Thursday 13 September 2012

Vogue V8812 bolero, more work wardrobe

Not so long ago, an astute blogger wrote that although it is mostly pretty dresses that draw her to vintage patterns, often there are other garments included with a dress pattern, and that we should not ignore the boleros/capes/little jackets I wish I could remember where I read this, because I would like to thank her for reminding me to look twice at my patterns.
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 You may remember that I recently used this pattern, Vogue V8812, as a base for a dress for my older daughter.

Due to my recent use pattern storage system (lying at the back of my sewing table), this pattern was in view whilst I was trying to:

 A)Work out a "key piece" so that my daughter's work wardrobe would fit in the pattern review mini wardrobe requirements, - my late start to this work wardrobe has the silver lining of making my time frame eligible for the contest.

B)Use the quite inadequate- for-a -garment remnants of my lovely grey Viyella. This was a gift to me from  Marji at Stichers Guild (now off sailing with a broken blog link), and I wanted to use every bit.

 The pieces were of the horrid size where there is too much to call it a scrap, but too little for an adult garment. I did not quite have enough fabric to make the bolero according to the pattern. With piecing, and a slightly shorter sleeve, I had the outer sections, but with no stretch of the imagination nor fabric could I manage the facing in the Viyella.
 I decided to fully line the bolero instead, and used one of the blouse fabrics, as in a traditional woman's suit jacket. 
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To make things more difficult interesting, I made the bolero reversible. SAM_1160 
There were no fitting changes from a straight size 8, other than not including the shoulder pads, which is effectively a square shoulder adjustment. The bolero did not require a FBA, it is loose at the front.

 SAM_1156 
The bolero has shaping darts at the back, and sits very nicely, without slipping off the neck and shoulders during wear.

 SAM_1171 
 My daughter told me that she feels like an air hostess in this suit outfit, so I was a bit worried, that she wouldn't wear the bolero, but then she said "It is very 60's, cool" and the next day wore the black blouse and the bolero with her jeans to go to an after school lecture, where her friends admired her outfit, so the garments are a sucess outside of work too.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reversible things are my absolute favourite!! I just traced a pattern for a cropped jacket that I guess is more of a bolero. I was having trouble decided which fabric to make it out, do I formal or more casual? I could make it reversible and get both! Thanks for the inspiration, it'll be the percent two-for-one wardrobe piece! You daughter is super lucky to have such a talented Mum xx

Hen said...

I am just speechless with your productivity, the fit, style, coordination...! I like the chairs, too, the fabric looks Japanese.

Dilliander said...

Your daughter's mini wardrobe is fantastic, perfect for work experience and jeans too! The reversible bolero looks great with the skirt and skirts. Great job!

T. Sedai said...

Just found your blog via Pattern Review - I love what you are doing with the work wardrobe! All of the pieces look so good together, but the little bolero is extra cute. It seems really versatile too. Very fun!

shams said...

Very cute! That dart near the front edge is unusual and a nice detail.

poppykettle said...

I saw this pattern (it was the green bolero that caught my eye) on another blog a few weeks back - so it's lovely to see it made up. And may I say - it looks great!! I'm in agreeance with the curious kiwi - your daughter is super lucky!

Sharon said...

Gorgeous bolero and great thinking of lining it with the blouse fabric, very Chanel. Good to hear it has been worn outside of work experience already.

velosews said...

That's a great working wardrobe. I love vintage jackets etc because they were very stylish. I'd include this bolero in the stylish category and your inventive reversable take on it has made it more edgy.

SewRuthie said...

I've made little waistcoats with very small pieces like that but never wear them. I did also make a bolero once but mine used an 80s pattern and was far too boxy. That one is great!

Karin said...

What a great idea! It's wonderful to use up those awkward sized pieces. And the results! She looks great in it, and it really pulls together her work look if she needs to be a bit more formal. Also a bonus that she can style it for socialising.

Jenn said...

I am so jealous of your daughter's work wardrobe! That bolero is great, and so smart to make it reversible. Your daughter is very lucky.

Carolyn said...

Absolutely beautiful! and making it reversible is sheer genius. I love the dart at the side of the opening; an unusual and visually interesting detail :)

Audrey said...

I love this bolero/skirt suit. Your daughter looks great in it. It really accents her fantastic figure.

Galica said...

I think that this makes me a bit of a blog nerd but I recall that comment from "3 hours past the edge of the world".

Carol said...

If her friends admired it, it will be worn! I love boleros and I foolishly made a reversible one with a piped edge once. I think I'll be making some of these for summer.

Unknown said...

This is such a nice set! I really like little boleros like that and I've traced a couple from LMB but never made them up. This is really inspiring me to pull those patterns out and do something with them!

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Oh my goodness, I just love the whole look! I like that the bolero is almost waist length, so it's not an awkward shrug but still not a jacket. (I like shrugs, but they are not really "suiting" pieces.)

fabric epiphanies said...

The belero is a perfect match for the wardrobe, not as stuffy as an actual jacket but formal enough all the same.

Anonymous said...

Your daughter has a very Duchess of Cambridge vibe going on. Smashing. Nice work!!!

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Scruffybadger said...

That is such a smart and very stylish idea. What a good way to use up left over pieces of suiting too. I think your daughter looks fabulous, and it's great that she can recognise how stylish the look is.

Kristin said...

I know I'm a little late, but I just found this on Pattern Review because I was looking for a bolero style jacket and was looking for reviews of this pattern. First, you just sold me on the pattern. Second, I love the outfit you put together for your daughter...very well done!