.
TA DAH!!!!
KNUTTYFORD FASHIONS
is pleased to bring you another
crafty, clever, upcycled cardboard fashion item for on-trend people made
and designed for you by that iconic fashion label
"iPoorLEenO"
…....currently preparing for a fashion shoot
with Vague magazine.
so let's bring on ...........
The
Giletox!
Welcome back stylish people, come on into my world of the
catwalk and discover how to make the Giletox, a lovely on-trend addition to your winter
wardrobe. The Giletox is my latest fashion statement piece using upcycled materials, great for such times when other materials, such as fur and skin may not be so readily available. What could be better for the coming winter cold than a wonderful Giletox whilst at the same time making a small contribution to our eco-system? Made of thick, durable cardboard, it is warm, practical and importantly at this expensive time of the year, free. It’s
ideal for slipping on to, say, take the rubbish out to the bin or fill the
bird-feeder up or even to nip to your local for a quickie.
If you’ve already been smart enough to have made yourself a
Boxhed, a design from one of my earlier posts, then you’re already on your way
to completing your 2013 winter look!
Vague magazine have already shown an interest but as I was
asked by so many of you for more fab and practical trendy pieces, I wanted
you, discerning fashion-conscious readers and watchers of my creations, to
have the benefit before the whole damn world gets in on the act. After all fellow
trend-setters, we are leaders not followers!
For the basic Giletox
you will need these materials (picture A):
1)
2 strong cardboard boxes, I find wine boxes ideal (available for free from
most supermarkets)
2)
Extra-strong parcel tape
3)
Scissors, scalpel or penknife or craft knife
4)
Marker pen
5)
Safety Gear (safety goggles, beanie, apron,
gloves )
picture A
Method …………….still in my madness
So let’s get started, shall we? Firstly,
cut out two of the narrow sides of the boxes making sure you cut out two
opposite sides. This is vitally important as this will form the main body of
the Giletox. Just as with my Foox design in a previous post I found
it helpful to label each box with L and R (Left and Right).
Next, cut out a hole large enough
to put your arm through on each of the opposite sides of the above (picture B).
Measure for your neck and cut away enough cardboard to fit.
picture B
Cutting cardboard can be tough, even dangerous
on the fingers so please, please, please do get someone to help you or better
still, do all the cutting for you. And
don’t forget the hugely important Safety Gear………it’s not called that for fun! A
lesson I duly learned ……….painfully as you can see (picture C).
Thankfully, I’m extremely lucky to have my wonderful, able-bodied,
safety aware Head (recently promoted) Technical Assistant (HTA) to call upon. Quickly coming to
my aid, he sat me down, carefully wrapped my bleedin’ bloody finger in a medical rag - always to be found in my cleaning cloth box, made me a strong cuppa, told me to rest and began to proceed with the cutting.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t find his safety goggles but, true to his brilliance
at thinking out of the box (yet another boom boom), he wore an extra pair of
reading glasses (picture D). Inspirational! Another lesson to be learned here, whilst HTA’s are an
expensive addition to a company, they can be an
invaluable asset to a company, for the most part.
picture D
Now you should have two separate
pieces with armholes. Using the extra-strong parcel tape (which is an emergency must to have in your drawers), join the pieces together neatly on one side only to form the back section of the
Giletox (picture E). Apply this technique to any other joints that may need
strengthening. Repeat on the inside joints. If this is done messily it will
look more Dorothy Perkins than designer and very unprofessional. Even if you
are considering decorating your
Giletox do not make the mistake of thinking it
doesn’t matter what the basic is like. Please bear in mind, a lady should always
look as good underneath as she does on top! Fur coat and no knickers is not what a lady aims for................under most circumstances. For that matter a real gentleman would also dress to that same high standard, but that’s another story for another day and another design.
picture E
There are several ways of completing
the Giletox but first it will need some form of fastener. Using a scalpel,
again with the utmost care and attention, not forgetting what could have
been a disastrous end to my thriving career as a post-apocalyptic upcycling
on-trend fashion designer, make a hole in each of the front pieces about
half-way down. Through these holes thread either a lace or maybe a pretty
ribbon, or if you are into that other current vogue of the simple but pleasant
peasant style, what about some really thick string…….plaited? The neck-line can
also be left au naturale if that is
your preference as, of course, can the whole of the Giletox.
However, if like me you cannot resist creating
something dramatic and eye-catching, you could attempt to complete the Giletox to your own taste though on this
point I must advise caution, remember, that old adage of less is more so keep
it simple! Why don’t you have a bash at
copying mine, simple in its execution, dramatic in style…………..just look at that
collar! Real fur! Real road kill! You could use a pretty scarf if you don't happen to have a furry or feathered road kill animal readily available. The pretty lights are solar-powered so you don't have to be connected to the mains, another source of danger.................and inconvenience. I find, whilst not quite a necessity, certainly delightful to always have good, liquid refreshment to hand, hence the cocktail strap, Most of you will know I do quite enjoy a tasty cocktail, another thing my HTA is expert at making, so what could be better than a super, decorative cocktail holder attached to my Giletox? Obviously, this can be cut to any size to suit a number of purposes and with great difficulty and a resigned sigh, I have to accept there is an, albeit slight, chance you are one of those who prefer beer to cocktails thus requiring a larger strap. Please think carefully before doing this, slipping an ugly can or pint pot into the strap would spoil the line of the Giletox and it could no longer be classed elegant. Spillages have not been a problem for me but if you think there's a chance of losing your preciousness try cling film.which will hardly be noticeable, therefore will not spoil the look of your Giletox............................. and it really works!
Excitingly, Vague magazine are particularly
interested in my Giletox at the moment, being right on-trend with its cosy, Christmassy look and their current launch of this seasons ' Winter Boarding Card 2013'. Don’t you agree it would make a lovely, and let us not forget, a practical
addition to your winter wardrobe?
And here you have it! Oh isn’t it
just so brilliant? Don’t you just want one? Of course you do.......... so get cutting and save the planet!
Chin chin, everybody!
Now wasn't that worth the wait?
Just one little tip: The Giletox, like all my designs, can be made waterproof with a coat of polyurethane………………matt, of course. Enjoy! :) :) :)
