DIY Nautical Romper from Dress

A few months ago I picked up this stripped dress from the thrift store-

 

I loved the pattern, but not the style.

 

So I started transforming my dress by first removing the top portion with my seam ripper.

 

 

Then, taking a pair if shorts I already had for a pattern I cut out 4 pieces for my shorts.

 

 

To make less work for me I used the original side seams and hem lines.

 

Open up your short pieces and lay them right sides together with the original seaming in the center,

 

 

Sew the open sides together.

 

 

Next take your original side seams and re-fold your shorts so that those seams are on the sides.

 

 

Sew up the open V shape you will now see in the center.

 

Set shorts to the side and take up what is left of your skirt. Mine happened to be in the perfect trapezoid shape once I flipped it around and cut off a little excess.

 

 

Snip the corners of the top for arm holes.

 

 

Hem the arm holes and top.

 

 

Lastly pin the bottom of your top to the top of your bottoms with right sides together and sew.

 

 

Lastly, I repurposed the original straps from my dress to make ties for my romper.

 

 

And that's it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion Icon: Clara Bow

Clara Bow was THE silent movie star of the 1920s.

Tomboyish, awkward and with a comical face, Clara won her first role on the screen at the age of 16 based on these qualities.

It's one of the things I love about Clara, she defies gender and still is sensational.

 

 

Clara Bow's make-up became iconic in the twenties, without Clara we wouldn't have the bow lip. A lipstick application that emphasises the curves of a woman's lips.

 

 

Military seemed to take some part in Clara's style;

 

 

But with age she became a prominent sex symbol.

 

 

Clara was a character

 

 

And some of her style would raise some eyebrows in our more modern society;

 

 

But I just love her style

 

 

Especially these shoe!

 

 

 

And there she is; Clara Bow- 1920s film star, fashion icon and sex symbol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Studded Clutch Refashion

 

Ahoy Matey!

 

 

What You'll Need: an old purse or clutch

     studs

                         needle nose pliers

                 marking tool

                         scissors (optional)

                                     fabric for lining (optional)

                               hot glue gun (optional)

 

 

 

 

Start by picking the purse/clutch that you want to DIY.

I have this old 1980s vinyl one that I picked up at a church swap.

 

 

I started with a little bit of deconstruction. I removed the straps and the inside lining (which was in bad shape)

 

 

I then traced out the shape I wanted onto the front of the bag. However, I would suggest NOT using marker- as I had a job of removing it later.

 

 

Using your pliers (needle nose being the best), push in your studs and fold down the tabs.

 

 

Next, I needed to address the lining issue. I picked out some fun fabric and laid my purse down on it cutting around it.

 

 

Next I serged aroud the outside of my lining with right sides together.

 

 

Using my hot glue gun, I carefully glued the lining into the inside of my bag.

 

 

Ta-Da! New clutch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pearls and Swine and Hats by Leko

I've always loved hats. When I was a kid growing up, I had a collection of fancy hats that I had hanging on my wall. (I kid you not). When I was around 16-17 I started teaching myself how to mold and create hats for my work as a living historian. This year for my birthday I asked my parents to get me a few hat forms from the wholesale millinery company Hats by Leko. I was super excited to pick out my hat frames and went with the following;

A pancake hat  frame(something I've wanted since I saw Tori Amos wear one at a concert)

A 'flapper' hat (cloche) as I really love them.

 A tear-shaped fascinator.

And finally for my Regency reenactments a twisted seagrass hood,

that can be blocked to make the famous poke bonnet Kate Winslet wore in Sense and Sensibility.

So after getting these amazing frames I began to shop the web for some inspiration and I discovered an amazing company called Pearls and Swine.

She makes fantasy hats and who doesn't want to live in a fantasy?

So like most people, I liked these two company's on facebook and lo and behold, a week later Pearls and Swine did a drawing/giveaway. I entered and today the winners were announced and I won! I'm so excited as I've never actually won anything from any giveaway and I really love this company. The amazing and talented woman behind these amazing hats has also decided to do monthly giveaways so you all need to check her out!

Links:

Hats by Leko
Hats by Leko on facebook

Pearls and Swine
Pearls and Swine on facebook

I'm so excited I could hug myself! (and if you knew how little I like hugs you'd probably realize what a big deal that is)