BEFORE
(If you believe in the sanctity of a traditional vintage tartan jacket, leave this post right now!)
I bought this vintage wool jacket by Skirtmaker of Canada for only $5 at My Sister's Closet a few months ago. As I walked by, it poked me and said: PUNK! Never mind that it was much too huge on me - to close it, the front flaps overlapped the pockets - I had to have it. We'll just see who's the punk here.
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| O took these photos. The green stripes are painter's tape which I used during the ideas phase. Turnip Head kept jumping on O's back and laughing. |
The wool fabric was beautiful, except for there being so much of it, and I loved the padded linebacker shoulders, cuffed sleeves, stiff interfacing, silky red lining, and matched seams. But as is, all this jacket was good for was taunting me. I couldn't ignore its punk pulse!
Then finally I had an idea; rather, I had a bout of bravado with scissors.
AFTER
Much better...aaah. I ran straight to the alley. And I didn't use my camp stool this time.
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| Love this camera angle. |
This isn't your cup of tea? Perhaps you'd like something shaken and stirred. Like my Everest-best hair.
Details: This whole outfit was probably less than $30. Bwahaha.
- origami tartan wool jacket, upcycled, thrifted for $5
- thrifted black jeans, $5
- thrifted Steve Madden army boots, I don't remember, $15?
- thrifted white GAP large T-shirt, $5
- gifted magic loupe
I've got my late-seventies/early-eighties Vivienne Westwood groove on, especially with the peaky hair, which gave a stellar performance for my shoot, even in the wind - a woman asked me how I keep it so vertical so she could tell her son. Heh.
Probably I couldn't replicate the jacket design again if I tried. There was serious origami work going on to achieve the asymmetrical design.
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| Rear belt flaps as front straps, buttons near shoulders, reconfigured lapel on left, asymmetrical closure. |
The original rear belt was transformed into two front straps and I sewed the pocket flaps onto the back of the jacket as embellishment. I didn't reduce the width, merely sewed two button just under the shoulder and folded and darted and hacked as needed.
I also transferred an existing buttonhole from the cut-off fabric to the end of one of the front straps (left side in photo); it was easier than making a brand new matching buttonhole, at least for me. What a slacker!
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| Decorative pocket flaps. |
Below the collar is down, but I think I prefer it up.
I thought of making the profile more body-hugging, then decided, nah, I like that bag effect. And I thought of hanging chains from the hem, but, no, that would be too prosaic. But I did feel like doing the pogo.
The alley here was busy. I wanted to say, in a very ladylike voice: Excuse me, sir, can you not FRIGGIN' SEE I'M PHOTOGRAPHING MY NEW JACKET HERE!!?? Nyunh, puh.
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| Accidental snap when a van had the audacity to photo bomb my set. |
I'm so happy I could share this with you. That's one of the great things about blogging that keeps me going.
I'm hooking this Jacket-I-Love-So-Much to Patti's Visible Monday. It didn't have much of a pulse, but it was certainly "not dead yet style". I need to see what you're wearing!
And below, one final styling I wore today.
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| Breakdancing? Doh, wrong era. (photo was rotated, floor removed) |
This outfit cost $15, minus the shoes: thrifted t-shirt $5, thrifted mod-ish wool maxi vintage skirt (with a new zipper) $5, jacket $5, magic loupe gift, thrifted shoes maybe $15.
Okay, that's all. It was a big post. It was a big jacket. I'm working hard at the moment and had to resort to the concrete box. Better than nothing I guess.
Have you got clothes taunting you? How do you shut them up!!?
