DIY Chic: Cap-Toe Ballet Flats
Staying stylish on a college budget can be hard, which is why DIY Chic is here to show you how to update your wardrobe without breaking the bank. If you are looking for more DIY inspiration, take a look at our past tutorials on making a multi-strand statement necklace, bow hair accessories, flower hair clips, a printed word scarf, transforming a pair of old jeans, or recreating an old or thrifted item.
Here at College Fashion, the cap-toe ballet flat has already been deemed a favorite spring shoe trend. But if you aren’t ready to invest in a pair just yet, this easy DIY could be a great alternative. Take a look at this week’s tutorial on transforming a pair of plain flats with a trendy cap-toe look.
What you’ll need:
- A pair of plain flats. I opted for my old beige flats, but this idea could apply to just about any pair.
- Paint. I used a high-gloss, all-purpose paint with an acrylic base in black.
- Paint brush.
- Blue Painter’s tape, which allows for easy removal.
The step-by-step process:
1. Carefully tape off the toes of your flats where you’ll be painting. You might also want to tape around the bottom edge to avoid getting any paint on the sole of the shoes. Be sure to match the taped areas carefully on both shoes.
2. Start your painting process. Depending on the material of your shoes and type of paint, it might take multiple coats of paint to get the right look – it took me two coats before I was satisfied. Allow each coat of paint to dry fully before you apply another, preferably overnight.
3. When your flats are dry, carefully remove the blue painter’s tape. If needed, you can fix any uneven lines by touching up the paint job with a smaller paint brush by hand.
And there you go! A quick and easy way to recreate an old pair of flats and try out the cap-toe trend on the cheap. As I said, this idea could be applied to just about any pair of shoes you own, from flats to heels, just in time for spring! Try it with black paint like I did or test out the neon trend – it’s totally up to you.
What do you think?
What do you think of the cap-toe ballet flat trend? Would you try this simple DIY at home? Do you have an do-it-yourself project you’d like to see on College Fashion in the future? Let us know in a comment!
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Posted on on April 21, 2012 / Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: Accessories, Ballet Flats, Budget Fashion, cap toe flats, DIY, DIY Chic, Do-it-yourself, Fashion Inspiration, Flats, How To, Shoes, Trends, Tutorials
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Lenny
OMG I just did this yesterday !!! I used my black ballet flats and paint the toes with neon pink. Such a cheap and stylish way to give life to your plain, boring ballet flats :)
Madison
Love this idea. So cleaver and gives your ballet flats a little chic flare. =)
Becky
Love this DIY! I just bought a pair of cap-toed ballet shoes, but I could use another.
Rose
This type of DIY was posted in the Hautelinks a few weeks ago, different but just as good as the other one!
lorraine
Totally loved it, now im gonna update my old flats!! Loved it loved it loved it. And it seems so easy!!
Lana
This is so cute. You could probably even get a little more crafty and make them look like Marc Jacob’s mice flats!
Marina
Look great! I like it! That is great idea!
xx
biskvittka.blogspot.com
Marissa
What a great idea Lana! I love the MJ mouse flats, but they’re definitely too expensive for such a novelty. You should definitely DIY it and post it on your blog!
Lana
@Marissa Might actually do that in the next few weeks now that school is out :)
Leira Zetroc
These is so coincidental…I was actually planning on DIYing cap toe’s on a pair of shoes of mine. I was looking around the internet for some instructions and it’s nice to come across your’s ;)
Alyssa Nicole
Gosh this is so creative and saves me so much money! Thank you!
Juliëtte
I love the final result, although I’m afraid I’m too clumsy for DIY.
Claudia
Awsome idea :)
When in high-school I have sprayed my Martens with virulently green.
Spraying leaves no brush marks so it is a little bit more aesthetic