Designer-Inspired DIY Distressed Patch Denim Shorts

My inner child – the one who wore bell bottoms and was addicted to her mom’s records – is seriously loving this patch trend. The playful, boho vibe is great for summer and I’d love to see it on the perfect pair of distressed, not-too-tight cutoff denim shorts.

Take, for example, the Rails Logan Patch Denim Shorts.

OH JK THEY ARE LIKE $200.

Lucky for me I have a whole box of old funky patches from craft stores, garage sales, and Girl Scouts sitting in my sewing box. Time to get to work!

The directions here are simple: find shorts, pick patches, and attach! For bonus points, grab your embroidery needle and stitch on some simple additions like dots or hearts. Many of my embellishments were iron-on or press-on patches, but if you really want them to stick remember to stitch them in place.

I can offer a few tips. First, some patches look cuter layered over one another. It adds a little more dimension and keeps the shorts as denim with patches and not just patches with a side of denim. Also, be very aware of the placement, especially in your curve areas. For example, on the back I kept all large patches toward the outside so the peak of booty (the middle) wouldn’t have thick embellishments sticking out in weird ways.

See what I mean? Much better this way. Scroll down to see what these embellished shorts look like on.

Currently wearing… Shorts c/o hazel2blue and embellished by me | Tee, American Apparel | Rebecca Minkoff 5-Zip Crossbody, Nordstrom Rack | Shoes c/o Naturalizer | Sunglasses c/o Shine Boutique

Ah yes, the perfect patch for an ass built on pizza. This is what I’ll be wearing all summer long.

Want more sewing crafts? Check out my DIY Faux Leather Statement Necklace or DIY Embellished Sequin Patch Pin.

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