How to Create Chic Chunky Necklaces Using Chain and Spandex

Jul 31, 2012

When we saw this brightly-colored J. Crew necklace just last week, we knew it was high time for a hack. It’s just the right amount of preppy, boho and edgy… but it’s $150. While that might be a fun splurge every once in a while, we knew we could figure out a way to get the same look for under $10. All you really need is a bit of spandex, chain from the hardware store, and scissors!

– chain (best to have it cut to size at the hardware store)

– spandex

– needle nose pliers

– scissors

– gold hoops & clasps

For our first necklace, we got knotty with it. ;)

Fabric Scrap Statement Necklaces

Nautical T-Shirt Neckwear.

Now that you have all your strips, create a series of 6 pairs and knot each one at the top. Now you’re going to create a series of knots on each strip set. These will sort of act like beads.

To weave together, take two strip sets and use another individual strip to tie them together at the top. With the same strip, go under the right side, through the middle, and over the right side. Now go under the left side, through the middle, and over the right side. Bring it back around and start over. You’ll need to do two of these in between each set of knots. Repeat until you’ve made 3 separate pieces.

Trim off the ends, and lay out in the way you’ll be putting it together. Use another piece of spandex to weave through the ends of each piece and tie to one end of chain.

With another strand, weave through a few more times through the middle.

Use the excess strand fabric to wrap around each end where you attach the chain, and you’re done!

For our second, we simply created a series of slip braids and put them together!

Again, gather your pieces of spandex. You’ll want enough to make three separate braids, so 9 pieces of spandex “string.”

Tie on one end, and braid as usual. To create the slip braid, hold on piece of string at the end and push the other two up. When you push up, your braid will look like the 4th photo above.

Do this times three!

Use a separate piece of spandex to tie everything together at one end, attach to the chain and you’re done!

Why drop $150 at J. Crew when you can get crafty with it? If you’ve got any questions about the tutorial above, let us know in the comments below. And stay tuned for more spandextastic ways to make chain from the hardware store uber chic.

Tried your hand at this or a previous Brit + Co. DIY project we should check out? Send us photos of your results over on Twitter – we love to hear from you!

How To Recreate Selena Gomez's Edgy Black Nails With High-Quality Products Under $15

The magic of Selena Gomez's red carpet look for the 81st Golden Globes is in the details. From the slivers of skin seen through the bodice of her red satin Armani dress to the dramatic downturn of its long, asymmetrical skirt, the Only Murders in the Buildingnominee for Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series clearly came to stun.

Selena's glamorous red and black ensemble surely stood out with pops of stunning silver jewelry, but the one thing I couldn't keep my eyes off of were her shiny black nails! Her right-hand manicurist, Tom Bachik, dished on how exactly he crafted the painfully sultry paint job.

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“Selena’s custom dress is such an amazing red with black accents, and we felt the nails should play off that," Bachik said. "The black high-gloss shine found in the flowers on the front was the perfect inspiration.”

These edgy black nails are not only the perfect homage to the rest of Selena's look (a bold smokey eye, jet-black floral accents), but a fitting reminder of my awkward middle school days when all I wanted was to fit into the flourishing emo scene. Though Selena's Golden Globes looks is worlds from the ever-so sleazy 2010's, I love that her glossy black nails can be worn a variety of ways for the everyday!

The secret behind Selena's rebellious mani is iconic nail brand, essie. Here's how to get the exact look in just four steps.

Get The Look: Selena Gomez's Golden Globes Black Nails

1. Prep the nails.

For Selena's black nails, Bachik began with a "meticulous manicure" using the Tweezerman & Tom Bachik Nail Care Travel Set ($29). Think your standard trimming, filing, clipping, and cuticle care – this step will set your nail beds up for some generously glossy coats!

2. Paint on the black.

Bachik painted two solid coats of Essie 'Licorice' ($8) for the base of Selena's black nails. This shade has the most perfect payoff to ensure your dark-as-night mani looks sleek AF.

3. Top it all off.

Bachik swears by Essie Gel Setter Top Coat ($11) for a seamless finish to any mani.

4. Don't skip post-mani nail care.

The Essie On A Roll Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil does a great job at rehydrating the nails and surrounding skin. Bachik finished off Selena's 'patent leather' manicure with the roll-on applicator.

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Lead photo by Amy Sussman / Getty.

17 Celebrity Cameos On ‘Gossip Girl’ You Probably Forgot About

New York City is a home and a hub for celebrities across all industries, and the glitzy appeal of Gossip Girl’s NYC is made all the more glamorous by its numerous celebrity cameos. Given that Blair and Serena run in the upper echelon of the city’s It girls, it actually makes total sense for them to be rubbing shoulders with Alexa Chung and Lady Gaga. You never know who you’re going to run into on the Upper East Side — and in Gossip Girl’s case, you may not even remember half the celebs you meet.

Over the course of six wonderfully melodramatic seasons, Gossip Girl racked up quite a stacked cast list on IMDB. From stars with recurring roles to those who pop in to play themselves for one scene, here are 17 celebrities who appeared on Gossip Girl that you probably forgot about.

Scroll down to see all the celebrity Gossip Girlcameos we're totally obsessed with!

1. William Baldwin

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Serena van der Woodsen’s got some serious daddy issues. One of Gossip Girl’s longest subplots is Serena’s search for her father, who essentially walked out on her when she was a kid. He finally appears for the first time in Season 3 Episode 19 (“Dr. Estrangeloved), where he’s played by a member of one of NYC’s royal families, William Baldwin. (In case you’re wondering, he’s Hailey Bieber’s uncle.)

2. Lady Gaga

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You probably blocked out the time Blair and Dan put on a jukebox version of Snow White at NYU given that the whole ordeal was painfully cringe. That means you probably also blocked out the fact that real-life NYU alum Lady Gaga gives a dead-eyed performance of “Bad Romance” at the end of the episode (Season 3 Episode 10, “The Last Days of Discostick”).

3. Hilary Duff

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Also included in the Season 3 NYU timeline is Hilary Duff as Olivia Burke. Olivia’s a famous actress who balances attending NYU, starring in the vampire romance franchise Endless Knights, and dating Dan. She’s basically the Gossip Girl universe’s hybrid of Kristen Stewart and Emma Watson.

4. Sebastian Stan

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Okay, there’s absolutely no way you forgot this one. Before Sebastian Stan was the MCU’s BB, he was Gossip Girl’s lesser-known CB — Carter Baizen. Stan played St. Jude’s sleaziest graduate and one of Serena’s most questionable exes from Seasons 1 through 3.

5. Karlie Kloss

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Karlie Kloss will always attend a NYFW party — even if that party only exists within Gossip Girl’s Season 4 premiere (“Belles du Jour”).

6. Armie Hammer

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Serena’s dating history includes one man whose bite may be worse than his bark. In Season 2, she starts dating a con man named Gabriel Edwards, played by Armie Hammer.

7. Cyndi Lauper

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Girls just wanna have Cyndi Lauper do a surprise performance at their eighteenth birthday party — at least, Blair Waldorf does. Lauper makes a cameo in Season 2 Episode 10 (“Bonfire of the Vanity”).

8. Tyra Banks

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Tyra Banks plays Ursula, a famous actress who Serena keeps from crashing out at a movie premiere, in Season 3 Episode 4 (“Dan de Fleurette”).

9. Clémence Poésy

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When Chuck goes to France in Season 4 and attempts to restart his life as Henry Prince, he takes Fleur Delacour — err, I mean, Clémence Poésy — along for the ride.

10. Mädchen Amick

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Sorry, Archiekins — Alice Cooper’s got her eye on a different Archibald. Riverdale star Mädchen Amick appears in Season 2 as Nate’s first foray into MILF territory.

11. Elizabeth Hurley

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Mädchen Amick walked so Elizabeth Hurley could run … Nate’s life into the ground. Hurley plays shady media mogul Diana Payne throughout Season 5.

12. Aaron Tveit

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This guest star lives rent-free in Broadway fans’ minds. Aaron Tveit, the patron saint of tenors, appears in Seasons 2 through 5 as Nate’s cousin, politician Tripp van der Bilt.

13. Alexa Chung

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In Season 6 Episode 3 (“Dirty Rotten Scandals”), Alexa Chung, the minimalist darling of the 2010s fashion blogging scene, refuses to walk the runway at Blair Waldorf’s debut fashion show.

14. Rachel Bilson & Kristen Bell

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Rachel Bilson and Kristen Bell show up in the series finale as two actresses auditioning for a role in Inside Out, the movie adaptation of Dan’s bestselling book, Inside. Bell’s voice should ring a bell — she’s the voice ofGossip Girl.

15. Tim Gunn

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Project Runway’s iconic mentor, Tim Gunn gives Jenny a little mentorship in Season 4 Episode 6 (“Easy J”).

16. Rachel Zoe

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Rachel Zoe: celebrity stylist, fashion designer, and extremely good sport. In her GG cameo in Season 4 Episode 7 (“War at the Roses”), Zoe takes a tumble and spills chocolate sauce all over her head before delivering her iconic catchphrase, “I die.” We die, too.

17. Florence Welch

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Welch’s performance of “Cosmic Love” in Season 4 Episode 14 (“Panic Roommate”) was reportedly due to her real-life friendship with Blake Lively. The actress suggested to the producers that they should use Florence’s music in the show. The producers went one step further, and we’re all the better for it.

Wonder what other celebs have appeared in your favorite TV shows? Check out these 24 Sex and the City cameos and 11 Gilmore Girls cameos you may have missed!

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How Becca Tobin’s Plumbing Disaster Made for an Eclectic, Cali-Cool Makeover

We’ve all had a renovation that doesn’t go as planned. And so has former Glee actress and gal behind the mic of The LadyGang podcast, Becca Tobin. After a plumbing incident in her LA pad, the star embraced the misfortune as a chance to give it a fresh, Cali-inspired facelift. “We took the opportunity to not only redecorate but also replace the floors with dreamy Clé tile and new hardwoods with the help of our amazing designer Cory McCrummen,” Tobin says. To see the bright and beautiful result, scroll below to see how you can get the look under your own roof.

Top to bottom: WAC Lighting White/Gold Pendant ($377), Society6 Vadim Vase Print ($62), Zazzle Hexagon Pattern Tile ($15), Union Rustic Serita Dining Table ($1,125), Society6 Odin Vase Print ($64), Printer and Tailor Green Vase ($35)

Top to bottom: Pottery Barn Oden Rug ($59+), Carson Carrington Birch Nightstand ($138), PatternBehavior Mud Cloth Pillow ($24+), Serena & Lily Santa Barbara Pendant ($298), France & Son Rotating Sconce ($799), INK+IVY Stockholm Color Block Throw ($35+), Society6 Back Line Print ($170)

Looking for home decor ideas? Follow us on Pinterest for additional inspo!

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(Photos via Dustin Walker; Creative via San Trieu / Brit + Co)

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Blake Lively's 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' Co-Stars Slam Justin Baldoni For "Forceful Retaliation"

This weekend, news dropped that Blake Lively filed a bombshell lawsuit against It Ends With Usco-star Justin Baldoni, and everyone is rushing to her support — including her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsco-stars!

One day we need to have a conversation about how easy it is to assign the 'mean girl' role to women like Anne Hathaway, Hailey Bieber, Meghan Markle, and now, Blake Lively. Since that's a separate article, let's focus on the situation at hand. According to Deadline, Lively's suing Baldoni for "sexually harassing her and subsequently enacting 'a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.'" After the news dropped, The New York Times subsequently published article that details the winding allegations against Baldoni, producer Jamie Heath, and more players in the supposed targeted attack against her.

While a lot of public opinion turned against Lively during the It Ends With Us rollout, it's clear those closest to her showed unyielding support. Now, fellow celebrities are showing up in droves to stand with Lively amid the allegations. One bold show of support that we're totally here for? Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn taking their "sisterhood" to new heights. Here's what they — and everyone else — has said in support of Blake Lively so far.

Scroll down to see everyone who's supported Blake Lively amid the Justin Baldoni lawsuit so far!

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Blake Lively's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Co-Stars

Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, and America Ferrera made it clear that they're firmly in support of their friend Blake Lively. They released a message on Instagram that left no room for assumption about their beliefs following Blake's lawsuit against Baldoni.

The statement reads:

As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation. Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.

Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.

We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can still face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe work environment. We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others.

For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this important conversation online, please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times.

We love the lasting, strong friendship between these four!

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Colleen Hoover, Author of It Ends With Us

According to Entertainment Weekly, Colleen Hoover also spoke up in light of the damage Baldoni inflicted. She tagged Blake via Instagram Stories and wrote, "You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt." A picture of the author and star hugging followed Hoover's words, adding to the depth of the moment.

Paul Feig, Director of A Simple Favor

Director Paul Feig also shared his thoughts about what it's like to work with Blake on X. He said, "I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this."

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Robyn Lively, Blake Lively's Sister

The sisterly energy is real and we're so glad Blake is surrounded by it. Robyn, Blake's big sister, shared her full thoughts in a lengthy Instagram caption just 10 hours!

While encouraging people to do research for themselves by reading The New York Times article that details the devious plot to publicly destroy Blake, she had other things to say. "We live in an age where we have access to people’s personal lives like never before — especially actors. It makes us feel like we know them. We see them on social media, watch clips of them, and make snap decisions about their character," she wrote. This reminds me of the parasocial relationships author Amanda Montell detailed in The Age of Magical Overthinking — definitely something for us all to keep in mind.

She also called out how easy it is for the media to warp the public's perception of the truth. "The 'truth' in the tabloids is hardly ever what you think," she added before eventually expressing how "proud" she is that her sister "didn't allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies."

Bart Johnson, Blake Lively's Brother-in-law

According to Page Six, Blake's brother-in-law Bart Johnson didn't hesitate to share his thoughts about the behavior of Baldoni and his team. He reportedly wrote, "Her complaints were filed during the filming. On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him [Baldoni] for a reason." in the comment section of the NYT Instagram post about the lengthy deep dive into what happened.

He continued by writing, "His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out [sic] faults. But the public got played."

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Nicole Kidman Spills On Spending "A Lot Of Time In Bed" With Harris Dickinson During 'Babygirl' — Exclusive

The most important detail about any romantic movie is chemistry between its leads. Even the worst movie can be rescued by two characters you believe actually love each other. But that's not a problem for A24's Babygirl (in theaters December 25) because Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson have chemistry in spades. The new A24 movie follows CEO Romy (Kidman), who begins a torrid affair with a young intern named Samuel (Dickinson). And AMC queen Nicole says she knew Harris was different the moment he walked in the room.

Here's what Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson had to say about their chemistry in our exclusive Babygirl featurette.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson connected the moment they met.

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"As soon as he walked in, I was like, 'Oh good, here's somebody who's gonna play with me," Nicole Kidman says in our exclusive Babygirl featurette. "We spent a lot of time in bed. Hours would go by, and it was like you would step out of there and you would say, 'What just happened?'"

"From the moment [Samuel] sees her, he's attracted to her. He realizes there's someone at the height of their power," Harris says. "There was an element of mystique that needed to be there for the exploration of the relationship."

Harris continues that "perhaps there's something unfulfilled going on," perhaps referencing Romy's fizzled-out marriage with Jacob, while Nicole adds that "she's searching for something else" as the movie examines "desires, wants, [and] needs."

"Drink it in and be transported," she says.

And their chemistry in 'Babygirl' was so intense, Nicole Kidman had to take breaks from filming.

In addition to spending "hours" in bed (which, honestly sounds like a pretty good work day to me), Nicole told The Sun in October that filming those scenes with Harris Dickinson became so intense, she would need breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she said. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But having a woman at the helm of the film (writer-director-producer Halina Reijn) both made Nicole feel more comfortable, and empowered her to tell this story. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," she says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," Halina says, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?” See Babygirl in theaters December 25 to find out.

Here are the 10 New December Movies You Need To Add To Your Calendar ASAP.

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