11.17.2013

out in the wild

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | out in the wild

I find that as much as I may love a project, I don't really know if it works until I've worn it in real life. You know, for more than blog pictures. For stomping around and eating in and ‪bien sûr‬, drinking in. That's the mark of a keeper or a clunker. Apparently this test run should also be applied to projects I've hastily labeled clunkers.  

I threw this doomed shinariffic polytastic blazer on for a girls' night out with the absolute Good God Perfection that is Sarah Deming (who snapped this shot), and suddenly it's my favorite piece in my closet. Partly because it's now soaked in amazing memories, but also because...it worked. We ate six tons of pork and cheese, we drank korean vodka, we marched up to strangers and demanded to learn their dance moves (happening above). 

This jacket was in my giveaway section five days ago. Never worn, even for blog photos. I guess I threw it on that night because I was already going out of my comfort zone. Party. With complete strangers. WITH NO SEWING IN COMMON. Why not go whole hog and wear a completely uncomfortable, completely untested garment?

By the end of the night I wanted to hug that club full of strangers. We did hug about half of them, before happily stomping off down the street, wondering why New York was so deserted on a Wednesday night at 2 am...

Do you test in the wild?

28 comments:

  1. OK, now we need to see more photos of this jacket!!!!!

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  2. Agreed! More photos!!!

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    1. yes ladies, proper photos coming!!! first, i think i shall line the pardoned jacket :)

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  3. Wow, awesome! I guess you really don't know if something works till you give it a whirl. I have several things that I've only ever worn for the blog.

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    1. have you tried them outside yet? it's always enlightening....

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  4. Wow, awesome! I guess you really don't know if something works till you give it a whirl. I have several things that I've only ever worn for the blog.

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  5. Looks fab! And sounds like an amazing night- no wonder you love your jacket now! Yay for second chances!

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  6. Ok...since you like it now its time to let us see some more photos :)

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  7. I usually sew with an event in mind... wear it once for photos, once for the event, then it's shoved in the closet. I think its because my sewing is not practical for every day wear? There are only about 5 handmade dresses (out of 50?!) that I have worn more than once... I'm trying to sew more wearable dresses now. Maxis for summer!

    Can't wait to see more pics of this jacket!

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  8. Yes, I test. If my clothes (particularly jeans) pass the skate test, then they are well made and worthy of keeping. I roll hard, too y'all.

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  9. Testing in the wild is the true test! That jacket looks amazeballs!! Yes please more pictures!

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  10. Oh yeah, I totally agree - wearing for a day is the true test of the like-or-hate decision!

    (Although in none of my wear-for-a-day tests have I managed to get a story like that, or such a fantastic action photo.... Clearly, I need to channel my inner Oona a bit more. ;-)

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  11. Great photo- that looks like a fun evening. Now, more daylight photos of the jacket please!

    I totally field-test everything I make, even if I hate it.. and sometimes it takes months before I can face certain items- because you never know what's going to be surprisingly awesome-or awful.

    Just this Saturday I wore a wiggle dress out that was perfect until the end of the evening when the high neck started to choke me. Might have to do a little bit of a re-edit there if I'm going to wear it again...

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  12. Ooh I want to see what this actually looks like!

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  13. Great photo!! I agree, we MUST see this sparkler of a jacket!

    And I totally agree with the testing in the wild theory! If it can't stand up to my day to day then it usually hangs forlornly in my closet until enough time passes that it doesn't break my heart to get rid of it. My clothes are for WEARING - not staring at, dammit!

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  14. Testing in the wild is the best! You look amazing as always - and I loved the sleeves on that pink number from a post or two ago - thrilling! *lol*
    Now I must go back to blogger and find out why I wasn't updated on your posts (I'm following you...mwa ha, ha, ha) probably bad karma, the b*. Was sick with a dreadful cold / flu thingy that everyone else in the office seems to have - good thing I was on vacation (blah!!)
    Party on, dudette, and keep on testing in the wild. Heck, come on up to Toronto, the city run by the crackhead drunkard *LOL* Can't get any wilder than here, my dear...

    Love,
    Mugsy

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  15. I love it! That moment when you throw on a garment you weren't sure about and it just WORKS and becomes a favorite -- it's the best! I never give anything away without wearing it in the wild at least once because sometimes you never know! Can't wait for the full jacket post because from the pic you posted, that jacket looks FUN. :-D

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  16. Got to test in the wild!! I'm with the rest of the ladies. Let's see more of this jacket!!

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  17. Great post! That shinariffic jacket looks like it was begging to be taken out into the wild! Unfortunately I have to test all of my stuff in the wild because my bank manager said so! Our wilds though don't equate to the same thing! A pic of me pushing my kid on a swing in the playground in a new top somehow doesn't pack the same punch as your Big Apple rock and rolling one! More pics please so I can live vicariously through your wild!
    Christine

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  18. getting dance moves off strangers, vodka, pork and cheese that sounds like a hell' a fabulous and any garment involved is obvs fab by association.

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  19. Your clothes have far more fun than mine!

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  20. that's the way i usualy test my clothes (only because i usually make all of my brand new garments for the certain event that is going to happen, and because i'm too lazy to make them on time.. so i finish the said garment moments before i leave to attend the said event).. it's been said before, but i too am dying too se more pics of that jacket

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  21. Testing in the wild is the only way my me-made stuff gets past the I've-been-looking-at-you-for-two-weeks-straight-and-totally-bored-with-you phase. Gosh, it'd be so fun to play Oona dress up and get lost in your closet. There are probably all sorts of goody surprises like shiny jackets in there... amiright?

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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!