Garment graffiti by Thomas Voorn

This guy, Thomas Voorn, arranges and folds clothes and other things to make letters and words. Objects to short messages. The "garment graffiti" messages as he calls them, can be temporary or permanent. Temporary as the clothes are mearly folded to shape, maybe to a public place, where they can be recollected and recycled after use. The clothes and background fabric can also be treated with fabric stiffner to make the form permanent. Fabric stiffners are very versatile in crafting. They can be used for textile art, Christmass decorations and home decor projects like those clothing lamps, my friend Pauliina makes. As I looked up DIY fabric stiffners, I came across this conversation at Yahoo Answers, a how-to at Altered Dreams and instructions at GroupRecipies that suggests to make it from water and glue mixed (in a spray bottle). Clothes graffitti would look quite super in craft fair booth signs. Or maybe a new logo for trashion to use in blog headers, hang tags or business cards?! I wonder what my husband would say if one Sathurday morning he finds "Love U" written on the bathroom floor by using his dirty clothes from the wash bin..? I´m sure it would be a Kodak-moment.

2 x skirt = dress?

I´m wondering if this kind of dress (by Fift Avenue Shoe Repair) could be made from sewing two skirts together from the waistline. The top skirt is sewn double from the front as the back of the dress is kept open. The material propably should be something stiff and heavy like a wool fabric, denim, brocade or thick twill. The top skirt should be attached to a corset base to keep it in place + tull for a fuller apphearance. The wavy edge can be created by the help of some rigilene (= plastic corset bones). Photo via Amelia´s Magazine.

Aviator shades dress

Dress by Ann-Sofie Back, the new head designer for Cheap Monday. The cape is constructed from aviator shades. It reminds me of the shades necklace Margiela made a couple of years ago, timeless. Via Amelia´s Magazine.

Ellery Summer 2009 collection

Check out the chain and metallic ribbons desorated shoulder paddings in this collection by Ellery! This just shows that shoulder pads don´t just have to be put inside the garment to add jazz but they can also be worn on top of the shoulder (maybe attached with safetypins so they can be removed before washing the garment) as an accessorie. I´m also very fond of this 80´s looking bleached denim jacket with super cropped sleeves and a raw edged collar.




Via KnightCat.

DIY T-shirt dresses

Customized T-shirt dresses made by Roosa at Strange Streetlights and Midinetti from Kissankehto. Both unique and such a clever design.

This one is by Roosa at Strange Streetlights.




This one is by Midinetti from Kissankehto.

Costume Renaissance millstone collars

In case you didn´t know I´m a huge fan of period dressing and especially millstone collars. I´ve been planning to make myself one for ages from thrifted light weight curtains and lace ribbons. They have a special technique to making them and I´ve never gotten to the bottom of it so this project has been standing still forever. Thank God for Queen Michelle and Queen Marie at Kingdom Of Style. The made a post about Etsy and a small picture of a black millstone collar caught my eye.. Made by Costume Renaissance. She makes millstone collars in different sizes and colors. And may I add very beautiful and authentic looking collars! This accessorie is one of those pieces that will highlight any outfit, mordern or historical. I´ve been dreaming of a b&w portrait photo taken of me (my second name is Elisabeth!) wearing one of these. Just imagine, the whole family photographed wearing millstone collars in b&w, even the dog/cat. F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s.





Found via Kingdom Of Style.

Basic is so boring

Some inspiring editorial pages from Finnish fashion magazines. Top shirt dress by Fift Avenue Shoe Repair (click images to view them larger).


Handsewn leather polka dots brighten up any summer dress...


Vest covered in fringes made from cotton fabric scraps (maybe made from ripping a few cotton shirts to strips).


Gorgeous shape in this dress top. I want to make this kind of capelet from metal zippers.

Rodarte inspired thights

Cocorosa made these lovely DIY thights. Styling inspired by Rodarte. Thights are one of fashion industrys problem waste as they are often used for a very short period of time and then discarded when broken. Using shredded or worn down pantyhose in a new creative way adds their using time and helps the environment (and saves a bit of your money!). If you have more ideas on how to wear old thights in new fashionable ways, I´d love to hear them.

Ester Kneen reclaiming crafts

Ester Kneen on her project "Reclaiming Crafts". Here´s how she describes her projects: "I designed to encourage the crafter in everyone. I made a series of ‘craft in transit’ garments allowing the wearer to be creative whenever and wherever the mood takes them. The crafty dress holds a variety of tools, and when worn and used forms a space and opportunity for creation. These portable tools for creative expression allow the wearer to make use of times of unproductivity. Craft offers a cheap and creative alternative to our over-consumption, and I believe by turning to craft during these stressful times we can celebrate ourselves as creative individuals, as makers, as designers." Hear hear! Found via Amelia´s Magazine.

Love Maegan DIY projects

Great tutorials and DIY projects at Love Maegan. She also has all the tutorial images in her Flickr DIY photogallery. I´m so happy I found her site. She makes DIY look super stylish and gooooood!

Louboutin inspired petal shoes and handbag decorations.


DIY ankle fringes.


Bubble miniskirt from a A-line skirt.


Removable sandal ruffles.


Found via Ethical Style.

You reap what you sow

A cool ad-campaign in Kuala Lumpur made by Global Environment Centre. Image via Haha.nu.

Maison Martin Margiela SS10

Flowers embroidered and cross stitched into a leather jacket, handsewn chain onto a leather vest, flower shaped reliefs cut out of a trench coat to reveal a floral lining... Very romantic yet subtle and manly. What can I say, the man´s a genious. Images via Garbage Dress.

DIY Chanel chain sunglasses

Some of you propably seen and lusted for those Chanel and A-Morir by Kerin Rose chain sunglasses (sold at Patricia Field), but we can’t all afford them and you know what I think about spending that much on any piece of fashion. Why buy when you can DIY? Fashion Indie agrees with me on this and they made a tutorial on how to DIY your own chain shades. Super glue and glue guns are a trusted friend to any trashionista.

A-Morir by Kerin Rose chain sunglasses:



Top image, Chanel glasses worn by Amber Rose.

DIY militaria t-shirt

Thrift stores and fleamarkets often sell old military stuff like medals and epaulettes. A couple of these makes a great DIY fix to a basic tee (or dress)! Attach them with a few hand stitches or safetypins as they need to be removed before washing the shirt. I cannot remember where I found this inspiration image from, but If you know it drop me a line and I´ll credit it accordingly.

DIY Rodarte Loubutin killer heels

We´ve all drooled after them in cyberspace, the Christian Louboutin studded killer heels he made for Rodarte´s Fall 2009 runway show. Patricia from Fashion Mongers made her own from an old favorite pair of heels and a bunch of studs. The original heels came in a variety of colors, so the studs can be also spraypainted before attaching them if silver isn´t the color for you.






Found via Fashion Indie.

DIY studded bag

Some studs inspiration for you bag ladies. Via A Certain Romance.

4th And Bleeker DIY fringe dress

Michael Jackson was not only a significant inspiration for musicans and dancers around the world but also the fashion industry. Let´s see how much the passing of an icon will effect the DIY scene in the upcoming months. 4th And Bleeker made this fringe dress as her tribute to the King Of Pop.

DIY Spiked collar

Found via With Asian Stereotypes.

Jazzi McG DIY

I´m just getting ready for the aiport when I saw Jazzi´s mail. She tipped me of on Fashionista.com DIY section. Ideas and also projects, like this feathered blazer or DIY Castelbajac lego sunglasses. You can find more of Jazzi´s DIY projects at Jazzi McG.

Out of town

I´ll be visiting Paris for a few days. If you see me around the city, come and say hi :) Back on Tuesday.



Paris photo by Danorbit.

IMPASSE DE LA DeFENSE by Karim Bonnet

I was tipped by M.T. on this incredible lace dress by IMPASSE DE LA DeFENSE by designer Karim Bonnet on Shop Curious. When I find a design like this I always look up all the designers other works I can find. And I loved what I found! All Bonnet´s works are beautiful and artistic designs full of DIY potential and inspiration. Keep a lookout for this guy as I think we´re going to be seeing more of him in the future.

Cream crocheted lace dress. Can be made from thrifted table cloths.




Crocheted lace collar. Quite an original design that features a long collar which can be worn around the neck, or over the head, like a crocheted hoodie.



Artist's jacket:


Hand painted swishy skirt dress:


IMPASSE DE LA DeFENSE Fall 2009 and Fall 2008 collections:

OutsaPop photoshoot

A couple of weeks ago we photographed some of my works. It´s kinda nice to take some pro-looking photos of my works for a change instead of just me photographing them at home in crappy lighting.. Photos by Jere Kantonen, models Mari Paukkonen and Johanna Varis. You can see all the pics from my Flickr photogallery.

Teacup pincushion

See tutorial at Craft blog.

DIY Jil Sander fringes

I´ve been wondering the whole summer how could one make a dress similar to SS09 Jil Sander draped fringe dresses. The longest fringe ribbon I´ve been able to buy from my local button shop is 25cm high. Looks great but still way too short to cover an entire back of an dress. Valerie from Bleach Black has made her own fringe fashions by using yarn and tape so you are able to make the fringes as long as you need. To help you make the fringes exactly the same length, wrap them around two pieces of cardboard (with the right height) and steam iron any creases out. Takes a bit of time, but totally worth the trouble. Check out her tutorial and the entire SS09 collection from Jil Sander to get more ideas on how to arrange the fringes.




Jil Sander SS09 fringe dresses and vest (which I think is cooler than the dresses!). Photos from LuisaViaRoma.com and Net-a-porter.com.






Top photo from Fashioncopious.

Glamourai Labyrinth Link Collar

This girl (The Glamourai) makes some rad looking neckwear. Like this metal mash-up made from rusted necklace chains.

DIY tutorial - Steampunk Spats

Threadbanger tutorial with Zoh Morrigan on making steampunk/victorian/goth styled button spats.



Found via Craft blog.

Trashion scrapbooking

I have many inspiration books. I collect magazine clippings, scetches and other ideas in them. Every project starts here. Scrapbooks are handy as they are postable and very compact way to store inspiration. You can find my Inspiration Scrapbook set at Flickr. Loads to read, total 256 pages so far. Remember that all images in Flickr can be viewed in actual size by clicking "all sizes" and choosing large or original.

Ayzit Bostan Fall 2009

Ayzit Bostan AW09 collection details. Drapey fabrics decorated with jewelry chains. Beauty and function. Via The Coveted.

Finnish Midsummer

Tomorrow will be the longest day in the entire year. The "nightless night" and magical Midsummer as the sun will not go down. Hyvää Juhannusta! Photo by Reiskas.

Karate belt bow

Karate belt(?) bow fascinator.. I´d wear it. Photo via Aurore - A Certain Romance, a blog worth visiting.