DIY DISTRESSED DENIM CUT OFF SHORTS

18th November 2011

Summer or winter, these shorts are a staple in my wardrobe – worn with bare legs on the beach during the sweltering months or with spotted sheer tights and ankle boots as the weather cools down. In my experience this style will take you from day to night and just about everywhere else. Anywhere worth going that is.

 

You Need:
- A pair of old denim shorts or jeans
- Scissors
- A stanley knife and cutting board
- A washing machine
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How to:
1. Put the shorts/jeans on and mark how short you want to cut them.
2. Take the shorts off and cut them from the outside seam inwards – making sure to leave a few inches of fabric inside the leg at the crutch. You essentially want them to be longer at the crutch than on the side of the leg.  (Apologies for my use of the word ‘crutch’ – it’s horrible right?- but there was really no way around it).
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3. Put the shorts on and check the length and style – you may want to cut a bit more off or alter them slightly. Do this patiently because there’s nothing worse than cutting too much and rendering them unwearable.
4. Once you have the length you want, get out your cutting board.
5. With the front of the shorts flat on the cutting board, use the stanley knife to make a series of horizontal slits about an inch apart. Make sure you move the pocket out of the way to do this.
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6. Repeat on the other side.
7. Put the shorts into the washing machine on a normal wash. This should be enough movement to remove a lot of the blue threads between the slits in the front so that you have just the white threads and some gaps showing through. The hem should also have loosened up.
8. Let the shorts dry and then check if you like the style – if you want more cut outs in the front repeat the cutting and washing steps until you are happy.
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And voila! Your perfect distressed denim cut offs are ready. I told you it was simple didn’t I? With summer around the corner they are sure to be a staple in your wardrobe. Pair them with ankle boots and a light silk blazer for a night out, or a neon bikini, jersey singlet and floppy hat for a day on the beach.
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Happy Friday! Have you got any crafty projects planned for this weekend?
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