One woman brightened up January with outfits inspired from everyday items, including toothpaste tubes and bleach bottles.
Taryn de Vee, a writer, and designer from County Donegal (Ireland), set herself a style challenge: dress up as a different household item every day for January. “joyful”.
Self-described “Self-described” “possibly the most colourful woman in Ireland”Mother-of-five, Judith, is no stranger to unusual outfits.
“Being colourful is an integral part of how I view myself”She spoke to the PA news agency.
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“Colour makes me feel alive and joyful, dull colours make me feel sad and depressed, it’s that simple.”
Ms. de Vere was faced with the prospect of being homebound to protect herself during the Covid pandemic. So she decided to make a new year’s resolution and only use clothing and objects that she already had.
She stated that: “At the time I came up with the idea I was sitting on my bed and my eye alighted on a bottle of sink unblocker in the en suite, and that became the inspiration for the first outfit.
“My one rule for this project is I have to use things I already own – I love the sustainability aspect of this challenge.
“It’s completely transformed how I view my clothes and unleashed a creative styling freedom in me, making me put colours and shapes together that I never would have before.”
Ms. de Vere posts daily photos on Instagram and Twitter of her outfits, along with a photo of the product she was inspired by.
She claimed that she had been “completely overwhelmed”a positive response on social media, and even gained fans from as far as Australia.
“I’ve had messages and comments from people telling me they wake up in the morning and check my Instagram first thing to see what new outfit I have on that day,”She said.
“People from all over the world have been getting in touch to say how much joy they’re getting from this project.
“It’s really heartwarming to think that my creative project is bringing a bit of light-hearted fun and joy to people’s lives.”
Ms. de Vee acknowledged that the attention has taken her by surprise.
“Had I known how big this would get and how many people would be seeing my pics I probably would have ironed my clothes before photographing them,”She said.
Closer to home, Ms de Vere’s neighbours have been less surprised by her colourful creations, due to her “well-established eccentric dressing credentials”She said that she still receives compliments from people who visit her in town.
“I remain open to the possibility that there is someone more colourful than me out there, and if so I want to meet them and be their new best friend,”She said.
You can follow De Vere’s progress in her Twitter thread of outfits.
PA reporting by Lottie Kilraine.