Trash to Couture: DIY Pearl Jeans
Pearls are back! And they’re not just for your grandma or ladies who lunch at country clubs! The legendary Coco Chanel once said, “A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.” Over the years, pearls also became one of Chanel’s signature accessories/accents. Fast forward to 2017, pearls are back and bigger than ever and being used in a ton of fun new ways. Pearls are popping up in the heels of shoes, on handbags, accenting sunglasses, on leather jackets and even on jeans!
I’ve seen soo many cute pairs of jeans with pearl accents, but I haven’t really felt like I wanted to invest a ton of money into something trendy that you can’t wear every day. So, I decided to find a way to make them myself! I have a ton of pairs of old jeans that I don’t wear, so why not turn a little “trash to couture“!?
How to DIY Jeans
The first thing you need to do is find an old pair of jeans. I used an old pair of Forever 21 Boyfriend Jeans, similar to these. You can literally use any pair, they don’t have to be pre-distressed.
You’ll also need:
- Fabric Glue – I used E600 Craft Glue but you can use any fabric glue.
- A thin Paint Brush
- Half Rounded Pearls – I used an assortment pack for different sizes
How to Cut the Jeans
If you’re using jeans that aren’t already distressed, there are a few ways to add some holes and fraying to your jeans.
First, put them on and get an idea of where you want rips, holes or fraying. Sometimes it helps to look at pre-distressed jeans for ideas.
Then, sandpaper over those areas for an extra worn look.
If you want holes in the knees or anywhere else, cut straight/horizontal slits over the areas you want to distress with scissors. You can use tweezers to pull the threads out around the areas you’ve cut. Then, take the sandpaper to the edges to distress even more.
I like to cut the hem of my jeans off and then cut the front about 1/4 inch shorter for a frayed/raw hem (like these).
Embellish Your Jeans
Now you need to figure out a design for your jeans. I wanted them to look more casual, so I did clusters of varying sized pearls around the rips and frays. You could also create a pattern or space them out equally. I’ve even seen them lining the seams or pockets.
The best place to start is by searching for inspiration online and seeing what other designers are making.
Then, use your paintbrush to add a little glue to the back of the pearl. Make sure to get flat pearls or they won’t stick as well. Arrange your pearls and then let the glue dry before wearing them!
I like to keep some extra pearls in my craft box just in case any fall off!
You can use the same DIY trick to add pearls to jean jackets too!
Leopard Print Shoes: T.U.K. / Leopard Print Dress: Lulus
Looking for some pearl inspo?
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