This fall I’ve been pinning wrappy drapey, collary business and contemplating ‘Lagenlook for the larger Looking’ and it’s not the best idea. I’m too big for the crazy art teacher Olsen look. I can’t have all that bulk making me look like I have the smugglers blues.
So what happens when you combine wrap, drape and leggings? This:
Aw, crap! Now I have to pay George Lucas $500?!
I was planning to post this last week, but I let myself be derailed by a voice that has no business here, helpfully telling me that I am no swimsuit model.
Um, yeah, I know. Lucas gets another $500- hope you don’t mind if I post-date that check ,George. I’m no metal bikini girl- but secretly I prefer crazy author Carrie Fisher anyhoo!
But let’s get this little ballerina back on point, shall we? Butterick 5685. The coat that is now a vest sort of, well, actually a tunic. Isn’t this cute?
I love coats- I need to attend more inaugurations and public hangings and parades. I could so pull off a great hat and glove combo. Sigh….around here, coats are for wearing when you get out of the car to buy a slushie while the husband pumps your gas. Not exactly Jackie O. But I love the shape of this coat, so why not make it as a blazer? Or, as you go thru the stages of try on and alter, whack off those sleeves, close the front and make it a tunic?? Hey, why not make that decision after you’ve spent 45 minutes matching the print as you cut it out, so that on the finished product, it only matches on the back? Hey, thats good too! Planning is for losers!
Ok, here goes nothing- the front!
The force is strong with this collar!
Ok, here are all the amazing details, cuz I know you are thinking, ‘WHY? ERR, HOW Did you do this?’
I made the coat as directions intended, in a stretch twill from Fabricmart, binding the exposed seams with bias tape instead of lining it (too hot, we’ve covered this) and while I was deciding if I could carry it off as an open trench kind of business at work, I decided to just see what happened if I just remove the skirt facings and close it. Well, it make the pockets stick out a bit on the sides. Ma always got onto me for sticking my hands in my pockets like a junior street hooligan, but since I was alone on Tatooine today I kept forcing them down with my hands. Much as I like the convenient snack space, these pockets may have to go, to spare my hips the extra awnings!
I’m liking this experiment, I like the way it turned out- I’m not advocating sewing without a plan, but sometimes it comes out ok. Next up? I keep eyeing this pattern- any strong feelings on the wide leg pants? I think it’s all about hem length.
photo credits: pattern review, little me, google images
Pretty Grievances 
I love what you did with that pattern, even the nonmatch at the front isn’t bad, it adds interest. I think you have great ideas.
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Oh you are too kind- I was gutted when I saw it ended one row off!?
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I didn’t notice the nonmatch – I guess I see to much RTW with nonmatching seams. I don’t notice anymore. I like you fabric and your design changes, perfect for that in between weather! Wide leg pants, personally, I would wear them and have made them if you could say .. Is that a skirt or a dress… Your right, it’s all in the length. Looking forward to seeing your’s!
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What is the correct shoe for wide leg?
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Oh my! Am I supposed to know this? I look to your “Wearable Wednesday” for fashion advice!! (I’m so short, I always wear a heel to look good! I would think if it was classic fabric a heeled covered shoe, but if it was casual fabric a flat or sandal. Did I get it right?)
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I honestly don’t know- I’m hoping a ballet flat will do- I’m a big closed toe gal!
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I know I like closed toe shoes too, even with sandals! I’m sure the pants will look lovely no matter what shoes!
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I have a couple of pairs of wide leg trousers, being a short-arse, it isn’t my best style, so has best been balanced with a nice high heeled pointy shoe or boot. The more recently made ones though are decidely summer casual, so get worn with bare feet round the garden. That’s helpful isn’t it? I like the tunic!
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Hmm- pointy toe.. I can do that.
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I like your coat. The mismatch looks deliberate.. Anyway it works! I read somewhere that wide leg pants should be as long as you can get away with and the narrower the pants the shorter you can go, like skinny ankle grazers.
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Oh good tips! I have this fear that my feet are so small if they don’t show I’ll look like a hovercraft!
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I really love this on you. I also wouldn’t have noticed the non-matching zig zags. Since they are the same on the side, it really does look like you planned it that way! On the wide legged pants- I have a couple of pair, and I can tell you that it does feel like you are wearing a ton of fabric when you wear them. So, I like them best in lighterweight fabrics.
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That’s a good point- I’m thinking challis.
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Like others I didn’t notice the non match – I had to go back for a look. I love this style of top and your fabric is gorgeous. I think wide legs look silly if they are too short – I don’t even like the length in the illustration. They need to be long without dragging on the ground. But then again I’m a ’70s girl and never got updated so probably don’t know anything!
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I think longer is definitely better!
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I’ve been reading your blog for about a year and I don’t think I’ve ever commented before, so first – I love your blog! And second, I’m an advocate of sewing without a plan (sometimes a plan/design emerges) and I love this make!
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Thank you- I think we have too much planning in our day to day- lets just wing our hobbies, m’kay?
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I didn’t notice the mismatch at first, so I doubt anyone else will either, especially if they don’t sew! I actually really like this as a vesty-tunic thing. Seems like it’s perfect for a mild winter or a cold office. 🙂 I kind of want a brass bikini now though–I don’t have anywhere near that figure, but I want one anyway…
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I’m looking for other coat patterns to bastardize now!
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Look at you going rogue, you sassy droid! Real talk: I didn’t notice the mismatch at all. The force is strong with this make. Oh yes, I can keep going with this level of bad SW puns…
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I’m a little concerned about the misdirected metal bikini cult that will be sent here by Google!
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First of all, what mismatch? I did not notice and I don’t care to look for one. Second, the fuller pants need to be longer and in a drapey/somewhat drapey fabric. I made three maxi skirts this summer and they do not feel heavy, even though they would have more fabric in them than a pair of wide lag pants.
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Good deal! I still have a ton of challis in varying levels of gaudy…..
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I am always too bloated to even look at a picture of a belt, but I braved this one to see if I could spot the mismatch and I still can’t. By the way, the Olsen girl looks like she just cleared some barbed wire fencing.
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I am not a huge belt fan either, but I thought it could use a pattern breakup. I may look for a smaller width belt- I couldn’t literally do a smaller belt!😏
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I love it! It looks really good on you, too!
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Thank you, thank you!
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Great post, and I really like what you have done with this coat. The fabric is really lovely and I like how you have styled it. It would repay further development I’d say. I really don’t know about the wide trousers. You have such great slim legs I am not sure I want them swathed in cloth. But they could look great as you are fairly tall (I think). So if you do them I’ll be watching, hoping to learn something very important.
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Ah yes- my blog is always a source of knowledge and ……yeah, that.
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Wide legged pants are the best and I love the look of that pattern. Wear what you like and ignore the trolls 🙂
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Trolls gotta troll,right?
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I bought the rights from G. Lucas years ago so you owe me actually….but your lawyer will be able to sort out those little details.(I’ll make sure he/she does!)
On another subject – turning a coat into a tunic – genius! Might even forego the picture rights on that idea. Lose the belt and let it tunic….
Wide-legged trousers? There is nothing better in the whole wide world or even within the Galactic Federation.
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Please don’t send the wookie after me!!!
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I have the wide leg trousers from Wearing History patterns and love them. I do have to wear them with a more fitted top, though, for the exact reason you so cleverly pointed out. Darn you for adding another pattern to my must have list. I am now dying to make up a sleeveless coat from that one. I live in the warm climes, too.
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I keep seeing these long vests and shrugs and getting so inspired!
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I love me some wide leg pants. So comfy. But definitely longer than ankle length. I pair mine with ballet flats or heels and they do just fine. They make really nice office wear in a soft suiting fabric. Like professional looking pajamas.
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Oooh! Pro Jammies! Yes!!
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I love it! It works wonderfully as a tunic. Not sure about the wide leg pants. Okay for other people, I guess, but not for me,
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I’m going to try a fabric I’m not emotionally attached to, just in case this idea is a bust!
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The mismatching is a deliberate fashion detail – yes? I love the look of wide leg pants – on other people. Sadly I am too short, when I tried them I looked like I’d fallen into the dress up box 😦
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I’m so used to leggings at this point, I may feel like I’m drowning in fabric!
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I wouldn’t have thought of converting that coat into a vest but it looks great. Fabulous collar – and brooches too.
Wide leg trousers are great. I agree that they have to be long. Or maybe that’s just my era too.
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Ooh yes, liking this look! Very inspired. I reckon that print’s too fab to need pattern matching and anyway hon, the Death Star had everything in perfect alignment, and look what happened there!
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Oooh! That collar is delicious!! Personally, I hate wearing wide-legged pants since I was a 90s teen and those were de rigeur, but you should totally make them!
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I think it looks really cool as not-a-coat
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Love this on you! What a great version of this pattern. Now you’ve got me thinking….
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