Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Corona Couture: A Blouse that Screams


Pandemic Solo Fashion Show

A few weeks ago I came across a news clipping from Japan, where they had opened up an amusement park but in an attempt to reduce coronavirus risks, they also posted a sign saying: "Please scream inside your heart." To me, this seemed like a poetic encapsulation of the entire pandemic experience as well as a meditative mantra. As you get more tense and irritable during the isolation with restrictions and flat-out jerks who aren't following any health recommendations, best to scream inside your heart instead of at other people.

I took a blouse I never much wore or liked and did an all-around upcycle. My new pandemic mantra is now embroidered around the lower edge of the shirt. I top-stitched the shoulder seams using the same red embroidery thread. The gorgeous buttons are from a visit to my favorite button vendor on Portobello Road in London.

"please scream..." 

"...inside your heart."

Embroidery detail

Shouder detail

Fashion for a fragmented reality

Fashion postscript: I hand-stitched the pants early in the pandemic using fabric on hand (Kayla Kennington Designer Patterns, Perennial Pants Collection).





11 comments:

  1. Love, love, love. I embroidered same quote from a Japanese girl, I believe, on a birthday card for my husband.

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    1. Thanks! If a quote or phrase sticks in your near long enough, I say it’s worth stitching!

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  2. The outfit looks great — love the silhouette. Do you love the shirt now?

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    1. Yes! I have been wearing it for three days and counting.

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  3. Does the button vendor have a name? I might venture forth next time in London. I really love the shape of your shirt and the shape of the neckline.

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    1. No name, but if you are walking up from the lower road, he is about halfway up on the left. He gets his stuff in France, and I have bought some artist designs for textiles from him as well. But in that large crammed area with tarps above it there are a couple of notions vendors towards the front that have intriguing stuff too.

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  4. Hi again, in case my first attempt was sent by accident. I must have hit the wrong button. I was wanting to tell you how much I've enjoyed visiting your site for the first time. I love your style and approach to life. I think I may have stumbled upon your site looking for some fabric beads I saw on pintrest, but I didn't find any here as of yet. Is this something you do? I am on the board of our local bead society and am putting together a virtual workshop on fabric beads. I'm gathering info about artists who are doing this and came across you. Please excuse, if that is an error. Thanks!

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    1. Hi there. So good to hear that you enjoy the blog. And yes, I have worked with fabric beads - with a twist. This first post involves taking an old cherished dress from my younger days and turning it into a necklace - https://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2013/01/alchemy-from-nostalgia-to-necklace.html
      The second involved making beads and a necklace out of red flannel - http://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2013/01/red-flannel-beads.html
      Enjoy!

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