MY MARTHA STEWART MOMENT

The "Student's Acquaintance Party" at work has been moved next Saturday instead of this 13th day of August. For my friends in the Western world, acquaintance party is a formal black tie dance  event (but in my college it is a semi-formal attire event), or gathering of college students from different departments. It is typically held near the beginning of the school year. It figures greatly in Phili popular culture and is a major event among college students, think of it as a prom, now you get the picture. Anyway because of this it got me thinking about some of the accessories men may use to jazz up their usual ensemble of oxford shirts, ties and trousers.  Behold! The "Lapel Flower Pin". I really like the lapel flower pin from Lanvin.  You can wear it on a suit lapel or  place it a few inches away from the left collar of your oxford  to achieve a sophisticated finishing touch to formal dressing.

 

Lanvin Buttonhole Flower Pin £102.66. To view full details click HERE.  Not ready to shell out the cash for an upgrade? Don't worry, try to channel your inner Martha Stewart by creating your DIY lapel flower pin...LOL. Here's how:

These are my "pin-it-everywhere" brooches.  I can pin them to any coat, top or shirt and it instantly transformed my piece of clothing into something much more special.

MATERIALS: 

       Fabric ribbons, a needle and a thread, glue gun, and  button badge pins / safety pins.

PROCEDURE:

• Do a rough running stitch all the way along the edge of the fabric ribbon. The stitches don't have to be even or the same length or anything. Make sure you've secured the thread at the start of your stitching, by knotting the thread or just stitching over the first stitch a few times. Stitch all the way to the end of your strip of fabric.

• Gently pull the thread and push the ribbon down it: this will gather the material and give you the ruffle. Hold the two ends of the ribbon between your thumb and index finger, while still pulling the thread tightly to keep the ruffle, well, ruffled.

• Once you've done that, thread the needle through anywhere - this stops the fabric from fraying. You may also want to do a few more stitches to secure the thread and make sure it won't come loose.

• Then attach the button badge pin by using the glue gun - and you're finished.