Friday, September 30, 2016

The Refashioners 2016: Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket

My third and final "jeanius" project for The Refashioners community challenge is another attempt to replicate a popular style using an unconventional material - specifically a Chanel-inspired boxy, cropped jacket, typically made with tweedy wool, but here made with a pair of men's black denim jeans.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - Before

I hadn't noticed until I started disassembly that the back pockets were riveted at the top corners. So I picked out the seams and folded them upward... and found some seriously gross stuff. How does one get sand in their back pockets? Are they wearing their black jeans to the beach? Really? Anywho, I felt the need to run them through the wash a second time before proceeding. Once they were clean, I picked out all the leg seams and cut the legs from the waistband, just under the pocket rivets and around the zipper. Then I pressed out all the seam folds to take stock of my fabric.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I trimmed away the bottom hems to avoid the discolored bits. While they are interesting, they wouldn't really fit with the Chanel look, I don't think. Then I measured the length of the front leg panels - 40 inches. I wanted my front jacket panels to be slightly longer than the back to allow for 1.5 inches to be absorbed into the bust darts. So I cut the legs straight across to give two different lengths - 19.25 inches and 20.75 inches.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I used my good ol' tunic pattern, or at least the top portion of it, to cut the back panels from the lower half of the legs. Then I flipped them up to cut out the slightly longer front panels.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I cut the sleeves from the back leg panels. Then I serged all the edges that will be seamed - the sides and shoulders of the front panels; the sides, shoulders, and center back of the back panels; and all around the sleeves except for the wrist edge. I then lined up my front panels and cut a deeper scoop neck.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I sewed the shoulder seams and center back and pressed the seam allowances. I added my bust darts coming in from the side edges.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

Next I pinned, sewed, and pressed the sleeve seams, then joined the sides and inner sleeves as well.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

With my jacket mostly constructed, it was time to add the embellishments! To mimic the fringed border often found on Chanel jackets, I cut my black denim remnants into strips a little under an inch wide. Then I grabbed a bit of white denim left over from my faux shearling vest and cut it into strips as well, slightly over an inch wide.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I layered by strips black on top of white and began sewing them along all the edges of my jacket, which were also left unserged for intentional fraying. When I ran out of one strip, I simply placed another end-to-end and kept sewing.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

When I reached a corner, I just trimmed off the excess. I also added a second line of stitching parallel to the first, about 1/4 inches away. When I turned a corner, I stuck the ends of the new strips under the loose flap of the perpendicular strips. Once all my border strips were added, I snipped every 1/4 inch on each side to help the fraying process. As with my shearling vest, my hands were super sore by the end of all that snipping. Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I didn't feel a Chanel-inspired jacket would be complete without a couple little pockets. So I cut out two squares from my remnants, snipped the corners, and pressed the edges under. Then I lined the top edge with black and white strips as well.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

I pinned and sewed my pockets in place and snipped the border fringe on them too. Then I tossed my jacket in the laundry to get those edges nicely frayed. Finally, I hand-sewed five sets of hook-n-eyes to the under side of the front edges. I thought that would be the best way to add a closure without disrupting the look of the fringed border.

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In ProgressDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - In Progress

And there you have it! Just in the nick of time for today's submission deadline!

Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - After
Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - After
Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - AfterDenim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - After
Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - After


Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket - After

23 comments:

  1. The amount of time and effort you put in to both the refashions and these posts are pretty amazing!

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    1. Thanks, Helga! If you're going do something, do it right, huh? ;)

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  2. Yep I thought that too helps... Wonderful carissa.. Isn't denim something else

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  3. I would just like to say you are just amazing. You never cease to amaze me with an omg ! xxx

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  4. I really like how the white softens the fringe, and the little clips make for a nice chunky fringe that's got some good texture. I've only ever added fringe by picking at raw edges lengthwise with a needle and pulling out the threads--what a great alternative. I had to laugh about your comment about the sand. Living in a house with 3 little boys and a husband, I've sometimes concluded that I can't ask questions I don't want to know the answer to! :D Good luck in the competition. There's been so many great entries--I'm so curious to see how it all goes.

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    1. I'm thinking the fringe will get less chunky the more it's washed and the really short lengthwise threads between the clips come out on their own. But who knows. We'll see!

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  5. Your work is amazing and your ideas are so inspiring. Awesome job.

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  6. wow your work is pretty amazing I sew maybe every 6 months when I get time or if I have a day free so far I think I lost my sewing mojo. I really like to sew and I have a lot to make. Just don't have the imagination like you. I have to use patterns when I want something to sew. I love a lot of your work since I started following you, your talented.

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    1. Thanks! I go through phases too, when I'll sew a lot, then not much at all. I'm the same way with knitting and other crafts. I don't usually put them down for long, but it definitely goes in waves.

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  7. Chanel inspired, chucks, and pearls...absolutely perfect!!!
    JJ

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    Replies
    1. Chucks go with everything. Everything.

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  8. Another amazing refashion. This is absolute perfection! You have really taken refashioning to a whole new level, and what is awesome is that your items always look so wearable and well-made. I personally think you should have won the Refashion Runway. The other contestants were also very talented, but your items are things that I would buy from a store!

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty proud of everything I made during RR. Everyone votes on different criteria though - most work done, most professional finish, most "wearable", most flattering to the model, etc. And of course, everyone has their own style too, so most wearable to one person may not fit another reader's taste. That's part of what makes RR so much fun - an unpredictable audience!

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  9. WOW! I am very impressed. You are very talented! Thank you for this very interesting post.

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  10. So sad that you don't refashion anymore. I miss your amazing transformations!

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  11. This is the perfect outfit to choose for the style conscious adventurous woman – blue denim jeans. Stylish, durable and very comfortable – you will never worry about your looks now onwards! Flaunt your contours and reflecting your inner confidence – pair these jeans with strappy sandals, a purse and step out in style!

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  12. Comfortable, durable and fully stylish for you - mens black board shorts

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  13. People who wear motorcycle Leather Jackets look really cool and in style. If you are fond of riding your motorcycle, then you ought to put this clothing into consideration.

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  14. The Refashioners 2016's Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket project is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity within the realm of fashion. It beautifully marries the charm of upcycling denim with the sophistication of Chanel-inspired designs. This collaborative venture invites fashion enthusiasts to breathe new life into old denim, turning it into a canvas for innovative and personalized expressions of style. Embracing sustainability and individuality, this project not only revamps wardrobes but also sparks a movement celebrating resourcefulness and artistry within the fashion community.

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  15. This Denim Chanel-Inspired Jacket stands as a testament to the boundless creativity and ingenuity within the world of fashion refashioning. It exemplifies the ethos of sustainability, breathing new life into discarded denim while paying homage to the legacy of haute couture.
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