Granny Tights made Pretty...
First Lady Smaggle shows the way with what to do with laddered tights and now one of my favourite up and coming British jewellery designer, Maria Lau has gone and done a whole collection, using old nude tights. Genuine granny tights, as in the sort you can't even buy anymore in most places and probably have to hunt out in charity shops where you can still buy surplus stock of these flesh-coloured lovies. Maria managed to luxify this material so much that she convinced onlookers of her collection that the pieces were made out of suede or silk. She seems to have a knack for turning mundane materials and making them quite extraordinary. So these flesh coloured tights become a collection entitled 'A Skin Less Ordinary' and so altered, warped and manipulated are they with the braiding, twists and deconstruction that once again that a both natural and supernatural effect is achieved. maria was influenced also by African Masai jewellery in the way these pieces should be worn and I couldn't agree more as I'm a big fan of 'more is more' when it comes to piling up the necklaces on a background of a simple grey jersey t-shirt or dress.
Oh and finally after seeing these images Marc Jacobs' AW08 pastel palette is starting to look appealing to me....
That's an amazing idea!!!!! I have dozens of coloured tights waiting to be thrown away, those could be in good use for making something extrodinary.
Posted by: The Fashion Assistant and her Camera | 23 July 2008 at 18:42
oh my goodness, I have a collection of these that I inherited from my parents, who used to own a general store. I have been trying to figure out what to do with them and have even tried wearing them and entirely failed. DIY project here i come!
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Posted by: SUNNY | 23 July 2008 at 20:42
Clever recycling indeed. I like that first look a lot.
Posted by: enc | 23 July 2008 at 22:53
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Posted by: Lady Smaggle | 24 July 2008 at 00:14
Another DIY to add to my list! My mom has a whole bag of these that we use as rags or to polish leather, gonna have to steal them to make necklaces!
Posted by: Katlin | 24 July 2008 at 01:10
wow! i've never seen anything like this, but such a great idea! This reminds me of my days in ballet class. the styling manages to make them look very modern and chic and unlike pantyhose
xoxo
Posted by: la petite fashionista | 24 July 2008 at 03:30
Genius im going home to do it tonight
Posted by: eemmus | 24 July 2008 at 03:58
I love this. The colours are beautiful and the lines are so clean. Love the braided jewelry! Great story!
Posted by: gabrinella | 24 July 2008 at 05:27
thats really interesting i really like her collection its very body-con (dont think i could wear it! im not fat tho!) ive looked on her website and she got some great vintage and reclaimed style jewlerey its really different!
Posted by: vintage clothes | 24 July 2008 at 09:56
What a stunning model. I like how this is styled, reminds me of the Australian lable Metalicus that does everything in stretch nylon.
I love the concept of making 'mundane' objects and materials as you put it into fashional items. I hope the fashion community laps it up.
LM
Posted by: Lady Melbourne | 24 July 2008 at 10:47
What a stunning model. I like how this is styled, reminds me of the Australian lable Metalicus that does everything in stretch nylon.
I love the concept of making 'mundane' objects and materials as you put it into fashional items. I hope the fashion community laps it up.
LM
Posted by: Lady Melbourne | 24 July 2008 at 10:48
Gorgeous! Very ballet pretty. Brilliant idea.
Posted by: missmilki | 24 July 2008 at 11:01
oh man, i love it! i am going to have to do something with this for sure... yesterday i was around berlin, and saw some interesting things people did with bobbles and i think integrating it with tights would be just awesome. like a strange body/tumor type thing.
Posted by: lady coveted | 24 July 2008 at 11:54
This is seriously excellent, a totally novel idea which you can do yourself! If you have any diying skills anyway, which I don't, so I'll be admiring from afar, but they're still so lovely.
Posted by: Meg | 24 July 2008 at 12:58
I'm going granny panty's hunting as soon as I can..
Great DIY
Posted by: Lily | 24 July 2008 at 14:18
Fab! Love the colour palette too. Quite nostaligic for some reason. I would actually love some thick granny fleshy pink coloured tights they would look great with grey or navy.
Two weeks away from blogs is enons and I don't think I'll catch up on all of your prolific output!
Posted by: Make Do & Mend | 24 July 2008 at 14:40
ha! my mum used to make these kinds of plaited headbands with her old coloured tights in the 80s. i might have to make a few as well... how she will laugh!
Posted by: M | 24 July 2008 at 17:34
Great find Susie! Love these! Very stylish colouring, shape and pairing with pearls and metal beads. Too bad you cannot wear repurposed pantyhose in Finland with out being rediculed. Thanks to Pirkka-magazines column called "pantyhose tips"... They were hilarious. :) Had to post this to my blog be cause this made me think of the "pantyhose tips".
Posted by: OutsaPop | 24 July 2008 at 18:09
^^ the fifth one is most gorgeous. love it
Posted by: dunk low | 23 June 2009 at 08:45