Gazing at the latest catwalk collections may fill you with wonder and delight; gazing at the contents of your bank account may not. In these cash-strapped times, investing in fashion’s top names may not seem like the wisest investment. So how can you recreate the catwalk’s hottest looks on a budget? Well we suggest you look to a perennial fashion staple: the plain white tee. With some imagination, a few won’t-break-the-bank supplies from your local haberdashers and a t-shirt you can create your own individual take on the the latest trends. You don’t have to be a sewing whizz either, with our simple instructions you can update your wardrobe and have your pals asking where you bought that t-shirt in no time!

Feathers of Fancy at Giles

Giles Deacon’s latest collection included some pieces that probably wouldn’t go down too well on public transport; a blow-up bomber jacket wouldn’t have anyone offering you their seat and you certainly wouldn’t be the most popular girl on the bus in a spike-studded leather skirt. However one of his more whimsical and witty pieces was a dress encrusted with feather fly fishing appliques. We aren’t advocating that you roll in glue before raiding someone’s fishing toolbox, but this fun idea can provide the basis for an individual and different white tee.

How to:

You could head to your local fishing supplies centre, otherwise a good haberdasher should sell a selection of brightly hued exotic feathers. Simply attach the plumes to the t-shirt using white thread, or if you’re really lazy, some strong fabric glue. For the unadventurous, you could create a small-scale feather accent or if you want to create something more fashion-foward, add feathers to the neckline. For a really on-trend look, create statement shoulders with the plumage.

Wear with: The bright colours of the feathers will really stand out against a monochrome ensemble. For a smart-casual evening look, team with a miniskirt, some killer heels and a clutch. Alternatively go on-trend at the weekend – pair the tee with your favourite jeans and military-style blazer.

Dramatically Dotty at Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana injected their AW09 collection with the usual dose of high-octane glamour and dramatic style, showing pieces in black, white and eye-popping pink. They added a touch of sparkle to ladylike shapes, creating a polkadot pattern with all over embellishments. Whilst this dress is a truly stunning piece, guaranteed to turn heads, it’s probably slightly out of your budget, so why not add a touch of sparkle to a plain white (or black) t-shirt with some DIY applique?

How to: These “crystal” embellishments are widely available at haberdashers and generally fairly cheap. Admittedly creating this piece may be a little more time-intensive then the Giles tee, but the finished result will be worth it. Plus you can easily create the piece whilst watching television or listening to the radio – hooray for multi-tasking! We suggest that you lay the t-shirt flat and stick the embellishments on first, before sewing them on with coordinating thread. If the all-over look is a bit too disco, perhaps try creating a starburst design over one of the shoulders or near the neckline.

Wear with: Just because it’s sparkly, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be confined to eveningwear! You could wear this t-shirt with neutral coloured trousers or a skirt during the day – finish with a smart suit jacket for a polished look. Rock this season’s biker trend and pair with jeans, a badgirl leather jacket and high heeled boots – add red lipstick if you’re wearing in the evening.

Va-va-velvet at Christopher Kane

Admittedly, velvet was a fabric we didn’t expect to see back on the catwalks any time soon, but king of bringing it back (pale denim, bodycon or neon anyone?) Mr Christopher Kane has proved us wrong yet again. Kane’s AW09 collection was understated, perfectly styled elegance and the kind of pared back chic that just screams expensive without trying too hard. Whilst other designers (Lanvin, Armani, Burberry Prorsum) showed all-over velvet pieces, Kane instead chose to create pattern and texture, cleverly layering and criss-crossing beautifully-hued velvet ribbons. If you’re not ready to dive back into the dark days when the fabric was a la mode, this velvet-lite version is the perfect alternative.

How to: It’s probably best if you have a sewing machine (or a friend with one) to create this t-shirt. Kane chose jewel-toned contrasting ribbons and we suggest you do the same if you want to produce a similarly stunning effect. Alternatively choose similar tones which work well together – perhaps black, navy and grey – for a more subtle style. It’s best to lay the ribbons on the t-shirt, cut to size and tack using thread in a contrasting colour. You could opt to attach ribbons all over the front of the tee in a crisscross pattern to imitate Kane’s style, alternatively if you have less time, sew four or five ribbons across the bustline – this will create a bust-boosting optical illusion too!

Wear with: For daytime, team with loose-fitting tweed trousers or a pencil skirt and a coordinating cute cardigan – add brogues for the total Kane look. This tee would look amazing in the evening worn with a metallic miniskirt and lashings of black eyeliner.