One-Dollar Wonders

WIW: Don't Shoot the $10 Messenger

July 5, 2012

... especially when it's Ted Baker!

Our local swap meet is open on the 4th, so of course Hubs and I took a look-see - and I came across this bag, looking a bit worse for wear:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/te.....ag/3141380

In the spirit of DIY July, I scooped it up for $10 (still has the $395 tag inside!) and stitched up the huge gash on the side. I used my thinnest thread and my smallest needle, because the soft leather was so delicate. If you ever have to try this yourself, be very gentle, and don't pull the thread too tight, or it will tear the leather further.

For the outfit, I went with sort of a young-republic horse messenger idea - crossbody bag, steampunk boots, rifle strap as belt, and my big ol' horse ring.

NY&C tunic - swap meet
Express skirt - swap meet
Ted Baker Buckle Pocket bag - swap meet
Timberland Marge Wood boots - ebay
Horse ring - swap meet

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

17 Comments

  • goldenpig replied 11 years ago

    Wow, what a great save! Nice rescue work! Love the bag with your outfit too!

  • modgrl replied 11 years ago

    Great bag! It already looks kind of RATE so I think the stitching only adds to the destroyed look.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Nicely done Miss DIY! Great outfit too - really like this shirt belted and the boots/belt bookending each other.

  • Beth Ann replied 11 years ago

    Very resourceful! If I were stuck on a desert island, I'd want you and Claire with me -- so I could keep looking good!

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Oh no you didn't! You and Claire are the bag whisperers of YLF! I love the outfit and those boots are looking FINE!

  • replied 11 years ago

    OMG I DIE! What a fantastic bag--and a fantastic repair. And you know what? I think it's even cooler to have a sewn up bag than a plain one. Not that anyone will ever see the repair. Very Euro-chic/ UWP/environmentally friendly-cool. Love the entire outfit with it too! I would not have thought that I could sew a leather bag by hand.....until now! Thanks for the bag-spiration!

  • Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

    Very resourceful of you the bag has found a new lease of life and looks fab with your outfit.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Rita, thank you for saying that - I was hoping that would be the case. It is a warrior bag and has a battle scar to prove it. :)

    Beth Ann, your idea sounds like a terribly fun reality show! We could call it Bag Whisperers of Fashion Island (shoutout to Una!) and Claire and I could MacGyver outfits out of boat upholstrey and palm fronds. Who's in??

    Claire, I did almost the exact same repair on my 50-cent black leather jacket. I think soft leather is much easier to work with than fabric, since you don't have to finish seams or worry about things unraveling.

  • Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

    Great repair job! I so wish I had learned to sew! My mama said I should learn but I didn't listen....:(. I would definitely join you, Claire and Beth Ann on that island.

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    Cool! I always thought tears in leather were difficult or impossible to fix and required special equipment, so it's nice to know that they are fairly straightforward to repair. I think because one does not normally think to sew up torn leather, that makes this look even more cool and intentionally RATE!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    You do need heavy equipment for thick leathers - the kind used for shoes, for example, or true motorcycle jackets. I happen to have an industrial sewing machine because I wanted the option to sew leather and denim. However, soft lamb leathers like this are very thin and soft. The only catch would be if the tear was on a load-bearing part of the bag. If that was the case, I wouldn't have bought it, because I think the stress on the thread would just cause the whole thing to rip again.

  • Heather replied 11 years ago

    *whoa*

    I am blown away by a) your savviness at the swap meet, b) your handiness and c) your vision.

    Nicely done and I dig the Pony Express inspo.

  • annagybe replied 11 years ago

    NIce outfit and even nicer save!

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Anna took the words right out of my mouth :D

  • nicoleb replied 11 years ago

    Awesome save on the bag! You look great!

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    Man, what a gorgeous bag, and I love that you saved this beauty! Can you imagine how sad the previous owner must have been when they tore that bag? Shudder.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Rae, that is the one of the coolest DIYs we've seen, like, in ever! Who else thinks we need a special DIY section on the forums to collect all these great threads from Rae and Claire and Nicole... and also the fab sewn and knitted garments from Diana, Amy, Jem... Wow, there's a lot of handy women among us, aren't there?!

    Adore the 'pony express' outfit --- very cool that you're letting Manspiration stay in your repertoire and inform your style beyond the challenge. Indeed, this may be the best thing about last month, and that's saying something!

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I'm just your average working stiff who loves nice things and hates to pay for them. This blog outlines my efforts to navigate that treacherous shopping/saving divide through swappin', thriftin', and even a little resellin'. Many of the pieces in my wardrobe cost me just $1! We've heard a lot about people "living above their means" in recent years; I'm championing the concept of living large *below* your means - whatever that means for you. :)