Vintage Daisy Duke Shorts: How-to

Daisy Duke cut-off shorts. Made ever so popular by Catherine Bach in the late and great TV show Dukes of Hazard that started in 1979. One of my favorite and easiest  items to make from thrift store clothes are the vintage cut-off shorts. I am going to go through a step-by-step process on how to make them. Every girl needs cute cut-offs to show off their legs in the summer! Boys always swoon over these shorts. You can buy them at the a store like American Eagle but a) they are $30-$40 bucks compared to $6 from the thrift store b) they do not look natural c) and they do not fit as good. The store bought shorts do not show the same relaxed effect as home-made thrift store Daisy Duke (well in my opinion of course!)

Here it goes:

Step 1: Shop and gather your supplies

Here are the supplies you will need to make the vintage cut-offs. In the picture there are the jeans (I'll go into more detail about them in a bit), a pair of sturdy scissors, measuring tape, a fabric marker (you can get this at a local craft store e.g Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's Fabrics, etc.), an iron and ironing board, and not pictured you will need a washer and dryer.

Here are the jeans. Yes, they are ugly! You want them ugly aka the typical mom jean. There's a secret though, do not buy women's jeans buy men's. Shocker! This way the jeans are looser in the legs compared to women's jeans. You want to buy your jeans a size or two bigger than what you normally wear, high waist-ed, Levis and Wranglers work the best, and no stretchy jeans! You want jeans that are stiff with no stretch at all. Stretchy jeans will not work. These particular pair were $6.95 from the local Goodwill!

Step 2: Lay out your jeans on a flat surface

 Step 3: Measure out 3 inches from the inseam (the crotch) with measuring tape. Make a mark with the fabric marker. The best thing about the fabric maker is that it washes off.

Step 4: Do the same thing on the outside of jeans up the outer seam at the hip. Measure down about 12 inches from the top of the jeans. Mark with fabric pen.

Step 5: From marker line to marker line cut the leg of the jean off. Make sure there is a down ward slope or upward depending on where you are cutting. The cut is high on the hip seam and goes low on the inseam. The slant is a key to a good fit. If you want shorter jeans create more of a slant.

Step 6: Fold the jeans in half. Cut along the leg that was already cut off.

Step 7: Dispose of legs, they're starting to look like shorts now!

Step 8: Now it is time to distress the jeans. This part is up to you. You can distress them, but you do not have to if you like them plain. Simply bunch together where you would like a hole and cut slits to the size you would like.
                                                                

Step 9: In the pocket area if you want to create a distressed hole do the same thing as in the leg of the jeans, but this time watch out for the pocket. You do not want to cut it.

Step 10: Done, as you can see I cut a hole in the left side of the jeans, up in the pocket, and on the back pockets. I know they still don't look like much yet but just wait!

Step 11: Put them in the washer and dryer and wash them like a normal cycle.

Step: 12: Whalahhh! They are done. The washer and dryer give them the distressed effect. It is almost like magic!

Front

Back

Step 13: Now you can chose to stop at post 12 if you like the shorts like that, but if you like shorts rolled up, get your iron and ironing board! Roll up the shorts about a 1/2 an inch.

Step 14: Iron down the fold to make it stay better when wearing.

Step 15: And.... you're done! You have officially made your own pair of Daisy Duke shorts! Try not to be the envy of every place you go. Just kidding, knock them dead! Pair with a cute chiffon top, a bow top, or a plaid shirt. Throw on some combat boots, and you are ready to go!

Hope you enjoyed this how-to tutorial, follow up next week for my next thrift store tutorial!