Hello! I’ve made a cool new outfit! At least, I think it’s pretty cool, anyway. I think it’s got a strong 80’s vibe; it reminds me vaguely of what the dancers were wearing in Spandeau Ballet’s “To Cut a Long Story Short” video. Oh boy, that takes me back, it was such a favourite of mine.
The fabric is a beautiful wool mix boucle from Minerva…it’s lovely and soft, with a nice, slightly bubbly texture to it, and I love the strong red and green check on a black background. So cool! It did fray like mad, so my first step was to finish all the raw edges on my overlocker
For the skirt; I used an old pattern from the actual 80’s, Vogue 1834, and partially lined it with black silk, from my stash. I’ve made this skirt once before … it can be seen here
The top is the In The Folds Collins top pattern, which I’ve made twice before; here and here. I cut this from the scraps from the skirt, and only just managed to squeak out the pieces! thus the complete lack of pattern matching. This does annoy me a little bit, but actually I had no choice at the time.
When styling it, I decided I like the ensemble best when the top is tucked into the skirt, because otherwise the wide flared top overwhelmed the skirt, and you can’t see any details of it. And this is such a beautiful and unique skirt design! it really demands to be seen. I mean, the top is pretty cool too, but for me this outfit is all about the skirt.
Having said that, though; the top is still pretty cool too, and I really like it worn out over a mini skirt, like here. This is a simple little mini that I made a few years ago, using a tartan wool that I bought in Tokyo during our last holiday there… you know, back when we were allowed to travel *sob*
The beautiful wool fabric is stable and pliable, and was great to sew up but it did fray like mad, so my first step was to finish all the newly cut, raw edges on my overlocker… I also finished some of the raw edges inside the garments such as the bottom edge of the waistband, and the neckline of the top; using bright red, bias cut cotton… this was leftover from my own Yallingup dress that I made for myself here… Want to see a fun video on the making process of this ensemble? If so then that’s great! because I made one! and it can be seen here on my YouTube channel. 🙂 It also includes footage of me leaping about like a loon, so there’s that too…
I like how different the top is tucked in with the longer skirt and out over the mini.
Have just ordered some checked fabric for a skirt – quite possibly under your influence as it will be my first time wearing checks since high school I think… now I am wondering if I can squeeze out a top too.
Thank you for your blog Carolyn- I have been ‘dropping in’ from time to time for a while, but just did a steady read of a few years in a few weeks- so much exquisite work! And as a very novice sewer it is encouraging to see you try new things and improve too- and to see that you go back and change things- thanks for sharing the process as well as the perfection.
Thank you for making the youtube videos – I’ve been really enjoying watching how you finish your garments, for example remembering to switch top thread to match the red bias binding.