We don't mean the cute guys in chemistry class, we're talking about the ones on jeans, jackets, skirts and accessories. They're the hot thing for spring ready-to-wear, showing up in trendy boutiques and department stores everywhere. Leading fashion magazines feature the look on models and in photos of celebrities like Drew Barrymore wearing an embellished stud-and-rhinestone flower denim jacket, Cameron Diaz in jeans with a studded palm tree and Jennifer Lopez in leather pants with studs outlining the waistband and side seams.
The good news and the fun part is that it's easy to create this look yourself. A vast array of pronged metal studs, rhinestones with pronged tiffany settings and setting tools, and iron-on transfer patterns are readily available at craft stores and through Web sites (see Sources). You also can use prongless studs and rhinestones and specially formulated glue to decorate your sewn creations or favorite ready-to-wear garments.
Garment Selection
Whether you're planning to sew or use a ready-made garment, be sure to select sturdy fabric such as denim, faux leather or heavy twill to support the embellishment weight without distortion.
Choose a pattern or garment with interesting elements. You can apply your design to any garment area, but construction details such as seamlines, pockets, collars, plackets and cuffs offer built-in creative opportunities.
Design Planning
Break design into evenly spaced dots.
Peruse fashion magazines and sportswear departments for inspiration, look for iron-on transfers and project books where you purchase your studs and rhinestones, or just begin with your imagination, tracing paper and a pencil to sketch a design. Once your design is sketched, break it into a series of evenly spaced dots .
Consider the garment's construction details. Outline seamlines or edges, create an abstract design across a waistband or cuff, or apply free-form flowers, leaves, stars and words across the front or back of a top, or up a pant leg.
Use matching studs or rhinestones for the entire design or mix and match sizes, shapes and colors. Many studs are available in theme packages--such as the retro collection with happy faces, flowers, butterflies and peace signs--or in a kit complete with coordinating fringe, braid and appliquŽs. Trims can be applied first and then embellished, or secure them in place when setting the pronged studs.
Once you've determined the design, either follow the manufacturer's instructions to iron on the pattern, use transfer paper to transfer your tracing paper design, or use a disappearing fabric marker or chalk to mark stud placement dots on the fabric.
Break design into 
