DIY

ThreadBanger: An Awesome How-To Site; DIY or Die!

The all powerful manifestation of the primordial divine, aka the internet, has once again answered our prayers. Now, in addition to Instructables and Make, there is an epic, fashion specific DIY resource. ThreadBanger01

For the Edwardian Ball, we found ourselves needing instruction on how to make a spat, so we searched, and searched, and searched for instructions that seemed … inspiring. We were about to give up when we found something that matched our desires perfectly. An instructional video titled: How-To Make Spats (Spat vid here). The production quality on this video how-to blew us away and we became instant fans of ThreadBanger.Com

We anticipate that you will the find the below video about how to make dreadfalls useful and engaging. Do note that it is of a vintage which is no longer being produced. The two dynamic hosts have since moved on for reasons unknown but the site, and especially the forums, continue to generate valuable content.

It gives a good idea of what’s possible though. Check it out and tell us if you want more resources like it!

threadbanger022

By Dusty Bacon, about: Ascot, Cravat, DIY, Dreadfalls, Fairy Tale Fashion Show, Fashion Show, Felt, How To, Instructables, Instructables.Com, LED Fur, LED RGB Fur, Make, Make Magazine, Needle Felting, RGB Fur, Spats, Thread Banger, ThreadBanger, ThreadBanger.Com, Tie, Web Resource, Wool

Edwardian Ball SF 2011 Part 4: Dusty’s Outfit

We continue our wrapping up of the Edwardian Ball 2011 with this semi-final post by Sketch2 DustyCouture.Com founder Dusty Bacon talking about his outfit in detail. Take it away!

During a brainstorming session with Mairin in which we sketched some rough concepts for her upcoming fashion line (stay tuned for more on this exciting development), I sketched out a character wearing the Edwardian Ball outfit I hoped to create. (See sketch at right of this paragraph.) This character was partly inspired by a tremendously engaging, sinister, Victorian era, browser-based role-playing game: Echo Bazaar which I’ve sincerely enjoyed becoming lost in these past couple months.

A month or so later when I was running out of time to actually manifest the outfit, I gave up on trying to design a thigh-high spat out of belts similar to these ones and instead banged out the brocade spats, vest, and cravat over the course of three days/nights.

These spats (see below) are a variation of a vintage East German issued gaiter. I’m growing to like using imitation leather because it’s durable, cheap, and can look amazing as is the case with the woven, grid texture on the black part of these spats.

Spats

The spats were riveted together with my new hand-press which I am finding to be faster than sewing in many ways. Note the recycled leather belts on the bottom.

Vest

Regarding the vest ornament (above), it was definitely inspired by my fashion-designer friend Tammi Wright’s application of chained stones in her Infinity:Now design line. My outfit may not have been as outlandish as a good number of the other outfits at the ball, but this center-stone ended up inspiring quite a few compliments and adding credence to my character’s jewel thief mystique.

I also wore the outfit a couple weeks later during a vampire pub crawl in Reno. It was perfect for that affair!

At the bottom of this post is the couture creation I am most proud of and the last component of my outfit I will be discussing: my patchwork leather gauntlet. It’s the first true custom fit item I have created and was fun to puzzle together a piece at a time from upcycled suede jackets. Thanks to Jeff Carloni aka Inferno for these photos!

Gauntlet

By Dusty Bacon, about: Brocade, Chain, Design Process, DIY, Dusty, Echo Bazaar, Edwardian Ball 2011, Fallen London, Gaiter, Gauntlet, Grommet, Hand Press, Imitation Leather, Infinity Now, Mairin, Medallion, Metallic Brocade, Pendant, Rivet, Sketch, Spat, Tammi, Vampire

Edwardian Ball SF 2011 Part 3: Our Outfits

We’ve shown you the video of the ball and the bazaar’s couture, now it’s time for us to promenade in our own finery! Fill up the champagne flute and grab an oyster or two then feast those peckish peepers on our glory.
Don and Morgan in the Raven photo booth
Four of us attended this year’s ball. Each of us choose a different look which emphasized various historic or fictional aspects of Edwardian society. For the most part, we obsessed over what to wear, even if it was just a simple decision between black or grey. When the time finally arrived though, we each had selected an outfit that paid compliment both to ourselves and the event.

Morgan (pictured at left with her companion Don in Raven Production’s exquisite photo booth) sports a grand ensemble which takes liberties with historic inspirations creating a scandalously elegant visage of courtly juxtaposed with exotic. Don meanwhile, would probably have fit right in at a club full of tofts and rakes during the brief era that followed the dawn of the 20th century with his more historically accurate portrayal of an Edwardian gentleman.

Before going on to Mairin and Dusty’s outfits, it must be noted that certain considerations need to be given adequate attention when selecting an outfit for such an affair. One thing we all failed to account for was how bloody hot the ballroom would get once it was jammed full of hot blooded revelers! Dusty and Mairin enjoying the balcony VIP area

Dusty and Mairin (pictured at right) hand made the more eye catching portions of their characters’ wardrobes. Both hail from the shadowy, less law-abiding, but certainly still noble corners of Edwardian London.

Mairin’s is a celebration of the patchwork past revised to sensational effect. Though the color scheme was significantly inspired by the Wandlung mini-hat which tops it all (and which Mairin herself chose and supplied the fabrics for), the hand-made from a Victorian pattern corset, associated over-blouse, and bustle-less skirt sprang from a need for the underworld’s ball-worthiest finery. She was thankful for the sleeveless top and mostly airy bottoms but was still a bit overly warm. At least the caged bunny hanging at her side didn’t complain.

Dusty was fortunate enough to purchase his brocade pants and a dress shirt with a collar that could be ironed to give the classic “winged” look from Reno thrift stores. The remainder of his outfit (which will be gone over in detail in the next post) consists of modified thrift scores and his first ever made from scratch leather gauntlet and spats.

While we would love to lay claim to titles of best dressed in attendance, this was fortunately not the case at all. In fact, we all had to admit at some point or another that we were probably dressed up and rocking as much flare as the average attendee. There were certainly many dressed more fabulously than we.

In our opinion, it is more about having a costume that suits and enhances your particular personae for that evening. We found that for us, if what you are wearing helps you to be the character you want to be then it is likely the subtle details only you and those intimate to you will fully appreciate that your mind will subconsciously orbit as the brighter stars of the evening pass.

Heading out from our lodgings into the Edwardian night

By Dusty Bacon, about: Brocade, Brocade Pants, Costumes, DIY, Don, Dusty Bacon, Edwardian Ball 2011, Edwardian Ball SF, Flapper, Mairin, Morgan, Outfits, Patchwork, Rake, Raven Photography, Regency Ballroom, Reno, Thief, Thrift, Thrift Score, Toft

Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 5

It’s not over yet! One of the burner underground’s newest sensations Jordan Miller of Red Dirt Fashion puts her radically unique style on display for our collective inspiration in this Top Five. Prepare to SQUEEEEE Beautiful young woman (the guest author) in a blushing type pose wearing a very colorful bandana and pink hat.

Guest author and fellow Faux Fur Freedom Front Fighter Jordan Miller is the sole-proprietor of Red Dirt Fashions, one of the most radically re-inventive fashion labels we’ve had the pleasure to discover. Now, heeeeerrrre’s Jordan!

Bandannas… Sure, we only have the threat of finding ourselves in a dust storm about a week out of the year, but for that week, bandannas are an absolute must. Not only do they make you look much more fabulous, but they have functionality as well. And for those of us who maintain style notoriety the remaining 358 days a year, a bandanna can be an asset to any ensemble. Even though we do not wake up everyday with the fear of finding ourselves face first with an infamous playa white out, the rest of the year, a bandanna can double as a handkerchief, a napkin, or even a bib for those messy eaters—just remember to wash it regularly (with a fourth a cup of vinegar in the washer to keep colors their brightest)!

Two young ladies all decked out for a phat party. One is wearing a custom DIY hoodie and arm warmers.

Arm Warmers… Anyone who does not wear faux fur for moral implications has felt the consequences from the cold desert night more than others. And even though there are bulky alternatives, for us fashionistas, enduring Mother Nature’s bite is the bitter but more fabulous alternative. My solution for this problem has always been to layer multiple arm warmers underneath my sweaters. This way, one still looks cute and petite in their sexy playa wear, and can endure the pain of below freezing temperatures in style.

Suspenders…. Have you ever found yourself waist deep in a pair of pants that were a size or two too big and could not find a belt anywhere? Burning Man 2009, the morning after we arrived, whilst sizing up my luggage, I realized that I left my only belt at home. A devastating blow for anyone who thinks the pants-below-your-ass look was overdone by the 90’s. However, fate was on my side because I still had my suspenders. Fabulous fashion functionality came to my rescue because, once again, I found the perfect blend of style and utility.

Hobo gloves… For someone who has poor circulation, I have always found that a major concern of mine while out and about is my core temperature. So, as mom always insists, gloves are a must for the winter climate. However, whilst embarking on adventures of the social manner, gloves do not fare well. Encompassed in a thick layer of fabric, while although warm, can become troublesome for fingers when someone has activities to partake upon. So, my solution has always been to cut the fingers off for a stylish and functional hobo glove. Although they are not quite as warm as their uncut cousin, they are way more reasonable since they do not entail constant removal anytime one is doing something that requires nimble fingers

Henry, my fake plastic turtle on wheels… He might not seem like an actually fashion accessory, but I can count the number of mornings that my outfit was completed with his cheerful smile as I drug him along behind me. He is perfect for those saucy mornings after a night full of partying when synapses are not firing rapidly, for he is a great conversation starter. And you can talk about a fake plastic turtle on wheels for a good amount of time with very little work from your cerebral cortex—a must have item for hangovers!

Jordan will soon be relocating to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Click the Follow Along links to the right to be kept up to date on her latest fashion revelations.

Montage of pics showing pink fingerless gloves, green-yellow-purple striped suspenders, and Henry the fake plastic turtle on a leash.

By Dusty Bacon, about: 2009 Top, Arm Warmer, Bandana, Best of 2009, DIY, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Accessory, Fashion Designer, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Fashionista, Faux Fur Freedom Front, FFFF, FIDM, Handmade, Henry Turtle, Hobo Gloves, Jordan Miller, Red Dirt Fashion, Sexy, Style and Utility, Suspenders, Top Five

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The Wild Times January 26, 2010

Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 4

Are you already dreaming of what items you’ll be rocking this year as the festival season takes shape? Calendars and closets are filling up with intentions that will soon manifest in the ever glorious moment! Three Pairs of Disembodied Forearms/Hands Model The Braided Gauntlets. Pale skin on black background.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome back our favorite co-author of 2009, Mairin the beautiful artist and owner of Kareli Kairos. Not only does Mairin have a reputation for being one of the most creative fashionistas in our local tribe, she also generously gives of herself in helping others with their couture projects and experiments.

<- Braided Gauntlets/Arm Warmers – I started making these in 2009, in every color I could find, and they are a great way to add edge to anything. They play with negative space in an interesting way; there is something very sexy about skin that shows in patches. They are tribal and geometric at the same time. They can also be worn layered over solid arm warmers, making them super-versatile. Headshot of pink haired woman looking at you with large gossamer winged Faerie headdress that has white fur and other miscellaneous accents.

Faerie-Headdress -> This is probably my favorite thing I made last year. I created it on top of a commercial “fairy hat” base, and added two pairs of small costume wings, flowers, beads, lights, etc. I created different clip-on accessories for it that allowed me to wear it for several occasions, including it’s incarnation as the Poinsettia Faerie’s crown for the Santa Crawl. It is dramatic, different, and reminds me of Art Nouveau illustrations. A headdress makes one feel theatrical in a transformative way that is liberating and very fun.
Headshot of a woman smiling coyloy at you models her shockingly pink hair with black striped accents. The colors contrast remarkably with her soft pale skin and large blue eyes.

<- My hair – This might be a bit of a stretch as an accessory but I got two really incredible, colorful haircuts in 2009 that rocked my world. Having hair that looks amazing is great, even if the rest of one’s ensemble is less than awesome, the hair is there, ever vigilant in expressing your style sensibility. I also dress up to my hair on days when I am not very inspired; having pink and black stripey hair encourages me to commit to the rest of my look with the same vigor as my hair.

Close up of woman's piercing big blue eyes framed on the outer corners by shockingly bright turquoise and pink feathers that stick out above and below about three inches from her sockets.

Feather Eyelashes -> Feather eyelashes created quite an impact for me 2009. They come in a wide range of colors, and instantly make one look “made-up,” even if one isn’t wearing any other make-up at all. Drawing attention to the eye is the major reason for wearing make-up to begin with, and boy do these do the trick. One’s eyes will be noticed. They are whimsical and otherworldly; every blink becomes the wing-beat of an exotic bird.

Fur Crop Jacket – Sometimes it gets cold, and one wants to stay warm, yet not cover up one’s whole outfit (or lack of one). The best solution I’ve found is the fur crop jacket. Having one’s arms and shoulders covered in super-warm fur goes a long way to keep the whole body warm, even if the rest of it is scantily clad. Also the cut of a crop jacket makes one’s shoulders look bigger, which makes one’s waist look smaller (generally figure-flattering), and in a football player sort of way, makes me feel like a bad-ass. There’s something about a crop-jacket that says, “Don’t mess with me.”

Our sincere thanks to everyone who wrote in so far with their top 5. Rest assured we will be bringing this popular and interactive series back at the end of this year!

Tall sexy pink haired woman with her hands on her hips and an impressive purplish-pink fur crop jacket sitting high on her shoulders gazes down on you with a blank yet vaguely authoritative expression.

By Dusty Bacon, about: 2009 Top, Arm Warmer, Art Nouveau, Best of 2009, Braided Gauntlet, Crop Jacket, DIY, Faerie, Fairy, Fairy Hat, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Accessory, Fashion Designer, Fashionista, Feather Eyelashes, Flattering, Fur, Fur Coat, Fur Crop, Fur Jacket, Head Dress, Headdress, Kareli Kairos, Mairin Kareli, Peek a boo, Top Five, Whimsical

8 Comments

The Wild Times January 20, 2010

Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 3

Are you ready for our THIRD installment of the top five fashion accessories of 2009? We’re back with those extra special accoutrements that made one individual’s wardrobe come alive this past year.

A woman wearing brown lacey leggings and very furry brown boot's legs point skyward, leg in foreground is bent at the knee.

Please welcome Miko, our guest author for this post on her favorite fashion accessories of 2009. We personally witnessed Miko’s year-long initiation into the “costume cult” and are all impressed by her unique, playful style which emphasizes sexiness, comfort, and mobility among other things.

1. Brown Lacey Leggings-These footless leggings were a holiday gift, but quickly made it onto the all-star accessory list. Great for all your brown outfits, excellent when you get tired of wearing fishnets, and superb with the perfect booty shorts and item number two on my list, the Shag boots.

2. Sanuk Shag Boots-Termed “not-boots” due to their uber comfortable, sandal footbed, this footwear excels both indoors and out. The only disadvantage is when shoe removal becomes a necessity in wintertime and you find you prefer these beastly boots to your house slippers.

A mostly nude female with one foot up on a stool has her back turned to show off tan fur trim boots, colorfully striped skater socks, and an upcycled white and black bustle.

3. Demonia Platform Boots-Funky enough for every costume, comfortable enough to trek from the deep playa to center camp and beyond! These boots were a major footwear staple for me in 2009. I commonly paired these with leggings, stockings, or most commonly as seen here in this photo, with skater socks.

4. Bustle-Whether you’re circus bound or ready for tea, what better accessory than the bustle. My homemade version incorporated two unworn items: a petticoat and a white skirt. I pleated the white skirt to highlight the button accents, and then attached both to a belt for easy removal, if needed. New for 2010 will be additional ruffling with a multi-layered, black, satin and lace skirt.

5. Feather Earrings-Great for those of us who just can’t have striped or colored hair extensions all the time. Feathers can be matched to individual hair length and coloring, or made extremely long and bold to really stand out and demand attention. If they get wet, feathers can be straightened on a low heat setting with a basic hair straightener or steamed. Make friends with the manager of the fly fishing department at your local sportsman’s emporium to find the most extravagant feather supplies.

Awesome post Miko! We look forward to seeing what you adorn your beautiful self with in 2010 …

Upper torso and head shot of a smiling half Asian young lady wearing irridescent purpley-blue sunglasses, earrings that are a small bundle of long white feathers with black stripes and another earring that is brown feathers with black stripes. She also wears two necklaces, one a blueish-white moonstone wrapped in fine black cord and a symbol consisting of four thick copper wire circles.

By Dusty Bacon, about: 2009 Top, Best of 2009, Bustle, Demonia, DIY, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Accessory, Feather Earrings, Feathers, Handmade, Leggings, Not Boots, Platform Boots, Sanuk, Shag Boots, Stylish Comfort, Top Five

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Classic Posts The Wild Times January 8, 2010

Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 1

We all have our favorite bits of couture. Unique costume pieces that we can count on if we want to guarantee a compliment or two. Here’s one fashionista’s top five favorite fashion accessories of 2009. Handsome man looks at you with his black arm warmered arms up, reaching for his giant brass grometted black top hat. He wears a black and green fishnet shirt under a green and black striped velvet vest. Purple & lime green feather-falls and a tubular crinoline adorned black bow-tie complete the look.

El Top Hat Gigante’ was THE crowd-pleasingest item of 2009. By sewing a full sheet of thick black construction paper to an already popular gold-grommet accented felt hat, a new scale of cranial accessorizing was unleashed on the party populous. From parades to stages to fire art installations, this prop eclipsed all that came near with it’s sheer ridiculousity.

Adding a touch of couture class was the tubular crinoline adorned bow-tie (which can be seen in the same picture). A basic black strap-on bow-tie augmented by two 10″ lengths of black tubular crin w/iridescent green accent threads spiraling around. It added squiggliness, color, and interactivity to any outfit.

While more utilitarian in application, the black leg warmers with brass snaps used as arm warmers are a tremendously fashionable way to increase the warmth of whatever funky ensemble fails to cover the hands, forearms, and elbows adequately. Since the arrival of an Man with crazy macrame' necklace of many hanging souveniers stares at you crazily with one eye covered by a headdress made up of many copper and blakc strips. A high-collared brown vest open down the middle complements his tan skin and constrasts with the pixelated blue sky behind his shamanic visage. exceptionally cold winter season, these have been in heavy rotation complementing all manner of get-ups. The great antique color of the snaps and longitudinal ribbing create a splendid if subtle effect and they can even handle a bit of open flame which is a huge plus!

A handmade birthday gift from a friend is always wonderful. One that has been made so over the top that you are the only one who can rock it is transcendentally awesome. Such is the case with this macrame’ “necklace” that rapidly became a 2009 Burning Man Schwag-Rig. Somehow, everything fits on it … in a tangled bank sort of way. And it does have everything. The key to home, a Pi-Stone, popcorn, even a glass bauble with a magic mushroom in it among other assorted bits of gifted love.

Finally, we have the accessory that can turn any pair of boots into epic couture footwear while simultaneously bridging the gap created by too short pant legs (see pic at bottom of post). They’re a little bit steampunk, a lot of post-apocalyptic militaria, and all sorts of vintage hotness. These East German Gaiters from the 1950s have had their leather bits antiqued/distressed and a few metal accents have been added to create a potent effect. We were lucky to find the brass medallions on a vintage coin type belt. All they need now is a healthy dusting of Playa!

We’re already salivating over all the goodies we have in the works for 2010. It will be interesting to see where they stand by the end of the year! What pieces are you getting excited about?

Participate! This is Vol. 1 and if you’d like to see a Vol. 2, please email us with pictures and words honoring your favorite accessories from this last year so we can put them into a blog post! Our Email address is to the right under the follow along links

Olive drab gaiters cover the tops of a pair of black combat boots, the multiple=

By Dusty Bacon, about: 2009 Top, Antique Snaps, Arm Warmers, Best of 2009, Bow Tie, Burning Man Schwag, Couture, Crinoline, DIY, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Accessory, Favorite Accessories, Funky Ensemble, Handmade, Leg Warmers, Macrame', Militaria, Post Apocalyptic, Schwag, Top Five, Top Hat, Tubular Crinoline

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