Outfit details:

• Dress - DIY
• Shirt - Thrifted
• Bag - DIY (see below) 
• Shoes - Audrey Brooke from DSW

DIY Lace Panel Purse

Recreate the look with Kirsten's Lace Panel Purse tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Edgy, but a bit girly. Or the other way around, perhaps? I love to mix fabrics such as leather and lace.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My denim and leather jacket that I made for a Studs and Pearls project, in 2011. 

Who are your style icons?

Drew Barrymore and Alexa Chung.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

Thrift stores..always!

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I do, often. A majority of the items in my closet are embellished or handmade.

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone with different combinations or outfits. You never know what you might come up with!

Check out Kirsten's blog, Studs & Pearls »

Outfit details:

• Necklace - DIY (See below)
  
• Top - DIY
• Shorts - Miu Miu Shorts DIY
• Tights - Primark
• Shoes - Topshop

DIY Beads Of A Bird Neckacle:

Recreate the look with Charley's Beads Of A Bird tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

Emilie Autumn. God, I wish I had legs like hers! I love the Visual-Kei look, particularly on people like Kamijo from Versailles.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I customise whenever possible. Much as I love to sew, it’s ridiculously time-consuming and if you’re trying to figure out your own pattern that easily adds another few hours to each project. My time’s frustratingly tight so unfortunately sewing something from scratch is a rare treat. Another thing I will say is that there’s so much trial and error in sewing if you’re at a beginner or novice level. Generally you’re better off embellishing or reconstructing something that someone’s already gone to the trouble of making than trying to do it all yourself. If you aren’t absolutely 100% sure of what you’re doing, something minor  - like the wrong choice of stitch or sewing needle, or neglecting to use something like interfacing when you’re machine-embroidering onto jersey, for instance – can completely wreck your work. I’d say customising, where possible, definitely trumps sewing things from scratch.

Don’t throw old clothes out; keep them and re-work them into something else, so you can mix them with newer, more on-trend items, for a cool, considered and totally unique look.

Make sure to check our Charley's blog at Chic Cheat »

#17 Rachel from Watch-This-Place

Outfit details:

• Shows - Primark
• Skirt - Charity shop
• T-shirt - Primark (Men's) & DIY (see below) 

DIY Customised T-Shirt

Recreate the look with Rachel's Customised T-Shirt tutorial:

How would you describe your style?

I guess I'd say I was glamour, grunge and goth-inspired so I'm so happy about the fact all of those things were all over this season's catwalks! I love dark colours: black, grey, navy, blood red, purples, but I keep it from looking too drab by experimenting with different textures, like lace or leather. I love to dress up but I love casual dress too. On a night out where I live in East London, people don't really 'dress up' in a glamorous way anyway. I like to wear an evening dress with combat boots because, as much as I love heels, I'd rather be able to dance than complain about my feet all night. So, yeah, I would describe my style as grunge-goth meets occasional doses of glamour meets whatever-is-on-my-bedroom-floor.  

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

I have this oversized leather jacket I got from Primark when I was 16 which I've worn to death. It's cheap, goes with anything and looks better the more you wear it. I'm obsessed with jackets; I must have at least twenty of them.

Who are your style icons?

I don't have any direct style icons, because I think the best style is something you create yourself. It can't be copied. That being said I really like Alice Dellal's and Pixie Geldof's style. Even Miley Cyrus is looking pretty cool since she shed her wholesome Disney image and got that crop.

Do you have any favourite designers?

I mostly blog on the off-schedule or fringe fashion circuits which means I've been exposed to a massive range of independent and underground designers. It's exciting to see shows that are out of the mainstream and aren't afraid to experiment. I often fall in love with designers I wouldn't actually wear myself simply for the artwork of their design, like McQueen. I got to see an Alexander McQueen dress up close at an exhibition earlier this year and the minute details of it are incredible - unwearable unless you happen to be rich and famous - but still absolutely stunning. I love vintage-inspired lingerie designers like Kiss Me Deadly and Sex Trash NYC. I love Religion, The Ragged Priest...oh, and does Topshop count as a 'designer'? 

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

As much as I'd like to, I don't own any high-end designer pieces because I'm a student. I think cheese is expensive, let alone a pair of Louboutins. I tend to mix high street like Topshop, Urban Outfitters, H&M and River Island with vintage or thrift pieces from eBay or charity shops. Some high street stores try and sell 'vintage looking' pieces for ridiculous prices when, if you're lucky enough, you can get the original in a charity store for a couple of quid, so I'd rather do that.  

Do you make or customise your outfits?

When a pair of jeans becomes faded or doesn't fit any more, I cut them up to make shorts and fray the edges for a distressed look. I sometimes buy men's shirts and cut off the sleeves to make an oversized vest. This 'distressed' look you get sold on the high street is something is often you could easily do yourself, so I think about that before I buy anything like that.

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

Remember that personal style is always more important than fashion. You can still look great without importing your entire look off a catwalk. I'm sure most of the things I wear aren't technically 'in fashion' but I've learned that being individual and comfortable with the way you dress is so much better than copying the catwalk entirely. Look at the runway to inspire, but take that and add your own touch. Fashion is full of enough clones anyway, so don't be one! 

Follow Rachel on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog at watch-this-place.com »