Fashion Fix 1st Birthday: Revisiting the Burberry Aztec Beaded Yoke

It's time to have a look back at some of my favourite summer fashion fixes of the past year. I've now been working on this blog for a year and as my readership has grown continually through the years, I know some of your newer FashionFixers won't have seen some of the gems that lie in the early end of this blog. 

Photo Amanda Thomas

One of my favourite trends of 2012 was Burberry's tribal inspired beaded yoke adornment on their Spring/Summer Collection. I really think this is a unique addition and surprisingly wearable in the everyday as the gorgeous Eva Lazarus models for us below. 

You will need:

• pattern paper
• 3/4 metre cotton fabric
• 3/4 metre lining fabric
• sewing machine and matching thread
• 1/2 metre matching ribbon
• dressmaking pins
• dressmaking scissors
• fimo in assorted colours
• oven
• needle and thread

How to do it:

1. Measure you collar size and add 5 cm, draw this circle on pattern paper. Measure out 17 cm from this line and draw a larger circle, fold in half, press and unfold again. Above the neck opening on the inner edge, measure out 2 cm either side of the centre fold and cut out a segment of the pattern. Cut down the centre fold below the neck opening  leaving you with half the pattern.  Lay onto the fold of the fabric, pin in place and cut out two collar pieces, making sure you include a 1cm seam allowance with both.
2. Sew ribbon onto both sides of one collar piece.
3. place the collar pieces right sides together, tucking the ribbons inside. pin in place
4. using a running stitch sew all the way around, 1cm from the edge, leave a gap at one end to pull through.
5. Pull the collar through, hand sew the opening closed.
6. Draw a template of your yoke on pattern paper and mark out your bead design. use this as a reference to make your beads out of Fimo. Make sure to score holes in the beads before you bake them. hand sew them on in thread that matches the yoke fabric

In the studio, working out the pattern after a night of Fimo baking!

Eva Lazarus modelling the yoke, shot by Amanda Thomas, Makeup Jo Williams, Styling Harriet de Winton

Fashion Fix: How to update a white shirt with mermaid style scallop shell beading

compilation courtesy of The Guardian

Sarah Burton at McQueen, Armani, Versace, Givenchy and Paco Rabanne have all paid homage to the briny sea nymph and now Lady Gaga has taken to leaving the house with little more than a scallop shell to cover her modesty, i think we can safely say the mermaid look is here for now. I've never forgotten the beautiful scallop shell design that covered Marion Cottillard's Jean Paul Gaultier gown the night she won best actress oscar. The scallop shape is undeniably associated with the female form, but if you're not planning on sticking them onto your bikini and reclining on a rock, here's a slightly more subtle way to 'do' the mermaid.

I gathered my pearlescent beads and scallop shell pieces from a lucky combination of broken necklaces. However, specifically shaped beads are very easy to come by at your local beading, crafting shop.

You will need:

• Assorted broken jewellery
• Needle and white thread

How to do it:

1. Arrange your beads around the collar and cuffs of your shirt
2. Hand-stitch in place.

This is the kind of project that might appeal to a Bride looking for a crisp, contemporary alternative. It is also an opportunity to reuse 'something old' into 'something new'!