Bringing it back: Summer Fashion

Let's go Boho!

2005 was the highest point of the Bohemian style. Kate Moss being the instigator with it being the year of the height of her fame.

Last year the most popular summer trend was the kimono, worn as a casual, light cover for the arms and shoulders but still holding that effortless style. This was the point of the great comeback of the Boho Chicks.

This year Kendall Jenner and Vanessa Hudgens are but two examples of the most fashion inspiring women flaunting the look.

 The key aspects that can make it easy for it to find its way into your wardrobes:

• Obviously, bright, eye grabbing colours. This could be done by contrasting colours and tones, or even complementary colours with one piece as the main feature of colour.
• Bold, geometric patterns, Aztec patterns
• Drape, using the natural fall of the fabric to accentuate the bodily curves.
• Natural fibres, light weight natural fabrics. For example cotton, linen.
• Chunky jewellery. Beads, bangles, chains and pendants.

And my personal favourite, the Harem Trousers:

So, Boho is back. Which era of fashion will be next? The 1920s shift dresses? Curvaceous 1940s? 1970s Punk? Disco?

Next week I will do a tutorial either on tie dying, bleach painting using a tie dye method or silk steaming to link into the Boho summer ahead. 

Till next Monday.

Rag Rugging:Textiles

Rag Rugging

This technique is so easy, and if you build it up, will give great texture and design. It can be used to create so many different things. for example, wall hanging, pillow case covers and of course a rug.

You will need:

• Hessian fabric, or a fabric with a really loose, wide weave 
• strips of different fabric
• Ragging tool (picture below)
• Scissors

1. Cut your hessian to size. Go larger than you need too.

2. Grab your ragging tool and strip of fabric.

3. Push your tool through the hessian from underneath.

4. Hook your fabric strip onto the tool in the centre.

5. Pull the fabric through but not all the way.
 

Simple!
From here just build up the fabric pieces and you'll get an amazing result.
Here's my small sample:

Batik: Textiles

Batik

(Pictures are not my own)

Batik is a very simple technique that simply involves using hot wax to block out areas of fabric, so they are not coloured by dye.

You need:

• A hot wax pot
• Melted wax
• Wax tools or paint brush
• White cotton fabric
• Dye bath

1. 

Heat your wax pot, so the wax is melted. Put your tools or paint brush into the wax.

2.

After lightly pencilling out your design, go over it in the hot wax, using your chosen tool.

3.

If you want a webbed look to your final sample, then scrunch up the wax so it cracks before you dye it.

4. 

Place the fabric into your dye bath. 

5.

When you've taken the fabric out of the dye bath and it has dried, then you need to iron off the wax. This is done by putting the fabric in between two pieces of paper, then simply ironing over the paper till all the wax has melted off. you may have to refresh the paper.

If you want mutliy tonal/coloured fabric with different patterns. Then simply add more wax patterns and dye it again. Play with it until you find your style.

When you thought it was all over: Textiles & Fashion

When you thought it was all over...

Recently my dog at home has had a sudden growth spurt, and with larger body dimensions comes of course, bigger teeth and more endurance. Good bye are the puppy toys and hello are my new heels. In the past week our darling Boo has gnawed on not one, not two but three pairs of brand new high heels. My most favourite black leather heels were victim to darling last Saturday. I was planning on wearing them to a party this week. 

R.I.P

However...

All is not lost! With some creativity and a lot of glue and gems I have been able to salvage them and they can be worn another crazy night, to make some new crazy memories. I hope this post will save and help make your outfits. 

The theme to the party I am attending was punk/rock so I could go a bit mad with the gems, by all means less is more, but I do like a bit of sparkle.

Before work I stopped at a craft shop called The Works. There I found packs of gems which were perfect for some creative TLC.

During Operation Heels I also used a hot glue gun, safety pins and poppers.

And my heels were reborn in all their punk glory.

The wardrobe crisis was prevented, and my outfit lived happily ever after.

The End.

The Corset: Fashion

The Corset

Inspired by a costume party I am attending and also the immense propaganda, this week’s posts topic is corsets and waist training. We are all familiar with the Victorians who first made the corset most famously recognised; however the first recorded image of a corset was in 2000 BC. So the corset is not new, but a recording fashion trend and body shaping addiction. Other names for the not new fashion craze are figure training and tight lacing. Beyoncy and the Kardashians have made it become a more advertised trend; making people of today go into corset training.

As most of us may know it involves sculpting the waist and torso into a desired shape. This involves reducing the waist, flattening the stomach and reshaping the ribs. However it is not a quick fix, it can take months or over a year to achieve your goal with a mix of corsets, diet and exercise. The body has to slowly conform to the corset shape.

The corset will need to be worn 12-14 hours per day. These hours will need to be gradually increased if you are a beginner from 5 hours, slowly to 12-14. Although the corset does not cause any pain it does cause difficulty breathing, displacement of internal organs, damage to the ribs and in some cases poor posture so that unless the corset is worn the torso slumps due to muscle reduction.

Normally when you take off the corset your body would return to its normal shape, but with waist training, the changes to your body slowly becomes permanent. It does promote weight loss as the crinching to the waist constricts the stomach which would normally be filled with air.

You wear these bodyslimmers your body assumes the desired shape. Normally, once you take off the body shaper your body returns to normal. With waist training, however, the changes eventually become permanent as your body adjusts to its new shape. The tight crincher around your waist also constricts your digestive system, reducing appetite and helping promote weight loss to speed up the waist training process. Some say that the garment makes you perspire off the inches of waist, but this is sadly not true. Its healthy eating and exercise that truly helps shed the pounds.

If you are considering buying a waist trainer, then do your research and do it properly. It is a life style decision so make sure it suits your life style and is taking into account your body shape. All bodies are different.

Your corset should be 3-4 inches smaller than your natural waist line. For waists 36 inches or more it should be 5-6 inches smaller.

Remember it takes dedication and a change in your normal day to day life. If it’s to achieve your goals then do it and do it responsibly!

Here are two images of the results of my ice dying technique from last week:

Ice dyeing: Textiles

Ice dyeing

This week I thought I'd try a technique I've never done before, and came across on pintrest this weekend. As I am doing this technique whilst posting, I'll post an image of the final result tomorrow or next week on my next blog post, if I don't get there before Elana.

Its a simple technique!

All you need is:

• A selection of powder dyes
• Cotton fabric
• Ice
• Salt
• A bucket or tray

1. Soak your cotton in a warm salt water bath for about 3 minutes. 

2. Take the fabric out, sprinkle salt granules onto it and scrunch it. Then put it in or on your bucket or tray. The salt should prevent colour in some patches.

3. Cover the fabric in ice.

4. Sprinkle your dyes over the ice and leave it over night. Wear gloves as precaution so you do not get dye all over your hands like I have done.

Here is a picture of the final result of ice dyeing from trusty google. I will post mine asap!

10 Looks Of 2015: Fashion

10 Looks Of 2015

1: Simple but bold colours. Brining back 60's colours.

 

2: Animal print.

 

3: Go tailored and clean cut.

4: Cargo. For effortless casual chic.

5: Roman sandals. This summer its less chunky and more sassy.

6: Leather jackets. Its back to the days of the bikers.

7: Boobs and lace. If you have it, flaunt it.

Its all about the female form and looking sexy, this was the look of the 1930s. Kim Kadashian is the best example. 

8: Denim on denim. Taking it back to the late 60's early 70's.

9: Bralette. 1970's hippy.

10: Straight, linear and sleek.