Below is my Project Run & Play entry this week.
Stop on over and see what all of the other entries are and don’t forget to vote while you are over there!
This post will be up all weekend so I won’t be running my usual link party until while I am participating in the competition.
Wish me luck!
Todays’ Lesson in Fashion Icons For Tots 101?
Coco Chanel, The Grande Dame of fashion….
Gabrielle or Coco Chanel was not only one of the best designers in fashion history and a true original, but she was also one of the coolest chicks around during her time. Look, there she is smoking a cigarette with the great artist Salvador Dali before he started wearing his giant mustache!
She knew everyone and lived luxuriously in her penthouse out the Ritz hotel in Paris into well into her nineties.
With all of the talk in the fashion world of Karl Lagefeld’s new book, The Little Black Jacket, an homage to Ms. Coco Chanel, I thought I might make my own little black jacket for the toddler set here in Sew Country! I studied the construction of the Chanel jacket and applied some of the methods I learned to this little jacket, which is made from some metallic textured boucle fabric I found in the thrift shop and have had sitting in my stash. It is lined in the same pink fabric as the blouse and quilted together on the inside, with an attached fringe trim on the outside and lined patch pockets. And of course some fancy gold and black buttons to finish it.
The on trend bow tie blouse is made from cotton sateen and has an attached collar/tie and a knit waistband to avoid it riding up and to make it more comfy. It also has puffed sleeves which I love for little girls, trimmed with black bias trim . I made the pants from some soft and stretchy black denim and tapered them to make them slim fitting. The inset panels are the same boucle fabric as the jacket, there is an elastic waistband, and there are little tabs on the bottoms of the pants to give them a more authentic, equestrian look. I drafted all of the patterns from the outfit with the help of my new pattern book, Metric Pattern Cutting For Children. I also made the beret at the last minute and the ceramic hairclip. The flower was a pin which I pried the pin part off of, then I glued it to one of my flat head bobby pins and I traced a dinner plate to make the beret. Gigi will not keep a clip in her hair or a hat on her head unless I bribe her with lollipops which I did plenty of in this shoot.
She is now ready to attend the Polo match in this ensemble. Santa Barbara here we come!
I love this outfit, and I hope you make it through another week. The pictures are really adorable. and of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Gigi as a model!!
Thanks Sharon. Im so sad my outfit is in last place!
Lovely outfit – I want one for myself!
Oh, Justine, these photos of Gigi are priceless! BUT…I NEED a photo of her in that killer bow blouse without her jacket! My Goodness, that pink with the black is so classic, rockin’, fresh and vintage all together. You are just too talented for one person!
hey Brandi! I just posted a few more photos.
You did such a great job! I’m loving that bow tied blouse! Also, how do you like the Metric Pattern Cutting book? I use that one too :).
I went and voted for your outfit. There is some stiff competition over there, but I adore what you have made here for Gigi. The jacket is so sweet, the bow blouse is perfect with it, and I love how you tied in the pants. Super impressive! And your model is just darling 🙂
You seriously amaze me Justine. your sewing is impeccable, your attention to detail amazing. I think you did a fabulous job. I’m sad that the voting isn’t going your way either. truly. that jacket is probably the best sewn item this week!
Justine, the jacket is fabulous and I am so glad that you added another picture of the pink shirt. Gorgeous!
Oh it’s sooo lovely! I agree with Delia, the voting this week is a little…anyway, wonderfully sewn, it’s such a beautiful look!
Thanks so much Kristin. Can’t win em al.
ahahaha! I’m laughing because I am loving this child’s attitude for this photo shoot! She’s rocking it!
Justine, this outfit is fabulous and I voted for you. I really like everything about it. It’s beautiful and functional.
Thanks so much Shirley Ann
This is adorable!! Runway worthy for sure…I voted for you (^_^)
Thanks so much Nikell.
I love this outfit!! You have really inspired me to do some fall sewing! I want to make my daughter a jacket and Now I want to add a little bow shirt. Thanks for the inspiration.