People are calling safety pins the new studs and they’re beginning to appear as ornamentation everywhere (this is very good, b/c they’re easier to find than studs!). I personally have been a fan of safety pins for ages, though I haven’t been using them decoratively; I use them secretly. Many times I temporarily alter my clothes to suit my mood with safety pins. Shorten a hem? Take in the sides? A few safety pins and I’ve changed a dress without any permanent damage.
One of the coolest ways to use them is to create awesome draping or a bubble hem look. The fuller your skirt—the better. The more malleable the material (cotton and jersey, over something starched)—the better! It’s very simple, but here’s how I do it:
-Turn your dress/skirt inside out
-Safety-pin the bottom hem of the dress 4-8 inches higher
- Space the pins evenly
-Invert your dress/skirt to normal and behold your work!
If you space the safety pins really close together, you’ll just shorten the hem. If you use them more sparsely and find a full skirt (jersey material also helps with drape) then you’ll create something more avante-guarde.
Happy pinning!
~The Clothes Horse
