• Dress: "Sava Silk Halter Dress" by Floreat from Anthropologie
• Bag: "High Tide Vegan Leather Tote" by Kestrel from Anthropologie (Sold out at Anthropologie; Same bag found here on Kestrel's site)
• Rings: "Angry Bitch Double Ring, Red Lipstick" by Shit Happens from Ryze
• Shoes: "Farylrobin Fela Heels" by Faryl Rob from Anthropologie (Sold out; similar heels found on Anthropologie below)
• Cayo Heels by Miss Albright from Anthropologie
• Effaby Heels by Naguisa from Anthropologie

Clare V. Dotty Pouch

Ipsy Bag

Materials

 Materials:

• Pouch/Clutch
• Paint (Black & White) 
• Paint Brush
• Pen/Pencil
• Circle Stencil (or use a lipstick cap like me, as a hack if you don't want to buy a stencil)
• Optional: Skinny Graphic Scarf

Step 1

Use your pen/pencil to outline your stencil in a polka dot style pattern across all the bag. If you're a stickler for exactness, get a ruler and measure it out. If you're like me, just eyeball it and believe in yourself! ;) Next stencil the secondary circle to the lower, right adjacent. Plan out how many rows fit well on your bag-depending on its size and the size of your stencil/lipstick top. I liked 3x6 for mine.

Note: I stenciled each row with both circles before moving on to the next. If I did it again I would have drawn the primary or "white" circles first in a polka dot pattern, then drawn the secondary or "black" circles to fill it in. It would have been easier to get it precise, in my opinion.

Step 2

Start painting the black semi-circles. If your bag is textured you may need more than one layer of paint to get into the grooves.

Step 3

Let the black paint dry and clean up the edges and any stray pen marks.

Step 4

Paint the first layer for the white circles. Go with a thin first layer, in case it picks up any of your pen/pencil pigment. You can cover that up easily with the second layer.

Step 5

Final Results

Now Step 5 could have been the final look. However, I wanted to make it my own and have a clutch handle. So I added a graphic, skinny black and white striped scarf with a bow to the zipper. To me, this really "pops" and feeds my inner girly-girl. You can choose to add a leather strap or a forgo a bow if you'd rather go minimal maiden than graphic girly.

Total Cost: Free! (I just used what I already had on hand).

If you don't have the paint supplies and bag you could probably still do the total project for under ~$20.

Have you ever tried a "hack" before? Did it come out as you expected (or was it a hilarious disaster)? 

Queen Street, Charleston, SC

Summer Piece(s): Colorful Skirt 

Transition Piece(s): Body Suit + Vest or Coat: 

Summer Piece(s): Vibrant Swing Dress

Transition Piece(s): Pull Over Sweater

Summer Piece(s): Saturated Light Tops + Floral Pants (or Jumpsuit)

Transition Piece(s): Vest / Jacket or Sweater

Shop the Look: 

Transition Pieces