Enter FlapperHacks, tips and tricks on re-working simple pieces into 1920s ensembles.
The outfit I wore to the Gatsby this year was 100% new stuff. Normally I wouldn't admit that, but I was pretty proud of having tweaked and altered my dress and hat myself. Here's how...
I bought this dress on sale from Modcloth, at a serious discount. I was pleased to discover it was a popular brand, but when I put it on I could see why the style didn't sell so well. The design cues were undeniably '20s, but the skirt was just too short.
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1920s inspired dress on the left - Retrocycled on the right to take it a little bit more into the '20s |
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The back view of the dress without alteration - very flattering! |
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The length of the slip on the left, with the two ruffled flounces removed - Right is with the extension and the two flounces re-applied. |
The next essential piece of the outfit was, of course, the hat. Most of us have hats in our closet that can be re-fashioned into historic chapeaux, so don't discount the possibilities of what you already have in your stash, when thinking about hats!
This hat was originally white with black trim. It was decently close to a 1920s shape, with the short back, but could use a rounder crown and more interesting brim.
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A very old photo - the white straw hat I started with |
Solution? Paint. Now, not all paint for hats is created equal. I used spray paint from the hardware store, and it did a really good job covering all the white, but boy did it smell. And it still smells! Even with three days drying in front of a fan, the paint was not fully cured when it came time to wear the hat. The fumes weren't such a big deal, but the hat stuck to my head and hair. I peeled it off painfully at the end of the day!
That being said, don't use hardware store spray paint. Instead, use sprays made specifically for millinery and floral applications. Design Master Colortool Sprays
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The hat with the trim removed, brim cut into a different shape, and the crown re-blocked to the round cloche shape. |
To trim the hat, I bound the edge with black petersham, added a black petersham hatband, and made a few ribbon flowers and leaves (thank you, Costume College, for the ribbon flower class!) in colors to complement the dress. I recommend Ribbonwork: The Complete Guide- Techniques for Making Ribbon Flowers and Trimmings
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Flowers and leaves made from ribbon, stitched to black net as a base, then tacked onto the hat. |
The last little bit was the feathers. I used two spindly red ostrich feathers clipped into spear shapes. I didn't want them to be overpowering, so I used Lynn McMaster's instructions on chemically "burning" ostrich plumes to liken them to egret sprays, or just give them a different look. I bleached the feathers for about 5 seconds each, then rinsed. The red color was uneffected.
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Ostrich feather trimmed and "burnt" |
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The finished hat, re-colored, re-blocked, re-bound, and re-trimmed! |
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I was really happy with this outfit, even though it wasn't original vintage. It was comfortable, cool, and looked the part. |
Hat - Made by me!
I love this! I think there is a real art to thrifting and hacking, and I've seen you and other bloggers come up with amazing things as a result.
ReplyDeleteI just loved The whole look! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteKisses from Brasil
Inajara
http://vintageandgeek.blogspot.com.br/?m=0
Ok, the dress hack is fabulous!!! It would sure save time as opposed to making one from scratch...this I will be saving!! I painted my most recent cloche as well and it still smells a wee bit of spray paint...(don't know if it really does, or if I know it was spray painted so it is a psychological thing.....)grrrrrrrrrr.....I'll be checking out the paint that was suggested to you!! You did a wonderful with your cloche!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
g
You look wonderful! and great job, with re-purposing.
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing!! Oh man I would have never guessed the dress was a hi-low skirted number.
ReplyDeleteAnd the event looked very swell.
Carla, TinyAngryCrafts
Amazing and pretty! I love the ribbon flowers on hte hat, such a great combo and I've never seen ribbon lilies so must have a play.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me what some people can do with existing dresses, and yours IS amazing. Every detail went togther to make a lovely picture.
ReplyDeleteVal
You're so creative! The outfit looks lovely, and very much the part :)
ReplyDeleteA great day too, by the looks of it!
I love the idea of flapperhacks! The dress turned out great and the shape of the hat is very Miss Fisher! I have a few old hats I need to flapperhack myself soon :)
ReplyDeleteChanneling some Miss Fisher realness! Fabulous, as always!!
ReplyDeleteClever lady, that's impressive upcycling!! You looked wonderful x
ReplyDeleteClever lady, that's impressive upcycling!! You looked wonderful x
ReplyDelete