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Add a dash of dazzle with D.I.Y. style

You don’t have to spend a fortune to find glamorous fashions! “Today” style contributor Bobbie Thomas gets crafty with your winter wardrobe.
/ Source: TODAY

Add some sparkle to the holiday season! In just a few easy steps, you can take your look from simple to snazzy with a little help from “Today” style contributor Bobbie Thomas. The co-host of “Fashion Police” on the Style Network shares some at-home tips for sprucing up your style.

Make it metallic
We’re blinded by the light this season, as metallic mania manifests on the runway and moves into the malls! Make your casual clothing come to life with the help of shiny accents or all-over glitz. Whatever you’re wearing, glam it up with gold or glimmer in silver, copper or platinum! Transform timeless pieces like a white button-down, or save your summer favorites by adding shimmer and sheen. Just remember — as long as it sparkles, you’ll shine like a star!

D.I.Y. directions:Add a little sparkle with Tulip’s one-step Fabric Glitter Spray ($4-7; Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts) or glisten with glamour through a two-step foiling process. Just apply glue and let dry tacky to the touch, then press and peel to reveal your newly foiled frock! Check out JonesTones.com for a rainbow of colors, and all of the tips and tools you need to get started.

Embellished bags Bring on the bling! The clutch has come to be an essential element in evening fashions. See to it that yours stands out in a crowd by adding embellishment to simple styles. When it comes to taking shape, don’t pass anything by! Freebie bags, tattered purses, camera cases, dollar-store finds or even recipe boxes can all be revived. A personal fave are candy tins, such as holiday-size “Big Tins” from Altoids (available at Target). Jewels, gems, lace and buttons will brighten up your bag and prepare you for a night of partying. And don’t be afraid to use these accents to convert standard shoes into fancy footwear! But before you go ahead and glue, remember not all glues are created equal. Check with your craft-store expert to find a sticky substance that works well with your surface material.

D.I.Y. directions: To turn your clutch into something to covet, here are a few ideas to inspire. Cover a plastic or patent pouch with lace, paint a candy tin and bejewel, wrap a recipe box with beaded fabric, or add trinkets, charms and thrift store jewelry to a simple clutch. Michaels.com offers over a hundred different glues and decoupage coats to help you affix your accents like a pro.

No sew scarves
Nix the needle and skip the sewing machine! Stay warm this winter with scarves that are yarn free. Designer collections trimmed in fur have flooded fashion editorials, but you can get this look without purchasing a new piece of clothing. Faux-fur scarves look luxe and are basically fool-proof to prepare since all the fuzz hides any handmade mistakes. When selecting your pattern, remember neutral tones are the most realistic, but colorful choices can be fashionable and fun. Meanwhile, fleece appears fabulously finished when fringed edges are tied together to create a bow-like look. The fabric is extremely easy to work with and most importantly, won’t fray.

D.I.Y. directions: To make a faux fur scarf, start by selecting a quarter yard of fur from your local fabric store (approx. $10-40). Flip fur over and apply spray adhesive to the lining. Fold edges in so they meet in the middle and stick together. Add a brooch for an instant hint of glamour! 

To make a fleece scarf, start with half a yard of fleece from your local fabric store (approx. $3-8). Cut two 10-inch wide pieces and double layer. Then cut out the corners, and fringe edges of fleece intro strips approximately 3-inches long by 3/4-inch wide. Last, tie the strips into double bows to secure layers together.

Inspired accentsWish you could capture the colors of autumn and make the tree’s transformation last more than just a moment? Use fall’s foliage to create fashionable jewelry that you can enjoy year-round. Leaf earrings and lariats look gorgeous and are easy to make. Painted in shades of platinum, silver or gold, leaves from your lawn (or the silk flower department!) can become trinkets to treasure.

D.I.Y. directions: Faux leaves (silk, plastic or fabric) work best, as natural leaves must be completely dried and tend to be more delicate. Pierce a hole in the leaf and paint if desired. If needed, let dry, then apply a fabric stiffener (approx. $5, Aleene’s) or coat with epoxy for a shiny and durable laquered look ($3, Lowes.com). Loop either fishhook earring backings through the hole (30 pairs for about $3), or attach with jump rings to ribbons or jewelry you already own for a new fall twist.

And last but not least, jazz up your jewelry drawer with gem-encrusted hair accessories. Clip-on earrings can come out from hiding, ladies! While these dramatic dazzlers were once considered passé, the clip-on earring truly comes to life when applied to a hair elastic or bobbie pin. Inexpensive earrings add evening appeal and can transform your hairstyle from laid-back pony-tail to pretty up-do. You can also use clip-ons to decorate shoes or even slip them through a button hole as cufflinks.

D.I.Y. directions: Wrap elastic around your hair until desired style is achieved. Apply clip-on earring to rubber band/bobbie pin.