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Thursday 28 March 2013

Reminiscing: MB Fashion Wheel

How many of you had the Fashion Wheel when you were younger? I absolutely loved mine to bits and spent hours 'designing' outfits. I still have mine at my parents' house, and they have been under strict instructions not to get rid of it. I've just been on a trip to see them and took the opportunity to dig out the Fashion Wheel and get it out of its box.

If you used and loved one like me this will bring back a few memories, or if you've never heard of it, here's how it worked:

  

Instructions for use from the box (the outline never turned out as neatly as demonstrated here!):

  

 Selecting my combination of head, torso and legs:

 

First attempt at getting the outline - bit blurred:


Slightly better second time around:


You use the textured sections to add patterns to the clothing, or just colour it on a flat surface for flat colour:


Ta da! My finished design:


Here's some of my creations from  youth, kept carefully in a folder along with the Fashion Wheel:


And, er, here's some of my wilder designs...Bear in mind I was creating these in the early to mid-1990s, so these outfits were likely perfectly acceptable at that time.



Did you have the Fashion Wheel, or do you like the look of it? There's a version of it currently available on UK Amazon if you're interested!

K x

27 comments:

  1. Nessa28 March 2013 at 11:05

    HILARIOUS!! Love the 90s curly hair and dangly earrings combos!
    A childhood friend had something similar but in a rectangle cupboard-like contraption instead of a wheel.

    Thanks for sharing - so funny.

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    Replies
    1. Nessa28 March 2013 at 13:04

      Oh thanks Jinty Ahoy, it was Fashion Plates I was thinking of!

      Delete
  2. Elise28 March 2013 at 11:45

    Ah I'd forgotten about this! I had about three different versions, totally obsessed! Pretty sure some of my creations were as 'out there' as yours ;)

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  3. Unknown28 March 2013 at 11:55

    I loved Fashion Wheel... I filled so many evenings designing my 'Collection'. You've inspired me to raid my parents' attic to find it now :)

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    1. Unknown28 March 2013 at 12:02

      Did anyone have these Fashion Plates too? Brilliant.
      http://www.sewweekly.com/2011/11/remembering-fashion-plates/

      Delete
    2. Lindsay28 March 2013 at 12:04

      Yes!! I loved my fashion plates! I have no idea what happened to mine though. :(

      Delete
    3. Kestrel28 March 2013 at 12:39

      Ah, those look like the same thing in a different format.

      Delete
  4. lonestarsky28 March 2013 at 12:03

    I'd totally forgotten about Fashion Wheel! I have no idea what happened to mine, I loved it though. This post really makes me want to buy another one . . .

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  5. Vicki Kate28 March 2013 at 12:11

    I didn't have one but man I soooo wanted one!

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  6. Philippa28 March 2013 at 12:37

    How lovely! I really wanted one but didn't have one - I did however subscribe to Bunty magazine (does anyone remember that?) which had cut out paper dolls with different cut out outfits in every issue. I loved it! (btw I am not as ancient as this makes me sound!!). Also, before I could use a machine I handsewed outfits for my Pippa and Sindy dolls. Happy days!

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    Replies
    1. Kestrel28 March 2013 at 12:40

      I loved paper dolls too, I used to get Twinkle magazine when I was small, and that had one every week.

      Delete
    2. Claire28 March 2013 at 13:40

      I remember Bunty! I spent hours and hours with my head in that. Sadly I didn't have a fashion wheel but used my friends.

      Delete
  7. Meigan28 March 2013 at 12:44

    I had "Fashion Plates" too which was perhaps a US version of the same idea but not a wheel. I spent hours and hours making designs. You are obviously a bit younger than I; mine was from the early 80's and the fashions definitely had some leftover late 70's fashions too. Good times!

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  8. Craft Sanctuary28 March 2013 at 13:23

    OMG YES! I totally forgot about this until now, thanks for the reminder! I wish I still had mine...not sure if it was a wheel, though. I may have had the "plates" too, but that crayon holder thing was exactly the same!

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  9. Sew little time28 March 2013 at 13:36

    i had one and loved it (and i wasn't a girly girl). i also had an excellent sewing machine that came inside a big plastic case you could carry around with you!

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  10. Lucy in the Clouds28 March 2013 at 13:40

    Brilliant post! I loved my Fashion Wheel, but had forgotten all about the texture bits! My creations were all LBDs if I remember rightly - much more Mam's style than what mine would become!

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  11. Unknown28 March 2013 at 14:37

    LOL! I had this and I have to say it was one of my favourite 'toys'!!! I used it ALL the time - I was convinced that I was going to grow up to be a fashion designer!

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  12. niddetissus28 March 2013 at 14:45

    I had a slightly older version and I loved it to DEATH!! :)

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  13. Anonymous28 March 2013 at 15:10

    This was one of my favorite toys, possibly just pipped to the post by spirograph! I distinctly remember a fondness for the head with the big floppy hat

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  14. Anonymous28 March 2013 at 16:08

    Very cool! I had the 80's version of the fashion plates, and spent many hours with it. :-) I have no idea where it would be now, though knowing my littlest sister, it's likely broken/lost/trashed. :-( Oh well, it's not like I have a little girl to play with it.

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  15. Anonymous28 March 2013 at 17:55

    What?! What a great toy! I've never seen this before!

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  16. Lynne28 March 2013 at 18:51

    Oh my goodness, I had completely forgotten about this! My sister had one, and we absolutely loved it. Now I'm wondering what happened to it!

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  17. Emma28 March 2013 at 20:06

    I remember desperately wanting Fashion Wheel from Santa one year. In fact, it was the only thing I wanted. But my parents couldn't find it anywhere so they got me that dating board game with the phone instead. I was so disappointed!

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  18. Jo28 March 2013 at 20:14

    This is crazy - I spent about 20 minutes last Sunday trying to get my mum to remember that she had bought me a Fashion Wheel when I was younger. She really couldn't remember, despite me describing my favourite outfit of jeans with red rose patterns. I'm so glad you posted this!

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  19. Em28 March 2013 at 20:36

    I always wanted this but never got it. I love nostalgic posts like this, thank you for sharing. X

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  20. Franca31 March 2013 at 17:48

    I'd never heard of this before, but like the look of it! Would have loved this as a kid!

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  21. mrsrobinson1 April 2013 at 18:13

    Oh, I had forgotten all about the joys of the fashion wheel... feel the need to dig around in the attic to see if mine is hidden in a box! My favourite was the pocketed skirt...

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and commenting - I love to hear what you have to say