Tag: clothes

I Feel Pretty, Oh Sew Pretty

Published on by Quinn of the Nerds10 Comments

Lovelies, I’m now the very proud owner of a dress and blouse that I made myself.

As someone who only a few months ago was still suffering with severe anxiety, panic attacks, with symptoms of depression and agoraphobia… I’m sure you realise just how significant this moment is.

Through doing this I honestly feel as though I’ve reached an important milestone in my mental health journey and the healing process. I know that if I’d have attempted this a few years ago or even back in February I would have told myself I was untalented, worthless and I shouldn’t even bother because what’s the point?

It’s a very different story to how I feel right now.

Making clothes is something I’ve always imagined myself doing; my eclectic fashion taste unfortunately doesn’t lend itself to the high street and I find reproduction clothes although gorgeous they can also be extremely expensive! So this was always an option I wanted to explore, but knew I wouldn’t be able to get to this point without looking after my mental health first.

In making my own clothes I’m able to find patterns that not only suit my personal style, but I’ve been lucky enough to find that my nearest vintage store has heaps of beautiful vintage fabric! So at the end of the day, I not only get a garment made to fit my petite yet curvaceous body type (finding clothes to fit exactly can indeed be a challenge, anyone with me?) But in order to achieve this I’m not using newly made fabric in the process; therefore being sustainable and having a truly vintage garment as the result. I mean, can you say win-win?

  • Handmade dress from a 1960’s retro pattern
  • Handmade blouse from a 1950’s retro pattern

However instead of using the phrase “I tried to run before I could walk”, I think it’s fair to say I ran the London Marathon before I could even crawl and decided I would make this dress with it only being my third time using a sewing machine! I’m one of those that seems to learn better when doing and if I need to learn a specific stitch I’ll have trusty YouTube tutorials at my side to guide me through. I definitely don’t recommend this for everyone, I’m just extremely stubborn… and as I type that I can hear a distant echo saying “YES SHE IS!” from my loved ones haha.

So I’m trying not to steamboat ahead… Y’know like I did when I started all this, but I have some major plans for the future and where I’d really like to take this skill. Honestly I’d love nothing more than to take my cosplay game to a whole new level, making lavish costumes on the scale you’d see at New York Comic Con. As well as creating an entire wardrobe of reworked and personally made clothes and making me true feel like I’ve walked out of Sterling Cooper (Draper Price)… You know I have to mention Mad Men at least once!

Ok, I’ll freely admit that these garments are far from perfect! Nevertheless I personally think it’s pretty nifty being able to see my whole progress right before my eyes and what I’ve achieved so far. I’m teaching myself a completely new skill and I’m prepared for the fact it’s going to look at little ropey for a while yet!

During these last few months have you happened to pick up a new skill, or did you rediscover a love for an old skill? Or, have you been thinking about it but haven’t tried it on for size yet? Take it from me lovelies, if you’re thinking about learning a new skill, whether it’s sewing or something completely different I feel you should absolutely go for it! It might just be the beginning of something truly special.

Feig-ing Fabulous

Published on by Quinn of the Nerds14 Comments

Paul Feig – director, creator, fashion icon and one of my favourite people!

Now my lovelies you know his movies: Spy, Last Christmas, Bridesmaids (just to name a few) and if you’re like me you’ll also know the fantastic TV series Freaks and Geeks! But what many of you may not know is how much of a style icon this gentleman is and how his style has influenced the fashions of his own movies.

He is (in my opinion) one of the best dressed people I have ever had the pleasure to come across, he even collaborated with J. Crew on a range of stylish suit accessories and recently has been entertaining us worldwide with a series he calls “quarantine cocktail time” a quaren-tini, if you will, on Instagram live. Every night (without fail) he has a little cocktail party in his home, joined by his delightful wife Laurie for a jaunt around their kitchen as they chat, make a cocktail and have a boogie.

Honestly it’s become one of the major highlights of my day!

But I digress, this post (that I’ve been desperate to write for AGES!) is to have a chinwag about the fashion from two of my favourite movies by Mr. Feig Ghostbusters and A Simple Favour.

More specifically I really want to talk about the everyday fashions of the characters; Erin (Kristen Wiig) with a smidge of Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) from A Simple Favour.

Please remember hun’s for these posts I don’t buy anything new in order to put these ensembles together and I’m not trying to cosplay either, I’m definitely not talented enough for that (my sewing skills are minimal to say the least)! This is simply me playing dress up with my own wardrobe, talking about characters whose fashion I resonate with or have clearly been inspired by… albeit subconsciously. Yes, safe to say I see some similarities and a penchant for tweed.

With Ghostbusters what really caught my eye was (everything because I bloody adore it) their use of patterns, textures and layering used for Erin’s Columbia University outfits and Holtzmann’s ensembles. Brilliantly designed by Jeffrey Kurland he created clear, distinct characters and made fashion such a statement in the movie and that’s even without mentioning how amazing the Ghostbuster’s flight suits are (swoon)… And yes, I do have one in case you were wondering.

Then we come to genius that is Renee Enrlich Kalfus! Oh my life, the use of fashion in A Simple Favour is in a word delicious and so cleverly put together! The costume choices made for Anna Kendrick’s character (Stephanie Smothers) in particular show how her character develops through the movie as the plot unfolds; don’t worry there be no spoilers here! But honestly it is genius the impact the costumes have on this movie and it had a profound effect on me!

However looking at my wardrobe, it definitely doesn’t reflect the high-fashion-Ralph-Lauren-suited-and-booted Blake Lively. A girl can dream, alas I know my destiny is to live the life of an animal sock wearing blogger; that would do anything for that Alice + Olivia pom-pom sweater. Isn’t it just delightful?

Paul Feig’s own fashion styling he’s mentioned was inspired by people such as Cary Grant and the golden age of Hollywood. His own sense of style then became the vision for Blake Lively’s character and Mr Feig, I salute you!

This is a just a small appreciation post dedicated to Paul Feig and the wondrous designers and creatives he surrounds himself with, to help create something I feel is truly special. Ahem.. A Simple Favour is available to watch on Netflix lovelies and I encourage you all to watch it, that’s if you haven’t already m’dears. Bisous!

Photography credits: Ghostbusters wiki, Slash film & IMDB

A Pinny For Your Thoughts

Published on by Quinn of the Nerds4 Comments

Afternoon luvvies! How are we all? I do hope you’re eating plenty of treats, drinking much tea and looking after yourselves.

Now during these times I am fully aware that some of us… Ok probably a lot of us are living in realm of lounge wear and pajamas, including myself! Comfy worn-in joggers and slouchy jumpers have become the new office attire; let’s face it even if you’re working from home in these times and have to take a conference call who says that you can’t be put together on the top half and cosy on the bottom? You’ve totally earned it! But if you do happen to wake up one morning and the notion of getting dressed presents itself then do it, sometimes putting on an outfit I really like can make a huge difference to my day and I genuinely feel more productive simply just by getting dressed.

One of my favourite pieces in this scenario is (you may have guessed by the title!) The pinafore!

Now I’ll be honest I steered away from buying a pinafore for years, out of fear that I’d end up looking a bit like a child and let’s be honest I wouldn’t be worlds away with my haircut and collection of peter pan collars… However when I started to plan my outfit choices for a holiday to Scandinavia, ordering one by chance completely changed my mind and it has now become a major staple in my wardrobe.

I got this navy blue one from Joanie Clothing (my favourite online store I might add) and much like Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, I honestly wish I had this pinafore in so many different colours and shades (hint hint)! It’s versatile and one of those timeless pieces that can get you through any season.

When it gets a little chilly in the air a cute jumper with a collar works perfectly with a pair of opaque tights. Fast forward to the height of summer, now you can ditch the tights altogether and opt for a basic tee or an adorable blouse with all the frills imaginable. What made me fall head over heels with this pinafore in particular was just how much you can do with it! It can be casual one minute or dressed up if you’re going out for a lovely lunch somewhere. One of my favourite places to where this item is when travelling, specifically on a train journey. I find it comfortable and effortless; it’s a no-brainer outfit! I for one cannot rock lounge wear out and about in public it simply doesn’t suit me, so something like a pinafore is fantastic.

Whether you have a modern dress sense or you want to jazz it up a little and make it look 1960’s and retro, a pinafore can work for your personal style no matter what outfit choices you have in mind.

I have yet to buy another like this and when I stumble upon the right one you better believe I’ll be buying another one… or three!