Category: Refashions
Fashion Maths
Not sure if this equation balances exactly, but I think it’s pretty close.
Kylie is wearing Stella McCartney and looking fabulous! Anne Hathaway has also worn a version of this look, but not as flattering. Kylie’s version has big and small, black and white squares and some see-through sections.
I’m going to be making a Kylie-inspired shirt, not an exact copycat this time. I’m starting with this shirt, which fits well enough but could do with livening up a bit.
I paid £3 for this in the Trinity House Hospice Shop in Streatham (reduced from £4!).
Betty Draper
This project is my entry for Julia Bobbin’s popular Mad Men Challenge. I’m a huge Mad Men fan and love seeing the costumes every week, so entering this popular challenge was a bit of a no-brainer for me.
The dress I chose was Betty’s cream and green shirt dress. I couldn’t find any references to which episode this is from, but I’ve seen it so many times online that I think it must actually be a promo shot for the first series. It’s more late fifties than early sixties and embodies Betty’s conservative housewife look from the first half of that series. If you know which episode this is from, leave me a comment and let me know.
I’m starting with a sheet that I got from Oxfam in Streatham. I paid £4.99 for the single sheet and two matching pillowcases, which have green ruffles all the way around!
It’s made of actual linen, the thin refined sort (none of your thick slubby stuff) and handles beautifully.
Red Carpet Copycat: Olivia Munn in Peter Pilotto
Greetings, refashioners! Another installment of the never-ending series ‘Red Carpet Copycat’ today.
This is Olivia Munn wearing Peter Pilotto at the Courage in Journalism Awards 2012. The dress originally retailed for USD $1845.
I’m making my version out of… this:
Yes, it’s horrible, isn’t it?
This is a kind of house-dress made out of teal/green velour. There are variations in the nap to give it a slight crushed velvet thing going on – not quite the same as Olivia’s textured velvet look, but it will do.
I bought it in the Shelter shop in Bolton and I paid £3.
Put on your red shoes (and dance the blues)
In case you hadn’t guessed, this is going to be about Bowie.
Specifically, it’s about this outfit, from 1973. It’s made of vinyl and was designed by Kansai Yamamoto for the Aladdin Sane tour. I chose this as my starting point for Tempest Devyne’s Bowie Sewalong! Also, it has red shoes (for dancing the blues).
I’m making my version from… old T-shirts, what else?!
These T-shirts came from (L-R below) Deptford Salvation Army shop, £2; PDSA Bolton, £3.99; Scope Barking, £2.
The Classic White Shirt
This is quite simply, the biggest shirt I have ever seen. When I saw it, I bought it immediately. It’s got a massive 66″ chest and is described on the label as XXXL. I got this in the British Heart Foundation shop in Whitby and it cost £5.25.
Possibly the best feature of this is the collar – it’s huge! I wanted to turn this into my own version of the classic white blouse using the oversized collar as a bit of a design statement. It means I can wear it with all the buttons done up, but it’s not too uncomfortable. Brilliant!
Red Carpet Copycat: Gemma Arterton in Stella McCartney
Here’s the look I’m emulating this week:
This is Gemma Arterton wearing a Stella McCartney ‘Jodie’ jumpsuit and Stella McCartney shoes at the British fashion awards 2012.
This jumpsuit is from the Evening 2012 collection and retails for £2,095.
Obviously £2,095 is a little above budget, but not to worry. I do have this rather ‘special’ gents double breasted suit jacket which I picked up in the Sue Ryder shop in Upminster for £4 (on sale!).
Blue and green should never be seen
Today I’m working with this rather lovely vintage blouse. It’s apple green with white dots and a white collar.
I bought this in the British Red Cross shop in Barking for £3.50. The label is marked “Designed to Match” so I’m sure there was a matching skirt at some point. It’s size 14.
Red Carpet Copycat: Liv Tyler in Proenza Schouler
When I saw this picture of Liv Tyler at the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards, my first thought was… I’ve got a dress like that!
Except mine looks like this….
Liv’s is the commercial version of this Proenza Schouler Spring 2013 number….
…and mine was US $ 4.99 from Thrift Town in San Francisco about two years ago.
Still, with a few nips and tucks (to the dress, that is)… I think I can pull it off!
Chanel-style jacket
This post has been a long time coming!
I bought this fabulous colourful jacket last year in a thrift store in San Francisco called ‘Out of the Closet’ (!!). The first time I saw it I knew that its loose weave fabric with golden threads wanted to be a Chanel-style jacket, but didn’t really want to take on such a large project. I changed my mind and had to go back and get it the day after! I paid US$ 8.50.
Making a jacket in the famous Chanel style was not a quick project, but I do love the finished jacket and wear it often, so it was worth it…
Florals? For Spring? …Groundbreaking.
“Florals? For Spring? …Groundbreaking.”
Take a look at these beauties! They are Floral with a capital F. They are also 100% silk.
I got them in the Save the Children shop in Whitby a really long time ago, but the swing tag is missing, so I can’t remember how much I paid. It was less than £5.
Inspiration for this project came from Stella McCartney Spring (“Resort?!”) 2013, also seen on Kirsten Dunst. It’s an interesting look – and it takes a brave person to wear matching florals – but it’s so fashion forward I just couldn’t resist. The top and shorts can always be worn separately.
Charity Shop Chic 