Results may vary

Posted January 21st, 2011 by Brock Cumpston No Comments »

Photo: McKenzie James Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses

The latest trend in DIY fashion: have someone else do it for you

“Make it your own,” those obliging style advice-givers always say. Jessica Stam, supermodel, said it on the new Marilyn Denis Show last week. “That’s just passing the buck,” fashion writer Kevin Naulls tweeted in response. Indeed. Plus, I’m pretty sure you “make it your own” when you step up to the cash and pay.

Now, making it your own before you pay is the thing. From local designers like Ashley Rowe, with her hand-splattered wears, to personalized luggage from Prada and Louis Vuitton, fashion is cottoning on to the blogosphere’s mania for all things bedroom-made. It’s “do it yourself,” but, like, not.

My great friend Sarah Marantz has a t-shirt with a faded, road-trippy photo on it. It looks 30 years old. Also, it’s riddled with what appear to be bullet holes. Marantz ordered it custom from a young ex-model and photographer, Dylan Forsberg, in New York. She paid $200. You’re thinking, “That’s stupid. She could have done it herself for $20.” That’s not the point. She wouldn’t have.

And though sometimes you spend more for the illusion of DIY, often you pay less. Etsy, the global “handmade marketplace,” has a message board where you can post a public request for something (anything). A seamstress will make your dream dress come true, or a jeweller, your ring. You can also place special orders directly with your favourite artisan.

Nathalie Atkinson, style editor at the National Post, does this all the time. Her addiction is rococo jewellery made from materials her grandmother left her. Atkinson’s dealer (her “downfall,” she calls her) is Etsy’s Raquel Castillo. “It’s much more fun to accept the ‘I love your necklace’ compliment with a personal backstory, and [it’s] more interesting than everyone looking at your neck and knowing you’re the sucker who paid $1,300 for plastic Lanvin.” She has never paid more than $300 for her unique—for once, the word applies—statement pieces.

Here, ordered by degree of difficulty, are stylish things to get custom or personalized, some locally, many online. Let your fingers do the handiwork.

Easy as A-B-C
This month, Prada begins proffering monogrammed luggage: bags, trolleys, backpacks and shoppers in camouflage or black leather ready to be patched with your initials. Or any initials, really. H.A.M., anyone? The service will be available on Prada.com now, and in Toronto (131 Bloor St. W., 416-513-0400) shortly thereafter.

Totes Doable
You know those Build-a-Bear workshops they have in huge-ass suburban malls? Uh, me neither. But the cool-kid version of that is OpeningCeremony.com’s O.C. Workshop, in which every season brings a new something to “make” and buy. Right now, users can create a quirksome canvas tote with one of three fabrics for the bag itself, another for the pocket and handle, and three of five odd-but-cute charms (whistles, pill containers, etc). The price of feeing this crafty? US$50, plus shipping and shit.

In the Bag
If you’re into customization but intimidated, start simple. Handbag handmakers Klutch are based in Toronto and sell at Shopgirls in Parkdale (1342 Queen St. W.), but they also do custom orders online through Etsy.com. The simple clutch shape remains, while colours and materials vary as wildly as you can dream.

Where it’s Splat
Anything you can do, Ashley Rowe can do better. Rowe sells five easy pieces—a long-sleeved, bodycon dress or a high-waisted, wide-legged trouser, for example—that can be customized with her “signature” splatter, graffiti or tie-dye effects—at no extra cost. All are done by Rowe’s hand, and no two are quite alike. Inquire at splat@ashleyrowe.com.

Shoe it Yourself
What happens at Shoes of Prey, the Australian shoes-to-order biz, would give any real bespoke cobbler a fatal heart attack. (I say “fatal” because they’re all like 80 years old, so sshhh.) Basically, you mix-and-match the elements of a shoe—colours, materials, shapes, adornments—to make your very own. Prices range from $185 for ballet flats to $335 for booties, with ve styles in between. Toes can be switched from bowed to peeped to pointy. You can pick ribbons or ruffles, add ankle straps and heighten the heels (some only to a max of three inches, which is, like, what? Suri Cruise wears them higher). Clickity-click: ShoesOfPrey.com.

The Eyes Have It
You’ve got vision—just not the literal kind. Exercise your creative perspicuity with Oliver Goldsmith’s create-your-own sunglasses (from $695), available chez Josephson’s Opticians (60 Bloor St. W. and two other locations). Pick from among 12 “vintage classic shapes,” 24 hues and styles of acetate arms, 18 lenses and nine bridge options, so they fit you as well as they suit you.

Similar Posts:

Share

Posted in Vogue Style

Leave a Reply