fashion illustration

All illustrations are based on photos that were sent to me along with written submissions.
For more information on hiring me as an illustrator, click here.

Back in 2017, I wrote love stories to some of my favourite items of clothing in order to recognise that loved clothes tend to last longer in our wardrobes, whether that’s because we look after them and end up repairing them as the years go by, or whether that’s because when we initially purchased them, we knew they’d be perfect for us.

However, mainstream media tends to ignore this and seems to make clothes ‘re-wearing’ headline and clickbait news. I’m not the only one who finds this frustrating in a time when consumption rates are at an all-time high despite the environmental crisis we are experiencing.

Inspired by the reaction to a tweet I published that stated that making re-wearing newsworthy doesn’t actually promote this conscious mindset (it actually makes something such as re-wearing, which is essentially common sense, into a far bigger deal than it should be), I decided to show that if this is the example the media wants to be set, then celebrities shouldn’t be the only ones in the spotlight – people of all ages, genders, shapes and sizes, should be praised for re-wearing too.

So, here are twenty stories of clothes (submitted to me via email) that are being re-worn more than once. I hope they make headlines.

~ 20 RE-WEARING LOVE STORIES ~

Theresia
25

I actually had to choose something from many, many, many pieces in my closet. But my trousers have been with me for around 10 years now. I’m quite impressed with this fact because I bought them in a fast fashion store which is not known for producing long-lasting items, but I love them very much. They are high-waisted and I like the floral pattern. They are quite thin so I wear them in summer mostly, but with leggings or tights layered under them, they work as well in colder months. I actually have the same pair in all black as well (bought 10 years ago, also) and wear them as much as the floral ones.

Tean
13

I have loads of second-hand items but one of my favourites is a purple, grey and green striped jacket. It was my mums and she got it when she was 16. It’s 29 years old and in incredible condition, there’s no holes or anything like that. I’ve worn it a lot recently, and I hope to do so in future as well.

Katie
30

I have a lovely Monsoon dress I bought to wear to my brother’s wedding back in 2014. It’s maxi-length and has a really bold print and dressy fabric, so, I don’t have a lot of occasions to wear it. However, every time I do a wardrobe clear-out I hang on to it, as it’s such a lovely dress, and now that I think back on it, after the initial wedding, I’m pretty sure I’ve worn it to at least 4 or 5 other events in the last five years, including my own 30th birthday party this year. It’s a relief to know I have something to wear already if I get invited to a fancier occasion, and it’s also fun to have something that’s not so precious I can’t wear it dressed down as well.

Ms. E
32

I have a fake fur vest that I’ve had for so long. I use it like coat in winter with sweaters underneath. It’s really warm.

I believe I bought it in 2013 in a second-hand store in Moscow, and I took it to two other countries when I moved. That is my only winter coat. So if it’s below 7 degrees Celsius this is what I am wearing from 2013. No exceptions.

Bea
16

My favourite love story is about my vintage two-piece ski suit (ORANGE – like really, really orange and puffy and with lots of handy pockets). It’s worth mentioning that I definitely come from a re-wear family, of which my mum has worn the same clothes all my life. When I started getting into clothes I’d borrow hers all the time; they would either be her mums or pre-my birth.

So… The ski suit! I was on my way home and had time to kill, so, I browsed some charity shops; in maybe the third one I was casually looking at the ‘fancy dress rail’ when I saw the most wonderfully orange, puffy, 2-piece. After trying it on it was love at first sight (wasn’t aware it was a ski suit yet).

Unfortunately, I was £2 short of the asking price (£15) so I had to heart-wrenchingly leave the shop and my darling 2-piece behind. This was the day before I was going away on a school trip so I wouldn’t be back for about 10 days in which I was sure someone else would snap it up. Anyway, like any true love story the couple re-unite above the odds and on returning home I got the train straight into town to see if it was still there and it was!

Although many were sceptical (mum included) of the practicality of this buy – “But are you really going to wear that out?” – I proceeded to wear it around the house every day except for the really hot days. It was the first time ever I was excited for the cold as then I could wear my ski suit with pride. I wore the coat consistently all winter every day to school, out of school and around the house. If I was feeling particularly low I would put the whole suit on and would feel like I was in a duvet all day!

The coat has seen snow once but not the trousers; maybe this year. I’ve worn the two together and been likened to a traffic cone or pumpkin. I’ve worn the trousers to parties, to supermarkets, to pick up my sister from school, to concerts to ice-skating and to marches.

They are now going into their second winter where I have so far worn the coat 8 times to college and the trousers once. I will continue wearing it until it’s too hot. To beat my mum’s record of wearing the same coat for 13 years and counting I still have a way to go but we’re going strong and I can’t wait to give this to another kid one day (maybe my own) and tell them all about its adventures!

Antonia
21

I love wearing my clothes a lot because it’s almost like they’re old friends I make memories with. I’ve had my low Dr Martens for a few years and they’re my absolute go-to’s for any situation. I still have the first crop top I bought in 2014 which was the first ‘fashion risk’ I ever took. But the piece I love most is a pair of pink trousers; I’ve worn them to weddings, birthdays, even my nan’s funeral. I’ve worn them to uni, to three job interviews, or just hanging out. They’re one of the most me pieces I own and I love them so, so much. They’re starting to wear out at the bum but I’ll keep them for as long as possible!

Stowe
24

I bought a fake leather hoodie from an Italian high street store in 2016, and I wore it almost every day. Probably like 75% of the time I left the house. Sadly after 3 years of regular use it’s decaying and dying; no longer wearable. But it’s proof that clothes last and can be worn many, many, many times, especially if you love it. Honestly, I’m really sad it’s now dead.

Isabella
19

I have a few items that I have had quite a while and love. First, is something that my mom had before I was even born, that is a denim jacket. I ‘took’ it a few years ago and wear it all the time, especially through late spring to early fall. It’s a basic light denim jacket and works with everything. The jacket is a soft worn denim which I love, and it has a few holes on the arm cuffs but it is still in great condition.

The next item is a shirt I got when I was about 13. I have worn this top so much, it’s my go-to top. The top itself is basic, it’s a dark green, form-fitting, and has quarter length sleeves. To be honest, it was from a fast-fashion brand and the quality of it shows that. It is thinning and piling, and a bit see-through in the chest area. I know that it will be too worn out to be used anymore soon.

Another item isn’t necessarily something I’ve had too long or have worn tons of times, mainly because of the item itself; a dress. I bought this dress with the initial intention of using it for prom, but I also wore it for my graduation and one photoshoot. It is not a dress I can wear every day, as it is a special occasion item.

I will continue to use this dress where I can, as I truly love it and I feel good in it. I wanted to mention it because similarly to the original scenario [of Kate Middleton ‘re-wearing’ a coat] many celebrities are called out when they re-wear a dress or outfit to an event. But if it works for multiple events why not re-wear it?

Anonymous

I have so many items of clothing that I have worn for years and years. What started out as a lifestyle born from lack of money, time and energy (college student with depression) morphed into a rather deliberate anti-capitalism statement and has now settled happily into an anti-capitalism, pro-environment stance.

An item of note is a black H&M tank dress that I borrowed from my younger sister in 2010 and never gave back (whoops). I’ve had to sew up seams multiple times and I usually wear it with a sweater or shirt overtop because the fabric of the body is starting to wear through. I NEVER would have guessed that I’d be wearing it (2-3 times a week) almost a decade later but I’m actually pretty proud.

I also have two cotton long-sleeved shirts from the GAP, probably 5 years old, that I wore almost exclusively this summer (and others as well). They’re actually in amazing condition. I know the Gap and H&M are vile as far as corporations go and I wouldn’t buy from them again but I’m happy that I hoarded all my old clothes and didn’t/couldn’t buy new stuff so that at least I am giving these (and will continue to give them) a full life! I have many more but those are my favourites for some reason.

Maria
28

The vast majority of my wardrobe is actually ‘hand-me-downs’ from my mum! My dad’s a fashion designer and we have a ridiculously large amount of vintage and (Japanese) designer clothes around. I wear my mum’s clothes all the time – whether it’s woollen jumpers she’s made or stuff she bought for weddings. But without a doubt my favourite stuff, and the things I want to continue wearing forever, is the stuff she’s made (or that my grandma made). My grandma made a grey sweater, and it’s just so simple, but I love the fact that it’s boxy and I love the wide neckline.

At age 20, my mum made this tiny woollen crop top that fans out at the back. And it’s so great! You’d never find that in a shop. But I think my favourite is this amazing woollen sweater my mum made for my dad – it’s oversize, and it uses Escher’s Bird Fish pattern. I just love the fact that I get to wear something that was made with such love and skill! And it’s super comfy.

I think the most important thing about reusing clothes is actually – A) Never throwing away anything and B) Buying stuff that will hold up and will look good years later. There are so many things in our house which we just didn’t throw/give away, and waited for it to come back in fashion, and now we get to wear it again!

Lucas
42

About 7 years ago I first started being more conscious about my consumer choices. One of the first items I researched and bought was a pair of jeans from the brand Denham, they have a repair-for-life service and were using quality cotton (I did not yet consider all other social/environmental aspects of sustainability).

They are disintegrating now but I still wear them with love, they are also beyond repair as the denim is now so thin it wouldn’t hold the stitching together.

I bought a leather belt in a Mexican street market while on holiday in 2010, and I’ve worn it at least once a week ever since, the quality is so good it still looks presentable with a pair of chinos and a dress shirt. I expect to be cremated while still wearing this belt.

I dropped out of the corporate world in 2015, packed a few t-shirts and a pair of hiking shoes and took off for about 8 months, one of my favourite long-sleeve is made from merino wool and has been through the heat of hell and served as a great layer in colder climates, that thing is still intact except for a tiny little hole that’s not noticeable.

The shoes trekked with me through northern India and most of SE Asia, then served as running shoes when I took that up and now I just wear them to roll around town.

Adriana
18

My favourite item of clothing I’ve worn many times is a long black dress with little flowers all over it. This dress had belonged to my mother and before that, to my grandmother. Both of them used to wear it when they were pregnant. I don’t plan to get pregnant anytime soon, but I would love to wear this dress while I’m pregnant with a daughter that will get to wear this dress when she grows up.

I love to wear this dress, especially to parties, since it is very comfortable yet very pretty. I’ve been wearing it for the past three years and I wish I will for a much longer time.

Phillipa
22

One of my most loved pieces is a pair of corduroy orange shirt-dungarees that my boyfriend thrifted for me in Brighton. They are special to me as after I could not afford the price tag of them in a vintage shop, I sadly left them behind. However, my boyfriend returned to the shop behind my back to buy them for me – which was the cutest surprise!

I’ve had them for two years now and they’ve been well-loved ever since and have come with me to Berlin and Slovenia and will soon be departing with me on a trip to the Netherlands! Because they have a story behind them I love them even more and cherish being able to make them, even more, my own with every wear.

Emily
24

I have many items of clothing that I’ve had in my closet for years, but there are a couple that are particularly special to me I will share. The first is a Wrangler jean jacket that was owned by my Grandma Sheila on my dad’s side. She died when I was quite young, so it’s nice to have a piece of her. I believe that items, especially those we have worn, can carry the energy of the person left behind and of those who made it. I feel safe when I wear it.

I don’t know the exact age of the jacket, it could be anywhere from 30 – 60 years old depending on when she bought it. I like to think it’s the apparel embodiment of ageing gracefully, and wear it all the time – easily one of the most worn items in my closet. I’m excited at the idea of being able to mend and care for it over the years!

Another item I have around that I really love and have worn a ton is a varsity jacket that I keep adding to. The one my high school was selling was 300 USD, and I didn’t want to pay that much so I went to Forever 21 hoping to find a similar one during a varsity jacket trend that hit right at my senior year.

I got lucky because there was a version that happened to be my school colors, green and gold! I know this is about stopping fast fashion, but I have had it for about 7 years and have kept adding to it!

I have my marching band letters; concert band award pins; pieces from all my taekwondo belts and uniform; a sharpshooting patch my Grandma Sheila won, and a bunch of other random ones I have gathered over time!

I always get asked about what is on it, and it’s fun telling the stories. I want to keep adding patches and pins indefinitely until there’s no space left! I think this would get easily spotted as a re-wear because it’s very distinctive! I love wearing it because it jingles a bit when I walk.

Tee

I have had a love affair with vintage clothing as far back as I can remember.  The punk era of the late seventies was when I was a teenager; I found the DIY ethos exhilarating! Role models such as Debbie Harry and Poly Styrene customised their look with thrifty, charity shop chic, it was punk couture, very individual.  At this point, I wore original sixties winkle picker shoes, oversized men’s shirts and diamanté paste jewellery.

As my income increased, I was fortunate enough to be able to buy designer investment pieces and mix them with my retro finds.  And so it was that in 1986 I purchased my beautiful, bottle green, wool gabardine trench coat, by Cacharel. It cost a month’s wages, even though at the time it was half price in the sale in a boutique on Bond Street – but I still wear it today!

It has never dated and is so well made as to have rarely needed repair and is my signature item.  It isn’t especially distressed – but has a worn-in feel that means it’s aesthetic is not arriviste and it has accompanied me on all my life adventures, it holds so many memories and will no doubt join me on more! Fast fashion quite simply holds no allure in comparison.

Dora
35

I have a second-hand Mango dress I bought on eBay and loved it ever since. The two summers I couldn’t wear it were when I was heavily pregnant with my children but before and after, it is my must-have for the summer.

Nicole
21

When I was 14 years old, I got a pair of shoes (which I wished for) for Christmas. I absolutely loved them. They were made of leather and you would hardly see me outside not wearing them. They were my all-weather shoes. I wore them from the beginning of September to the beginning of June.

I only gave them a three months long summer-break because it was too hot to wear them (I live in Vienna, Austria). I had these shoes for six years straight and would still wear them if I could find someone who can fix the sole of the shoes because I can feel the ground so much that it nearly feels as if I was going barefoot.

My second piece of favourite item is a green jacket which I ‘borrowed’ from my dad around five years ago for one single night. He never got it back. I love this jacket so much because it is oversized on me, so, I can wear it in the early spring or winter with some other layers underneath it, as well as on a colder summer night. And since it is a men’s jacket, it has a total of six pockets, each so big that I can fit a Penguin book inside. I just absolutely adore and love to wear it.

I am going to wear them until they fall apart and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I also love to be able to see these items and know that they carry so many stories with them.

Carley
28

I purchased a used Nicole Miller dress at my favourite second-hand store, Wasteland, in San Francisco about two-and-a-half years ago. I was starting to attend more weddings (joy of getting older) but I didn’t want to let the societal pressure of needing to wear a different dress to every wedding I attended.

I also didn’t want to simply purchase a plain black dress to at least have the dress not be memorable if I wanted to wear it over and over. I purchased a used dress I loved, patterned and all. It is now my go-to dress for every wedding—religious (hello long sleeves), secular, indoor (it breathes!), outdoor (did I mention long sleeves), LA, NYC, etc. Maybe I’ll even wear it to be own wedding one day…

Hannah
25

I have always been a massive hoarder who hates throwing things away. I stopped growing as a young teenager and can’t reach the top shelves, but it does have the benefit that most of my old clothes still fit so I’ve never had to get rid of them! But I particularly love the vintage 80s prom dress that I bought when I was 15 and was beginning to take an interest in thrift shopping.

It has a velvet bodice (which was too long, so, I took it up) and these amazing puffy electric blue sleeves and skirt. I can’t count the number of parties I’ve worn it to but I wore it the New Year’s Eve just gone. 10 years and this dress is still going strong.

Izzy
22

It’s really hard to pick one item but I will just talk about one because otherwise, I’ll discuss most of my wardrobe, but a pair of hand-me-down dungarees that I found in the back of a cupboard, once belonging to my sister, are definitely one of my most worn items of clothing. They’re comfy and practical and I just love wearing them.

Sadly, they are getting a little bit small for me now but my Nan is very happy to take them off my hands when I find another pair of second-hand dungarees! I’m happy they’ll stay in the family and keep getting worn even if I can’t.

Do you have a love story about clothes re-wearing you’d like to share? Share it in the comments or submit it below (in case of a Part 2)!

Whenever I’m asked for advice on experiencing fashion sustainably (I’ve decided I prefer to say experiencing over shopping because consumption isn’t the be-all and end-all of this issue), I tend to always answer with, “Ask questions“, which initially stemmed back to how I came to educate myself on fast fashion’s human and environmental impact.

Fashion Revolution, the organisation that played a big part in my education and understanding of the industry, bases its main campaign around “Who made my clothes?” and asking brands for transparency but to me, this sense of curiosity and urge to ask questions should go further.

With the likes of Extinction Rebellion’s new fashion boycott spurring on more people to analyse their shopping habits and questioning whether we need to be buying any clothes at all (once we already have a decent amount to wear), I believe it’s important to evaluate how we approach shopping – or avoiding it (which I’ve discussed here) – and the language we use.  We need to ask ourselves. We need to slow down and understand how we truly feel, and especially when shopping, we need to avoid certain phrases…

“I need this.”

Admittedly, there are times when necessity does come into play. Whether it be for work or school or because something you already own has been damaged or stained to a point of no repair, there are times when ‘needing’ something is excusable. However, there’s a stark contrast between genuinely needing something and labelling an impulse purchase as a necessary one.

I’ve definitely experienced plenty of those, “That’s so me!”, squeal-worthy moments, so, it might seem nitpickish to call this out as an issue but it’s all part of consciously shifting your mindset and attitude towards shopping.

Now that the majority of my shopping occurs on a second-hand basis, I truly understand the difference between needing and wanting. This doesn’t mean that I’m numb to impulse and spontaneous purchases; charity and thrift shops can still bring out that sense of excitement and temporary fulfilment in you but it just comes with minimised guilt.

For me, this distinction between necessity and longing extends to my blog and my approach to receiving samples and gifted products. If I don’t need it or if I already have a similar item in my possession then I will politely decline.

There’s no issue in wanting, in fact, I’ve previously written all about actively lusting over items and why I believe wish lists can be more useful than I once deemed them to be.

“I probably didn’t need this.”

Similarly, this is a phrase which derives from impulse purchases and is almost the exact opposite attitude of what somebody who labels themselves as a ‘conscious consumer’ might have. In simple terms, if you probably didn’t need it, then why did you buy it? ‘Treat yo’ self’ culture is something that we’ve all become fairly desensitized to and it’s understandable, seeing as retail therapy is scientifically proven to be just that – a form of dopamine-inducing therapy.

Shopping sustainably though (or avoiding shopping altogether), is all about taking your time to mull over your decisions and work out what the best option is. To shop, or not to shop? That is the question!

Limiting the number of times we fall back onto the excuse of treating ourselves, is a way of not only restricting the size of our wardrobes but a way of saving ourselves money in the long-run.

“I’m not sure why I bought this.”

I see this to be different to the previous two phrases because it doesn’t just suggest that what you bought was an impulse purchase; it also suggests the attitude you might have towards the item in the future. Shopping sustainably also means owning responsibly.

Fashion Revolution coined the phrase “Loved clothes last”, meaning that if we care and respect our clothes, no matter how ethically produced they were or what materials they are made of, they will ultimately last longer because we will do our best to look after them.

(However, this is not a reason to fall back into the habit of supporting unsustainable and unethical brands just because we know we can make their products last. That’s like continuing to use single-use plastic bottles just because you can refill them over and over; there are other ways of doing things that won’t be harmful to start off with.)

None of these phrases strictly imply that you’re living and consuming unsustainably but I believe that what we say and think about our clothes and what we bring into our lives can have a huge effect on our mindset towards consumption. So, if we can change our attitude towards genuinely knowing why we buy what we buy, it could help us all be far more considerate.

“It’s really in trend right now.”

Aside from the sustainability aspect, the lack of guilt and the fact that it’s a habit I’ve had since I was a child, one reason I love shopping second-hand is that it allows so much more room for individuality.

Clothes are not separated into styles and seasons (at most, you might find clothes organised by colour) and there are no look books and stylised campaigns to influence your decision making. There are no trends, which makes avoiding this phrase relatively easy.

Trends and the vast amount which are generated by the fashion industry’s constant cycle of seasons, maintain the rate of production of new garments and feed into this idea that what we are wearing and searching for, is never enough. There will always be another season with another set idea of what we should be wearing, therefore, another reason to buy.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying trends but I recommend taking the time to sit with those feelings and analyse them once the peak of the trend has passed. I use apps like Depop and the Saved function of Instagram to store trend-led items for sale so I can source them sustainably in the future if the style is still something I appreciate.

“I really need to stop buying more [insert item of clothing]…”

This is the phrase which I believe is easiest to scrap entirely. Don’t get me wrong, it’s understandable (and even appreciated) when somebody owns something in their wardrobe in a selection of different colourways because it’s a dress/shirt/pair of trousers that fits and suits them better than anything else – for some people, that’s essential, especially when it comes to finding the right sizing (even more so from an ethical or sustainably focused brand which might not always have the most inclusive size-ranges).

When it comes to your wardrobe as a whole though, it’s time to recognise when enough is enough. For me? I don’t need any more blouses and tops. I have too many to balance out the number of bottoms (trousers, shorts and skirts) that I own.

That doesn’t mean that I’m going to suddenly decrease the size of my wardrobe (a smaller wardrobe doesn’t necessarily make a more sustainable one) but it does mean I need to be making the conscious effort to stop adding more in the future, even if it is from a guilt-free source like a local charity shop.

Analyse your wardrobe and figure out what your limit is. From my experience, physically limiting myself (with a lack of storage space or from living out of a suitcase) has meant I’ve been able to calculate this more easily.

What other phrases can you avoid to achieve a more sustainable mindset? Suggest them in the comments!

Fashion Revolution Week is in its 5th year, raising awareness for issues within the fashion industry and creating change. The campaign falls on the week of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse which occurred in 2013 causing over 1,000 easily preventable deaths. Learn more about how to take part, here.

Fashion Revolution Week kicks off in a weeks time so as a quick reminder as to what the week is all about and ways that you can get involved, I thought I would compile a list of facts and figures that will refresh your ethical fashion knowledge! Or, not so ethical fashion knowledge, as you’ll soon see…

1. Only 20% of global textiles are recycled…

The other 80% of are either incinerated (releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere) or sent to landfill, to break down and release those same harmful chemicals and toxins, into the earth. That’s an extraordinary amount of harmful waste. (via Worn Again)

Clothing waste is, of course, a huge part of that. Out of collected clothing (from recycling banks, or the like), the majority is either resold (click here for why that might not be as good as it sounds) or it’s downcycled to create products like rags or stuffing for furniture. This continues the lifecycle of fabrics but it still creates yet another inevitably disposable item which will most likely end up once again, in a landfill.

2. Most of us only regularly wear 40% of our clothes…

According to Oxfam, not only do we leave 60% of our clothes hanging in our wardrobe, we also only wear an average of 16 items once. Of course, this isn’t the most daunting statistic, however, it does shine a light on our consumption habits.

On a similar note, I wrote a piece on whether having fewer clothes makes your wardrobe more sustainable, and why a sustainable wardrobe has a lot more to do with how you dispose and care for your clothes than you think.

3. Dyeing textiles is the cause of 20% of water pollution…

Changing Market’s Dirty Fashion report revealed this statistic, and it is known that denim production is one of the worst offenders. I would highly recommend watching the documentary, River Blue, for more on this subject, including some positive innovations which are being put in place to reduce the fashion industry’s impact on the world’s water systems.

4. £1.37 is the price of a living wage…

A £25.32 priced t-shirt would increase to just £26.69 if the garment workers producing it were to be paid a living wage. This is a miniscule increase, one of which the average consumer wouldn’t bat an eyelid to.

This fact and figure was taken from Fashion Revolution’s first fanzine, however, if you want a more in-depth look into garment worker wages, the best place to look is their Garment Worker Diaries report, which breaks down wages and living conditions across eastern Asia.

5. Your gym gear could take 200 years to decompose…

Another Fashion Revolution fanzine fact – A Lycra two-piece designed for sportswear could take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose and break down in a landfill, compared to natural fabrics which can take only weeks.

Fabrics are important to consider whenever you’re shopping, whether it’s second-hand or new. Although it is understandable why people often opt for synthetics for durability purposes, natural fabrics will generally always be the better option whether it’s for the planet or for your body.

Did you learn something new? What’s a fact I might not know? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget that you can share your support for Fashion Revolution by using my collection of GIF stickers on Instagram Story! Want to know how to use them? Click here!

An idea planted in my mind after my latest post, so I decided to run with it. 2016 has been a year of rekindling my love for digital illustration. I’m quite happy with where I’m at in terms of my signature style, whether that’s in terms of drawing or even the outfits I’ve been wearing this year, so, I thought I’d combine the two and do a small recap of the looks I’ve been gravitating towards, in the form of some fashion outfit illustrations!

~ WOODLAND BOHEMIAN DREAMING ~

One of my first outfits of 2016 was probably the start of defining my aesthetic for the year. I thought perhaps it would dip in and out of this and that but this dress has made quite a few appearances more than this simple two-piece look. Seeing as it wasn’t an ethical or conscious purchase, I’m justifying it by knowing that I most definitely have worn it for 30 wears and I will continue to do so until it’s either in need of repair, a revamp or a trip to a charity shop.

I’m also happy to say that my Dr Martens have had plenty of outings too, and I had them repaired instead of receiving a new pair when the zips were starting to fail me. I would like to try out the vegan Dr Martens, but I’d also like to know more about their production before doing so. Although they might not be produced of leather, plastics and synthetic materials aren’t necessarily any better due to the chemicals used and released in the manufacturing process.

~ ACCEPTING CHANGE // SARDINIA, ITALY ~

A similar style dress with splits and a detailed print was featured in my blog post about accepting change and curating a personal archive. I also wore my DIY and revamped faux leather jacket in this post too. I’d say for the majority of the second half of 2016, I was wearing at least one or two, second-hand items per outfit, so for this one, I opted for layering a floral blouse underneath the dress. For those with a slimmer figure and for those who don’t usually wear a low neckline, layering blouses is what I recommend for you! I also wore my Dr Martens here too.

You may have taken a look at this outfit post rather recently, but I’ve definitely worn it more than that one photo shoot. I love the colour blocking element to it and the fact that everything but the shoes I was wearing (another pair of my trusty DMs) were second-hand or vintage. A lot of you liked the look of my pink turtleneck (in fact, I believe one of you even went out and scouted down your own second-hand version), so I’ll definitely make a show of it in 2017 too! And of course, the years after that, and for however long I can manage to squeeze into it.

~ SEE-THROUGH ~

This outfit went down with a warm reception. As you can tell, dresses and my calf height Dr Martens are definitely a ‘Tolly trend’. This dress was an unexpected jumble sale delight. Unfortunately I now don’t have it on me as it wasn’t really on my mind when leaving the earthquake zones (let me know if you want me to write a piece on living with a temporary capsule wardrobe), but I know once it’s back in my possession I’ll be styling it up once again. In fact I think it would look great with the aforementioned pink turtleneck. Also – sheer clothes are really fun to draw.

What have you been wearing recently? Which is your favourite illustration? Let me know in the comments! 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted some designs on here. I’m pretty much a perfectionist so I only ever like to share things that I’m genuinely happy with or I at least think are worth sharing. After fiddling around and practicing my watercolour painting techniques and watercolour repeat patterns, I doodled up a quick one and was set a small brief to draw up some rough ideas to make them come to life… and they’re worth sharing, I suppose! Plus, it was totally an excuse to try out the illustrative style I’ve fallen in love with…

© Original designs by Tolly Dolly Posh. More info here. 

~ LOOSE V-NECK CAMI & JERSEY PRINTED SKIRT ~

The brief was to sketch up some simple items that could be easily cut and put together, and my first thought was loose and unfitted. I personally love layering, so most of the low-cut v-neck items in this blog post are ideally meant for that purpose. A ditsy floral print would work really well, especially if layered over a contrast blouse or shirt. It genuinely would be a straight up and down cami with the only detailing being the deep neckline, making it a simple throw on and throw away piece (by throw away I mean, into your drawers).

The skirt would be a thicker jersey material, in a simple circle skirt/A-line fit. Stretchy and comfortable, but thicker than the more silk like cami to match. I love experimenting with different colour ways and print scales, hence why the skirt and top mismatch. The addition of the ruffled arm cuffs and collar are based around the seasonal trends at the moment, which are also in a mixmatched colour way.

~ LOOSE V-NECK MAXI DRESS ~

Another flowing v-neck design in a powder purple. Similar in shape to the cami already mentioned, it’s simply straight up and down and due to it’s extremely relaxed and loose nature, has no zips or buttons as it can be taken on and off with ease. I understand that it looks like a rather daring neckline, but once again, it’s intended for layering, but for these sketches I didn’t want to take away from the main idea.

~ LOOSE V-NECK PLAYSUIT ~

Almost identical to the maxi dress, this playsuit is again just straight up and down and simple; the fabric being loose enough for a no-zip access. It’s a rather ‘boyish’ fit, with lots of room in the legs and body for movement not only for the wearer, but also for the fabric. A slightly bigger print scale allows the green to contrast against the darker greens within the print, and adds for a more camouflage, botanical feel.

~ MOCK-UP DESIGN (Original item via People Tree) ~

I also wanted to do a quick mock-up using an ‘already in production’ item as it gives you a real sense of how the print would work with certain fabrics. You an also see the print a little closer up here. It’s a combination of large flowers and foliage, with scattered leaves and small daisy like flowers. The colours could easily be adapted for a more autumnal feel, but with the blues included, I could see this piece going into winter too.

I hope you liked this quick little insight into some recent rough designs! You guys requested for me to post some more of these illustrations, so I thought I’d give you just that! I put a quick poll out on Twitter (closed now, I’m afraid) to see if you’d be interested in seeing daily illustrations over fashion week instead of general reviews, and the answer was definitely a yes to illustrations! I’ll let you know how that goes and if I stick to it!

(Reference images)

Would you wear any of these designs? Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Not only is Florence home to some of the greatest artworks in the world, it’s also home to one of the greatest designers in the world; Gucci. When I was in Florence, for €7 I was able to have a tour around the Gucci museum which is an archive from the beginning, right up to recent collections. It explores the story of Guccio Gucci and is honestly a breathtaking display. You can get rather up close and personal with the designs too, so I thought I’d give you a little glimpse…

LOCATION: Piazza della Signoria, Florence, IT  🇮🇹

I know that these days Gucci may not be the most ethical brand in the world (reading Stitched Up is really opening my eyes up to how it’s not just the high street causing the problems), but the heritage of the brand is really interesting to me, especially since I’ve been spending time in Italy. The booklet that I was given upon my entry to the museum describes the story…

For me, one of the most interesting parts of the museum was seeing the progression from the very earlier designs and products to the newer collections and ranges, whether they be lifestyle or fashion. It’s actually a really great example of change (which I spoke about recently here – nice bit of self promotion, Tolly) and how brands develop over time… years in fact. There’s a wonderful archive of pieces from the earliest years, right up until now. You can even go down into the store afterwards, and experience even more of what Gucci has become.

There’s detailed insights into different, iconic Gucci elements, like the Flora print and the Double G logo. The Flora print was commissioned by Rodolfo Gucci (one of Guccio’s son), with Vittorio Accornero completing the commission, which became an eye-catching and unique design to be worn by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1966. More than forty-five years later, and the print is still being reworked and updated to keep up with the seasonal trends.

For an aspiring designer who’s never lived in the world of wearing designer clothes, it did feel quite surreal to all of a sudden be up close and personal with it. It’s like being transported into a different world, one which has been changing and evolving over the years to become an iconic symbol of power and class, as well as creativity and innovation of classic Italian design. Although as I stated at the beginning, there’s a lot to be done to even make sure brands like Gucci are doing their best, it really is quite interesting to delve into where it all began, and learn more about how something genuinely can come from just a single spark of an idea.

If you’re in Florence, I definitely recommend you taking a look at the museum, or maybe even having a coffee in the cafe, and a browse at the book store which is full of some of my all time favourite fashion reads. I promise this is in no-way sponsored, it’s just a really great gem that some people might miss in the craziness of the Uffizi Gallery, just next door!

Have you been to the Gucci museum? What do you know about Gucci? Let me know in the comments below!