How To
Fashion Notes - Spring Ideas
Sue Locke has ten more tips on updating fashions to suit this year's styles. Add floral motifs to cloth handbags, a distinct flavour of fashion to blouses nad Egyptian styling to tops
TEN TIPS FOR SPRING
1. WHITE COLLAR WORKERS: With all these floaty florals around this year you may like to add some relief with a broderie anglaise collar. Rather than finishing the edges keep them raw. Simply zig-zag them with several rows of white thread to give a slightly unfinished but fashionable finish.
2. BAG IT: It will be hard not to get swept along with all the flower power this summer but if you prefer just a hint of fashionable chic then decorate a cloth handbag. Find a remnant and cut out an enormous bloom and appliqué it on to your bag. Contrasting colours like hot pink on a black bag will have the biggest impact.
3. SPREADING YOUR WINGS: Look out for the butterfly influence this summer especially on jewellery and hair accessories. You can buy the prettiest colours in your local craft shop. Buy four and glue 2 on each canvas shoe at the front.
4. SHIRT TALES: Want to give your blouse a more distinctive finish then use contrasting fabric for the collar and front facings – remember to use the same weight cloth so that they sit correctly.
5. GOING NATIVE: Ethnic fashion looks set to stay for a good while so dig out those wide cotton scarves to embrace this style. Machine furnishing braids and tassels to the outer edges to create a 2008 look.
6.RE-CYCLE AND RE-STYLE: Do your part for the planet by re-using your discarded clothes rather than making too many new ones. Carefully select items in shades that blend together whether they're printed or plain, then find a simple pattern and cut each piece in a different cloth for a colourful patchwork effect.
TIP OF THE MONTH.... TIP OF THE MONTH... TIP OF THE MONTH... TIP OF THE MONTH...
7. LIKE AN EGYPTIAN: Do you have a button box? If it's full of buttons that haven't seen the light of day on a garment for a long time then use them to decorate the neck of a blouse or dress – round neck styles are particularly good. Using chalk draw a semi-circle about 8 cm (3") away from the front neck edge running from one shoulder seam to the other. Fill this area with buttons by stitching or glueing them in place to resemble an Eygptian necklace.
8. WEARING THE TROUSERS: Summer is the right time to wear wide voluminous trousers in soft cotton fabrics. Create a new shape by adding casings of elastic at the ankles.
9. THE AMERICAN WAY: Stars and stripes have their place on the catwalk this year so why not update a hair accessory? Taking the dimensions of a plain hair band make yourself a tube of striped or starry cloth and slip it over the headband making sure you neaten the ends together.
10. FULL BLOWN: If you love the smock shape (and there still seem to be some in the shops) but don't know how to wear it try partnering it with some plain dark narrow trousers – linen or cotton are the perfect materials for a hot summer!
