Being creative the key to forever new look

By Lela E. Madjiah

JAKARTA (JP): Tired of your appearance but don't feel like parting with your old collection of outfits or jewelry?

Don't worry, and don't throw your old things away when you don't really need to buy new ones. All it takes is a little sense of "adventure" in your approach to your wardrobe.

A simple, sleeveless black evening dress, for example, which you might probably have had for years, can be changed into a completely different outfit when it is worn with a scarf.

It's how you drape the scarf which determines how the combination will come out.

Instead of simply draping it around your shoulders, you can try this little trick: First, fold a large scarf in two until it form a triangle. Drape the scarf around your shoulders and make sure both edges at the front match.

Then take a small rubber band and tie it around the edges in the middle and keep pulling until they form a round bow. When you have decided how big the bow is, take a brooch and pin it in the middle of the bow.

Make sure the pin is right below the rubber band to make sure it won't slip away. Thus, a new look with and old stuff!

This tip was among the various wardrobe tricks presented by Ann Marie Tarr, international consultant for Monet, Trifari and Marvella fashion jewelry during a fashion show at the Golden Ballroom of the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel last month.

Aside from the fashion jewelry and tips on how to use it more creatively, the show also unveiled new collections from Betty Barclay, Vera Mont, Laurel and Escada.

The scarf trick was a hit among the audience and earned Tarr enthusiastic applause.

Jewelry

Other tricks include how to make the most use of your jewelry. You can, for example, use a pierced earring as a brooch or a long necklace as a belt.

Most of us treat earrings simply as earrings. In fact, there are various other ways to wear them. Pin them to the end of the straps of your strap dress and they will add class to your otherwise ordinary look.

Another way is to pin them to your shirt sleeves and they will serve as highly fashionable cuff links.

You may want to try this tip as well. When you are traveling and forget to bring your evening shoes, don't rush out to buy a new pair. If you happen to have a pair of large earrings, place them in the middle of your walking shoes and they will certainly add a classy touch.

One thing to remember: Only use shoes with low openings to prevent the earrings from hurting your toes.

Want a new necklace? Pin an earring on a chain necklace and there's your new piece of jewelry.

Similarly, said Tarr, there's no limit to what you can do with a brooch. You can use one or two on your simple headband or as buttons on your jacket.

Pinned on an inexpensive evening purse, a brooch will give it an exclusive, expensive appearance.

Another interesting brooch trick is combining its use with your chain. This time you need two brooches to pin the chain on the back part of your jacket to give shape to your body and a new appearance to an old jacket.

Chains, too, offer an endless range of alternatives. They can be used around your hat to create a shining accent, or to beautify a simple evening bag when used as a strap.

Tarr's tricks stretched beyond useful things. Many of us have had the experience of losing one of our pierced earrings and when that happens, the one left usually becomes useless.

Instead of letting them go to waste in our jewelry boxes, we can use them to adorn our daughter's socks.

The results are a pair of pretty socks that will make our little girls look like Cinderella ready for the ball.

The message of Tarr's tips is simply this: Being creative is the key to a forever new look.