How to walk down the street and feel proud of what you are wearing!

Just walked down London road which is a rougher street of Brighton to go food shopping with my granny trolley. A little like taking your life into your own hands when your wearing your latest creation made out of some seventies curtains! But here are some top tips for not giving a shit about what other people think of your clothes! 

If someone is staring, just assume they bloody love your attire and desperately wish the had chosen to wear something similar that day. If it really is a recognisable WTF look then they are probs wearing a track suit or just are to small minded to appreciate your amazing attire.

When someone shouts something they assume clever like "nice curtains" then they are a dick because some of the best fabrics have been furnishing fabrics from the last century and just because they have never been anywhere apart from their nans living room is not your fault. And if you happen to have a bit of flesh on show and some charming chap decides to shout nice legs or whatever then feel sorry for them. As they are either that sex starved to find that a turn on or just so unintelligent that they don't understand it's a actual LOOK.

For combatting everyday places like the corner shop or your walk to work it's best just to stick your headphones in and get on with it. Either that or call your mum and look that dam busy organising your incredibly busy trendy life that you must be mega important and influential to be dressed the way you are. And remember most people are too busy focusing on their little lives to notice. 

And always ALWAYS remember that if you love it then Fuck everyone else cos it must mean its the hottest thing if you have chosen to wear it that day. If you are making it a look then it's a look. Better than blending in with the rest of the humdrum public.

And if all else fails then lovely old ladies will either stare at you in shock! Bless them! Or smile at you and say they love your outfit as it reminds then of something they use to wear! 

Finally........ If you have evoked a reaction it means you have done something, created a wearable piece of art, or something new and exciting and I salute you! You visionary you! 

Aw13......

Had a sewing spree last night, trying to define some new pieces for a autum winter mini collection, so here is one of my prototypes (dresses for myself made under the excuse that they are a prototype) rocking it with school socks, platforms and a gorgeous 60's leather jacket. How I adore these muted colours! What will be your autum look?! 

This movement starts NOW.

Where is our subculture? What culturally defines our generation? What sets us apart? We have horribly mass produced clothing led by massive fashion houses with no concept of what real people can afford or want to wear. Where is our music? Bland chart successes that overtly manufacture to reach their maximum audience. What about political decisions made on behalf of us by the rich few who have  had to live off such limited means. Are we going to sit down quietly and swallow this mundanity which is offered to us? What are we waiting for? You need permission? I'm giving you permission, what do you want to do? Make a film? Form a fashion label? Write a play? Start your own business? Band? Movement? What is it, what moves you? Yeah we all need to pay our rent and feed ourselves but bigger than that we need to satisfy ourselves by creating. Creating something for us, a sound, look, image, brand, whatever?! The time is now and we have the freedom. We have the power of the Internet and more knowledge available than ever before. You are not alone, the current economic climate is dissatisfying more and more of us. We are all the result of beatniks, hippies, punks and ravers. A hundred different subcultures have gone before us and we can encapulate and exploit every one of them for inspirational means. I want to hear from you, are you a musician, designer, photographer, writer, actor, choreographer, singer, artist, visionary? Let's join together and coin this movement, lets support, write about, be inspired by and collaborate. Together we have the means to do this. What's your latest idea? Need a creative forum? To meet more artists like yourself?

Email our company at gogokimono@gmail.com

We don't just want you to 'like' what we are doing on Facebook, we want to hear about you and your projects! Act and create NOW.

We are family.

Have you seen this kimono??! People keep asking me if I'd made it, I wish I had its fifties I think, I've had it a few weeks and I'm so in love with it. I think tonight I'm going to make some tie die kimono's as a nod to current street trends. Since I'm visiting home I'm using the opportunity to focus on my sis's look, she has been doing the 90's grunge thing since she was about three, in my eyes she is the true originator of this look, fuck hipster shoreditch! She does it in such a gentle, casual way. There is no sense of trying or being affected and that in my eyes is truly what makes a person have natural style and be actually cool. 

Scissors and Boredom.

 

 

I'm back after nearly a week, this amazing heat wave has been playing havoc with my creative flow, what does one wear in this weather? Any interesting layering, irritating. Anything with sleeves, too much. Even accessories just anger me at the moment and I'm left looking like a complete bore! Today I took the scissors to a ugly old dress, cut it from knee length to mid length cut the arms off, added slits to make a cool arm effect and cut the high neck into a lower one. I still feel like I look like a bore, but on the upside know one in the world has the exact dress. So get customising people and lets fight the boring clone like trends with scissors and a needle and thread! Even if we feel dull.

 

Yesterday Alanna tricked me into having a day off, we needed to go up to her mums to pick some furniture for our pop up shop which will be at Bimble Bandada. Anyway when I got there she got me out loads of cushions made me a cup of tea and told me to go put my bikini on so we could go for a swim in her mums pool. Hilariously we still wore our sunglasses in the pool. 

 

I heart recycling.

I bloody love recycling, old magazines and knitting patterns slid into really grubby old plastic folders, sewn together, with zip added. So gorgeous, and you could fill them with anything you like, pictures of you and your mates, beads and buttons, dried flowers, or just leave them clear. Totally love sewing, in love with clear stuff, I heart my new clutch bag and purse! No go forth and make things!

Bow wow wow!

 

 

This one of my latest designs, I mean who doesn't love an oversized bow? So many great style connotations too. Minnie Mouse, 80's pop stars, dolls, errrrrr that's all I can think of right now! But its an attractive shape and goes with so much, right now I'm rocking a relaxed 80's look.

 

You can see behind me my new range of hand customised sunglasses which I am launching outside Snoopers Paradise this coming Tuesday. So if you fancy coming along and joining in the fun, come hang out, stroke some pretty new stock, show me your latest craft projects or just wear a rocking outfit so I can street style snap it and blog all about you! Get Involved!

 

Yesterday was the lovely Alanna'a birthday, we had a surprise tea party, thought everyone needed to see a picture of all my yummy baking! I'm on the fruit today!

 

I am homemade!

 

I feel a little smug................. this entire outfit, top, skirt, headband and jacket are homemade! I have gone mad on kimono's lately. I'm making lots to sell, all in different vintage prints, mostly floral! ( if anyone is around I am trading outside Snoopers Paradise next tues. Come say hello and have a stroke of all my pretty things) Anyway been knocking up tons of them, this one is made out of a embroidered table cloth and was just too pretty to sell! There is nothing like the satisfaction of knowing that your homemade piece is 100% your garment, no one has one quite like it anywhere. Do not underestimate craft, it means we all are leading the revolution against this mass produced world.

Make do. Mend. CREATE.

 

I was watching a programme about pre war fashions AMAZING, of course during the 40's rationing meant that making extravagant new frocks with brand new fabric wasn't possible. Some of the piece's that people created were just bloody amazing, made of curtains and their husbands old trousers, that kind of thing.

 

 I love that mentality, its so creative and resourceful and in our modern times its cool to be able to recycle something too. As the majority of our society (including me and all my friends) have restricted funds this mentality applies more than ever, you only need basic sewing skills IF THAT to be able to transform something. Even some kitchen bleach and a pair of scissors and as much imagination as you can muster, you can actually do anything.

 

 This dress was a 1960's ball gown that belonged to a friend of my grandma's. It was mega tiny and didn't do up around my shoulders, I wanted a quick fix so I just tacked the upper part of the back inside itself to create a deep V back, and then I cut and hemmed the skirt length to knee height to create a more fifties silhouette. Now I know we don't all have a old ball gown lying around, I'm lucky to have inherited a special piece. But the mentality is the same, old tablecloth-new dress, crappy t shirt- new crop top, old caravan curtains-new jacket................. don't be restricted by your skill base or worrying about people knowing what its made off. Now doesn't that old floral bed sheet of yours suddenly look more exciting........................

Power to the Flower

 

 

I know, I know, they are the most traditional fucking accessory, but I adore them, can't get enough of flowers, they just make me happy OK??! This particular floral delight is a prototype hat I made a couple of days ago, I know that you will be excited to hear that they will be on sale soon haha. Now I will make this point yet again, I felt like an complete loon stepping out to work wearing this hat, but I persevered as it seemed like a bit of a dare to myself, but I so enjoyed wearing it, and its ridiculous element made me smile every time I looked it the mirror. So whatever the reason if YOU love it WEAR it. Apologies for these images! My photography is getting better, promise.