Glamorous grunge

Grunge. It’s the nineties trend that just refuses to die – if you’re a fan of Dries Van Noten, at least. The Belgian designer filled his spring/summer show with plaid, bleached blonde hair with dark roots, black eyeliner and white framed sunglasses. It’s enough to make you dig out your copy of Bleach and start scouring eBay for vintage DMs.

Of course, being Fashion-with-a-capital-F the plaid prints were teamed with chiffon maxi skirts and there were plenty of silks and metallics to give a luxe edge. Waists were nipped and femininity highlighted – don’t think you can just buy a huge granddad shirt from a charity shop and be on trend – not unless you team it with leather leggings, sky-high heels, a chiffon scarf and some seriously swish jewellery at least.

The good news is that the High Street has embraced Van Noten’s vision with alacrity. If plaid’s not your thing, try denim or florals, with flat boots or spiky gladiator heels to add attitude. Pretty it up with lace or add a goth twist with skulls and black feathers, it’s up to you. But do make sure you wash your hair. It’s not 1994.

Hyena ring by Glenda Lopez
£77, Boticca.com

Grecian headband by Eddera Laurier
£103, Boticca.com

Floral dress, £20, boohoo.com

Leopard print skirt with grey jumper, Warehouse

Sequinned top, Debenhams

Lace dress, Florence and Fred at Tesco

Denim and floral dress, Debenhams

Navy bag by Biba, £239, House of Fraser

Cut out top, £26, Next

Plaid skirt, £18.99, MissGuided

Landscape print shirt, £45, Next

Rhinestone skull clutch, £6, Primark

Tie dye stud wedge trainer, £18
Primark (in stores February 5^th)

Outfit, Primark

Crop top, £25, River Island

Mono shoe, River Island

Comments

Explosion in a jewellery box

It took me ages to find a pretty way to store the jewellery for my Folksy shop . I didn't want it to get muddled up with my own jewellery, but at the same time I didn't just want to stick it all in a box. I also wanted something that I could take with me to craft shows. At first I used a French shabby-chic style mini jewellery mannequin, but it soon got full! Then I found a gorgeous bird-themed jewellery stand. Unfortunately I've been so busy making lovely new items recently that tha's got a bit stuffed too! Oh dear... (Sorry about the picture quality, I had to take them on my mobile) I think it's probably time to buy another jewellery stand. I want one that will complement my existing ones but not exactly the same. Any suggestions will be happily welcomed. And how do you all store your stock? Is it tucked away under a bed or proudly on display to make the most of any visitors?

Press releases - a basic guide

As a crafter/designer, I know there can be nothing more thrilling (and potentially profitable) than seeing your name in print. As a full-time journalist, I know there is nothing more likely to go straight in the trash folder than a bad press release. So. How do you maximise your chances of your local newspaper, glossy mag or specialist crafting magazine taking notice of you? I can't guarantee that these tips will get you press coverage, but they will certainly help. 1. Get the right person. Buy a copy of the publication or visit their website and find who the best person to contact is. Any email that starts "I'm not sure if you're the right person..." goes straight in my trash folder - it suggests that the sender has no respect for my time, which is over-full as it is, without wasting my time reading things that aren't relevent to me. If in doubt, ring and find out. While you're at it, find out what their deadlines are - and stick to them. 2. Get to the po...

Opinions needed

I have a beautiful, really delicate vintage filigree brooch in the shape of a butterfly. The trouble is, I can't decide whether to make it into a necklace or a bracelet. What do you guys think? (Sorry about the blurry photo - that's what happend when I only have my phone, not the proper camera):

Made With Love by Kat

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