Monday, March 21, 2011

I Think I Am Stuck In The '70s


One of the most annoying things that can happen during a movie is realizing that I am being distracted by the costumes. Fortunately, this doesn't happen often - either the costumes are hideous or they are gorgeous but I would never wear them because they scream Maid Marian/Queen Guinevere or they are superhero-esque or are simply too couture for everyday wear.

Last weekend I watched Secretariat, and oh! Penny Chenery's (played by Diane Lane) wardrobe!  I could hardly concentrate on the movie, I was so busy swooning and coveting. The famous Belmont Stakes dress aside, her other outfits were so, so fabulous. Every single one. I forsee a copy of this in my sewing room before the year is up:
Mayhap a pair of frog buttons instead of that gold clasp - instant ethnic twist.

Her ball gown:

and what divine loveliness is being hidden by that coat? Argh, the agony of only being allowed a peek!

That's my post-weekend update. On the sewing front, I've been wrestling almost an entire week with a zipper. Yes, not all zippers are friendly. And you all know I don't scare easily. My seam rippers have gotten a year's worth of a workout. I was working on something that I foolishly thought I might do a tutorial or a pattern for. Changed my mind verrrrry quickly. 

13 comments:

  1. Ah, my favorite fashion decade. And ... you know I'm a fashion guru, ha! I just checked out the Butterick Home Catalog from 1975 (catalog of patterns for sale). I've threatened to make N and I matching pantsuits...

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  2. I've got a hold on Secretariat at the library - only 31 people in front of me!

    I can't wait, especially after seeing your photos here!

    I can't imagine you being beat by a zipper. I'm very curious to see what's up.

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  3. Is the movie good? I will have to watch it alone. My 3 yr old loves horses but that horse movie was not Spirit (the disney movie) and she flipped out on me like whoa crazy. So needless to say it's not been in the house long enough for me to watch it.

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  4. Erm yes... that dress with a set of frog clasps front and center. Looking forward to seeing it.
    Wendy

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  5. I was also distracted by the costumes. It is comforting to know that my fashion sense has companions.

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  6. That white dress is divine, I hope you do make it!

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  7. Loved the movie and, yes, loved her clothes. Her ball gown was almost exactly like my mother-of-the-groom dress (not vintage, bought from Nordstrom 2 years ago). Made me want to go back in time and wear those white gloves!

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  8. Had the same reaction when I watched it last Sunday. And remembered how some women really did look that put together every day-even the hair!

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  9. I'd be curious to see something that gave you grief. It's hard to imagine you struggling with sewing anything.

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  10. I loved all the garments in this film. I actually watched the film on an airplane with no sound, it didn't matter because I was making notes about the costumes. Diane Lane carried every outfit off very well.

    (Being stuck in the 70s is not a bad thing:)

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  11. I hope you'll share pictures of the finished product that has caused you so much grief. At least this will allow the rest of us in the sewing universe fair warning before choosing to tangle with said zipper...

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  12. Yes the white dress is beautiful, but my eyes were catched by the trousers od the man next to her!!! UUUUUUUUhhhhhhh. Once had a proffessor in university who weared similar ones.

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  13. @Miranda
    Oh Miranda, I apologize for taking this long to reply. Yes, the movie was good - quite family-friendly but a bit slow for kids, I think. The horse races are very exciting, but they only come at the end, and there's a lot of family drama that would just go over the heads of most kids under 10, I think. Our kids didn't want to watch the movie with us, which was just as well, since I was interrupting all the conversation on screen with "Oh! Her dress!" "I hate her! Why does she have all those fabulous clothes?" "Come closer! Come closer! Turn around! I want to see the back of that dress!"

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