Be your own designer

Originality is hard these days. Just when you think you’ve found a shirt from some obscure boutique that no one else will have, your best friend shows up at dinner wearing the exact same T (only she makes sure to remind you that her’s was half off). If you’ve been feeling the originality slump like me, it’s time to become your own designer. Even if you haven’t graduated from Parsons School of Design, you can create a style all your own without stitching one hem.  Online sites are popping up that allow you to pick your own fabrics, colors and hardware to create purses, shoes, undies and more. Here are some favorites that I found on my hunt for originality:

Purses.
Instead of spending your rent money on a generic monogrammed designer bag, why not create a handbag that actually reflects your style? One site, Freddy and Ma.com, lets you choose from hundreds of playful prints, various leathers and different types of hardware (for the clasps and hooks). I loved that I could design a nautical Hamptons style bag with anchors or a gothic clutch with skulls all in one place. F&M also lets you instantly view your creations, which makes it even easier to obsess over every different color combination. At another great site, 1154 Lill Studio, you can even choose the fabric for your purse’s interior pocket lining. I felt like a real designer, paying such attention to detail.

Shoes.
You work out in them every day (well, maybe not every day), so why not have a pair of sneakers you’re actually excited about wearing? At Nike.com you can ID your shoes and even have the freedom to choose your pair’s mud protector color. My favorite part—you can have your name tagged on the tongue, so while you’re showering at the gym, some oblivious person won’t take them by accident. This site is so high-tech that I felt as if I was designing something really serious, like a spacecraft. And, by the time I was finished, I was motivated to try out my new shoes, which is definitely a good thing.