12.04.2010

Mink Tongues

They told me, Francis Hinsley, they told me you were hung
With red protruding eye-balls and black protruding tongue...
Evelyn Waugh, The Loved One


Has anyone read The Loved One? Or seen the film version? (Ohhhh you must if you haven't. Liberace plays a casket salesman and if that isn't enough to make you run to your video store now, then we just can't be friends, okay?)  Certain movies are comfort movies for me (same goes for books, too); and I'm not sure what it says about me, since it's a satire about the funeral industry, but The Loved One is most definitely one of my staples.  I've seen it so many times that someone should do a remake and hire me to play a part, or maybe even 5 parts.

It's part of my capsule film collection like these black leather Converse deals are part of my capsule shoe collection.  This is a recent development, since I used to hate sneakers and until recently, rarely left my house in anything resembling a flat.  However, the Nike shoe project started me on this tangent thinking about sneakers, and I've gone from thinking that these are convenient and innocuous, to thinking of them as a staple.  Amazing the way these things sneak up on me.

When I bought them, they were simple, totally unadorned.  In fact, they were so boring I forgot to take a picture.  Whoops.  You can see them online here.  But yes, I decided I wanted to beef up the tongue.  With jet black mink.

Leather + slick black mink fur + dull black rubbery sneaker trim = ORGY OF TEXTURES.  Very few things excite me more than black on black textural orgies, by the way.  (Aside from Liberace playing a casket salesman, of course.)

Anyway, the end result reminded me of the Loved One, and so here we've come, full circle, back to the black protruding tongue!

Fairly simple, extremely gratifying.



I used an old mink fur collar.  These are fairly common, you can easily find them on ebay or even at thrift shops on old coats.



I cut it down to size so that it could wrap over the tongue on both sides, and finished the edges.  This makes for a meatier tongue, but also a more indulgent shoe.  (Also, because sometimes I fail to wear socks and the mink feels divine against skin. Things I should not divulge...)



I then sewed chamois to the back of the fur, the back of the tongue all the way into the shoe, and then partially down the front of the tongue, as far as I wanted the fur bonded to the tongue.  I didn't want to bond the fur completely down the front of the tongue...this lets you lace underneath the tongue should you feel like styling it that way.



The end result:









53 comments:

Anonymous said...

AMAZING!!!
i really love your blog, i follow you! follow me back?
XXXX

Theresa Cheek said...

well, this is just kickin'! I might have to copy this one....oh, we can still be friends..The Loved One is definitely on my list!

Theresa

Theresa Cheek said...

Lauren,
Can't believe I just stumbled onto these-

(I was searching Europe's Etsy for something else)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61902255/spats-leg-cuffs-steampunk-victorian-faux

Sarah Dee said...

you my dear are unique, but the good kind!I absolutely adore this!

Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com

and now i need to rent that...

TheMinx said...

these are beyond fierce!!! And I love love your leggings

Style Odyssey said...

very cool DIY, well done.
but it's your sequin pants i am drooling over.

Emily and Abigail said...

Obsessed. This is an EPIC DIY!! Love what you did with them.. not to mention the adorable pants, and perfect chair!

www.lovelywanderlust.com

koko // res pulchrae said...

whoa! love what you did to your converse. add that to my ever-growing list of "DIYs i must attempt."

Vickie H. said...

YOU ARE KILLING ME!!! I am so in love now I may not sleep!!! Art for your feet!!! GAWD!!!

Anouk said...

what an adorable idea.
looks huge.

Unknown said...

that's so gnarly I love it!!!

C:

http://moneygonefor.blogspot.com/

Alcira Molina-Ali said...

How do I love you -- let me count the ways.

These are magnificent and I insist you start making versions available to we mere mortals.
Gorgeous, stunning, perfection in a shoe.

Now I'm off to chase down that movie.
Alcira

nerochronicles.com

joy said...

Pretty cool, nothing beats luscious texture...especially on a shoe!

stylestalker said...

ahhh sooo lush! best DIY!!

Samantha Nandez said...

Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

This is genius!!!

roxanne said...

wow. your creativity knows no bounds, i'm loving this site SO MUCH.

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

Theresa- If you give it a try, do let me know! I'd like to see!

Dylana Suarez said...

Awesome shoes! What a great DIY! So genius! And I love your sparkly pants! They blow me away!

xoxo,

colormenana.blogspot.com

Kimmie said...

kind of looks like you killed a skunk or something on your way to work. not really feeling it

Six Six Sick said...

Absolutely fantastic! I definitely want to try this, just need to get a hold of some vintage mink!
xx
Tiffany

manuel said...

i really enjoyed your blog, your fur tongue idea is really brilliant! I am going to give my converse a facelift! Many thanks!

Vivian said...

I know this is about the shoes, but I love your sequin leggings! Actually the mixing of gym shoes, fur and sequins is pure genius!

Marlene said...

wow,great idea.You're very creative :)

xx

Arini Desianti Parawi said...

wow!! genius.. look like a burberry prorsum shoes collections..
great job dear!! love ur sequins leggings too :)

tks for leave comment in my blog, i really appreciate it..feel free if you wanna follow my blog..

THE SECRET LIFE OF "D"

in Love&Light
Queen D

E-Money said...

oh my god! i just started following your blog and i am blown away by your additions to shoes.

I just have a question, where do you get ur supplies? ex: the mink or the spikes etc?

Unknown said...

love these pics and fab DIY X

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

E-Money: Thanks! Studsandspikes.com has a huge selection of spikes, and as for the mink- either take it from an old coat or cardigan (try thrift shops). Ebay is also great for mink collars.

Jag said...

you rock girl!!

Martini said...

Wow, that is a wonderful DIY project!

piotr. said...

i love u blog and u DIY ! i have question what paint(oil paint?) you used to do the bag?
sorry for my english >.<

Christina of Profresh Style said...

YOU ARE A FUCKING GENIUS. DIY'ing. I hate sneaks, I mean hate, but you literally will do this right now.

YOU ARE AMAZING.
new follower.
geezus.

xx,
Christina

m.corbett said...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! !!! GET THESE ON MY FEET! wowowowowowow
http://kireimode.blogspot.com/ x x x x

Heather Cavanaugh said...

These are effing amazing! I love this idea! So unique and so creative! I'm def. going to have to steal this! :)

Love your blog and now following!

http://fashionistanygirl.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

so fucking hot!
thanks for sharing

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

piotr. - If you're planning on doing any painting on leather, definitely do NOT use oil paint! It dries too stiff, and will create cracking. You'll need to use acrylic, and very thin layers so it doesn't sit on top of the leather.

Jackie said...

Mink Converse? Amazing! The appeal of the mink is so intriguing on the ever fab converse!!!

Jackie of Fashion Ladder
www.fashionladder.blogspot.com

Kenza said...

Wow !! just found you on snowwhitegonewild blog!!
Really amazing blog!
Great ideas! I am so gonna make myself some furry heels :)

Kenza xxxxx

http://teacupandmacarons.blogspot.com

Valerie Friedrich said...

I heart your style like x 10! Thanks for the inspiration. XO Valerie

www.imstarvin.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

fucking impressive diy ;) clever!!!

KeepItFvncy,
M.E.

Sarah said...

*_* COOL! I want to try that with my converses. I have the exact same black pair!

Viv said...

love the diy, so cool! your outfit is great as well :)





myblissisthisway.blogspot.com

Hippie Fruit said...

Um... getting started right away!!! In L O V E with this!

cosmic visions said...

so fucking awesome

maggie said...

fantastic! great idea & photos!

Virginia Ibarra said...

you are insanely talented

Panda said...

These are so cute! Definitely going to try this myself!
But I do have one queston: How exactly did you attach the mink to the shoe?

Anonymous said...

what did you use to attach the mink to the sewed chamois??

Angel said...

I would SO buy a pair of these! But I'm hoping to follow your amazing DIY... and your blog.

HeatherU said...

What are those pants? They are amazing! The shoes are sweet too :)

Anonymous said...

I love theses shoes! I wanted to know would you ever make these for someone because i cant sew to save my life! how much would you charge?

Guerilla Embroidery said...

Interesting re-con, now I know what to do with this lovely strip of fake fur I have had lying around for ages! One question though, how did you actually attach the fur to the chamois? That step seems to be missing. Thanks!

The HouseCat said...

I don't like real fur, generally, the fur industry isn't exactly pleasant. (That said, I have a friend that hunts for meat, and I don't let her waste bits. If something's going to die, it should at least not be wasted. She has a lovely rabbit fur purse she made herself, and I get skulls for art projects). Secondhand fur is at least not supporting the fur industry, and seeing that some poor animal's already died for that collar, it would be a shame to see it go to waste.

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