Tag Archives: Givenchy

June 26, 2012 in Bright and Shiny

A NEW LEASE of Life for Tights!

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As Mr. P says in dispair each time he comes across my various boxes of tights in London, ‘WHAT are you keeping these for?!’

Well, I just can’t let go of them. My hosiery collection includes vintage silk stockings, Charnos, Falke, Givenchy, Mary Quant, Pins & Needles, etc., etc., etc., and the list goes on infinitely. Unfortunately quite a few are laddered or missing their match. Also I have made an enormous amount of draft excluders for doors with the most colourful of them (another story). So, I have had to think of a couple of new ways to re-use them, and this is it!

My arms are terribly skinny, but I do carry a penchant for sleeveless dresses, so this is what I do…

In this case, I use a pair of Pins & Needles tights, which are no longer in production- boohoo.

1. I cut the feet from the tights at the ankle (I don’t discard as they make quite good secret socks for pumps).
2. I cut the panty part of the tights too (I don’t discard as you can attach flowers and jewellery and use as a headband).

And, whoopee I am now left with two see-through sleeves which can be attached to a top. They can be embellished with glitter or just left plain!
Of course there is always Charnos Armery if you just don’t have any hosiery spare!

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Jedes Mal, wenn Mr.P, in London, meine Kartons mit strumpfhosen endeckt sagt er verzweifelt: “Warum musst du Alle behalten?!”

Ich kann sie halt nicht loslassen. Meine Strumpwarenkollektion enthält vintage Seidenstrümpfe, Charnos, Falke, Givenchy, Mary Quant, Pins & Needles, etc. etc. etc. – die Liste geht weiter – unendlich. Leider sind relativ viele davon gerrissen oder ich vermisse Einzelne Strümpfe. Ich habe mit den buntesten davon schon massenweise Zugluftstopper genäht (aber das ist eine andere Geschichte). Also muss ich mir etwas anderes ausdenken, um meine Strumpfware wiederverwenden zu können – und jetzt habe ich es! Meine Arme sind unheimlich dünn, aber ich mag armlose Kleider so sehr gerne, also mache ich folgendes…

Hier benutze ich ein paar Strümpfe von Pins & Needles , die leider nicht mehr produziert werden – buuhuu.

1. Schneide ich die Füsse ab (die werfe ich aber nicht weg, weil man sie gut als Füsslinge verwenden kann)
2. Schneide ich das Hösschenteil aus (schmeisse ich auch nicht weg: man kann gut Blümchen und Schmuck daran befestigen und als Haarreifen tragen)

Und, Juuhuuu ich habe jetzt zwei durchsichtige Ärmel, die man an einem Top befestigen kann und verglitzern oder einfach so tragen.
Natürlich gibt es auch Charnos Armery, wenn keine Strumpfhosen übrig geblieben sind!

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August 3, 2011 in Bright and Shiny

“With fabrics, we do what we can. Balenciaga does what he wants.” – Christian Dior

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My Favourite dress the skirt can be worn as a cape

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I’m gobsmacked at the  Balenciaga Museum at Getaria that just opened June.  The museum is housed in the Annexe designed by AV62 architectects, built onto the newly restored Aldamar Palace. It counts itself with such prestigious names as Hubert de Givenchy, founding president of the Foundation and Queen Fabiola of Belgium, president of the Honourary Committee. Both have donated terribly important pieces from their own private Balenciaga collections, which now stands at 1,200 items and continues to grow. Only 90 pieces are on perminent show and these have been carefully selected to follow the themes of “Beginings”, “Day”, “”Cocktail”, “Night”, “Bridal” and “Essential Balenciaga”. Starting his house in 1917 at only 22 years of age, Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga retired in 1968 leaving behind him a string of internationally prestigious disciples and followers including Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Courreges, Ungaro…

One day would be as little as you would want to take to see the collection here, although two days is more like it and forever would be about fine for me!