DIY: Jeans to Jorts Transformation

What's better than a pair of 1990's "Mom Jeans" from the local thrift store? A pair that you can transform into the ever-popular destroyed jort!   

We've been wanting to try the DIY "destroyed jean short" for a while now, so when we found the perfect pair of Calvin Kleins at the store, we knew it was time. 

We followed a few different tutorials and combined them below...

1. Try on your jeans and mark with a pencil how long you want them. (Make sure to cut under the line initially, you can always chop more off.)   

2. Cut one leg, then fold the jeans over and cut the same length off the other leg.    

 3. Try your jeans back on to make sure this is the length you want them to be. We ended up cutting quite a bit more length off. 

 4. Turn the shorts inside out and look closely at how the blue and white lines appear. The blue strands run up and down the shorts, while the white strands run horizontally. 

 5. Decide where you would like your "destroyed" areas, then cut short horizontal lines about 1 cm apart from eachother. (After you make the small initial cuts, you can lengthen them to make the "destroyed" section larger.)

 6. The ends of the blue strands should be slightly sticking out of each line you cut. Take a pair of tweezers and pull on one of the blue strand ends until it comes out. (The first few strands are the hardest to get ahold of. It gets easier, we promise!)

7. Warning: this will make a mess! Pull the blue strands out of each row until all you have are white horizontal strands between the lines you previously cut. 

8. Turn your shorts right-side-out and make any additional "destroyed" areas you want. 

9. Lastly, wash and dry them with the rest of your laundry. They will come out destroyed...just like you wanted! 

A Pirate's Life for Us

Tampa awaits its yearly invasion of pirates, which is marked by the Gasparilla parade this coming weekend. We had no problem coming up with our top three picks for the event, as this year's trends couldn't have been more supportive. Follow these three tips to create your own booty-deserving look.

1. Stick to a color scheme of red, black and white.

2. Add interest through details like studs, jewels, and of course, skulls and bones.

3. Keep it edgy with leather fabrics and a pair of statement boots.

Pick of the Week: Black on Black

It's amazing what a difference mixing textures and fabrics can make to an outfit. We found this dress at a local consignment shop and fell in love with its patterned full skirt. But we had a problem...the dress was sleeveless and our winters are brutal. OK, so we're exaggerating. Here in Florida you have to change the seasons yourself by changing your clothes. Our solution was to layer this black cowl neck sweater over the dress and we were pretty impressed with the results. Goodbye boring black! 

We thought the black on black combo looked rich and sophisticated on its own, but we couldn't help but add a pop of color! 

Spring Transition

Incorporating pastels into your wardrobe is the perfect way to update your favorite fall pieces, like a leather skirt or brocade pant, for spring.

Casual Sparkle

There's no need for a cocktail party to get all dolled up! Get more use out of your favorite sequin skirt by pairing it with a casual chambray button down. Throw on some bold jewelry, heels and a clutch to complete your look and head out on the town. 

Winter Staple

There's something especially sophisticated about a woman wearing fur. Faux or not, any item that has the ability to keep us cozy without sacrificing style is a luxury. Here, we show you how owning just one fur staple piece can enhance your wardrobe in countless ways.

1. A chambray shirt and maxi skirt always make a great bohemian pairing. Try amping up the chic factor by throwing a fur vest into the mix.

2. Who says leggings are just for running errands on the weekends? Mix them with a woven blouse, fur vest and suede booties for a high class feel.

3. We're huge fans of stark contrasts. The soft and feminine fur looks perfect against a more rugged fabric, like leather. Add a bold color shoe and you're ready to set the night on fire.

Pick of the Week: Sweater Savvy

We've been looking for that perfect slouchy sweater for a while now and finally found it this weekend at Zara! The stud and crochet detail add a special feminine touch to an otherwise boyish body. 

We paired it with these faux leather shorts (also from Zara), tights, and our favorite colored booties. We love how the deep wine hue brings in a richness that completes the look.