LooseTeeths

Gown and Out

2009-06-03T20:30:00.001-07:00

I have had gowns on the brain lately. I have always wanted an amazing to-die-for satin, lace, silk, taffeta or velvet evening gown. I have had many great cocktail dresses, but I don't think I have ever owned a truly amazing gown. I think it's time to make some.

Here are just a few from www.vintageous.com that have inspired me.

Return of The Fly.. er.. Heather..

2009-05-25T21:22:00.001-07:00

This weekend I pulled my stool up to something a little different than a sewing machine. I don't think the cow liked my technique since she kept trying to swat me away like a fly.

xo
Heather

Did you know.....

2009-05-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

...that Mamie Van Doren's still up to her usual tricks?

Famed 50's bombshell and Sex Kitten Mamie Van Doren is 78 and still just as bomshelly as ever....

50's

Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRwavkOYu2Q

..here's to hoping we all look that good at 78... but something tells me it's not naturally possible. :P

xo
Heather

Are you a dedicated follower of fashion?

2009-05-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

I am

www.dedicated.typepad.com

See if you can spot which pieces are mine from this great photo shoot.
It's like 'Where's Waldo'.. but sexier...

xo
Heather

Win one of my dresses!

2009-05-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/05/loose-teeth-sundress-guest-giveaway.html

her blog is so great :)

xoxo
Heather

Evel Knievel, Picachoo and Uncle Fester....

2009-04-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some costumes I have done recently. I LOVE making costumes and I know they are fun to look at, so here a few I have made recently for your enjoyment!

Marie Antionette (complete with re-attached head)

Invasion of the Saucermen Mask (if you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend it)

Picachoo (this came with booties and mittens too)

I made Kimmy Crippler 'God's gift to roller derby'

Uncle Fester Mask

Evel Knievel

Ps.. What are you gonna be this year? Maybe I can help! Here is a costume I would love to make... Any takers?

Somthing to Blog About...

2009-04-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Grey Pixel included my lovely shorts in her newest blog. Can't say that I blame her, I'm hooked on the damn things. Check her out!

http://littlegraypixel.blogspot.com/

xo
LT

SUPER WEEKEND SALE

2009-03-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

This Weekend Only!

All custom orders 15% off !

www.looseteeth.etsy.com

...you're welcome

Heather

Oh Carmenita.....

2009-03-14T04:14:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of movies that influence the clothes I make, (especially around Halloween time) but this summer one movie in particular has rooted itself into my patterns. Lolita. Lo-Lee-Ta. If you haven't seen the 1997 version of the wildly popular book by Nabokov, I highly recommend it. Judianna Makovsky was the costume designer for the flick and has captured the 1940's 'Tween' look perfectly. One item that has already made it to fruition is the pair of shorts that Dominque Swain wears for most of the 'Car ride' portion of the movie.

They are classic 40's style, but I love the ribbon detail and the shape of Judianna's version. The only detail that didn't make it on to the LooseTeeth version is a little embroidered anchor on the hem of the left side.

The other outfit I have been dying to recreate is a play suit set 'Lolita' wears during the famous first kiss scene. It's not really a practical outfit per say. It's not something you could throw on a trot over to Whole Foods for some fruit or something, (Well..... some might. I guess I have seen stranger things at the grocery store.) but I have been dying to create one ever since I saw the movie a couple of years back. It's a light blue two piece twill set that connects at the waistline in the front. It has the same button design as the navy shorts and a sailor style flap over the back.

I'll be glad to finally purge this outfit from the extensive 'Want' list in my mind. I have the pattern all ready so look for this one to hit LooseTeeth (and maybe Whole Foods) sometime this week!

-Heather

ETSY Fashion Poll - Go Vote

2009-03-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Vote for Looseteeth's Spring Green Dress on Etsy's Spring Fashion Poll!

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=33

-LT

"Jeans Day" not so comfortable anymore...

2009-03-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

The corporate office phenomenon known as "jeans day" has missed the mark lately with providing me an option to be more comfortable whilst scooting amongst the cubicles. I find myself actually debating NOT (god forbid) wearing jeans and just donning a dress instead. I'm sick and tired of low waisted "hip hugging" jeans. Here's a list....

1. I don't know anyone that WANTS to show of their belly.

2. I hate looking like an idiot hitching up my pants every time I move.

3. My bum can stay sight-unseen, thank you.

4. The feeling of a tourniquet across my belly every time I sit down.

5. Always having to wear long shirts to cover my belly since my pants are not.

6. Low rise with Flares makes me look even shorter.

So that is it, I have had enough. I am bidding them adieu and am off in search of jeans that cover my belly button. So far I have come across acnejeans.com where they have these beauties.

These pants seem to have it all (except a small price tag). They do not have the other traits of jeans I have been loathing lately. Flares, Bells, Skinny (which if you weight more than 80 pounds do NOT make you look, btw), Hems that bunch up around your heel or floor.

Since the cheap consumer stores will be slinging the low waisted nightmares for awhile, (style takes time to trickle down) I think I might just have to save my pennies.

Let me know if you have a line on where to get a good pair of high waisted jeans!

Heather

Don't Fear The Midriff

2009-03-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

Recently a girl was admiring the midriff tank top I have up for sale on Etsy and said, "oh I just love this, but I could never wear it". I had to heartily disagree with the size four naysayer.
So how is it that I (a size 10) look forward to midriff summer and she (a size 4) shudders at the thought? Simple. We are thinking of two totally different midriffs.

The midriff she envisions has been in the fore front for the past 20 years or so and has all but completely eliminated the midriff option I can't wait to embrace. This low waistline midriff has even been carried over into seemingly every single jean style option of today. You can't find a pair of jeans that doesn't require constant up tugging and a bum show every time you bend over or crouch down. Which frankly puts "jeans" very low on my list of daily style options. The biggest tell tale sign of this midriff, is the belly button. If you can see it, you should probably double check your body fat percentage to be sure you are ready to venture that low.

The resurgence of the demure midriff is upon us. This midriff is comfortable and attractive at most sizes. It has a sexy "peek" quality instead of leaving you feeling like you are giving a "show". The key to getting this look is finding your true waistline and sticking to it. Get a skirt, shorts or pants that actually come up to your waistline (the slimmest part of your torso), then you can easily step into the world of midriffs free of fear!

xo
Heather

Ric Rac Attac

2009-02-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

My newest obsession seems to be wiggly trim known as 'ric rac' (aka rik rak and zig zag). This trim is usually reserved for aprons and toddler frocks, but I feel it has the power to transcend in to reverence with the ladies too. It just needs a little help.

Every time I pass fabric store trim racks I see the little darlings all lined up and fully stocked. The three year old in me always pauses and delights in their playful funkiness. I think it's time to dust off the ric rac cellophane wrappers and put them to some good use.

Here are some other dressmakers that have succumbed to the awe of the ric rac!

The Pragmatic Rik Rak by
www.necessityisthemother.etsy.com

The Doll Dress by
www.fablesbybarrie.etsy.com

www.asos.com has fully embraced the ric rac with the little wigglies adorning a number of their items.

Ideally Speaking

2009-02-16T04:36:00.000-08:00

I have seen about a million patterns in my lifetime. I think it is interesting how the stylized drawings on the front of the envelopes change. The drawings are almost portals in time. You can step back into any time period and experience the figure ideals of the era (even if sometimes ridiculous).

The 30's: A head and ultra broad shoulders hovering over a pair of astronomically long thin legs. None of them are ever smiling either, I know it was the depression era, but come on...

The 40's: Hints of smiles and waistlines peeking through. Legs return to normal, but shoulders are still holding on.

The 50's: Curves are king, but above all, a teeny tiny waistline and some killer hips.

The 60's: Cubism seems to have annihilated sexy curves in the sixties. Also, it's creepy how long the necks are...

The 70's: These are my favorite. Everyone looks like stilt walkers or Elton John in the movie 'Tommy'!

The 80's: All the ladies look like they could have very successful careers as linebackers.

Now a days patterns usually include and actual photograph of a model wearing the outfit. I think it takes some of the fun out of it. If there were still stylized drawings depicting the ideals of the era, I think today's ladies would all look like a playboy magazine cartoon. Seems surgery and modern "medicine" can get women closer than ever to the ideals.

Although, those ARE really cute overalls. I wonder if there is a pattern for that?...

xo
Heather

Horizontal Stripes Tired of Being Pushed Around

2009-02-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

I shop with my mom on occasion and almost every time I pick out something super cute with horizontal stripes on it, she replies, "Stripes?! Oh gawd no! They'll make me look fat!". I always try to convince her that it isn't true, but it's clear that this fashion myth has claws and is dug in deep.

Maybe it's just the pirate in me talking, but I love horizontal stripes. This got me wondering where all this silliness started. Turns out, a scientist in the 19Th century, Hermann Von Helmholtz, was studying the effect of stripes as an optical illusion (not in regards to fashion) and found that the horizontal strips appeared to widen the horizon of an image. Where this jumps to fashion is, Peter Thompson (a psychologist at York University). He was the first to apply the theory to fashion, but soon found that actually the exact opposite effect was true when applied to clothing.

According to diestdontwork.co.uk -“He carried out a study on about 20 people, who were asked to assess the relative size of different dresses in either horizontal or vertical stripes. The supremacy of horizontal stripes in the “big bum” debate was clear-cut, he said. “Horizontal stripes don’t make you look fat. It’s a subtle effect, but in fact people wearing vertical stripes look wider than the ones who are wearing horizontal stripes,” Dr Thompson said. “Indeed, horizontal stripes, if anything, actually make you look thinner. Helmholtz actually said that women wear horizontal stripes to make themselves look taller. So, in the 19Th century, wearing horizontal stripes had a completely different belief attached to it than it does now,” he said.”

How about them apples, mom!

Heather

Will It Fit? A Guide To Assesing Measurements for Buying Clothes Online

2009-02-09T05:57:00.000-08:00

The first step in determining if something will fit is to get to know your own figure. The better you know your body and measurements the easier it will be to decide if something is the right size. We all have a trait that we know will befuddle any dressing room session. (I'm still coming to terms with my tree trunk torso). The key is, don't be in denial and be honest when taking measurements and assessing your own shape.

Here are some ways that your shape might vary from 'the norm' (which is imaginary btw). You might have a smaller bust which sits higher on a short torso, or a longer torso with a fuller bust, or more pronouced hips, or less defined curves (that's me all the way to the right for sure).

Posture can also affect the fit of clothing. Make sure you know if you roll your shoulders forward or if you usually stand erect with shoulders back. The third most common variable to affect fit is symmetry. Almost no one is perfectly symmetrical, but if the size variations in features are noticeable then they will most likely affect the fit of a garment. (I'm reminded of the time I picked my mother up from a chiropractor's office and the doctor felt the need to point out that one of my shoulders was noticeabley higher than the other. Which, in turn made me feel the need to point out that he was missing a thumb.)

Once you know where everything is, it's time to measure it. It's a good idea to take all of your measurements at the same time and write them down. You can run into trouble if you take your bust measurement for a top in January then hips for a skirt in June and expect those numbers to stay the same. I usually take my measurements right before ordering any clothing online to be sure they are the most current numbers.

Shoulder Length: From base of neck (shrug shoulders to find this) to the shoulder edge.

Apex of Bust: From base of neck to point of bust.

Bust: Measure across widest part of back, under arms, accross full bustline.

Waist: Mark waist by tying a string snugly around your middle; it will roll to the natural waistline. Take measurement at the string marker.

Hips: Keeping tape measure parrallel to floor, measure around the fullest part (usually 7"-9" below waist).

Back Waist Length: From prominent bone at base of neck, center back, to the natural waist.

Sleeve Length: With hand on hip, from the shoulder joint to the wrist bone.

Crotch Depth: Sit on a firm chair, feet flat on the floor. Measure from waist to chair seat.

Crotch Length: From waist in back, through legs to waist in front. Divide this into front and back crotch lengths at the midpoint between the legs (this may not be an even division).

Inseam: Measure from crotch to ankle bone on inside of leg.

Finished Length for Dresses: Measure from base of neck at center back to the hem.

Finished Length for Skirts: From waist line to hem.

Finished Length for Shirts: Use back waist measurement and add any inches you would like for tuck-in.

Finshed Length for Pants: Measure from waistline to ankle bone on the side of leg.

One of the most important steps in determining fit is to add extra ease to your measurements.

If you are shopping for a non stretch item most likely it will not fit comfortably if the measurements are exactly matching to yours. You should add allowment for comfort and movement. However; if you are shopping for a latex dress you will probably want a snug fit, so in that case it would be ok to use your exact measurements. If you aren't sure what the fabric is like, it's a good idea to email the seller and ask so you can make a good assessment for ease. Here are some typical ease additions.

Only use ease measurements when shopping for ready-made items. If you are ordering a custom fitted item, be sure to give the seamstress your exact body measurements.

Bust: Add 3 inches

Waist: Add 3/4 of an inch

Hips: Add 2 inches

Crotch Depth: Add 1/2 inches

Front Crotch Length: Add 1/2 inch

Back Crotch Length: Add 1 inch

I know how frustrating it can be to order something you adore online only to have it arrive, try it on and find that it doesn't fit correctly. Hopefully this helps when trying to answer the first question we ask when shopping online. "Will It Fit?"

xoxo

Heather

LooseTeeths

Gown and Out

Return of The Fly.. er.. Heather..

Did you know.....

Are you a dedicated follower of fashion?

Win one of my dresses!

Evel Knievel, Picachoo and Uncle Fester....

Somthing to Blog About...

**SUPER WEEKEND SALE**

Oh Carmenita.....

ETSY Fashion Poll - Go Vote

"Jeans Day" not so comfortable anymore...

Don't Fear The Midriff

Ric Rac Attac

Ideally Speaking

Horizontal Stripes Tired of Being Pushed Around

Will It Fit? A Guide To Assesing Measurements for Buying Clothes Online

SUPER WEEKEND SALE