First off, I want to say a quick “Thank You!” to everyone who voted in last week’s round. The votes were impossibly close, which means that we gave all of the voters a very tough choice – way to go Season 8!
As I said in my description of my Pretty in Pink, I was about to enter Junior High when this movie came out. Did anyone look up when it was released (1986) to see how old I am? Yup, turning 40 this June.
This movie really was pivotal for me. Andie crafted her own personal style using creativity and the materials to which she had access. The effect wasn’t immediate as my early refashions weren’t necessarily successful, but it set things in motion and opened my eyes to new possibilities.
I put together the collage above to show my inspiration for this week’s look. I had decided early on to take design elements à la Secret Squirrel, so I looked for common themes or points that stuck out to become my “acorns” of inspiration. If you’re not familiar with Secret Squirrel, check out this post for a great introduction! From my digging and pinning to Pinterest, I came up with rusty orange for the main character’s hair, vintage style, floral fabric, a cardigan and special details.
The rust-colored fabric is a beautiful organic cotton from Birch Fabric’s Fort Firefly collection, Rose Garden in Rose and was supplied by Sew Fine Fabric. It’s quilting weight, but I have found Birch fabrics to have a nicer drape and lighter hand than most quilting cottons. The grey and white polka dot is from my stash; leftover from the baby quilt I made for Hadley – seems appropriate, right? That checks off rust-colored and floral from my list of requirements.
This shot best shows how I blocked a line coming down from the shoulder seams to meet the pocket panel in the skirt. It’s a little interesting getting everything to line up right into a seam, but I got it to work! I really love these accordion-style pockets and am having to resist the urge to put them on everything! I’m sure somebody else has already done something similar, but it was a new idea to me. That’s one of the special details.
As part of the vintage style aspect, I dug through my button jar and found nine different vintage buttons ranging from translucent to some that looked like bakelite. I have this amazing button stash courtesy of my Mom who gave me a giant pickle jar full of buttons and has continued to add even more to my collection. I think these were all from the most recent donation. I’m sure there’s stories behind some of them!
Here’s a detail shot of the buttons. I loved all of them, but my favorites are the rose one at the top, and the pin shank third down.
Hadley planning her design in my sketch book. Here’s the clue for what’s in store for the refashion challenge if the voters and judges see fit to see me through! I’m really excited about that look and was able to add new skills to my sewing repertoire to complete the outfit.
On to the cardigan! The collar detail was so fun to do, but time-consuming! I sketched out the design using the leaf motif from the floral fabric and then sat down over several evenings doing my lazy daisies and then adding the glass beads after the embroidery was complete. The copper trim was from a piece probably about 18″ long that my Mom had given me recently – are you seeing a theme here? It was just enough and the perfect accent to the collar.
The monogrammed brooch is also from Mom – she had one made for each of her bridesmaids and herself when she and my Dad were married. I counted the collar and the brooch as more special details. All acorns present and accounted for!
The Hachi (or is it Hacci? I’ve seen it both ways) sweater knit is from
Girl Charlee (though it looks like it’s out of stock –
this looks like the same material) and the coordinating
lagoon cotton/rayon fabric is from Fabric.com. I had that on hand from testing the Washi expansion pack and was excited when it matched so perfectly! It looks like bias binding, but I made curved facings to enclose the raw edges of the cardigan.
Now for the bloopers and outtakes! As part of my staging, I had covered a book with brown paper like I used to do in school and written “Blane” in a heart and then “Duckie 867-5309” to try to give a nod the love interest and quirky friend from the movie. Extra points if you know the source of the phone number! Hadley pretty much refused to hold it, so those shots didn’t make the cut.
I had to share this little gif file – she had tried to spin several of the locks on the lockers to open them and was trying to explain her troubles and woes to us. She is very vocal for only having just turned two in October (yes, she’s a big two year-old!), but sometimes she over-reaches her vocabulary and just strings together a bunch of blabbering. I wish I had audio to go with this – it was hilarious!
The requisite pull up your dress and show your tummy shot. She’s got quite the outie there, doesn’t she?
And one last story: The school shots were taken at our local High School on a Saturday over the holiday break. My neighbors are both area teachers and Mike is also the wrestling coach and they were having practice which is how we were able to get access to the building. The team was running laps through the school as we arrived, which Hadley found enthralling! She had brought along a little toy camera – one of those Disney princess ones that click and say stuff like “You’re as pretty as a princess” and “Oh! You look fabulous!”. Hadley kept yelling “Guys! Hey, guys!” and taking their “picture” as they ran past. Marcy and I were rolling!
I love this Jenn! When I saw your girl’s pic in my reader feed I immediately knew what movie you were doing! And as a girl from the 80s I totally appreciate this movie and your outfit from it! Awesome!
I find your outfit to be quite enchanting. I love all the details in your outfit, and the thought process that you as the designer went through to create this outfit. I think I personally love the process of creating all the design elements in my head, and then seeing them come to life in my outfit. Your blog post makes me think that is true for you too. Congratulations on a great entry to this challenge.
Deborah
sewmuchtogive.blogspot.com
Such a lovely outfit! I love all the vintage elements you brought in. The cardigan is so sweet. Much better than the prom gown from the movie!
AMAZING creations sewn for your girl! So many AMAZING details: SHRUG CARDI–lovely cream embroidery motif (from the designs in the dress) and seed beads on the linen fabric collar; DRESS– cool combination of fabrics combining small flowers & tiny dots with the focus on the 9 vintage white buttons down the back of the bodice! The teal shrug takes highlights from the rust fabric with cream flowers & teal. ALL in ALL, lovely INDEED! I cast my vote for your creations . . . hope you are the winner this week! Sarah Helene, Minneapolis, MN
love those buttons down the back of the dress….especially since they are all different!
great work again this week.
The collar is what did it for me – so beautiful. This whole outfit is wonderful. And I am not biased, even though Pretty in Pink is one of my favourite movies!
I had thought to myself before the challenge: “If I had time to sew along (which I don’t), I would have made the Prom dress from Pretty in Pink.” You are right that it is not the best dress in the world, but it is so iconic! Oooh, Duckie….!
love the choices of fabric. everything actually but that collar is my absolute favorite. The detail and how all the aspects of the outfit come together – PERFECT!
Pretty in pink is such a good choice. I too was heavily influenced by that movie. Your outfit is so good. Just enough of Andie in there without being over the top. The cardi is just perfect.
Such a fantastic outfit! I love the colours and colour blocking together. Really cool!
I absolutely love this outfit…especially the dress. You got my vote this week 😉
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Such a beautiful outfit! My favorite is the sweater though, love all of the detail work!
Bet you can guess our favorite component of this look: why, the cardigan collar’s stitching of course…. :)!
The colour combination is unexpected, but works so well in this outfit! Love the cardigan! (and the cute boots).
Jenn! Came here from PRP and wanted to say that you did a wonderful job on the outfit. In particular, the shoulders and sleevecaps and armscyes of both the dress and the cardigan. The fit is perfect! Not a lot of folks get this area of a garment done right, but yours are lovely. The collar is breathtaking, too (and well cut, hurrah!) but the sleeves and shoulders totally stood out. Well done!
Great details and colours! I love the button details down the back.
Gorgeous Jenn! YOur daughter is so sweet!! The collar is amazing and I love the overall look and photos!!!!
Even though I’d never heard of this movie, I love all the detail in your outfit and the way you approached this theme. It turned out so so cute.
http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/
You did a great job with photographing 2 yrs old 🙂 And of course on her outfit! Especially love the cardigan! And those vinatge buttons on the dress… dreamy… my favorite is third one 🙂
Your’s is far and away the best entry in this week’s contest, even if it doesn’t win. So very much thought and detail went into all of it. FYI, my best friend since 2nd grade, and still my geographical distant best friend is named Arden.
We’re both 70! That’s a lot of years with my Arden. We lived in Arden Manor, near Arden Town and Arden Park and Arden Way, etc. MrsNat in TX
Oh, my! This little outfit is just perfect in every way. I love the vintage feel with the colors, collar, and the broach. The color blocked sides are a wonderful addition that you did so perfectly. Bravo! I loved the out-takes and the stories behind your creation.