WIW: gray black uniform and scarf I finally finished hemming - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: gray black uniform and scarf I finally finished hemming

rabbit

Veteran

A little colder out today, and I finally finished hand rolling and hemming a big rectangular silk scarf (I loved some designer fabric at the fabric store). I have another one I'm working on with bright colors and circles, hoping to finish that one soon.

So I will probably wear this scarf wrapped a little less 'large' but I was into it today, and made it a bit shorter and less pointy after seeing these pics. Bonuses of the scarf - it's light enough to fold and stick into my coat pocket while eating omelettes at brunch. Also it doesn't wrinkle when subjected to this treatment. Unlike the shirt I'm wearing which wrinkles when I sit .

velvet coat - Calvin Klein/Nordstrom Rack
boots - G for Guess/T J Maxx
ponte leggings - Ross (are these pants-like enough? They feel like pants - thick/sturdy with inset texture panels.) This is probably the shortest shirt I'd wear with them.
shirt - Pleione/Nordstrom Rack
scarf - Just Cavalli silk fabric - it's more taupey silver and ink blue than black/white in person. Also there are diamond shapes which don't show unless it's worn long.

Feedback and advice welcome!

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43 replies

Latest reply was from carambola

Gigi

Veteran

This outfit is beyond awesome. And your hair is so beautiful! The colors look so good on you...and I'm loving the scarf. Maybe I will do the same thing--get fabric and make my own. Was it difficult to do the hand hem?

rabbit

Veteran

Gigi thanks! The hand hemming was a little difficult because of the slippery-ness of the the fabric - it helped if one end was pinned or weighed down to hold it taut. I watched some youtube videos, and ending up modifying my stitch a little - but once I got the hang of it, it was pretty easy.

My main problem was that every time I tried to work on it, my teenage kittens would go after the needle and thread, so I had to wait until they were asleep or shut them out of a room, which they complained about loudly.

rae

(website)

Veteran

What an awesome coat! Also love the scarf - fun story about the kitten delays. <3

Catnip

Veteran

Your scarf is wonderful! Don't know why I didn't think of doing that. It looks great with your shirt and velvet coat.

As for the leggings, I think they look OK, especially with the long shirt. However I think I would prefer pants that are slightly less tight. Since Angie has shown us so many looser pants, I'm finding skin tight pants a little less appealing. Nevertheless, this outfit is gorgeous and you look terrific!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

IMO the pants work well with the jacket but I think they look a little legging-like with just the shirt - the scarf is lovely.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like every version. I think the leggings work as pants assuming the back view is covered.

Ariadne

Veteran

Gorgeous outfit!

deb

Veteran

Beautiful scarf! I love the way all the blues go together and they look so good on you.

Marmee

Veteran

You are brilliant, and the scarf is beautiful. Lovely!

Diana

Veteran

Ooh! I love this outfit. I want to wear it. :). Love the velvet coat!

Gigi

Veteran

What size of a piece of fabric did you use, rabbit?

I hadn't thought of going to YouTube to check out tutorials. I did hand-hem a napkin once, so I assume this should be similar. I also have a silk skirt that I want hemmed, but the tailor said he can't roll the hem. So I would have to do it by hand if I want it to look like that. I'll do all these things in my abundant spare time. :^)

catgirl

Veteran

Oh now this is a favorite for me. The colors the drape and the fit are spectacular. I love the texture of the jacket.... Sigh....

Jeanie

Veteran

Simply gorgeous scarf and totally awesome outfit!

rabbit

Veteran

Thanks all!

Catnip and caro - Thank you for the feedback. I'll probably wear these just as leggings, with a tunic length top, or with a short black tube skirt over them (my workaround). Catnip - I'm experimenting with some looser fits too (mainly for jeans), but I still like the loose top over slim bottom silhouette a lot, for comfort as much as proportions.

Gigi - It's about a yard and a half of fabric, the scarf is 56 inches by 28 inches (the bolt width), so it's a wide rectangle. If you had a wider bolt, you could buy a smaller amount. Yeah, about the focused spare time. I think I bought the fabric almost a year ago, and am finishing it now

anne

Veteran

Wow - that scarf really makes the outfit. (Although it is a cool outfit without it!)

Deborah

Veteran

Wow. Stunning. I am pinning this one:) Love the fit of the jacket. The leggings/pants looks amazing and I think are find with the toppers. I had that same shirt in a dark navy:) You look gorgeous.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Good thing I was sitting while checking this. This is my dream style. Full stop.

After I recover i.e. refocus I'll read what you actually wrote, I'm interested in this hemmed scarf thing as I have one that hight need similar intervention.

But, OMG... I have not been this blown away by an outfit in quite some time!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

back now...

Thinking back to your first WIWs I can remember, this outfit is another level. I have a feeling that playing with Commes des Garçon inspiration had pushed you towards edgier style, which to my eye suits you perfectly. Any truth in this?

What I love in this outfit, both as your outfit and inspiration for myself, is how essentially simple it is - black pants, top, scarf. But, the magic begins in the variations of the top, it could have been a simple tee or sweater, but it's not, it is super interesting and still not loud enough to take away the space the scarf is taking.

Second part is the scarf itself, I am actually stunned we haven't had this sort of creation on the forum (not that I've noticed) yet. I know that Vix has a great eye for interesting fabrics from which she had pretty clothes made, but taking a piece of silk and making into the scarf seems so obvious - yet I totally missed to notice it before or think of it myself. I have some silk left from my mum (small red and blue circles) which may be a candidate for something similar, but I'll be on the lookout for new fabric regardless. I love silk scarves and have been keeping an eye for that perfect one, seems like I've been checking the wrong places all this time. A life lesson in this maybe - look around, think outside the box...

Could you describe how you did the handrolling? How did you make sure you make neat turns at the corners while hemming? You might take some photos of the one you're doing at the moment for a sort of tutorial?

Have I said I was blown away by this outfit?

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Holy c&#p! You've done it again, rabbit! 100% awesomeness!

Andrea W

Veteran

Lovely outfit - the scarf really adds panache and the monochrome palette works well. I would steal every one of those items it all looks so comfy but stylish!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I think this is fantastic. The leggings look pants-like to me, and I wouldn't worry wearing them like this. I absolutely love the scarf. What a great idea!

The overal impression is urban, cool and pulled together. You look like someone I'd love to be when I was your age

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I love this outfit! You look fantastic! I still love and wear skinnies/leggings, so this is exactly a look I would strive for. The scarf is beyond amazing.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

LOVE everything about this! Beautiful layering and proportions for one thing and that scarf is beyond stunning. I really like how you're wearing it and letting that fabric be the star.

leopardluxe

Veteran

Great outfit! I love the drape-y scarf with it. The volume is a nice balance to the skinny legging style pant and boots and the pattern contrasts nicely with the rest of the more monochromatic, solid-color outfit.

celia

Veteran

This outfit is out of this world. Love it so much!Cannot get pass the fabness!

Anonymous

Such a great outfit. I love every bit of it!

JAileen

Veteran

You really look great in this outfit. The colors and fit are perfect! I love your scarf, too. Congrats!

rabbit

Veteran

Wow thanks!

Ornella - Thanks so much for your in depth thoughts. Actually this silhouette, dark leggings with loose oversized knit (usually black, gray, or blue), topper and these boots is my FFBO. I haven't posted it as much here because I've been experimenting with brighter colors and different bottoms. I think that you are right though, that the CG challenge I set myself did get me thinking in edgier ways, and pushing it further, even with this uniform. It fits pretty well with my lifestyle, work and the people I interact with - it's definitely how I feel comfortable and strong/grounded.

For the scarf it was an idea I had when browsing a fabric store with my MIL, a quilter, and seeing some fabric I really liked but lamenting that I only have basic sewing skills and no machine right now. Here are some links for how to hem silk by hand or machine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dt_5vnOJ_E by hand with chiffon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKD1mQOuQfY by hand with silk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi4bp_cv0kw by machine

The fabric I had was too slippery to roll twice and stitch just once for me without a good table to pin it down on, so I ended up folding the edge once and just sewing a running stitch/seam, and then folding again and doing the roll stitch. You can see the photos below. Not the neatest work in the world and a lot more stitches visible on the back side than I'd like - a more accomplished sewer probably wouldn't need to do this, and could just follow the videos. One good thing is that I didn't have to sew the two finished edges of the bolt.

Buying fabric on sale, or remnants which are big enough for a scarf can make this pretty cost effective, equivalent or less expensive than thrift scarfs. One advantage is that you can find a fabric which contains several of the colors in your wardrobe and it instantly could help pull outfits together -- something that takes a lot more luck in retail or even thrift.

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columbine(erin)

Veteran

Oh my, the scarf is stunning. Beautiful outfit, too.

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