This post reminded me that I've been meaning to make a category that exists to serve my clothing/shopping/thrifting/redesigning devotion. So, now it is there, to the right in the margins...entitled "Fashiony Things". But back to the title of this post.
This outfit is composed entirely of re-designed, dyed, sewed, restructured, and embellished clothing. Well, not my little victorian-schoolgirl boots or socks, but the rest of it.
I am a girl who not only goes thrifting and sees potential in the cheapy and potentially cute $4 sweater, I see that same potential when shopping for brand new things as well. Take this outfit...
The cardigan began its life as a pure, bright white cardigan, which was promptly dyed a tea-stain color, taken in, and had the sweet red/mustard polka "collar" stitched on. The green dress beneath it began life as basic a polyester party dress, which got some charm from a bath in the tea-stain, some snipping, and the addition of patch pockets.
I am picky & persnickety, and I alter a good percentage of everything I buy, new or thrifted. Painting brass candlesticks, taking in frumpy sweaters, adding cute buttons to a blah top, it's one my favorite activities. I mentioned watching Carnivale again recently, and I think that is why I'm having to restrain myself from throwing everything made of natural fibers into the tea-colored pot of dye bubbling on the stove. The dyes cries out: "But everything in your wardrobe could look as if you just emerged, adorable of course, from a dust storm during the depression. Doesn't that sound perfect?"
The reason I end up buying mostly new clothes and altering them to appear more vintage and storybook is because, let's be honest, the revelation that is super-soft jersey and comfy knits in general cannot be ignored. It is a dream of mine to one day, maybe soon, do a line of limited edition (maybe 5-of-a-kind pieces, unless, say, Anthropologie wants to invest in and carry my collection) quirky, vintage-inspired, feminine clothing and handbags. Picking from my favorite decades, and my romantic notions of said decades but with the added advantage of comfort and wearability. The rub here is that I am not at all a proficient garment-from-the-ground-up sewer. I am, however, a pretty great alter-er and embellish-er, so we'll see what I can come up with. When I start designing clothing to sell (rather than just populating my wardrobe) I will name the line "Persnickety", because (besides being a wonderful word) it sums up the way I feel when I cannot find what I am looking for at any clothing store, website or boutique.
But enough about my imagined business, before I go I'd like to mention my actual shop, which I am planning on updating with new dolls, paintings, and drawings on Tuesday. I'm going to try doing actual updates when I can and posts lots of new things at once, rather than letting them trickle in. I don't know...it just seems more exciting. And official. So we'll try it for a while, and see how that works. I'll certainly be back before then, but I've got a mental checklist of all that I want to get done this weekend. Including locking myself in the studio. Also including Children of Men aka Time with Clive.
xoxo
PS: For those just as eager for Pan's Labyrinth to come to their city, I checked on the official website and there is a helpful list of what week it is scheduled to arrive in the various cities. I wondered how that cutie Janelle knew when it would be rolling into Philly...
Comments (26)
I know exactly exactly exactly what you mean - only I just draw my embellishments and rarely get around to the actual, um, embellishing. all growing up my mother hated shopping with me - it was always, "well, none of the stores have exactly what i had in mind..." - Anthropologie's quite a boon these days. In any case, what a lovely cardigan! A+.
emily · January 04, 2007 at 09:45 PM
I would be the first person to buy some of your cutsie clothes, I absolutely adore all of the clothes you've posted on the blog! Especially that lace petty-coat, I need to find one!
Take care!
Erin · January 04, 2007 at 10:15 PM
I can't wait to see the clothing line and all your new goodies!
Mary Contrary · January 04, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Persnickety. Hmm. Yess, with all those little attentions to detail...It is why we all like you, curious to see what you are up to, for sure. Anthropolgie would be very smart to pick you up!! ps: Delightfully anxious for my prints, so excited! About to put up a tent by the mailbox like the ones in "Bess." Wink.
Vanessa · January 04, 2007 at 11:32 PM
How lovely!
I, too, love to change and embellish. I am starting on a very plain, military-style jacket soon, amd plan to add lace and snippets of a lovely lime green fabric with white dots - and new buttons. Very exciting!
I have wanted to try tea-dyeing for some time, but I am a little nervous. Any tips?
pendlerpiken · January 05, 2007 at 03:42 AM
Ha, my latest post is about salvaging Salvie's finds. I think there is something about altering an old garment that wrests the ownership deeds from the previous owner to the next.
And you'd better NOT start designing for Anthropologie--I'd have to start eating seeds collected from the ground like a squirrel! A very, very cute squirrel.
Cirilia · January 05, 2007 at 08:04 AM
I would SO buy your clothes!! :O)
Jenny Rebecca · January 05, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Love your blog...I've been wanting to try some tea staining and I never thought to go to the closet! I'm not sure if you read it, but the new issue of Country Living has a spread on tea staining.
kate · January 05, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Happy New Year - Just wanted to let you know that the cross stitch shop off milledge ave is going to oreder wool felt. if there are specific colors you would like she will include it for you. i am a regular customer for them and she mentioned yesterday that tshe will be adding the felt to her line. I love the pockets on the dress.
teresa (maggiegracecreates) · January 05, 2007 at 09:19 AM
I have to admit that although I've been thrifting for the past 15 years, it has only been recently that I've started to look at garments with an eye towards redesigning. Its really due to your blog and the others like you who share their creative visions and ideas with the rest of us! I'm going to have to try that dye idea... it just never occured to me before! lol. Thank you for the continued inspiration! ♥
And I think if you did a limited-run line that would be fabulous! Thats always been a dream of mine too; I even apprenticed with a seamstress during my last year of highschool in preperation to open my own business. But that never happened. *sad eyes* Its so fun though to take inspiration from past eras/trends and incorporate them into modern wear, but in a distinctly quirky/eclectic way (no "retro-off-the-racks" looks! :D). Do keep us updated if you develop this idea further--I love your aesthetic and think it would be cool to possibly own a Persnickity original (which is an adorable name, btw!).
Okay. That comment was long enough, don't you think? lol.
Casey · January 05, 2007 at 09:49 AM
I love your notions and ideas because they fit so well with my own. I love Carinvale and just wish it was still on. I have thought often about the whole tea staining process, but have yet to try any of it. I might just have too do it this weekend! I think chamomile is a perfect color choice!
Jessica · January 05, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Oh! I just love reading your blog:) You are an amazing artist and I love your style! I too have been obsessed with seeing Pan's Labyrinth ,but alas I live in a tiny town in Ohio, and am having trouble finding when it is coming to a city near me.Until yesterday!To my surprise ,a little blue bird dropped a "special" dvd copy off at my house for my viewing pleasure. I admit, I felt guilty watching a totally ripped off copy...but I couldn't resist.
Anyways, I can't wait to find other people who have seen it! So I can have others to discuss it with! I am not 100% sure if I am satisfied with the movie or not?! Either way I can't wait to you see it, so we can get a full review of what you thought!!
Heavyeyeliner · January 05, 2007 at 11:14 AM
I am also not so much for "from the ground floor up" sewing so I embellish! You bet I deconstructed ,hacked up ,and tea-stained my wedding dress to create something more in line with my personal wedding aesthetic. To my eyes there was never a more unique and lovely garment.love your depression era dustbowl inspiration!
jungle dream pagoda · January 05, 2007 at 11:18 AM
I think I'm going to alter a boring black cardigan with a fun collar. I hardly ever wear it, which slightly breaks my heart because it's so classic and goes with everything...but things just need a little more detail for me to really love them and wear them to death.
I would buy all of your clothing.
ambika · January 05, 2007 at 11:46 AM
i love this post. it makes me feel better about when i have the urge to alter store bought clothing...i always feel guilty, but really what's the big deal, especially if you ultimately end up with something you like more.
oh, and i too would totally buy your clothes. if i had the means and the need (aka if i was in the spotlight) i would hire you as my stylist.
risa · January 05, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Love the outfit!
You should check out Pre-Loved a company in Toronto!
notfearingchange · January 05, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I embellish a lot of my clothes, embroidery, buttons etc, but have not jumped into the world of dying, but I found a fabulously soft and perfect cardigan for 1.29 the other day, unfortunately it is bright white, unfortunately 2 it is acrylic, got any good tips on dying acrylic? thanks I love vicariously living your life from my cubicle!
Lisa · January 05, 2007 at 01:39 PM
I agree heartily that you should do some sort of clothing redesign line.Perhaps people could bring their thrifted or new items to you, and then you could gussy them up? More fashiony things please - especially petticoats! Have you ever made one from scratch?
andi · January 05, 2007 at 02:02 PM
Your clothes are adorable, and I laughed out loud about the Carnivale Obsession....I too wanted to live in a dusty sepia tone world for a while...in fact I still want to.
maybe that explains the dust in my apartment.
stilettoheights · January 05, 2007 at 03:14 PM
hi emily-emily!
i am a constant embellisher/alterer. . .it is hard to go without fixing clothes up! In fact, that used to be part of my job up in new york. i was an embellisher of jeans! funny though, i don't embellish any of my own jeans. .
anyways. .your style would be so cute at anthro. it would fit right in. we do a lot of embellishing there too. .
i did check about pan. . in fact i have it on my calender for next friday! when it comes to my town! yay! thank you for thinking of me. .
xoj
janelle · January 05, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Is it terrible that not until this very moment did it ever enter my mind that I could make my clothes more likeable? Good heavens, I need someone to remind me to be creative now and then.
Ems · January 05, 2007 at 06:20 PM
oh yes and for a few of your readers comments here i did a tutorial on tea dying way back. . http://janellespieces.blogspot.com/2006/03/dying-with-tea.html
it is kind of dorky. .
janelle · January 05, 2007 at 06:22 PM
oh gosh you make me laugh (the part about the dust-bowl), you are too cute.
I love how dreamy all you clothes are and when you make all these cute outfits up and wear them you look like a doll!
The cutest doll ever!
Stephanie · January 06, 2007 at 03:04 PM
I swoon over your sassy style!
I am So glad I found you. (I bet you didn't even know you were lost!)
XoxoX
Jane
Jane Wynn · January 07, 2007 at 01:38 AM
You must love the outfit the character Lucy wore in Chronicles of Narnia.
Janvangogh · January 07, 2007 at 09:18 AM
oh please do! and don't foget those of us a couple sizes bigger than size 8 please. ;)
joleen · January 08, 2007 at 04:12 PM