Relax in Style

Rock the Cloth
by Angelie Martin-Spencer & Arlene L. Martin

Published: Saturday, April 09, 2011

Take a little time today Saturday to relax in style.

Our suggestion: either get some things done on Friday or get an early start on Saturday, in order to have a free afternoon for relaxing.

Photos: Marc Evans, Pulse model Alexia Palmer

A summer scarf made of fashion knit, not only dresses up this simple tank top. It also keeps shoulders warm if you're dining indoors.

Romantic fabrics and silhouettes are hot this season. Alexia pairs her soft top with skinny jeans and pumps.







Steps: Dress

1. Cut front and back pieces of fashion fabric and facing.

2. Attach front and back facing to the respective necklines.

3. Join front and back at the sides and shoulders.

4. Finish edges and hem.

* This garment has some pleat detail which can be located along any section of the garment you choose.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Relax-in-Style_8629669#ixzz1Vcdnq4Le

Textured Fabrics

Rock The Cloth
with Angelie Martin-Spencer and Arlene L. Martin
Published: Saturday, April 02, 2011

Fashion is often about design details, ideas and the silhouette of the garment. Various solid or printed fabrics are used to achieve very fashionable features, although detail may sometimes be achieved with a particular bold or unique print. But these are flat design features, and to achieve anything with texture sometimes requires detailed and therefore costly fabric manipulation techniques.

Once in a while we are fortunate enough to come across fabrics that have texture and a three-dimensional detail. (Such is the case with new trendy fabrics that have frills in one-inch layers.) And sometimes we may come across some that are even more unique. One of the great things about these fabrics is that the detail of it means there is less work for you to do to get a fashionable garment. Basically, a simple silhouette that allows one to focus on only the fabric works well. Accessories that accentuate or highlight features may be incorporated into the overall look.

Our RTC tube is akin to the bark of the tree on which Alexia leans.

Alexia sports a textured frill mini.

(Photos: Marc Evans) (Pulse model Alexia Palmer)







We found an adaptation of that trendy frilly fabric; one with flowers embroidered over it to "flatten" the frills in some areas. While we decided to allow the fabric to speak for itself, it can be further embellished in keeping with the design: coloured patches may be sewn over the flowers in similar shapes of varying sizes, or beads or stones could be attached to the centre of the pattern. Our second fabric was a patch-on-sheer, creating a bark-like effect — which inspired the location for this week's shoot.

Steps: Maxi dress

1. Cut front and back pieces of fabric and lining.

2. Join front and back at the sides for both lining and dress.

3. Join ends of the elastic that will be used to secure the top of the dress; then attach elastic to the top of the lining.

4. Join tops of both fashion fabric and lining together - right sides together.

5. Finish edges and hem.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Textured-Fabrics_8600053#ixzz1VCn6wn7G

Inspiration from your Wardrobe

Rock The Cloth
With Angelie Martin-Spencer & Arlene L. Martin

Published: Saturday, March 26, 2011

We are often inspired by new trends and designer looks, but sometimes inspiration comes from an item that has been sitting in the closet for a while. That is often the case when we love some style or fit element of the garment. It simply works for us! Often when it works for you, it is not a bad idea to duplicate it. And when it is hard to find the garment in stores, then head to the fabric store, instead, for a similar fabric to Rock The Cloth.

In this case, the flattering silhouette of a design was duplicated in similar prints: one with similar long sleeves and the other replicating the horizontal print at the hemline.

The short version may be worn with funky boots (left) or metallic gladiator heels, as seen at right.

(Photos: Marc Evans)

The inspiration dress from the wardrobe.










Steps: Loose dress

* This is a process we have repeated a few times now, and hope you see the versatility in some construction steps.

1. Cut (i) front and back pieces, (ii) facing for the neckline.

2. Join facing to the back (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

3. Join facing to the front (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

4. Join front to back at sides and shoulders.

5. Insert sleeves.

6. Finish edges and hem.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Inspiration-from-Your-Wardrobe_8567537#ixzz1V6DhUJvn

Running Errands in Style

Published: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Jamaica Observer

Since we are Under the Dryer, we decided to dedicate this week to running errands and getting dolled up on a Saturday... in style. We are often tempted to pull on the most comfortable clothing when heading out on the weekend to do errands, especially after a week of dressing up for work. Knowing that we will be running about, we opt for comfort, and may not necessarily consider style while we get dressed. But by filling the wardrobe with stylish clothing that are also comfortable, we won't be tempted to pull on just any old garment and head out. It's a fallacy that style cannot be comfortable.

Opt for Stylish pieces

There are some garments that are considered comfortable items, such as exercise apparel, or jeans. We can opt for stylish versions of these items, or clothing inspired by them, that give the same level of comfort. So the first step in addressing the wardrobe upgrade is to shop for fashionable versions of these items. These include trendy comfort shoes instead of sneakers, for example.

A loose and comfortable cotton dress (belt optional) worn with stylish yet comfy gladiator sandals.

The knit dress can be jazzed up with a wide-brimmed hat and pumps for the girl who just can't give up her stilettos.

Mixing Style with Comfort

It is also not necessarily about tossing everything that may not be super-chic, but consider matching "comfort" pieces with stylish or trendy ones. So if we opt for jeans, then we could go with a fashionable top, rather than a T-shirt which is likely to give a drab look. If we love T-shirts, or even loose shirts, then wearing T-shirts or shirt dresses is a good way to stay comfortable and look fashionable.

These items can also be dressed up for other occasions. This gives more stretch to the wardrobe as such items can be dressed up, whereas the simpler pieces cannot.

Steps: Loose dress

* This is a process we have repeated a few times now, and hope you see the versatility in some construction steps.

1. Cut (i) front and back pieces, (ii) facing for the neckline.

2. Join facing to the back (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

3. Join facing to the front (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

4. Join front to back at sides and shoulders.

5. Finish edges and hem.

(Photos: Marc Evans)


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Running-Errands-in-Style_8526002#ixzz1V2HQYwFa

Rock The Cloth: Girlish Styles

With Angelie Martin-Spencer & Arlene Martin
Published: Saturday, March 12, 2011

Last week we looked at casually cool clothing as an inspiration for women's fashion. We're channelling this week the little girl in us without, of course, trying to replicate our childhood clothes. There's little risk in looking childish if we select or design pieces that simply hint at the girl inside, rather than wearing an oversized child's dress.

We're using three styles this week.

Look 1: The silhouette of this dress in collaboration with embroidered flowers is reminiscent of a dress from the toddler years.

Look 2: The simple tunic is also a popular children’s design.

Look 3: This look features a mature neckline with skirt and bow detail.










STEPS:

Tunic dress

1. Cut (i) front and back pieces, (ii) facing for the neckline, and (iii) sleeves.

2. Join facing to the back (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

3. Join facing to the front (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

4. Join front to back at sides and shoulders.

5. Insert sleeves.

6. Finish edges and hem.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Rock-The-Cloth-Girlish-Styles_8512084#ixzz1NBZN17WW

Casually Cool Looks

Rock the Cloth, Jamaica Observer

Published: Saturday, March 05, 2011

From time to time, women often feel the need to swap high-maintenance for a more comfortable look. However, we certainly don’t have to lose that feminine side. In the looks featuring comfy jeans, we used knit tops with a feminine appeal.

A shorter top revealing some skin is great for the younger age group, while the hip-length top works for more mature age groups. Styling with heels also keeps it feminine, especially with a soft feature of the flower attachment.

Based on the T-shirt, we created a modified T-dress. The form-fitting short dress is feminine with a boyishly cool look.

Comfortably cuffed jeans are made more feminine with an off-the-shoulder top and black pumps.

This cropped T-shirt is a more youthful take on the hip-length blouse shown above.

This striped sheath is feminine with a casually cool look.










Steps: dress

1. Cut (i) front and back pieces, (ii) facing for the neckline.

2. Join facing to the back (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

3. Join facing to the front (right sides together) then turn inside and topstitch.

4. Join front to back at sides and shoulders.

5. Finish edges and hem.

*Note: This week's steps are very similar to last week's. With some basic styles, the construction steps are very similar with the design, hence garment the pattern is what we change.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/-p-Casually-Cool-Looks--p---_8450862#ixzz1MbHtuC2S

Mixing Colours

Rock the Cloth, Jamaica Observer
Published: Saturday, February 12, 2011

We're continuing our feature of vibrant colours for Spring/Summer 2011, but this week we're showing you the very hot trend of contrasting your brightly coloured dresses with brightly coloured shoes. A pop of unexpected colour on your feet is a hot trend this year.

The beauty with rocking the cloth is that you can splurge on shoes and accessories you love and create your outfits around them with great fabrics, and that's just what we did this week.

Our models are dressed in silks and satins in vibrant colours, and then each dress was popped with bold contrasting footwear and accessories.

You can pair with a dress you already have, or you can simply Rock the Cloth and make a dress of your own as we did. The simplest being Thandiwe's and Latoya's, where you would simply:

Tips:

1. Make an A-line skirt with box pleats

2. Make a broad waistband

3. Make a strapless top

4. Join top and skirt to waistband

5. Insert zipper into the side

6. Hem and finish

Photos: Marc Evans | Models: Pulse | Make-up: Paul March

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Mixing-colours_8344154#ixzz1Kl1jAxju