Quick Quilting
The word "quilted" has both some iffy and cool connontations. If you're a fashion-follower, you'll immediately think of Chanel's quilted bags or pumps or maybe Marc Jacobs Stam bags (because of the fake epidemic of this bag, it does seem like a decade since the Stam's creation). If you're an elderly Japanese tourist, you might be familiar with Burberry London's classic quilted jackets (that's not meant to cause offense...they do wear them exceedingly well...). If you have an estate in Suffolk and happen to love hunting, then you must have something quilted from Barbour hanging in your Baroque-style marquetry wardrobe.
Enlarge the quilted spaces and you get 'puffa' material which has some pretty nasty associations on its own. However, both quilting and puffa have been picked up on the fashion radar in the spirit of all things 'naff turned lux'. Marios Schwab in particular incorporated puffa very beautifully within his form fitting dresses. It doesn't seem right that body-con and puffa should be in the same sentance and Marios made it so.
Going back to quilting a la Barbour-country jackets though, designers have been latching onto this from two season ago, especially with outerwear.
Proenza Schouler Coat // Rick Owens Coat
However, if I'm to wear quilting, I'm after things other than outerwear but the offerings online seem to veer towards a severe black which is all very well if you're up for going for Burberry Prorsum's tough medieval look but I want to retain the softness of quilting without it looking too 'Country Files'.
So to eBay I went with my quest for the quilted! Some vivid offerings turned up that I'd love to work with in this way (items from my own non-quilted wardrobe). The orange suit would also double up on the whole skirt suit thing which I have been toying with but I'm not quite ready to wade in there immediately. If the skirt was longer and more A-line, you could almost channel Miu Miu (a more subtle example of quilting as it's ore of a textured jacquard they used...).
Vintage Emauel Ungaro peach quilted skirt suit
Further eBay quilting finds need a little work in their original form but the beauty is that you can go in there, get that bit of deceptive naffness ($15 and $5 respectively for the robe and dress with no bids atm..) and then come back shorten it and wear it in a way that obliterates any memory of their awful original state...
Gold quilted maxi hostess dress
1960'S Purple quilted long robe
That hot pink dress is fantastic and I love the idea of it with gloves.
Posted by: WendyB | 20 August 2007 at 22:56
Never thought I'd say this, but the hot pink quilted dress is absolutely delectable. Who knew quilted fabric and bold colors could look so good?
Posted by: Noel | 21 August 2007 at 00:26
how do you keep coming up with these fun ideas? i really like the mix and match potential of each garment, sort of paperdollish. also i'm always amazed at how you have such a good eye for seeing beyond the original design of a peice. the gold gown cracks me up!
Posted by: lily | 21 August 2007 at 00:47
are those spider web leggings jimmy d?
and the pink dress is hot!
Posted by: rosie | 21 August 2007 at 04:34
Hi Susie! I'm from Hong Kong and I must say that I really get inspired by your site. By the way, when talk about quilted thing, do you like Zucca FW07 red puffa evening gown? It's really cute.
Posted by: Rachel | 21 August 2007 at 16:34
woah... i'm smitten with the hot pink minidress.
Posted by: lady coveted | 21 August 2007 at 18:04
I'm simultaneously intrigued and repulsed by quilting... pink dress is quite cool.
Posted by: eurobrat | 21 August 2007 at 19:50
I'm totally into quilted stuff for this season. Tahnk you for sharing your finds. What do you think about the quilted derercuny overknee boots I've posted about earlier?
http://fartguide.blogspot.com/2007/08/derercuny-over-knee-boots.html
Posted by: f&art | 21 August 2007 at 20:11
I've got my eye on that pink dress...
Rosie: The socks are by Eley Kishimoto
Rachel: I do love what Zucca did with quilting...more literal than other interpretations but still very cute!
F&Art: I saw those boots on your blog! I was going to post them on the Derercuny but I do absolutely love them...more so in black than in brown though as the brown looks a little too co-ordinated for a hunting outfit.
Posted by: susie_bubble | 21 August 2007 at 22:28
Im lovin' the blue pencil skirt outfit but I'm not so keen on the rest. I never really like the matireal puffa jackets of the nineties were made out of. Im all for quilting but not in that plastic umbrella matireal. I found a gorgeous cream leather quilted jacket in Bershka over the summer. It was gorgeous!
Posted by: Ais | 21 August 2007 at 23:01
Ahhh, I want that quilted hot pink dress!!!
Posted by: SarahJayne | 22 August 2007 at 03:44
the dress is so cute - alas, slightly on the small size bust-ways otherwise i would have bid... sigh.
I was thinking of this very trend when in camden yesterday - they have some great black flared trousers in cyberdog with quilted / puffa bottoms that I thought would work really well outside the usual clubbing atmosphere where their clothes usually work.
-xc
Posted by: cassiopeia37 | 22 August 2007 at 12:50
i just realized you photoshopped the mix and match in your own wardrobe.
heh . brilliant.
Posted by: lady coveted | 22 August 2007 at 17:40