Method and apparatus for temporarily and decoratively altering clothing

Abstract

A garment assembly includes a garment and a temporary hemming element. The garment comprises at least one fold wherein a portion of the garment is folded back upon itself. The temporary hemming element comprises a pin having a distal end extending from a second side of an outer portion. The outer portion is located on the garment so that the pin extends through the fold until it penetrates completely through the fold. An inner portion of the temporary hemming element receives the distal end of the pin of the outer portion to create a temporary decorative hem. The temporary hemming element can have at least two pins to inhibit movement of the temporary hemming element.

1 . A garment assembly comprising: 
 a garment having an elongated border;    a decorative system configured to alter the appearance and effective length of the garment, the decorative system comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated decorative elements, each of the elongated decorative elements having a free end and a fixed end; and  
 a plurality of coupling elements, each coupling element being configured to support the decorative system, the coupling elements each comprising an outer portion, an inner portion, and a connecting portion extending therebetween;  
   wherein the plurality of coupling elements are adjacent the elongated border of the garment and spaced from each other, the connecting portions of the coupling elements support the fixed ends of the decorative elements and extend through the garment, the coupling elements temporarily secure the decorative system to only one side of the garment such that the free ends of the elongated decorative elements extend past the elongated border.    
   
   
       2 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative system further comprises an elongated mounting portion, the fixed ends of the elongated decorative elements are coupled to the mounting portion, and the coupling elements extend through the mounting portion.  
   
   
       3 . The garment assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion is a strip coupled to the fixed ends of the elongated decorative elements, the strip extends along the elongated border.  
   
   
       4 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated decorative elements are spaced from each other along the border of the garment.  
   
   
       5 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative system extends along substantially the entire length of the border of the garment.  
   
   
       6 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fixed end is positioned between the garment and the outer portion or the inner portion of the corresponding coupling element.  
   
   
       7 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the elongated decorative elements comprises a plurality of beads strung on a chord.  
   
   
       8 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the border of the garment defines an opening of the garment.  
   
   
       9 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated decorative elements hang freely when the garment is being worn.  
   
   
       10 . The garment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the coupling elements comprises a decorative face and at least one fixation element configured to engage the garment.  
   
   
       11 . A method for temporarily decorating a garment, the method comprising: 
 positioning a decorative system on a garment having at least one edge, the decorative system having at least one coupling element supporting the decorative system; and    temporarily coupling the at least one coupling element to the garment such that the decorative system extends only along one side of the garment and below the at least one edge of the garment.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one coupling element comprises an inner portion, an outer portion, and a connecting portion, wherein the decorative system is positioned between the garment and one of the inner portion and the outer portion, and the connecting portion extends through the garment and the decorative system.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative system comprises a plurality of elongated decorative elements spaced from each other, and the decorative elements are positioned along the at least one edge of the garment.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one coupling element is proximate the at least one edge of the garment.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one coupling element comprises an outer portion, an inner portion, and a connecting portion having a distal end, at least one of the outer portion and the inner portion being configured to be temporarily secured to the distal end of the connecting portion.  
   
   
       16 . A temporary decorative border for flexibly adorning a garment having a finished hem, the decorative border comprising: 
 a mounting portion;    a plurality of elongated decorative elements, each of the elongated decorative elements having a free end and a fixed end, the fixed ends being coupled to the mounting portion; and    a plurality of coupling elements, each coupling element comprising a piercing member and a releasable clasping portion, the piercing member configured to be inserted through the mounting portion and a garment, without visibly damaging the garment, the releasable clasping portion configured to engage selectively the piercing member;    wherein when the plurality coupling elements are placed adjacent an elongated edge of a garment, the free ends of the elongated decorative elements extend past the finished hem of the garment, providing a temporary decorative border.    
   
   
       17 . The temporary decorative border of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting portion is an elongated strip.  
   
   
       18 . The temporary decorative border of  claim 16 , wherein the temporary decorative border is configured to extend on only one side of a garment when the plurality of coupling elements temporarily affix the decorative border to the garment.  
   
   
       19 . A decorative system for selectively changing the effective length of a garment having at least one elongated edge, the decorative system comprising: 
 a decorative element having an upper edge and a lower free edge;    a plurality of piercing members extending from the decorative element and configured to be inserted through a garment without damaging the garment; and    a plurality of clasping elements, each comprising a recess for receiving a corresponding piercing member and a surface to engage the garment;    wherein when the decorative element is coupled to a garment, the lower edge of the decorative element extends past an elongated edge of the garment.    
   
   
       20 . The decorative system of  claim 19 , wherein the decorative element comprises a plurality of elongated elements, each elongated element has a free end at the lower free edge, a fixed end at the upper edge, and a decorative feature extending therebetween.  
   
   
       21 . The decorative system of  claim 19 , wherein the decorative element is positioned on only one side of a garment when the decorative element is mounted to the garment.