Heart on my Sleeve
Morning folks, today we’re going to be talking about the now-infamous Burberry heart-print shirt. This is from Burberry Prorsum Fall 2013 and it retails at £495.
VB has worn this shirt…
…along with pretty much everyone else in the world.
You may not be surprised to learn that I made my own Burberry-inspired shirt!
I started with this burgundy men’s shirt from the Hospices of Hope shop in Orpington — £2 reduced from £3.50, bargain! It’s a men’s large.
The shirt is 80% Viscose, 20% Polyester according to the label. I am going to be bleaching this so I thought it best to use something with a natural fibre content. Ideally I would have used something 100% cotton, but then this shirt found its way into my hands and its fate was sealed.
Firstly I cut off the visible label hanging off the pocket.
Then I set about making my printing apparatus… yes, it’s a rubber stamp. I am using my normal pencil eraser for this (well, half of it).
All I did was draw the shape I wanted on the rubber and then use a stanley knife to trim it into shape. Folks, be CAREFUL if you try this at home.
I put some kitchen towel into a plastic container and poured some bleach on, as described in this very useful tutorial. The idea is to make a bleach stamp pad so there’s about the right amount of bleach going onto the stamp every time.
I did a few test runs on an area that would be cut off. The bottom right test was done using too much bleach, and although it was the whitest, the heart shape would have been blurred. So I had to settle somewhere in the middle.
I cut up the side seams and removed the sleeves to make the whole thing easier to work with. Note that I am protecting my table with a plastic bag.
It was then a matter of printing over and over again and trying to maintain the right spacing and straight lines! The hearts came out a kind of pink colour and slightly uneven. I think it looks pretty.
For the sleeves I put plastic bag inside them to stop the bleach going through to the back.
After printing all my pieces, I put them in the washing machine to rinse and then hung them to dry. I then had to adjust the size of the shirt at the side seams, cut new arm holes and reattach the sleeves (sorry no photos of that!).
Here’s a close up of the hearts. I left the collar and cuffs unprinted.
I am rather pleased with the result — the hearts aren’t white, so it’s more of a Buberry-inspired shirt than a copycat, but I like it that way. The hearts are each slightly different in colour, and the pink of the print contrasts well with the original burgundy, it’s like neon pink, which I love.
Anyway, here are some shots of the finished item. I am wearing it relatively formally here, but no doubt there will be a casual outfit coming up soon. This shirt is definitely in the wardrobe to stay!
Charity Shop Chic 
So very clever! Thank you for the tutorial on the stamp. I assume it would work just as well with dye?
I assume so, though I haven’t tried it! Thanks for commenting.
Yours is so much better.
Thank you! :)
Lovely <3 …but did you think to make the shirt tighter? I would look more feminine – just a thought
Nah, I like it the way it is, it’s more versatile that way. I have plenty of fitted shirts in my wardrobe already. And I already took it in a lot.
love your ideas!
Thank you Joanna!
nice job as usual sally!
Thanks, Jo! :)
So creative! Love it!
Thank you so much! Glad you like it.
This looks great, doing something like this wouldn’t have crossed my mind. That’s the beauty of reading great blogs!
Styling and photos are fab. And of course love the brogues!
Thank you Helen, the brogues are new (from Clarks).
Genious!
Heh, thanks Carlee :)
You are amazing! Great taste, cleaver copying, and an excellent seamstress. Wow!
Thank you MJ, pleased you liked it!
I LOVE that!
Aw, thank you very much!
I can’t wait to try this! By the way. Is that lovely skirt a refashion too?
Hi Amy, thanks for the comment. I do hope you try this yourself! The skirt isn’t a refashion, it’s just been in my wardrobe for ages.
Thanks for the idea! That’s very clever!
Thanks for reading, Nicky!
I am loving how much ease you left in the blouse when fitting it. It looks so effortless, great for dressing up or down!
I’m liking the loose fit too! I can easily wear it in a casual way now. Thanks for commenting, JJ!
This looks really nice! You look lovely in it. Thank you for the idea!
Thank you for your support, Eszter!
Gorgeous! I’m always inspired by what you do. I wonder if a bleach pen could work for this? It could be used to draw each heart on the shirt directly…but then the hearts wouldn’t all be exactly the same. It might make the hearts whiter, though.
Hi Lori, yes you could definitely use a bleach pen for this. I don’t think it would make the hearts any whiter though.
:)
Great shirt and I like the styling too. Is it common for women to wear brogues with skirts in England? I hope that idea makes its way to the States….enough already of the ridiculous high heels!
Hi Elaine, brogues are certainly gaining popularity here – and they are so comfortable! Thanks for commenting.
Your creativity never ceases to amaze me. another awesome post!
Haha, thank you! :)
Will You soon refashion your Zara’s coat from the April 2013 post Outfit Pringle of Scotland, will you add zip visible (or invisible), buttons, false leather bows or something else?That coat is very modest and nice!
Hi Mary, that is my best coat and as such it’s staying in one piece for the time being!
I LOVED this, very creative! :)
Thank you so much, Evie and Patricia! Thanks for reading!
How cute is THAT!
HAHA thank you! :) I rather like it!