Flavortown Fashion

A very good friend of mine always insists on having themed parties. As someone who LIVES for a theme, I can’t complain. This year for his birthday he decided we were going full-send to Flavortown, and honoring everyone’s favorite greasy food connoisseur, Guy Fieri. About a month in advanced, my creative juices starting going, and I started working on my best Triple D inspired digs.

When I’m feeling crafty, I try to start with what I already have. After all, the most sustainable outfit is the one that’s already in your wardrobe. I had a black denim skirt that I hadn’t worn for quite some time as it was too big. It was already in a bag ready to be donated when the inspiration struck. I ripped the center back seam apart, and took the skirt in a few inches, creating a more flattering, trendy silhouette. It was the perfect base to be adorned with hand painted flames, and so I began sketching out a flame pattern. Luckily I had been gifted a box of fabric paint for Christmas last year, and I got to painting.

It took several coats and lots of drying time, but I had managed to make a flame skirt without buying anything new! It was the perfect statement piece for the Fieri Fiesta, but I wasn’t done yet.

I have been creating a lot of accessories since the start of the pandemic. It’s been a fun way for me to use random bits and bobs I have laying around, and an easy gift for friends too! I started by making a scrunchie out of a flame fabric remnant I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby a few months back. I always look at the fabric remnants when I go to the craft store - they are usually small pieces of fabric that wouldn’t have otherwise been sold. They are often half off the original by the yard price, and always enough to make a few scrunchies or even a tote bag. The flame scrunchie would act as a bracelet, but it still wasn’t enough for me.

A few years back I had picked up some novelty beads that look like burgers and fries. I was determined to finally put these to use for this look. I gathered up my jewelry making supplies and got to work. I used some wire to make the french fry bead into a dangly charm, and strung it onto a beaded necklace adorned with the words “FLAVOR TOWN.” An easy craft and uniquely mine, I was happy with the outcome. I still had a burger charm to work with, and I thought it would look great as a ring.

I haven’t made a lot of rings before, and I am by no means a metalsmith. I stuck with the flexible stainless steel wire I already had out, and was determined to be able to wrap it in some way to create a ring. This part was mostly trial and error, but with the help of wire cutters and needle nose pliers, I knew I could make it work. And so, after about an hour of fiddling with the wire, snipping the pointy ends, and reshaping it to fit my finger, I had done it - my very own burger ring.

I picked a simple top from my wardrobe that complimented the pieces I had made, and my outfit was complete. One Guy Fieri inspired look, made completely out of things I already owned.

Last minute, the birthday boy asked if I could make a sign for him. Of course I said yes - any excuse to keep crafting! - and whipped together a piece of cardboard, some construction paper, and some stickers from my collection.

The outfit and the sign were a hit with the crowd, and the birthday party was a success. I’ll never forget our night in Flavortown!