Getting into Print

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Joanne

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

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

THE GENIUS OF JEANS

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Joanne

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

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

Colors that Inspire

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Joanne

You can find so much on Pinterest.

I love color so here is what I found.

See the rest.

Join the party.

Color

Lace makes a nice accent to anything

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Joanne

Over the past couple of years lace has been a major trend for top designers and it looks set to stay that way. Perhaps it was the dress worn by Kate Middleton on her wedding day to Prince William, with its beautiful lace bodice that inspired them! Valentino favours knee length dresses in pastel colours with a matching lining, while Alexander McQueen has opted for a gothic and dramatic look with a black lace jacket over a long black dress. Anna Sui has been retailing lace shorts and Dolce and Gabbana prefer something totally romantic by using several layers stitched together. All of this adds up to the fact that lace can be very versatile.

You can add your own touch of lace or crochet to a fashion accessory by first adding a running stitch to the straight edge on a small length. Pull the thread up nice and tight and sew the ends of the lace together. Press it out into a circle shape and glue it to a small circle of matching felt to make a backing. Next add a vintage button to the centre, or a piece of ribbon pulled into a bow. Now you can glue it to a hair band, or add several to a plain fabric bag, or a handmade soft scarf. To find pieces of lace look in thrift shops and yard sales for vintage finds. It’s best to wash it by hand in case the lace is quite delicate. Black lace is perfect for evening wear and you can add strips to a plain clutch bag, sew on beads and make a pretty choker (tying it at the back with some black ribbon). or add a wide panel to the lower edge of your little black dress.

Tips for Lace

1) Lace is one of the prettiest ways to refresh a garment.

2) If you buy vintage lace wash it by hand in case it is very delicate.

3) Take a tip from us here at Steel Pony and dye your lace to match your clothes.

4) If you don’t want to sew you can add lace to accessories by using good quality fabric glue.

LAYER UPON LAYER

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Joanne

In recent years layering has been a major trend on the catwalks. Why? Well one of the reasons is that designers like to show you just how versatile a garment can be. Take a skirt for instance. At one time of day you may have added a top and that was it. But now you can add a top plus a cropped bolero add to this a wrap top and finish with a beautiful scarf. Before you know it you are building your own look. The great thing about layering is that you really can create your own individual style. All you need is a number of pieces that can work together to create an original boho look. Steel Pony is known for layering. Check out the Shop by Look section for outfit ideas.

One of the important aspects of layering is that your colors blend together beautifully. They don’t have to be the exact same shade and quite often the look is more effective when you add in a little contrast. How do you know if the look is going to work? Well, start with your foundation garment which will probably be a skirt or pants. Next add on your longer length top. Then, slip on a bolero and see if you feel the colors are flowing together. If not swop your third layer for a different color. Next add on your wrap and check to see that everything is blending together. Finally add in your long scarf. As you constantly assess your pieces at every stage you discover what works for you. After a while you will develop an ‘eye’ for layering. You’ll soon be able to pick out pieces and know they’ll work together.

Layering is also a great way to take you from a day to an evening event. Simply peel off those top layers (bolero, wrap top and scarf), and if you’ve chosen a pretty sleeveless top you can dress it up with some stunning jewellery.

And finally, layering is perfect for a less than perfect figure. The different lengths and the flow of the fabric mean that people will be studying the beauty of your clothes rather than your figure!

Many of our hand made clothes are specifically designed to be layered.

Tips for layering

Select your foundation garment (skirt or pants) first.
As you add in your layers be prepared to experiment.
Adding in some contrast color can make the look more interesting.
If you have a day-to-evening event keep in mind that a layered look, can be the solution.
And if you don’t like tight body con clothes then layering is perfect for you.

Colorless Celebrities in 2012

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Anna

I couldn’t help but make the connection between last week’s blog post “Wearing Color in a No Color Society” and what I saw unfolding at the Academy Awards. Perhaps it’s just the time of year, but it seems that everyone is more inclined towards black, white, and shades of grey. The most notable exception on the red carpet was Michelle Williams coral Louis Vuitton. Take a look, it’s very classy:

Wearing Color in a No Color Society

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Joanne

Most people it seems stick with Black or other Neutrals which helps them to blend into the crowd. Color is finally trending this season.

When you wear Color you are making a statement.

If you wear color you

*Must have courage

*Most people look better when they wear color. It brightens your face and gives you a younger look.

Colorful Outfit

See the difference?

and

How do you wear color?

What does color do for you?

What’s Trending: Getting Ready for Summer

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Joanne

Alright everyone, let’s not let the groundhog make us lose sight of the impending warmer months. It’s time to start thinking about how you want to approach this

summer’s fashion trends. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been feeling the lightness and elegant looks that are being thrown our way. Here at Steel Pony we’ve snatched up the lace and organza vibe and made it into something truly unique for you this summer.

Ok, so she she doesn’t look that great in the outfit. You will. Spring summer coming soon.

Spring Trends

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Joanne

We are about to come into February. The heart of the winter season and a great month for hibernating. Spring is just around the corner so why not take the opportunity to get into that closet and do a little Spring Cleaning.

As you may have noticed, the past few years have been all about minimalism. It’s has been a trend that has grown out of the recession.

Laura top by Steel Pony

Ok, so the dying on this top makes it a little less minimal and the shape is not exactly basic but it is the closest I come.

I am so glad to see things changing. I am loving the Vintage trend, the pastel type colors and the more romantic girly looks coming our way.

The Selina Dress coming soon on steelpony.com

What are your thoughts about Spring fashion?