Blog

Have you all heard about Pinterest?  It is the latest social networking group out there.  I love it but I don’t get it.  Since it is a totally visual experience, I love roaming around the site.  I find the most interesting and beautiful things.  Like this unbelievable Artwear photo.

From alilovescurtis.blogspot.com

What do you think?  Do we need another site?  Do you love the visual as much as I do? Give me feedback.

Something quite unique has happened on the fashion front this summer. While many top designers usually embrace the safety of plain white pants and a few hot colours they don’t often use wild prints. However, this summer that is exactly what they have done. It started with a trend that favoured a pyjama-style look which didn’t really take off in a big way. With too many customers thinking that these outfits still looked like sleepwear. But what customers did like were the idea of wearing prints on their legs. So designers returned to their drawing boards and ditched the co-ordinating tops and concentrated on printed pants, and the result has been a style that is fresh and fun. Two of the designers to pioneer this trend are Dries Van Noten and Isabel Marant.

Many women have found that with careful dressing these printed pieces can even take them to work. By adding a simple plain silky top and a smart cotton blazer with some heeled sandals (that will elongate the leg), the printed pant moves away from being casual to something quite slick. Here at Steel Pony we have some beautiful printed pants cut into a harem shape. If you live in pants then you’d be hard put to find a better more on-trend look.

If you want to embrace a full boho style then printed pants are a must. Team them with a longer length hand crafted top and finish with one of our handmade tie fronted wraps. Slip your feet into some pumps or flat sandals and complete the look with an assortment of bead bracelets.

The beauty of our harem pants is that they are perfect for a hot summer wardrobe. Jeans are just too heavy and a tight skinny leg style can make you feel really hot. So embrace this latest trend and you’ll probably find that printed trousers will become a firm favourite in your summer closet.

Top Tips For Printed Trousers

1. Don’t dismiss this look for the office because it can work with some careful dressing.
2. A matching top in a loud print is difficult to carry off so team your trousers with something plain
3. If you team your harem-style pants with a heel it will elongate your legs.
4. Printed trousers are at the heart of boho dressing and a must for the summer season.

Well it is coming again.  I went trolling to find some ideas to give my Mother.  Thought I would share.  I found In the Garden at Etsy.  It is a treasury by Cindy and I really liked some of her choices.  

What did you find for yours?

I would imagine that virtually everyone here in the States owns at least one pair of jeans. It is amazing how this basic garment has stayed at the top of fashion must-haves for so long. Perhaps it’s because jeans really do fulfil so many roles. If you have them smart and pressed they’ll take you to work, soft and casual they are ideal for the week-end and dark denim in a skinny-leg style will partner beautifully with an embellished evening jacket. You would be hard pushed to find any other garment that is quite so versatile.

Another area where jeans work so perfectly is with boho clothes. They are the perfect partner to a handmade top. The plain simplicity of the denim fabric only serves to highlight the creative workmanship that goes into a hand crafted pieces of clothing. So, if you purchase a piece of Steel Pony clothing you won’t need to spend a fortune on accessories. Your blue denims are really all you need.

If you want to create a boho look on your jeans there are a few quick and easy methods you can try. One of these is fabric pens. Make your own template, practice on a scrap of fabric then copy the design on to your jeans. Alternatively use small scraps of pretty vintage fabric and cut then into small patches. Leave the edges frayed for a more ethnic style and sew them in place with strands of brightly coloured embroidery thread.

If your absolutely favourite jeans are getting a little worn then you may like to know about a company in New York. Pioneered as a small-time project that is now in great demand, Denim Therapy will repair your jeans with great precision. They claim that no job is too hard. So, if you have a pair of jeans that you simply cannot bear to part with you may like to contact their web site. You can find them on www.denimtherapy.com

Top Tips With Jeans

1. They are the perfect partner for a piece of Steel Pony handmade clothing.
2. If you love jeans buy several pairs because you can use them on a wide variety of occasions.
3. Give your jeans a boho look by adding pretty vintage patches and hand sewing them in place.
4. If you love your worn jeans too much to discard them then contact Denim Therapy to have them repaired.

You can find so much on Pinterest.

I love color so here is what I found.

See the rest.

Join the party.

In the world of fashion we have the absolute privilege of wearing pretty much what we like. And when we look back in history, when clothes were all about conforming to a certain image, it reminds us just how much freedom we have now. One of the great bonuses about shopping in 2012 is that we can also choose the length of clothes we want to wear. Again this was something that was denied to women hundreds of years ago. But with so much choice how do you know which length of garment to choose? And are there a few fashion rules?

The mini length is perfect if you are young and/or have great legs. But once you reach your forties it can be harder to carry it off. The best way is to ask the honest opinion of a friend. If you find a short art-to-wear dress you love how about teaming it with some soft pants. Knee length dresses are flattering on virtually everyone and perfect for work. And our handmade full-length and ankle length dresses create a lovely boho look. If the dress rules for your work don’t encourage a maxi style then enjoy them for the week-ends and show it off at summer parties.

It’s difficult to talk about the length of a garment without mentioning shoes. Short dresses look really fun with a pair of converse boots or sexy and sophisticated with a high heel. A chunky pair of ankle or knee length boots will give a more practical image, while pumps can look girlie and cute. Sandals, especially the ever-popular gladiator-style, work with just about everything in your summer wardrobe. But choose something with a slight touch of bling for a late night date!

Top Tips

1)    If you need to say goodbye to minis then ask a friend’s honest opinion.

2)    Your office code might frown on maxi clothes so keep them for the week-end.

3)    A short dress can always be teamed with a soft pair of pants.

4)    Create the look you want by selecting your shoes carefully.

5)    Gladiator-style shoes (with or without a heel) look good with just about everything.

What is your favorite length?  Send me a picture.

If you want to add some accessories to your handmade Steel Pony outfit how do you choose just what to buy? Here are the four basic categories that you can choose from.

The first might be called ‘shopping for the real thing’. This is when you don’t want fake or fun but you want a precious metal. A slim gold or silver chain needn’t break the bank and it can give you confidence knowing that you are wearing the best money can buy

. And a string of delicate vintage pearls are perfect for a summer dress. The great thing about real jewellery is that you’ll probably wear it over and over again and for cost-per-wear it will prove very economical. One of the best ways to find a bargain is to visit antique shops or look through Ebay. With some dedicated cleaning you may be able to find some lovely pieces for a fraction of the shop price.

The second category is fun and frivolous. This works really well if you are very young. This is where cheap and cheerful has its place and you can embrace high fashion trends. Brightly coloured bracelets and tote bags, enormous ear-rings, are the sort of accessories that can deliver a powerful colour punch. This is all about adding a bit of drama to your art-to-wear clothes. And for headwear think about adding a bold bandana or have fun with a variety of clips and combs. Fun accessories work really well with casual clothes especially fabrics like cotton, denim and linen.

The third category is the copycat designer look. If you love top designer names but cannot afford the price tag then buy the best fake you can afford. For example fake diamonds and furs are hard to tell from the real thing. Many of the top designers now prefer to use fake to please their conscience and their customers. The fashion icon Coco Chanel was the first lady to make fake truly acceptable. Her trademark pearls weren’t real and she loved glass and gilt brooches. Paste pieces have become a hallmark in the House of Chanel.

The fourth category is ethnic jewellery. And you’ll nearly always find it on the catwalks. It’s the coupling of vibrant colours with intricate design work. And where a piece has been worked by hand you’ll get something totally unique. This is the perfect accompaniment to the boho look. Pieces such as pretty coral necklaces or some Navaho beads look beautiful and will last. And if you enjoy travelling try and pick up some pieces while you are on holiday. Countries like Russia,China,IndiaandAfricawill offer you styles that you simply won’t find in your local boutiques.

If you’ve collected small strips of ribbon and lace from giftware packages you can use them to add a very pretty edging to a plain pillow slip.

1. Iron your pillow slip so it’s nice and flat.
2. Select a group of ribbons that will work together (you can even add small strips of fabric).
3. Lay your strips in an order you like at one end of the slip.
4. Then, fabric glue or machine in place to finish.

Here are some tips about choosing the most flattering design for your individual shape.

To help find your shape try doing the following three things.

1) Stand in your lingerie in front of a full-length mirror and give yourself an honest appraisal.

2)    Take your basic measurements.

3)    Find a photo of yourself in swimsuit.

Now you will fall into one of the following categories.

1)    Straight up and down (often a slim build where hips and bust are the same)

2)    Pear shape. A very common shape where hips are significantly larger than bust.

3)    The inverted triangle. Where the bust is larger than the hips.

4)    Apple shape. A heavy figure that is rounded with a heavy bust and hip measurement and no obvious waistline.

Straight up and down: This is often known as a boyish figure and is great for high fashion trends. This is wonderful for trousers. You can wear virtually any shape and especially thicker fabrics. Naturally this shape was born for jeans. This is an excellent shape for bulky fabrics and those with plenty of surface interest. It’s also ideal for layering.

Pear shape: You may bemoan having heavy hips but they are an easy figure fault to disguise. Designs with shaping and tailoring are perfect for you. And it can be more flattering to wear darker colours when you shop for skirts and trousers. Three-quarter-length shapes are a good choice as well as tops with a waterfall front finish. Never buy your clothes too tight or you will end up with unsightly bulges.

Inverted triangle: An ample bust doesn’t need disguising it just needs careful dressing. It’s a good idea to avoid high necks, big bows and masses of ruffles, but it’s perfect for a simple neckline. A V-neck can look lovely. Stay away from short boxy styles and look for soft flowing styles and light layers. Wrap over styles are also very flattering for you.

Apple shape: Like the inverted triangle you too will look lovely in soft flowing pieces with some gentle shaping. Look for garments that skim your body rather than stretching tightly around it. Tiny prints can be a bit difficult for you so go for a plain cloth. And working with a limited color palette such as just one or two colors, will also create a more slimming effect than wearing a wide variety of different shades.

Join the conversation………….What is your shape and show us your style.

It’s easy to think that having a closet full of clothes means that we’ll never be stuck for something to wear, but that isn’t necessarily true. In fact the key to having a serviceable closet is all about selecting the right pieces. And this means that even if you are shopping on a tight budget you can look always look good. The advantage of budgeting is that it helps us put our needs into perspective and to discipline our spending so we get great value for money.

The smartest way to shop on a budget is to go for investment dressing. And this means you buy clothes that you really will wear. Because our clothes are so unique and carefully handmade they are perfect for using as some of your basics. Many of the styles only need a piece of stand-out jewellery to complete the look.

Buying on a budget means we need to look for clothes that make us feel good about ourselves. Our art-to-wear pieces will create outfits that you will want to wear all the time making them great value for money. And if you find a style that you love then how about ordering it twice in different colours? Again this makes great budgeting sense because you know the item won’t sit in the back of your closet.

Another tip is to keep building on your existing collection each season. Look at the shapes and colours of your existing Steel Pony pieces and choose garments that can be inter-changed with pieces you already own. This way you can really stretch your existing wardrobe. There are three essential questions to ask when shopping on a budget.

1)    Does it work for me?

2)    Does it fit?

3)    Does it go with what I already have?

Top Tips

1)    Only buy clothes that you really love.

2)    Always try to build on to the clothes you already own to make your wardrobe stretch a bit further.

3)    Buying art-to-wear clothes means that you can own practical yet totally unique garments.

4)    Buy something twice if you know you will wear it a lot.

Show me what you got!