This week's Image section talks about the latest trends in manicures and pedicures -- be it from the runways or the salons. But crawl before you can walk: Nail expert Deborah Lippmann, creator and chief executive of Lippmann Collection, shows you how to buff around the edges in this video.

RELATED:

The do-it-yourself manicure

Nail salons on the cutting (and polishing) edge

New nail designs debuting on fashion runways

This week's Image section talks about the latest trends in manicures and pedicures -- be it from the runways or the salons. Not willing to cough up the cash for a professional polish? We also have some DIY tips-- including this video on how to get a marble manicure from Kristina Baune Estabrooks, nail pro and educator for Creative Nail Design.

RELATED:

The do-it-yourself manicure

Nail salons on the cutting (and polishing) edge

New nail designs debuting on fashion runways

It will be interesting to see how people who have reigned in their spending will resuscitate pieces in their wardrobes to make them feel fresh and exciting.

L.A.-based designer Amal Guessous is customizing old clothes and accessories for people who want to feel like they’ve got new duds. He has been jazzing up everything from jeans to bags in his Melrose Avenue store and will apparently adorn Ugg Boots, Birkin Bags and American Apparel T’s with Swarovski crystals, crosses and fleur-de-lis.

Custom designs start at $45.

A word of advice: If you’ve got a Birkin and you’re tired of the way it looks -- crystal crosses are not going to make it better. Trust me.

Your initials on a T-shirt or the pocket of an old pair of jeans -- fine. Leave the Hermes at home where it belongs.

My plans for a customized spring wardrobe? A bathtub and a bottle of $3.99 Rit dye.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

A&G by Amal Guessous, 7922 Melrose Ave.

Photo: Leave the classics alone. Birkin bag with crosses. Credit: A&G

Maybe it was a backlash to yesterday’s slothfulness that caused me to wake up bright and early this morning with a hankering for some Target shopping.                

I hit my local store at 8:30 a.m., snapped a few things from the Thakoon for Target line and pushed my cart over to the little boys section where I sometimes find cute button-downs. There they had two racks filled with mismatched suit jackets and slacks in navy and black. I love the look of a shrunken preppy blazer, but the boys sizes at Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren are still more than $200.

Slipping on a boy’s size 10 or XL in navy, I immediately felt a rush of Hogwarts meets “School Ties” chic and the jacket was just $34.99. The only thing missing was the burnished gold buttons.

I stopped at a downtown fabric store that has bins of old buttons and found university-esque styles. I replaced the two buttons in the front and 2 on the cuffs. All 6 buttons cost just $3.

For under $40, I got the shrunken, prep school look I’ve been wanting. It also made for a fun and easy rainy day project -- perfect for today. 

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Target blazer "before." Credit: Melissa Magsaysay

Middle: Target blazer "after." Credit: Adam Tschorn

Bottom left: Ralph Lauren Rugby "little boy polo jacket" ($298). Credit: RL Rugby

Bottom right: Brooks Brothers little boys navy blazer ($268). Credit: Brooks Brothers

Last month I wrote about Bead for Life, the colorful beads made from recycled paper by poverty stricken women in Uganda. I bought a bag of beads from the website with plans to make most of my holiday gifts this year. Yesterday, I did just that.   

With high hopes of making a bunch of great bracelets for my friends, I walked into the Bead Boutique on 3rd Street thinking I would just buy some elastic or soft wire to string up all my beads, tying a little knot on the end and viola! It’s not that simple. It turns out there’s tons of different techniques that go into making even the most simple-looking accessory. 

I ended up taking a “Basic Beading” class. The two-hour class is $45 and teaches you super useful skills on the basics of jewelry making.  Even after my tutorial was up, they let me sit in the front of the store and work away at my bracelets all day long. I ended up with seven items made of a mixture of the Bead for Life beads and some fun vintage beads I bought at the boutique. Anything purchased the day you take a class is 10% off.

Throughout the day, crowds of people came through looking for ideas or supplies to create the holiday gifts they planned on making and giving. I sat in the front of my temporary “studio” feeling so clever and crafty. Check out my work above.

There are four classes: Basic Beading, Beginning Wire Wrapping, Intermediate Wire Wrapping and Silk Knotting. Call (323) 966-5880 for schedule and reservations.

Bead Boutique, 8313 West 3rd St., L.A., CA 90048

-- Melissa Magsaysay