You will need:
A must-have sewing kit including
Sewing Machine
Fabric Scissors
Thread - same colour as the fabric you are working with
Tape Measure
Pins – the loner and thinner the better!
Fabric Chalk
Glue (either gluegun or copydex from a haberdashery shop)
Newspaper
Gold spray paint £5.95 from Cass ART
For the kaftan:
Gold sheer silk £5.50 per metre (3 metres used=£16.50)
For the hat:
Woven straw hat £19.00 by Episode at House of Fraser
For the bikini:
Gold bikini £35.00 by Lipsy
Gold plaited braid £3.11 per metre (sewed round bikini top) by MacCulloch & Wallis (1 metre used)
For the bag:
Black filofax £88.00 by Filofax
Black tassel £15 by Topshop
Gold Spray Paint
For the shoes:
Black and gold platform heels £130.00 by Office (gold jewelled heel)
Gold diamante £2.35 from ells and fairer bead shop (3 used for heels of shoes=£7.05)
To finish off:
Door knocker Earrings £1.50. I got mine from Shepherds Bush Market
Ethnic large gold and black necklace with chain tassel £35.00 by Freedom at Topshop
Gold chain loop knot belt £20 by Miss Selfridge
Black cuff with gold studs £12.99 by River Island
Jewelled cocktail ring £24.90 Mango
How to make the kaftan:
1) Lay the gold silk out in a rectangle in front of you. Fold the fabric in half widthways from left to right, and pin the edges together so fabric doesn’t slip.
2) Rotate the fabric so that the folded edge lies furthest away from you. Now measure 45cm from the folded edge, down one side of the silk and make a mark. From this mark, draw a line diagonally across to the bottom opposite corner, then cut across this line. This will give you a fabulous asymmetric line.
3) Now you need to create the neck and arm holes. To create the neck hole find the centre point of the folded edge and measure and mark 16.5 cm either side of this point.
Score the edge of the material using one edge of your fabric scissors on your fold within the marks. Score with the scissors, don’t cut as it will give you a cleaner line. This will create a hole which will be 33cm across.
3) Once the hole has been made, remove the pins holding the fabric together then open out the fabric and refold length ways. Along the folded edge mark 3cm away from the edge of your hole. Now from that point draw a slightly curved line to the bottom of this hole. Now cut along that line with your fabric scissors creating a slightly scooped neckline.
5) Now the arm holes. Open the material again and fold width ways as you did in the beginning. Measure down 20 cm from folded edge along the very edge on of your fabric on both sides, mark these points with a pin from your sewing kit. Then using a sewing machine sew up both sides of the kaftan up to your marks leaving the holes open for your arms.
6) Now for a fabulous complete finish hem the edges by folding the bottom edge of your kaftan 5 mm then hand sew all the way round the hem. Repeat this with your neck hole.
How to make the bikini
7) Take the gold bikini, the gold braiding and your needle and thread. Hand stitch a piece of the gold braid along the right halter neck strap taking it all the way to the right back strap, stopping where the material changes. Repeat this with the left halter neck strap taking it down to the left back strap. Then finally carefully hand stitch the breading along the top edge of the cups of the gold bikini.
How to make your bag.
8) Right, it’s time to get arty! Grab your gold spray paint and spray your hat, filofax and tassle. Do this on an old newspaper so you don’t get it everywhere and follow the instructions on the canister carefully. Make sure you spray the items in a well ventilated room. And remember to let them dry before you wear them!
How to make your shoes
9) Now to give this outfit a bit more bling grab your heels and the selection of diamantes and stick a few extra on the heels using your glue gun.
Now whack on your bikini and kaftan, a big statement necklace and your hat. A poolside style which looks designer, but doesn’t break the bank. Now get yourself a cocktail!
