Despite the bold colours, this outfit feels very conservative. The overall shape has a boxy, priggish quality which makes me feel very sophisticated, like I'm in Paris wearing couture, like, you can tell I'm filthy rich because my outfit is so boxy. I wore my mod sunglasses to tart it up and went barelegged. It is hot! And of course I carried my flirty little toolbox handbag O gave me, former home of his Starrett height gauge.
Wearing: thrifted vintage '50ish floaty fitted sleeveless dress under a thrifted blouse, thrifted D&G heels, magic loupe from O, thrifted vintage sunglasses, vintage Tissot mechanical watch, gift from O.
I'm heading over to Patti's at Not Dead Yet Style to get soused. After all, it's Visible Monday and we need to celebrate. See you there. Will you be the one who's shaken or stirred?
And this next bit is for Anne of SpyGirl. Her 52-Pick-me-up prompt is Fairy Tale - she has the best prompts. This is my fairy tale.
Voila! Grushenka is my magic wand.
You've seen this jacket before but I've added back and sleeve detailing. I'm extremely pleased with the way the oval patch came out on the back. I took a photo of a decrepit gas pump, printed it onto transfer paper, ironed the transfer onto white T-shirt fabric, cut it out, and then hot-glued it onto the jacket because I didn't want to puncture the fake snakeskin or deal with the jacket lining. I think this jacket upcycle is done now - it's tricky knowing when to stop. So ba-bye Armani Exchange. I like my version waaay better.
I think I'm coming down with that sewing bug that's going around...
Are you wearing that striped top/jacket in the top picture backwards? How very Kriss Kross of you! Yes, boxy = rich. It's that rigidity/richidity (see what I did?) just oozing out of it.
ReplyDeleteI adore your custom work. It's so cool. I wish I'd been in high school with you so that you could have drawn on my jeans.
Yes. I AM wearing that blouse backwards. Good eye. I would like to wear ALL my blouses backwards but some lend themselves to it more than others. People would wonder why I have darts on my back - sharp shoulder blades or mean friends...?
Deletewow, that's an amazing jacket, what interesting detail and work!
ReplyDeleteMarie @ In Our Happy Place
Yes, as Sheila states. Very Kriss Kross! Better than Paris couture! And the jacket is much better than Armani Exchange. Your creativity is contagious, even though I don't sew. So I will just be in a constant state of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteKiller jacket Mel! Now, does it come with air conditioning? Because if it does, then Grushenka isn't just magic, she's black magic. It's funny, but I totally agree with the boxy equals rich thought pattern.
ReplyDeleteShe's so boxy, you already know, she's classic and expensive. You don't get to touch. The magical,jacket is so wonderful. It is so perfectly you and ceci n'est pas une pipe, c'est un jacket. Love love love!
ReplyDeleteThat jacket is AMAZING. Wowowowow. I'm still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. Beautiful, beautiful work.
ReplyDelete"You can tell I'm filthy rich because my outfit is so boxy." LOL to that! I can tell you're fabulous because your outfit is so fun!
ReplyDeleteThat jacket just took your conservative, priggish look out to a dark smoky bar and bought it a few boilermakers! I hope it won't be too hungover in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI love your boxy look - Sponge Bob is still very in - and the pattern mixing and color matching. And that tough art girl on your jacket sleeve is adorable, in a tough-little-cookie kind of way. I'm sure there's a hidden meaning somewhere...
Oh my word, your fairy tale magic is absolutely incredible. If only you could cast your wand and banish the world of greige, cropped trousers and sturdy shoes.
ReplyDeleteYou do look very posh in your boxy blouse, I'd tap you up for a loan if I saw you. xxx
Ha, I am a bit thick and didn't know boxy=expensive. Why don't I know these things? Love the colours and pattern mix, but mostly, I am in awe of the artistic skills on display on your jacket (and the nod to Magritte!) Fabulous, dahhhhling! xxxx
ReplyDeleteAaaargh! So much gorgeousness, I can't tell you! I've missed your style and fabulous wit, Melanie. and that jacket? It should go to auction. Definitely Big Adore! xx
ReplyDeleteSooo coool. 'specially all together. You can draw on my leather anytime.
ReplyDeleteSo boxy, so Upper East Side, so pinkies out! Love your creations on the jacket. Thanks for ratcheting up the wealth factor at Visible Monday!
ReplyDeleteUber rich fox coming at ya look out! That jacket could be no it is the most stupendous thing you've created! I adore it's funk! Can you please just do that to all my leather jackets! Stay cool but it must be hard because you are so dam hot!
ReplyDeleteXxoo
I knew you were wearing that blouse backwards. Sneaky.
ReplyDeleteThat jacket is insane! I'm sure you will have people wanting to buy it off you.
bisous
Suzanne
Wow that 's a kick ass jacket, what a beauty! How long did you spend doing that marvel?
ReplyDeleteLove the image on the back - I should for sure get transfer paper to do my own tees and stuff -
Love your outfit too i love that you mixed stripes and flowers and yes you look fitlty stinking rich in that boxy outfit....;)
Hugs
Arianexo
I am in awe of your stylish, sophistication Melanie. Your stripes and floral outfit with sunglasses is a fab look and that jacket is just such a wonderful thing
ReplyDeleteOooo, Boxy Lady!
ReplyDeleteI gotta try drawing on my clothes. So far I have used a bleach pen to moderate success but I haven't just straight scribbled on something yet :) And...gluing...always better than sewing when you can get away with it!
hot glue? That patch will peal right off. Try using a glue called Fabric Tack next time. It's made for.....fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! Usually I would just sew but I didn't want to puncture the vinyl-ish material. I didn't think about peeling. I'll get some of that Fabric Tack, maybe peel and reattach...
DeleteYOU CAN TOTALLY TELL. Tarting sunglasses and flirty toolboxes complex up the rich-boxy just right. And oh, Grushenka, Grushenka!!! The magical spell she casts over the dreaded greige, the glorious transformation - ! Melanie, I want to live in your fairy tale!
ReplyDeleteYou've definitely caught the Norosewbug. Or, perhaps you started it! The jacket is incredible and I've never seen it before.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm on the rocks. Can you tell???
Honey, you can make 'conservative' look hip & hot like no one else ;-) But that jacket!!!! Ohmegoddess that jacket!!!! Lurve!
ReplyDeletewow!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed by the jacket!!!
And you are very right, it's not so easy to know when to stop.
That's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteomfg that jacket! The gas pump patch is incredible. I adore your boxy look, too!
ReplyDeleteFAN-FREAKING-TASTIC.
ReplyDeleteYou do indeed look highly sophisticated!
ReplyDeleteAnd you've done that once-grey jacket very proud indeed :)
you rock your 'conservative' outfit, (if conservative looks like that I want an extra dose of it!), but your revamped jacket has stolen my heart away, oh yes, bye bye heart!!, you're inspiring and cool and gorgeous in many ways I can express!!
ReplyDeletebesos & arte
The sewing bug seems to be quite consuming, there is no hope!! Grushenka is indeed truly magical, your jacket is incredible x x x
ReplyDeleteSo much awesomeness! I want a magic wand like that not for art but for sewing. I love the idea of sewing, or of what I could make, but I hate sewing. LOVE your boxy rich bitch outfit. It does look very chic and sleek in a boxy-sleek sort of way that can only be worn by people who are never too rich or too thin.
ReplyDeleteYour jacket is all sorts of amazifabulosity. I'm still holding out for the right thrift shop find to decorate, but no luck yet.
xoxoxo
HELLA AWESOME JACKET!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to start wearing my blouses/shirts backwards because the line of the collar is sooo much more flattering that way. You do look a bit boxy - I always associate those boxy little Chanel jackets with rich elderly women. Unfortunately, boxy-ness doesn't automatically generate wealth, which sucks.
ReplyDeleteI've got to hunt me down some of that transfer paper - how cool!!! You did a stellar job personalizing that jacket, and it makes you look creatively, imaginatively rich.
Well, yeah! Damn, yes! Best jacket in the universe. Any universe!
ReplyDeleteAnd you look rich because you are tall and beautiful and can wear these funking boxy pieces that were designed to drive us short, square women completely nuts.
Wait ... was this commentary you were making?
Okay.
Nevermind.
Still adore the jacket like the memory of a first love!
This has become the most perfect jacket. You are a true artist!! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also like your "conservative" outfit. Which is to be expected, being a conservative woman.
Greetje