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DIY: Balmain inspired bleached jeans

Sunday, February 8, 2009

DIY: Balmain inspired bleached jeans

For the past week I've been living in a chlorine infested apartment making experiements with jeans and bleach. I had to get myself a pair of bleach jeans due to Balmains spring/summer 2009 collection constantly burning in my mind. Originally I started with a pair of blue jeans but they got too white in the process so I had to change my plans and use a pair of black jeans instead (Balmain also did it). It took a few mess ups, swearing and sweating to get it right but now I'm extremely pleased with the outcome. May I introduce: my very own Balmain inspired bleached jeans with ripped knees (warning: a picture overload coming up!).







Wool vest: Pour
Long sleeve: Marlene Schön by Ellos
Jeans: Cheap Monday, bleach effect DIY
Shoes: Bullboxer
Ring: Kalevala Koru

The jeans are easy to transform from day to evening, as I wore the first outfit yesterday to meet up with the über stylish blogger Sugar Kane. We grabbed a cup of coffee and it seemed like the hours just flew by while talking about blogging, fashion and music. We seem to have very similar taste and views of life. In the evening I changed the outfit to be more suitable for going out, and combined the jeans with a wrinkled black tee (new from Stockholm!), studded belt and cuffs.




Tee: MTWTFSS
Jeans: Cheap Monday, bleach effect DIY
Blazer: H&M via my bf's closet
Shoes: Urban Originals
Cuffs and belt: Leather Heaven
Ring: Kalevala Koru

The original Balmain jeans are going for about 1400 Euros but bleached jeans are very easy to do at home, so I say save your pennies and DIY! For those who are interested, here is how I did it:
1. Get the materials: You will need a pair of jeans (mine were black), household bleach (chlorine), a spray bottle and rubber gloves.
2. Put on the rubber gloves and pour the cholrine into the spray bottle. If you want a more lighter effect, mix some water into the bleach. If you're looking for more stronger effect, you should get some stronger bleach than the household one (check the local hardware or pool supplies store).
3. Wet your jeans with water and place them on the floor. If you are not doing this on a tiled bathroom floor like I did, I recommend putting something underneath the jeans, ie. plastic wrapper or cardboard to avoid any bleach staining your floor.
4. Spray the chlorine on the desired spots. The stronger the bleach, the faster you can see the bleach results. The results on my jeans were visible in seconds. If you have mixed water in your bleach, be patient as the results might show about 20 minutes later. Spray more bleach to get a more stronger effect on the desired areas.
5. Wash your jeans. I washed mine first by hand and then put them in the washing machine.
You have to be very careful when handling the bleach because it will easily stain the clothes you are wearing. Even a drop of bleach can do damage, so I recommend not to wear your most expensive clothes while playing with bleach.
Edit: If you want to rip the knee area like I did, just get some really rough sandpaper and sand (rub) it on those areas you want the holes to appear. It's hard work but it pays off. :)

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50 Comments:

Blogger Christina said...

I am never normally a jeans kinda girl. I pretty much hate them. However recently I have been lusting after Balmains and Margiela and all the DIY atempts that bloggers are doing. I am pretty sure I have a pair of dark denim skinny jeans at the back of my wardrobe, so I may have to give it a go!
You look totally fab, if mine turned out half as good i would be very happy!

xxx
http://www.asensesublime.blogspot.com/

February 8, 2009 at 11:12 PM  
Blogger SnapandPrint said...

Great DIY bleached jeans attempt! I love how they turned out.

February 9, 2009 at 12:04 AM  
Blogger Ciara said...

I did a pair of jeans similarly a few years back though eventually they got all paint-splattered as well... Fabulous job though! Love them!

<3

http://littlemedesign.blogspot.com

February 9, 2009 at 2:15 AM  
Blogger Lydia said...

Those are insane! There's been so many cool D.I.Y.s on the web lately, makes me wish that I could spend all day cooped up at home! =P

February 9, 2009 at 10:21 AM  
Blogger Sugar Kane said...

The jeans are fantastic and I love both your outfits! Let's get together soon again!!

February 9, 2009 at 11:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just love your jeans. I did the same to my blue jeans but now i´m into black jeans. I tried to bleach my black jeans but they turned red?!?! I was like what a hell?

Cheers,

SLVR

February 9, 2009 at 1:12 PM  
Blogger christina said...

Oh man! I love love the treatment effect on those jeans. Lovely!

February 9, 2009 at 2:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice Look to those jeans...........visit www.tex.in/b/jb for more useful things that can be done on jeans

February 9, 2009 at 6:16 PM  
Blogger celine said...

I love it! For these jeans, did you add water to the bleach or use just bleach?

February 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM  
Blogger Sanna Naapuri said...

zara also doing balmainesque heels.
gorgeous but sold out in most london.. go raid helsinki if you can. haha and buy some for me too please.
there's a photo on this blog; http://www.parisandpascual.com/2009/02/balmain-via-zara.html.

February 9, 2009 at 7:16 PM  
Blogger Irene said...

ouu upeet housut :) kiinnostuin myös noista vikoista kengistä!

February 9, 2009 at 7:32 PM  
Blogger eeva said...

Tosi onnistunut lopputulos! Itselläkin on ollut aikeissa jo kauan kokeilla tuota, tosin sopivia jämäfarkkuja ei vaan löydy vielä kaapista. Pysähtyykö vaaleneminen heti siihen, kun farkut pesee? Mietin, että itse en haluaisi ihan noin vahvaa lopputulosta... ehkä kokeilen vaan sitä kloriitin laimentamista vedellä. Toivottavasti ei sitten käy niin, ettei farkut vaalene ollenkaan!

February 9, 2009 at 9:47 PM  
Blogger What is Reality Anyway? said...

you have the most beautiful features! so gorgeous x

February 10, 2009 at 5:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can you post a pic of the Balmain jeans that isnpired you?

February 10, 2009 at 8:37 AM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Christina Sanders: You should totally do the Balmain DIY, I think it would look great on you! If you follow my directions, I think you should succeed with your jeans. Good luck and let me know how they turned out!:)

SnapandPrint: Thanks, I'm pretty pleased with them too!:)

Sugar Kane: Oh, thank you dear. :) We totally should get together soon! There is still so much to talk about!!

SILVER: Thanks!:) Hmm.. either the bleach wasn't strong enough (did you mix water in it, I didn't) or the black color of the jeans was red based. Mine turned out first kind of rusty color but when I put more bleach on those spots, they got whiter... I say try again with just bleach, no water mixed in with it. Do the procedure a few times on the spots until you get the bleach effect you desire. :) Good luck!

Christina: Thank you, I like it too! :)

Geetha: Thanks! There are some pretty good ideas on that site, thanks for the tip!

The Chiconomist Celine: Thanks! I just used bleach, no water mixed with it. But I did wet the jeans before the bleaching.

Avant-Cardigans: Holy shit, those Zara heels are amazing! I want them now.. If I go to Helsinki sometime soon (or if any dear reader could help?), I will definitely try to spot those, for you as well. ;) What's your size?

Irene: Kiitti. Kengät on peräisin eBaystä, Urban Originals -kaupasta. Oli tosi halvat, joten kannattaa ostaa hehe! Saatavilla myös eri väreissä. :)

Kirsikka: Kiitos kovasti! Joo tuohon kannattaa tosiaan ottaa jotkut jämäfarkut tai alennusmyynneistä bongatut yksilöt, ettei pilaa lempifarkkuja jos jokin meneekin pieleen...Vaaleneminen pysähtyy joo jos ne farkut pesee, mutta et ehkä ehdi pestä sitä mukaa kun läikät vaalenee. Suosittelen enemminkin että laitat vettä kloorin sekaan, niin lopputulos ei ole ihan noin vaalea. Pitää vaan odottaa sitten rauhassa, n. 15-20 min. :) Jos ei ole tyytyväinen, suihkutat vaan lisää klooria haluamiisi kohtiin.

Krystal: Oh thank you sweetie. That just made my day!:)

Anonymous: If you look at the links from my post, ie. the last link where I say they are 1400 euros online, you can see the inspiration source. Also just by looking at the Balmain collection link (on style.com) you can see the black bleached jeans with holes. :)

February 10, 2009 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger DEA said...

Mä rakastan sun tyyliä. Jos ois helyjä kukkarossa, ni maksaisin noista housuista ja kengistä omaisuuden. Etenkin kengistä!<3
Kiitos inspiroivasta postauksesta. Pitää varmaan alkaa heti tuunaamaa farkkuja ;)

February 10, 2009 at 8:02 PM  
Blogger Ouna said...

Tämä oli kyllä kans viimeinen niitti sille, että mun on pakko uhrata mustat, kaapissa lojuneet farkkuni. Olet saanut ihan älyttömän upean tuloksen itse aikaan!

February 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM  
Blogger Graça Ventura Medeiros said...

i just met this place and i really love it. kiss

February 10, 2009 at 10:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

voi hyi helvetti

February 10, 2009 at 11:08 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Mi Guapa Fresa: Oi kiitos!! :) Itse asiassa tuo klooraus-projekti oli tosi halpa, ei muuta kuin käsittelemään vanhoja farkkuja! Kumpi kenkiä tarkoitat? Nuo sandaalit olivat aika edulliset, tsekkaa Urban Originals eBaystä. :)

Ouna: Kiitti! Ei muuta kuin tuumasta toimeen ja onnea omaan projektiin! ;)

Gracinha: Thank you very much!

Anonymous: Kaikkia ei voi miellyttää. :D Itse tykkään kovasti!

February 11, 2009 at 9:50 AM  
Blogger Carla said...

yliihanat kengät :! jeeesus i'm like insanelly jealous :D

February 11, 2009 at 9:37 PM  
Blogger Milla said...

Girl, you rock! Those jeans simply look amazing.

February 11, 2009 at 10:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh my god these are amazing.
i am definitely trying this out with your help!!! thank you !!!
you're amazing. i can't get over how amazing these look!!!! wow.

February 12, 2009 at 5:08 PM  
Blogger Ida said...

I LOVE the result of your DIY. Killer jeans!

And I really like your hairstyle.

xxxxxxx

February 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

oooh, the pic where you're squatting is fantastic!

February 14, 2009 at 8:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

en ooo hetkeen nähny mitään näin...
outoa.

February 14, 2009 at 8:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

omg those jeans... ;o sorry, i'd never wear them

February 14, 2009 at 8:57 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Carla: Thank you! Don't be jealous, you can order the second ones from Urban Originals, they are quite cheap. :)

Milla: Thanks girl! The jeans are pretty rockin'. ;)

Daynacupcake: Thank you. :) I'm glad I could be at service and let me know how your bleaching project turned out.

Ida: Thanks, they did turn out better than I ever could have imagined. You just gotta be courageous. :)

....Love Maegan: Thanks!! My boyfriend said the same thing, altough I do look a bit heroine chic in it hehhee...

Anonymous: Otan tuo kohteliaisuutena, sillä outous on ihan hyvä asia. Ei ainakaan oo tavis. :D

Anonymous: Well, that's good for me in a way, at least I won't be seeing too many people wearing similar jeans on the streets. Each of their own I guess, because I happen to love these jeans! :)

February 15, 2009 at 9:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why did you wet the jeans with water before the whole bleaching process? I'm planning on doing the same thing to my jeans tomorrow and I was just wondering if there was a particular reason for wetting the jeans first? Cause I was going to go with dry jeans, spray the bleach on them and then just wash them?

February 15, 2009 at 10:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hei, oliko noi farkut ihan tasaset mustat vai sellaset "farkku-mustat" eli vähä vaaleemmat? mietin vaan miltä valkasu näyttää ihan mustan mustissa farkuissa :)

February 16, 2009 at 10:43 PM  
Blogger swaggyfrog said...

THAT was awesome. thanks for sharing!

February 26, 2009 at 11:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Howdya do it? :D
And it looks so cool. I want to make one! :D

Esme
http://messyhairandeverythingelse.tumblr.com

February 28, 2009 at 1:17 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Anonymous: I went the jeans so that the bleach would spread more. If you want more precice bleach spots then you don't have to wet the jeans. I tried without wetting at first, I wasn't pleased so I wet them.. I guess it's just a matter of taste and how you want them. :)

Anonymous: Ne oli sellaiset farkkumustat ja väri oli jo hieman lähtenyt pesuissa haalenemaan. Ihan mustissa farkuissa väri voi olla niin ytyä, että värjäystuloksen saaminen kestää kauemmin. Kannattaa kokeilla. :)

Esme: Thanks! There is the DIY guide at the end of the post, it's quite easy. Just follow the steps and voila you got yourself a pair of bleached jeans!

March 1, 2009 at 2:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those are great. I just bought these on ebay I can't wait for them to come in!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=320355425600

March 31, 2009 at 8:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just tried this with black jeans, i put them in water in the bath and added bleach but they went red/orange. I'm gonna try again without the water.

your jeans look amazing by the way!

May 11, 2009 at 4:20 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Anonymous: Thanks. :) I can't see the link anymore, sorry.

Anonymous: Thanks! You should try it again. :) You can also try washing them in laundry machine with some detergent that is meant for white laundry, it usually reduces the yellowness. Let me know how it went. :)

May 11, 2009 at 7:26 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Dear Miss Anne Maria,
Your bravery and persistence in creating the amazing jeans is very inspiring! You have a wonderful fashion sense and have made a great Balmain knock off. Now, perhaps you can design something purely Anne Maria, that Balmain and others can lust after!

An Admiring fashionista,
Miriam

May 25, 2009 at 8:56 PM  
Blogger Alexander said...

These are amazing! I have a pair of Dior Homme skinnies which I will bleach tonight!

You look amazing,
x

June 14, 2009 at 7:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my . . . That is freaking hot! You did an amazing job!! I am trying to do my first bleaching job now . . . I'm not sure of the results. I didn't really see anything happen, so they are in the wash now... and I guess once they leave the dryer..... I'll know????

June 18, 2009 at 11:45 PM  
Blogger Kasey said...

THANK YOU for posting the DIY ive been trying to learn how to bleach my jeans FOREVER!
the! thank you, thank you thank you!

http://thebeautyofesape.blogspot.com

June 25, 2009 at 2:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi could you tell me the brand name of the bleach you used? I tried this with domestos thick bleach and it wouldn't spray from the spray bottle I used, it kind of just dribbled onto my mates shoes :) They look great on you I have to say. By the way when I was trying it on various jeans, I found out that it tends to work best on grey jeans. I have no idea why.
Jack

July 3, 2009 at 2:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love those jeans! I'm going to get some second hand jeans and try this!! Also i love the ripped jeans trend :)

July 31, 2009 at 4:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE YOU CAN PICK UP REALLY GREAT JEANS (AND OTHER ITEMS OF CLOTHING) AT THRIFT/OP SHOPS. ITS HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT BY RECYCLING CLOTHES AND HELPING THOSE IN NEED BECAUSE THE PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY.

July 31, 2009 at 4:56 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Thepocketsewer: Thank you!:) I have tons of ideas in my head on all these DIY projects and also my own clothing projects but unfortunately I don't have as much free time in my hands that they would require. :( It's a pity, really. I wish that in the future I could do more with fashion design.

Alexander: My pleasure, I hope those turn out good!:) Are DH pants worth bleaching though? I'd be a bit scared to use designer pants for this project.

Forbitten fruit: Thanks! You might wanna use a bit more stronger bleach if you don't get the results you wanted. I used pure bleach at one point cause the water mix just didn't do the trick. Good luck!

Kasey: You are very welcome, I'm glad the tutorial was helpful!:)

Anonymous: It was some random bleach from a local super market, I think some house brand or something. Just check the cleaning supplies section at your local store, and you should be able to locate the right kind of bleach. :) It's the same one you use for cleaning bathroom at home etc. Grey jeans are probably colored with a different shade of black, so that's why they probably work the best. I think I might try that next!:)

Anonymous: Thanks! I think it's good to do it on a pair of second hand jeans, just in case you don't get the results you want on the first attempt. :)

Anonymous: Yes, indeed! I encourage to do this as well. :) Extremely good points!

August 1, 2009 at 11:50 PM  
Anonymous Cat T said...

Hey, these are sooo trendy right now and when I googled a DIY, I loved your tutorial! Your jeans turned out so fab that I decided to try making my own out of some thrift store black jeans I had. They're in the washer right now and I think they look pretty rad! Thanks so much for being an inspiration. I will probably wear them on the first day of school =]

August 23, 2009 at 8:01 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Cat T: It's nice to hear that you like my tutorial and I'm happy to hear that you're satisfied with your bleached jeans! I'm sure you will look so fab in school, these kind of jeans are definitely an attention grabber!;)

August 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM  
Anonymous Emm said...

Hi, today i decided to bleach a pair of black jeans i found but i hadnt seen it done DIY till now. I've only seen blue jeans done so thanks for this, it was a nice heads up and now i know what to expect.

E
(i'll post them when theyre complete!)
http://spindizzyfall.blogspot.com/

September 18, 2009 at 1:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great job - these jeans look amazing! x

October 5, 2009 at 2:27 PM  
Anonymous Glam Rock said...

balmain rocks - but it is too pricy

November 9, 2009 at 8:10 PM  
Blogger Anna-Maria said...

Emm: I hope your project was a success and I'm happy I could be of help!:)

Ultimate fashion: Thanks!:) I should wear them sometime soon again...

Glam Rock: Yeah they are! It's a good thing they are easy to DIY. ;)

November 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM  

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