Sequins and Glitter

I just got done watching Burlesque; the movie not a live show, and I loved it! I wasn't sure I would like it when it first came out but it was on one of my pay cable channels and so I watched it. It was filled with beautiful girls, hot choreography moves and skimpy, glittery, sequined outfits.

There is a great group of girls in New Orleans that put on burlesque shows in the Quarter. They are called Fleur De Tease. Here is a clip of one of their skits.

These girls put together outfits of sequins, feathers and satin by themselves. They wear fantastic wigs and do sexy, flirtatious moves to taunt and entertain the audience. I am sure some of you reading this is thinking something like; this is New Orleans, they are known for debauchery and girls showing their ***s. But, au contraire, mon frere! These girls use classic burlesque tricks, teasing the audience- not stripping-those girls work on Bourbon Street.

Next time you are in New Orleans try to catch one of their shows- they usually perform at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter.

What Not To Wear

Is this still a question of fashion faux pas? Stacy London is sooo annoying to me telling women their fashion choices are horrid. I, myself have an unusual sense of fashion and I know for a fact I would be a perfect target for her. She likes to tell everyone what to wear and how to wear it. I have noticed others too, in certain groups, like to set rules for what to and what not to wear.

As my profile states I am a nerdy girl - I was a drama geek; we used to wear trench coats and tons and tons of black plastic bracelets and we accepted each other while trading new and quirky fashion tips. As an adult I am finding that these types of groups are a little less accepting.

I may be getting ahead of myself here and speaking out of turn, but I am still learning about steampunk and its aesthetics. Sometimes I read about people making fun of other "cosplayers". Steampunk wardrobes and costumes usually have some sort of mechanical influence with cogs and gears attached. According to some...you just can't sew on some gears and cogs and call it steampunk...

I mean, come on; all newcomers need to start somewhere. Mentors are needed for newbies.

I was watching The Nerdist the other night and Chris and the panel were discussing how us geeks don't know everything geek/nerd and we don't have time to watch every Star Wars movie or Battlestar Galactica program and sadly enough...not everyone knows what a TARDIS is.

http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/nerdist/

The point I am trying to make here is that everyone can overlap their interests and they need some time to assimilate into the new environment. Not all of us did live action role playing- even us drama geeks.

BTW- TARDIS stands for time and dimension device in space! Now you know!

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve

With Valentine's Day coming up in less than a month I thought I would do some pre-Valentine's wardrobe prep. Most of us girls look forward to this day with anticipation . This is one of those days that retailers take advantage of consumers selling the concept of love and romance. If I am like most girls, we look forward to dressing up and having a night on the town with our sweetie.

When I was in high school I was on an allowance that didn't always allow me extras for special occasions like Homecoming dances or white glove parties. I felt lucky I had learned how to sew at a very early age. I used my allowance to buy fabric and patterns to make the expensive fancy dresses for these special nights.

I made a few poor choices when combining pattern to fabric. I didn't always pay attention to the fabric recommendations on the label. I learned the hard way.

In the 70s and 80s Gunne Sax clothing was rather popular. 

1970's Original Gunne Sax Coton and Lace Dress

Typically, the Gunne Sax styled dresses were made of cottons and calicos and trimmed in thin satin ribbon and lace. The Gunne Sax pattern I chose was a very 80s styled dress, big billowy sleeves and all.

I picked out a pink taffeta fabric, similar to the fabrics of special occasion dresses I saw in the stores at the mall. I was very excited to embark on my sewing project.

The laying out of the pattern, cutting and preparing to sew was the easy part. Let me first say, that taking on a Gunne Sax dress is ambitious. The dress contains many pieces, many ruffles and many tiny buttons holes. Things were going pretty good at the start, but once I got to the bottom ruffle(which was approximately 2 yards all on its own) I began having difficulty. The taffeta fabric I thought would make me a Cinderella type gown was letting me down. The edges of the fabric began fraying and I had to double stitch seams, which were possibly going to open once I was wearing it. The double seams worked but they did not solve the overall problem. There was also a problem trying to create tiny little loops for buttons down the front of the bodice, ugh!

I spent hours and hours on the dress- perhaps a good week and half of hours at night (after all my homework was done of course) prior to the dance- I even remember doing last minute stitching on the dress just a few hours before wearing it.

Here is the end result and yours truly at 15

Valentine's Day Dance 1983

I strongly suggest to you my readers to match your project to the proper fabric- There is a reason for the suggested fabrics. As you see in the photo- the end result was lovely and I had a lovely evening with my date; but unfortunately it did not store well and fraying continued and eventually it was given away.

I learned a lot from this project and think it helped me become a better seamstress.

Back To Basics

I am back to square one.

I told myself I was going to write this blog everyday as a way to re-direct my focus and improve my work habits. So, here I am, starting from square one because I allowed myself to lose focus and let day slip away. Square one is an ok place to be-it is a place you know where to start:: step 1!

Since my blog is supposed to expose my reader to aspects of nerdy, geeky aspects of fashion and sewing, I decided to make a list of basic items you might want to start from square one if you are making a new costume or upgrading your existing cyberwear. These items are basics that I think are important to have for projects.

1. lots of colored thread, several sizes of sewing needles and at least one pair of sharpened scissors

2. variety of mechanical destash pieces: gears, cogs, mechanical clock works

3. (new favorite item) sew in flexible circuits

4.various tools: seam ripper, needle nose pliers, point turner and presser, soldering iron, glue gun, grommet pliers and multiple temperature steam iron. And the last and most important

5. creativity

This is a good list of basic items to get you started on a new fantasy project. Here are a couple of pictures of hand made sci fi outfits using some of these items:

MLK 2012

It has been 44 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I decided to dedicate my blog to his memory today, through pictures. I was not quite a year old when he died but I did know of him through history books and the retelling of his work. The pictures I have seen of him; he was a very dapper dresser. Even as a young child he dressed swell.

A Is For Apron

I have a book by the same name, "A Is For Apron". If you are looking for inspiration to make funky and unusual aprons, I recommend this book.

I have always loved aprons, especially vintage aprons from the 40s. I do not come across aprons that old very often and especially ones that are not badly stained or badly frayed. One of the reasons I love doing what I do is the search- the love of the hunt. Lately, I have had a bit more luck finding some aprons in good condition but still not finding one from the 40s.

For a few years now pattern makers have been reissuing patterns of vintage styles with modern sizes (thank goodness! I wear a vintage size 18 1/2 to 20 and anything in those sizes are hard to find!). I have a couple of the reissue patterns that McCall's produced. I stole this photo from another blog (I hope the writer doesn't mind).

Circa 1940s

I own this picture and pattern AND I actually have an apron exactly like the pink check in the picture.

circa 1950s

This McCall's pattern 3979, is the one I own and use often. 

I made this apron (style B) from out of print Elvis fabric. 

Sunday Going To Church Clothes

My family is from the South; farm people, if you will. They are from East Texas to Mississippi and according to Ancestry.com - as far back as West Virginia. As a result of my upbringing and background, I was not immune to  old country sayings and colloquialisms. One that pops into my head often is "my Sunday go to meetin' clothes" or "my Sunday go to church clothes". My parents were born in the depression and brought up getting the 1 new pair of shoes and 1 new coat for the school term and dresses that were made of flour sacks. No really, they did. But despite the lack of money for more store bought clothing and accessories, Sunday was the day to display their finery.

When I was a little girl and going to church with the family I wore white gloves, some sort of hat with a ribbon and black patent leather shoes with frilly ankle socks. So, I guess I too, had my own Sunday go to meetin' clothes.

Living in New Orleans my church going was pretty limited to only going to the St. Louis Cathedral on Ash Wednesday - on  one such occasion entering the church after having leaving my last Mardi Gras party from the night before. 

I really loved Sundays in the French Quarter. There is about 20 churches of several denominations just in the Quarter and outlying neighborhoods; Treme, Marigny and old Storyville. People still dress for the Sunday services. Women will wear elaborate hats and dresses and men in their double breasted suits and shoes shined so bright you need to wear sunglasses to avoid the glare.

Easter Sunday service at St. Louis Cathedral

French Quarter Easter Parade on Royal Street

Congregation of beautiful African American women