Daydreaming about clothing. No surprise there.

[cupcake_goth]

For years now, I've wanted a polonaise made from fabric with wide black and white stripes. The only things stopping me from getting one? Firstly, finding a good b&w striped satin or taffeta that isn't made from acetate. (Acetate = ew. Bad, bad fabric.) Secondly, I'm just not sure how something made with princess seams, out of striped fabric, would work on a size 16/18 figure. I suspect I'd have to wear a corset with this dream garment, just for the smoothing effect.

(Every stripey polonaise I've ever seen has been worn by someone a couple sizes smaller than me. sigh)

This doesn't stop me from coveting a stripey polonaise. Not just "Oooh, that would be cute", but "Someday, goddammit, SOMEDAY I will have this. I WILL" levels of coveting.

sigh, again.

I don't suppose any of you know where to find b&w wide-striped, non-acetate satin or taffeta for non-ruinous prices, do you? Nope, didn't think so.

Comments

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my eye open for you. :)

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

Hrm... this is cotton, it is a bit thick, but the price is good...

http://www.housefabric.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=3230

And this one is a satin:

http://www.housefabric.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=3335

Their entire Black and white section is pretty good:

http://www.housefabric.com/categorysubview.asp?CategorySubID=256&CategoryID=97

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

Oh, one more note,

A new Designer Fabric Outlet store has just opened on Eastgate right new where that REd Robin is... across the bridge from the U Dist.

You might want to try there?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

raises eyebrows

Hmmm. I had not looked at House of Fabric. I may have to get a sample of that b&w satin. And I will check out the Designer Fabric Outlet soon.
Thank you for the info!

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

No problem... with a pattern that beautiful, I would love to see it on you. :)

Unfortunately, I don't

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

And I have further bad news: my co-worker who handles Thurs-Sun has to take his sister in for emergency oral surgery tomorrow, so I must work.

working means no vogue for me tonight as I must DRIVE across 520 WESTBOUND in the morning, so that's a 5:30 or 6am wakeup to be on time for 8am opening.

Blah.

Re: Unfortunately, I don't

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Well, feh! On the one night I might actually lever my ass from out in front of the TV. Rats.

[keridwen.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose any of you know where to find b&w wide-striped, non-acetate satin or taffeta for non-ruinous prices, do you?

One word: Vancouver.

Granted, you might have to hunt a bit, but I'm betting that you could find something up in BC.

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

Wearing big Burtonesque B&W stripes is going to make you stand out, no matter what. :) If it's cut and fitted properly, it should look fine.

(FWIW, based on Julie's post, the cotton duck doesn't drape as nicely as satin, and the black will fade a bit, but it's *so* easy to take care of--I can just throw mine in the washer on Gentle.)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Heh. My concern isn't standing out, but looking like a dumpling swathed in a striped tablecloth. I'm just *fine* with standing out. :)

[julzerator.livejournal.com]

I don't think you would look like a dumpling at all! I think it will just look striking, which you pull off so well.

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

Psssh, like that is even *possible* really...

*beats the image demons back with a very large and point stick*

[cherryheavy.livejournal.com]

You know, I use duck to make corsets, sometimes. I have never washed it before. I know that when I use it, it is UBER stiff. Does this significantly reduce when washed, or does it retain a lot of the very stiff structure?

I wonder what a polonais bustle would look like made from duct... it seems like it would form some very interesting peaks, and could be awesome for a dramatic poof. Have you made one (or seen one) before?

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

It still maintains a certain level of "structure," for lack of a better word, but it does lose that initial fold-and-it-stays stiffness and has a reasonably nice hand. It will never have the drape of a fabric made of less rough-hewn fibers, but it can flow nicely enough that it doesn't look like it was sculpted into place. Plus, it has the very nice advantage of BREATHING. :) The gown in my icon (an 18th-century style) is the one I have made of the duck, and it's *wonderfully* comfortable to wear for hours.

[cherryheavy.livejournal.com]

Do you have any larger images of the gown? I'd love to see it.

I do love using duck for corsets, specifically because it *is* so breathable for something so stiff.

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

Yes. (http://www.spaceling.net/gallery1/Lisa/) The gown is from Azrael's Accomplice Designs (http://www.azacdesigns.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index), though they no longer offer this particular gown.

[amaliedageek.livejournal.com]

Yes, you'd need a corset, to get the lines right; yes, you would look wonderful. Do you have a pattern?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I don't have a pattern yet, but know of a gazillion places I could get it. Of course, then there's deciding if *I* was going to attempt to make it on my own, or bribe any one of the costuming friends to do it ...

[cherryheavy.livejournal.com]

When I read the first few sentences, I imagined something completly different from what you described (as far as your stripes go).

Depending on how wide you want your stripes (I was imagining something like... 6 inches wide. You could find black and white in the same fabric, and simply create a single piece by sewing the stripes together. If done with patience, it is easy, and though it can be time consuming, the outcome is awesome.

Of course, this is all assuming that the jacket and the bustle section are seperate, as the image you provided seem to indicate.

As far as taffeta or non-acetate, you're right about the prices. You're not going to find dutchess or silk satin for less than $30 a yard, and that dress needs at least 10yds. Taffeta, you might find for $20 or under a yard, and if you're willing to come down and visit Portland, Mill End has a 25% off cupon twice a year, and Fabric Depot has 40% off days once every 4 weeks or so.

If you are interested in a visual representation of my vision of the dress, let me know and I'll draw something up. If you like it, you might be able to find someone to make it for you.

[angldst.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I already have the pattern...and I am subject to bribery....hmmm...particularly if bribery were done in the form of enough material to make one for myself...and no worries, what with us being on opposite coasts! :)

*HUGS*

-d

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Oooooh.

Okay, I'm going to order the sample of the striped satin from House of Fabrics (so I can figure out the fiber content, check the hand of it, all that good stuff), and then I may be sending you pleading emails. :)

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

You just have to go to the LA garment district some day, dearie! It's dreamy & you can find almost anything. That said, I only got narrow b&w striped poplin, but I did find wide b&red striped rayon.

Re: looking good on you, I don't think it's a problem. My friend Kendra made this lovely b&w stripe bodice (http://demode.tweedlebop.com/bustle.html), & she's closer to your size, & it looks faboo. Not a polonaise, but it's the top part that's fitted, so it gives you an idea.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Ah-ha! Thank you for the link to that picture, because that's exactly the sort of input I was looking for.