Fabrication

An enticing idea today.

An American company, Spoonflower, offers something quite unusual: the opportunity to have fabric printed to your own design. You can have your design printed onto a range of fabrics, ranging in price from $16.20 to $28.80 per yard (£10.98 to £19.52) which you can then sew yourself - or persuade / pay a talented tailor or seamstress - into the clothing of your dreams. There's even a cotton knit, a soft t-shirt fabric which would make darling baby clothes.  There are lots of ideas on the site, but I've had a little play with some photos and pictures to give you an idea of what you could do.

The built in design software allows you to repeat your pattern with a horizontal staggering - as at the top of the post - a vertical drop, as above, or a simple repeat, as with this old map of London below.

You can choose a single design to cover the whole width of the fabric, but it would have to be at a minimum resolution of 150dpi. Alternatively, you can easily reduce the size of the design for more repeats on the fabric. There is also the mirror effect, which reverses your image through its horizontal and vertical axis and creates something quite unusual.

I'm not sure photographs would look quite right, but there's all kind of scope to get creative - scan in a child's drawing, alter an image using one of the many effects engines available online, make a collage out of the concert tickets, keepsakes and ephemera of your life...  And turn it into... a bag, a skirt, a headscarf, a cushion, a dress, a shirt... anything you could imagine. 

Yes the company is in the states, but postage is reasonable.  For a fat quarter (that's a yard divided in half lengthways and widthways, as opposed to a thin, quarter-yard strip) of the lightest weight fabric it's $1 domestically and $2 to the rest of the world - that's experimentation price!  To ship a whole yard of that weight is only $7 internationally - which is £4.75.  I should point out that there is always the risk of your package attracting a customs fee too, but that's always a risk when buying from overseas... it's the luck of the draw, essentially.

Summer Party Style

What with Friday Frocks, I'm doing a lot of analysis of real people's looks lately - but I think that's no bad thing.  Part of the point of Swelegant Style Shopping is that people see what will work for them: not an eighteen year old with a figure my father used to describe as 'racing snake'.

On Saturday, I went to a birthday party (which of course didn't really get going until after the England match...).  The birthday girl is known as a bit of a style icon, and her guests really rose to the occasion too. This is birthday girl Lesley, looking the picture of relaxed elegance in a much-less-expensive-than-it-looks intricately knotted ribbon shift dress from H&M. The photo doesn't do this dress justice, sadly - it really was fabulously textural and the pale tone suit's Lesley's colouring in a really flattering way.  Those sandals are pared back elegance too - striking the right note between 'garden' and 'party'.

Also elegant, in a gorgeous midnight blue satin dress with fabulously feminine but structural waterfall-style shoulder detail, was this lady.  The dress was all grown up eveningwear, but the choice of accessories here subtly changes the message to something a little more fun. The feather hair clip is from Accessorise, and all those fabulous bird-of-paradise colours are picked up in the glass ring.  It's an injection of colour appropriate for the occasion but not taken too far.

More casual, but fabulously put together, Fay's longline Topshop jumper is so flattering to her petite frame.  For knitwear, this too is really structural and almost space-aged, and the necklace is the perfect length and solidity to draw the eye down from that otherwise quite severe neckline.

A masterpiece of colour coordination next, from the wonderful Hattie.  All the colours in that scarf are gorgeous jewel tones that flatter her complexion - and she's chosen the jade-turquoise shade to create the backdrop against which to show the scarf off.  Wearing a patterned scarf in this way adds interest, and by having one end trailing down there is a lengthening, slimming vertical line created.  Such a scarf though really needs the plain backdrop Hattie has provided.  The accessorising here is faultless too: those glasses in a mock tortoiseshell of exactly the same shade of greeny blue. The colour of glasses frames can really help an outfit look cohesive - but be aware that the colour probably needs to be subtle, as here, if it is to flatter your complexion.

More coordination here.  This gorgeous royal purple and pale gold silk dress is dressed down perfectly with the well-fitted indigo denim jacket.  Again, the effect is 'party-dress-but-informal-too'.  The jacket also helps break up the purple, allowing the lovely patchwork leather bag (which I think this lady said was by Marni) and the purple cocktail ring to add to the cohesive nature of this look, without being to overwhelmingly 'matchy'.

See those lovely shoes in the background?  Guess whose?

You've seen both these items before (dress and shoes) but I was quite pleased with this outfit so I wanted to share.  Indulge me.  The dress, by the way is by Collectif, who I mentioned on Wednesday.  Although that fabulous peacock fabric is sadly no more, the dress itself is the 'stella doll' style which is still available in lots of fabrics and is also essentially the same cut as their sailor frock.  I've repositioned the halterneck to make shoulder straps, is all.  Flattering, no? Of course unlike everyone else, I totally failed to get the balance between dressy and casual.  I always tend to err on the side of glam...

Good News for More Retro-Loving girls.

 A couple of my very favourite dresses were from the online boutique Collectif.  They specialise in retro looks with a slightly punky edge, and at pretty reasonable prices... But about eighteen months ago, with no explanation, they stopped stocking anything over a size 16.  I was disappointed - I sent an email on behalf of the blog - but no response was given (which I still think is pretty shocking customer service). To the present day, though, and not only have Collectif begun to reintroduce sizes up to a 22 (in a very limited range of stock now, but the website seems to have been set up to suggest that bigger sizes will become the norm) but also until 21st June you can get a 20% discount if you enter the code SUGAR at checkout.  I can't lie - I did just that, buying the frock above.

The polka dot dress (£50 - various colours and prints) I bought is basically the same shape and style as the cute sailor dress (£55, also available in black and navy).  It's flattering to hourglass shapes, disguises tummies, bums and thighs, and can be worn with a flouncy retro underskirt (available in many other retro stores) for more fifties-tastic impact.

If you have a more flat stomach, there are plenty of pencil skirts and wiggle dresses in the range (although not yet in the larger sizes). I love the 'Lust' dress, above, for its dramatic portrait collar and asymmetric buttons (£50).

There are separates too - of which the Dolores top (£25) is my buxom favourite.  The curves of this clever neckline will enhance small boobs, while flattering the fuller embonpoint because of it's diagonal lines.
 

There is also a new range by  Bordello Shoes on the site.  All fantastically impractical, I particularly love these 'too fabulous to be true' Teeze platforms (£49.95).

If you're new to Collectif, I think it's well worth a look - generally reasonable value, and with a 20% reduction as well, you may find something to treat yourself with.

Friday Frocks Goes Fourth

The word continues to spread and people are Friday Frocking who've never visited the blog - hurrah (although, obviously I'd prefer them all to be reading the blog too...!)

First as always, to see in the new Friday, was lovely New Zealand-dwelling Scot, Rozi.  Love those autumnal berry colours she's been wearing lately - and the perfect necklace to complete the look.

 You've heard of poodle skirts? Well my colleague @Charlotte82 added some glitz to the school with this full skirt featuring a sequined cat applique, accessorised by a gold lurex cardigan and simple metallic pumps. Proving sparkle is perfectly acceptable for workwear if it's kept localised.

Continuing the feline theme, next is lovely Fay, who remembered to Friday frock even though she was excitingly taking delivery of two brand new kittens - and she's thoughtfully modelled with one of them here.  The slightly sixties A-line dress is accentuated by the retro knee boots, and both are plain enough to be perked up by her patterned tights (as always, click on the pics for a larger view).

Apparently shy @debsa sent this very sexy office look.  Her great legs are accentuated by those nude-toned shoes, and the tucked in and belted cardigan gives a flattering and womanly V shape above that funky belt.

@Girl_In_A_Box kept up the good work with this leg-enhancing polka dot dress and, I'm told, lace top holdups.  The rain mac is also fab - the black is sexy and the cinched waist makes her all about the hourglass.

 

Now last week, @Girl_In_A_Box made promises that this week she'd go for some colour - and I held up my end of the bargain in jade green - but it was miserable weather, to be fair (hence the thick black leggings), so I'm laying down the gauntlet: let this Friday be for colourful frocks - come rain or come shine...

 

 

Beautiful Bonita couldn't have been more summery, however.  This maxi dress is elegant and beautifully light - surely one of the prettiest Friday frocks to date.

Amanda went one further and got out in the garden - although I see those tights, and they prove that it was no less of an inclement day where she was.  I love this frock - you all know my feelings on polka dots anyway, but the floral motif add flattering colour splashes and the asymmetric hem is fun and perky.

Lastly coordination queen Maeve rocking a particularly juicy cherries and cream look - the scarf ties together the top and bolero with panache, and she looks summer fresh and totally cheeky.  In fact, she even took the look to these cutesy polka dot mary janes. 

Bravissimo - ish.

Before I begin - remember: Friday Frocks is tomorrow.  Keep the fabulousness flowing, and send me your pictures!

The basic USP of lingerie retailers Bravissimo is to sell pretty bras to women who have big boobs but who aren't especially fat. They have a young, friendly image, their stores are staffed by bright and lovely bra fitters, and excellent customer service for their online retail business. I'm right at the top of their sizing range: massive rack (K cup) but weirdly slim back (34 inches - despite being roughly a UK dress size 22 (US 18)) and this tends to mean that the pickings are very slim. Not only are there fewer people buying in my size, but it's mechanically much harder to make supportive undergarments for my dimensions... so I was excited to see in the summer catalogue, a new style in my size.

The Boudoir Beau is by Panache, available in the peachy coral colour shown, or a more subtle minky silver.  The bra is available in back sizes 28 to 38, cups D to K (in the 28 back the cups are only DD-J).  It costs £29 and there are matching shorts / thongs available. You might justifiably be thinking "so what?" - it's pretty but nothing particularly special, and most, more normally-sized women will be able to find more fabulous and swelegant lingerie elsewhere.  Well, I have two reasons for mentioning it: firstly, there's news for those of us who rely on Panache bras for their size range, but end up wounded under the arms because of their brutally high-cut underwires - you can give a cheer, because this style is pretty comfy and low-rise. It also gives a fairly natural shape - not sit-up-and-beg balconette to be fair, but nice and perky.  The other reason for featuring this style is that Bravissimo are donating a quid for every bra sold to Coppafeel - a charity (launched by a twenty-something breast cancer survivor) which wants young women to be more breast-aware and examine their boobs for lumps and bumps regularly. You can't say fairer than that.

The other notable thing about the summer catalogue is lots of new clothing. Bravissimo manufacture their own line of clothing which, as well as being sold in traditional dress sizes (8-18) is also sized by the enormity or otherwise of your boobs, allowing you to buy clothes which fit all over. They're not especially cheap, and not especially funky (if you're into more unusual looks, go to Get Cutie for the same boob-size fitting), but they do a marvellous job of providing smart, tailored, well-fitting work / wedding-guest clothes to boobalicious types. It's not all good though - some of the designs look cheap and nasty, and some is bizarrely unflattering, so what is worth a look? Let's start with the red dress above it's an easy-wear shade, and quite retro / Mad Men in influence - sexy but reserved, it's £59.

More flattering to tummies and bums is this almost-wrap-dress (£50).  The asymmetric hem and feature seaming detail at the waist are flattering as hell, as is that deep V neckline.  I'm not so keen on the colour - though it will suit pale skins, and not all khaki tones do - so I'd want some seriously gorgeous accessorising (red, turquoise, lapis blue...).

Lastly, a more casual frock. I don't wear maxi dresses (you need to see feet at the bottom otherwise you look like you're dressing up in your Mum's clothes - I'm just too short) - but I know lots of you love them for their ability to hide a multitude of sins.  I love this bold zebra print, and imagine a sun dress built to wear a bra with and cut so you weren't 'busting out all over'... but £59 is a lot of money for a sun dress.  I'm not entirely convinced.

As a post script: I like Bravissimo as a company - despite their hit-and-miss clothing collection - and I'm happy to support them on these pages. But I don't know if I'll bother again. They've made every image on their site really hard to copy or save, unless you go through the palaver of using print screen, as I have here.  I don't see what that achieves - other than to put off bloggers like myself, who are essentially providing free advertising... grr.

Friday Frocks - the word is spreading...

I've been on holiday for a week, so here's a round-up of two weeks' worth of Friday Frocks.  The word is spreading, via twitter and facebook, and people seem to either not get it at all, or think it's the best idea ever.  I can live with that - I'll take a passionate few over the apathetic masses any day.

 One of the most ardent new coverts is Twitter's @Girl_In_A_Box.  Not only is she, as you can see, a sharp dresser, and not only has she a figure to die for, but she's a brilliant, great fun Twitter type - well worth a follow if that's your internet playground.  I don't know how she came across the blog, or me, or Friday Frocks - but she's rocking it hard. Two weeks' worth of looks from her - firstly demonstrating that Friday Frocks is more about attitude than dresses, but then last Friday rocking a truly wonderful wiggle dress.  This lady has her own style: it's sharp and direct and "hotter than the hammered hinges of hell" (as they taught me to say in Texas).

Feminine, too, though - look at these oh-so-pretty confetti-toned floral trims on her sandals. Just a small amount of colour in a restricted area can make a monochrome outfit look really 'put together'.

Which is what I'm trying to do here.  I just bought this dress from Marks and Spencers (I really recommend it if you need something more spacious in the boob area.) It's a bargain at £35, linen - very comfy and well-tailored, but I find black and white quite hard to wear in daytime (on me, it needs heavier eye makeup to work) so I've added the red cardie to brighten things up. This cardigan works because the V neck follows the neckline of the frock, and the cropped length means I don't lose that flattering tailored waist.  By the way - how dedicated am I to the sartorial cause that I've posted a pretty unflattering pic of myself alongside one of a model in the same frock? I deserve a medal...

Back to the friday frockers.  Bee here shows that, so long as you're not 'busting out all over', a deep plunge can look classy enough for the office.  That black band around the neckline going into the underbust buttoned yoke is really flattering - quite 1930s.

Lots of monochrome these last couple of weeks - here the lovely Nicola (whose work has the poshest loos, no?) jazzes up the black with some very disco silver shoes and a beautiful simple necklace. Swelegantly simple.

Friends Trudy and Megan both get around the potential impracticality of wearing a dress which might show more leg than you'd like, by wearing leggings.  It's the equivalent of the black vest that boobalicious types like Trudy here employ to keep the cleavage respectably covered at work.

Some of you will remember our saucy New Zealand-resident biker chick from this post. Here she looks absolutely smoking hot. Remember it's winter in the antipodes, so that gorgeous red-wine shirt worn under the frock, pinafore-style isn't too much. The berry red really works with her colouring, and the combination of scoop and V necklines are flattering to those wonderful curves.  Don't you just love putting faces to the Swelegencia?

Another swelegant girl regulars will have seen before (remember the glamazon at my birthday party?) here - rocking another M&S frock. It's a simple dress but the gold beading at the shoulder is picked out by the brass bangle and the gold sunglasses.  Gold colours are so much more flattering to red-heads than silver tones.

Finally some reminders that it isn't all about the frocks. @mikedixon working a super summery titfer this week - and you know by now how I feel about a chap in a hat...

Lastly, super-stylish Maeve always looks beautifully co-ordinated but this week made her first attempt at a beehive, with Friday Frocks spurring her on.  It looks utterly splendid - Joan Holloway herself would approve.