So You Want to Be a Haute Couture Fashionista?

By Marie Woodruff

So You Want To Be Your Own Haute Couture Fashionista? is about selectively collecting your clothes like you would choose your precious art collection -- to last a long time. With a few embellishments and simple alterations, you can change the entire look of your garments at will, at any time. The book provides 235 easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrations and instructions to help you create your own fashion statements. Dont be a slave to the fashion industry. So You Want To Be A Haute Couture Fashionista? gives you a creative opportunity to be your own one-of-a-kind fashion designer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532048043

Marie Woodruff

I was born to Russian-Polish immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada. My childhood was one of poverty. Even at a young age, I loved beautiful clothes, but often had to accept wearing the neighbors hand-me-downs. When I began working and living on my own, I learned to choose my clothes wisely, embellish them, and make minor alterations to change completely the look of my clothes. This resulted in my learning to make my own fashion statements. Even Queen Elizabeths wardrobe staff uses these techniques to stretch her budget. When I decided to write about creating unique wardrobes, I realized that I have a natural talent to draw and design fashions. Hence began my book, So You Want To Be Your Own Haute Couture Fashionista?

Book preview

So You Want to Be a

Haute Couture Fashionista?

MARIE WOODRUFF

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So You Want to Be a Haute Couture Fashionista?

Copyright © 2018 Marie Woodruff.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4803-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4804-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018909111

iUniverse rev. date: 08/06/2018

Table of Contents

So You Want to Be a Haute Couture Fashionista?

SCOPE OF THE WORK

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

PART I— LET’S GO BACK TO THE BASICS

Chapter 1 - The 12-Point Guide to Selecting Your Basic Clothes

1. Is it seasonless?

2. Is it classic in design?

3. Is it timeless in fabric?

(a) Wool

(b) Silk

(c) Cotton

(d) Linen

(e) Man-made Fabrics

(a) Regenerated cellulose

(b) Synthetic polymer

4. Is it basic in color?

5. Is it comfortable?

6. How many different ways can I wear it?

7. How many different things can I wear it with?

8. How many different places can I wear it to?

9. How is the garment to be cared for?

10. Does the garment reflect me?

11. Is it an overall good investment?

12. Is it an overall good asset to my wardrobe?

Fig. I-1 - The 12-Point Guide to Selecting Your Basic Clothes

Fig. 1-2 - Force Field Analysis for the 12-Point Guide

Chapter 2 - A Guide to Selecting the Basic Accessories

1. Scarves and Shawls

2. Belts

3. Jewelry

4. Tops

5. Footwear

6. Handbags

7. Special Collections

Fig. II-1 - How to Make Scarves

Fig. II-2 - How to Make a Scarf from Shortening a Skirt

Fig. II-3 - The Different Ways to Wear Scarves

Fig. II-4 - Different Ways to Wear a Shawl

Fig. II-5 - Simple Belts to Make

Fig. II-6 - Fur and Feather Belts to Make

Fig. II-7 - Leather Belts to Make (without tools)

Fig. II-8 - Detachable Borders as Peplums or Belts

Fig. II-9 - Pattern for Clutch/Shoulder Bag

Chapter 3 - What Is Your Fashion Personality Profile?

1. The Classic Type -

2. The Sophisticated Type -

3. The Business Type -

4. The Casual Type -

5. The Bold Type -

6. The Romantic Type

7. The Glamorous Type -

8. The sexy type -

9. The high fashion type -

10. The Dumpy Type -

PART II—LET’S GIVE THOSE OLD CLOTHES A NEW LOOK

Chapter 4 - The Family of Pants

1. Shortening Pants

2. Lengthening Pants

3. Altering the Width of Pants

(a) Alterations for Pants Too Big

(b) Alterations for Pants Too Tight

Fig. IV-1 - The Family of Pants

Fig. IV-2 - Gathered Pant Hem

Fig. IV-3 - Shortening Pants

Fig. IV-4 - Lengthening Pants

Fig. IV-5 - Alterations for Pants Too Big

Fig. IV-6 - Alterations for Pants Too Tight

Chapter 5 - The Family of Skirts

1. Shortening Skirts at the Hemline

2. Shortening Skirts at the Waist

3. Letting Hems Down

4. Lengthening Dirndl Skirts

5. Lengthening Flared and Gored Skirts

6. Lengthening Skirts with Leathers

7. Lengthening Skirts with Furs and Feathers

8. Lengthening Skirts with Decorative Trims and Craftworks

9. Lengthening Skirts with Handkerchiefs

10. Special Alterations

(a) Alterations for Skirts Too Big

(b) Alterations for Skirts Too Tight

Fig. V-1 - The Skirt Lengths

Fig. V-2 - Shortening Skirts at the Hem

Fig. V-3 - Shortening Skirts at the Waist

Fig. V-4 - Letting Hems Down

Fig. V-5 - Lengthening Dirndl Skirts

Fig. V-6 - Lengthening Flared and Gored Skirts

Fig. V-7 - Lengthening Skirts with Leathers

Fig. V-8 - Lengthening Skirts with Furs and Feathers

Fig. V-9 - Lengthening Skirts with Decorative Trims and Craftsworks

Fig. V-10- Lengthening Skirts with Handkerchiefs

Fig. V-11- Alterations for Skirts Too Big

Fig. V-12- Alterations for Skirts Too Tight

Chapter 6 - Dresses and Their Variations

1. Waisted Dresses

(a) Make Peplum Top and Skirt from Dress Too Long or Too Short

(b) Add a Tier or Border to Dress Too Short

(c) Make an Overskirt from Dress Too Long or Too Short

(d) Widen a Dress Too Tight

(e) Open Up a Dress Too Tight

2. Non—Waisted Dresses

(a) Make a Tunic Top from Dress Too Short

(b) Make a Balloon Dress or Blouse from Dress Too Short

(c) Make Skirts and Camisole from Dress Too Short

(d) Miscellaneous Tops from Dress Too Short

(e) Let Out a Dress Too Tight

Fig. VI-1 - Make Peplum Top from Dress Too Long or Too Short

Fig. VI-2 - Add a Tie or Border to Dress Too Short

Fig. VI-3 - Make an Overskirt from Dress Too Long or Too Short

Fig. VI-4 - Widen a Dress Too Tight

Fig. VI-5 - Open Up a Dress Too Tight

Fig. VI-6 - Make a Tunic Top from Dress Too Short

Fig. VI-7 - Make a Balloon Dress or Blouse from Dress Too Short

Fig. VI-8 - Make Skirts and Camisole from Dress Too Short

Fig. VI-9 - Miscellaneous Tops from Dress Too Short

Fig. VI-10- Let Out a Dress Too Tight

Chapter 7 - Tops

1. Shirts Too Big

2. Cardigans Too Big

3. Pullovers Too Big

4. Sweater Tops Too Short or Too Tight

5. Collar/Neckline Alterations

6. Sleeve Alterations

(a) Sleeves Too Big or Too Long

(b) Sleeves Too Tight or Too Short

7. Special Repairs for Knit Tops

8. Special Upgrading Techniques

(a) Craftsworks

(b) Buttons

(c) Special Collage Works

(d) Top-Stitching and Outlining

(e) Special Trims

Fig. VII-1 - Shirts Too Big

Fig. VII-2 - Cardigans Too Big

Fig. VII-3 - Pullovers Too Big

Fig. VII-4 - Sweater Tops Too Short or Too Tight

Fig. VII-5 - Collar/Neckline Alterations

Fig. VII-6 (a) - Sleeves Too Big or Too Long

Fig. VII-6 (b) - Sleeves Too Tight or Too Short

Fig. VII 7 - Special Repairs for Knit Tops

Fig. VII-8 (a) - Craftsworks

Fig. VII-8 (b) - Buttons

Fig. VII (c) Collage Works

Fig. VII-8 (d) - Top-Stitching and Outlining

Fig. VII-8 (e) - Special T 48439.jpg :ms (commercially-made)

Chapter 8 - Jackets and Related Outer Garments

1. Jackets and Outer Garments Too Long or Too Short

2. Jackets and Outer Garments Too Big or Too Tight

3. Special Problems for Jackets and Outer Garments

4. Special Repairs for Jackets and Outer Garments

5. Special Upgrading Techniques for Jackets and Outer Garments

Chapter 9 - Miscellaneous Accessories Upgrading Techniques

1. Footwear

2. Handbags

3. Belts

APPENDIX I

APPENDIX II

APPENDIX III

I

dedicate this book to my late maternal grandmother, Mary Golinowski, who was a passionate haute couture fashionista in her time. She designed all her own clothes, chose the fabrics, and had a seamstress assemble her designs. She never bought anything off the rack.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A

HAUTE COUTURE FASHIONISTA?

SCOPE OF THE WORK:

Part I - By selectively collecting clothes, keeping in mind classic styling, natural fabrics, and versatility, and adding to your wardrobe from season to season, rather than replacing it, you can amass a fortune in a beautiful wardrobe and stay fashionably in