Just because I don't need them, doesn't mean I don't want them.

Now I'm not usually a big fan of trainers. They're clumpy, not very ladylike and my mum always said that my Vans made me look like I had my feet in two sponge puddings. But hightops however, are a different story.

Especially THESE ones:


Oh yes, that's right, Wonder Woman Reeboks. Now I know they came out in 2009, but I love them so much I have to show them to you. Apart from the fact they look a darn sight comfier and less depressing than my plain old black Vans, they have a certain quirky vintage look about them that I quite like. With skinny jeans in Winter, or shorts in Summer, they look great all year round.




I love the way they're cheesy, but not too cheesy. Ok so they're bright metallic colours with gold detail and bright white laces, but that was what the 70s TV series was all about, with the big, loud <<SHAZAMs>> and the <<KAPOWs>>! And Reebok have done really well with the overall design of the shoe: they could've just whacked a cartoon of the lady herself onto the sides and be done with it, but instead they've highlighted each section of the shoe with a different part of Wonder Woman's costume.

And now, here's Converse's take on Wonder Woman:

I love converse. I've been living in the same pair of (RED) Converse for over a year now and they're falling apart but I don't care. But these? Oh deary me Converse. Where's the bright colours to reflect the <<POW!>> <<WHACK!>> <<BOOM!>> of old comic book heros? Pastel colours don't exactly reflect superhuman strength or laser vision or flying powers. It's like super heros have gone girly. Too girly.

I can't find the Reeboks on the web at the moment, but when I do (and I will), they are going straight to the top of my birthday list this year to match my Wonder Woman phone case and mug.

Crafty me...

Have decided that after all this exam lark is over, I'm going to start doing more crafty stuff. Then if it goes well, I can make a small business and sell all the things (candles, sewing things, etc) at vintage fairs and become a millionaire.

Projects to follow...

And here's one I made earlier...

Product design coursework. The brief? To make a jacket that shows military influence. I had a long think about what I could do, which hurt my brain a lot. I didn't want to go down the route of bog-standard military cut, gold buttons, big shoulders, etc, so I looked at the theme of war. This then lead to WW2, which lead to rationing, which lead to the slogan "Make Do and Mend." Simple, but there are so many ways to go. Using second hand or vintage materials, homemade features, recycled objects, the list was endless!

To reflect the little possessions people owned during the war, I wanted to keep the cut of the jacket simple. So I found a vintage (more brownie points) Vogue suit pattern and won 10m of wool on ebay for £10. For the lining I found a vintage yellowish brown flower fabric. Sounds hideous, I know, but it was second hand and cheaper than buying new.

Next the detailing of the jacket.

Military decoration was originally very ornate, so I wanted my jacket to have simple features with a twist to make a bold statement. I wanted ribbon detailing for the cuffs and collar of the jacket and while I was looking through the pretty box full of lovely ribbons, I came accross a fabric tapemeasure. And it was ORANGE (ooo pretty colours...). It really stood out against the grey wool and gave a lovely twist to a seemingly normal cuff feature.

Then came buttons. I'm a sucker for vintage things, and I love buttons. There's just something about them that makes them so likeable! Anyway me and vintage buttons are a match made in heaven so you can imagine my delight as I went around countless vintage fairs and charity shops, being forced to shop for buttons... But nothing suited the jacket, so I made the decision to recycle a vintage object and use it as a fastening. I then explored the different ways I could re-use objects to make buttons: typewriter keys, old brooches, all kinds of things. But I decided on wooden cotton reels, ends chopped off, sanded down and holes drilled into them. And they looked brilliant. They still had the original Sylko labels which added that little bit of extra charm.

10 hours later, after many metres of thread later and sore pin-pricked fingers, this was the final result:

Took me bloody ages, but I'm very very pleased with it. What would I do differently if given the chance to make it again? Make it my size so I could wear it.

How Bazaar.

Having a flick through July's Harper's Bazaar today, I noticed a feature that I saw as a bit odd.
It's summer, and Harper's have done well to notice this by whacking a great pic of Claudia Schiffer in a sun hat and swim suit on the front cover, with the bold title 'The Hot Issue.' So far so good. But then you turn to the main interview and what do you find? A double-page spread of Ms. Schiffer, lying in beautiful white sands with the sun shining brightly, wearing a...thick cable-knit cardie?!



Am I missing something here? Are bulky jumpers in this summer? Does the fashion world really wish to fry everyone before summer 2011 has really begun? The next few images are of Schiffer looking remarkably comfortable in various chunky knits inspired by 70s roll neck jumpers, even though the weather looks unbearable. As glamorous as the photos are and although Schiffer pulls it off (sort of), I see them better suited to an autumn/winter edition than a summer one.












That aside, the next section is Schiffer doing a shoot for Harper's summer collection looking stunning in numerous garments. From brilliant patterned swimsuits to daring crochet dresses, dazzling whites to statement block colours, Schiffer can pull off anything.

 

Harper's Bazaar, you have redeemed yourself (if only just). But only because you have this fabulous lady who looks absolutely sensational in anything.