Wardobe sanity check time!

[cupcake_goth]

So, I have this stripy blazer. It's by Ralph Lauren (thank you, Marshalls!), it's got a lovely shape, and I've done some tailoring to it to make it fit me even better. But the black stripes are a skosh narrow. They are not wide enough for my preferred Beetlejuice/circus aesthetic.

While I was waiting (and waiting, and waiting) to fall asleep last night, I was thinking about this blazer, and what I could do to it. "Oooh!" I thought, "I could take some 7/8" black ribbon and sew it down each stripe. Huh. Or I could paint over the stripes."

Now, in the vaguely rational light of day, I realize I perhaps should get a sanity check on these ideas. That's where you people come in.



With Kambriel and Neil Gaiman!


With Sir Terry!


[Poll #1822431]

Help me, LJ hivemind! Be my sanity check! (Stop laughing.)

Comments

[stroppy-baggage.livejournal.com]

Actually, now seeing which blazer it is, I think you should keep it and not do anything to it. The painting idea is horrible because it would never look good, there's no way to do the lines well, and the ribbon idea is HORRIBLE as it would never lay flat and you'd have weird bulges and wrinkles.

STEP OFF THE CRAZY.

[keonei.livejournal.com]

I agree with Pete for the most part. However, if you get good fabric paint that doesn't buckle you should instead paint in between two existing thinner black lines that way the sides are already straight because they are already there.

[juushika.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

And if no modding means you won't wear it but will instead let it languish as you think of the jacket it almost is but is not, then sell and search for an upgrade.

[ouranophobe.livejournal.com]

What Peev said. Keep it. You'll kick yourself if you get rid of it. Trying to stitch ribbon down the (tailored!!) stripes will be a royal pain and painting? Ye Gods, woman.

Also, really? It's lovely as it is and you look fabulous in it.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

points and makes high-pitched noises::

Ye Gods! Have you finally returned to us on LJ?

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

What Jilli said, with more squeaky noises!

[elialshadowpine]

... hafta agree here, because there's not enough width in the white for wider strips of black to look good, anyway. It would result in looking more like black with white stripes, than black striped, plus everything else said here.

[prettyshrub.livejournal.com]

I think the blazer looks good on you. If you must widen the stripes, I would try the painting first.

Also, I sort of expected it to be pink.

In a more crazy idea, you could fill in every other white section, making very wide stripes.

[lilibat.livejournal.com]

Sell it, get a jacket you like better.

[gingerk.livejournal.com]

Bias tape would lay flat better than ribbon. You could probably paint or dye the stripes with a decent edge if you use good painter's tape to mask them off.

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

You should sell it to me. ;)

In seriousness, listen to your husband. I don't think making the stripes wider would work. You might like it better if it were pink (if that's an option).

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

If I do decide to sell it, do you want me to let you know first? Since you won't be able to be at the Time Traveler's Rummage Sale? ;-p

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

:) Nah, it's okay. It's not like I NEED another one. It's mostly a Pavlovian response to anything striped.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

BELIEVE me, I understand that Pavlovian response.

[semy-of-pearls.livejournal.com]

Sew, and I will tell you why...

Paint fades. Oh boy does it just. It chips, peels and generally just dies. I have no idea how old your jacket is, but the stripes will last longer with ribbon.

That said, might wish to consider something slightly narrower than 7/8. Lightly tack down some half inch, see how it looks and proceed from there.

[lylassandra.livejournal.com]

I vote to fill in every other white section, making very large stripes. Just cause I would never sell something that I met Neil Gaiman in. =)

If the nostalgia is not a huge draw for you, however, I would sell it.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

OOoh. I like the making very large stripes idea. Oh, if only the thrifting gods would make a second of these jackets appear the next time I hit the discount stores, so I could try out this idea! ;-)

[metonymy.livejournal.com]

Seriously. FRAME THAT THING.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Um. This is where I mention I have a leather biker jacket that Neil signed and drew the Sandman on, the very first time I met him, back when he was doing a signing tour of tiny comic shops for the release of Death: The High Cost of Living.

THAT item of clothing, I will hang onto forever. :)

[m-cobweb.livejournal.com]

If you could get the ribbon to lay flat, that would look AWESOME. Worth the trouble or not, I'm not sure.

[nekusagi.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty cute as it is. That said, of the re-striping options, I'd go with the ribbon one. It'd create a neat texture and painting stripes never looks good in the end.

[rosettanettle.livejournal.com]

Dye it pink!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

That is an option, but honestly? I think I have more pink & black striped blazers than black & white ones.

[morseren.livejournal.com]

Dye it that lovely shade of pink.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I think I have more pink & black striped blazers than black & white ones. Otherwise I probably WOULD dye it cupcake pink.

[nina1984.livejournal.com]

Jillian, now know darn well if you sell the jacket you'll kick yourself later :3
You could just leave it as is, it is a cute jacket.
But if you really feel like adding on more to it, it vote for the sowing of lace, as you can always take the lace off if you really really don't like the results.

[cherry-faery.livejournal.com]

I agree with the stroppy one on the ribbon and paint but I have a different paint suggestion. Now this will really depend on whether you have decent fabric paint or not and you'll have to count the stripes but what about painting every second white space black? That way you don't have to depend on your own hand to create the straight lines and you can just tape off the white spaces you want to remain. Again, it won't work if the number of white spaces can't be divided in half but it might be worth a try.

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

I think sequins would both fit the bill for more ringmastery feel and lay flat, without being crazy-making. You can get them in spools that you just sew down the lines. easy-peasy, look nice, and be simple, and widen all your stripes. It would, however, add texture to your coat --- but it would add SPARKLY texture to your coat...

Alternatively, you could find lace that is the width between the black stripes and make the stripes in black lace which would be lighter than ribbon (and therefore, more likely to lay properly) and that teensy bit more unique and pretty.

[theosakakoneko.livejournal.com]

I like the lace idea.

[staysonpaper.livejournal.com]

Oooh, best idea so far. DON'T SEW RIBBON!!! YOU WILL DIE AND HATE YOUR LIFE FOR EVERY MINUTE OF IT WHICH REMAINS BEFORE YOU DIE!!! Or at least I would. But I really like the lace idea.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Is the jacket lined? That might add to the complications. If you go the ribbon route taking the sleeves off and opening the sleeve seam you could just top stitch ribbon on a sewing machine. Hand or machine either way the ribbon end should probably go in to a seam so seam ripping the sleeves from the bodice would be a project. Hope that made sense. Selling it to L and finding the right jacket would save much hair pulling. The other option would be to find the ideal fabric and have a custom jacket made for you.

[spotzle.livejournal.com]

I vote leave it alone. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet have both TOUCHED THE JACKET. It is now a national treasure in your closet.

[ladymoira.livejournal.com]

Everyone already said all the interesting stuff. I just wanted to click a box. :)

[mimi-monsterr.livejournal.com]

I just came to express me extreme jealousy at you meeting two of my favourite authors!