chanelesque ([info]chanelesque) wrote,
@ 2008-06-22 23:38:00
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Entry tags:bejewelled, sew a needle pulling thread, style diary

095 twice in a blue moon

1st sewing project: little girl's frock
18 May 2008— my mother is a sewingmeister and i am now her apprentice. in spite of the fact that during home econs seven years ago, i had proven to be a terrible disaster before the sewing machine, i have now put aside my former hatred as well as overcome certain fears of not being able to sew in a straight line, all for the rewards of being able to translate dreamwear into reality. there is nothing like determination (and an excellent teacher) that champions the impossibilities. i sew like a snail, but then, slow and steady wins the race :)


blue & silver striped frock with a double layered skirt - self made
cotton tote "ed pemberley's trucks and trains" - Rootote
silver ribbon tied around finger like a ring - saved from gift wrappers
white criss cross jellies - Boon Lay Pasar Malam



the dress is reminiscent of the stuff little girls wear, with its gathered puffy skirt as well as an underskirt that peeks out at the bottom. i have, with the guidance of my mother, painstakingly aligned the stripes across and around the dress. while the bodice has horizontal stripes, the skirt bears vertical stripes over an under layer of yet again, horizontal lines.



front: boat neckline; and back of dress: dipping wide V.


fabric: shimmery silver lines against a background of blue,
bestowing on the frock a nautical feel.


back view, front view, and side when worn.




an icecream van, trains transporting wagons of milk, pine trees, and coal, a horse-drawn trolley, and ah, a pickup with pigs on board. look, a passenger is waving at us :) he says, hello, how are you? i am terribly lucky, aren't i, to be able to ride into marina square on a horse. neighhhhhh.



illustrated on the back of my cotton tote are a series of pictures and instructions teaching you how to draw. and yes, the aforementioned horse-drawn trolley is at the bottom right. do you see the waving passenger? he has lots more to tell you. i'll leave it to next time, if you two ever meet. he will be delighted.



sufficiently doused with a childish playfulness, i looked around in my accessories box for a cute ring to match my mood. images of this picture [info]glitterbella once posted on her blog flashed across my mind. quick as lightning, i found my silver ribbon and looped it around the middle joint of my fourth finger like a present.. there! this is today's silly but cute accessory :)

in the mood for country folklore
24 May 2008— "and away she went up the garden path, her skirts whisking fiercely over the edges of the border in an angry explosion of colours and patterns."

i have never been one to be particularly fond of the boho, provencal folk style, as i aspire to define elegance in my dressing, and bohemian/country style has never before struck me as elegant. lately, however, this has changed, and i have come to realise that elegance is as much an attitude and poise as it is a piece of clothing. besides, is there not something very graceful in the way a woman is obliged to move in a long skirt, hitching the folds up as she glides up and down the stairs, or even perhaps, the way a floor sweeping skirt rustles against the legs and sails across the ground? my boyfriend loves to see me dressed like this, and for now, i am a convert.


white fitting basic - Mango sale
floor sweeping folk inspired skirt - passed down from fourth aunt
black slouchy bag - mum's
tribal necklace - passed down from mum
white sandals - Neckerman
alternative shot, same pose here.

i am eating Auntie Anne's pretzels only because the blue and white packet matches my outfit.. :)



this skirt is all crumpled up, just the way it should be. doubtless it will be easy to bundle the skirt up and pack it into your suitcase for a holiday, though it probably may not be quite as fuss-free when you move around clad in such a long skirt. i nearly tripped and fell a couple of times because i forgot to lift my skirt up while climbing the stairs.




a bit of east meets west; marrying french provencal folk style with an ethnic tribal necklace. i usually prefer to leave my neck bare (because silky bare necks are downright sexy). today i decided to take a chance and hung this statement-making piece around my neck. it turned out to be the right decision to make.



(Post a new comment)


[info]vintagechutzpah
2008-06-22 04:27 pm UTC (link)
that is such a pretty dress you've made! well done! for the life of me, i couldn't manage to sew!

i miss those bohemian skirts. they've became so popular 2 years ago around here and it's coming back with all the flowers.

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 02:05 am UTC (link)
you should try again! i thought i would never be able to sew anything for myself because my first try in home econs was an outright miserable failure. but now i have proven myself wrong :)

and it looks like they are coming back in full force with the maxis as well. then again, you can always wear them even if they are not in fashion ;)

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[info]tweedlesinpink
2008-06-22 05:31 pm UTC (link)
very nice little girl's frock there (:

and you're right about the crumpled, weathered provincial look - there is an intrinsic elegance to it as well if it is worn with authenticity. i suspect my wardrobe will take that direction when i go to school, with more beaten fabrics and floppy jackets.

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 02:09 am UTC (link)
it will be easy on you too, no need to iron on top of doing your own laundry ;)

and thanks :)

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[info]charmefou
2008-06-22 05:35 pm UTC (link)
that dress you made is really pretty
&I like they way you put pieces of clothing together : )

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 02:12 am UTC (link)
thank you chloe :)

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FYI
(Anonymous)
2008-06-22 06:37 pm UTC (link)
That's a horse-drawn trolley, not a carriage.
:-)

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Re: FYI
[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 01:46 am UTC (link)
i see, i didn't know such things existed. i just googled pictures of it and you're right, thanks! :)

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[info]glitterbella
2008-06-22 11:16 pm UTC (link)
Omg wow I love the dress you made. I kinda.. failed home econs. I think I'm never gonna be able to make my own clothing!! And I like the idea of that ribbon around your finger! ")

I think you're fashion inspiration. Please post more!!

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 01:53 am UTC (link)
don't worry, i wasn't good at it either. if there isn't talent (and i don't have this in sewing, no veiled modesty at all), you must have loads of patience, willpower (which shouldn't be too difficult if you set your mind on the goal of being able to wear a piece of clothing you made yourself) and a good teacher :)

you know the idea of that ribbon around the finger is from a picture you posted!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

angela
(Anonymous)
2008-06-23 02:44 am UTC (link)
HAHA you had such a jay chou expression in that eating picture! and came right after you were talking about elegance eh :P

your first sewing project turned out quite well!! impressed. (:

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Re: angela
[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 03:08 am UTC (link)
haha yay :)
aiyah, edmund took that picture and it was the best shot. he likes to take pictures of me while i'm doing things...

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[info]moorookoo
2008-06-23 03:53 am UTC (link)
Awesome stuff!

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 03:29 pm UTC (link)
thanks :)

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[info]ibiteroar
2008-06-23 02:15 pm UTC (link)
my boyfriend was telling me over the phone last night that i should "do something useful with my time" whilst i wait for university. i should take up some sewing lessons!

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-23 03:31 pm UTC (link)
i thought you know how to sew already! aren't you sewing things to sell for scarletroom ;)
anyway, isn't keeping shop "something useful with your time"? you are earning money; money's useful.

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[info]tenebrous
2008-06-23 09:06 pm UTC (link)
LOVE the dress. Especially the front neckline, the back neckline and the fabric. Everything really! Cute cute tote, too.

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-25 03:23 pm UTC (link)
thank you :) that's what i like about it too, plus the double layered skirt and alignment of stripes.
i nearly gave that tote away, i'm glad i didn't now.

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[info]miss_janet_yang
2008-06-24 04:32 pm UTC (link)
ahh i wish the one you sew could be terribly short!! it looks short on the hanger. still, excellent job!! :D im impressed!!!

i always suspect guys like their gf looking covered up. gf wear boho skirt nice! but other girls wear, not nice!

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-25 03:35 pm UTC (link)
thanks janet :)
if it's any shorter, it won't flatter my figure (it's actually 1-2 inches above knee length already). i haven't got long slim legs so my dresses and skirts shouldn't be mini length, unless i wear skyscraper heels to go with them.

he likes me in other stuff too la :) anyway to counter the complete cover up of legs, i had a low neckline in that outfit.. but then you know, a long skirt can also be unbelievably sexy ;) it leaves (some) things to one's imagination, and the way it swishes about is also rather alluring.

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[info]_heartvandals
2008-06-26 09:32 pm UTC (link)
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(Anonymous)
2008-06-27 04:14 pm UTC (link)
nice dress! omg i wish i can sew too:/
where and how much you got your tote from? it's simply so cute:DD

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-27 04:33 pm UTC (link)
thanks :)
i got the bag from an online spree for this website:
http://tw.user.bid.yahoo.com/tw/show/auctions?userID=adient2001&u=:adient2001&clf=4
i don't think they have it anymore. i paid about $21 for the bag, if i remember correctly.

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[info]sugarxnspice
2008-06-29 04:10 pm UTC (link)
Rootote has the cutest stuff, but in such limited quantity :(

Gosh did you sew the stripes on yourself?? I once made my own stripes for a random wear-at-home-top, SO TEDIOUS. The dress looks like marvelous craftsmanship! Your mom must be a wonderful seamstress.

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[info]chanelesque
2008-06-30 05:18 am UTC (link)
really? now i feel fortunate to be able to have gotten my hands on the bag!

nah i didn't, the cloth came with those pretty stripes :) i asked my mum if she would consider spinning/making her own cloth, she said i was crazy. actually i would just paint stripes on, haha :D it's too much work to weave your own.

yes that my mum is, i haven't been able to appreciate that fully until now :)

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