Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Anna Chocola of Brighton Burlesque Hat, V8812 Jacket and Elisalex in Tartan Silk Dupion

P6112777
P6112773

As you may be aware, my brother was getting married and I was planning to make another Elisalex but this time in tartan silk dupion.  Well, here it is!

I waited for Charlie and Nick to take themselves off to Birmingham for a Rush concert and, knowing I had from 3pm until at least half-past midnight, got down to work.  I only got about half of the dress finished that day; there was a lot to do, including quite a bit of hand sewing.

The dress shell is a tartan silk dupion (as you may have noticed!)  The skirt is underlined with silk dupion, too, in a plain navy.  The effect of the two silks is that the skirt is full of body, yet still soft and easily manipulated; it can be scrunched into a shape and remain there, yet has no creases at all once it's smoothed back flat.  At the same time, it seems weightless.  I love it!  I think all my clothes may be made in silk from this moment on!  The bodice is lined, as per the pattern, and I used a red cotton lawn for it.

P6082585
P6082583 P6082584

As I certainly have no plans to show this dress even a drop of water, and would rather avoid dry-cleaning it every five minutes, as that can be a bit of a hit and miss process when it comes to silk dupion, I made some self-fabric dress shields, with two layers of the red cotton inside them, for extra freshness!  The dress shields are a crescent shape and are hand-sewn into the lower armscye with a simple running stitch to make removal easier for washing.  The idea is that the shields lay next to the skin, thereby keeping the underarm area of the garment fresher, and will be removed after each wear, and washed in soap and water.  Once laundered they will be sewn back into the dress.  I did the same thing with the little jacket.

P6112766


As you will see (above) the dress shields are sewn in to extend by about 3mm.

I think it's probably normal practice to conceal hem stitches as much as possible (or is that not the case?) but I love to see the stitches that took me so much time (and I enjoy the hand sewing) and so I don't hide them inside the hem (although I don't want them showing on the outside - only the inside of the garment!)  Here they are:

P6112775

And I sewed the zip in by hand, too:

P6112760

The jacket is the little bolero from V8812.  It was so simple to make, being just fronts and back, sleeves, and facing.  It has shoulder pads, which contribute to the 1940s shape (it's a pattern from 1940).  The jacket fits really well - it's like a little cocoon on the body, without being in the least bit restrictive.  I would like to make it again in a more practical fabric than the silk dupion I used this time.  Oh, and the back is underlined in red cotton lawn, the fronts in the same navy dupion.  

I must talk about my hat.  Isn't it just lovely?  I bought it on ebay from Anna Chocola, who makes the most interesting - exquisite - hats and headpieces and sells them on Etsy and ebay.  She also has a website.  When this hat arrived I can't tell you how pleased I was to see it was as beautiful in the flesh as it looked in the photo.  And when being worn, it's so comfortable you forget it's there.  I might take to wearing it out shopping, with jeans.  It seems such a shame to pop it back in its pink tissue paper and leave it to languish in the wardrobe for ever and ever.

P6112776

The main part of the hat is in royal blue velvet, with a marine themed ribbon around the outside.  The bow is of red silk and the whole thing has a navy net overlay.  And look at that anchor button!  This is a beautifully made hat, inside and out.

Here are some photos of my outfit in action:

P6082662
P6082663
P6082586

15 comments:

  1. Alice you look fantastic! What a great dress and bolero, so beautifully made. Just look at those hem stitches, I wish mine look so regular in lenght and width! And the hat is just perfect!
    LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Merche! I am very pleased with my stitches. I consider it a challenge to make them prettier and more even each time!

      Delete
  2. FABULOUSSSSSSSSSS!! The tartan is so unexpected and LUX and the entire outfit is BREATHTAKING!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much!

      Funny thing - I only came across you the other day, when I ordered your swimming costume pattern. Then you pop up here!

      I love your pattern and will make it as soon as I have fabric (awaiting samples).

      Delete
  3. Exquisite! I've successfully hand washed silk Duponi. You need to take care to smooth out any creases while the garment is still wet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gail - I have washed silk dupion before but it changed the texture on that occasion. It didn't matter, as I liked the top better more fluid. But I want to keep this dress shiny and crisp so I won't risk it. Imagine (horror!)

      Delete
  4. You look amazing! That is one fabulous outfit, very Vivienne Westwood! Congratulations

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Fiona!

      I wanted it to be a bit VW and intended to do a bit of my own draping and folding but left everything too late. As usual!

      I thought the blue (green?) dress you made for a wedding was stunning.

      Delete
  5. Oh my good grief...how stunning do you look?!?!?!?!?
    Just gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Evie.

      I posted my best pics, hehe! Amazing what a nice outfit and some lipstick can do!

      Delete
  6. Fabulous outfit. You must feel very proud of yourself!

    ReplyDelete
  7. beautiful patient handstitching! I feel the same, sometimes, you just want to look at it again. You look fabulous btw!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is SUCH a knockout ensemble! That tartan silk holds the shape wonderfully and well done you on all the beautiful & careful finishing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm having fun looking at all your clothes, but the Elisalex dresses are my favorites. Are you on Kollabora? I'm positive the others on the site would love your stuff as much as I do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Hannah! I appreciate your comment.

      I think I did join Kollabora but it was when it very first started and I totally forgot about it after that. Will check it out.

      Delete