Angie: Finally!

Finally, after three duds, I make something that I like!

I you watched the video of the opening theme credits from the second season of, "Angie," (because if you're like me, you can't get enough of that song!) I was inspired by the "Apple Throwing" jacket and hat that Donna Pescow is wearing and also by the outline that appears around the opening title.

Yes, this is the same material that I used for the suit I didn't like a while back.  It is actually a woolen blue and white houndstooth, but appears grey when you actually stand back.  Well, this time, the color change wasn't a surprise, and I actually wanted it to look grey, so it worked out.

This is another one of those deceptively complicated pieces that you have to do a lot of work on to make it look this simple.  Those curved stripes?  Not easy...  I considered for a moment doing the stripes to edge the collar to really make the extreme asymmetry stand out as well as edging the cuffs to show how they are bigger than the arm.  In the end, I am glad I was not willing to put in the work, because it would have been stripe overkill and looked cheesy.  Yay for editing!

Oh, and Raine is looking very smug that she got to play Angie, although Leonora got her revenge already because I originally made a pair of shorts to go with this outfit, but didn't like them, so Raine had to borrow a pair of Nora's jeans.  And they didn't get washed first...

Rhoda Morgenstern: Beaded Curtains and Egg-Shaped Seams

Well, you know... You put a head wrap on anyone and automatically she's Rhoda, but that's what made Valerie Harper a fashion icon of her time. The video on the right is the opening theme from Season 3 of "Rhoda." I chose that one not only because it's the opening that shows off her headwraps the most, but strangely enough, I remember this opening from when I was a kid! (I was three when this season aired). I specifially remember the shot of Julie Kavner trying to be as pretty as Rhoda by wearing the scarf on her head and thinking, "She'll never be as pretty as that other girl."

Also, the season one theme is kind of annoying with all the talking, especially the "New York, this is yuh last chyance!" line. Nonetheless, if you'd like to see it, you can do so by clicking here.

Frustratingly, I tried to make this outfit another three-piece with a jacket over the white turtleneck (it's not newly-made. I've used it twice before as an undergarment). I wanted it use the sheer fabric that eventually became the "shawl" first as drapy sleeves on a cropped jacket, and then a sheer blouse after the jacket attempt failed. If you look closely at the pattern, it looks like a beaded curtain, very 70's. The two attempts at a top, though, turned out so badly that I finally turned the remaining fabric into a simple drape over the shoulders. I don't feel too badly about using it as an accessory because I think the outcome looks nice and still has an "urban bohemian" quality about it that I was going for. The only thing I feel bad about is that if I had done this drape thing to begin with, the outfit would have been finished two days ago.

So it's now pretty much all about the skirt if you are looking at what was "designed" about this outfit. I like the skirt. It's a complicated piece that ends up looking easy and natural, which is good. It's like when you spend hours on your hair to make it look like you just rolled out of bed and it looked like that. If you examine it closely, it's a meld of an ever-so-slightly flared straight skirt with a pants-like upper area and a tiered peasant skirt. See it? The hem that separates the two parts is egg-shaped and tips to the back and is totally asymetrical and required much skill to accomplish! I can totally see this being re-created for real in suede, denim, or even corduroy. Again, very 70's and very cool.

Also! TERCIARY WIG UPDATE! This wig is the second to celebrate a third anniversary of use! And it's a men's wig! Happy third use "New Jesus!"

BONUS QUESTION:

Who's The Mary?  Who's the Mary?

(email answers to me or better yet, leave a comment here.  Fastest winning answer gets a prize!)

Gilligan's Island Collection: Mrs. Howell Loves Her Accessories

Mrs. Howell is ready for the cold island weather in her new green plaid coat over a simple belted lime green shift dress.  Doesn't the fresh infusion of color make her look years and years younger?                            On the shawl collar, she has placed a priceless diamond brooch and has topped off the outfit with a white fur Q-Tip hat with pink tips made from stray imitation rabbits that were found roaming about the island.

This coat was cut wide all around the bottom for a little extra drama and fullness.  I also added some extra interest by putting in welt pockets on the side fronts and next to the lapel.  Welt pockets are easiest to do on plaid because the outline of the pocket is built in to the fabric, and as I have said before, when it comes to using plaid, it is best to let the pattern on the fabric work for you and not against you.

You may remember I have used this material before.  I bought the whole bolt when I got it because it it's SO very hideousgorgorgeous 60's, I couldn't resist.  It was also very cheap, so that didn't hurt, either.

This coat can also be worn belted, as you can see here, for a more fitted look.  (You have no idea how difficult it was for me mentally to make something without a well-defined waistline!)

Flipper: Le Porpoise Parisienne

If you pronounced the above title, "Luh Pour-Pwah," extra points for you!

I have a lot of days off this week, so I decided to speed sew and make one garment each day. This is the second. It's actually less stressful, I have found, since I don't have something unfinished hanging over my head when I go to bed at night. Who would have thunk it!

This little creation is a little unusual, I admit, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! Yes, it's meant to look like a combination of a Parisian evening gown, a dolphin, and a scuba diving outfit. I say Parisian because when I think of black/white/gray mixed with a bold red, I think Parisienne. The dolphin and scuba should be pretty apparent.

I really wanted to make a formal dress with a hood. It's not something that you see every day and not everyone can pull it off. You have to have a really strong face to basically have no hair. But for the woman that can do this, it can look amazing.

The bodice is pretty simple, made out of stretch fabric and fit snugly to the body. There are pleats at the shoulders. The little spray of tulle at the shoulder came later, when I realized that the black of the waistband needed to be balanced with something black higher up. If I had actually planned to put it there, I would have made the shoulder pleats gather up into the spray rather than equal at both shoulders. But even if I wanted to start over, I couldn't. I used up EVERY bot of material I had of this shiny grey mini-argyle. A skirt like this takes a lot of material!

Speaking of the skirt, it obviously is the Pièce de résistance, no?  Even with the hood and super tight bodice that shows every curve of the woman's body, the red lining is what people would remember, I think.

Hogan's Heroes - Crpl. Lisette Lebeau, French Security Animal Trainer

First of all, ISN'T THAT BERET ADORABLE?!

This outfit is inspired by Corporal Louis Lebeau, who, along with being in charge of cooking, also trained the German Shepherd guard dogs to not attack him or his allies.

Lebeau was very short, and like many very short people was often viewed as childlike, so with this outfit, I wanted to play up a schoolgirl/juvenile orphan look.



















It's funny that I started with the concept of the jacket being the main focus of this ensemble, and ended up liking the interior much better. I think the jacket is cute and a nice shape, but if I were to make one like this again, I would definitely choose a different fabric such as a nice tweed. The material I used wrinkles extremely easily and would benefit from a deeper texture.




















































So, when originally I was thinking of making a simple skirt and blouse under the jacket, maybe a vest, but then I decided why not make something more interesting? So I designed this cute little jumper, a style which I have made before, with a little extra details such as a button up front and offset seams. Hanging on the side is a little matching satchel to carry nice puppy treats! Speaking of puppies...








Okay, I have to say this picture was the hardest one to take ever! The dogs are NOT allowed in my sewing room, so they were utterly confused as to why all of a sudden I was pulling them in rather than pushing them out like I normally do. Also I wasn't using a flash because I didn't want laser eyes. So with the longer exposure time, I got blurry, furry blobs from squirmy goggies!



























Huge lesson learned this round was how to use the plaid for me and not fight against it, like I did with my previous outfit. With a plaid pattern, box pleats are a snap, because you don't have to measure or meticulously mark where the folds go. It's already marked for you on the fabric! This material was also great for adding dimension with highlights and shadows in intentionally placed areas of the dress.

Hogan's Heroes - TSgt Andrea Carter, American Explosives Specialist

Next up is the lovely Trina as an American explosives specialist, inspired by the character of Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter. I think the outfit turned out super cute!


Again, I took some signature pieces from the original character's outfit and reworked them.
I lined the vest and collar in some cheap fake fur that I have been itching to use to echo Carter's fur-lined bomber jacket.
Sgt Carter's hat and gloves were also always present. I didn't make the gloves, but I did actually made that adorable newsboy cap!

(The actor who played Carter, Larry Hovis, was married, unlike his character, so they always put him in gloves to hide his wedding ring.)

Making this outfit, especially the multi-piece vest, really reminded me that working with plaid is a PAIN! Everything has to be lined up perfectly or it looks like hell. The end result is worth it when it turns out well, though.

I'm categorizing this combo under the "60's" genre, although "20's" and "40's" would also be really appropriate.