3.16.2012

color story


leeeeaaaattthhhhheeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

well here she is! (definitely a she) my draped leather jacket. this may be one of my favorite garments i've ever made. it just feels so good to wear! i wanted to wait to take these pictures until i finished this skirt (one of my "bonus" projects from my spring wardrobe). sometimes i get the outfit and the blog pictures in my mind and that alone dictates what i sew. for example: this exact outfit combination had to be paired with this particular abandoned-easter-egg-building with creepy blacked-out windows (once a strip club?). please tell me i'm not the only one that does this (the outfit/blog/picture planning - not posing like a dorkasaurus in front of sketchy abandoned buildings in shady parts of town. i know i'm not the only one that does that!)...



so...i figured a simple gathered dirndl skirt... should be able to whip it out one evening after work, right? no. no thats not right at all. because apparently i can tackle leather and hand tailoring and boning and all those things people think are "advanced" like it ain't no thang - but when it comes to the most basic skirt construction i'm totally flummoxed. flummoxed people!

i won't bore you with the details. just know that there were broken needles involved, a lot of swearing, and i kinda want to cry if i look at the waistband for too long. but no matter, thats what belts are for, amiright?! when its all said and done i actually don't particularly care that i've got a crooked waistband because really, this skirt is so fun to wear!!! all swishy and light. plus i really love the color. the entire time i was sewing it i was trying to place what the color reminded me of. well the entire time that wasn't consumed with shouting expletives! anyway, i kept conjuring up some flavor that i've linked to summer as a kid. and finally i placed it - its the exact color of watermelon bubblegum (bubblicious brand)! it may not look like it in the pictures, but trust me, watermelon bubblegum. these sensory associations don't lie. memories are so weird... now i think i can smell it...


i decided to take a page out of my sister's book and paired my leather jacket and silk skirt with a simple white t-shirt. well, my version of a white t-shirt. i made this about a year ago, its one of the patterns from the japanese drape drape books. not sure which one and frankly i'm too lazy to get up, walk over to my bookshelf, and thumb through them to find out (its friday, guys). so if anyone is burning of curiosity just shout it out in the comments and i guess i can take the five steps to figure it out for you...

regardless, its obviously a drapey t-shirt. i made it out of some slubby linen knit type stuff. and thats my bra underneath it. i'm probably wearing underpants underneath my skirt too. i think...

edit: haha!! i just realized it looks like i'm wearing a teeny purple hat in this picture... good god, what was i thinking...

okay, i'm obviously in a bit of a goofy mood and should probably cut it off here before this really starts going down the toilet (pffft! toilets!) i've already typed more random sentences about my underwear and i want to quit while i still have the good sense to delete them.

truthfully, i think i'm out of things to say since i already covered so much of the construction stuff in my last post. have no fear though, i have some up close detail shots of the jacket innards and stitchery and such coming, but i gotta space out the good stuff!

xx

45 comments:

  1. It turned out lovely! After a long project I have to concentrate hard on (i.e. rip a million seams out of, maybe cry a little) I get a little loopy so no worries on the underwear stuff! We get it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Crazy fabulous. The draped front and cropped length are just perfect. I especially like the elbow length sleeves. Really, really beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Both of them turned out great!

    And I feel totally weird that I know that building. There are a limited number of distinctively colored buildings on the island, I suppose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its definitely a building that draws my eye! Plus I walk by it a lot on my way to get a muffaletta from Maceo's!

      Delete
  4. I'm officially appointing you as my hand-made wardrobe style icon. Amazing combo, you must be pleased as punch that it turned out as you imagined.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know, you have pretty great style yourself! I am pleased with how it turned out - i like wearing both pieces a lot! Thank you.

      Delete
  5. I LOVE it all. The jacket is going to be a go to I know it. And the exposed zipper on the skirt is just an added bonus. You have such amazing style.
    ps thanks for the bright lipstick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kelli! The exposed zipper was a bit of a "happy accident" I only had a jeans zipper on hand so I just went with it. I DO like how it looks - but it was also the source of much of my headache (broken needle. ahem.)

      Also I'm really glad I read your post about the bright lipstick article in the WSJ that morning - totally helped my outfit! And I still think your mention in the article is the coolest thing ever!

      Delete
  6. beautiful job! It's funny - even before you said watermelon bubblegum, I was thinking the same thing. Those sunglasses are so cute too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. wooo, this is just so perfect--great combo. And what a luscious, beautiful jacket! I love the coloring, everything. (Yay, cherry lipstick!) I understand the sensory thing--I can smell colors. It's weird. And no, you are not dorkasaurus... It's awesome to play a character in your own drama and plan out the stage. At least that's what my man keeps telling me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your man is smart! Taking pictures of yourself is really a strange thing - I figure I've just got to go all out and pretend like I'm famous or something - otherwise I just end up looking awkward and uncomfortable!

      Delete
  8. Wow! This outfit is just stunning! The leather jacket is just beautiful, and you made it all look so easy (well, maybe not the skirt)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't that always how it goes?! The project you think you'll be able to do in your sleep is the one that ends up giving you the hardest time...

      Thank you :)

      Delete
  9. Really brilliant post - great photos, happy colours, sunshine, good hair, funny commentary, perfect styling and a fabulous jacket. You've got it all going on here.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a gorgeous and stylish outfit! Love the lipstick too!
    I'm completely with you on the photo planning thing. Sometimes I get so pissed at the weather because I don't have the light I had imagined. But then again, I'm a huge control freak, so I don't know it that's of any help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your pictures are always so great! I totally know what you mean about getting pissed at the weather! I'm always cursing the rain!! "Noo! I wanted "halo light" ! Don't they know todays my blog picture day?!?"

      Delete
  11. Oh oh Oh! I love the whole outfit. I think you really outdid yourself this time (and that's saying a lot, since everything you make is pretty freakin ace). I love those swishy long skirts and the color is just incredible. Can't wait to see more of that gorgeous jacket, too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lauren! I swear I'll get those pictures up ASAP!!! Hahaha!! I get so freaking sidetracked sometimes....

      Delete
  12. It's perfect (and the outfit is, too)! Sallie you just blow my mind!

    ReplyDelete
  13. love, love, love every bit of it. The pink lipstick (I've been rocking it too), the red skirt, the leather jacket, the sunglasses. AMAZING! You couldn't have done any better. Seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it! By it I mean the jacket, skirt, the lipstick, your hair, the building, the pictures, the words...so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  15. absolutely friggin mouthwatering ensemble aside, this post cracked me up.

    please excuse my french. i curse when i see an outfit i want.

    and that last picture is genius, intended or not!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It may be one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken of myself!! It just cracks me up every time I look at it now...

      Delete
  16. What a gorgeous outfit, I love both the wonderful draped jacket and the skirt! Awesome colour! Also, what kind of lipstick are you wearing? It looks great! Great picture backgrounds, too! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alessa!! The lipstick is from MAC and its called "Impassioned"

      Delete
  17. SALLIE!!! THE JACKET. IS. AMAZING! I was weirdly excited about seeing the completed. Soooo impressed. Looks so soft and buttery. Plus the awesome backdrop. And that skirt is one of my fave colours ever. And I LOVE the little black and gold zip. This spring I am all about contrasting zippers. Kuddos lady. KUDDOS!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Heather!!! I'm so glad you were excited!! I'm definitely into the contrasting zippers - I think they're perfect for making a floaty garment like this a little bit badass! Plus I liked how it added another texture.

      Delete
  18. Amazing jacket - a triumph! I completely relate regarding photo locations - I am constantly seeking out bizarre and abandoned places for pics - lucky my bf treats every outfit make of mine like an art shoot!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nope, you're totally not the only one. I love your photos, totally worth it! The jacket looks GORGEOUS, and I love the paired red skirt. Has anyone ever told you red is totally your colour? Own it.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! I'm sitting here in a tomato red dress... yeah, I like red! I'm thinking I might need to branch out...

      Delete
  20. Congratulations!! You finished it by your deadline and it's beautiful! An Original SallieOh Creation!! Loved the outfit and the post!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. just fabulous.. and, skirt color reminds me of strawberry bubblegum from my childhood days
    and i totally get what you're talking about photography, i do that all the time.. there is ton of things i yet have to sew, but i already have whole photo shoot concept developed for them (with locations, props, and lighting specifics)..

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is such a beautiful outfit. I love how your leather jacket came together. Makes me want to start making muslins for things... XD
    PS please please install disqus. OpenID doesn't work for non-Google users and I really don't want to enter in my details and suffer the hideousness that is recaptcha for every single comment I make. Also disqus lets commenters keep track of comment responses and blocks spam comments. So please do it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Fantastic outfit!! Everything looks so well put together and the jacket is truly awesome! Well done :) 

    ReplyDelete
  24. It looks great! 

    ReplyDelete
  25. This entire outfit is so fabulous. I can't believe you made it. I really like your blog and the modern sewing that you do. 

    ReplyDelete
  26. No, really. Each post is better than the last. Can I be the leather on your back? I totally scout locations, work up drafts to go with said locations, then make outfits for the storyline. Fantasyland. Also, I can hear my Photo I teacher admonishing the student with the light pole/tree trunk/traffic sign jutting out of a subjects head :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ack!!  This is perfect!  The jacket is FAB, the outfit is amazing, and you look ridiculously gorgeous!  Stop!  Just stop now!  You're out of control with your sewing goddess perfection!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love this outfit and the jacket is great. Love love love it!

    ReplyDelete
  29. AH-mazing! Now I'm going to have to learn to sew with leather so I can make me an awesome leather jacket! Oh, and I wish I could reach through the internet and steal your sunglasses.

    ReplyDelete
  30. i LOVE your entire outfit!!!

    ReplyDelete