
Twist it three times for a snug cowl.
(I also like to modal scarves in front of my fridge, at night.)
(Giveaway closed as of 09-30-2012 @ 10:00 pm MST.)
Fall has to be my favourite time of year. To me, even though the leaves turn and fall, it’s a time for fresh beginnings and new dreams. I love sipping warm spicy drinks in the brisk weather, and I’ve always enjoyed dressing in more interesting layers and fall-ish fashion.
As a mom – and as a crafty mom at that – I like to find outfits that are just as practical as they are interesting & creative. Jeans are my go-to pant, and stretchy layers work so well with an on-the-go lifestyle. Here are my top 9 favourite outfit ideas for fall this year for a DIY Mommy:
(Image Credit) Nothing says “autumn” more than a scarf, and I love this colourful scarf paired with a mustard yellow blouse, trouser jeans and medium brown accessories. Easy and casual!
(Image Credit) For a “mom’s night out”, this forgiving wrap is gorgeous and glamourous. Tall brown boots are a fall classic, and the teal purse adds just the right pop.
(Image Credit) Brights can be worn in fall too! Here, happy hues of yellow and aqua transition into autumn via cardigan and casual jeans.
(Image Credit) Coloured jeans can still be worn in cooler weather with a monotone, neutral scarf and cardigan combo paired with brown accessories.
(Image Credit) This floral scarf is so sweet worn with a feminine blazer in a nubby textured fabric. I like the contrasting striped shirt underneath.
(Image Credit) Here’s another fabulous example of bringing bright colours (mint & blush) into fall with heavier fabrics and a warm scaf.
(Image Credit) A bold striped cardigan is paired with a black shell, pumps and pops of yellow accessories. Trouser jeans are a must for fall!
(Image Credit) Fern green and mustard yellow are classic fall colours and pair nicely here with chestnut brown accessories.
(Image Credit) A pop of coral makes this casually cute outfit sing! A tan biker jacket is a nice classic paired with a skinny jean.
What is your go-to “mommy uniform” when the weather cools down? Are you a jeans girl? Prefer maxi dresses & cardis? Comment below; I’d love to hear!
(P.S. I’m working up the courage to possibly do regular features of my own style – I’ve noticed a lack of fashion blog posts for petite-ish, curvy moms. Please let me know if this might be something that would be interesting or not!)
Christina Dennis is the creator and designer behind Golly Gee Baby, a collection of unique and colourful baby clothing and accessories that are ethically manufactured.
I'm Christina - a DIYer and decorator living on the Alberta prairies in a home we built ourselves. My goal is to inspire you to create a cozy home and life you love!
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