I always find it incredibly inspiring to see what the best and brightest minds in fashion are doing to fabric.  How many ways can you be creative with a bolt of fabric?
Let’s see…

You can distress it, embroider, embellish, applique, fold, tuck, stitch and fray – just to start!

Check out some of the amazing ways the designers have altered fabric for their runway shows:

Lanvin covered every inch of their clothing with hand-stitched beads, sequins and embellishments.  I can’t image how many hours of work are in that one outfit – that’s a whole lot of skilled seamstresses all working for many, many hours!

This jacket from Issey Miyake isn’t printed, or even quilted – those blocks of color have all been finished and then woven together – and then stitched into a garment.

Japanese designer Atsuro Tayama has stitched layers of fabric together, and then roughly slashed them apart to create the layer details on this dress.

images: Zuma Press

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Lush, Embellished Fabric from Paris

I love browsing through photos from the shows and seeing the incredible mastery that the designers have with fabric.  They can take a humble bolt of fabric and turn it into a sculpture or a piece of art.

Not sure what I mean?

Check out these lush flowers from Colombian designer Leal Daccarett:

Aren’t those fabulous?  I can almost smell the peonies…

If you want to see some amazing embroidery, look at this outfit from Pakistani designer Deepak Perwani:

Unfortunately, I can’t post a high-res image, but trust me – the embroidery is flawless… and those shisha mirrors are not an easy feat!

Maheen Khan, also from Pakistan, showed more embroidered work:

The detailed gathers on the top are quite something as well.  The added fullness around the hem of the blouse is from dozens of little gores, stitched into the fabric.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to go brush up on some of my embroidery skills…

images: Zuma Press

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Fabric Artistry from Milan Fashion Week

Image from Wrapables.com

This Foot in the Door Doorstop is perfect for shoe lovers! Simply slip the tip of the shoe under your door and ta-da! It comes in black or red and is made from rubber. What a stylish way to keep your door open. At least you don’t have to damage the tip of your own real shoes for that purpose! Just don’t go around looking for the partner of this shoe… unless you want to keep another door open! Like say, your shoe closet?

This will make a great present for those who love shoes or for anyone who just wants to make that fashionable statement right at their home’s entrance!

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A Foot in the Door

I’ve been browsing through some of the collections from the shows and a few pieces have really popped out at me.  There are some prints that seem to have been directly inspired by quilting patterns!  In fact, not just at one show, but several designers have created fabrics with strong geometric designs and patterns.

Nicole Farhi used a strong square print for some of her dresses:

I’ve seen some art quilts, made with batik prints that have a similar feel to it.

This fabric from Basso & Brooke’s runway collection is more obviously printed, but those strong diagonal lines remind me of another traditional quilt print:

This dress from Paul Costelloe isn’t a “quilty” print, but I couldn’t resist leaving it out:

The fabric structure on the skirt just boggles my mind – it almost looks like origami to me!  I can’t tell if the fabric has been cut and sewn into that shape or if it’s been pressed in using heat…

images: Zuma Press

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Fantastic Fabrics at London Fashion Week

I’ve written about making your own beaded tights before (and I’d love to see some reader photos if you’ve tried making your own!) so the concept of DIY hosiery isn’t a new one…

For Fall 2009/Winter 2010, Miu Miu sent their models down the runway wearing gorgeous socks, accented with beads, buttons and sequins:

image: Miu Miu

And here’s a close-up of the socks:

image: Vogue

Are those not gorgeous?

Those socks got me thinking, and then rummaging through my beads and buttons…

It would be possible to create your own unique version of jeweled socks – and you’d be guaranteed that no one else would have the same pair!

I’d personally recommend lining the beaded part of the socks with a second layer of stretchy fabric (a light-weight cotton/lycra blend would do the trick).  Use a good quality thread and knot after every couple of beads, just to make sure all of the embellishments are securely stitched down.

And definitely hand-wash!

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DIY Bejewelled Socks from Miu Miu?

Fall is sometimes a little difficult to dress for because it’s in-between summer dresses and coats and scarves.  Remember that you don’t have to show a lot of skin to be sexy so it’s definitely a great time to cover up a little, but still look great.

Here are some tips for picking out your perfect sexy outfit for Fall:

• Wear boots. There are only a few weeks in Fall where the temperature is perfect for wearing boots with a dress and no tights.  A Fall wrap dress that comes to just above the knee would look great with a pair of heeled boots.  You get to show just the tiniest bit of leg!

• Find a great pair of tight-fitting dark skinny jeans. Go to a department store with a huge denim section and try on every pair until you find the perfect style that makes your butt look great!  Skinny jeans are perfect with ballet flats for a casual but conservative look.

• Wear a cotton V-neck or cowl neck.  Try tops with both necklines.  They can be very flattering for a curvy woman’s figure.  A sleeveless cowl neck is one of my favorite tops for Fall.

• Mix tight and loose on top and bottom.  If you wear tight pants, wear a blousey top and if you wear loose-fitting pants wear a more snug top.  This is one of my secrets for putting together an outfit quickly…leggings go with a empire waist top and comfortable trouser pants go with a tiny fitted top.  You will look great, stylish, and put together.

• Try wearing thin light-colored super soft cashmere layer.  I find thin cashmere to be very sexy, but you will have to do a little shopping to find out if the look is right for you.  I have a seafoam green super thin delicate cashmere sweater with a huge scoop neck, overly long sleeves, and a slight A-shape that is fabulous when layered over a tank.

• Get a cute Fall jacket.  Don’t get caught shivering without sleeves or sweating in a wool coat.  Find a cute cotton jacket in a color that will go with your closet.  If you wear a jacket, then you can also push your sleeveless wardrobe further into the Fall months.

• Wear a flowing silk blouse in a bright color or floral.  Again, a top doesn’t have to be tight to be sexy.  You can find a beautiful loose silk blouse that is extremely flattering to your figure.

• Wear your hair down.  Big bouncy curls are in this Fall, so try hot rollers or wear it down in a way that feels comfortable.  You will look beautiful!

Most importantly:  Be confident and comfortable in the way that you look and you will be beautiful and sexy.

Images: Nordstrom

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How to Dress Sexy This Fall

Although not as dramatic as foot binding, we can’t say that we don’t do harmful things to our bodies anymore, all in the name of beauty. Just look at the precarious high heels that many women wear that are known to cause problems like hammertoes and bunions.

Believe it or not though, it’s not just shoes. Doctors are discovering that even tight, so-called skinny jeans can cause pain and nerve damage. The tight clothing presses on a nerve that goes down through the groin and into the leg, causing numbness and/or pain. To understand how this happens, click on the TV screen below to watch a CBS news clip where Dr. Jennifer Ashton discusses what can happen:

~~~

Images: PhotoXpress.com and iStock.com

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Is Your Style Causing You Pain?

In addition, what are we teaching them about themselves?  To make a statement by dressing sloppily with holes in the knees and butt, midrift showing, and deep cleavage?

What are we teaching them about modesty, professionalism,  and , yes, conforming to the dress code where they work?

It appears to me that women object more than men to having dress codes and complain, “That isn’t me.  They’re squashing my personality.”

I work parttime at a deli.  I must wear a shirt of a color that isn’t my best and has the store insignia.  I also must wear a cap or hair net.  These aren’t something I feel are “me.”  We also cannot wear jeans.  In order to have the job and the income, I “conform” to the store dress code and state health regulations (cap or hair net).

I’m probably not the only one who feels that if a person doesn’t care about their appearance, they, in all likelihood, don’t care enough about their work to do a good job.  This may not be the case, but it is the thought that occurs to many people.

The old adage is true, “You only have a few seconds to make a first impression.”  Let’s teach our daughters, and sons, to make a good first impression…in appearance and actions.

What do you think?

Relevant Post:  Because I’m a Woman Don’t Tell Me How to Dress!

(Amy Butler patterns image at Amazon)

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What Are We Teaching Daughters About Dress?

It’s true, and it’s in its third year! Pet Fashion Week will be held in New York City at the Metropolitan Pavilion (Japan just wrapped up their second one) on August 22 and 23. They’re currently accepting applications for display inclusion, which can be downloaded online.

Pet Fashion Week was created “to provide a gallery setting for the refined pet lifestyle professional to both purchase and distribute the very best products in the industry.”

The product lines that will be displayed include all the basics:

~ Apparel
~ Collars and Leashes
~ Toys
~ Foods and Treats
~ Bedding
~ Jewelry and Accessories
~ Fragrances
~ Grooming and Health Products
~ Specialty Items

The two-day schedule includes symposiums, awards, exhibitions and several challenges.

More info about PFW can be found at the website, or by calling 401-331-5073.

[image: flickr]

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Pet Fashion Week, August 22-23

Ritsuko Shirahama created clothing that was inspired by the colors, texture and shape of vegetables and fruit.   Taking it one step further, she then created entire outfits entirely made of fruits and vegetables!

It’s definitely worth taking a look at her collection – what a great way to look at fashion…

You can see some great photos of her collection online here and here.

image: Stock.xchg

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Food as Textiles?