How to Make Stunning Alexander Wang-Inspired Heels For $25

Tools and materials:

• One pair of high-heeled sandals
• Crystal mesh fabric
• E6000 glue
• Sewing needle and thread
• Scissors

1. Make crystal mesh straps

Cut a strip of crystal mesh fabric for each shoe. Each strip should be just a little wider than the strap on the front top of your shoe.

The length of the crystal mesh strip should be 1½ times the length of the strap. That will allow you to get a scrunched look on your strap.

Tip: get a clean cut on the crystal mesh by cutting between the crystals.

Put a thin line of E6000 glue at the bottom of the outer side of your shoe strap, right where the edge of the shoe meets the sole. 

Lay one short edge of the crystal mesh on the glue. Use your fingers to ensure it’s nice and smooth. Do the same on the other shoe and then leave them for a half-hour to dry and set.

2. Attach the crystal to your shoe strap

Use a needle and thread and begin at the glued edge of the strap. Hand-sew the crystal mesh to the strap for about 1 to 1½ inches.

Don’t make these stitches right at the edge of the mesh fabric – sew about a quarter of the way up from the edge.

Now you need to start gathering the crystal mesh. To make the gathers or pleats, pinch together some of the crystal mesh fabric.

Pass your needle through both layers of mesh and then down through your shoe strap. That makes one pleat and attaches the mesh to the strap at the same time. 

Start with making a couple of small pleats then make each pleat a bit taller until you get to the middle of the strap.

Decrease the height of the pleats as you do the second half of the strap so you end up with an arch of crystal mesh. Sew the last 1-1½ inches with no pleats.

When you reach the inside edge of the strap, cut off the excess mesh fabric.

Do not make this cut on an angle, even though that looks like it would be right, because cutting the mesh on an angle will make crystals fall off.

Glue the crystal mesh to the inside edge of the strap the same way you did for the outer edge.

Now, gather the pleats, manipulating them just the way you want it to look, and attach the crystal mesh to the shoe on the other long edge.

Repeat the application of the crystal mesh on your other shoe, checking as you go to make sure the pleating on the second shoe is a mirror image of the first shoe.

3. Adorn the back of the heel

Really, I adorned the back of the heel to cover a scuff mark! Apply glue and a small piece of crystal mesh at the back of the heel.

If you prefer, you can find a matching bow and add that to the back of the heel instead.

4. Another way to cover the shoe strap

The crystal mesh is very dressy, and if that’s not your style, you can use a plain mesh fabric that isn’t crystal. You could scrunch and gather it like before, or you could lay it flat on the strap.

Alexander Wang-inspired heels

Although I used crystal mesh, you could use other materials to cover your straps. Think about velvet, lamé, or sequins. That scrunchy pleated look can be achieved with any scrap fabric that you own.

Enjoy your Alexander Wang-inspired “Julie” heels and let me know in the comments how you liked this DIY designer heels dupe.