Long Live McQueen: Savage Beauty at The Met

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Janice

I had a chance to catch the Savage Beauty exhibit at the Met over the weekend. We got there very early which was well worth it. We started the exhibit at around 10 am. By the time we left the exhibit at noon, the lines to the already-packed exhibit were very long.

My favorites for the collection were the Highland Rape series (crazy plaid matching!), the Romantic Gothic series, the BDSM inspired fitted dresses with leather harnesses, and his use of autobiographical and naturalist themes.

At some point I need to make a BDSM inspired dress. I’m definitely going to have to learn how to work with leather (or faux leather) this year.

They didn’t allow us to take pictures inside the exhibit, but these were my favorites.

Sarabande.

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A gown made of razor clam shells.

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Eclect Dissect. (One of my favorites. Then again, make anything fitted and leather and it probably will by my favorite.)

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It’s Only a Game.

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Voss. (The dress is made out of microscope slides painted red with ostrich feathers.)

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Widows of Culloden. (My favorite from the Highland Rape series.)

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Jacket from the Highland Rape series.

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Photo credits: blog.metmuseum.org

Sewing Inspiration: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Janice

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I loved Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I’ve seen this movie about five times since discovering it on Netflix a few months ago. It works much better than watching Angel or Buffy the Vampire Slayer or anything else more distracting when trying to sew.

Style Inspiration: Elizabeth Taylor

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Janice

It’s been really hectic here lately (thus the minimal sewing and lack of sewing updates) but I’m trying to change that.

Elizabeth Taylor, one of my favorite actresses and sources of style inspiration died last week. Here are some photographs of her that I found inspiring.

Sewing/Style Inspiration: Stevie Nicks

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Janice

I’ve been listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours non-stop lately, and though late 1970s is barely considered vintage, I’ve always been inspired to dress like my rock star idols.

Stevie Nicks is the frontwoman of Fleetwood Mac. She pioneered a unique gypsy-luxe bohemian look: long fluid chiffon skirts, airy capes, shawls, platform boots and lots of black.

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Stevie Nicks performing on stage, late 1970s. Note the beaded black lace shawl with a classic cotton tank top.

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Stevie Nicks in the early 1980s, wearing a white fringed shawl, low-cut dress with a ruffle, and high-heeled boots.

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Fleetwood Mac in the late 1970s. Stevie in the center wearing a black chiffon dress and a top hat.

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Stevie is on the bottom right wearing a lace blouse and an ethnic print handkerchief skirt (or dress?).

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Wearing a white lace shawl and a black dress.

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This photograph isn’t really a good example of her personal style since you can barely see what she’s wearing, but I love the rock and roll vibe of this shot.

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“I was very influenced by Janis Joplin,” Stevie said during a recent interview*, “the one time I saw Janis in person, and all the times I saw her on television with her feathers and her bell-bottomed pants and her beautiful silky blouse tops.” Stevie travelled to San Francisco to the Velvet Underground in at attempt to re-create her look. “It was a tiny little store, but it had the most beautiful things,” Nicks recalls. “Tunic tops that came down to your mid-thigh, and evening gown, old-lady nightgown material bell-bottoms that weren’t really wide, but instead fell straight over a really high boot.It was in that room where I thought ‘Wow! These are the kind of clothes I’m going to wear forever.’”

My new sewing motto from now on is: sew clothes that I’m going to wear forever.

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This leads me to my next sewing project, Butterick 6287 from the late 1970s:

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I don’t have any fabric for this yet, but I’ll probably modify the hem so it has an asymmetrical hem or a handkerchief skirt.

* (interview source: LA Times, 10/23/97, Airy Godmother)

Face Shapes and Necklines

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Janice

I plan to revisit my Sencha blouse again soon, which had me thinking about necklines and face shapes. I still wear my keyhole neckline Sencha, but I’ve never felt comfortable with the high neckline. I’ll probably draft the neckline differently once I tackle this project again for a more wearable Sencha based on the guidelines below.

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What face shape am I?

The best way to determine your face shape is to stand in front of a mirror. Pull your hair back and draw a faint line on the mirror, following the outline of your face.

Here are some examples of different face shapes:

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The most balanced face shape is the oval face shape. The combination of the face shape and the neckline aim to create balance, giving the illusion of a more oval-shaped face. Here are some examples of face shapes and necklines.

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The Round Face

The round face needs vertical space to balance out the roundness. Necklines that are flattering include v-necks, shirt/blouse collars, Queen Anne necklines and Empire necklines.

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The Long Face

The long face needs horizontal space to balance out the longness, making the face appear wider and more oval. Necklines that are flattering include using necklines that are shallower, and which do not generate such a downward focus. Neck styles as the Sabrina, Bateau, Portrait and Cowl Neck, are also flattering.

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The Angular Face

The angular face needs curves to balance out the angles. These can come in a variety of neckline styles, such as the Scoop Neck, Sabrina, Sweetheart and Cowl Neck styles. The triangle, inverted triangle and diamond shape face all fall under the Angular Face category, as do those individuals with a Square Face.

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The Oval Face

The oval face can wear generally any look, as it’s already balanced.

Source: greatestlook.com

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Here are other examples of necklines and face shapes:

S/S 2011: Another Storyboard

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Janice

Spring 2011 Storyboard: Navy and Pink

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Janice

The best thing about sewing your own clothes is that you decide the trends, palette, and what you will want to make for yourself based on styles that flatter you (as opposed to flatting the masses).

I made a quick storyboard for possible projects for Spring 2011. Since I plan to sew a season ahead, this would be in progress right now. I picked the items of clothing that most closely matched fabric type, cut, or color, and thus the details in the storyboard aren’t entirely accurate.

Items I already own:

navy cotton poplin skirt (sewn last year)

pink cotton floral blouse (represented by polka-dot blouse, sewn last year)

white cotton floral blouse (already owned)

brown cardigan (already owned)

brown oxfords (already owned)

Items to make:

Anne Adams scalloped dress (in progress)

violet or pink skirt suit

navy gabardine pants

white cotton blouse

Items to buy:

camel trench coat

My Work Capsule: Fall/Winter

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Janice

The idea behind capsule dressing has been around for awhile now. Take 3 basic bottoms, 3 basic tops, and add accessories and you could be dressed in five minutes.

Since I’ve been making most of my own clothes for this past year with a few notable exceptions (tights and undergarments), I’ve already been dressing this way without knowing it. I wanted to streamline my next few sewing projects so they’re practical and efficient. I put together a basic work capsule for fall/winter:

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3 Basic Bottoms:
+ black pencil skirt (already made)
+ black wide-legged trousers
+ black wool 1940s gored skirt

3 Basic Tops:
+ black lace blouse (already have)
+ black fitted cardigan x2, plain and beaded (already have the plain)
+ black fitted bustier top or silk with lace tank top (already have)

Accessories:
+ black/white spectator shoes (already have)
+ black rounded toe ankle boot (already have)
+ thin black leather belt (already have)
+ vintage-looking pins (already have, but don’t wear)

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Since I’ve been dressing this way already, I already have more than half of the items from this list. I have a few vintage-looking pins already but never take the time to incorporate them into my wardrobe. This would effectively break up the all-black monotony and give each outfit something unique. Based on this capsule idea, here are my conclusions:

Things I need to make:
+ black wool 1940s gored skirt
+ black wool wide-legged 1940s style trousers

Things I need to buy:
+ black beaded cardigan

Sewing Inspiration: Sears Catalogue, 1960s

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Janice

These are some excerpts from the 1960 Sears Fall and Winter Catalogue. I’m usually drawn to looks earlier than 1960, but this could work for a mid- to late- ’50s look as well.

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