Old Meets New - African Print Fashion

African fabrics, traditionally draped and tied to be worn in the past, have, for some time, been transformed into many clothing silhouettes.  The bright colors, intricate patterns and geometric shapes on clothe have gained popularity throughout the world since 2010.  I must say, the combination of traditional African prints and current clothes are a lively and wonderful combination.  

www.afrofrocks.co.uk

www.fashion-conscience.com

www.clothingattesco.com

www.toyfilm.jp

Till next blog!

Under $25 Christmas Shopping

I've started my Christmas shopping last week, and I'm not spending a lot on one person.  The price of each present has to be under $20.00.  I can't spend like I used to on others, and many of you understand.  We're in the same boat.

It's not the price of the gift, it's the thought.  Many of us have been mislead, I think, in believing that the more that is spent on us, the more valuable we are and the more appreciated we are.   Not so.  I think the economic downturn is a good thing in only one way; people have to live within their means and be thoughtful about their purchases, which in turn means buying gifts that are affordable and were thoughtfully chosen to be purchased (which is the value and appreciation part).  This is no time to try to keep up with the Jones' anymore and go broke (or should I say, become even more broke!).  Which is making me kind of "home" sick for the 70's...

Here are some nice clothing and accessories for under $25.00.  This is my type of shopping...

Sweet Pea turtleneck, $16.35, www.overstock.com

Denim jacket, $15.00, www.the15dollarstore.com

Gramicci Cedar shirt, $17.93, www.rei.com

Kenneth Cole wallet, $15.00, www.the15dollarstore.com

Element Wray skate shoe, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Enjoy shopping wisely in the following week.  Till next blog!

SK Clothes Styling for Fall 2010

I was impatient to do another video for SK Clothes because I'm still in the middle of sewing my daughter's line (yes, the summer line, but I already have a vision of how the summer pieces can be translated into fall pieces).  I had just bought the fabric in late August, but I found the exact fabric colors she wanted for her designs, and I bought them all on sale too!  It dawned on me to become a fashion stylist for a few hours yesterday and use SK Clothes designs with clothing from my daughter and my closets to make fresh fall looks for the junior miss age group.

We had fun, and, of course, my daughter was the model.  She took it up a few  notches with her poses for the camera.  

                          Cowl top by SK Clothes                          Fuschia dress by SK Clothes

                                              Mushroom sleeve sweater by SK Clothes

There are more fantastic outfits on the video.

I hope you've enjoyed the video.  If you can tell me three clothing pieces from the video that are SK Clothes designs,  you could win a glass bead necklace by RayB for SK Clothes.  Till next blog!

Fantastic Canadian Designers

It's time for me to pay homage to the Canadian fashion designers.  Canada does have a lot of big name fashion designers, and I'll mention three today.

 I love avante garde and bohemian clothing.  It's like wearing art, and if anybody is expressing a point of view and a lifestyle through clothing, the artsy and bohemian woman or man certainly is.  Their lifestyle to me, if the clothes are expressing who they are, seems to be exciting and free and somewhat unpredictable.

If you go to www.minimidimaxi.com, you'll see the designs of quite a few Canadian fashion designers.  For spring and fall 2010, the clothing designs are futuristic, and if any of you have been following my blog, you know I'm loving the designs!  Marie Saint Pierre is one of those designers, and she's one of my favorite.  Marie, who is from Montreal, Quebec, started her clothing line in 1986 and has received many awards for her work.  Her work is artistic.  If you want to wear art, by all means, purchase one of her pieces.  (The picture above is from her fall and winter line for 2009/10.)  Visit www.mariesaintpierre.com to see more beautiful clothing.

Jeremy Laing is another designer whose work I love.  He learned to sew at age 13 and later studied fashion in Toronto, where he also works.  Jeremy's clothing are based on geometric shapes which evolve into interesting pieces of clothing.  Visit his website: www.jeremylaing.com; you won't be disappointed.

I've noticed from the last blog that I've been into black and white clothing.  I must be in a dramatic mood and have been for the last two weeks...

Diane Kroe is a designer who thinks about the woman and her need for versatility.  She's made a dress design that can be worn multiple ways to make it look like you have many dresses .  The dress can be worn as a skirt as well.  Diane created a top than can be worn six different ways; as a wrap, halter top, shrug, jacket, cover up, and a crew neck blouse.  I'm sure there are instructions that come with each piece of clothing.  This is truly creative and functional.  Visit www.dianekroe.com.

I'll try and bring a little bit more color to my blog next week.  Till then!

black jacker and dress by Marie Saint Pierre - www.couturesnob.com
black and white geometric dress by Jeremy Laing - www.couturecarrie.blogspot.com
red wrap dress by Diane Kroe - www.ourfaves.com

Sew, Sew, Sew!

Another weekend is here.  Can't believe it!  It seems like I was just watching Project Runway a few days ago.(It's on Saturday nights in the Toronto/GTA area.  That's in Ontario Canada for non-Canadians...)

I'm still working on a couple of New Year's resolutions.  One was to excercise more, and one was to post more pictures of my work.  Well, I'm doing those.  I feel accomplished!

I've completed a few projects this week.  I've made two samples of my daughter's blouse design, part of her 5 piece spring and summer mini line of clothing.  One blouse is sleeveless, and the other has big puff sleeves.  There's a drawstring hem thing going on with me.  I like them.   I haven't started making patterns for my mini line as yet.  I was coming home one afternoon from helping my friend prepare for her fashion show, and I had a sudden inspiration of what my fall and winter 5 piece line would be.  I may skip my spring and summer line and work on fall/winter!  What I would be designing is futuristic, millenium, whatever word you want to call 21st century clothes.

This pink bag I love, but when I tested it's function, it didn't pass the test!  What do I have to do now?  I'll have to stiffen the clothe bag more with more interfacing and lengthen the flap closure.  A weightier fabric would do the trick.  Haven't given up yet.  The style is so pretty.  This is bag number 5! 

I found a blue t-shirt in my storage room and was just looking at it wondering what to do with it.  Started cutting the sleeves off Thursday night.  Transpired into this on Friday.  Love it!  The design is absolutely organic.  It also has a drawstring hem.  I like the flower detailing.  I'm going to make more in different sizes. 

Till next blog!

A Bit of Information on SK Clothes

I'm a designer that doesn't like to follow the crowd too much.  I thrive on designing something I haven't seen before and with a lot of color.  My style has a bohemian flare to it.  I work casually with a friend who's also a designer.  She had asked me to sketch some designs for her last year for a fashion show, but when she saw my sketches, she was very quiet.  She's a very sophisticated lady which is reflected in the clothing she makes. (I love what she does, they are beautiful pieces, but I can't see myself wearing her clothing 24/7.  I have a younger spirit.)  I'm keeping the designs to use myself in the future.


My aim right now is to create original clothing that is marketable.  I have to reign in myself sometimes, but I like what I come up with.  The two designs below look semi-futuristic.  Bringing up futuristic, check out a designer who's clothing reminds me of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985, starring Mel Gibson, co-starring Tina Turner).  His name is Rick Owens.  The first Rick Owens' collection I saw online was the womens fall/winter 2009 collection, and I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised.  Here is a man that could work as a stylist for every futuristic movie that will be made.  View his designs on www.nymag.com and www.luisaviaroma.com.

SK Clothes 

SK Clothes 

The clothing I try to make are easy to wear pieces with a combination of colours, especially if they are spring and summer clothing.  My fall/winter clothing will follow the same vein but with a little more detail.  Yes, I'm still working on it!  Hard times now.  Hopefully the day I show you some pictures will be the end of December. 

My daughter is quite the designer.  I have a collection of her clothing sketches and have made a few of her designs already.  Whenever I see her new drawings, my mouth drops, I'm quite inspired by her originality. 

Sweety bag, SK Clothes

She sketched this bag a couple of weeks ago, and I made the pattern and sewed it yesterday.  This was made with recycled fabric.  I really think it's cute, though I have to fine tune it a bit.  The girl has great potential!   While making it, I kept telling her it was a sweet bag, hence the name, Sweety Bag.   I'll be making a few more in different coloured fabrics.


Till next blog.