DIY | Dip Dye Ombre Ballet Flats

Ombre has definitely become one of my favorite trends of the season and when I discover a new iteration of it, I get really excited and have to emulate it. For this DIY, I was inspired by these beautiful dip dyed ballet flats from Anthropologie. Here's how to create your own...

Materials:

- ballet flats (mine are poly satin and faux suede from H&M, but works best with natural fabrics like suede and cotton) (similar here)

- RIT liquid dye ( purple, fuschia, and teal)

- sponge brush

- measuring spoons

- gloves

Steps:

1. Create your dye baths. First, boil water. You will need about 4 liters.  For the fuschia dye bath, pour about 1 1/4 liters of water, along with 3 tablespoons of salt into a container. Then, add about 3 tablespoons of fuschia RIT dye. For the purple dye bath, pour about 1 1/4 liters of water, along with 3 tablespoons of salt into a container.  Then, add about 2 tablespoons of fuschia RIT dye and 3 tablespoons  purple RIT dye.  After, for the teal dye bath, pour about 1 1/4 liters of water, along with 3 tablespoons of salt into a container.  Then, add about 3 tablespoons of teal.

2.  If your ballet flat has a bow, you can tape it to the inside to prevent it from dying. Then for the fuschia/pink ballet flat version, quickly dip the front end of the flat into the fuschia dye bath. Then dip only about 1" into the dye bath for a couple minutes, so the tip of the flat is richer in color. Let this dry. For the purple/teal ballet flat version, quickly dip the front end of the flat into the purple dye. Then dip only about 1" into the dye bath for a couple minutes, so the tip of the flat is richer in color.  

3.  To finish up the purple/teal version, paint on the teal dye with the sponge brush.  Leave a gap of about 1 1/2" unpainted.  

4. Afterwards, run the sponge brush under water until fully clean. Then, paint on water at the edge to smoothen the ombre. Let fully dry.