Until recently the majority of fashion-related Do-It-Yourself was to be found on blogs. Either because of financial necessity, sheer creativity, or the allure of having something that no one else owned bloggers have been creating all manner of things (from necklaces made from old t-shirts, to pvc leggings, to studded boots) for years. And, by the very nature of blogging itself, the process behind making these DIY creations was usually well documented, allowing the reader to create their own.

But recently mainstream publications have been getting in on the act. The online version of Britain’s Guardian newspaper, for example, ran a series entitled “Make your own designer clothes and accessories”. Readers could choose to unleash their creative urges upon, amongst other items, a Jade Jagger bracelet, Paul Smith shirt, or even a Martin Margiela newspaper waistcoat.

The strange thing was that even though the photography was better than that of the average blog, and the DIY items were designer-endorsed, some of the excitement was missing. It wasn’t just that the skill-level required for each project veered wildly from either end of the spectrum (Jagger’s ribbon and safety pin bracelet could easily have been made by a child while Smith’s shirt required expert sewing skills); there was a feeling of sterility about the whole process as the enthusiasm that bloggers bring to their craft projects was sadly lacking. Perhaps, in some instances, certain things should remain in the (virtual) streets.