Getting out of the house

...just to stare at other people's abode and fancy toys... one would think we are getting too old for that. Or rather, too old not have any of our own.

Truth is we didn't even afford the staring in the context of the two-day trip to London it involved, but we did it anyway. Last couple of months have been trying and the future is yet to become bright.  Not really capable to deal with our problems, what did we do? 

We took a vacation, that's right. Just your standard London excursion recipe: visit the Zoo, the V&A and the Natural Science Museum, eat lots of food and drink plenty of booze, walk till you get blisters and farther, and mostly, be together. Then do it again, soon.

 

hope you'll love me tomorrow

when prettiness beats envy

factory fun 

Adrian's better friends

 Little Venice

 togetherness

a flashy blonde

spotlight thief

along Regent's Canal

 display of chandeliers at the V&A

Little red riding hood meets the mid 1930's tunic and hat combo

Yet another project based on a wool and silk mix, this tunic is knitted with Rennie Castle yarn (58% Lambswool / 42% Silk)), colour Venlaw, in a dk weight (comes on a cone). There is 4 ply version that actually comes in balls for hand knitting, but  here the cone version was used because of an opportunity to buy it at a discounted price. 

The yarn is nice and tweedy - the main pinky-red shade is peppered with lots of multicoloured tiny flecks, but I would say that the representation of this colour on most on lines sources is not terribly accurate, as it is rather muted, not an intense red at all, and with a decisive pink tinge (pics below are closer to reality). It knitted well but when washed stretched quite a bit, and I am not sure what surprises are awaiting ahead on further washes...

In the meantime I am wearing it as it is, and I have to say, for a mid 1930's inspired project, this tunic proves to be very versatile and works with a variety of modern garments too. I was somewhat worried that I would end up with a costume-y looking, difficult to wear piece, but far from it. And the cherry on the cake is the quirky hat: makes the whole thing really fun to wear.

P.S. Despite the title, there's no hood to speak of, but a sailor collar...

Châtelaine chic

Since I was off yesterday the weather quite predictably went back to being gray, wet and horrible, meaning my visit to the Berkeley estate had to be confined to the castle alone. It's a splendid place, and I am looking forward to returning there at some sunnier time.

On the plus side the cool temperatures meant I could wear my new knitwear ensemble, and if you're wondering about the weak pun in the title, well I was simply hinting at how my hat resembles one of those medieval roundlet hats - so very fetching for the place I found myself to be.

Photographing is not allowed inside the castle therefore my outfit shots were taken on my return home, but a dark colour scheme (wine, navy and cream) and artificial light don't make the best of friends. I tried to lighten some of the pics so that the shapes and colours are actually visible. 

No specific pattern was followed, plus I have the unfortunate habit of changing my mind several times throughout a project, so what started off as a dress ended up a two piece ensemble with early and mid 30's details mixed in. In spite of that I feel it has a very authentic 30's look to it and I am particularly chaffed with the sleeves. Those, the inverted V and the peplum were all new elements to mum too, but she simply sailed through knitting them.

The hat was inspired by a velvet little number I've seen somewhere, and it is simply a skullcap worn at an angle on which a rope twisted of two skinny knitted lengths was placed at a different angle giving it a bit of height and a slight turban look. These are not sewn in place but secured with a hat pin, with the ends tucked underneath - meaning I get to play with them every time I wear the hat. 

Whilst the original hat was the same colour all over, I preferred to try a contrast and repeated that in the scarves worn around the boat neckline. I'm glad I have: it's great fun and it lifts the ensemble, albeit perhaps a little darker than ideal in terms of pairing the navy and the wine (as a result the cream looks white)

The one thing  that doesn't work and needs replacing is the waist elastic band in the skirt, as it doesn't stretch correctly and allows the skirt to drop an inch or so below where it should sit creating an ugly gap right below the buckle. I'm hoping this will be easily rectified.

On hindsight I'm not sure the peplum was such a great idea as it gives me a big hip look making me appear more pear shaped than I actually am - not too upsetting overall though after a first outing. Let's hope it doesn't end up getting on my nerves on the long run.

 P.S. Here is me posing, not entirely sure why, with a Romanian Easter egg, souvenir from a lot I decorated a few weeks ago...

Caped for spring

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Outfit details:

1930's inspired, knitted cape, with vintage vegetable ivory buttons and a 1930's buckle;

vintage crochet beret from etsy, vintage glass beaded hat pin, also from etsy;

modern skirt and Miss L-Fire shoes. 

Whilst spring remains in the realms of the imagination, this little project has come to life - if a somewhat unfulfilled one as I will further explain. Starting point to be observed below, in the shape of this McCall cape, which in my version has a shorter length.
This was partially to do with the limited quantity of yarn available - 900g -1000g of a discontinued Rowan Chunky Tweed (the back of the vest which is not visible is made of a different yarn). I am actually on the lookout for more of this yarn if anyone is de-stashing, as this project really needs some rounding up.

There were not only those issues that made me choose a shorter length, but also thoughts of practicality and look - I did not want this to be totally over the top; looking back on this I'm not sure the option I took had any impact on those matters, however a longer length, if achievable at all, would have resulted in a heavier fabric and the cape would have been pulled down a lot more by its own weight.

 

 I am happy overall with the way the yarn behaved - saying this from the perspective of one who didn't actually do the knitting job :) - the texture and weight were a good match for this project, and the construction gives it a nice drape at the back. There is an unfortunate tendency for the front sides to roll in despite a chunkier border worked by mother, but hey, knitted fabric will do that. 

What is far more bothersome is that due to an error of calculation the cape sides meet at the front a lot further then required. This results into the best part of my arms showing, only made worse by a tendency of the cape to gather and pull towards the back. 

Now as a temporary measure I folded the top sides of the cape at the shoulder and pinned them in place with buttons, which changes a bit the design of the coat, not only at the front, but also at the back where this takes somewhat away from that swing shape that you can see in the McCall image. It's the best I can do until this can make its way back to mother for proper attention.

You can see below how messy the button job is, as I couldn't get the sides of the cape to fold neatly and at the same level, and there is some pulling at the vest going on as well. There are ways to put this right while also going back to the original design of the cape at the front. I think it needs  2 sections added to it so it becomes wider and covers the shoulder/arm as intended without being puled from the sides by buttons or otherwise.

This however involves getting my hands on more yarn, which is proving more than challenging as this was discontinued quite a while back. I am thinking to unravel the vest and use the material to make up the 2 extra sections I need. I could then have the vest re-knitted from a substitute yarn - the trouble I am having here though is finding something that would match not only the texture but the colour too.. What a mess, hey?!...

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Fancy a cuppa?

...Or should we simply call it: The Case of the Missing Saucer?...

Appealing as that may sound, I am not in fact inviting you to solve any great mystery, just hinting to a little project I was involved in recently at the Gloucester Antiques Centre, who by the way own the rights to these photos. 

But more about that later! Let's just say that I got the chance to show off one of my favourite winter outfits.

This green number accented with yellow bakelite buckle and buttons was the first 30's inspired knit mother made for me, and for that it will always be special. You can see it in more detail here.

 The jaunty Peter Pan style hat works perfectly with it and with my new  hair - well apart from those weird strands framing my face - but I guess I wouldn't be me if not a hair looked out of place (literally).  I'm really happy to finally see my hair fitting my 30's hats, especially as I haven't had a particularly successful hair cut, but this aspect appeases me a great deal. 

Finishing with my most beloved 30's shoes (also to be seen here) there isn't in fact a single aspect of this outfit I am not pleased about, which is pretty amazing as I have an unbeatable capacity to sweat the small stuff.

But what I love about it most is how very relaxed and joyful it feels, with its playfulness so typical of 30's sports inspired fashion. I feel as if I'm holidaying in the Alps, having fun on the slopes around some Swiss chalet, a la Claudette Colbert in I met him in Paris. 

Just to be decidedly nerdy, I'll add that that the pattern of this knit dates to 1937, the same year as the film :)

And that's all for now.

Cold weather gear

This past December I bought a fur coat. I never set out for a purchase of this kind, for several reasons: weather in Britain rarely calls for such extreme wrapping, fur coats are generally bulky therefore tend to overwhelm my small frame, and also because, in spite of already owning a couple of collars and a double fox pelt, I remain somewhat ambivalent about fur, albeit vintage. 

So here I am with my impulse purchase, which I tried on out of curiosity for the fit and ended up not being able to leave behind. 

 

Before I carry on, I expect that the caricature above might inspire some of your comments. Whereas I am fully aware that fur is a controversial subject,  I have no desire to entertain a conversation about the moral issues surrounding fur, as justified as they may be,  I am merely sharing an interest in a vintage item of fashion. There are plenty of other outlets to express your moral position should you wish to do so. I would like to remind everyone that my blog is a personal space and I hope that you will respect that. Thank you.

I must say this coat is very cosy, soft and lightweight. The fur is silky and short, the vendor wasn't quite sure as to the type of fur but suggested rabbit. 

With little expertise in this field, after a few hours of research I concluded that it could only be that or some type of weasel. It doesn't feel like a domestic cat, which is apparently one way to identify rabbit fur, but I guess processing can significantly change the texture and appearance of a fur. Rabbit fur is the lowest quality fur out there, and in the 50's they would have shaved it, dyed it, and generally processed the hell out of it  in order to make it look higher end. 

Rabbit fur also sheds badly and has a "life" expectancy of only 3 to 5 years, so if this is rabbit it certainly keeps in fantastic shape, with no bold patches of any kind and no shedding whatsoever. 

 

The coat has not one, but two labels which say "Hopetonella - Furs of Distinction" and "Fashioned exclusively from skins produced by Chapal of Paris". 

I had little luck in researching the first one, but the second bears the name of well known company in the fur and leather industry, going back as far as 1832 and still strong in present day. 

The 1950's adverts above are for Chapal products and both boast the merits  of rabbit (coney) furs. I have borrowed them, together with the previous caricature, from Chapal's website, which has a very consistent section regarding company's history with plenty of photographs if anyone is interested.

 

 While the labels place this item firmly in the 50's, I felt that I could also make it work with my 30's wardrobe. At the end of the day swing shapes were very fashionable as far as mid to late thirties coats go, and other features such as the raglan sleeve, roomier in the middle, as well as the turned cuffs and large collar (that can sit flat or stand up) further contribute to facilitating that impression.

A friend pointed to me that an alteration must have been done to this coat as the bottom row of pelts are significantly shorter then the others. Looking at these pics I am now convinced they are right and the coat would have been longer originally and therefore more aesthetically balanced. Luckily since I am only  5f 4 this hardly constitutes a tragedy.

 

And here is what I wore underneath: a green knit ensemble that I haven't had the chance to show so far on this blog. It was too cold today though to take more photographs of it outside, so I'll just tease you with this one and leave the details for a future post. 

I wore it with: vintage malachite necklace and earrings, embroidered linen blouse from the 70's (used to be ma's), modern croc impressed leather belt, and a most recent purchase - 1930's shoes which I love and suffer for (yes, small is the word).

That's all.

Oranges, greys and another 30's knit

Here is another finished project, a 30's blouse inspired by the above image, fished from this blog, definitely one worth following if you're into vintage 30's to 50's fashions and knitwear, with the host often posting many vintage patterns for free.

I noticed that this specific pattern is actually available for purchase here inf anyone case is interested, my blouse is however only based on its visual clue.

Mother came pretty close this time, with a great trompe l'oeil approximation of a lacy design which is more than convincing. It worked really well with the beautiful mulberry silk yarn used (dk weight) which I'm over the moon with.

On the down side, some things still went wrong, like the arm length. Yep, don't know what happened there. 

Also mother is yet to conquer her fear that I won't be able to get things past my shoulders ( in spite of having been "gifted" with the narrowest ones one could get), and as a result a properly fitted waist continues to elude her knits, which can be a bit of a spoiler when it comes 30's blouses. 

A string has been added to compensate but psychologically speaking is counteractive :).  Still, the weight of the silk makes this fall naturally "blousy " so the result isn't too bad. 

I'm going to be happy wearing it as it is, and I think it looks great paired with the muddy greys of this modern jacket and skirt (nope, not trying to camouflage against dirty carpet, though I might need to come back to this idea in future posts).

Catching up

Yup, finally got a camera. Not much of a clue what to do with it yet, but hey, can't have it all. I did manage some pictures though, with the hope to finally (!) show off some of the projects finished since September, when my previous camera so abruptly parted with me.

 

 Do you remember the buttons and belt from my last post? I have since painted the buttons as planned in order to "match" the buckle and here they are,  sewn on the skirt. 

I'm pleased with the result in spite of having had doubts due to the difference in scale in between the buttons and the buckle. 

Still, since the fold over part of the faux wrap skirt came out quite narrow, they fit there right. And in my opinion just make the difference in between a plain, boring skirt and a cute one :)

So here I am, ignoring basic fashion rules such as "dark colour at the bottom, light colour on top" and doing it the vintage way. Dedication doesn't make me less of a fashion victim though. I guess sins against the body type do count.

 

Luckily adding the jacket reestablishes the order.  Swing style, with close to the arm raglan sleeves, and fastening with a button underneath the mandarin collar. A style with many variations, very popular in the mid thirties and of which I'm rather fond. You've seen it here before, no further than the infamous September entry, and with some luck you shall see it again .

 

The jacket was not meant to be belted originally - the swing shape would normally make it too bulky at the back. It's not however too bad in this case as the fabric is thin, soft and drapes well. Another silk and wool mix with a nubby texture which together with the colour (an off cream/natural) makes this look rather convincingly old...

As always: thank you, mum, for so generously indulging me once again.

 

 

The return of the tie

 


 I've been wearing this 2 (out of 3) piece ensemble a lot lately, it is one of the most successful knit projects in between mother and I, to my mind. Husband's now teasing me with a German sounding nick name he thinks appropriate for a bad ass governess.

The outfit certainly seems to create some bewilderment amongst children and teens. While the time of governesses has long gone and I am too old to play the pupil, I am hoping there is still room in the collegiate frame of mind for alternative options. 

Such as that of wearing an outfit one likes, without trying to be anything. Even if it happens to include a tie.

 

Sports vest

As much as I may lack talent for any sports - and sadly I do  - this slight inadvertence doesn't stop me from coveting the amazing sportswear of the 20's and 30's. Can't even legitimate my love for this gear through attending sports events as a spectator, I'm that disinterested.

Luckily, the modern ways of wearing sports clothing as casual wear are for once in favour of my inclinations. It is still tough to push through an equestrian outfit when missing the horse, but I reckon this cricket looking little number won't have to face the same challenges.

As you can see it was inspired by the beautiful fair isle example above. Unfortunately mother doesn't do fair isle, but what I wanted was to replicate the shape, which went pretty well. 

It's also done in a coarser Shetland type wool, which means the overall effect is somewhat bulkier and rougher. I love very textured yarns that cry out loud their provenance. 

I've been wearing this the other day when it started raining, and the wool immediately gave that typical sheep whiff. I was instantly transported back into my childhood to those moments when I was helping my grandmother wash the sheared wool at the river. In fact, the natural, undyed wool in this vest still comes from that village. And that feels pretty good..