5.13.2015

so sui me

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

Anna Sui. You temptress. You magician. Queen of Kaleidoscopic Prints! Even when I don't know I want you, I WANT YOU! YOU CONSUME ME!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

In a totally platonic way, of course.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

When I saw this famous designer border print silk chiffon at Mood Fabrics online, I weirdly pounced. Weird, because let's face it, she is black, cream, and pastel. WHO AM I.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

Upon arrival, the selvedge revealed that the famous designer was Anna Sui circa 2012, cue angels singing, and suddenly I was all oh THAT'S why. One of my very first (and still favorite) MSN projects was a draped silk panel print maxi dress by that luscious lady. I'm like a moth to a flame for that minx!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

I ordered 3 yards, not knowing what it would be, and once again I was left with fumes of fabric. But playing with this border print was SO much fun. Which way should the cascading roses go? Black diamonds pointing up or down? Cut on the cross grain? Color or cream near my face? Both print and pattern delighted my brain and my peepers the entire weekend I sewed it up!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

OOO YEAH let's talk about that pattern. I knew I wanted Vogue 9076 the minute I saw it, and it did not disappoint. I will point out, for you short waisted sewists out there: you'll want to reduce the length of the bodice. And you'll want to do it before you cut out the metallic gold lace that you're planning on layering over pale sea foam green leather (leather from FIT, lace from Paron, I think, as they've both been languishing on my shelf for years). 

I added an l/s line about 2 inches above the waist, and shortened by 1 1/4 inches. So, out of the package, this section is longer. Also didn't use the placket, opting for a leather strip on the reverse to enclose the leather loops for these EXQUISITE vintage buttons, a giftie from Pandora Sews. LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE TREASURES! Thank you girl! These were meant to be together!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076
And I went AWOL on the skirt as well, going maxi length with rectangles of gathered yardage to make the most of the print. The sweep of this baby is glorious! One of those fabrics that requires constant fondling. I decided I wanted a layering piece, and so left the front skirt open… any little breeze catches it and sends it flying...

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | anna sui | vogue 9076

In the final moments, the initial hem was giving me Little House On The Prairie. I had one long strip of selvedge left, which I reattached with a french seam at the hemline to create a double border.  

Speaking of prairies, over at MSN I bemoaned the janky corner of NY I minced about in for pics, and the choice of ensemble (the detail shot of the yoke is circa my solo shoot, all of which you can see at MSN). Though we could not find the southern french field I had in mind, Ruggy's reshoot still made me feel like a spring prairie princess. 

Which has everything to do with having my guy's eyes on me, and nothing to do with the active driveway.

this sweepy floral whatchamacallit was made, in part, using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the mood sewing network.

88 comments:

  1. I love it!! I love it!! Oh my word, this is beautiful! Like you, I usually go with "more colour!!", but this is just gorgeous. And the gold lace, and the seafoam, and, and... WOW!

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  2. What a wonderful eye you have....

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  3. So lovely! I can just imagine you swooshing down the street in this one.

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    Replies
    1. i really couldn't stop touching it. it requires a surprisingly wide berth.

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  4. Oh wow it's breathtaking! You really did this fabric justice!

    www.StyleSewMe.com

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    1. thanks eryn, and i love your latest creation on your blog!

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  5. I hope you stand in front of a fan at all times wearing this!

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    1. perhaps i should buy one of those mini handhelds they used to ban in school...

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  6. Undeniably spectacular! I don't even know what you'd call this sort of garment but it's magical.

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  7. I love it! I've been waiting to see what you came up with for this print. I saw it on the website and went back and forth about the print until it was sold out. Oh well, enjoy it in all its loveliness!

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    1. i know, it's SAD! there's a "notify" button in case it comes back in, i've seen stuff come back so you might try that!

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  8. GORGEOUS!! I love it as a layering piece - so genius! I totally want this pattern... it's been in my cart just waiting for a sale. What do ya know? ;)

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  9. You have totally nailed the '70s look! Love everything about this. Well done you!

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  10. Oona, now that you longified (yes, I made that a verb) this pattern, I'm much more interested in this pattern. I also like how you made it a lounging robe worthy of the late and great Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo and other wonderful ladies of the silver screen. This looks so 1930s, 1940s. And you rock this beauty in those jeans. I'm long-waisted, so this pattern could work for me. Come to my part of the world if you want more Anna Sui silks. They do surface by the bolt from time to time at my favorite fabric source. I will have to see if there's any in stock now that you've got me thinking about this fabric. MUST be a border print of course.

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    1. you know, i've been wanting to do this up as a lounging robe, and now i'm gong to have to do it. and as-is this pattern would be great for the long waisted, please do it up in one of those sui bolts!

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  11. Oh! I love it even more after seeing it again on your blog. Beautiful pictures! Beautiful dress!

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  12. Love it!! I'm in love with the fabric and the how it moves!!!

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  13. I agree with Maddie - you need a portable fan at all times so it wafts your beautiful dress with such beguiling magic!

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  14. YESSSSSSS!!!! Not only is that...whatchamacallit incredibly beautiful, but now it gives me the motivation to finally sew up a similar whatchamacallit that I've been drooling over on the Lekala website for a long time. Now to find some amazing fabric, since I know that stuff is either long gone or out of my budget... Seriously though, how DO you find all those cool fabrics on there? Is there a search term trick? Because every time I search I can't find anything that really calls to me, but all the Mood sewing bloggers find pretty fabrics...

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  15. Oh my gosh, this is amazing! Love the fabric--and such an impressive use of an amazing border print!

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    1. thank you! there's so much room to play with a border print, no?

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  16. You're a million times more creative than I. I saw this fabric and bolted at all the various things going on. I wanted to love it because Ms Sui and I got it going on. But alas I was not worthy.

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  17. I love how you can literally take anything and make it so YOU. As you said, the pastels aren't typically your color palette but you managed to beat those delicate prairie roses into submission anyways. I mean of course you did. Is there any fabric out there you can't conquer?! It's fantastic. You're fantastic.

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  18. Beautiful. I love its swishy gorgeousness.

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  19. be still my heart... this fabric and the gorgeousness you coaxed it into being, is, quite literally, giving me the butterflies ^__^

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  20. the double border hem idea was genius, it really balances it out. overall awesomeness ;o)

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    1. thank you, yes, i think it really needed that extra swath of black!

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  21. This is the most perfect thing. EVER.

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  22. Fabulous! This is what you do best...actually, you seem to do everything best, but I digress! Now, forgive me, but had I seen that Vogue pattern prior to seeing your diaphanous creation here, I would have thought matronly, bordering on dowdy. And trust me, if I had sewn it, my picture would be right there beside the definition of a dowdy matron, LOL. 'Tis true though. You see fabrics and patterns both, with such an artistic eye. It's magic to see your designs unfold. You are an inspiration to us all!

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    1. haha, i got an instant 70s vibe from it! so intriguing, how we all see the same thing differently.

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  23. OMG, Oona! I can not think of a more perfect use for those buttons. This is AH-mazing!

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  24. YOU ARE A PEACOCK! A BEAUTIFUL PEACOCK! Man this is freaking amazing.

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  25. Wahou,your dress is stunning !!! And this fabric is lovely ! You really did a great job and you certainly know how to highlight a pattern ! Now I'm dreaming about it in a maxi lengh.

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    1. i *want* to make it as the envelope shows, but all i can think of is another maxi!

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  26. Oh wow, that is absolutely beautiful! :)

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  27. This is so exquisite. That is all :)

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  28. stunning - perfect use for the fabric.................. it works so well with jeans and can see it working so well with plain jersey maxis.................. its such a versatile piece - good work on the hem too

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  29. You continue to amaze me - spectacular!

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  30. This must be made into an ice cream flavour, it is soo delicious! Don't you just love the way silk chiffon flutters in the wind? To die for!

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  31. This is magnificent. I don't know how I missed this pattern! It has so many 70's boho vibes I feel like it's a crime that Vogue didn't just SEND it to me! Anyway - clearly I needed an Oonaballoona Technicolor Dream Dress version to make me wise up! I will be adding this to my queue! Or just spending every free moment working on my telekinetic powers to steal yours... I mean.... why mess with perfection?

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  32. I am in love!!! This is the most spectacular thing I have seen. You look freaking amazing as always.

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  33. This is absolutely stunning! I am now desperate for a copy-cat outfit for my own wardrobe, despite having absolutely no occasion suitable to wear such an outfit. I can't imagine it would go down well on my local high street, but I probably shouldn't let that stop me!

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  34. This is why going to Mood in L.A. is fraught with danger! Although I'm more a fool for the Carolina Herrera roll-ends...

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  35. OK, you look so much happier in these pics! Love 'em!

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  36. And once again you leave me in awe.

    Greetings from your blogless follower, Isabel.

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  37. You are fabulous and so is this dress. I too had my mind set on this pattern as soon as I saw it. I love what you have done with it!

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  38. Oh, I am late to this post but that dress is spectacular. The fabric! It makes me want to leave behind my boring solids and stripes and go full on floral. Beautiful.

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  39. ... and she teamed it with jeans. JEANS!!! There aren't many people who would either, 1. Dare, or 2. Succeed. You did both magnificently ... and, you ALWAYS make me smile. Thank you Miss Balloona - onwards and ever upwards.
    ps haven't got around to actually "posting" anything, but I've got a Blog ;)

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  40. So I am SUPER late to this post and your blog. Never EVER was exposed to you but I love you already. I'm so bummed that this fabric is sold out!! It's too good- a floral AND a black and cream print?!?! My favorite. And thanks for inspiring me to make this longer and a layering piece-this will be my base pattern for a Solange inspired look!

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  41. Absolutely G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! You have such an incredible eye for prints and textiles, you sewing inspiration, you. Did you make those fabulously 70s jeans, too?! - Yasmeen

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  42. Oh wow. Such a glorious fabric! And you totally did it justice. Pal green leather? Emerald buttons? Gold lace? Seems disparate and it all works so perfectly together! I love it! You're a fabric pairing genius :)

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  43. I know I'm so late posting my comment, but dang gurl!!!! This right here, OMG!!!!!!!!!!! on fiyah!!!! I love it!!!!! You did your thing (as your ALWAYS do) with this!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  44. Top is fabulous! Im making the jeans but wait - are they side zip? Do tell.

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  45. Beautiful rockstar outfit! OK I found the jeans details on the coat blog so you can disregard my asking if they are side zip. 2 zippers!

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  46. I have no words other than SPECTACULAR!!!

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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!