I spent three years in a basement studio surrounded by the scent of steam and industrial thread, pinning hems for women who were convinced their "styl
Finding Outfits You Already Own
Continue Reading→
Author: Neve Okonkwo-Barr
The industry wants you to believe style is a shopping problem. It is a fit problem, and fit is mostly fixable for the price of a coffee and a trip to someone with a machine. I will tell you which fabrics survive a year, what a good alteration costs, why the expensive coat is sometimes worse than the cheap one, and how to build a wardrobe that works on a Wednesday. I will never tell you something is 'investment' unless I can show you the maths.
The Complete Guide to Accessories
I spent three years in a basement studio pinning hems for a bridal shop, and if there is one thing I learned, it’s that most people treat jewelry an
Most Clothes Are Washed Far Too Often
I spent two years in a cramped basement studio pinning hems for a bridal shop, and if there is one thing those high-pressure silk slips taught me, it�
Full Grain, Top Grain and What You Are Actually Paying for
I spent two years in a cramped basement studio pinning hems for a bridal shop, and if there is one thing I learned, it’s that a high price tag is th
Repairing a Bag Instead of Replacing It
I was sitting on the floor of my grandmother’s tiny sewing room when I first realized that a broken strap isn't a death sentence for a good accessor
Bags Fail at the Zip and the Strap Anchor
I was sitting in a dimly lit bridal studio three years ago, surrounded by mountains of silk, when a client’s "designer" clutch literally shed a buck
Washing Wool Without Felting It
I spent two years in a basement studio pinning hems for a bridal shop, and if there is one thing I learned, it’s that people treat "dry clean only"
Shoe Fit: Length Is the Easy Part
Stop listening to those influencers who swear that a "designer" label is a substitute for actual comfort. I spent two years pinning hems in a basement
Wearing a Blazer Without Looking Like Work
Stop letting fashion influencers convince you that you need a whole new "capsule wardrobe" just to make your work clothes wearable on a Saturday. It i
The Complete Guide to Proportion
I spent three years in a basement studio pinning hems for brides who thought a "flattering silhouette" could be bought off a mannequin, and let me tel