Fa-fa-fa-fashion

[gurdymonkey]

Having received an invitation to a somewhat dressy event in the near future, I went out last night to look at cocktail dresses. Everything I tried on was hideous and/or made me look like a whale - and dammit, I just LOST ten pounds. Black doesn't do anything except make me look OLD.  Bubble hems look retarded on anyone who is not nineteen. And what's up with all this babydoll nonsense? F*** you, Arbiters of Fashion. I found one dress that I didn't hate - but I didn't love it enough to buy it either.

This is me flipping you and your anorexic scarecrows off. Yes, that is my ample backside with hand dyed horizontal stripes blazoned across it.



Then I remembered I'd made a dress awhile back. Silvery gray Chinese brocade with spider chrysanthemums on it. It needs to be taken in along the side seams now (go me!) and maybe I could do something a little different with the neckline, but it's flattering and PRETTY, and I will not look like a hag in it.
Hah!

Comments

[bronx-baroness.livejournal.com]

You look marvelous in rose! Is that the Smackity Fan? May I humbly request that you try not frowning so much and smile just a wee bit? You look so *fierce* in the nice new garb. And no it doesn't make your amplitude look large at all!

Hey, I'm trying to look intimidating here!

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

That's my "signal aircraft" fan - it's got a lot of silver foil on it.

The Smackity Fan may be a man's fan. It's about an inch longer than my other sensu, with plain bamboo ribs and a painting of a man in court dress on it. The reason for the name is that it has the most incredible balance to it, like it was MADE for chastising one's servants with.

I just spent fifteen minutes dodging the *#^%$!! contractors next door (note the spackle marks on the boards behind me), and trying to find a place to set up a tripod to take those pictures. Test shots taken on the front lawn were too bright, so I ended up having to move into the alley. The noise of power tools kept drowning out the self timer indicator so I couldn't be sure when it was going off.

I swear, if they'd torn down the house and started from scratch, they'd've been DONE six months ago.

Re: Hey, I'm trying to look intimidating here!

[bronx-baroness.livejournal.com]

OH! Contractors... that's enough to make *anyone* feel cranky.

Re: Hey, I'm trying to look intimidating here!

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I just came in after running errands to find them riding up a scissor lift in front of the house and the motor on that puppy is LOUD.

[intrepida.livejournal.com]

I saw your link from sca_garb. Shibori is such fun, and what a great color!

I had the good luck to take a class on it in college. I saw your previous post about having trouble getting enough tension when you gathered your mokume. Would you mind if I passed on my Prof's tricks? I hate to just barge in with unsolicited advice.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Sure. If it's lengthy, shoot me an email at wodeford AT yahoo DOT com.

(Are you Alejandro's Intrepida? Hi!)

[intrepida.livejournal.com]

Its not lengthy at all.

Things that can help are:

'Reinforcing' your fingers with some athletic tape, especially around the first joint of your index finger will help you pull harder without getting burns or cuts from the thread (at least if you pull on the threads like I do).

Wearing rubber gloves for a better grip on the threads when you pull.

And (the big one!) wetting the silk when you pull it up. I think it drives out the air that gets trapped between the layers of silk, and helps the silk stick together. A little spray bottle works well for this. You might have to do it more than once to get the silk as compacted as possible. (wet, gather, tie off, wet, pull it down more, tie off again).

I did a velvet scarf in mokume for my final project in that class and that's what helped me get the tightest resist I could with the pile.

(And I am Alejandro's intrepida. Hi!)

[matsujo9.livejournal.com]

Hi! I also followed your recent post in SCA Garb here. I'm Cecily, the hatamoto of Yama Kaminari. Anyway, I wondered if it would be OK if I friended you?

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

It's a Sammette! Sure, join up and prepare to be curmudged at. ;-D

[matsujo9.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Yes, it is a sammette! I've never stopped to think how many people must know me for that and not anything else.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, my time with CYK at Pennsic was limited (and I spent a great deal of that pestering Otagiri-dono), but I seem to remember you from the dance class too.

[matsujo9.livejournal.com]

Yep, that was me! Will you be making it to Pennsic again this year?

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Too soon to be sure. I have a wedding in May that has priority on my travel budget. If Pennsic is in the cards, I'll be sure to let folks know.

[moonflake1978.livejournal.com]

I love the way your kosode turned out, even if it is pink. :) I have issues with most of modern fashion. I hate the bubble hems. Ugly as all get out in my opinion.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Isn't it wonderful to be able to sew, and so not dependant on modern fashion whims? We who are willing to make our own clothes can always be beautiful, no matter what the stores may or may not be selling this week.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

That came out looking nicely! The Rose is a lovely color!