Anime Convention

Went to the Anime Convention at the London Excel yesterday. It was really good. Made my brother's costume on time. Also made mine but didn't have time to do the hemming and had to improvise on the waistband. But it was good. Here is the pic of the costumes.

Here are selected photos of other people dressed up as various characters.

Ukitake Taichou and Shunsui Taichou - Bleach

Vaporeon - Pokemon

Black Rock Shooter

Captain Jack Sparrow and Giant Teddy Bear

Gohan and Videl - Dragonball Z

Soi Fon, Shinigami, Matsumoto - Bleach

Gaara of the Sand - Naruto Shippuden

Mario and Luigi

Jasper Garvida

Jasper Garvida S/S 11 - found on the facebook advert and thought I check it out. Here are a few of the stuff as well as some of my favourite pics.

Daphine Jacket

Outer fabric: Brocade

Lining fabric: 100% Silk

Colour: Brown

Care instruction: Dry Clean Only

Margot Dress

Outer fabric: Cloque and Silk Organza

Colour: Pink

Care instruction: Dry Clean Only

Cynthia Dress

Outer fabric: Silk Organza

Lining fabric: 100% Silk

Colour: Print

Care instruction: Dry Clean Only

Clara Top

Outer fabric: Silk Organza

Lining fabric: 100% Silk

Colour: Purple

Care instruction: Dry Clean Only

Jasper Garvida for Upper Street - Nina Gladiator (python and coral)

Material: Snake skin

Colour: Python and coral

Complimenting the Jasper Garvida SS11 collection perfectly are our Jasper Garivda for Upper Street shoes. With flashes of snake skin texture, and vibrant colours, an elegant and flirty style is created.  A slim heel elevating you an extra four and a half inches, accompanies the caged style of the shoe, with thin strips of material meeting in one central panel.  Small silver and black studs decorate the lower four strips, with two thin straps providing security and comfort around the ankle, and four strips of thin material offering support on the lower foot.  Finishing these shoes is a black leather insole and a faded peach sole. Whether it is a flowing evening dress, or slim fitted trousers, these shoes will suit for any occasion, and be the versatile choice for stylists. 

Costume Update

Hello,

Sorry for not being in contact. Problem with signing.

Since the last time I posted, my sewing machine has returned (q^____________^p) and the costume for my brother is on its way. The trouser is done save for taking in at the waist and doing the hemming and waistband and the pattern for the jacket is being drawn up. Tomorrow I shall buy the necessary fabric and get making since I only have 2 full maybe 1 and 1/2 days left before the event. If need to be, I shall just wear a white top with my trouser if there's no time for me to make my own top.

Hakama Trousers

Yo there!!

Just to let you know the final version of my costume is going underway... almost done with the trousers. I have cut out the patterns, pinned in the pleats and stitched everything up.

Thank you to my dear aunty for letting me use her sewing machine. I miss mine T_T. But yeah, going tomorrow again to finish off - got the hemming to do, the casing and the waistband and voila! It is done.

Chat to you later!!

Cannes Film Fashion 2011

Cannes Film is a festival where you get to see the premiere of a few films. But it is also a chance for the girls to dress up. Here are my favourites:

Bryce Dallas Howard at the Restless photocall

NOT my favourite... but I LOVE those SLEEVES... and it's in lace!!

Angelina Jolie in Salvatore Ferragamo at the Kung Fu Panda photocall

As far as I can remember, Angelina Jolie ALWAYS wear dark colours - black, navy, dark brown.  But this is one of the few times I have seen her in colour. Even if it is a nude shade. Love the drapery dress, very young, very chic.

Salma Hayek in Gucci Première at the festival's opening ceremony

One Word: WOW!!

Summer footwear hosted by Jason Gardiner

Summer is here and our feet needs to be dressed up correctly with these spring/summer shoes must wear!!

Platforms: Shoes Office £65, Hat Next £14, Top Topshop £28, Belt Next £10, Skirt M&S £39.50
Alternatives: Chockershoes.com (orange) £30, Aldo (tan with buckles) £75, Dorothy Perkins (pink closed toe) £38, River Island (green with cork sole) £44.99

Wedges: Wedges Wallis £35, Jacket M&S £99, Top Linea @ House of Fraser £12, Trousers Coast @ John Lewis £85
Alternatives: Zara (pink with buckles) £69.99, Feudlondon.com (black with studs) £150, Littlewoods.com £48, Chockershoes.com (dusty pink suede) £32

Sandals: Sandals Marisota £35, Sunglasses Primark £3, Dress Monsoon £140
Alternatives: Zara (tan embellished) £69.99, Peacocks (peach and gold) £12, Moo-boutique.co.uk, £89.99, Primark (tan and turquoise) £10

Flats: Shoes Primark £14, Sunglasses H&M £6.99, Top New Look £16.99, Bag Primark £7, Trousers Peacocks £30
Alternatives: Moda In Pelle (leopard print with red bow) £59.95, Office (coral suede brogues) £60, Carvela (diamante bow) £85, Aldo (yellow suede with tassle) £55
Men's: Shoes Office £66.99, T-Shirt Burton £14, Cardigan Zara £39.99, Trousers Burton £28

Nooooo... the workroom is empty without the machine!!

Yo there folks,

Unfortunately my sewing machine is feeling a little bit under the weather. When sewing, the materials gather up and the stitching doesn't come up right. However, it has gone to the doctors where it will have a check up before deciding what the sole problem(s) is/are before undergoing actual repairs.

So hopefully it will get done by the end of the week. If not, I better get the pattern cutting done and head over to my grandmother's house and use the sewing machine over there.

Until then, get well soon sewing machine.

Waters for Elephant

Waters for Elephant is a movie starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. It is directed by Francise Lawrence based on the novel by Sara Gruen. The story is set during the Great Depression and here are some of the costumes made for the movie by the designer Jacqueline West.

Christine Bleakley at the National Movie Awards 2011

The National Movie Awards 2011 has come and gone, along with great awards, but mostly some good fashions. Here's Christine Bleakley's 4 dresses, starting with bridal-style white lace dress.

Dress number 2:

Dress Number 3:

 My favourite out of all them. The colour suits her complexions very nicely, giving a subtle contrast. And I love the flowy skirt keeping in time with the pleated bodice. 

Dress number 4:

New Look 2011 advert

Commercial advert on New Look's 2011 summer collection that's currently on sale!! Liked some of the clothes there.

Hakama Trousers - practice

Day 3 -

FINISHED!!

Did the hemming at the waist and at the bottom of the trousers. I then created the casing which goes at the back of the trouser as well as a waistband.

Casing:
I did 8x8 inches, folding the edges in and folding it in half to create that rectangular shape. Then the longest side is attached to the trouser, NOT sewing the sides to allow the waistband to go through.

Waistband:
I measured the waist and times it by 2. My waistband consisted of 2 separate piece, so after ironing the edges inwards to create that neatness, I sewed the two pieces together, fold it in half then sewn along the three edges. I then attached some of it to the front of the waistband. One would say it's because one would not lose the ribbon. One would say it's design. And it is a sort of a design because when it is wrapped around your waist twice, you will have a string of the waistband at the bottom and another at the top which is then met in a bow in the middle of the trousers at the front.

Here are pics of the final version. As I was taking the photograph by myself, excuse the bad quality. I am currently wearing the trousers with a plain red top OVER the trousers to tone down the flowery print of the cotton material. I can also wear it with white top UNDERNEATH the trousers (as it's the correct term - samurai wear it over their long kimono) and a thin brown belt over the whole outfit.

Front View

Side view

Back view

Adjustments that I have made where the length of the waist. Normally there the side vent isn't sewn but I did it mainly due to religious reasons as well as a sense of decency not to show off my pants. Also I tightened the waist to make it a bit secure. Still loose around the waist but enough to go over my thighs as there are no openings like a fastening or a zip like a normal trouser have. 

Hakama Trousers - practice

Day 2 -

Made the back panel. Cut out the overall shape then pinned in the pleats. The pleats at the back are 2 per panel. As it wasn't specify whereabouts the pleats should be, I made one between the middle seam and the middle of the panel and another between the middle of the panel and the side vent seam.

Back Panel without pleats

Back Panel with pleats - front view

Back Panel - side view

Back panel - back view

Back Panels with pleats pinned in

During my research, I have only come across the history of the Hakama Trousers and some patterns. How it is sewn together - well I improvised. Here's how:

1) Sew the pleats into the fabric - this is to create the pleat creases along down the whole of the trousers. I sew it from the top till the end of the crotch line and allow the pleat to naturally crease for the rest of the length of the trouser. 

2) Sew the 2 front panels together and then the 2 back panels together via the crotch seam. REMEMBER to sew from top of the crotch seam to the end and not down the rest of the length of the trouser, otherwise it would be a skirt.

3) Sew the sides together, from the hem to the beginning of the side vent seam. According to the pictures I have come across during my research, the side vent seam which goes from waist till under the buttocks are open, almost like a slit - a large one at that. Not to sure why - probably because it needs extra movement. Don't worry, you won't see the bum as the trousers is normally worn over the kimono top.

Sewing the pleats

Below are pictures of what it would have looked like when it is worn. The only thing missing is the waistband.

Front View

Side View

Back View

Mistakes:

1) Have the crotch seam start at the top instead of 6 inches down - this to give a sense of comfort as well as movement while walking. When I was wearing this and walking around, I could feel the restrictions as the crotch seam reached down to my mid thigh, allowing the movement to commence from the knees instead of from the thighs or the hips. 

What's to come:

The finishing of the trousers - the waistband and the hemming. 

Hakama Trousers- practice

Day 1 -

Bought material that I wanted to use to make the practice. I went with printed cotton as the real version will be made out of red polycotton. So I tried to get the cheapest I can.

Printed Cotton
£2 per metre
B L Joshi
Ealing Road, Wembley

This is the material that I am using to practice how to make Hakama trouser. And this is the pattern that I am sourcing my trousers on.

http://www.sarcasm-hime.net/hakamapattern.html

So far I have made the front two panels. I took 2 1 metre piece and at the top marked 4 inches in and 6 inches down. Then I draw the crotch seam and the side vent seam. From the bottom of the side vent seam and the crotch seam I drew my side seam to the bottom edge of the piece creating a diagonal line. I have created the overall outline, based on the picture above.

What the shape looks like after the unnecessary pieces have been cut

 

Then came the pleatings. According to my research, the front panel has 7 pleats. 5 at the front and 2 at the back. The 5 pleats must be pleated in a certain way: 3 to the right and 2 to the left. I have done exactly that on the right front panel of the trouser. I did the opposite for the left front panel to create the sense of symmetry and balance.

Front view - 3 pleats to the right 

Side View

Back View - 2 pleats to the left

Here is what the two front panel of the trouser looks likes.