Friday, July 13, 2012

Rip 'Em Up- High waisted cut off shorts

As a girl who has gone through a pretty serious "emo" phase in her pre-teens, I feel confident in saying that I have a little rebel in me. What Fashionista doesn't? Being prim and proper all the time is just no fun. From the acid washed tappered jeans that permeated the 80s rock scene to Britney Spears' lower than low hip huggers, ripped denim is something that will never go out of style. It represents the ironic Oh-I-so-do-not-care-but-I-still-want-everyone-to-look-at-me feeling that we all embody from time to time. 

 In the spirit of ubiquitous summer music festivals I figured, "Why not to an easy DIY for cut off shorts?" My inspiration comes from the king and queen of destroyed ensembles, our favorite disheveled couple, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.

 
 Known for their---er... alternative habits, these two lovebirds became a symbol for fashion. In rebellion to the yuppie-mall scene created by the Reagan economic boom of the 80s, Kurt and Court helped create a catalyst for social change through their music, clothing, and attitude.



So, my inspiration begins with all things grunge. I'm referring to of course destroyed, high-waisted, and 100% cut off denim. Don't use anything with stretch unless you want to work for hours. 




You Will Need: Scissors, sandpaper and denim pants.I have already cut off my chosen Goodwill mom jeans and frayed them in the washer here. 

Pro-tip: cut off the shorts about 2 inches longer in the back than in the front. High-waisted shorts love to ride up and this prevents unwanted cheek reveal. 



1. Take the scissors and run them back and forth and side to side in a 2" x 2" area on the front of the denim. This will loosen and make little cuts in the fabric so the sanding will be easier. 


2. Next, use the sandpaper rubbing quickly back and forth to remove the layer of top denim. Tip: fold the sandpaper over into a square so it is more handheld. 


The finished product here takes about an hour to do but looks great!

 



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