If you read the recent post about my Wanted List, you may remember the Isabel Marant “Lecce” belt that I have been coveting for a few months. By the time I talked myself into maybe pulling the trigger on buying it – gasp! – at full retail price, it was long sold out. Probably for the better; after taxes, shipping and customs, it would have set me back over $200CAD.

But, darn, I still wanted it. Then someone on Instagram suggested that I might try to DIY it, and a light bulb went off. Of course! I am not particularly crafty, but on closer look, the project didn’t appear too daunting. The Marant belt has no hardware, which is what makes it so cool looking; the only work I would have to do would be cutting it down to size (the ends are rounded points) and making a slit for one end to loop through the other.

The hardest part was finding a suitable starting point. There is never a shortage of belts at the thrift store, but somehow, at first, I couldn’t seem to find precisely what I needed: an extra-long, real leather men’s belt. I ended up getting a cheapie pleather version to use as a “trial” run. It turned out to be too short, but it helped me get the general mechanics down. Eventually, I lucked into finding a size 42 Eddie Bauer belt made of nice, thick leather.

I snipped off both ends to get rid of the buckle and the original belt holes, then I cut again to create the new pointed ends. I tied the belt around my waist to figure out where to put the new slit/hole, and marked the length (based on the width of the belt). Up to this point, I has used scissors – professional leather craftspeople would be horrified, I’m sure – but I got my husband to cut the actual hole because I’m a bit squeamish about using the Exacto knife.

And that was that. My belt was ready.

I love the result, and I especially love that it cost less than $10. I am planning to DIY the same belt in cognac, as soon as I can find the right material.

If anyone is interested in trying a similar project, here are my three lessons learned from doing this.

One, the size 42 men’s belt was a decent length for me, though I might try to find something even longer for my second try. For reference, my waist is about 27 inches but I’m not a huge fan of super-constrictive belts, so I like having a bit of slack. After cutting off the buckle and about 6 extra inches off the original belt, the length was sufficient to tie a “knot” but I have to cinch the belt pretty tight to do so.

Two, I left a bit too much “tail” at the other end and should have moved the slit/hole about an inch or two out. (That would have also helped with the first issue.)

Three, and this is something I still need to do, it’s important to make the slit a tiny bit longer than the width of the belt, in order to be able to slide the belt through the slit easily. My husband also suggested punching in small holes at each end of the slit, in order to stop the leather from cracking (and the slit widening) from use.

Corporate Goth, Redux

As soon as I spotted this Sarah Pacini tunic thing at the thrifts, I knew I had to have it. It’s weird and unique, and perfect for layering. Outside-the-box layering is one of my obsessions du jour. Wearing head-to-toe black is another. Architectural angles and lines keep things interesting, as does playing with different textures. A piece like this tunic has so much potential, in both regards. And black is the safest colour, when you’re taking risks.

This Smythe blazer wasn’t a favourite until recently, when I started to explore some new silhouettes. I don’t like its sharp shoulders and hyper-tailored lines paired with slim fitting pieces – pencil skirts and cigarette pants – but I think they look great juxtaposed with softer, more fluid pieces. The other thing I’ve come to learn about Smythe is that the shoulder fit is the most important; if I wear a size too large, even if the blazer as a whole looks fine, it makes me look like a linebacker. As it is, a strong shoulder is not an everyday lewk for me, but it does do wonders when I’m trying to project some “boss b*tch” vibes.

Cozy Green

I know most people aren’t crazy about the current trend of loose, slouchy sack-like dresses, but I for one am HERE FOR IT. A sack dress might not seem particularly appealing at first glance, but a well-cut one comes alive in motion. I tried to capture that in photos, but it’s not easy. Oh well, life is more than just Instagram, right?

Eileen Fisher doesn’t own the monopoly on sack dresses, but they know how to turn them out. This one is made out of some kind of boiled fine wool, and feels a bit like fancy terry cloth; perfect for a day when you just want to wear pyjamas, but also have to get out of bed. Throw on a cape-like sweater and some sparkly jewelry, and no one is any the wiser.

Fancy Friday

I still can’t get over the fact that I can casually throw on a YSL blazer whenever I feel like it, like it’s no big deal. I’m living my best thrifter’s life, you guys. The rest of the outfit is as boring as it gets, but those sleeves have enough personality for a whole month of Fridays. So much so that it’s probably best paired off with the boringest bores of the closet.

Elevated Casual

Bonus weekend outfit. That olive AllSaints sweater is a men’s (99% sure of it) but it’s the warmest knit I own, so it was perfect choice for going parka-less on one of our cold-but-not-yet-Arctic days. It’s also a good colour match (and a study in contrast) for my old J. Crew Lady Day coat. To add to the mix, the Madewell jeans bring their own flair with those raw hems. Okay, so maybe this outfit is a bit all over the place, but it still, somehow, comes together nicely.

Vintage Revival

This is a vintage Escada dress I picked up a couple of years ago and proceeded to set aside for a “special occasion” which never came. I was recently digging through my archive closet and thought, forget that noise, I’m wearing this now! To the office, even! On a Monday, no less! And, really, why not? This dress is fabulous – the details and workmanship are exquisite – and deserves to be worn. And it fits like a dream: flattering without being constrictive in the least. I am also digging midi skirts and dresses at the moment, so all in all, it was a no brainer. I received a ton of compliments on it which, while not a requirement for me to feel good about an outfit, is (let’s be honest) always nice.

Business Not So Casual

I almost never go to court these days, so I had to think a little bit about this outfit when the occasion arose unexpectedly. While my presence in the courtroom was purely of the spectator kind, I still felt the need to up the formality of my usual work attire a bit. Instead of a loose, linen jacket, I wore something a bit more structured; instead of vintage high-waisted velvet pants, trousers of a more, ahem, sedate nature. I added a bit of “flair” with the brooches because … well, “a little flair” is My Thing. Speaking of brooches, these actually started off as two ends of one of those cardigan chain thingies. You know, the thingie that holds a cardigan closed when there are no buttons. A friend gifted it to me, and while I loved the stars (so Deco!), I don’t wear a lot of cardigans. So I took the chain off, which was super easy, and hey presto: brooches.

Office Goth

Continuing the Dark Theme for Halloween week, this outfit is one I have been dying to wear for a while. Ever since I bought this Sarah Pacini leather vest, actually. I’m going through a late-onset goth period at the moment – only, oh, 20 years later than most – and this type of outfit speaks to my soul. And, also, is a fairly accurate barometer of my mood, which has been perma-set to “grumpy” for a while. It’s the weather, the lack of sleep, the news, the lack of a much needed mental break that won’t be coming until the Christmas holidays, maybe.

Anyway, this morning is a brand new day and a fresh start in more ways than one, so here’s a really cheerful outfit to end of a more positive note: