As one of my friends and readers M.G suggested, I should write a bit about myself. I mean, you read my blog and you don't even know who's writing it. So here I am.

My name is Kismet, and I live in Missisauga, Canada. My favorite color is wine red, and my favorite style a mix of punk, victorian and new romantic. I like bands like Boney M, Gogol Bordello, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I don't listen to goth music much, mainly because I am not goth. Yes, you just read that right. The Last of the Movement is not goth. But then again, that should have meen kind of obvious, how can I be the Last of the Movement if there are still plenty of goths around?

So if I am not goth, why do I write a goth blog? Well, for one thing because writing a a decadent movement blog would not make sense as no one would read it. But mainly because I feel that everybody should be able to express themselves however they want, and I am giving basic advice on how to do that with the resources that the average human being has. Unfortunately, the society most of us live in at best does not like people who express themselves much, and there is little we can do about that. Not everyone is an open-minded person. However, there are still ways to be whoever you want to be and maybe help people understand that maybe... maybe we are not all that bad, and maybe we can help people grow and stop being afraid of who they are if only they just listened to us.

Dressing for your Body Shape

As with any style, fit of the clothes is most important. As is dressing for your body shape. One must always remember that no matter how good an item of clothing initially looks, if it does not fit it does not work. If you are plus'sized, this will be a bit harder, but you can, and with some thought and effort, will definitely look good.

TOP Heavy body shapes:

Goal: Pick pieces that are shaped but not tight. Bring attention to the bottom half of the body.

Get a well fitting bra first, more than 85% of North American women wear the wrong size bra! Most stores offer a fitting session and service for free.

Don't wear tops with: ruffles or pastel shades, thin spaghetti straps, delicate camisole tops or complicated necklines. Avoid high neck lines, wear instead wide v-neck halves, not in a bulky material. Dresses should have strategic gathers under the breast to direct all eyes to your waist. Skirts should be fitted at the top and flaring at the hemline (to balance the top and the bottom), a cute tulip skirt works here. Avoid high waisted "anythings" at all cost! Bell bottom trousers balance out the breasts so you look less top heavy. Shoes should be high and a medium to slim heel to complement the shapely legs. Structured jackets, with one or two buttons under the breast, work well for a bigger bust, make sure the jacket can be buttoned; if a size bigger is necessary, then bring the jacket to the tailor and get both sides (at the waist) taken in, we want to achieve an hourglass shape!

Don't Wear: A lot of women who have larger busts try to camouflage it with boxy blazers. A blazer hides a double-D bust, but it makes a waist and the rest of the body look much bigger as well.

Do Wear: A fitted, single-breasted fitted blazer, making sure it defines the waist but is roomy enough in the bust that it doesn't pull. The overall effect is slimming and shape-defining.

BOTTOM Heavy body shapes:

Goal: bring attention to the top half of the body and away from problem areas.

Clingy skirts and tapered pants are a no-no as they highlight the hip, so trow them out of the closet; fuller leg trousers and flared skirts hide bulges. Wear any vertical pattern on the bottom half (to slim the appearance) even if it is in the seaming. Darker colors recede, so go dark on the bottom half of the body (no shiny fabrics) and wear lighter colors on top. To broaden shoulders and bring the attention up to the top half, wear big lapels, color and embellishment on the neckline, even a small shoulder pad will bring balance to a wider bottom.

Avoid side pockets, opt instead for a flat-front trouser. Super-slim jeans and pencil skirts are not a good choice. A defined waist, full skirt and strapless cut dress will bring all the focus to the smaller upper half. High-waisted, belted skirts draw attention to a slimmer waist line (hem it just above the knee), but wear them only if you have smaller breasts. Avoid Empire waist dresses that hide the waistline, choose instead a defined waist and an A-line skirt (wrap dress) to accentuate the upper half. Get a full, pleated Knee-length skirt to conceal a wide hip. Full, wide-leg gauchos drape without clinging and are a fashionable choice. Avoid tapered cut pants that emphasize a wide middle area, try a boot-cut pant and jeans to create a straight, lean line. Pleats are dangerous and so are too-high waist lines on pants, a flat front trouser on a medium rise (1 inch below belly button) is more flattering on this body shape.

A funnel shaped coat (buttons on the top half) is very flattering, also a coat with belt will bring attention to the waist, like a classy trench coat. In the summer wear a thigh-skimming Craftan over the bathing suit, it's a classy and fashionable way to cover up and balance a wider hip.

Cone heels on a dressy shoe will help balance out the bottom half of the body. Straight winter boots will look fashionable and also help cover shapeless calves and ankles. Don't do ankle straps, they brake the line of the leg.

Don't Wear: A straight button-dress that hugs the curves at the hips, making them appear larger, not to mention the pull on the buttons in curvy areas can draw unwanted attention.

Do Wear: A wrap dress to emphasize the smallest part of the body (the upper half), allowing the bottom to A-line over the rest, camouflaging large hips and thighs. A print, especially over a darker background is slimming and will diffuse the attention on the pattern, not on the curves.

"Highlight the positive and delete the negative." Donna Karan

TOP and BOTTOM Heavy body types:

Goal: The secret is not to hide any part of the body, but to show it off, nobody looks good in a straight oversized tent dress. The clothes must be fitted (not tight) and curve hugging.

Wear V-neck fitted cardigans, scooped necks and pencil skirts. Skirts should be fastened on the side and flat-fronted, to avoid extra bulk. Sewn down paneling on the top half of a bottom-pleated skirt holds the tummy at the front and cuts the buttocks in half. Asymmetric pleats on a tulip skirt will lift and bring out the bottom. Wear jackets with a single button (which will emphasize the narrowest area of the body). Traditional jeans don't always work, so go for a tailored, wide legged denim trouser. Avoid tight, wide-cut pants, which can make the bottom look wider; a straighter leg style (full but not flared), that doesn't pull at the hips, is more flattering. Avoid pleats around the hips and belly (they add bulk) or anything high-waisted. Wear waist defining pieces and empire-waist dresses. A fitted trench with belt is great as a coat. Pick chiffon dresses, with a corset. As for shoes, avoid stilettos, curvy girls need curvy shoes! Go for a small, shaped wedge sandal, and a rounded or peep toe shoe.


No CURVES body types:

Goal: Create curves and an ideal hourglass shape.

Draping dresses with patterns will create curves in all the right places (size the pattern to the body- small frame= small pattern, and vice versa). Don't assume any bra with padding will work; it must fit so the seams and padding can't be seen (P.S. Avoid deep Vee shirts with padded bras). Never go bra-less under flimsy fabrics, no matter how small the breast, it's not classy.

A feminine chiffon dress will soften the shape. Halter tops create soft curves. Gathering and pleating on a shirt (at the sleeves and waist) creates curves. Skinny jeans will hug the skinny shapeless hips, giving them more definition. Choose delicate heels to highlight slim ankles. Accessorize, to keep you looking very stylish and feminine (use lace, beads and other feminine detailing). Invest in some cute waist-defining belts to wear over shirts, cardigans, coats, etc.

On the "Depressed" Stereotype

One often hears that goths are depressed, or that being goth makes one depressed. This is in no wey true, there are just as many depressed people who prefer mainstream fashion and music as those who prefer goth. However, it is often hard to prove this, especially if you are new to the subculture, or have rescently joined it. Parents and teachers may think that suddenly dressing in black and listening to "morbid" music means that you are depressed. Here are some tips on proving them wrong.

...And  a happy bat...

• Calmly tell them that most truly depressed people no longer care what music they listen to or how they look, so having a preferred style of music or fashion sense actually points out that you are NOT depressed.
• Do not suddenly stop doing a favorite activity or hobby just because it is "not goth". Losing intrest in activities or hobbies is one of the first sighns of depression.
• If you usualy don't spend lots of time alone, don't suddenly start doing so.
• Don't stop being friends with "not goth" people.
•  NEVER talk about suicide or wanting to die. This may make you feel bad, but telling people can make things a thousand times worse. If anything, write your thoughts in a diary or journal.
• Speaking of a diary or journal, don't leave it places. I am saying this because I found the diary of a girl in my school under a desk in the english class. Fortunately, I handed it to the office without reading it, but remember that most people are more curious then that.
• Be yourself and always act natural. Don't suddenly start being gloomy because somebody said it is "a part of goth".

Goth Acessories (Tips for Beginners)

Everyone knows acessories can either make or break an outfit. With a style like goth this is especially important, so here are some basic ideas on what is a good idea and what is not. (I wish somebody told me this when I was younger....)


Good Idea: solid colored tights, or with a simple design



Black solid color tights are a good idea because they go with pretty much everything.  Lace tights also can add an intresting touch to an otherwise plain outfit, and I find solid colored dark tights, like very dark red or purple ones, look great with a plain black skirt.

Be Cautious With: horizontal striped tights


These are unflattering on almost everyone, as stripes make one's legs look wider. Not only that, but they tend to give one an air of  "halloween witch" or in the worst cases "clown" and rarelt go with any other items. Tights with a simple print or vertical stripes are a bit better, but can look awkward when you walk and the printed part twists.


Good Idea: gloves

Gloves can come in thousands of diffrent designs and fabrics, and the right sort can add a touch of goth to almost any outfit. They can hide chipped nail polish when you have no time to fix it, and look great with rings worn over them.However, one must always make sure, that they, as anything, are good quality and look good on your hands. Always try on gloves before you buy them, as badly fitting gloves always look tacky.


Avoid: Tacky-looking gloves

How do I explain "tacky"? I guess I can say anything that looks cheap, or just not right. For example, gloves made of very obvious looking fake leather are usually not a good idea, as are knitted ones (exept for wintertime of cource). And please, my friends, stay away from gloves with printed skulls as a general rule! I see them a lot and not once have they looked good. Also, I cannot stress enough that everything must be of good quality. To gloves, them being a VERY noticeable item, this applies especially. You may have to pay a bit more, but you will know you look good.

Good Idea: be unique

Goth may be a preferred fashion movement, but it doesn't have to define what you are. If something you like is "not goth", wear it and make it your own! Don't be afraid to experiment with diffrent colors and styles and to look in mainstram shops, or even make your own.

Always Go For: good quality

Remember than no matter how neat the original design idea could be, it never looks well if badly made or with cheap materials. If you see something good, wait until it is on sale, save money, but don't go buying every last cheap thing you see just because it's cheap. When buying online, look for reviews of the product or brand before purchasing.

Finding Your Own Style

Within what we call "goth", there are plenty of styles to choose from. Cyber, deathrock, romantic, victorian, whatever. But what if the neon colors of cyber do not appeal to you, you don't like deatherock music or victorian style clothes seem much too expensive and impossible to find? Or maybe you want to mix diffrent styles? The best idea is to create a style that represents who YOU are and what YOU want. If anything, you can even only be goth on the days that you feel like it and something else the rest of the time.

A good place to start in creating your own style is by looking at pictures for ideas. Maybe when you see something you like on another person, you would try to find a similar item or just take the idea of the picture for inspiration. Here are some of my favorite photos in that sense:
    










Similarly, look at books, stories or poems that you like. Though they may not have many direct fashion references, but they would have a "feel" or "mood" that you may want your wardrobe to show. For example, if your favorite pieces include the theme of rebellion, standing away from a group or being misunderstood by others, you may want a punk-like style with elements that eare distinctly your own. If you prefer classic literature, try going for a romantic or victorian-inspired style, and so on. Look at favorite movies and music videos, to see what people are wearing and maybe get something similar.

Here are some more pictures for inspiration:









 

About the "Emo" Look

It's no secret that any people are hateful towards emos. It's also no secret that this is the preferred style of many teenagers. And it is definitely no secret that plenty of said teenagers are afraid to dress in their preferred style because of said haters. You may be one of these people.

To start off, I must say that emo is A PERFECTLY GOOD STYLE. Just like punk, goth, and whatever they call those kids in trainers. If you feel that emo represents who you are and what you want to be like, then go ahead and wear it. If you like emo music and poetry, you might as well wear the clothes to go with it. It does no harm.

If you like to dress emo, you may actually be in luck. Emo is a much simpler and less expensive style then gothic or lolita, simply because its t-shirts and skinny jeans are items most of us can afford, go with most anything and could be bought in actual stores as opposed to online, to avoid shipping fees. As skinny jeans and t-shirts are in most cases "normal" teenager attire, parents usually don't mind it. The acessorias that go with emo, such as fingerless gloves and spiked chokers, can usually be bought from the local mall and are also parent-friendly.

However, if you do choose to dress like this, expect comments at school or online. People can be incredibly mean to those who they hardly know just becauser of the way they are dressed. If people make nasty comments besed on your appearance, ignore them ans try to leave. If they continue, calmly tell them how it makes you feel and ask them to stop. If they try to physicly hurt you, such as throwing something at you, leave IMMIDIATELY and report the incident to a teacher, parent, trusted adult or, if they have seriosly hurt you, the police. (By "seriosly hurt " I mean something on the level of give you a black eye or rip out your piercings, not throw a crumpled piece of paper) Always try to stay calm and avoid getting into a fight, as if you hit them back all the blame may be put on you.



Beginner Budget Goth Tips

Okay. So you are new to goth, and you are a teenager. Maybe goth isn't your parent's idea of what you should wear, maybe you've spent all your money on something else or you are saving up for your first brand item. Here is a short guide on how to get the most of the best possible clothes for your money, and to make them last longer. (It is also a good way to show that you are responsible and goth is not a bad thing, so your parents DO give you money for it if that is the case.)

How to Make Clothes Last Longer:

• Wash black with black and color with color. This seems to be common sense, although many don't do it out of lazyness. Lazy is never goood with fashion so make sure you are washing your clothes right.
• Speaking of washing, DON"T wash clothes after every wear. This could cause them to fade and shrink faster. On average, I have noted a blouse can be worn for up to four days with a camisole or t-shirt underneath, loose pants and skirts can be worn for up to a week, and tight pants can last to 3 days. Dresses depend on the dress, and jackets usually don't need to be washed unless there is visible dirt on them.
• Learn to sew. That way, you can save lots of money on repairing and altering clothes instead of buying new ones. Save up and buy a sewing machine if you can.

How To Shop Smarter

• If you see something you like, wait until the item is on sale if you can.
• Buy items you know you will wear a lot, like jackets or shoes, in neutral colors. In the case of goths, black is a good idea, so it goes with everything else you own.
• Go to a department store and buy a pack of plain  t-shirts to wear under blouses and sweaters. This saves money as you can now wash the blouse or sweater less frequently and they will shrink and fade less.
• When buying tights, look for ones from a thin knit-like fabric, preferably in neutral colors. This type of fabric is the easiest to repair if it is ripped, and repairs are less visible.
• When buying shoes, slightly too big is always better then even slightly too small. If you know you are still growing, buy shoes a half-size up and wear them thicket socks, so there is room to grow.
• You don't really need that much clothes. Look for versatile pieces that will go with anything, and then acessorize.

About Repairing Clothes

• When a black item is fades, re-dye it black with black fabric dye.
• If you have sheer pantyhose that rip, use a bit of nail polish on the rip so it doesn't fray and wear in a way that hides the rip, such as with boots or a long skirt.
• Always mend tights and socks.

"Teen Angst, Teen Angst..."

I am sure you have seen this: People pile on every black, partly black, studdes or skull printed item from the local mall, taking purposely low-quality pictures of themselves with utterly depressing and sometimes pathetic captions, or writing poetry about how life is a big dark void in which no one will understand them and they will be alone forever. Teen angst stuff, they people call it. Maybe you have once done so yourself, and there is nothing wrong with that. We are all still learning.
 The bad part is that such photos and poems more often then not are made fun of online, one way or another. So when somebody mentions teen angst to you,  you are often embarassed. Maybe you wrote a bad poem or wore a silly looking outfit or makeup that day. Maybwe the person was just trying to make fun of you. Here are some tips on avoiding such moments:


Makeup:
- When not sure what makeup style is best, go with the simplest option.
- If you normally wear makeup, make sure that it is always neat. If not sure, avoid heavy eyeliner and unnatural colored lipstick. If you don't normally wear makeup, don't start with something crazy all of a sudden.
- Avoid eyeliner doodles or anything too fancy with simple, t-shirt-and-jeans outfits.
- If you are often around people who dislike teenagers, try not to look like one. Wear your makeup as your mother or aunt would, and stay away from very bright colors.

Clothes:
- Be careful when mixing prints. When not sure, wear one print at a time.
-Only wear converse with simple outfits, and avoid them with skirts. I don't like converse and avoid them altogether. Save up for a nice pair of leather shoes or boots that will last you a long time instead of buying converse, as they tend to fall apart easily and are hard to clean.
-Wear brand clothes if you like them, not because they are brand. Avoid things with brand names printed all  over them. Always think of what an item will go with in your wardrobe before you buy it.
-Try to look older. Remember to dress modestly and war things that a teenager would not "normally" wear, such as floorlength skirts, shoes with very high heels, fitting turtleneck sweaters and fitting blazers instead of moto jackets.
-In extreme cases, avoid "teenager" colthes like jeans, logo t-shirts, and hoodies altogether.

Attitude
-Don't mope around unles you are truly in a bad mood. This can make people not want to talk to you, as well as fits well into the stereotype that all goths pretend to be depressed.
-Don't go around telling everyone you-re goth. If they do ask, say that "you like the music", or "you like the style", as opposed to telling them that you are goth.
-Always remember to be polite.
-If somebody (other then close telatives) says that you, being a teenager, must do as they say because they are older, don't be rude. Try to stay away from that person and avoid conversations with them.
-NEVER tell people how old you are. If they ask, try to switch the topic of the conversation, or lie. This is because many teenage goths do not look their age but much older, and people who dislike teenagers will consider you an adult until you tell them. Dress older whenever possible.
-

Mommy Says No Piercings

This post is mainly for teenagers, so I appologise to those people to whom it makes no sense.


Many of today's parents are against body modification, especially if it is permanent. That's reasonable. Imagine your parents let you get, say, a tattoo. Great. So you have your tattoo for a year, then two years, then three. Eventually you will be tired of itr, or it will mean less and less to you. In the worst case, something you thought to be "cool" at fifteen or sixteen will become emberassing at an older age.

However, you would still have an idea of what you want to look like right now. Here are some ideas on what you could do that could be changed once you are tired of it:

Long or pointed nails:


Long, sharp nails are in many cultures associated with  vampires, demons and sometimes the living dead.  It is a good way to creating your own unique style. Parents are usually glad to see teenagers taking care of their appearance, and will probably not object as growing your nails, which especially if they are short to begin with, is not an easy task. Just don't tell them about the demon reference, dear friends, and remember that no matter what the style is, it must look neat. So please, no broken nails or chipped off nail polish! This kind of nails are easily noticeable by others and I find look best when painted a solid color, or clear.

For tips and ideas, look at  http://www.waningmoon.com/nails/  or even a mainstream fashion or beauty magazine.

Clip-in hair extensions:


You want colored streaks in your hair, but your parents do not llow you to dye it? Clip-in hair extensions can add color without drying out your hair as dye will, and could be changed or removed in seconds. However again, beware the cheap kind! It is simple to tell if a hair extension will look good, and that is by looking at it close up and seeing if it looks like plastic. If it does, I do not reccomend buying it, no matter how inexpensive it may be. Look for hair extendions that could be curled or straightened with your natural hair.

Also always remember to make sure that the clip which the extension is attached to is not visible! Always brush your hair over the clip, then spray it with hairspray and style it with your natural hair. Make sure the extension is the right length to look like part of your haircut, and always trim it if it is too long.


Ear cuff earrings


These come in many imaginative and original styles, and usually don't require your ear to be pierced more then once. Simple clip earrings can also be bought, even from stores like Claire's. They can even be made at home, like in this tutorial here. http://savvypracticality.com/make-your-own-ear-cuffs/

Henna tattoos


These are much better then temporary tattoos, as they stay on for longer (up to three weeks), don't come off in clumps and look much more like teal tattoos. There are some traditional patterns and designs which all look great, and I have seen henna be either black or red. Parents usually do not object to this, as it is not a "real" tattoo and will wash off.

To Avoid Looking Halloween-ish

If all the things that could go wrong in a goth style outfit, looking like you buy your clothes in Halloween sales is probably one of the worst. I don't mean your clothes looking like costumes, almost all goth clothes look like costumes in a way, I mean your clothes looking like LOW QUALITY PRE-PACKAGED HALLOWEEN STUFF. The kind you buy from party stores. The cheap plasticky tacky looking sort. Here are some tips on avoiding this problem.


1) As obvious as it may sound, wear Halloween costumes only on Halloween. I know a person who wore a skirt that came from a vampire costume to school all year round. Needless to say it lookes extremely tacky and ruined every outfit she wore it with.

2) Avoid Jolly Roger-like things or skull prints, especially cartoon skulls. Stay away from large or plastic skulls in acessories.  Skulls, especially too much skulls, can make you look tacky and childish. As a rule, wear only ONE skull item in an outfit, not more. The similar goes for coffins, bats and other symbols.

3) Be very cautious around Halloween sales, even if in good stores. Halloween sales are good for buying simpler things like spiderweb fishnet tights or simple necklaces, but stay away from anything with cheap plastic or feathers, as well as things with witches, pumpkins ir black cats. There is a line between :goth : and :Halloween:, and these things are on the :Halloween: side of it.

4)When buying clothes, make sure the material looks good. A cheap material is the problem of most Halloween costumes.

5)Make sure your clothes match, at least somehow. I don't mean color, although that is important too. I mean no sneakers-with-a-victorian-dress or jeans-and-a-cloak. Especially if you're a beginner, make sure the styles of your clothes look good together. One mistake many people make is wearing all their "new goth clothes" and acessories all at once. This distracts from your face and the things you may be wearing that do look good together and usually just looks like too much.. Always have a good look at your outfit in the mirror before leaving the house.

6) If you are still not sure ask the opinion of a friend or relative, but someone you know will be honest. Ask your parents or grandparents, however little they may know about the subculture, to get the poinion of a general person looking at you on the street.


Here are some well-coordinated outfits for inspiration:

         

The Essential Mirror

A small mirror or compact is something everyone who likes wearing lots of makeup or fancy hairstyled should have with them. Why? Well, imagine you put on eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara to go to the mall. But then when trying something on you accidentally brushed your hand against your eyes. How would you fix your makeup? Running across the mall to the bathroom mirror with smudged up makeup may for many be embarassing, but if you don't have a compact mirror or something like it with you, you may have to do that. With some tissues, a compact mirror and a pencil eyeliner (I always have an eyeliner pencil with me for such cases, because it is easier to apply then liquid and does not make a mess if it breaks in my purse) you will be ready to coninue shopping with your friends with no embarassment in seconds.

But in most stores, a simple compact mirror can cost up to twelve dollars. In Dollarama it will cost $1, but it will look like something from Dollarama and most of us don't want that. Now what do you do?

It is no secret that the thinga you own, like cell phone, music player, emergency makeup bag and mirror are in a way part of your look, so they should not look cheap or like something borrowed from somebody else. They should, as much as possible, be yours.

One solution to this is to go and buy the Dollarama mirror, and then make it your own. I find stick'on gems a good thing to use for this. I have once bought a simple black compact mirror from a Dollar Store, then used a glue gun to cover the cheap plastic outside with small black gems, and make a pentagram design on it with silver ones. It came out even better then I expected, looking like something one can aquire from Living Dead Souls for twenty dollars plus shipping.

However, today I bought a new mirror the design of which I liked even better. Following my own favorite shopping tip for goths, "go to Chinatown!".

It is not big, only about two and a half inches across the glass part. The ribbon I tied on myself. And it cost a grand total of $1.99. This is from a store called Ba-Dou Bai, but that only is here in Toronto. The online clothing shop Bodyline, in the "Sundries" section, has compact mirrors similar to these ones for four or five dollars.

Simple Goth Bracelets Tutorial

Some time ago, I decided to make a series of posts for those new to gothic, mainly teenagers, who do not have any money to create their dream wardrobes. Maybe your parents do not allow you to buy"anything black", maybe you have no wayt to get money or simply want to use the things that you have from your old wardrobe instead of buying anything new.  Here I will discuss how to make gothic clothes and acessories with the things that you already own, or where to buy them for limited amounts of money. (Luimited meaning limited in reality. For teenagers. $10 for Demonia knockoff boots limited.)

My first tutorial I chose something simple. These bracelets I got as a gift from my aunt in Germany, who does not know me very well as we've only met once. The fabric a friend of mine had left over after making a dress. Any opaque solid colored or printed fabric will do, preferably with a bit of stretch.

First, measure aroud the outside of the bracelet and cut a rectangle of fabric wide enough to wrap around it completely with none of the original bracelet showing.

Remember that this could be easily be customized by adding strips of a diffrent fabric or lace. If you want to do so, sew them on now.

Now, sew the fabric rectangle into a circle so that the visible part of the seam is on the wrong side of the fabric. Use heavy duty thread, or at least normal thread folded several times. Stretch this around thre bracelet with the good side out.

inside oFold the fabric so that the loose ends are inside. Pin it and begin to sew, with the heavy-duty thread. I know you may be tempted to use a glue gun, so I warn you that if you do so it will look tacky and be much less sturdy. Make sure that you secure the thread well when you've sewn all around the of the bracelet.

Right now the inside may look a bit messy, and this is okay. Take a strip of fabric the same length as your first one and fold it up so that the cut ends are not showing. Iron it if you can, so it stays better. Then, pin it to the fabric on the inside of the bracelet and sew it on. This will be visible so try to make neat stitches.

Once you are done sewing all the way around the inside, secure the thread well and tuck in the ends. For shine, take cheap clear nailpolish and put it on the bracelet. In less thern twenty minutes, you're done!

Such bracelets look great worn over fishnet or lace gloves with a short-sleeve shirt or dress, but depending on the fabric used can go with anything.