DIY Friday: Go “Glam” for the Oscars!

Armani. John Galliano. Monique Lhuillier. Great designers all – but can their hot haute couture REALLY compare to the understated hilarity of a tuxedo t-shirt?  The beauty of a humongous hair bow? Cat-eye makeup and dirty sweats? The answer is no way!   

This Sunday, while the world’s A-list actors and actresses strut down the red carpet of the Academy Awards in beautiful gowns and impeccably-cut tuxedos, you can display your own high-concept fashions without even leaving the house (bathing is even optional). Who needs Hugo Boss? No YOU can be the boss of your couch with these DIY accessories and ideas:

* The Tuxedo Shirt: The mother of all ironic t-shirts, the tuxedo tee is easier to make than ever.  Head to your nearest craft store and pick up iron-on transfer paper -- which now (handily!) can be run through any printer.  Print out this downloadable pattern from Jessica Jones Design, grab a plain white t-shirt, iron it on and voila!  Instant awesomeness.

* The More is More Headband: Last week, we showed you how to create rosettes for a t-shirt.  Now we’re going to do you one better.  Make an enormous rosette – at least five inches in diameter – and glue gun it onto a drugstore headband.  Think something Lady Gaga would appreciate.  Then go just slightly bigger and you’re there.  If you’re not the headband type, consider attaching the rosette to bobby pins (just use needle and thread) or gluing them onto wide bangles – you’ll get the same effect.

* Mega Makeup: If you’re like us, you have tons of cosmetics but rarely put it to good use unless you've got a hot date.  Well celebrities shouldn’t have all the fun! Get a little silly and bring out your inner makeup artist, grab a few girlfriends, and put those brushes and color palettes to work.  Recreate famous looks of years past (like Natalie Portman’s subtle purple-shadowed look) or try something you’ve always wanted to (like Angelina Jolie’s iconic cat-eye. A good tutorial can be found here.)  It’s amazing how much more glamorous one feels with just a little brush stroke here and there. Not to mention how funny it will be to look around the room at everyone’s made up faces while they lounge in jeans or pajama pants.


Whether watching the Oscars with one friend or several , these simple ideas make the viewing experience a little more exciting for those of us not receiving a statuette or thanking the Academy.  Or maybe you have another awards show tradition (drinking game anyone?). Let us know!

Find more DIY ideas at yaydiy.com!

* Photo Credit: Image provided by How About Orange.