Why a pale pink skirt,
I hear you cry?
why not a pale pink skirt,
is my reply.
Poetry. Nailed it.
Sorry. I’m in a silly mood and obviously having trouble thinking of intelligent-sounding stuff to write…
Ok. So, at the beginning of the year I pledged to sew five items from my vintage patterns… this latest effort is my first; woot!
The pattern is Vogue 1384, a 1984 Issey Miyake design. 30 years old is pretty “vintage” yeah? yup I reckon so.
I’m slightly amused at myself that I signed up actually since a few years ago I was so allergic to the very word “vintage” and could not hear it without an involuntary eye roll. I was like, o gawd, so done-to-death!! I should say I wasn’t against any thing vintage, in itself, in fact I love antiques, and old things. It was just the word “vintage”. Hehehe. I must be mellowing somewhat.
Anyhoo, back to The Thing: my cool new skirt. Or should I say, my skirt of a very very cool design. As we can usually expect from Issey Miyake, it a quite unique, intriguing and interesting approach to a skirt; being a few oddly shaped rectangles cut, spliced and resewn together at seemingly random places, and boom; you end up with an asymmetric skirt. Fabulousity!
I know, and I agree; creations made from “vintage” patterns can be a little annoying to read about on blogs, thanks to the patterns being so rare and hard to come by. Not very helpful; and sorta inspirational rather than aspirational. I’m sorry!
I used a heavenly soft pink poly crepe from Fabulous Fabrics, the same fabric I used for my other Sea Change top. So the two make another matching skirt/top set, should I desire to wear them together. But I think it will go with lots of other tops in my wardrobe too.
The pink poly crepe is on the sheer side, so I lined my skirt with ivory polyacetate fabric. I managed to cut the lining as just one piece: I worked out how to do this after sewing the skirt pieces together and could see how the skirt “worked”, so to speak. I spliced the skirt pieces together at the relevent joining points and marked and sewed in the waist shaping darts at the top. It ended up looking kinda like a big quarter-doughnut shape. Then I just included it in with the skirt when sewing on the waistband at the top. Simple dimple.
The waistband is of matching, pale pink silk dupion, also from Fabulous Fabrics. I chose this because it is nicely stiff, inflexible and very stable, which is really good in a waistband for a skirt like this. While the floaty, ripply, slithery poly crepe is really lovely for the skirt part of the skirt, it is not the slightest bit stable. And this is very much a waist-defining skirt design, for which a structurally sound waistband is imperative.
Some skirts are loose and flowy all over and are ok sitting low on the hips in a casual bohemian way; others need support, and the waistband is it. This design is firmly in the latter category.
Summary:
What do I love: the asymmetric shape, and the random waterfall-y ruffle-y thing falling down into a handkerchief like hem at the front. Divinely floaty fabric in the heavenliest soft pale pink.
What don’t I love; it’s nearly winter here and I’m going to have to put it away for a few months. Boooo!
OK, I have nothing else remotely intelligent to add; so, until next time, amigos!
Details:
Top; the loose drape top, modified, from drape drape by Hisako Sato, linen cotton jersey. I discovered a little hole while I was putting this on this morning, aaagh! Immediate emergency darning ensued! I love this top!
Skirt; Vogue 1384, pale pink poly-crepe
Cardigan; I also wore my calico cotton cardigan today…
Sandals; Zomp, from Zomp shoe boutique
So soft, airy and feminine looking! Truly a unique design. I am starting to tip to the side of vintage patterns myself. Style never gets old.
Elegant and stunning
very lovely, and I bet it looks great when you are walking, floating away. I'm not much of a vintage maker as well, although the other day I came across a very old Michael Kors pattern in my stash (he did for Style brand patterns, anyone remember those?) and it looks perfectly timeless. As does your skirt.
I made a suit from one of those Michael Kors patterns in the late 80's. OMG, the shoulders!
Funny to think that postmodern Japanese designers are now vintage. Certainly, nothing contemporary seems more modern than this! It's gorgeous! I love how it beautifully combines flow and structure, softness and hard edges, but that also has a lot to do with the lovely fabric you chose.
It's gorgeous and the pink is perfect (in my frivolous fantasy sewing list is a pale pink tulle skirt). I love reading about vintage projects – there's seems to be so much more variation in details, design ideas and construction methods in vintage patterns compared to modern patterns. Yes, often teasingly inspirational but sometimes one just has to accept we can't have or make all the things!
You made a very beautiful almost fairy-like skirt! I wouldn't have guessed it was vintage. Damn… pattern no longer available I suppose! I looks lovely on you. I like the front drape in particular and that it doesn't have a zip but is buttoned.
oh i love this skirt on you! so breezy and pin in such a pale, good way! i am devising ways to copy this design 😉
So feminine, after your 'mannish style' pants! 🙂 It looks lovely on you.
Love it Carolyn. That fabric is a perfect match, it looks so dreamy & romantic
Carolyn this is breathtaking! I think pale pink was an inspired colour choice!
Absolutely gorgeous!
What a wonderful skirt! Absolutely beautiful.
I could never have imagined that such a beautiful, ethereal skirt could come from that pattern envelope. Just lovely.
I love that skirt on you, the way it just cascades is stunning
I love this lovely, floaty, elegant and etheral outfit! The colour underlines the light lines very beautifully.
It's so gorgeous!
Pink looks good on you and the design of the skirt is fabulous. Well done!
Wonderful skirt and the top is perfect with it.
So pretty and feminine, love it!
It looks great, just the right kind of vintage I'd say … so much better than the pattern envelope 🙂
such a gread skir! so simple and so interesting.. i wish i can steal it from you 🙂
Simple dimple? whahoozilly doozilly gaa!! Zomp? Another good word.
I think "lining" and I break out in a sweat.
Asymmetry is my thing lately so of course I particularly like the skirt, pattern like a puzzle.
Beautiful!
I think what is scary about the word vintage is that it now refers to our old collection of patterns that still seem young to us, and we still seem young to us…. I love that you have chosen something that is not the run of the mill vintage – it's really pretty and still looks as good now as it did back then…
Adore! I reckon you could make a winter version out of wool crepe. This is an excellent skirt.
Pretty darn cool. I especially like the contrast provided by the waistband relative to the floaty material below.
Just beautiful and so stylish.
Asbestos fence behind you? – hope there are no cracks/breaks to allow fibres to escape.
Yah for Issey and yah to you! Simply beautiful.
It's so very modern looking you'd never guess it was a vintage pattern. Until you look at the pattern envelope. 80's styling or what?
Haha! I guess I'm still an 80's girl at heart, since I actually love the envelope styling too!
So "glamour"… very nice. KISS
Gorgeous, Carolyn!!
What a great skirt – love the color!
Beautiful skirt Carolyn!
You vision is inspiring. Such a beautiful skirt.
So pretty! It's almost vintage in a 20s/30s sort of way. The waterfall is awesome.
So pretty! It's almost vintage in a 20s/30s sort of way. The waterfall is awesome.
Really cool make. Have you made the top?
thanks BMGM! I haven't yet, but I plan to 🙂
Lovely skirt and I do like the pink! Yours is so much nicer than the original.
I can't tell you how disturbing it is that "vintage" covers things that came into existence when I was in kindergarden. KINDERGARDEN!!!
That, and my general dislike of pastel pink, aside, you've done a stellar job on it. The pink and the soft floaty cut suits you and your wardrobe to the ground.
Haha, I know, right?… Me? vintage? NEVER!!!
What a great skirt! Such cool construction, too! And it looks really fresh even though the pattern is a couple of years younger than me. Gives me hope that I am still looking fresh too! 😛
in love. that is all.
Haha, I am somehow allergic to the word "vintage" too. A time ago everything was vintage! I think it got a little better with time and so I can now appreciate your beautiful vintage skirt! I just love how it floats and the color is perfect and beautiful! 🙂
Such a pretty feminine skirt. Beautiful!
Stunning! You look so elegant.
I really want to make your sewing patterns so I’ll be sure to follow your advice when I try it.
This is so lovely and looks so modern! It's hard to believe it's from a vintage pattern 🙂
The Everyday Life of Rachel
Very interesting skirt and will be prefect when summer arrives.
What an amazing and beautiful skirt! Funny that vintage is only 30 years old, that means that clothes from the mid-eighties are already vintage. Yikes!
Oh dear, I remember that pattern well from the first time around. The shirt is nice, too, and would make a pretty beach cover-up in something gauzy (sans the big cargo pockets).
Beautiful! I love the color. It's just the slightest whisper of pink. So pretty!
It looks lovely on you! I like your use of the different fabrics.
It looks lovely on you! I like your use of the different fabrics.
No way to edit remarks… so I'll repost.
I'm late to this discussion, but must add in my 2cents… here in the USA, "vintage" Miyake patterns are selling for up to $75 !! My goodness. But of course, they're timeless in their uniqueness and construction. Your 1384 is one of my favorites. I'm fortunate enough to have a dozen or so of his patterns [not yours, however] from the 80's and early 90's, but have only made up 6 items… a wonderful oversized raincoat, a vest, a tailored jacket, two shirts [ twice for one] and a shirt jacket. I'm now inspired to try another. Given their collectibility, I'll trace off the pattern pieces, preserving the original tissues…not that I'm selling my patterns.
Your choice of fabric was inspired. It's not what was suggested on the pattern envelope, but you made it yours. The lining idea was brilliant.
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