Whilst everyone was busy making tote bags from vintage fabric at my last beginners sewing workshop, we chatted about what to make at the next workshop. Dresses were a popular choice, particular with an A-line skirt. I’ve been wearing this style since the 1990’s but the origins of this silhouette come from the 1960’s. I…
Flatten out the booklet and fold in half short end to short end. Using this as a pattern, cut two pieces from fabric. I didn’t have enough fabric so I sewed 4 pieces together and finished the edges with a zig zag or overlock stitch (image below). piece smaller pieces of fabric together before cutting…
How to get involved for Fashion Revolution Week: 22 to 28 April 2019 Tomorrow is the start of Fashion Revolution Week. The sixth year in which the charity are encouraging us to get involved and challenge our favourite fashion brands with the question ‘Who Made My Clothes?’. Fashion Revolution was established in 2013 a year after…
A fan of the Mid-Century Modern style from the 1950’s and 60’s, I’d never considered where the phrase came from. Journalist Laura Fenton explains ‘Author Cara Greenberg coined the phrase “midcentury modern” as the title for her 1984 book, Midcentury Modern: Furniture of the 1950s’. Fenton goes on to theorise why the style is increasingly popular. Head to…
Do you ever think about something then can’t stop noticing it? A bit like being on a health kick then being faced with chocolate cake at every waking moment? This is how I feel about capes. Last winter I started noticing the odd cape worn by a fashionista around London. Ever since then they keep popping into…
I’m dusting off my rails and display boxes ready for my first vintage shopping event of the year. Judy’s Vintage Fair at Bethnal Green this Sunday, 10th February 2019, 10:30 for early birds at £3 entrance fee or £2 after 11:30. Finishes at 4:30pm. Click here for the Facebook invite. I’ll be selling a selection…
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams opens this weekend at the V&A in London. A continuation of the exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the London edition displays 500 Dior Haute Couture pieces, each one of them hand made with 60 percent new content from the Paris show. As a member of the V&A, I…
Seven Vintage Floral Fabrics for January Cheer From a rare piece of 1950’s barkcloth to a 1970’s bright striped floral; Meet seven vintage fabrics that will instantly cheer up the January blues. Each of these vintage fabrics brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. After the fairy lights have been packed away, January needs…
With all the frantic rushing around getting ready for Christmas, I find it calming to mentally package up the current year before starting with the new. What began as a routine admin task to tidy up my blog, ended up being the perfect way to reflect on 2018… A couple of orange creams rattling around in the…
