About Me

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Los Olivos, California, United States
You can reach me at fool4fabric (at) gmail (dot) com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

My Million-Dollar Jacket

Well, maybe not MILLION...let's just say "very expen$ive" But worth it!
The pattern is V2607, designed many years ago by Guy Laroche, but to me, it will always be the
Cruella deVil jacket...
The fabric, a gorgeous abstract European brocade, was purchased for me OVER THE PHONE
by Shams, from Communing with Fabric, at Britex, in San Francisco. Check on her link to read her
trepidatious foray into a long-distance personal fabric shopping service. Suffice it to say, it's the most expensive yardage I've ever cut into, and I made not one, but TWO test jackets before I put this on my cutting table.

The first pattern was KS3738, seen here
it was ok, but wasn't really special enough for the fabric. So then I went pattern browsing, and found
this
which appealed to my geriatric/goth sense of fashion.  I made it up in a cotton home dec fabric to check the fit, and it was perfect. So...

I "happened" to find the perfect vintage buttons on Etsy, and had a beautiful hammered silk charmeuse in silver in my stash for the lining...
so I was in business. The jacket was completely interfaced, in some places doubled, and I had a little trouble with the coat-sized hooks and eyes called for, so I made some narrow black elastic loops and used my buttons instead. The finishing seemed to take days and days, and I did have a "deadline" for a party where this little number will be worn.

For those of you interested in the details, my pants are Eileen Fisher silk georgette, my magical shoes are Stuart Weitzman (not only beautiful but unbelievably comfortable)
and my earrings are 50's vintage Miriam Haskell...

I'm really excited about the jacket...I could even wear it with jeans, so it will hopefully not be a one-night-stand a la Cinderella!






Posted by at 12:33 PM
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44 comments:

  1. shamsDecember 6, 2012 at 12:47 PM

    Wow. Just wow. So gorgeous!! I don't know how you had the chutzpah to cut into that fabric, but you did it proud!!! And I love your nickname for it. I hope you get so much wear that it comes out to be $1 per wearing. :)

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  2. DillianderDecember 6, 2012 at 12:49 PM

    Margy, this is amazing and you look amazing in it!

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  3. JudithDecember 6, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    Great marrying of pattern to fabric! Just love it...

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  4. Mrs KDecember 6, 2012 at 12:56 PM

    Oh my, just beautiful! I love the style, too. It looks so good on you.

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  5. thornberryDecember 6, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    Absolutely incredible! Love everything about the jacket, and the whole outfit in fact. You look terrific.

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  6. pdiddlyDecember 6, 2012 at 1:09 PM

    double wow - looks absolutely fabulous paired with your trousers and shoes, and I can definitely see it with jeans too.

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  7. UnknownDecember 6, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    That is a stunning jacket. Love the color, the pattern, and most definitely the neckline. So flattering!

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  8. JillybejoyfulDecember 6, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Oh. Oh my. Oh my Yes! Shams done good, and you done the fabric justice - big time! Now I'm lusting after that pattern, with an only-in-my-dreams attitude that I could look as stylish as you do! ;D

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  9. KarenDecember 6, 2012 at 1:39 PM

    Gorgeous jacket, and totally you.

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  10. AnnDecember 6, 2012 at 4:15 PM

    Triple WOW!! I am sure it will look fabulous with jeans also. Great work Margy.

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  11. CarolynDecember 6, 2012 at 4:28 PM

    Totally stunning in every possible way! Guy Laroche is genius at sculptural perfection in clothing. I am sure you will find many many occasions for this beauty!

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  12. RhondaBussDecember 6, 2012 at 4:30 PM

    Maybe it didn't cost a million bucks, but you look like a million in it!!!

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  13. AndreaDecember 6, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    Margy, your jacket is a stunner! "Geriatric Goth" - may just be a new fashion category...

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  14. Linda TDecember 6, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    PERFECT! Magnificent!

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  15. MaryAnnDecember 6, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    You look absolutely gorgeous in your creation. Love the fabric and the style on you.

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  16. AnonymousDecember 6, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Margy, you look absolutely stunning, but I am still reeling about the geriatric goth fashion category. Love your sense of fun and also your gorgeous work. Shams certainly has an eye for beautiful fabrics. Vtw, I have the same black silk pants and vintage black jet earrings of another style. Now I dolly have to make that gorgeous jacket and find the shoes. Oh, I almost forgot about the face and figure. But I can certainly be a cheap copy of your look. Lovely, lovely look for sure. Enjoy your finery.

    Karendee

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  17. AnonymousDecember 6, 2012 at 6:34 PM


    All I can say is WOW!

    Terry

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  18. VickiDecember 6, 2012 at 6:49 PM

    Worth every penny - gorgeous! You have such a great style and the skills to make super cool clothes :)

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  19. DixieDecember 6, 2012 at 7:24 PM

    Wow, what a stunning jacket! Love the fabric/button/pattern combination. It looks terrific on you. Those Weitzmans are pretty nice, too. I used to wear Weitzmans back when I had a career (and cash). Enjoy your function, and keep on wearing this gem!

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  20. velosewsDecember 6, 2012 at 9:30 PM

    You look stunning and while it was expensive fabric you've made it look a million dollars. Everything about it screams couture.

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  21. AnnDecember 6, 2012 at 10:01 PM

    Indeed it looks like a million bucks on you. Fantastic. I have been hanging onto that pattern for years hoping one day to take the plunge. Now that I know it is geriatric goth I must make it.

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  22. UnknownDecember 6, 2012 at 11:44 PM

    Beautiful! You've done justice to the stunning fabric - what an amazing jacket :-)

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  23. anne kDecember 7, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    Wow! You indeed done that fabric proud! Want it, the pants and shoes. Also Shams to shop for me. Then you to sew for me. That's my Christmas list.
    Knock 'em out at the soiree!

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  24. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 3:39 AM

    Gorgeous! It fits you beautifully! A winner for sure!

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  25. Goodbye ValentinoDecember 7, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    A stunning jacket and great story behind it! I was in NYC last weekend and my friend bought these same gorgeous shoes on sale at Macy's. I'm sure she would love to have your jacket to go with the shoes :)
    Congratulations on such a beautiful accomplishment!

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  26. RuthDecember 7, 2012 at 4:06 AM

    Stunning! All that prep work really paid off.

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  27. KerryDecember 7, 2012 at 5:56 AM

    Exquisite, elegant and totally you.

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  28. KayYDecember 7, 2012 at 6:07 AM

    This is the best! Perfect marriage of pattern and cloth, great execution, worn with panache. Keep it up!

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  29. JulietDecember 7, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    Another triumph! You do know what will suit you and I think you look a "million dollars" in all of your outfits. Style, workmanship and preparation carry the day. Very well done.

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  30. CFHDecember 7, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Oh, I think the million dollar figure is not far off the mark. I love the entire outfit. In fact, I will be launching into a search for the shoes immediately. Have fun at the party. I feel certain that you will be the best dressed there, whatever the occasion.

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  31. BunnyDecember 7, 2012 at 4:34 PM

    Stunning is right! That jacket is fabulous and the beautiful neckline shows off your gorgeous face so well. I just love to see the things you make. You are such an inspiration.

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  32. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    You are one classy woman!!!!!

    Janet in Forest Knolls

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  33. jacquianneDecember 8, 2012 at 2:11 AM

    Stunning and the details make the jacket all the more interesting. Hope you enjoy your night and have many memorable wearings.

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  34. Maris OlsenDecember 8, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Totally gorgeous, Margy. Every detail is perfection. You are my new fashion muse!

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  35. AudreyDecember 9, 2012 at 5:30 AM

    Gorgeous jacket. I heve not purged this pattern fom my stash because it is such a classic and flattering style.

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  36. gwensewsDecember 9, 2012 at 6:55 AM

    That is just gorgeous! I love a dressy, fantastic jacket worn with jeans.

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  37. meDecember 9, 2012 at 7:30 AM

    What a great jacket. I've always liked that pattern. However, I 'gifted' the pattern to a friend a couple of weeks ago. I hope she makes something just half as stunning as this jacket. Beautiful.

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  38. citizen rosebudDecember 10, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    You look like a million bucks. Stunning jacket on a beautiful woman.

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  39. Tia DiaDecember 10, 2012 at 6:53 PM

    What a gorgeous jacket! Certainly well worth the expensive yardage! I have this pattern in my stash and refuse to part with it. You look fabulous!

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  40. LeighDecember 11, 2012 at 7:53 PM

    Wow! You really look fabulous!! Great job on the jacket and your accessories are divine. "Geriatric Goth" - you kill me - and don't say geriatric because I'd totally wear the whole look and I'm 40-ish. LOL Can we see the cotton one? I'm curious. :)

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  41. Tonia2000December 18, 2012 at 8:19 AM

    You look absolutely FAB!!! Nicely done :)

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  42. GailDecember 19, 2012 at 1:00 AM

    Pom poms at the ready to join in the cheer squad. I'm up for Geriatric Goth!

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  43. bstreet61December 29, 2012 at 8:29 AM

    Fabulous!

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