I’ve made a new trench coat; a riotously floral-tastic, blowsy English rose of a trench coat. As soon as I spotted this print I was smitten! delightfully old-fashioned, vaguely reminiscent of Granny’s china cabinet and a wholly unabashed celebration of spring-time. Because that’s what it finally is now… SPRING!!!
This very thing, by which I mean an over-the-top floral trench coat, is a thing I’ve had percolating in my mental wish-list for aaaages, ever since I first laid eyes on the floral trenches by Burberry from a few years back. I originally bought this paler pink magnolias floral fabric to make the trench coat but got distracted and made that dress instead, obviously! Anyway, a little after I finished that dress, I still really really wanted my imagined floral trench coat, so I bought some more floral sateen. And I’ve finally made it!
Pattern; McCalls 5525 view E, the view with all the bells and whistles. The only things I left off were the flap thingies over the pockets, because I didn’t have enough buttons for them!
Fabric; a floral cotton sateen, from Spotlight. The trench is fully lined with pure white cotton poplin, also from Spotlight, and the buttons… the buttons! – are totally gorgeous vintage ones that I’ve had for about ten years. I was actually the lucky person to get them in a Secret Santa pressie swap at a very early Burda sewing community meet-up, way back in 2010? I think?
I had only 11; they are a deep bottle green, possibly made from Bakelite or something very similar. I’ve been looking out for yeeeeeers for the the perfect project for them and I thought this trench coat was it… they are in fact a perfect colour match for the deep teal-y/ocean-green of the foliage in the print. However! now they’re all stitched on, I’m not completely sure the fabric was the right choice for them after all? ahhhh, the agony of high, followed by unattained, hopes and expectations! The thing is; the busy busy busy colourful print, while it is really gorgeous and I LOVE it! it really just swallows up the impact of those buttons and at any distance you can hardly see them on there at all. They just disappear. As in, buttons, what buttons? I can’t seen any glorious buttons!! The fact that they are beautifully profiled, and slightly marbled, and vintage, well, you’d never know. So, I’m just thinking, maybe? I should substitute them for some plain buttons, and save my exquisite vintage buttons for another project – another, different trench coat, something in a solid colour where the buttons can really be allowed to shine? Hmmm….
the one under the collar is not one of the original set, it’s a modern, plastic, flatter one…
Making a coat is always an activity that brings me huge amounts of joy and satisfaction, and this one did too, keeping me blissfully pottering away the whole time I was working on it. Constructing all the little bits and bobs that go into a trench coat, like the tabs, the collar, putting in the sleeves and bagging out a lining is enormously fulfilling to me, just about as enjoyable as any project I can think of. I’m totally in zen mode, throughout. As it happens, I’m perfectly happy with all the construction details of this one; all my seams and sleeve insertion and symmetry of the tabs and collar, the walking vent, topstitching, and the neatness of my buttonholes and all that jazz all worked out exactly as I hoped, and I’m very pleased with all this.
for some reason, this arrowhead tab on the collar stand is always an especially pleasing detail to me!
So that’s all super good and satisfactory. However?! I have to admit to a little frisson of disappointment at the halfway point of making this coat, at about the point when the body was together, and I slung it over Bessie and took a step back to have a first look… and, oh dear. See, I had barely enough fabric to cut out my trench, and in fact several pieces are pieced together! Which ones? oooh, I’ll never tell!!! See if you can see the seams! But that’s not the problem here, after all, piecing is something I’ve done in a lot of garments because of lack of fabric and I’m perfectly ok with doing that when I have to…. The thing is, I really had to be clever about laying out the pattern pieces to have any hope at all of getting the coat cut out, and I did some very premature self back-patting when I managed to lay out the pieces. Because the way the print has turned out on the finished coat is just not good. Specifically; the front is quite a lot “busier” than the back, and I wish I could have been switched-on enough to see that while I was juggling those pattern pieces but sadly, I did not. The front and the back are to my eye almost like two completely different coats, which is very sad-making (please excuse my little Evelyn Waugh-ism there…)
It’s definitely not as obvious when the coat is worn open, like this; which to be honest is how I was planning to wear it most of the time anyway.
I can’t do anything about the unbalanced “busy-ness” of the print; but as far as the button issue goes, well I’m gonna wear it for a while and sleep on it, but button-switching may just happen sometime down the track.
I’ll just see how it goes for a while. The coat is quite lovely to wear, and perfectly comfy, well-fitting, and I did pour myself into making it well. Oh well. I’ll give it a crack! Quite often, early dissatisfactions I have with a project evaporate a little bit down the track when I look at it one day and kinda go, what was I worried about? I adore the overall vibe of my trench coat, how it looks when worn both belted closed and open are both very pleasing to me, and as usual, wearing a coat always makes me feel amaaaaaazing, no matter what! Sometimes, well, very occasionally really, I have a tiny little wish we lived in a climate which was more conducive to coats? But not very often really. Like, hardly ever, to be honest 😉 #devotedtotheaussiesummer
I am mostly planning to wear it casually and glamorously open, like I’m wearing it here with my white Inari tee dress, I’m actually rather thrilled at how super swish this combo looks, and feels! I’m even thinking this could be my Christmas soiree outfit over the upcoming festive season? Maybe!!
Details:
Coat; McCalls 5525, cotton sateen, lined with cotton poplin
Dress; Named patterns Inari tee dress, white stubby cotton, details here
Heels; Zomp, from Zomp boutique
also looks pretty good when accessorised with a dog… mmm? sorry, I couldn’t resist roping her in for just one picture!
From the bottom of my heart – oh, wow! How I wish someone would make that coat for me! Beautiful and elegant and I love it with the white dress.
aw, thank you so much Carmela! that’s such a lovely thing to say 🙂
No one, and I mean NO ONE will ever notice that the front is “busier” than the back. If you hadn’t called my attention to it I wouldn’t have seen it and my eye usually spots those things immediately. The coat is gorgeous!
thank you so much Peter! I guess we’re always our own worst critics 🙂
WOW! That is one fantabulous garment! Enjoy every moment. And I love the print, besides. So much more cheerful than khaki or black. Well done!
thank you very much! 🙂
Fabulous! and what a lovely print. confession-I’m generally not a fan of trench coats. I know, I know they are so popular and people seem to love to make them but I dunno, they seem so utilitarian and thus not fun.Plus often beige, my nemesis. But this one is FUN and absolutely gorgeous. Now I want a floral coat!
thank you so much Beth! I can totally see you in a floral trench coat… please make one!
I think your coat is perfect as is! You could always leave the buttons on but if you ever find another garment where they would work better then change them out. Bet you won’t though!
thanks Louisa! and haha, you’re probably right! That elusive perfect project may continue being just that… !
I love your coat! (So funny, some days ago, I thought about this pattern.) The fabric is beautiful and I even like the „unbalanced“ print. It is not unbalanced to the eye and flowers in gardens aren‘t balanced like a print. The wonderful buttons are emphasizing the high quality of the coat even if only visible at second sight. I would keep them. If some day you find another project where they would be perfect, you can change them very quickly. I wish you some other slightly cool days so you can wear this great coat!
thank you very much SaSa! You have always the loveliest way of putting things, I like the thought of that, that a flower garden is not at all perfectly balanced itself either. I will think of it that way… Thank you!
Beautifully done! and I vote for leaving the buttons on it. That coat deserves great buttons, you will always see them when you wear it.
thank you Julie! 🙂
Your trench is a thing of beauty, I wish I could sew as well as you do (but I’m enjoying the process!)
thank you very much Emma! 🙂
Today I wore my boring tan trenchcoat because it was a warm sunny day, but it will be fall soon and get too cold for it. And then I see this … I love, love, love this coat even if it’s not my style at all (I’m not a flowery person, alas …). Just love to see it on your pictures. And concerning the buttons – even if they don’t stick out as expected, I’d leave them on. Because they add to the charm of the coat, I guess. Kudos from Germany.
thank you so much Ulla! I love tan trench coats too, although it’s been a long time since I’ve worn mine. But I will always love it. And they’re incredibly useful as well as smart and stylish 🙂
It’s absolutely stunning, the perfect spring coat. Honestly the print placement that is bothering you is only noticeable when you look at the front and back side by side which no one is going to be doing!
thank you Alison! I guess I have been looking at it way too intently and critically 🙂
I honestly didn’t notice the print discrepancy until the side by side pictures! It’s a lovely spring coat, and I agree that all those little tailoring details are sooooo satisfying.
thank you very much Becky!
Oh, I love this coat and think the subtle differences between the front and the back only add to the interest! Please enjoy wearing it. It is such a happy coat that it will put a smile on others’ faces when they see you coming (or going).
thank you Angela! that’s such a sweet thing to say 🙂 it does always put a smile on my face to see a lovely floral print, so I hope mine does that for others too 🙂
This is a stunning trench and yells spring/summer to all of us. There is no one that will notice the unbalanced print, you can’t see the front and back of someone when you see them and even side on it would not be obvious. I also know how you feel about it, I would be the same, so enjoy your fabulous trench.
thank you very much Sharon 🙂
Love it and does anyone ever see the front and back at the same time?
thank you Anna! I guess for me, seeing it rotating on my mannequin, it did stand out, but I accept that not everyone is looking for the flaws like I tend to do in my own things! it’s silly, I know 🙂
ABSOLUTELY LOVE it !
thank you so much Daisy! xx
It is beautiful.
thank you very much Kay 🙂
Looks gorgeous and if you live in the UK you can never have enough coats!
thank you Alice! Yes, sometimes I wish the same applied here… UK friends say how their coats are their most worn garments, while here a coat might only get worn once or twice a year! It’s rather sad!
So so beautiful! I love all the little details and the drama of the floral!
I think I need to work on making a more extensive range of outerwear, who wants to wear the same coat every day?!
thank you Fiona… and I like how you’re thinking! It would be fun to have lots of different coats, not to mention the fun of making them!
That coat is SOOOO beautiful. I’d love to have one, please. I do see what you’re saying about the busy-ness front and back, but probably wouldn’t have noted it as a concern if you hadn’t pointed it out. I would have thought that was intentional. I’m envious of your skill and taste!
thank you so much Carole! that’s such a lovely kind thing to say 🙂
I like the print discrepancy.
thank you Alison! I’m glad to hear that 🙂
That, lovely lady, is a thing of beauty! I adore it!
aw, thank you so much Diane 🙂 xx
Stunning ! This pattern suits you so well.
thank you very much, miss agnes; and I have to say, I love your name! 🙂
Oh my word, it’s gorgeous!!!! And your skin tone and hair just make it come to life. Oh, to be a fair ginger. 🙂
thank you so much Yvonne!
Don’t beat yourself up! That trench is a thing of beauty and the only comments you will ever get will be of admiration – never any about unbalanced busyness!
(Why are seamstresses always so darn hard on themselves?!)
thank you Kim! and yes, I know; I hate it when seamstresses are too hard on themselves too. But I think it’s almost impossible to avoid completely , we just can’t help it!
Your trench coat is stunning!! I just adore the floral print, and nobody would give a second thought as to whether or not the front/back pattern is balanced. Beautiful!
thank you very much Lisa!
It’s a beaut on its own and utterly gorgeous with the white dress. If and when you find some other buttons that are just perfect for the coat, don’t change what you have. But save them for another garment if your coat ever wears out. I’ll bet you get a lot of wear from it – don’t roses go with everything?
thank you so much Barbara! and yes, roses are the most beautiful flower, in my opinion. Definitely go with everything! 🙂 xxx
Wear that beautiful coat every chance you get and never again mention that the print volume is different on the front and back. You did a great job and it is gorgeous!
thank you Nancy! yes, I think maybe it’s quite annoying when we are very hard on ourselves 🙂
I really love this, perfect pairing of pattern and fabric! And I also like the print discrepancy – it makes it look more like real flowers and less like a sofa, which is a danger with this type of large print (and which you totally avoided). I showed this to my 17 year old (who is also named Clara ) and she said, “Now, THAT is pretty. You should make me that.” Uh oh.
thank you Rebecca! I love the idea that it looks more realistic, unbalanced, thank you! And from my own experiences of having a teenage daughter, once upon a time; I’m so very flattered that your 17 yr old said that to you, that’s a HUGE compliment!!!
What a beautiful coat! I also like how there’s more flowers in front, kind of like a Doppler effect in print, when you walk by…
haha, thank you Alessa! The power of diminishing returns, in floral trench coat form … 😉
Don’t be silly!! Its perfect. Good luck to anyone who can look at the back and the front at the same time. Beautifully done.
Thank you! but hmmm, what if I was standing in front of mirror….? but ha; yes you are so right, I’m being silly. 🙂
What a wonderful coat! I have a floral coat but the other day I slung it in the car incase it got chilly and then realised I had floral trousers on!! I looked a little interesting in town that day. Jo x
thank you Joanne! I’ll be you looked absolutely fantastic! and made everyone happy that saw you… Flower power!
Just beautiful!
thank you Coco! 🙂
Your trench is so beautiful. A stunning piece of brilliance!!
Please don’t worry about the pattern differences, no one will care about it.
thank you Alison! and yes, you are are probably right 🙂
A beautiful, happy coat.
thank you very much Kathy! 🙂
Magnificent superb, funkcilliuncious!!
This is fun, chic, timeless, ageless and perfect. Love it so!
Gloriously gorgeous coat! The floral looks fantastic in this style and Clara’s ‘coat’ is equally as lovely.
Niemand und ich, niemand wird jemals sehen, dass die Front “belebter” als die Rückseite ist. Wenn Sie nicht darauf hingewiesen hätten, hätte ich es nicht gesehen, und mein Auge erkennt diese Dinge in der Regel sofort. Der Mantel ist exquisit. Für den Fall, dass Sie diese kaufen müssen, sollten Sie Modasto.de besuchen. Sie geben die besten Angebote für diese Gegenstände. Sie können dazu auch Ihre Begleiter vorschlagen.