Sydney's temperature is cooling down, so this week I've been looking for ways creative ways to keep warm. I'm quite a fan of the shrug, bolero, even just a long sleeve, but I still want to wear my nice fitted singlet tops. I love to layer and still show some skin so I've been chopping tops off and re-using the bottom in creative ways.

Once you've done the cutting it's a good idea to overlock or zigzag the edge of the material. Stretch won't fray but it will stretch out of shape if you don't finish it. Once this is done you can play around with add-ons. I found this beautiful beaded necklace in The Salvos store. I've stitched it onto shoulder pads and now they can be added onto many outfits.

The next top to tackle is adding a cowel neck. I thought it was a waste to chop the bottom off and throw it out, so I chopped it off  and stitched the excess back on, around the neck.

*Tip: When cutting around the top, think about the shape that will be most flattering to you. I find that just above the bust is good for the front, then curve the line around so that in the back it drops to just below the bra line.

Before stitching on the remainder, cut it off straight so you have a band of fabric that's about 30cm wide. I sectioned the band into quarters, and the neck into quarters and pinned it on evenly before it was stitched in place.

Top number three is a cropped hoodie. My mum gave me this cosy Puma jumper. I wanted to try something different with it so I used draping as a way to crop it and I think it looks quite nice. It has a great shape in the back, there was no cutting required, and the front pocket is still functional

So there are three methods of cropping while keeping your arms warm this Winter. If you have other cropped creations we'd love to see. Post them on the Facebook page and share away!

This week's Revamped DIY came about after an interesting request from a client. This talented chap is a successful street busker and he has his sights set on competing at the World Statue Festival in the Netherlands.

My client dresses up as Abel Tasman. He has a costume already, and he decided it was time for a make-over. "I want to take it to the next level."

I was super excited by this request as I've always wanted to play around with latex and create something like this!

What you'll need:
- Latex
- Matt spray paint
- Metallic spray paint
- Drop sheet
- Paint brush
- Brush cleaning liquid
- Disposable rubber gloves
- Face mask

Step 1 - Base Coat
It was very convenient that the costume had already been painted grey, as this was an excellent base for me to work with. It's important for each component of the costume to be the same shade of grey, so before I started with the latex, I sprayed the pants with the matt grey spray paint to help gain continuity between the shading.

*When working with spray paint I always wear a face mask (to prevent me breathing in nasty particles and fumes), and I double up with the disposable rubber gloves. Safety first!

Step 2 - Latex
WARNING!!! This is a very sticky job!
Load your brush up and hope for the best! You need to be patient. Be prepared for the fabric to stick onto itself. Try to keep your strokes long, smooth and even. 

You will gain a smoother finish if you have time to paint each garment one section (or side) at a time. Let it dry, then turn it over and paint another part. Let the garments dry over night before spray painting.

So there you have it! If you ever wanted to know how to make a living statue costume, here are some simple instructions on how to go about it.

And if you happen to see an Abel Tasman living statue in your city, give him a wink and throw some gold coins his way (and compliment him on his excellent costume)!

How can you use this technique for Revamping your wardrobe? I'd love to hear your ideas!