The YStyle DIY Issue

Do It Yo’self!

We at YStyle heart crafts, so we got the craftiest girls and boys in fashion together for a DIY session. The result? Beauty products like homemade perfume and antiperspirant, as well as fashion-inspired creations. Check out our take on Lana del Rey’s favorite style appendage – the floral crown, Moo eyewear-inspired baroque sunnies, as well as a dress made out of one piece of cloth.

Four DIYers take fashion into their own hands

The artist’s patchwork tote bag by Dex Fernandez

WHAT: A thought bag for your totes

INSPIRED BY: “I started collecting plain tote bags way back in 2005, then I thought about customizing the plain canvases with textile paints or collages. I don’t follow trends. I make my own brand. This tote bag was inspired by Filipino elements and at the same time, a very ‘skwater’ look.”

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 1, It’s only a matter of knowing your running stitch!

TIME: Less than an hour

MATERIALS:

Pins, thread, a needle, tote bag from Muji (about P120) and various patches (P15 to P75) at Divisoria or Quiapo

HOW-TO:

1. Prepare all the materials needed.

2. Lay out the patches according to your design.

3. Pin the arrangement so the patches stay in place while you sew.

4. Cut a single edge of the bag so you can easily stitch the patches one by one.

5. When you finish step 4, stitch back the edge that was cut and you’re done.

Martin Bautista creates a gown with zero sewing

WHAT: A draped gown made from a single bolt of spandex

INSPIRED BY:

Madame Gres

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 2-3, since cutting fabric and draping isn’t exactly dummy-friendly. But if underage children in China can do it, so can you.

TIME: 10 to 15 minutes

MATERIALS:

Old fabric, preferably with stretch, at least 2 to 3 yards (new is also okay), fabric shears (or any kind of cutting tool is okay), tape measure, pins or tailor’s chalk (for marking, needle and thread, optional)

HOW-TO:

1. You will need to create a belt/sash as a waist-cincher for the dress. You may use grosgrain or a satin ribbon, a regular leather as well. But since I wanted to create a seamless look, I’m using the same fabric of the dress for the sash: Create the belt/sash by cutting from the edge of the fabric. Use the measuring tape to get the size (3 inches thick, 50 long) and use the pins/tailor’s chalk to mark. Of course the size depends on how thick or wide you want the belt/sash to be.

2. Now we move on to the actual dress: You will need to create an armhole which is the most important part of the whole process. Fold the fabric in half, cut a circle close to where you created the fold. The diameter of the circle depends on the armhole measurement of the wearer. Eight inches in diameter is usually the standard size if the material is stretchable. Use the pins/tailor’s chalk for marking just to be sure the size of the armhole is even.

3. Unfold the fabric; now you will see two circles, that’s where your arms go in. You may wear from the front or back depending on what style you want to achieve.

4. Play, drape, pleat using the excess fabric around your body. You may create knots and straps if you want. Now is the time you to be creative and channel your inner Madame Gres just like how she did it back in the day. Better if you do this in front of the mirror so you can see and explore which looks good and flattering on you.

5. For the final touch, tie the sash/belt around the waist if you want an hour glass silhouette or around the hips if you want a slouchy/blouson effect. Stylize your look by adding brooches, fancy pins, chains, etc. if you want to save time from hand-sewing.

Raya Mananquil finds a way to put flowers on her head

WHAT: Floral crown

INSPIRED BY: Lana Del Rey

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 1. If you know how to use a glue gun, it’s smooth sailing. If not, invest in some cement glue.

TIME: 20 minutes

MATERIALS:

5 medium-sized faux flowers (P300 each at Designer Blooms, or you can get a bouquet of 10 at department stores or Divisoria for P250), 1 loose fitting headband, 1/8 yard of felt fabric, glue gun, 2 meters of 1/2-inch ribbon, scissors

HOW-TO:

1. If your flowers are still attached to the stem, pluck them out and cut out any wires.

2. Cut out five two-inch diameter circles of felt fabric. 

3. Position your flowers how you would like them to look on the headband. Once you have a rough placement, start from the center and glue the first flower in place using the felt fabric circle as a backing to secure it between the headband.  

4. Cut the 2-meter ribbon in half, then wrap each end of the headband and secure it with glue.

5. Tie the other ends into a bow, and adjust it to the size of your head.

Michelline Syjuco’s take on the new baroque shades

WHAT: DIY Embellished Spectacles

INSPIRED BY: D&G Eyewear

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 1, if you find a decorative coaster. 3, if you choose to cut out a pattern yourself.

TIME: 2 hours

MATERIALS:

Foam glass coaster from Saizen (P88), generic wire frame glasses (P88), Pylox spray paint (P150), glue (P45), scissors

HOW-TO:

1. Cut out a pattern that you like from the foam coaster.

2. Test it around the frame of your glasses.

3. Spray paint with Pylox (family white)

4. Use Mighty Bond to stick the pattern around the frame of the glasses.

Photos by Joseph Pascual

Videos by Samantha Lee

Makeup by Angelique Dinglasan and Sharon S. Malig for Shu Uemura

Hair by  Apriel Seguin,  Francisco Chavez and Paulo Antonio Lopez for Laneige

Nails by Myrna A. Recamara for Bench Fix

Shot at the Poliform at 219 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air 2, Makati

Special thanks to Anna Go-Chia

YStyle DIY Beauty: Making your bathroom essentials from scratch

Model Hye Won Jang mixes up a homemade spray deodorant

WHAT: An all-natural body deodorizer — not an antiperspirant! Lemongrass essential oil and lemongrass hydrosol are naturally antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial — all great properties to kill off odor-causing germs without toxic chemicals and without interfering with your body’s natural chemistry. Calamansi will facilitate a more even skin tone. This can be used as deodorant for both underarms and feet.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 2, only because purchasing hydrosol can be a pain.

MATERIALS:

Lemongrass hydrosol, P200 for 500 ml, available at Better Options, G/F Creekside building, Amorsolo st., Makati; vodka, P167 for 700ml, available at supermarkets and convenience stores; glass dropper, P10, Mercury Drug; 70ml empty glass bottle, approx. P50, available at Selrick Marketing, mobile nos. 0917-4839145

TIME: Five to 10 minutes

HOW-TO:

1. If using fresh calamansi, strain the fruit to get the pulp and seeds out. Make sure to only get the juice.

2. When measuring, make sure to use glass measuring cups or beakers because the lemongrass hydrosol and lemongrass essential oil will erode the plastic. Also, it’s best to use a glass dropper when adding your lemongrass essential oil.

3. Combine 50ml of lemongrass hydrosol and either five cups of calamansi juice or five drops of lemongrass essential oil in a hard acrylic or glass spray bottle. Do not use soft plastic bottles for storing, since lemongrass hydrosol and lemongrass essential oil will erode the container.

5. Shake well and add 1mL of vodka to preserve.

TO USE:

1. Shake the spray bottle well before each use.

2. Keep this in the refrigerator for longer shelf life.

3. If using calamansi juice, use within two weeks. If using lemongrass essential oil, it will keep for up to three months in the fridge.

Photos by Joseph Pascual

Makeup by Angelique Dinglasan and Sharon Malig for Shu Uemura

Hair by Apriel Seguin, Francisco Chavez and Paulo Antonio Lopez

Nails by Myrna A. Recamara for Bench Fix

Shot at Poliform at 219 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air 2, Makati

Special thanks to Neva Talladen of Leyende

Yummy milk tea face scrub whipped up by model Jessica Yang

WHAT: An all-natural facial scrub that smells good enough to eat!

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 1

TIME:  Five to 10 minutes

MATERIALS: Organic powdered Meyenberg Goat Milk, P335 for a 4oz. sachet, available in sachets at Healthy Options; brown sugar, P12 for 1/4 kg, available at supermarkets; baking soda (as an alternative to brown sugar), P35.25 for 500 grams, available at supermarkets; green tea, P84.25 for one box; moringa tea (as an alternative to green tea), P168 for 20 bags; virgin coconut oil, P199,  available at supermarkets and health stores.

HOW-TO:

1. In a glass bowl combine the 10g of powdered goat milk, 1g virgin coconut oil and a small amount of tea water to make a paste.

2. Slowly add 5g brown sugar or baking soda into the mix.

3. Add a little bit of tea water if the paste isn’t thick enough. As an alternate to tea bags, you can try boiling hibiscus (gumamela), ylang-ylang or fresh rosemary sprigs in water for 10 minutes and strain.

TO USE:

1. Wet face with lukewarm water and scrub your face and neck gently with the milk tea scrub paste you just made.

2. Make sure to scrub around your nose thoroughly but gently. Lactic acid is great for gentle but effective exfoliation.

3. Don’t leave it on too long — rinse within five minutes of using the mask. Because of the ingredients, it’s better to make this face scrub on a per-need basis.

Refreshing on-the-go cologne by model Grendel Alvarado

WHAT: A customizable body spray for the day that allows you to adjust the level scent you want in a fragrance!

Level of difficulty: 1

TIME: Five to 10 minutes

MATERIALS: Vodka, P167 for 700ml, available at supermarkets and convenience stores; distilled water, P25.75 for 1,000ml, available at supermarkets and convenience stores; lemongrass essential oil, P500 for 30ml, available at Better Options; peppermint essential oil, P559 15ml, available at Healthy Options; glass dropper, P10, Mercury Drug; 35ml empty glass bottle, approx. P50, available from Selrick Marketing

HOW-TO:

1. Combine 5ml of vodka, 20ml of distilled water, five drops of lemongrass essential oil and five of peppermint essential oil in a glass bottle and shake very well. Do not use a plastic bottle because the lemongrass hydrosol and lemongrass essential oil will erode the plastic.

2. For adding the peppermint and lemongrass essential oils, it’s best to use a glass dropper.

TO USE:

1. Spray as desired. May be used as an aftershave as well.

2. Use within three months. Store inside fridge and shake well before each usage.