Project Minima:

Monday, November 5, 2012

Young Girl and Her Mother?

Style Imitating Art is here again!  And this is one I couldn't get into, I mean literally.  There just wasn't any room for me in the painting.  So rather than force the issue, I stepped aside, and I do mean literally.  Here's the inspiration:

painting by Tamara de Lempicka

You can see how I interpreted the "Young Girl in Green" after the break...


Ok, now meet her mother!
Suit originally made by me pre-Project Minima and now refashioned to fit, dino & pearl necklace, boa on head, mom's mended pearl knit gloves refashioned by moi, and (tsk, tsk) wearing THE golden boots from ebay!
(Click on bold items to find out more about its how and wherefore.) 

I hadn't anything really green to wear for this challenge.  I looked through my stash of old clothes waiting to be revitalized and there was this teal suede kimono jacket and pants.  It originally looked like this from a pattern:

Kimono jacket & pants as worn by model

I took apart the jacket sleeves and side seams, put in some really cool fabric for side inserts that went up into the sleeves as gussets.  Repositioned the button placement to center front and hand sewed an embellishment on each shoulder seam to sleeve.

For the pants that were not ever going to fit me, I seam ripped the inner leg seams and straightened the seam going down the center front and back where the crotch used to be.  For now I've left the center slits at knee length in both back and front.  I also added inserts at both hips to fit.  The zipper was in the back so that was easy enough.  For close up pictures see the Clothes for Fall page.

I don't have any hats so I used my feather boa neck piece for one.

And in one fell swoop, I'm joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet StyleMonday Mingle, and of course, Style Imitating Art which will be up by Tuesday.  And let's not forget Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday or the Pleated PoppyAnd now Refashion Co-op!
 

39 comments:

  1. I adore Tarama´s work, but you have just better anything possible, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    You created a whole outfit out of pure inspiration and clever handcraftmaship.
    I am blown away.
    Much love, my gorgeous and unique Pao.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. Your compliments are too much for me to bear, Sacramento!

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  2. You look very elegant! And I love the gold boots. Good score! (Yes, dear pao, I'm finally catching up and commenting again.)

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    1. Hey Louisa! Nice to hear from you again. I'll be over directly to see what's been happening.

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  3. OH MY GOD. Perfection personified, precious Pao!!! (Why is it so much fun to do that?) The outfit is glorious and I love the boa and boots as accessories. The deadline for entering your artwork for the S/S issue of Altered Couture is Dec. 15. Let me know if you want the particulars!! You can also find them in the magazine or undoubtedly on-line. They need you too!!!!

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    1. Because it's all P's and they're so petulantly pouty and remind you of porky the pig talking (esp. into the mic).

      Oh thanks Jean, but I'm not a good seamstress at all, more of a hackstress. I try to sew well, but the inside of my stuff looks like heck. I can't wait to get the magazine though and see your stuff up close. Congrats again!

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  4. What an utter triumph! Your outfit is beautiful and inspired (as always) and love the boa worn as a hat, it rocks! x

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    1. heehee. I had no idea when I started on it, that it would turn out rather elegant. Perhaps it's the gloves and boa/hat...and dino pearls...and gold combat boots...

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  5. Gosh, don't you hate it when your mom is better looking than you are? Poor Young Girl!

    Also what Vix said, "An Utter Triumph!"

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    1. First time I stated being somebody's mother. In fact, I almost wrote grandmother - but that was just too much to take. However, I find I can admit to a bit of maturity now and then when compared to young uns.

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  6. The feather boa as hat is inspired! I am amazed by your pants refashion. The skirt came out better than the pants could ever have been.

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    1. I could think of nothing else the least bit hat-like. I agree, I never made pants into a skirt before and was surprised how well they turned out. I'm going to try that trick again for sure. I have so many pants that no longer fit waiting in the wings.

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  7. Wow, that outfit is just gorgeous!! And I am amazed at the refashioning. I like your outfit better than the young girl's! :)

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    1. Who knew I could be a glamorpuss?! I certainly had no idea when I put together the elements of this ensemble!

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  8. You don't own a single hat? But you're so creative, I bet you could pull together an entire collection of millinery in no time. Let's see let's see!!! haha

    You look gorgeous in this green really. Better than your daughter I'd say.

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    1. Well, I have a couple berets from way back when. And a straw hat or two somewhere (probably in the basement). But no I just don't wear 'em. I have hoods on my winter coats because it's just more convenient.

      Oh no, Joni please, not another thing to get into!

      Oh, her. She does like to show off her figger now and then she's always pouting and wearing too much make-up and...

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  9. Gorgeous in green, Pao. Count me among the surprised that you are not a hat person - but I love it that you surprise us! The gold boots are hall-of-fame fabulous. Thanks for linking it all to Visible Monday.

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    1. It's never too late to get into hats I suppose...but I'm not ready to start yet. I have so many things I want to tackle sewing. My mind is ever evolving with 'em and it's so exciting. And thank you for keeping us all together hosting Visible Monday, Patti.

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  10. I love the feather boa hat and you look good in green. Also far classier than that young whippersnapper of a daughter who's showing her nipples!

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  11. You look so elegant! very well made!

    blog hopping from ta dah tuesday

    susan ( http://tea-diary.blogspot.com )

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    1. Well, thanks for stopping by, Miss Tea and I'll be joining you at yours shortly.

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  12. Wow you made that! And remade it too? I love the shade of green and the shape of the jacket and trousers. Great feather head dress!!

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    1. You know, some people sew & re-sew, while others flamenco. I'm thinking, it's what makes the world go 'round. yeah. Like the idea of a feather head dress too. hah.

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  13. The Young Girl in Green has got nothing on you when it comes to accessorizing. I like how you've captured some of the geometry of the painting.

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    1. Can't go wrong with dinos and pearls, I always say. That, and Photoshop to the rescue for all your faux finishing needs.

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  14. Oh so happy to see that dino and pearls necklace again. It's dino-mite.

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  15. Your creative gifts show no sign of stopping- have you topped yourself in your couture rendition of framed art? Hardly. Mindblown again- and you look gorgeous in green!

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    1. Thanks Bella, I've not been a big fan of green, green...but there you go.

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  16. You are glorious, my fine feathered friend! I especially adore the pants-into-skirt - what an elegant silhouette your refashioned suit has. Together with your boa-hat and pearly gloves, your dino pearls and gold boots are perfect with this marvel of an outfit.

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    1. Yes Amber, I do believe these accessories are everything and that without them this outfit would simply be hulking green.

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  17. Dahling, you look mahvelous!
    A wonderful ensemble.

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    1. Hey Anne! Right back at yah. And welcome back to my place.

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  18. I have to say that the boa as hat is quite stunning. But then I'm not surprised, as you have accessorized this outfit to perfection. I can't believe how you whip something up at a moment's notice and it looks this fabulous.

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    1. It was my 'what would Judith do?' moment. Ah, it took me a week to refashion that suit. It felt like a long time of seam ripping and sewing every day - not to mention the naps in between where I figure out what to do or how to do it!

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  19. I've been admiring this picture for years, so it's a fantastic moment to see you interpreting it into an outfit, and a great one too! Your gold boots are the best, and like everyone else say, the skirt has turned out really well! The green colour in your outfit is gorgeous, and I love the gloves and necklace! Can anyone participate in the Style imitating art?

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    1. Yes, yes, yes! Please do. They happen every other Monday and are hosted by 3 different bloggers. They don't email you, you just have to pay attention to the dates and see who's hosting when. And check their site on the alternating alt. Monday to see what the inspirational painting will be. You can click on the Style Imitating Art button on the bottom of my page to find out more about it. The more playing, the merrier!

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  20. Ok, I really love this, consider me inspired.
    Xo Megan

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