8.30.2020

What’s In My Closet

What’s In My Closet | oonaballoona by Marcy Harriell

Hands down, when we decided to get some breathing room away from the city this summer, the thing I stalled on THE MOST was what would make it into my suitcase. Well before I learned to sew, clothing was my armor, and once I learned how to sew my own armor? Forget it! Sewists know the meaning of a garment!

But. I gotta have a LOT of choices to feel right. I’m rarely in the same garment all day long. If the color I’m in suddenly feels out of sync, the music from the Emerald City scene in The Wiz plays in my head, I shout COSTUME CHANGE, and stomp off to the closet, Quincy Jones grinning at me from my mind palace all the while. Maybe this need is borne out of all the quick changes I’ve had to make as an actress? All that wriggling into gowns, into pants under dresses, out of bras and blazers; offstage in little cloth booths, in public LA parking lots, in empty NY stairwells, in just about anywhere but bathrooms (because public restrooms: gross)...maybe it trained me to want change.

One of my favorite casting directors once asked me to read for a different role than I was initially called in for, and said: “You can go home and change first. I know you like to have the right outfit on.” AND THEN SHE BECAME MY VERY FAVORITE CASTING DIRECTOR.

Costume changes have been infinitely easier these past six months, as a swap is no problem when you’re already locked down twelve feet from your closet. Silver linings, y’all. The collage above is some of what’s in my handmade, truncated closet, and you can see ALL of what’s in it, on my shimmying body, on Ye Olde YouTube. I was in the middle of boogying through this closet runway video, questioning my sanity, when Renee wondered what I’d packed. I took that question as a green light and forged ahead. You’ll either get a laugh out if it, or get a laugh at me. I’ll take either option. Most times, when I look at my filmed frolicking, I’m doing the latter.

(Oh, and jump to the end for a dancing Rob.)

How ‘bout it? Do you change your look to change your mood? If not, I highly recommend it! Making this video made me grin, ear to ear.

23 comments:

  1. Love you, Rob and everything you made. Spectacular! I was especially impressed by the bathing suits. Perhaps you could quote the patterns and their numbers for the bathing suits.

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    1. Thank you Barbara! I was thinking about going back into the video and talking about patterns...the blue “denim” swimsuit is the Bombshell by Closet Core Patterns. The other pieces are vintage rescues I mentioned in my caption! I’d love to copy that teeny romper, though.

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  2. What delicious fun! Every piece in your closet is a fabulous work of art, and so is the person inside. Thanks for bring a big grin to my face.

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    1. Thank you, and you are SO welcome. I aim to provide grins!!!

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  3. It was a cute video and I enjoyed it. A brief bit of fun and love in the midst of all that's happening in the world...so thank you!

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  4. Well, that was fun!
    What pattern was the hooded caftan? (I would search on the blog but I don't see how.)

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    1. Ah that was a vintage pattern! On the right sidebar there's a link to "my closet" which has clickable pics for every blogged garment. I think it was an old vogue pattern!

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    2. Thank you Marcy. Stay safe & happy!

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  5. I am stilling smiling from watching your video!...Such a wonderful joyous way to start my day...Thank You!

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  6. Usually when I'm itching for a wardrobe change it's into joggers and a tshirt! It's a bit frowned upon at work... at least by me it is! I'm eyeing the green dress second picture top left. Self-drafted/rescued? It screams 'wear me now!"

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    1. Hey, joggers need love too! ;)
      That little green shortie was from season one of Re:Fashion, a floor length rescued and refashioned sack! There's a blog post around here, but it's also up on Craftsy;)

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  7. That was a great video and you are amazing.

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  8. Wondering if you have tnt patterns and what they are. Several of these dramatic and beautiful clothing items look like the same pattern was used. Wonderfully entertaining video! Thank you.

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    1. Thank you! I do have some tnt patterns...although to be honest most of them are self drafted now! The True Bias Ogden cami makes three appearances, and Vogue 9253 is in there a couple times.

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  9. What a fabulously fun film full of frocks and fascinating finery! Loved the dancing at the end too! Rob's cameo was fab too! I change my outfit many times each day, partly due to the various activities, partly mood and partly because my internal thermometer is wacked now that I'm in menopause. Bright colours and prints makes me happy!

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    1. oh my god lolololol!!!! Isn't it great to be in control of your own wardrobe?!

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  10. Absolutely fabulous,love the outfits and your video was great-more more more please

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  11. Such a great video, thanks so much for making it and sharing it with us! Love the colour explosion!

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!