How to create the edgy DIY trompe l’oeil top you need for summer
By: Lydia Ochieng
Trompe l’oeil makes use of colour, texture, perspective and dimension to trick the eye by creating an illusion. This technique is thought to have roots in ancient Greece, and is now a fixture in the fashion world. No wardrobe is complete without a trompe l’oeil piece.
Don’t have one? Here’s how to make yourself a DIY trompe l’oeil top!
You’ll need:
- An item of clothing or other textile-based item (cotton, rayon or linen for best results)
- A chunky necklace or chain that you can risk damaging (think, old jewellery)
- Gloves
- Bleach
- 3% Hydrogen peroxide
- Measuring cup
- Two empty spray bottles with a mist setting
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- A towel
- Plastic garbage bags (optional)
- Painter’s tape, or masking tape (optional)
- Paper towels (optional)
- Label stickers (optional)
DIY trompe l’oeil instructions:
Find the right work surface
You’re going to need a work surface that can withstand the bleach solution. A kitchen counter is a great option. If you don’t have much kitchen counter space, consider taping overlapping garbage bags onto the floor/ground, a desk or kitchen table.
Today, you’re only stencilling the front of the shirt. For that reason, you’ll need to cut a piece of cardboard and place it inside the shirt – between the front and the back. This is to prevent any transfer of the bleach solution through the shirt.
Next, lay the shirt flat and place the necklace around the neckline of the shirt. Be sure to decide on the look. Should the chain hang low? Do you want to make it shorter?
Carefully mix your solutions
Place a “BLEACH” label on one spray bottle, for your safety. Pour ¼ cup bleach in to the bottle. Then, pour 1 cup of water into the same spray bottle. Put the handle back on the bottle and set it on mist. Spray the solution into the sink once to ensure that you correctly chose the mist setting.
Once that is done, place a “Hydrogen Peroxide” label on the other spray bottle. Again, for your safety. Pour ¼ cup bleach into the bottle. Then, pour 1 cup of water into the same spray bottle. Put the handle back on the bottle and set it on mist. Spray the solution into the sink once to ensure that you correctly chose the mist setting.
The fun part
Now it’s time to get creative. Spray the bleach solution over the necklace or chain and stop when the fabric beneath it is wet. Then, allow the bleach to set for a few minutes as you watch the colour change. Keep in mind that you can spray the bleach solution lightly over any part of the shirt that you’d like to alter. A light mist will give you a galaxy paint splatter effect. A heavy mist will give you a full colour change in that area.
After those few minutes have passed, and you are satisfied with the colour change, it is time to “fix” the new colour. Spray the hydrogen peroxide solution over the chain and the fabric underneath. If you chose to spray bleach solution anywhere else, be sure to spray those areas with hydrogen peroxide as well.
Almost there…
Remove the necklace or chain, and rinse the shirt thoroughly. Wring the shirt out and/or dry it with a towel.
Air dry the shirt, and start planning your outfit!
All done!
And, there you have it, your very own trompe l’oeil top. No need to stop there though, the bleach stencilling method can produce as many designs as you can imagine. Happy stencilling!
Inspiration from, Clorox.com:
https://www.clorox.com/learn/how-to-do-bleach-art-on-clothes
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