DRIES DO YOU HEAR ME?

AAAAhhhh the recovery, 

It was nice this little 3-day weekend, I'm sure you enjoyed it... Thank you for all your precious advice, I have a list as long as my arm, to go to the pharmacy and take care of myself! Thank you so much.

The other day Mai called me in a trance and said, "Have you seen Dries' ears? "What? no, "Well, look! I do it, I google "Dries Van Noten earrings" and I fall under the spell, shocked even, how could I have missed this and I immediately understand the purpose of Mai's call. It had to be done, and quickly, before someone else did the DIY. The race against time is on, supplies, feasibility and timing to cross paths... 

For the record, at the last Dries Van Noten show, make-up genius Peter Phillips (who likes to stick rhinestones on models in general) had this incredible idea... with surgical glue he stuck rhinestones directly onto the ears of nine models, so cool, so Dries. The beauty and genius of it all lies in the ephemeral nature of the jewelry. 

So for us, the challenge was to turn this cosmetic happening into something that could last a lifetime or a season... To make an earring of the future, repositionable and tough enough to stand the test of everyday wear. I loved our surprise, and once we'd finished, we couldn't believe how cool it was! So now there's just one question on my lips (or ears): "Dries, can you hear us?"

To make this DIY, you'll need:

• - The photocopy or scan of your ear... yes yes like you've never done it before...
• - Rhinestones of all shapes and sizes (with settings),
• - A small piece of leather, 
• - Two earring clips,
• - Thread to match the leather, and a leather needle,
• - A little textile hardener,
• - Scissors and pen.

To begin, cut out the photocopy of your ear, following the cartilage, and cut to the shape you want your earring to take (figs. 2 and 3). Even if you're not convinced of the final shape, you can still change it later. Turn the leather over, and on the reverse side, trace the back of your ear pattern with a pen fig.4. Then use scissors to cut along the black lines fig.5. Place the rhinestones on the front of the leather, imagining that this will be their final location fig.6 &7. Take a photo to immortalize their position fig.8.

Then, with your photographic model in front of you, start embroidering the rhinestones, first passing the thread and needle through the leather (stop with a small knot), then through the crimp holes, and finally back into the leather fig.1&2. Continue with the other rhinestones - don't tell me it's going to take too long, you've got at least 20 rhinestones to sew... fig.3. As I said earlier, your earring may not be as long, or the rhinestone design may not go all the way to the bottom of your leather form... Cut off the leather that protrudes from your jewel fig.4. Then, on the back of your buckle, attach the earring clips. For the big day, we only had shoe clips, which work very well, but for greater comfort, I'd still recommend classic earring clips fig. 5... Then, to make the beast rigid and solid, use a brush to apply textile hardener to the back of the leather. Don't hesitate to apply several thin coats to really make the jewel rigid fig. 6 & 7. And TA-DA! 

Go to Mai's blog for further video adventures, and what do you think of video Do It Yourself? Even more work, but I think that explains you well, doesn't it? you still need to have as much talent as Mai ... ( HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAI DES BOIS )

DriesMentendsTu? from Supertimai on Vimeo.