Style up: Embellishment
You will need:
Must have sewing kit
Fabric scissors
Needles
Thread
Pins
Quick unpick
Tape measure
Fabric chalk
Glue gun
For the bodice…
Nude shape wear slip £29.50 by Marks & Spencer
Nude lace - £7.50 per metre, A One Fabrics (1/2 metre used=£3.75)
Swarovski Crystallized
10 x 8mm crystal pieces £9 10 boxes
18x 6mm- 5 pieces crystal £8 1 box
20 x 16mm- 5 pieces crystal £12 4 boxes
20 x 16mm- 5 pieces golden shadow £13 1 box
14 x 8.5 mm- 5 pieces crystal 3256 £8 3 boxes
Plastic beads, £1.99 for pot of 10 from A One Fabrics (4 pots used=£7.96)
Diamante £4 from HobbyCraft. (4 packs used) Available at www.hobbycraft.co.uk
Diamante £2.10 Ells and Farrier, 3 packs used (020 7734 1982 www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk )
For the suit…
Silk sleeveless cocoon jacket in grey £50 by ASOS.
Silk grey trousers at £45 by ASOS.
Shoulder pads for £1.88 per pair from MacCulloch & Wallis
To finish off…
Sunglasses £19.99 by Zara
Crystal flower necklace £20 by Aldo
Grey strappy platform sandals £40.00 by Dorothy Perkins
To make the bodice:
1) Firstly take your nude shape wear slip from M&S. With your tape measure, work out your measurement from your shoulder to your waist. Then, mark up this measurement on your shape wear slip with fabric chalk. Using your fabric scissors chop off the excess material so that you’re left with a camisole like top.
2) Next step is to cover the bodice in lace, starting with the bra cups. Our lace had no stretch so covering the curved bra cups was a little tricky. I’d recommend that you use stretch lace as it will make it all a great deal easier to do.
Pin the scalloped edge along the top of the bra cups curving it around the cup shape then on to the back. Only take the lace around the back approximately 4cm on each side as if you take it all the way around you will struggle to get the bodice on. Make sure you follow the underwire line and stitch the lace securely around the cups- this will emphasise your fabulous curves. You don’t need to be precise; the lace is good for hiding your stitches as long as you use a thread the same colour as the lace!. Stitch all around the top edge of your shapewear to hold the lace firmly in place and lightly stitch down the back to allow for movement.
3) It’s now time to embellish. Gather your selection of jewels, diamantes and beads along with your glue gun and start sticking them onto the lace. Be careful when doing this as the glue gun can get very hot. A handy tip to avoid burnt fingers is to get a hair pin, open it out and put a bit of blue tack on the end. Dab some glue on the end of it and use it to pick the jewels up with ease, and then on to your bodice. You can put as little or as many jewels on as you like, but to get that truly embellished look, the more the better. To prevent the glue from your glue gun sticking to the shape wear underneath the lace, put a scrap piece of fabric in between the lace and shape wear.
For the suit…
4) Hand stitch the extra shoulder pads in at the shoulders to make the jacket more structured.
5) If you want even more bling you can grab your glue gun and some diamantes and glue a line of jewels down the back of the heels of your shoes.
6) Now to finish, add your trousers, put on your sleeveless jacket, statement diamante necklace and your glamorous heels. Fabulous!
