6th March 2012
If you eat fruit salad and don’t instagram it, did you ever really eat it? If you go to the flower markets and don’t instagram it, did you ever really go? And if your puppy looks up at you with puppy dog eyes you don’t instagram it, do you even own a dog?
Ok so clearly I’m just as obsessed with instagram as everyone else…
My week:
Speaking at the Redress Design Competition (video to come) | Sewing labs at Hong Kong Design Institute
Tassel garland DIY | Not so average jewelry storage
Best cheesecake @ Posto | Button shopping
Sweet treats | Family visit to HK (feat. new Ellery sunnies – I want!)
Neck Candy DIY | Glass beads at the markets in HK
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22nd February 2012
Being addicted to all things tribal, printed and mini I recently collaborated with
College Fashion in making this embellished mini skirt that channels the bang-on-trend Aztec/tribal vibe that I love so much (check
this out if you don’t believe me!). At the risk of sounding like a broken record, for this project I took a little inspiration from one of my favourite
Sass & Bide collections, a few pieces from which you can see below. Same same, but different.
I had a somewhat blah black thrifted skirt in my closet that I thought would be the perfect base for this project – and knew that with a little imagination I could make it something I would want to wear all the time come summer.
You need:
- A skirt – check out your local thrift or dollar stores.
- Around 2 metres of embroidered trim
- A needle and thread (or sewing machine)
- Scissors
How to:
1. To create the basic mini skirt, I shortened the longer skirt to mini length. To do this, measure the appropriate length by using a skirt you already wear as a guide for cutting.
2. Hem the skirt by rolling the fabric over and sewing down.
3. Cut two pieces of trim to match the length all the way around of the hem and waistband. If you want you can use a lighter to lightly singe the trim so it doesn’t fray.
4. Hand sew (or use a sewing machine) to attach the printed trim to the waistband and the hem – sewing both edges to secure. Update: For the top piece I located the edges of the embroidered trim on either side of the back zip, and for the bottom piece I overlapped the trim and sewed it down on the left hand side.
And there you have it, all done! A perfectly chic, on-trend and inexpensive mini skirt which will take you into spring without so much as a backwards glance.
Wearing: DIY Mini skirt | H&M t-shirt | Karen Walker Sunglasses | Mango Boots | Locally Designed Rings | DIY Bell Bracelets
On another note, I’m speaking next week on my favourite subject of reworked clothing and before & after projects at a conference for
Redress. Looking forward to it.
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7th February 2012
You probably already know that peplums are set to be a key trend this season. I was recently pondering how I could make my own version of the peplum – without having to faff around with bias cutting circular fabric etc. I then remembered a linen skirt that I thrifted a few weeks ago on a whim (one dollar yall!) and realised that its construction made it perfect for my next before & after project. The peplum skirt.
Wearing: DIY Peplum skirt, Country Road Singlet, Karen Walker Sunglasses, DIY suede anklets (tutorial to come), heels courtesy of Tony Bianco.
The original skirt had a flared/fishtail style hem that was cut on the bias, not unlike the way a peplum is cut. I decided to remove it from the bottom of the skirt and resew it onto the top of the same skirt, this was actually a lot more simple than it looks.
Here’s a little S/S12 peplum inspiration for you.
You need:
- A flared hem skirt (examples
here and you’ll find them in thrift stores )
- Scissors
- A sewing machine
- Thread matching your skirt
- Pins
How to:
1. First remove the flared part of the skirt using scissors. I did this by separating the seams so I didn’t cut into the fabric and cause fraying.
2. My skirt only actually had the flared part at the sides and flat panels at the back and front. I cut the whole section off including the flat panels.
3. Cut the flared section into two panels to go on the sides of your skirt. I did this by putting the flared section on around my waist and working out how much fabric to remove to have the peplums sitting on the sides with about a 10cm gap in the middle.
4. Hem the edges of the peplum pieces so they look clean and polished.
6. Pin the peplum pieces to the skirt.
7. Sew the peplum pieces onto the skirt. My skirt had a zip in the back left hand side of the skirt so I sewed the peplum on but only to the edge of the zip, and then I attached the rest of the peplum (about 5cm) with a hook and eye. If your skirt has a zip in the middle of the back it will be much easier.
8. Finally I hemmed the skirt.
How easy was that? I wore it recently and it was a complete winner! For those of you who are interested, in these pics I’m also wearing another of my recent DIYs – black suede fringed anklets over the top of black suede Tony Bianco heels. Tutorial to come.
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