Thursday, May 5, 2011

Balancing Cake and Bread

My BFF moved last year to a much smaller place, and as a result, she purged a lot of old tees. I ended up with a box full. This Tori Amos tee is one of the ones I asked for. It was huge. An XL maybe? It needed to be altered to fit in some way, but I can't sew. So I cut instead.

Tori

Tori

I'm pretty happy with the results. I did go to this tour. It was maybe the last show I enjoyed. I was a big Tori fan back in the day and still really enjoy her first few albums, but her recent albums don't do anything for me and honestly, her new face freaks me out.

Jeans and a tee (especially when you throw in sneakers) is not my strong suit, but I was really happy with this outfit. I love the line on the straps and the tee was just the right fit to get a super low scoop cut out of it. It drapes really nicely now.

Tori

I've tried cutting tanks out of tees and few times now and only lost one tee in the process. It was a doozy though and oddly the one I screwed up was the last one I made. Not the first, or second. More like the fifth. I was pretty disappointed, but it's a risk you take when you pick up the scissors and DIY.


Have you ever really messed up a DIY? Was it a tragedy or just kind of disappointing? Got any other ideas for cutting up a tee that don't involved sewing?

tank, Alannah's old tee
Bra, Forever XXI
jeans, Buffalo Exchange
Shoes, Chucks
Watch, Swatch


'

25 comments:

[SMASH] said...

This is such a good idea -- looks great!

Chalkdust and Boots said...

Oh, you look great. I've never spoiled a DIY because I...don't DIY. I'm not skilled. But back to you! You look perfect, like someone I'd want to hang with on a nice spring day...

A said...

Ooh, that looks really great! The design works really well with the shape you picked and it doesn't look as big as it actually is on you. Very cute--I'm impressed! I'm so glad you're enjoying those because they were just sitting here. XO!

Megan G said...

A great T-shirt surgery. I've botched a number of DIY projects. I've also done a lot better than expected on others. Being an odd size meaning constantly needing alterations... my biggest problem has been hemming things too short. >o<!

C said...

Utterly FABULOUS. I love this!

Kimi said...

I used to make assymetrical middy shirts out of packs of boy-sized Hanes tees, so I totally feel this shirt. I'm impressed by how evenly you cut the straps and bodice

Tori's face freaks me out too. Not just for how it looks (taut, yet stretchy), but that she felt compelled to do it in the first place. I mean, she's Tori EFFING Amos. Nuff said.

Mommy Moxie said...

I've gotten some great ideas from the Generation T books-one's called Generation T : beyond fashion : 120 new ways to transform a T-shirt and the other is Generation T : 108 ways to transform a T-shirt, both by Megan Nicolay. She has both sewing and non-sewing methods of transforming t-shirts into something super cool (like yours!)

Pam @ over50feeling40 said...

In my life DIY has been Do It Yourself Badly...DIYB...I always get so excited about a project, think I can do it; and then mess it up...I guess that is just not my forte. You look edgy and fun in this outfit!!

The Wh0le Story said...

Love it! And I agree with your Tori analysis...:sigh:

Franca said...

love! I have a couple of band tees I cut into, I should dig them out!

p.s i feel the same re old/new tori

Rachael said...

I love this look! I want to add that in that first picture, the tank you're wearing under it matches so well that I actually thought you had cut teeny little geometric-ish designs in the neckline. I was floored. I'm impressed with how well it came out!

Haute Muslimah said...

I like it! It's so simple and sweet :)

grace said...

That is a perfect drape! Totally makes me want to go get an XL concert tee and take the scissors to it!

Debbi@SheAccessorizesWell said...

You look great in your band tee.
As far as DIY, go to you tube and look for SalinaBear. Her videos on how to cut up tees are really good.
Debbi

Alison at Wardrobe Oxygen said...

Ditto you and the other commenters re: old/new Tori's music and face. Sad.

I have a badass tee of Keith Richards smoking a cigarette and cut it and I just don't like how the neck turned out. Kinda stretchy lameo. Tempted to cut more and make it off the shoulder but fear I will destroy it even more.

Usually I just cut off the edges of the sleeves, the banded neckline and then do a slit in the neck. That is as creative as I get. I love how you did this tee!

WendyB said...

Good DIY!

Unknown said...

I too loved her first few albums and am still a fan of them, but she has changed a lot and I don't really get her music much anymore.

Tiffany said...

I was way into Tori in high school and then just... stopped. I lost interest I guess. But back in the day I couldn't get enough.
This is a different kind of look for you but it's so cute and casual and easy! I like it. Also, you are way better at cutting up t-shirts than I am. I always cut the holes too large.

TrophyBoutique said...

I didn't think this was possible, but I think I like you EVEN MORE now.

Rachel said...

Love this!

And sadly I have to agree with your take on Tori...HUUUUGE Tori fan since Under the Pink but since Scarlet's Walk, it's been downhill. :( 2001 for me was her last good tour. Sad that was 10 years ago!!

Did you see she's coming out with a new album slated for this September? I'm so sad to say I am not excited about it...sigh. :(

Jessie @ Style and Pepper said...

those jeans make your butt/legs look AMAZING! you're such a hottie! :)

congrats on your first sponsor, and LOVE the t-shirt!

XOXOXO

Sarah said...

Traumatised by the news of Tori. She looks SO SCARY! So sad. She was beyond perfect. :-(

On a happier note, Threadbanger has some cool no-sew T-Shirt DIYs on thier old vlog. Check it out! :-) My fave is the cut off the bottom, slit the sides, use excess from bottom to lace up sides look. It can get a great fit that way. :-)

BTW, HI, I'm Sara, and I'm a lurker. But not now, technically. Love your blog, and used to shop Buffalo Exchange in Phoenix all the time. LOVE it!

xoxo
Sara

Niki said...

Tori Amos's face is very scary now. Why did she do that to herself? She never seemed like that kind of girl.

Also, the tee looks awesome. I am way to fearful to cut into my clothing.

Claire M. said...

I love the outfit :)

http://hugeoutletstores.com/

Claire M.

Anonymous said...

loooooove the alterations to the tee