We tried a TikTok style hack for turning tights into DIY crop tops– here's how to make it work

• There's a lot of creative style tips and hacks on TikTok.
• We tested a TikTok tutorial for creating crops tops from tights to make our own unique designs.
• Fashion blogger Billie Newland came up with the DIY hack.

The following is a transcription of the video:

Irene Kim: So, like everyone else in the world, I've been watching a lot of TikToks, including some really cool style hacks. So I'm gonna test one out with my coworkers today. For scientific reasons. And because it'll be nice to have some human contact. [phone rings]

Nico Reyes: Can you hear me?

Irene: Yes. [laughs]

Nico: I can't hear you.

[screams] [beep] Irene: All right. Premiere of this TikTok we're about to attempt.

Nico: I have a headache! It was so fast. It was like - [laughing]

Irene: Tight sizes are by, like, your weight and height. But then I realized, when I ordered mine, it's, like, one size fits all. So that might not work here, [laughing] so I'm actually really worried.

Nico: I just feel like it's gonna rip so fast.

Kyle Kerchaert: How are you supposed to fit, like, your butt through the neck area? [laughing] Through the crotch? [laughing]

Nico: Can you imagine throwing this in your washing machine and wearing it again? Like, no way.

Irene: Any final thoughts? [internet dial-up sound] I'll see you guys on the other side. So, I got these sheer tights from Amazon with stars on them, because I want to try to recreate this old crop top that I love but is way too big for me now. So if this works, I will literally wear it all the time.

Kyle: I had an idea that this could look really cool with, like, a fishnet design. It just reminded me of, like, a lot of the mesh tops that feel really of the moment. And so I went on to Amazon and I found these really cute "celestial net tights," and they have little stars and moons on them.

Nico: Here are the tights that I chose. They're from Target, and they have, like, this stripy ribbed pattern, that I thought - I don't know, it could look cool on my arms? I have no faith in this hack, but I'm excited to see what happens.

Irene: How do you know how much to cut off? This is, like, the tip of the foot, yeah, but.... This is... this is too much math!

Kyle: I can't get over how this is, like, a direct rip-off of Victoria's Secret packaging. You're not fooling anyone. I have, like, no idea... [dial tone] where the foot ends and the ankle begins.

Nico: I'm getting nervous. I think this looks right. [laughs] This looks right to me. If it's too short, we'll go with it and say it's a style, OK? OK, we're cutting. We're just gonna... my scissors aren't cutting them.

Irene: So, in the TikTok, she cut out the white part that's normally on tights for a crotch area, but these tights don't have that area marked out, so I'm not sure how much I'm supposed to cut. So I guess we're just gonna do it and see what happens.

Kyle: Like, what's a big enough hole that I think that, like, my head could fit through? On each side, there's a star. Let me point it out for you. Right here. It's even on each side of the tight. So, it's right there, and there's one on the other side too, right there. So I'm gonna use that as my guide. Excuse me while I just get this lined up. I'm gonna - [whoosh]

Nico: Like, I don't know how far up she went, and these tights don't have, like, that oval-y shape at the bottom, 'cause they're more like a pair of shorts than a pair of panties.

Irene: [laughs] What have I done? I mean, [sniffs] it's a small disaster.

Kyle: Um, OK. That didn't come out as, like, neat as I hoped it would. [laughing] Wait, I just realized that I've done all the cutting, and this... this... is supposed to fit on me!

Nico: Oh, God. Guys, it's not looking great. This crotch looks ugly. The only thing that's giving me some sort of comfort in this process is that Kyle and Irene might be doing a worse job than me, so that's good. [laughs]

Irene: Who wants to reveal first?

Nico: I think I did the worst, so I'm hesitant to reveal my body.

Irene: Why do you think you did the worst?

Nico: I just feel like things went south very quickly, and I got a little scissor happy. So I'm scared to show you.

Kyle: That makes me wanna see you first.

Irene: Yeah, I wanna see.

Nico: OK. I'll step up right now. I'm gonna hide this way. [laughing] I'm not naked, I swear. I'm gonna hide this way.

Irene: That's iconic. [record scratch]

Nico: Guys, you didn't even tell me my pants were - [laughing] But here's my top. This is what it looks like [Irene gasps] Yep.

Irene: Oh, my God!

Kyle: Nice!

Nico: So, I was trying to model it. This was when I actually had to stuff the sleeves underneath my straps of my bodysuit to try to keep it up. The neck of the shirt, it was a little too wide, and now every time I move, it just moves lower and lower off of my shoulders, and it's not my best work!

Kyle: I feel like you were exaggerating so much! It looks cute! What are you talking about?

Irene: It looks cute! Nico: Who is next? I need to see someone else.

Kyle: I had to do, like, a little self-photo-shoot, so don't judge. But I had fun.

Nico: That's all that matters. [gasps] Oh, my God, shut up!

Irene: Oh, my God!

Nico: These are full-on modeling shots. You look so good.

Kyle: But the top looks so bad.

Nico: No!

Irene: The sleeve looks good.

Kyle: If you can you can see now... [laughing]

Nico: Literally, ours are all the way down. It still looks pretty cute. I feel like yours is way more passable.

Irene: Oh, man. I don't want to go anymore, 'cause you guys both came out looking really fierce, and I feel like I'm the middle schooler here, just like, "Oh, mine's, like, maybe cute. I don't know." All right, this one's mine.

Nico: Oh, my God! What the hell, whose pink wall? Whose pink wall?

Irene: Oh, the pink wall is a very sketchy lingerie shop off the highway. [laughs] Oh, yeah, I have my little star skirt, which I -

Nico: Oh, my God. That is so cute.

Irene: The sleeves came out cute, actually. And then, I think it does stay up. I wanted it, like, sleeveless, but....

Nico: Yeah. Irene: I think they do maybe stay up.

Nico: Honestly, I love it with the little sleeves.

Irene: I feel like this exposes it as tights, 'cause they're not cut even. They started running. So, at first it looked kinda cool, 'cause it was just, like, two, so it looked, like, on purpose, but now they're just ripping all over, so I don't know how much longer this is gonna last, honestly. I would 100% do this, like, if I needed something last minute. 'Cause it does, like, fit pretty well. Like, I was worried about that weird -

Nico: Pit.

Irene: Yeah! But it actually fits, like, perfectly.

Nico: I wanted to Hulk out of this shirt, 'cause I was like, "This is gonna be so dumb and rip so easily." I don't think I can. I think it's actually stretchy enough to withstand my flexing. I think I would call this DIY passable. It's definitely not something that I think I'm gonna keep forever. Like, I think I would wear this once for a photo or two, and then be like, OK, I'm kinda done using it.

Irene: Do we give it a thumbs up?

Nico: Thumbs up.

Kyle: I'll give one. One thumb.

Nico: Oh, yeah, that's fair.

Irene: I'm giving it two, 'cause I would do it.

Nico: Oh, my God. That's what I thought we looked like, the goth rave dancing girls. Like, did you ever see that meme of the rave dancers, like? [heavy metal]