alteration generation part ii

So I have had this Houndstooth coat for quite a while, but I never felt quite right in it. It just really wasn't my vibe. I decided to shorten the length to a blazer, and I'm pretty happy with the results!

Out with the old...

 Chop-chop, snip-snip

And voila!

a weekend of vintage shopping, tea drinking, sweetpea smelling, and fun having...

Another beautiful weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa!!! The weather is sunny and warm, the grass is green, the Jacaranda trees are bright purple, and the feeling that the end of the year is fast approaching is exhilarating! 

What better way to spend the time than trailing our local neighborhoods for some treasure purchases! Thanks to Emma Jane for the heads-up on the Stuff That's Nice sale in Craighall Park. There were "nearly new", vintage and new pieces on offer. I got an amazing Zara jacket that I am completely in love with, and another pretty lace top. Gorgeous venue, yummy yummy champagne and cupcakes, and b.e.a.utiful clothes!!!

The beautiful venue!

My purchases... love! 

All the Lovlies

Next up we visited the Constable/Robyn De Klerk/Loincloth and Ashes Sale in Greenside. Some stunning pieces from these young designers. I bought a lovely floral headband from RDK. 

Pretty Pretty Things

Apparently both of the places we visited will be having sales again in December, so I will keep you all updated with the info...

alteration generation

Inspired by All Saints, and knowing full well that I do not have the means to buy their beautiful threads,   I pulled out an old pair white jeans, and made an attempt to create my own.

Before:

Step 1:

 Turn jeans inside out and put them on. Pin them to a comfortable fit (bare in mind that your foot still needs to get through the leg).

Step 2: 

Stitch first leg, and check to see you are happy with fit. Once happy, use tape measure to ensure the new leg measurement is the same on the one side as the side you have already stitched,  and pin in place.

Step 3:

Cut away excess fabric leaving a 1cm seam allowance (from the edge of the fabric to where the stitches start).

Step 4:

This is the fun part! Take your ordinary kitchen grater and attack those jeans with all frustration and fury that life has thrown at you of late.

Tada!

The Inspiration:

The Translation:

Hope this inspires you to rethink some of those old jeans stowed away in your cupboards! Have fun!

Sewing mends the soul

-Author Unknown

a second hand revival

"Second hand", "pre-loved" and at best, "vintage"... usually the associations with this type of clothing are less than desirable. We imagine a stinking, old, dilapidated building, with more cats roaming around than the crazy lady who lives nextdoor, and a pile of musty old rags in broken fruit boxes... "less than desirable" is putting it lightly. However, second hand shopping can really be fantastic if you have an open mind, a creative flair, and a strong stomach.

A friend of mine introduced me to the love of second hand shopping when she moved to Jozi from Cape Town a few years back. She always looks amazing, contemporary, and chic... and her secret? She knows how to shop thrift stores like a fiend. She recently bought a very "interesting" 80s-style, bat-wing leather jacket. A little tailoring here, and a few stitches there, and this jacket looks like it could have come from All Saints...

Benefits of vintage shopping:

• It's CHEAP!!! Some places are cheaper than others, but the average price for a dress is around R10- R50, jackets range from R50- R200 (depending on the fabric, for example leather), handbags go from R5- R20.
• You can find absolute treasures. I found an authentic Gucci clutch bag, with serial number and suede interior, for R5, all because the strap was broken!

• Your clothes will have a story. I always imagine the history behind the clothes. Who wore it, where did they where it?...
• You're helping the environment, as well as each other. Not buying new slows down our consumption, and ultimately reduces land fill problems, and most second hand shops sponsor charities, hospice or animal shelters. 

You also need to know what to look for:

• Accessories! Sunglasses, handbags, and jewelry are treasure items. Most of them are sold for a fraction of their worth, and are good quality.
• Beautiful materials or prints, even if the style is hideous. A pair of scissors, and a sewing machine can transform these items into great pieces.
• Jackets. The different cuts are always coming back in. Look for quality.
• Dresses, skirts and shirts... and possibly trousers if you can find a good cut (there are plenty of mom jeans out there!) 
• Old suitcases- great looking storage space.

Don't buy:

• Second hand lingerie or swimwear... please!
• Shoes, unless they are in remarkable condition... like never been worn before.

The best part of it all is mixing the old with the new. Brining in current and contemporary pieces which pull the whole outfit up-to-date.

Enough talk... lets see these theories in practice

Outfit 1:

Second hand items:
Handbag: R5
Shirt: R20

Outfit 2:

Second hand items:
GUCCI (!) handbag:  R5
Belt: R2
Dress: R40

Outfit 3:

 

Second hand items:

Skirt w/ belt: R15

Outfit 4:

Second hand items:

Blazer: R20

Gucci Handbag: R5

Outfit 5:

Second hand items:

Shirt: free (traded one of my own second hand items for this)

Belt (came with skirt): R15

Outfit 6:

Second hand item:

Old dress that I cut up and turned into a skirt: R15

Outfit 7:

Second hand items:

Shirt: R10

Belt: R2

Bag: R5

Outfit 8:

Second hand item:

Shirt: R5

"When you buy a piece of vintage clothing you're not just buying the fabric and thread - you're buying a piece of someone's past." 

— Isabel Wolff (A Vintage Affair)