DIY: White Collar Crimes

Next up in my series of so-easy-a-caveman-can-do-it DIY projects, I bring you the shirt collar necklace, shamelessly pilfered from Tiburrr.

What you’ll need:

• scissors
• a collared shirt large enough for you to comfortably close its top button
• a seam ripper & needle and thread (if your shirt has a button-down collar)

Carefully cut the collar free, just below the seam that connects it to the rest of the shirt.

If yours is a button-down collar, remove the little corner buttons with a seam ripper and then sew them over their buttonholes—or wherever else on the collar you like.

Trim off any fraying threads along the collar’s bottom edge, put it on, and be instantly more dapper.

If you feel the need for a to go with, by all means.

Street Style: Southwest Chic @ IndieMart

Natalie, 6’0”

Laura, 5’10.5”

…and a little hanger-on.

Event: IndieMart, Potrero Hill

I’m all about this rash of DIY neighborhood crafts fairs, and IndieMart is among the best. I’ve said it before—seeing others making things not only helps me appreciate the breadth of creativity, it lets me meet and spotlight makers doing seriously clever things.

Like Tiburrr with her collar necklaces, tie turbans, and bowtie hair pins. I may or may not be shamelessly ripping one of these off for an upcoming project…

And Veronika of Recherche with the most badass use for your spare American flag:

Choose-your-own terrarium adventures are also turning up everywhere. Pick your plants, select your stones, add soil, and voila! Build it in the coffee pot, vase, or booze bottle of your dreams (or basement).

Not to mention the other uses you could put those bottles to…

Pour one out for the creators.

Fashion: The Cashmere Mafia

It all started when my co-worker noticed a hole in the elbow of his blue cashmere sweater. I love cashmere (who doesn’t?), and it got me thinking about where he might find a replacement at a decent price if it couldn’t be repaired.

His pull-over is from Costco, but they aren’t offering that style again this season: a simple, navy Crew neck in 100% cashmere. I found myself Googling madly, and as I fell down the rabbit hole I realized that markups on high-end clothing are, if anything, even worse for men than they are for women.

Macy’s: $195

J Crew: $225 for their “special” blend

Burberry Brit: $350 for the sweater + a dose of pretentious ad copy

Margiela via Neiman Marcus: $995 for a designer name and leather elbow patches to prevent those pesky holes

Needless to say, my fellow editor won’t be throwing a grand at a new jumper, but I also think $200, even for luxe fabric, is a lot to spend. I realize that retail markups are essential to cover labor, marketing, design, and other costs for clothing makers, but from the perspective of a consumer looking for a relatively basic item, an average price of $440 for a sweater sounds obscene.

A lot of guys (the ones in my life included) don’t like buying second-hand or waiting and searching for deals on new items. Fear not! Ebay, Craigslist, BlueFly, and the local Thrift Town may just save you from the menswear mob.