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Archive for:

September, 2013

8th September 2013

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Bag – L.K. Bennett Rosamund

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Gabi and Mike of Cup of Couple, new-found soulmates.

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Hello from NYC! Just a quickie before grabbing some breakfast and diving head-first into the city. I know I kept piping on about ‘going to #NYFW’ on Twitter, but in truth I’m here with Levi’s to celebrate their Station to Station campaign launch and really keen on seeing Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs properly. Because let’s be honest, fashion week is pretty much the same everywhere, but you can’t download a walk in Central Park from style.com. I know you don’t subscribe to this blog to check the latest and hottest, although seeing how much I seem to be affected by this jetlag I can really only deliver week-late and lukewarm… but I have a feeling you don’t really mind, do you. For anything warmer may I suggest following on Instagram? 2-minutes-in-the-microwave warm, but hey, still better than nothing.

Anyway, we spent most of our time in Williamsburg on the first day, and if not for this crippling jetlag I’d have spent more time exploring but all I remember doing that day was half-reclined in a bench in the Wythe hotel garden tracing clouds in between interviews with Levi’s execs. I’m going back next week for a proper sweep through, and please do let me know if you could spare some NYC recommendations, especially good grub spots!

4th September 2013

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Power of simple, minimal: Charlie May AW13

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Studio shots courtesy of Charlie May, shot by Nicole Maria Winkler

If we all had super powers, mine would surely be chasing my own cape until I puke out breakfast all over the carpet. My dear friend Charlie May, blogger for Girl a la Mode and designer for her own names-sake brand Charlie May, her super power would be her minimal, modern, streamlined design aesthetics. Even when she’s not wearing a cape (white, and made of Napa leather, I’d imagine), her gusto for sleek minimal rubs off on her everyday style too. I’ve had the pleasure to design her new e-commerce site, launched just over a week ago, and since I’ve also been painfully holding back on sharing her AW13 collection until the pieces are released for purchase, you’ll agree this is perfect timing. And as a little bonus, I’ve asked Charlie to demonstrate how to make a simple wrap skirt (a la Charlie May SS13), should you wish to own a bit of her in your own wardrobe. Only if that didn’t sound as creepy as it came out…

Photo by Park & Cube at Charlie May AW13 show in February

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Photo by Park & Cube at Charlie May AW13 show in February

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All you’ll need:
A bit of fabric – leather, pleather, or even tough cotton. (half a metre [20in] is enough!) We used a creamy velvet fabric that she used in one of the pieces in her AW13 collection. Scissors, sewing machine (or needle & thread to hand-sew), pins, an iron & ironing board.

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Cut two long strips, 50cm long (20in) x 5cm (2in) wide. Fold into fourths and iron down.

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Pin along the length.

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Sew along the length, pulling pins out as you go. Snip the 50cm-long straps in half, making four 25cm-long straps. (This can be as long as you like) Tuck the ends in and sew to finish.

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Measure your waist, this will be the width of the skirt. Measure a desired length, and let that be the height. Add 5-8cm (2-3inches) to the height, and cut a rectangle with these dimensions from the fabric of choice.

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Cut the bottom of the skirt in a slant, with about 5-8cm (2-3inches) difference in length. The above diagram describes how the straps are tied – attach two straps at top corners to start.

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Wear the skirt to find out where the opening meets the skirt. Pin to mark where the straps should go, then sew them on. All four straps should be attached to the skirt.

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Tie the straps in a double-knot to secure the skirt.

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  • This wrap-skirt can be done with practically any type of fabric, but for a true Charlie May style, try silk, cotton mesh, or leather.
  • If you don’t have enough fabric to make straps, or if you don’t feel up for sewing, then try using ribbons! (Grosgrain, silk…etc)
  • For advanced sewers, try adding buckles or double D-rings to the straps instead of the tying method. The inner flap can also be secured with a button.
  • For a slightly thicker wrap-skirt, or if using fabric that might fray at the edges – cut two mirrored templates, sew the edges (like a pillow!), pull inside out, and iron. The edges will be neater and the skirt thicker.

Charlie is giving away an Ostrich leather tee from her AW13 collection, some lovely Bumble & Bumble products and two tickets to her SS14 show during London Fashion week, so make sure to enter!