{diy) boy meets girl...mens bowtie belt

I finally got crafty with a vintage bowtie I bought at Camden Market a few months ago. I was sifting through vintage neckties and thinking of what I could make with them when this simple black bowtie popped right out and told me what to do.

Surely you can tie a bow out of anything to make a belt but I love the fullness, weight, and perfection of a mens bowtie. Especially when paired with a pretty ribbon.

I'm really happy with the way that it turned out but for the next round I think I'll try a few modifications: use a more stretch-friendly ribbon (so woven threads don't break) and find a way to make it fully adjustable to wear either on my waist or hips. A girl needs options, right?

Let me know if you make your own or get inspired to create something else with a mens bowtie...there are so many possibilities!

Gold schmold, brass is where its at for me at the moment. It's light weight, neutral, and always gives the impression of having had it forever. I hit the jackpot of brass pendants and pieces from some closeout inventories downtown earlier this year. The dust on the boxes they came in only added to the reassurance from Jose (my fave sales guy) that they were in fact as old as they looked.

What was most exciting was that there were multiples. Prior to purchasing these I had been collecting individual brass pieces at flea markets one at a time and each one completely different from the other. While I'm looking forward to turning those into one-of-a-kind necklaces, I like that I can personally wear these while offering the same style to others who want them for themselves. It's fun to share!

This bowtie beauty is one that I can always count on to be the finishing touch to any outfit. It makes a simple statement but never goes unnoticed...a favorite "moment" was on a flight back from Vegas when a girl exclaimed "I love your necklace! It's like you're all dressed up with a girly bowtie but not really." I was wearing a v-neck white tee, cut off denim shorts, and rainbow sandals...yeah definitely not dressed up but the necklace was apparently enough to make it all a little special.