Sewing and the Fashion Blogger

Sewing is getting to be a lost art. What was once a necessary life skill passed down from mother to daughter has now become the provence of the diyer and the eccentric. It's a shame really. Along with writing, photography, and html, basic sewing skills would be an immense addition to the fashion blogger's arsenal. Having the ability to make something beautiful to wear is empowering and creates endless possibilities for achieving a unique look.

There is a down side to sewing your own clothes. In some affluent areas there is a belief that sewing your own clothes means you are too poor to afford the real thing. For other people, homemade clothes conjure up images of Little House on the Prairie style dresses worn by women in certain religious sects. However, thanks to design shows such as Project Runway and the emergence fashion minded entrepreneurs launching lines from their homes, sewing is poised to be cool again.

Just like mixing Chanel with H&M, homemade clothes should be worn with store bought items, unless you have mad sewing skills and are launching your own clothing line. Sewing allows you to make that blouse you haven't been able to find in stores or to create your own designer inspired coat. When it comes to wearing homemade clothes, there is no better compliment than, "Where did you buy that?"

Today I am wearing a skirt I made using a Cynthia Rowley pattern from Simplicity. I'm, also, wearing a StyleMint tee, American Apparel scarf, and Boutique 9 shoes. In the background is my current sewing project - a Cinderella inspired ball gown.

If you want to learn how to sew, check out your local Jo-Ann Fabric store for lessons.

Other resources for sewers:

• Colette Patterns
• BurdaStyle
• Martha Stewart

For more of my handiwork, check out Passage To the North.

What skills do you think are important for fashion blogging?

How to do a Photo Shoot on the Cheap

These days it feels like every successful fashion blogger is able to post professional level photos thanks to designer wardrobes, photographer boyfriends, and SLR cameras. Sadly, these are not things your average American girl has access to. I am especially saddened by the lack of photography loving of-course-I'll-let-you-play-dress-up-and-take-your-picture-everyday-boyfriends available in the Midwest. Perhaps they are only available on the coasts? Despite these setbacks I became determined to do my own photo shoot. I recruited my mom as photographer, commandeered her bedroom for use as a studio, and turned into an overly critically diva whenever artistic differences arose. Through all this I learned that a) point and shoot cameras get the job done, b) a pound of makeup and a fancy dress make anyone look better, and c) a sense of humor goes a long way.

Here are some other tips:

1. Gather inspiration

For this photo shoot, I wanted on old Hollywood glamour feel, so I looked to photos of Elizabeth Taylor for inspiration.

2. Shoot against a solid colored wall

To get a studio look, shoot against a solid colored wall. Try using walls that are off white or even peach colored to give a bit of glow to your pictures.

3. Use natural light

Golden hour is the perfect time for outdoor shoots as wells as indoor shoots where you are using windows as your main lighting. All of these pictures were taken indoors using the sunlight streaming through the window. It takes patience to wait for the light to hit just right, but the results are worth it.

4. Fix it in post

Don't worry about being perfect. A flaw here and there makes a photo more interesting, and many issues can be fixed later by cropping and retouching.

5. Play with filters

I edit most of my pictures in iPhoto and love playing with different effects. One of my favorite effects is the antique filter which gives pictures a softer look.