Don’t let the high prices fool you; fashion is universally attainable. Just ask this pint-size fashionista. Five-year-old Mayhem is a creative powerhouse and downright genius with scissors, construction paper and masking tape. Her design capabilities could rival some of the contestants on Project Runway. With her mom, photographer Angie Keiser, documenting her fashion creations, the two have become social media cult favorites. Check out Mom’s Instagram handle @2sisters_angie and their website, fashionbymayhem.com. Early last month the two revealed a special news: Mayhem has joined the forces of J. Crew to collaborate on a capsule collection for the Spring 2015 crewcuts line of clothing, shoes and accessories. The nine-piece whimsical collection named Little Mayhem with J.Crew.
Mayhem is a nickname that Keiser created. It was inspired by Allstate’s Mayhem commercials. Their story goes like this : Mayhem always enjoyed playing dress up. After graduating from her own dress-up clothes, she moved into Mom’s closet. When those clothes became off limits, Mayhem got creative and brought Mom dishtowels, headbands and pillowcases with clothespins and asked to help make them into a dress she could wear. “Not having the same creative vision as she did, I remember telling her, ‘That’s not a dress.’ When I watched her little face drop as I said those words, I knew at that exact moment I didn’t want to ever belittle her creativity again. I suggested we make a dress out of paper and she, of course, made sure I followed through,” says Keiser.
How to create like Mayhem Tips:
- Don’t buy anything, instead search your house for materials (if it’s in the house, it’s fair game).
- Any kind of paper is golden: tissue paper, construction paper and wrapping paper.
- Grab one to two pairs of scissors and masking or packing tape.
- For the design process, lay pieces of colorful construction paper on the floor and start taping them together. Once there are a few pieces in place, hold it up to your child (or a mannequin) to see if the length is correct and to make sure the creation fits all the way around.
- When the length and width meet your specifications, simply wrap the paper around your child and secure it with clear packing tape in the back. If straps and sleeves are necessary, add them last.
