Gum Wrapper Prom dress

Did you hear about the Junior high school girl who made her prom dress (well, the corset part of it anyways) out of hundreds if not thousands of Gum Wrappers? And not just any gum: Wriggley 5 – for the colour of its wrappers. Now that is what I call DIY fashion!

Elizabeth Rasmuson's Gum Wrapper Prom Dress

Elizabeth Rasmuson of Garner, Iowa, got the idea when she heard hearsay of another DIY fashionista who had made her Prom attire out of Duct Tape. Liz got her friends involded too; she bought the gum, distributed the pieces around and gathered the wrappers. Since such a project requires planning, she started right at the beginning of the school year. And so her date wouldn’t feel out of place (or clash, which would be worse), she made him a matching vest.

Elizabeth Rasmuson and her Date

The technique for weaving wrappers is fairly easy and it can be applied to other materials such as magazines and chip bags. All you need is to cut pieces measuring 2” by 4 ½”, fold them a certain way and begin weaving.

I found this a blog on the subject, Wrapper Purses - Made completely from recycled potato chip wrappers. There is even a tutorial to make a hand bag from woven chip bag and I have to say, I am loving this idea. Finally, something I can do to recdycle my weekly bag of Lay’s!

But back to the Gum wrapper dress, I looked into it and a pack of Wriggley 5 contains 15 pieces and costs 1.26$ CAD before taxes: that means to get 1000 wrappers, it cost her 84$ (CAD), not including dentist fees for cavities and jaw problems developped from chewing all that gum. Not bad for such an original bodice; plus, she made it to Tele!

Chocolate Fashion Show

As we all know, the French know and love chocolate. (Incidentally, I am of French descend and I love chocolate.) As we also know, Paris is an important Fashion Capital.

That is way every October, the Salon du Chocolat, an event mixing both these passions is organized: the Défilé Tendances Chocolat. Renowned designers pair up with important Chocolat houses to create edible, wearable art. These creations are presented in a Fashion show where they are worn by French Stars; all proceeds from this show goes to a children’s charity.

Julie Ferrier at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Anne Richard at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Faustine Bollaert at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Daphné Bürki at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat wearing a chocolate studded dress, designed by Marithé & François Girbaud and made with the help of French chocolate maker La Pralus

Virginie De Clausade at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Dominique Magloire at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Daniela Lumbroso at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat in a Turandot-inspired creation made by chocolatiers Philippe Pascoet et Christophe Guillarme

Lara Fabian at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Corinne Touzet at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat sporting a chocolate creation designed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada with a handbag from chocolatier La Maison Bonnat

Coralie Clément at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Marie Fugain at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Carole Brana at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat

Laetitia Rey at the 2009 Défilé Tendances Chocolat showing off a chocolate outfit designed by Eva Rachline and made with the help of French chocolate maker Magnum

Interesting designs! Not something you can wear in the summer heat, but hey, you can't always get everything in life!

Hmm... Now I'm hungry!

Veggie Dresses

Didn't your mom ever tell you not to play with your food? Good thing the people responsible for this PETA campaign didn't listen or we would not have these gorgeous evening dresses... made entirely of vegetables!

Okay, so I know the campaign in question isn't new, but in case you missed it, I wanted to showcase it here. The outfits made from these greens are incredible.

Note: this is not an endorsement.I'm all for humane treatment of animals, but I am a proud omnivore. These creations are presented here only for their originality.

Alyssa Milano for PETA

Have you noticed how the corset part of her bodice is made of asparagus?

Cloris Leachman for PETA

Is that what one might call a Cabbage Patch Granny? Love the pretty colour though!

Elizabeth Berkley for PETA

I wonder if it is possible to walk at all in these things? And how do they hold in place?

If I could find or make some silk cabbage leaves, you know that I would want to make myself one of these (but in durable and washable format), right?