Trashion Socialite

Last Sunday was yet another photo shoot for my upcoming DIY fashion book. The theme for this one was portraits of socialite women in their day and evening looks. The clothes show a simple way to customize a piece for daily wear, but if you blow up the proportions and use more material, you get evening wear. My book will be out in October and it will feature about 30 projects with infinite modification possibilities depending what type of garment you have to start with.

The projects:
Covering old clothes with doily table cloths
Forming surfaces with leather strips cut from mens 80´s leather jackets
Turning a 70´s A-lined maxi skirt to a peplum pencil skirt

Photos: Mikko Rasila

Models: Tiiu, Fiona, Sabina 

Clothes: OutsaPop Trashion / second hand 

Makeup: Iris Lindholm 

Hair: Jere Tienhaara 

DIY tutorial - leather clutch bag

Tutorial via First Blue Shoes.

DIY tutorial - boiled plastic spoon bracelet

How to make a plastic spoon bracelet by boiling. Tutorial at A Matter Of style.

Raquel Allegra started it

When Raquel Allegra made her first shredded t-shirt collection for Summer 2009 I´m sure she did not anticipate the reaction. Since then numerous fashion bloggers have imitated the style and technique of unravelling soft, secondhand t-shirts to sheer fashion pieces and some smaller labels have even made them a part of their collection, like Obesity And Speed. I have found references from 90´s craft magazines of this shredding technique used, but it did not make it to catwalks then. Raquel took a green approeach to this technique and used old tees from LA County jail and I for example use old German army tees. I use her collections and other street style photographs with shredded tees as inspiration. The base t-shirt can be just one color OR it can be tie dyed, dip dyed or ombre colored before the unravelling. The color shift brings out beautiful, fluent shapes when undone. I used this to unravel striped Marimekko tees to make their backs less of a Finnish fashion classic and more Dalilike.

Today I will be hosting a trashion workshop in Helsinki for eco fashion shop Paloni (kl 18 - 20.30). Participation fee 30€ includes an army secondhand T-shirt colored black and me showing you how to shredd it + great company and servings. For booking, mail info@paloni.fi!

Here is some inspiration for tonight!

DIY Cropped summer knit

Lightweight cotton knits are a must for summer. Geneva from A Pair And A Spare made herself one from a thrifted knit. When the hem is cut, The edge should be finished with a zig zag stitch and then sewn by hand.

Denier faces

This is the coolest styling I´ve ever seen done with stockings. When you break yours, use it as a Lady Gagalike fashionista partymask. Via Hunger Magazine.

Shredding therapy at Paloni 29.5.2012

TRASHION WORKSHOP next week in Helsinki. Come and shred yourself the hottest t-shirt of the summer at Paloni shop next Tuesday (29.5.) with me! Participation fee 30€ includes an army secondhand T-shirt colored black and me showing you how to shredd it + great company and servings. Only 20 seats. Reserve yours by sending a note to info@paloni.fi!

The mullet skirt

Today I learned a new fashion term - mullet skirt. This longer-from-the-back-and-shorter-in-front fashion piece was first spotted strutting the runways at shows like Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi, and Lanvin Spring/Summer 2011 but it quickly became a classic and is still worn by many fashionistas. If you’ve ever been conflicted between a maxi and a mini, then this style is for you. It can be made from any maxi skirt or dress by just cutting the hem shorter in front. A Pair And A Spare made a tutorial about it. Pin the hem first and try it on before cutting. A-lined skirts and fluent materials work best. Or you can use a circular piece of fabric and work from there as shown in this tutorial by Me Sew Crazy.

Just remember that this style does show your legs, so it is best worn with heels or summer platforms and does not look good with bruises or sneakers. Combat boots and pistol boots probably work if the dress is the kind you´d wear with them anyways. Black matte stockings will make it more festive for evening wear.