Designer Techniques

Designer Ideas for Dressmakers

Sue Locke provides ten top tricks to turn your home makes into designer originals with style tips from the catwalks

1. Give some impetus to a tired white dress but adding two layers of white netting to the hem line.

2. Designer Stella McCartney’s all-in-one jumpsuits are big news this summer. Make your own but give them more shape by adding in a fabric belt.

3. Club Tropicana is a 2010 trend why not add your own palm trees to a plain bright T-shirt by using crystal beads.

4. Denim outfits are seeing a revival but create more interest by making your jacket in one shade of blue and your trousers in another.

5. Want to recycle your flared shorts for 2010? Gather the lower edges of each leg into a contrasting band of material.

6. Looking for a quick and easy cover-up then make a tunic that little bit longer so it becomes a mini dress.

7. Give a bustier a fresh fashion edge by adding a deep denim frill to the hemline.

8. Never discard leftover silky cloth. Simply re-shape it into a square or long scarf.

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9.. Give a designer edge to a plain boxy jacket by adding two pockets, one on top of the other, either side of the front opening.

10. Want to upgrade a simple camisole then slip it under some lace. Make a sleeveless top in lace with a narrow elasticated waist. It will cost you a fraction of the original designed by Stella McCartney.