7.04.2013

kick off your shoes and jump around like a firecracker


extra boozy points for anyone who can name that song.

this fourth of july, i decided to go a bit less literal.  i’ve tried the red, white ‘n blue route before, but the outfit usually ends up doomed to the costume section of my closet (there’s also a cow print skirt in there for when i have to audition for the role of Hooker With A Heart Of Gold).  however, italian fireworks are very much my friend.  so when i saw this symphony of italian stretch cotton color online at mood fabrics, i gleefully jumped into four yards of starburst.


i had previously pounced on a double face neoprene as well, found in-store before my dash to dallas.  when the two met in my hotel room, sparks flew.  one can never stand in the way of true love, especially when one of the star crossed lovers possesses the overpowering personality of neon.  i put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and left them alone for awhile.  


i must tell you now that this neoprene has the smoothest of touch.  absolutely slippery against the skin.  barry white, stand back.  the front desk received several complaints that day.

chastised, Neon decided to show its demure side.  the grey tone brought the noise level down just enough to make everyone happy (including those debating with me on facebook & instagram).  this split personality yardage was the perfect candidate for by hand london’s newest (fabulous amazing holy cow get in nownownow) pattern, the victoria blazer, the third lover in this threesome.   how amazing are those style lines?!  i adore that neckline dart! and once again, a perfect right-out-of-the-envelope stunner.  not a SINGLE adjustment.  unless you count the fact that i took advantage of the schizophrenic fabric to go for lining and shell all-in-one...  i will most definitely be making another with full on lining.

lemme just gush screamtype for a couple sentences more: THE DELECTABLE LADIES OF BY HAND LONDON ROCK MY WORLD.  THEIR BRILLIANT HANDS SHOULD BE DIPPED IN GOLD.  GOLD, I TELL YOU.



okay, let’s chat about the stretch cotton, we don’t want it to get jealous.  this italian can confirm, jealousy in a relationship is a killer.  i’d snagged simplicity 2212 on a joann’s grab-every-blue-envelope-sale-run, and the stretch was perfect for its figure hugging curves.  it's a medium weight, and it feels substantial on the skin (read: no underoo lines).  not a single little bit of color bleed in the prewash!  i spent a good five hours laying out my pattern pieces–although i knew i didn’t have enough to match up the print on this 14 piece pattern, i didn’t want any twinning going on.


or any firecrackers exploding in the wrong areas.  mount crackatoa is dangerous.  safety first, yo.


 happy fourth to those stateside!  may you be covered in color!

this eye searing ensemble was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.

105 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! That is one firecracker of a dress! I wish I had the ego to go along whit this dress... Maybe somewhere else, like.....NYC?! :D
    You make it rock!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sometimes the dress will give you the ego you might need... go for it!!!

      Delete
  2. Go Girrrrrl https://www.facebook.com/SassySewingBees

    ReplyDelete
  3. damn! now i need that blazer! and i don't even like neon colors.. and the dress is amazing too! you are the queen of maxi dresses, sis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i'm kind of amazed you don't go for neon, sis! and i must share that crown with you, as i'm STILL jonesing your triangle halter maxi amazer...

      Delete
  4. I second Mokosha! I am in love with this dress, almost as much as the Anna Sui panel dress. Happy Independence Day - and oh, could you be riffin' on Naked City?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS like my favorite summer song EVER!

      Delete
  5. I was chuckling all through the hotel scenario, but..."or any firecrackers exploding in the wrong areas"....cuppa joe currently extruded through nostrils, LOL - awesome dress!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That jacket-- amazing! Neoprene?! You are so cool. I'm searching online for double faced neoprene now. Is it hot?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. surprisingly no. it feels cool even-- i guess we use it to keep hot stuff hot & cold stuff cold, so maybe if i heated it up it would be a different story!

      Delete
  7. Love this dress! The shaping and fit is really flattering, and the print is really mod and cool, and for some reason it reminds me of the Sesame Street pinball numbers song. I know, weird association, but it's a good one for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i totally get that. i'll probably make it the theme song for this dress!

      Delete
  8. That outfit is stunning, nice job!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I already commented on your mood post but you are one of my favourite humans. That is all. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lady, you're the best. and now i think of you when i do my 'do.

      Delete
  10. Your dress looks amazing! I also love your blazer, I really like the double faced neoprene.. Hope you have an awesome fouth of july!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the dress and THAT blazer! A match made in heaven :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, that blazer is so brilliant. I have too much in my queue right now but I really must pick up that pattern. I love the pop of neon :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm not sure where to start.... but both of these are AMAZING!! Looking at the line drawings on the Simplicity pattern, I'm left feeling pretty uninspired, but in true fashion you've nailed the fabric choice and it's brilliant! And the grey and neon... you have vision!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh yeah, i hated the line & real life shots... but those blue envelopes hold gold so long as it's not a child or an accessory!

      Delete
  14. OH MY GOSH. I must have that cotton...

    ReplyDelete
  15. all i can think of when i see this dress is that you need to be cast as dorothy (diana ross) in a remake of the wiz and wear this creation. i mean that as a good thing of course :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh yeah, this is a cool dress....I like, I like....

    ReplyDelete
  17. That dress is stunning. Award-show-worthy. No, scratch that. It's too good for an award show. Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  18. You look stunning as always and to make a victoria in this perfect neopren is just brilliant (while I'm still on the hunt for the right fabric for that girl)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh, Oooona!! You look like a Rock Star!! Love the dress so much, I may travel Stateside and steal it...(shhhhh). And, you jacket came out just beautifully! (The song is Naked City, Love to See it Shine, btw). Happy 4th of July!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I cannot recognise the song, but I do recognise the feeling.
    Great dress. Celebratory without being too costume-y - and, well, I just love that empire line and maxi skirt, simple as that.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This dress is totally amazing, but you knew that already!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i had an inkling...but to be honest i'm never convinced till i wear it out the first time!!

      Delete
  22. This is blinking AMAZING dress, and an AWESOME jacket. I love your style, I need some more colourful patterns in my life :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gorgeous, loving the jacketttt so much. GAHH need the patternnn

    ReplyDelete
  24. Safety first? You look dangerous Oona! Great holiday ensemble !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aah, i love it! i look dangerous! i guess you know i am (...camera killer...)

      Delete
  25. Lovely, crazy, fashionable...Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love your fashion sense! I could not pull it off but you always look AMAZING!
    Truly great fabrics and love the little jacket!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. uh uh linda, i've seen your technicolor laurel, not true! :)

      Delete
  27. that outfit is killer! i've loved all the victoria blazers, definitely on the list! love the neon contrast. also, great job with pattern placement on the dress--that could have gone very wrong very quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! by the time i was done cutting i needed a back massage :)

      Delete
  28. Fabulous - as always!!! You look like a firecracker in that dress! Also, love your twist on the Victoria blazer - two-sided neoprene?? You saucy minx, you...

    ReplyDelete
  29. Look at that hair! Beautiful! And love the ensemble:)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Looking terrif, dahlink - and from one "krackatowa" to another, I totally agree about the fireworks in the wrong places *LOL*

    Hope your day was amazing! Oh, I got my copy of that amazing patternmaking book you mentioned in an earlier post - it is incredible! So in love right now :)

    Love,
    Mugsy

    ReplyDelete
  31. neoprene jacket - that's a winner! Neon is awesome. Your hair is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  32. DUDE!!!! I have no words. Except I LOVE YOU. Done us more than proud, yet again. I mean, neon-prene???!! YES.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. one day i shall meet you wearing full on BHL...one day...

      amazing, ferocious, fantastic work, yet again!!

      Delete
  33. How Do you make these crazy fabrics work? This one is right up there with the Anna Sui Maxi Dress. Fab-U.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ah thank you! speaking of, i believe i'm wearing miss anna tonight :)

      Delete
  34. i love the neon contrasting on the jacket. ugh, i've got to get off my bum and sew up that victoria blazer. and i love the flare on the dress. so dramatic!

    ReplyDelete
  35. that neoprene is genius. loving it!

    ReplyDelete
  36. OK, the blazer is as adorable as I thought it would be, but I LOVE THAT DRESS! ERMAGERD!!!!!

    /sigh.

    Also, your hair. Is so. Amazing. I think I'm going to worship it. Would it mind a little altar, maybe a bit of incense?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. girl, this pattern is RIGHT up your alley. drop waist to the max.

      you have me rolling on the floor with the shrine. YES.

      Delete
  37. Oona, that dress. Ermahgerd! Stunner.

    ReplyDelete
  38. So I was thinking more about this Neoprene jacket, how the hell did you make a fabric that is used for rubber gloves, lunchboxes, and wetsuits, work? Amazing!

    Is it hot? Just curious?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. not at all! especially if i put it on in an AC'd room first. it sort of keeps the properties of the climate it starts out in.

      Delete
  39. ERMEGERD OOOOOOONNNNAAAAAA. You look incredible! The dress is just unbelievable with those AHMAHZING colors, and the jacket? DIVINE. Sheer perfection, my darling friend!

    ReplyDelete
  40. love that yu did the version with the godets....completely stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  41. The dress, the jacket.. Deeevine! I love that firecracker print and I know how hard neoprene is to work with- so hats off to you for making such a lovely structured jacket. Well done!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was actually crazy easy-- in fact i think one side is maybe sweatshirt ish? who knows!

      Delete
  42. You look fabulous!! I love the look, and your hair tops it off perfectly. Oona, you are so talented!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! i'm beginning to think of my hair as another piece of clothing:))

      Delete
  43. Holy crap that's fabulous with three snaps in Z FORMATION. You amaze me, every time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YOU amaze ME pink lady!! i loved your supermarket outfit!!

      Delete
  44. I can't put it any better than ladykatza. Love, love, LOVE this combo.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I can't put it any better than ladykatza. Love, love, LOVE this combo.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I really like that combo. And your such a good writer man I was reading some of your history and now I feel drunk and I wasn't drinking at all,I swear.
    Natalie

    ReplyDelete
  47. wowee hello you! :) just popped over for a looksy after byhandlondon shared your awesomeness on their page. I am so pleased to find a fellow funky colour happy sewer in this blogland yahoo!!!!!! ..now off to peruse the rest of your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Wow, love, love love this dress. Looks kind of psychadelic and African at the same time! I usually only use organic fabrics like www.organiccottonplus.com but I'll definitely check out Mood fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mood has some organic stuff too. i haven't tried it yet...

      Delete
  49. Love, love, love this dress! I recently made a skirt with a great stretch cotton and now it's all I want to sew with. Also, wanted to say that after reading your RAVE about Patternmaking, I impulse bought it and I'm in love. So, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Just dropping by to say gorgeous fabric! Fabulous fit! A dress that requires much swirling. :) Join me for pattern making adventures - http://studiofaro-wellsuited.blogspot.com.au/

    ReplyDelete
  51. Wow. The jacket, the dress, the FABRIC! Amazing! I totally want to go and make my own/almost identical versions of both of those right now!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Stop the press! That jacket! I know it's a By Hand London Victoria Blazer (moves up wish list ever so slightly)...but this lining caper is wicked. Does the pattern come so you can completely inside-out the whole thing? I've been eyeing that pattern off for ages, but it never occurred to me that it was (potentially) fully reversible. And at this particular moment in time I really feel like inside-outable is a much better term.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! you *can* make it reversible--i believe the ladies at BHL explained how in a sewalong! but this is a doubleface material, so it inside-outabled itself:)

      Delete

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!