I have finally finished the Nina Ricci suit; a marathon sewing experience. Not for me the Great British Sewing Bee – complete a garment in a morning – experience. These items took hours and hours. Whole outfit – including the painted camisole – took at least 100 hours. Despite the hard work involved I really love this outfit. I like it so much I want to make another one! Well not the jacket, but another skirt on a camisole. And an overblouse. This will be my next SWAP project. In the meantime here are the photographs.
The overblouse
I will change the button so that the top matches the jacket. I will make a second overblouse in white.
Skirt
Here is the A line skirt, with pockets in the front side seams. Can you see the little baby who is amusing me with his clapping? I love this outfit – it makes me feel fantastic. Silky, elegant, comfortable, 1960s Nina Ricci Paris couture. In a word chic. I think a green one would be nice, non?
Jacket
The jacket is finished at last. I found some nice round silver buttons.
I lined the jacket with turquoise silk. It’s not hand painted but it is a lively colour and it is sewn neatly by hand. I am pleased with the look of the jacket.
The verdict
Well here I am wearing the jacket to go to an important lunch. Teamed with my fuchsia skirt and a colourful 1970s vintage scarf, vintage Church’s shoes and a nice Ness bag I got in a charity shop
This is not a difficult pattern. Every step is, in itself, quite straightforward. I did skip the piped button holes due to a desire to get this finished for my deadline. But otherwise I followed the script precisely. It was a very satisfying experience, creating a couture garment. It was my second experience with a VPO designer pattern (I did a version of a YSL dress before), and I just loved it. It is a slow burn. This is not a “I whipped up a jersey dress in two hours on my overlocker” experience. It is not a modern garment. It is extremely comfortable to wear with its multiple silk linings. It fits perfectly and glides over the body. It looks terribly smart and pulled together and I feel enormous pride in wearing such a beautiful costume.
I guess you would like to see it all put together. Unfortunately I don’t have a hat or gloves yet!
sweatyknitter
I am STILL unsure how you have a life outside of your amazing sewing!!!
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Elle
Classy and elegant!
Liz Cooney
It’s worth the time and effort to make something special. – I watched a video today on how to construct a Chanel jacket. Also I tried one on this week…and was more than a little surprised at the price tag! My version will be a bargain, in comparison! ~
lynbromley
They all look fantastic! What a great achievement. The whole outfit looks fab.
annieloveslinen
AMAZEBALLS! your clothes look wonderful and they work together wonderfully, I’m so pleased that your vision has materialised, you definitely know what suits you.
Your jacket looks different on this picture than it looks on your ‘bus’ pic, great shot btw.
My grandmother used to call outfits ‘costumes’ and I always think of vintage styles when I hear it.
maryfunt
Lovely outfit that fits you beautifully. Your work and “slow sewing” certainly paid off. Love the pics.
Kbenco
Your sewing is very inspiring. These clothes are beautiful, classic and suit you so well, they look worth every minute of your work.
mrsmole
Who needs a hat and gloves…you look stunning and so put together!
prttynpnk
If I were sharp and classy- I’d want to be you!
Stephanie
Absolutely stunning and elegant. 100 hours! Wow! After my last two silly posts I realize that I need to take a page from your book and try something that requires time and patience and through which I will learn new techniques. I suppose we all have our own tracks to follow, but you really make me think, K. You look just perfect in your new outfits, which you can wear with great pride. Go for the green one. 🙂
Joyce
Wow. Congrats on your achievements. Stunning. Your jacket is fantastic. Well done Kate. I love how you are describing the feeling of a garment well made, by hand. … Excellent. Applause applause, you are such an inspiration!
Fifty Dresses
The entire ensemble is just lovely, with its classic, timeless styling! More than suitable for an important meeting, I’d say, especially with the wonderful fit you finessed.
Sewniptuck
Kate, if you lived around the corner I would invite you to my dungeon to take whatever enormous 60s buttons your heart desires. I have such a lot of them, people give me buttons all the time (my friend is a playing card magnet, thankfully its buttons for me!). I’m assuming I could photograph some and send it to you, but would they get there on time and would the colours be true? I’d be more than happy to offer them to you if its a useful possibility?
fabrickated
What a generous offer! I would be happy to send you something in return. I have sent patterns to Australia before and the postage is pretty quick.
I used to have a button box from my mother’s great aunts. So lots of 1920s and 30s buttons that I played with as a child. But in all the moves I have made it was lost and now I have a pretty paltry selection. I have had an offer from an old lady that she will give me hers but it hasn’t materialised yet… So I would love to receive a few genuine vintage buttons. I favour buttons around 1″ across, in silver, dark brown, navy, dark green, grey, clear cool colours – blue reds, shocking pink, primary yellow, blue greens, deep purple. I am giving all this detail in case anyone ever wants to donate buttons! I don’t need that many as I am quite a slow seamstress as a rule.
The SWAP finishes at the end of April.
sewruth
What a lovely outfit. Just perfect.
Maude Estwick
I would like to get involved. It’s so good to see lovely old fashioned clothes. It’s all beautiful.
Nina Ricci Camisole skirt version two | Fit and Flare
[…] mentioned that I wanted to do another version of this dress. And, having experimented with the discharge paste […]
Brenda Marks
Congratulations on this make. It’s a beautiful garment that looks great on you!