Dress Of The Day with Angela

 Peplum picture from Wikipedia. The word peplum comes from the Greek word for tunic. It was originally a tunic tied at the waist. In modern fashion is is a tunic which comes in at the waist, but has an attention-catching ruffle or wide frill attached to create an hour-glass effect. You could also call it an overskirt. Reasons For Peplum To create an hour glass effect. To draw attention to a small waist. To make the wearer look attractive. To make the garment look more attractive. To create a new season's look so people buy new clothes. To distinguish one designer's outfits from another's. To draw attention away from the face to the waist. It was the fashion twenty years ago. Your old vintage clothes are back in fashion. Nostalgia. You loved the look last time and here it is again. It's something you can copy to turn a boring straight tee-shirt or tunic top or tunic dress into something more interesting. Reasons Against Peplum It was the fashion twenty years ago.  It...

 Known your good side, the good side of your face. Or take three photos or five every time. Face forwards, left, right, and three quarters in both directions. Try the same looking up and down. Pose leaning forwards and backwards. What do we need to hide? Untidy hair, bald patch, roots which need tinting - under a hat or hair band, or a pony tail. Frown lines - under a fringe or brimmed hat. Lined neck or Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage)  - under a polo neck or high neck or scarf or choker.  Tummy Hide a tummy under an A line dress, or a long scarf. Hold a bunch of flowers. Stand behind a table. Stand half hidden behind somebody else. Place a partner seated on a chair and stand behind them. Hide half behind a door or wall, peeking out or waving or holding out a banner or welcome sign or greeting. Sit with a pet on your lap, or a soft toy. Arms and Hands Hid crepey arms under long sleeves. Lack of nail varnish - hands behind back, or holding a bunch of flowers, or a cup, or...

  Dress of the day 200. Photo by Trevor Sharot.  You can brighten up an old outfit with a new collar. It makes me feel good. I have a new look. I feel it is a way to create variety for the family. Something new for them to see every day. I have made a collar or cape from a child's skirt previously. On one occasion I had to cut a slit to make the collar lay flat. I left the elastic waistband intact. I slit the cape so it would go over my shoulders and allow me to move my arms comfortably. This garment had another design. Matching tights were attached. Clearly I had to remove the tights completely, or slit them to make  hole for my head to get through. I cut cautiously. I try to cut as little as possible. You can always cut more. As the saying goes, measure twice, cut once.  I think, save cutting and save sewing. I cut the slit down one side of the leg seams, only to about a third of the way along. This left me with two hanging tubes of matching material. I tied them t...

  The comments I received on Facebook included the words: beautiful, charming exquisite, glam, cracker. 'Bet it's silk.' 'I feel a little envy, on a muddy Welsh farm.'  The scarf was made by cutting the hem off the dress which was too long. I cut the fabric using pinking shears to create a serrated edge which won't fray. The drawstring at the waist is held neatly in place by a row of stitching above and below. This is a useful idea to remember when sewing your own clothes. Caften Fabric If you are using a bought caftan as a template or pattern for your own diy caftan, you can make a simple day caftan in cottom by cutting an old or new bedsheet. A ribbon can be threaded through two small slits at the right and left seams.  Silky Fabric However, if you want a smart evening caftan made of superior cloth, you can copy this idea for a neat drawstring waist from my silver caften. Draw the horizontal lines at the waist of your garment with tailor's chalk.  Why tail...