#unstitched

WITCH WEEKLY - THE MARCH ISSUE (1983)

“Valentines is a time for loving, so learn to love yourself before you love anyone else with a new pair of shoes and a matching bag” - Camille Rowle

YOUR GREATEST LOVE AFFAIR: UNSTITCHED WITH CAMILLE ROWLE

It comes as no surprise to me this year than many of you had to be set up in order to have a date this Valentine, I myself had options and feel as though I chose the best of the best. Those of you who did not enjoy their blind dates however, no need to worry. February is gone and with it for another year are cheap chocolates in the shape of hearts, red roses that lets be honest, are no ones favourite flowers and the thought of spending another year alone. No, no need to worry at all, just sit back, relax; and watch as I rip apart your peers fashion choices. 

First out the gate on the measly list of outfits that were passable this Valentine season is Miss Claudette Delacour || @claudettedelacour. Dressed in all white maybe she was trying to send a signal to her date that she was ready to commit. Whether I am right or not I know for sure that I am ready to commit to her outfit, her white flare jeans fit her perfectly and matching it with a just as white top was bold but it worked. Paired with beach waves and another white ensemble of a two-piece underneath I wouldn't be surprised if Erik Borgin proposed on the very beach they jetted off to. 

Next up is my favourite of the day Mary Macdonald || @macmary. It’s an extremely rare event for me to set my eyes upon an item of clothing and know I have nothing like it in my wardrobe and that’s the very feeling that came across me when I set my eyes on Mary’s trousers. A thing of beauty the pink tulle frills accentuated their height perfectly and the top paired with it left me just as wanting as the bottom half did. To finish off the look the accessories and make-up did wonders for them. I wouldn't be surprised if this was to be the last year Mary Macdonald spent alone on Valentines, and if it turns out I’m wrong, then they already have a shopping date with me for next year sorted. 

Now, the shinning star of the male population of wizarding London this Valentines is Decius Flint || @deciusflint. Looking smart and chic in his suit trousers and turtleneck it made me think twice about saying my little crush on him was something that I had left behind in my Hogwarts days. The man knows how to dress to his strengths and the dark red of his jumper worked perfectly with his skin tone, the smart overcoat paired with it finished the look perfectly, making it incredibly hard to resist the man. Let me just say, if it were me on that date with him instead of Miss Yen you could rest assured that the bon bons wouldn't be the only thing my lips would be wrapped around. 

It would seem that along with Latin, dance and table manners fashion was also taught at the Flint Manor as next on my list is none other than Rosalie Flint || @foolgraves. A woman after my own heart an outfit change must be recognised and applauded at thustly. The stark contrast between her suit-like androgynous first look and her ethereal second look was both daring and delicious. Her boots to die for, her sheer puffy sleeves a dream come true. The over-the-top jewelry in the first look was bold and almost ostentatious but with a wealthy Pure-Blood date I’m sure it was appreciated. Overall this girl did well and I want the rest of you to take notes, but beware, you have to be a certain type of person to pull of a dramatic outfit change and I’m sorry to say, most of you don’t make the cut. 

Last but definitely not least is one Hestia Jones || @hextias. I am a woman who appreciates other women in power suits and that’s what Miss Jones brought me when dressing for her date. Her cream blazer and trousers were a striking contrast to the summer dresses one usually wears when going to Italy and it did the girl well. Pairing the look with a light green top and coat was an odd decision to me, someone who would always opt for pink, but it worked so perfectly with her glowing skin and dark hair. Adding the wicker bag and wedges to the ensemble changed it from an almost formal look to relaxed and inviting , perfect for a date around Rome. The final touch for me was the large straw hat, perfect for creating a barrier between herself and her date if she were unlucky enough to get someone less than satisfactory, smart move Hestia. 

That concludes another judgement day from me, please in the future do try a little harder. For those of you not mentioned in this article I hope by next Valentines you have your shit together, you never know, maybe your complete lack of style was in fact the very reason you had to be set up this year at all. For those lucky few who were mentioned, keep up the good work, don’t start to slack just because I thought one outfit was passable. 

“Show me your scars,

and i’ll show you mine”

but i can’t imagine all of the time

It’ll take for you to see them.

From my glory days,

to my downfalls

These scars haven’t healed,

despite the time that’s passed

But I won’t stitch them closed

It’s a deal that i have chose

So will you still love me?

Despite open wounds?

I just need you to believe who i can be

• Unstitched Sari Project by @meerasethi •

Photography and concept: TajGold

#UNSTITCHED SARI PROJECT

When I first came across the #Unstitched Sari Project by Meera Sethi, I immediately thought it was a beautiful idea. Wonderfully simple but such a powerful way to show how we’re all connected through different threads in our individual stories. 

“Unstitched: The Sari Project is an international, collaborative performance art project that takes a single unstitched piece of cloth – a 5.5 metre sari – and creates a line of community among 108 South Asians around the globe.”

When I received the sari, I was on my way to Canada and America so jumped at the chance to collaborate with my old friend, Dilrani Kaur. She styled me and shot the sari in her apartment in Dallas. Here’s how I felt... 

How comfortable do you feel wearing this sari?

Pretty damn majestic. It's really unique and super comfortable because it's cotton. I don't usually wear dark colours but I love the colourful highlights. Not something I'd usually wear but I am feeling it!

Are saris something you feel you are entitled to wear and call your own? Why or why not?

Absolutely. There is an association in the Indian classical arts that the sari is a symbol of timeless tradition. For example, you would traditionally wear a sari to attend a concert or if you were performing on stage.

I find it a genius garment that is comfortable and elegant, once you get the hang of it. It's part of Indian culture and almost a passage of womanhood. But the sari is also so versatile that you can really style it to reflect your own taste and personality.

Thinking about how you see yourself and how the world sees you, what is your relationship with the sari as clothing?

Anytime I wear a sari I feel an instant sense of power, grace and sensuality. My posture aligns but I relax into it at the same time.

My relationship with the sari is that I believe it portrays a sense of classicism and as an Indian classical dancer and advocate of Indian classical music, I feel the sari really embodies my values of simplicity, craft, detail and art. It will never go out of fashion and never look 'old'. I remember wearing my mother's silk saris that she was gifted by her family when she got married. I remember her teaching me to tie it and my mother in law and husband's grandmother giving me tips on how to tweak the material for different effects.

The sari contains stories. Memories and lives are woven into it. They embrace you as you wrap it around your body. It protects you and empowers you at once. 

Does wearing a sari challenge you in any way?

Not particularly. Different materials can be a challenge to tie. It also depends what you're doing. Sometimes it can start slipping around and shifting and then you just feel like the whole thing is going to come apart. The key is not to panic, find points in the fabric to quickly adjust and to just enjoy the way it hugs and highlights your body.

Thank you to Meera Sethi for including me in this project. Find out more about her other awesome projects online. 

WITCH WEEKLY - THE JANUARY ISSUE (1983)

“Yule is a time of giving, now give me what I want and get yourselves a new wardrobe for 1983.″ - Camille Rowle 

A YULE TO REMEMBER: UNSTITCHED WITH CAMILLE ROWLE

This years Yule ball definitely ended the year with a bang, many of you have improved since my last article and for that I am eternally grateful. I would like to think you listened to my unsolicited advise and I am the sole reason for many of your much needed wardrobe updates. Alas there are still many of you out there who’s outfits left much to be desired and so, please read the following article with a fine-toothed comb, in fact I would suggest checking it twice.

It would seem that some of our males took their being left out of my last article personally as many of them up-ed their game so much so that they can now feature in this months edition. Firstly is none other than Lucius Malfoy || @lxciuss who went from fading in to the background on All Hallows Eve to looking like he had just stepped out of 18th century Russia at the Yule ball. From the looks he was gaining from many of the female population, and lets not lie, males too the man could have given any Durmstrang boy a run for his money. His red coat was extremely striking against his pale complexion and the fur that surrounded him made sure that you couldn't help but picture yourself snuggled up inside it with the man in question. 

Next on my list of reformed men is James Potter || @jamspctter, it takes a bold man to wear full white and can I just say for all of us out there who saw him enter the Pavilion, he wore it will. His crisp white suit showed off the cooler tones of Yule, ones that I personally believe are much harder to pull off than your basic reds and greens, and so I applaud anyone who tries it (myself included, the pair of us sitting at the bar together must have looked like angels). Although, a word of warning Mr Potter, the white trousers looked much better with the ensemble than the blue pair that you seemed to have swapped with Mr Tonks || @badgepuff half way through the night. So next time please keep your clothes to yourself, unless you’re sharing them with my bedroom floor. 

Now, as much as I said green was a basic colour to wear during Yule, if you have to wear it, then do it correctly like Regulus Black || @regulus7. A Slytherin through and through I wouldn't expect any other colour choice for Mr Black this Yule but it worked well for him. Taking a slightly more traditional approach the man wore a green velvet outer coat with puff sleeves and a white shirt with frill detail to really offset the masculine features of his face. Overall the slightly feminine curves of his attire did wonders at showing just how beautiful the boy truly is. Topping it off with a holly crown to get in the spirit of Yule made him a boy I could scarcely forget, one that would make any Slytherin parents fawn over if you were to bring him home, however, with that Black family crest peaking through Gryffindor parents may not feel quite the same. 

Now time for the ladies that impressed, once again red is a basic Yule colour that I saw many of you wearing and so here’s some advice, if you are to wear red for Yule, go all out and make it pop just as Patricia Rakepick || @patrakepick did. Her Column silhouette gown showed her figure off perfectly, gracing us all with how tall and slender she is, the long sleeves and high neck redefined the meaning of sexy, proving you can gain every eye in the room without showing a single ounce of skin. Paired perfectly with her diamond encrusted ruby necklace and red shoes with diamond detailing made the girl sparkle from all the way across the room. The finishing touches being her red lips and striking red hair, well done Patricia, I can teach you no more. 

Last but not least is another striking redhead Lily Evans || @oh-evans. For years the myth ‘don’t pair pink with red’ has been haunting stylists like myself. I take personal pride over the fact that Miss Evans has dared to look outside the box, not many would. The soft pale pink dress only enhanced the colour of her hair, making her skin look even paler and making her a sight one would not want to miss. The simple design of the dress was perfect on her figure creating an almost mythical effect that could rival any Veela I know. Finishing it off with a bold eye look was almost one step too far, but because the girl has already proved her boldness I think it worked perfectly, showcasing that this girl is not one to be reckoned with.

That concludes this months article, for those of you who were not mentioned don’t come crying to me, you only have yourselves to blame and I am making it my new years resolution to not take pity on those less fortunate - in the style department - than I. You have a whole year between now and next Yule, so maybe a few of you would like to set your own new years resolutions in regards to your wardrobe, some of you should burn it all and start from scratch. Start your spring cleaning a bit early this year and you may feature in the next addition of Unstitched, but for now, have a very merry Yule and an even happier new year!

WITCH WEEKLY - THE NOVEMBER ISSUE (1982)

“Your lives may not be perfect but your outfits should be.” - Camille Rowle

HALLOWEEN OF HORRORS: UNSTITCHED WITH CAMILLE ROWLE 

To say the least, this years All Hallows Eve party was a night to remember, but before it went downhill I took notice of all the guests attire, and colour me unimpressed. Not one of you met the standard that I was expecting however in your defense I suppose that when I set the standards myself it wasn't a surprise that none of you could meet them. Looking through all of my options it would seem the woman have come out victorious. I usually try to give them men credit where credit is due, but it would seem the only man who was dressed to the nines was Booker Bagnold, he looked drop dead gorgeous, pardon the pun.

First up is the dark haired beauty Alice Yen || @alicexyen. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of her interrogation technique the dress she wore whilst doing it was rather stunning. If it hadn't been such an intense situation I would have asked the name of the designer, alas, I am left wanting. The iridescent shine to the gown coupled with matching shoes and jewelry left none of us asking what the theme of the evening was. The finishing touch of the pearlescent sparkle to her skin completed the look, taking it from this world to the next. Owl me the name of the designer if you get chance, I know how busy your work load is right now. 

Next in the list of ‘best dressed’ is Narcissa Black || @blondsblack. As much as I hate to admit it, and I fully blame it on the rest of you who decided to turn up in below par costumes, but Narcissa was one of the few to pull it out the bag. For those of you who don’t know, the youngest Black sibling and I rarely see eye to eye, but it would seem for once we can, the gown she chose was spectacular, one in fact that I have in my own collection. The gown, coupled with the pearls and diamonds created the perfect ghostly air to the outfit, spectacularly in keeping with the theme. And may I say Narcissa, tickle me surprised that you would lower your haughty Pure-Blood morals to allow you to wear a muggle design, maybe there’s hope for you yet. To conclude; love the dress, hate her. 

Amelia Bones || @ameliabcnes is the next guest who came to slay, the avenging angel entered the party with the intent to slay all those wayward souls who did not stick to the dress code. She put everyone who didn't stick with the theme (how could you?) to shame in her black feathered gown and wings to match. Wings dare I say it that would allow her to fly far away from all those thirsty party goers she left in her wake. Pairing the gown with simple make-up was a daring and bold decision, but a correct one, showing off her natural beauty pretty much guaranteed her an evening of admiring looks and offers to not spend the evening alone. Sadly those plans were ruined by the drama that the night brought us, so instead of just judging those who’s costumes didn’t come up to par, the avenging angel spent her night judging all of your chosen alibi’s and whereabouts, I hope none of your secrets came to light, but then again, I hope they did.

It would seem that two out of the three Black sisters have excellent taste, sorry Bella, but it would seem you’re more suited for a jail cell than Paris Fashion week. Andromeda || @andromedhs, or lets just call her the only Black sister with any semblance of a personality looked glorious in her costume. Those of you who went above and beyond know how difficult it is to tell a story with your outfit, only a handful of people can do it, myself included and Andromeda pulled it off spectacularly. Her bridal gown and veil was almost too pretty to use as a simple Halloween costume, but I’m oh so glad she did so, as was, it would seem, a certain Lestrange brother. The bouquet and vintage jewelry finished the look perfectly, creating a vision in white that anyone would be lucky to wed. Can I just say Andromeda, you surprised us all with your dramatic costume, going against your quite subtle nature, keep it up, 10 points to Slytherin. 

Finally, the last lovely lady to make my list of best dressed is none other than Saorise MacMillian || @inkstainedmac. She very much surprised us all when she turned up in something other than stained overalls and I think she calls them Doc Martins? Happy to see the girl switch up her usual attire for some actual style she proved to you all that although I don’t necessarily agree with who she came as, I can still spot a well put together costume when I see one, I’m not as mean as you may believe, or rather I probably am, but I’m fair. Praise is given where praise is due! Her talc white gown with obviously hand sewn lace embellishments was paired with a daring choice of heavy dark make up and leather studded boots, creating a mash up of styles that worked perfectly with Saorise’s personality. So, although I don’t know who Nancy and Sid are, you did well MacMillian, and one piece of advice, burn those hideous overalls and wear more haute couture gowns. 

Well, that concludes the end of my first article, and colour me disappointed, boys, you better step it up if you want to be in the running next time, unless you enjoy being beaten by girls? Also, a heartfelt apology to all my avid readers, as you know it is my style to turn up fashionably late, but the timing of this article is beyond fashionable now, and for that I am sorry. However, if you need someone to blame for it, please take it up with the auror department and their constant questioning. Honestly, as if I would ruin a great night by murdering someone, its as if they don’t know me at all.