Focus Fashion Notes

Are you a 'hat person'...I am and I have so many I've lost count. As I spend a lot of time out walking and taking photos on the coast and in the countryside I've highlighted practical all-weather headwear suitable for rain, high winds and cold snaps. Recent summer trends included traditional Panama and ultra wide-brimmed straw hats and boaters. Big Japanese style Sun visors have been popular but Bucket hats seem to have taken over from traditional Baseball caps for Summer daze and festival season. Mad hatters continue to go 'over the top' on Spring and Summer race days and lets not forget the posh classic country style (think Cotswolds, Exmoor, Dartmoor) felt Fedora seen around estates, dog walkers, on farming folk and at local Agricultural Shows. The Fedora is normally in earthy colours with a leather band, topped off with a feather. Lets not forget the flat cap which has become a massive fashion trend after being worn by Cillian Murphy's character Tommy S...

Covering all media and socials it seems to be all about denim at the moment, not sure 'double denim' will be back but jeans in all shapes and styles definately are. A recent Levi advert featured them all: Straight leg, Barrel leg, Wide leg, Slim leg, Skinny, Ankle Grazer and Flared. The original Boyfriend jeans were men's work jeans, Levi's 501 and on " May 20th, 1873, the world’s first blue jean received its official patent – a day Levi Strauss commemorate each year as “501 Day. ” In the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was one of the first women to wear the 501 jeans in the film, 'River of No Return' and also in her last film 'The Misfits'. Although a women's version of the jeans was introduced in the U.S. in the 1930s ideal for farm and ranch workers only the mens version were available in the UK and they were embraced by the 60s fashion savvy girls. To make the denim a little softer, get rid of excessive deep blue dye it was common to jump in a bath fu...

Knit one pearl one - Get knitting. Looks like the good old days are coming back. Art, crafting and crafts, knitting and crochet are amongst the popular things to do these days. Craft Markets, Arts and Craft Fairs & Exhibitions show casing all manner of clever ideas and home-made designs have been drawing the crowds at local markets & events. We recently saw champion diver Tom Daley knitting for Great Britain at the Olympics. Tis now the "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" so maybe time to hunker down and learn a new hobby. I have spent many hours in the past just hanging around waiting so knitting was a favourite thing to pass away the time and create something special.  I watched my mother knitting for us when we were kids, we used to hold the skein of wool out on our hands which she then wound into a ball/ (traditionally t he yarn used to come off the loom in strands in days gone by) S he then got a knitting machine, not quite as relaxing as the thread always ...