Fashion Fix: Festival Wellies 1: Boho Chic

Photo Farrows Creative

Wellies.

We're all going to need them at some point this summer.

Ros and I designed a pair that would have Sienna Miller knocking down our door to get her mits on them. This was also shot and styled on our summer time shoot for Cloth Mag in Ros's Parents' back garden.

This is a wonderfully simple fashion fix with NO SEWING! Use trim, fringing and anything else you’ve collected to create these festival fantastic ethnic willies. Use Contact adhesive and create a neat finish by placing all seams to the centre back of the wellie. I got the mad fringing trim from a Vintage upholstery stall at a market, and the boho beaded trim from an Asian specialist fabric shop. The colours and detailed embellishments that you find in such specialist shops beats the british counterparts hands down when it comes to Festival Boho Chic.

Boho not your thing? Look out for the second post in the Festival Wellies series for something a bit more flowery...

Fashion Fix: Festival Headdress

Photo Farrows Creative

Native American chief headdresses are large and ornate, usually made with feathers and beads. In recent times they have become the ultimate festival accessory. Traditionally made with eagle feathers and worn as ‘warbonnets’, the headdress is steeped in history and instead of trying to recreate these incredibly intricate and superior creations, I have simply taken inspiration from the majestic image they present and created our own magnificent plumage for the festival-goer.

This gorgeous photoshoot was done in Ros's parents back garden, using a load of our friends for festival goers in the background and shot by Toby Farrow. It was featured in Cloth Magazine, which Ros and I used to come up with projects for and style the shoots. We built up a wonderful relationship with Toby as our photographer, and I hope the fun we had that day comes out in these shots.

I have collected together a number of projects made for summer issues of Cloth to inspire you over the next few months in time for summer Festival Fashion.

Photo Farrows Creative

You will need:

• 2 metre x 2 inch thick strip of leather
• 1m x 1 inch thick braid
• 2m brightly coloured trim
• assorted colours and lengths of ribbon
• assorted beads
• feathers: imitation eagle feathers, pheasant feathers, coloured quills, biots and strung biots. We used in excess of 100 feathers.
• 2 Large disc-shaped gems
• contact adhesive
• glue gun and glue sticks
• tape measure
• fabric and paper scissors
• sewing machine with leather needle
• 20cm of 1 inch thick elastic
• all purpose glue

How to do it:

1. Measure your head circumference. Cut a length of leather that goes from ear to ear across the forehead. 
2. Complete the circumference with the elastic, sew to the leather to make a head band.
3. Starting at one end of the leather strip, tuck the end of the braid under and sew in place.  Fold and press so that the braid sits along the leather. 
4. Create channels for each quill within the leather and braid by machining running stitches all the way along the leather headband.
5. Tuck the end of the braid under to finish. 
6. Using your larger feathers (pheasant and coloured quills) place a blob of all purpose glue on the quill nibs and push into the braid tunnels making sure your longer feathers are more central. Arrange to your own design
7. Cut the remaining leather in half to give you two equal lengths. These will be the pieces that hang down either side of the main head band. Apply a thin layer of contact adhesive along the strip as well as to the nibs of the feathers. Leave to go tacky and then arrange feathers down these strips. Keep the longer feathers at the top of the strip and allow them to gradually shorten to a point at the bottom.
8. Use your strung biots to add another layer of feathers to the central headdress and down the sides again using contact adhesive. Build up your feathers until you are happy with the look.
9. Using all purpose glue use your coloured trim to cover the line of where all the feathers are glued onto the side strips of your headdress..
10. Work out the angle you want the side pieces to hang off the main headdress and attach with contact adhesive.
11. String assorted beads onto assorted ribbons and glue on the join either side of the headdress. Place excess feathers on if there is a gap between the main headdress and the side feathers. Place a large gem on top of all this with contact adhesive. Embellish and adorn your headdress to your own taste.

Photo Farrows Creative

Ros plus headdress, all of us camping in Bude

Nominations are still coming in for Company Magazine's Style Blog awards. I am going for the Best Personal Style Blog-Newcomer' Award. If you think this blog shows any signs of such a thing, then nominate me HERE

Fashion Fix: Sailor Collar

I seem to have been thrust into all things nautical of late...A Sailor Girl Tattoo commission and HMS Bestival Costume Designs have had me trawling through the cliche's online.  

It doesnt have to be all 'Hello Sailor!'

This has got me itching for a chic nautical project. Chanel took the humble Breton Top and made it a wardrobe staple the world over. The humble sailor's collar -  ruined by many a hen party dress up - can be a chic, preppy addition to a girl's wardrobe.

                                       

So here's a version from Ros and myself.

                          

                

            

You will need

•  60cm Navy blue cotton  
• 3 metre x 1cm white ribbon 
• 1 metre x 5cm white ribbon 
• Tailors chalk 
• Pins 
• Scissors 
• Sewing machine 
• Hand needle and thread

How to do it

1. Download and size up the pattern at the bottom of the post. Fold the navy fabric in half with the selvedge running vertically and place the out pattern on the fold of the fabric. Pin. Cut out leaving a 1cm seam allowance.
2. Repeat step 1 on the remainder of the navy fabric. mark the ribbon lines onto this piece of fabric. Cut out and lay flat.
3. Pin the first line of ribbon all the way round this collar. Use a pin to help create a neat twist at each corner.
4. Sew using a running stitch along each side of the ribbon. Repeat with the second piece of ribbon.
5. Take the wide ribbon and cut in half. Sew each piece of ribbon to either side of the front of the collar making sure the ribbon sits up the collar.
6. With the ribbon side facing inwards, pin the 2 collar pieces together and sew all the way round leaving a 6cm gap at the back of the neck.
7. Pull through, press and using a hand stitch, sew up the gap.

sailor collar pattern