Primark Jacket Makeover
Circa 2005, I was lulled into a cheap and cheerful moment by British Vogue when they declared this Primark jacket to be the best buy of the summer. Well, at £12, I thought why the heck not. I was still going through my poor student phase and the fit was pretty good for a twelve quid jacket. That is until Primark jacket-mania swept the nation like smallpox did in eighteenth century Europe. Literally, I could not walk out of the door without spotting that jacket on at least five people (and that was just in my wee little suburb town). So fashion-toff that I am, I banished the jacket to somewhere where the sun didn't shine. However, on a bored Sunday last week, out it came and I made something like an extension of the jacket to spruce it up, give it a new identity and hopefully disguise it's humble Primark beginnings.
With some white felt which I was going to make into a dress, a glue gun (my adhesive of choice), some popper fasterners and a few hours in front of Wimbledon men's final and then the World Cup final, I made like a cape type garment that attaches to the Primark jacket with the fasteners. I ran up a bunch of ruffles with the felt haphazardly and sort of arranged them in an equally random fashion and basically tried to make something that would extend the jacket into one big ruffle THING. A product of a hotchpotch of influences - Balenciaga, Lord Nelson, Issey Miyake pleats and memories of the joy of felt material.
i love swishing around in it in all it's selfish glory of a statement piece. Gosh... sometimes I do freak myself out with the funny ideas I come up with.
LOve it Susie...the ruffles, the ivory color and that its detachable- bravo!
Posted by: orchide | 12 July 2006 at 04:41
Just don't wash it 'cause your felt will disintegrate - I too have memories of felt, unfortunately mine revolve around leaving a white felt animal in my jeans pocket then my mum washing my jeans, and when she pulled the washing out of the machine bits of my felt animal had stuck itself to every dark garment in the wash!
Posted by: DJM | 12 July 2006 at 09:08
That looks amazing! I never would have thought of doing something like that.
Posted by: Agathe | 12 July 2006 at 10:34
LOVE it. The first thing I thought when I saw it was Balenciaga, so glad to see that as a reference. It looks brilliant suzie. And your posing is so cute.
Posted by: meg | 12 July 2006 at 11:46
that is just fab, and it looks professional. great idea!
Posted by: tinu | 12 July 2006 at 12:44
hahahaha only you suzie could think of that lol~! it looks great though and very pro~!
Posted by: sammi | 12 July 2006 at 12:54
oh. so. fabulous. well done!!!
Posted by: la pulga diva | 12 July 2006 at 16:43
Pure Genius. I can't think of any other words.
Posted by: Elise | 12 July 2006 at 16:46
lovely!
Posted by: barbara | 12 July 2006 at 17:14
oooo. tres balenciaga...
Posted by: eurobrat | 13 July 2006 at 04:36
susie, i love how you are fashionable and so awesome but you still are a crafty fashionista!
Posted by: missc | 13 July 2006 at 04:44
I love the work you've done on it - I would never have thought of it myself!
Posted by: Agathe | 13 July 2006 at 09:32
^Thanks guys ^_^
I vaguely remember what people left yesterday but I'm just so annoyed at Typepad because people take the time to leave comments and then find them deleted! It's very discouraging.
Posted by: susie_bubble | 13 July 2006 at 09:40
I have one of those! (Predictable, eh?) I tried ebaying it but alas, a non-paying bidder. Grr. It just won't seem to leave! You have inspired me to customise it, however. ^_^ (I love your blog by the way, so much so that it inspired me to write my own. I've been reading for a good while but have only commented now.) x
Posted by: Bonnie Bloomgarden | 13 July 2006 at 16:42
*repost* your creativity warranted it : ) looove the shape, very avant garde & professional looking, I would totally buy that. <3
Posted by: Tinu | 13 July 2006 at 18:19
This piece came out great. It's definitely different (in a good way!) and would grab my attention if I saw someone walk by me on the street wearing it.
Posted by: iheartpink | 13 July 2006 at 18:20
You are too talented..that's gorgeous. It almost looks like you're smuggling a swan under there.
Posted by: Gloria Chang | 13 July 2006 at 18:56
i think my comment was~ i love clothes that move well like this. and don't know how you had the patience for all the pleats!
Posted by: SwanDiamondRose | 13 July 2006 at 21:20
I absolutely luuuuurve the ivory in contrast with the dark blue.
Also, the ruffle-ish extensions make it seem like you are wearing an extremely crafty and beautiful reinterpretation of the 19th century military jacket!
I must say, you are absolutely amazing, and I love your blog! :) x 100000000000
Posted by: Jory | 14 July 2006 at 03:30
it looks amazing! i want one for myself now...
Posted by: betsy | 14 July 2006 at 05:37
This is truly inspired! I bought Polo's R.L. jacket in the fall, and left it in back of my closet for the same reason... you give me courage to bring it out again when the weather cools...
Posted by: Ulla | 15 July 2006 at 20:26
you're fat, the jacket is too small for you, and your outfit 's absolutely horrbl babe!
GET SKINNY ,PLEASE
Posted by: mr. dh | 30 January 2008 at 18:01