Go Mad with the Fabric

This the sort of DIY project where you just sort of have question marks going over your head when faced with metres of satin and not a lot of ideas.  No plans.  Just dive right into it and delve into the material with your hands creating ruching, shame and structure in the manner of moulding the satin like plasticine.  I did however have something a little Lanvin-esque with emphasis on the back detailing, intricacies that Osman Yousefzada also likes to take into account when thinking of the backs. 

So with an old Dorothy Perkins charity shop purple dress as the victim base, the navy satin snaked its way around the dress all in one piece (*snort* as if I have any skill/patience to be cutting things into complex patterns….), starting with a slightly pleated collar at the front, cascading around the back into a cape structure.  Then with some nips, tucks and origami-like folds, the navy satin ends its journey at the bottom hem at the back of the dress.  I do seem to have this thing at the moment for dramatic backs with silly fantasies of running away into the night leaving nothing but an image of the back.

This isn’t going to be one of those dresses saved for special occasions either as I’m quite determined to wear my favourite colour combination at the moment ; navy and purple out with matching tights (navy OR purple depending on the mood and footwear) with a navy beret on the head and also perhaps layered over a long sleeved navy striped top.  In particular, standing on top of Primrose Hill is where I want to be in this dress gazing at the uneven/unpretty skyline of London (much like the dress….. conventionally un-pretty but having a life of it’s own nonetheless….)

The ruffled collar can be worn tucked in at one shoulder, all out or tucked at both shoulders.  What is with my obsession with multi-way garments…. it’s just so damn greedy….

Nothing much at the front…. but it’s all in the back…. now there’s a sight of me that is much easier on the eye…

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26 comments

  2. great idea for the dress. having all the detailing in the back is working! i’m loving the shoes!

  4. Nice job, Susie! Particularly since purple and blue go amazingly well together, esp. the two shades you’ve combined in the dress.
    The back reminds me a bit of a superhero cape, though- is it all sewn to the dress or is enough of it free to billow out in a breeze/something of that sort?

  6. It looks amazing. Well done!
    P.S. I got my vintage bathing suit. Little did I know that it was Cole of California as well! My boss says its from the 1920s, but I think it’s from the 1950s. It only cost me ¬£15! I’m really pleased 😀
    I also managed to buy myself a lovely tailcoat for ¬£30. Score! I love working at a costume shop…

  8. That is way cool!
    I’d buy it!
    You should be more involved in fashion. Put your skills to use ^_^

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  17. Stunning. Can’t believe you made that. you are very talented. i would pay for that!!

  18. hi susie.
    Thats sooo coool.
    MOst designers/design students dont pay nearly enough attention to the back. Myself included. You have a really good eye for drape too, something I myself never make the time to improve.
    I love this dress.. Im totally in awe..
    xo

  19. why are you so freaking talented?! omg i love that cape thing! i’d so buy it if you decide to sell it ><

  20. Thanks for all the lovely comments and for saying you’d pay for the dress (you do mean with Monopoly money right?)
    Drusilla: The cape is sewn to the back of the dress but not all the way down so that it billows out in parts…
    buttonsandstars: I’m indeed envious of your buys! Costume shops are fantastic…which one is that you work in?
    Stella: The pumps are actually more taupe than grey… they’re Yves Saint Laurent and my mother bought them for me.
    The Stiletto Effect: I’ve actually already been tagged and I already named 5 other blogs… does this mean I have to name another 5?
    http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/2007/08/rockin-girls.html

  21. this is fantastic ! i would never have the guts to wear it out though…
    keep it up(:

  22. I work in one in Nottingham called the Golden Cage. I believe they have a website, but it’s not very good.
    If you’re interested, I have a few pictures up on my blog of my purchases! I took some inspiration from you with the bathing suit worn over tights!

  23. the dress looks fab at the startin i wasn’t sure but by the end i was converted and it also looks great on you.
    p.s you’ve made me want to go out and look for a little sewing machine and start learning to sew.

  24. I like it, but I don’t like the color of the colar-thing with the dress. I think it (the colar-thing) would look better with a dark gray or black dress.

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