All right, dudes and dudettes – Project Sewn is up and running! This first week, the theme is Style Icon.
I’m just gonna be real with y’all – as soon as I saw that challenge, my personal motto started rolling through my head. The thing is – I don’t have a style icon. I honestly don’t have a person (or designer, or whatever) who I use as inspiration for my outfits. I mean, I like the way lots of celebrities dress and I’m no stranger to the siren song of a good Joan Holloway outfit, but as far as picking a particular person… naw. I don’t even know, y’all. In the end, I decided to go with someone who I admire as a person who just happens to have amazing style….
Dolly Parton!
I mean, who doesn’t love Dolly, amirite? She’s such an incredibly smart, funny, generous – and not to mention talented as HELL – woman… a true icon in my book. Speaking of books, have you ever read her memoir, My Life and Other Unfinished Business? Or heard about her program Imagination Library, which sends free books to kids to get them excited about reading? Or, hell, have you been to Dollywood?? This woman, she is amazing. She’s not just a style icon for me – she’s a real life icon, the kind of person I want to emulate.
Plus, Dolly (specifically circa 60s-70s) was no stranger to an overly decorated/borderline tacky western shirt. And, dammit, I wanted a western shirt! I’ve actually been looking for an excuse to sew one for years.
I made my entire outfit, obviously, but let’s talk about the shirt first. My fabric is a tiny check gingham seersucker from Mood. I used the Archer as my base pattern (lol, poor Jen, probably never thought her pattern would get used to make this sort of monstrosity SORRY JEN I LOVE YOUR PATTERN THO), and made a few modifications, beyond my normal ones of changing the sleeve placket, narrowing the side seams, and a different method for attaching the collar and collar stand. There’s quite a bit of piping, since we all know it’s not a real western shirt without gratuitous amounts of piping.
Adding the piping was really fun, and definitely adds some pizazz to an otherwise plain shirt. The piping at the back yoke and top of the sleeve cuffs was easy – I just sewed it along the seam allowance before attaching the other pieces. For the front yoke, I had to do a little bit of drafting and figuring out – I ended up tracing the front piece and cutting off where I wanted the yoke to hit (right above the pockets) and then drew my scallops with a french curve. To attach the piping, I first sewed it to the bottom of the yoke, clipped and trimmed and pressed and it toward the wrong side, and then laid the yokes on top of the front piece and topstitched along the piping. The raw edges of the piping are enclosed inside the yoke, so the inside of the front of the shirt is perfectly clean except for a line of topstitching. I think it worked out pretty well, if I do say so myself!
Once I had the shirt entirely assembled, less the pearl snaps and hem, I hung it on a hanger and stared at it for over a month. What to do next? I liked the way the effect was going, but it clearly needed some embroidery at the yokes to give it that western flair. I realized at the point that the tiny gingham check was working against me – any embroidery was going to get lost in all that action.
I had my epiphany right before I fell asleep one night – APPLIQUE! That would show up against the check, and it would still allow me to involve some of the embroidery I so desperately wanted. I knew I still had a piece of vintage barkcloth in my stash that would be perfect (I used the majority of it for my birthday dress a few years back, and have been hoarding the remaining yardage ever since!). I painstakingly cut around each rose and leaf, arranging the pieces so they would be mostly mirrored at the front, and attached them with fusible web to the yokes. Then I hand-embroidered around every piece – partially to keep them attached to the start, but mostly because I just loove the texture of hand embroidery!
I am pretty freaking THRILLED with how it turned out, what do you think??
The last thing my shirt needed was a little bit of pearl snap action! I got mine from Cowgirl Snaps on Etsy, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the overall experience. I actually bought both red and black pearl snaps, but once I got the shirt finished, black was the clear winner. Also, I just really love hammering shit in my sewing room, ok.
Ok, now let’s talk about the pants! I used a Theory stretch denim from Mood and my pattern is McCall’s 6440. This is my first version of this pattern (you’ve already seen my leopard pair, ooh la la), and I went through a BIG fitting curve with these. I initially cut the size 8, based on the finished measurements – and they were huuuuge! Pretty much every thing about them sucked except the crotch curve, basically. I spent an entire evening trying on, pinning, basting, trying on, repinning, basting, trying on… ad nauseam. I’m happy that they worked out in the end – they are SO fun to wear, and look super pin-up, yay! – but getting there was a process, plus the insides are full of thread tails from all that basting. Oh well!
Some gratuitous butt shots for ya. You’re welcome.
Oh, yeah, and in case you were wondering – I can also wear this shirt untied with the sleeves rolled down, like a proper Archer, which makes it much more wearable in day-to-day life 🙂
Now at this point, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Ok, fine, but where the hell are you going to wear that thing, anyway??” Guys. Guys. I live in Nashville. I’m not so stuck up my own butt that I’m not above rolling down to the tourist district and getting my Honky Tonk on. Let’s be real – Honky Tonkin’ is the best part about living in Nashville, as far as I’m concerned. OF COURSE you can go dancin’ in normal people clothes, but why the hell not throw on your best western digs and cowboy boots and dress the part? This being made of seersucker is even better – it’ll be much more comfortable come summer, compared to my RTW black cotton western shirt, especially with the looser style.
I’m also going to wear it just for the heck of it because, well, it’s awesome 😉
Also, in case you were wondering – I DO have cowboy boots! I just thought this outfit needed a little tone down from the ~country~, hence the Keds 🙂
Ok, hope you’re ready for some detail shots… I took a million :\….
The waistband of the pants is faced with more gingham seersucker. I love when my pants match my top, even if it’s only on the inside!
Don’t look too closely, but the embroidery on the front yokes is actually not a perfect mirror. Since the flowers weren’t printed to mirror, I had to get super creative with my cutting and appliqueing on one side, but I think it worked out quite nicely!
Sleeve placket + pearl snaps + piping = ♥
Yokes
Embroidery – the flowers are outlined in a 4 thread split stitch, and the leaves are outlined in a 2 thread chainstitch. I love the effect and textures with the applique and embroidery – it’s just a little bit Alabama Chanin.
Snaps to anyone who sat through this entire post! I have one gift for you, which I found while I was trolling the nets for Dolly inspiration (click for source):
NOW do you see why I chose her as my inspiration? God, I love that woman.
Now head on over to Project Sewn and see what everyone else has been up to! Don’t forget to vote for your favorite!
Love this! Dolly is such a style icon, I often channel my inner Dolly for my sewing projects! xx
sooooo awesome!!! heading over to vote now! great work, lady!
OMG Lauren you outdid yourself! I don’t think anyone will top it!
“Tough titty” – what a great quote. I’m going to use that, maybe not at the next board meeting though.
You couldn’t have picked a better inspiration for this project. Not just the location, but your and Dolly’s attitude. Okay, so I don’t know her, but she seems to have the same strong personality as you. Confident as well. Great job, Lauren! I love the whole look.
Love it love it love it – you rock!
How can you make me love you more? DO YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT DOLLY?! DO YOU!?!?!?! Worship. Adoration. Etc. So seeing you pull a little Dolly action here made my heart swell to the sound of I Will Always Love You. This shirt is THE. BEST. Everything about it. I don’t even live in Nashville but I would wear this motherfucker every day JUST BECAUSE. Pants are awesome too!
One day I will come to Nashville and we will honky tonk the fuck outta that place.
Hells yes! Go ahead and start getting your western shirt ready because we are going to DESTROY Lower Broadway with our awesome 😀 haha!
I’m sorry sweetie, you know I love you, but it’s just not flattering.
…sorry.
Or, I’m trollololo-ing all up in this piece. (I started a blog by the way, mostly at your suggestion.)
YOU WOULD.
Ahhh i’m so excited that you’re blogging, yay!
Woo! GET HYPE! Blog! Posts!
Also, I’m starting on my Mary Poppins plaid cape soon. Expect frantic text messages about plaid matching.
This is just fabulous. And the fit of those trousers is spectacular!
why wear normal people clothes EVER?! i love this and iiiiiiiiiii will always love DOLLY. and of course YOU.
♥ !
Gawd you are cool! The epitome of cool, in fact!!! That shirt especially is incredible, all the special details make my heart sing!
Holy crappers, this outfit is too cute and you are RIDICULOUSLY adorable in it. STOP BEING SO AMAZING, PROJECT SEWN-ERS!!!!!
I fricken love everything about this post! Your icon is a major icon, love her! Your shirt is super awesome, very professional and something I’ve wanted to make but was intimidated by details like yours. Now that I’ve seen your fab results I can’t wait to get started on my own version! Thanks for the source on the snaps by the way and thanks for the inspiration!
Yes! Let’s start an army of handmade western shirts!
Freakin superb outfit, you totally rock it. Just voted for ya, fingers crossed.
I grew up in Louisiana and went to college in the town they filmed Steel Magnolias. Everybody LOVED Dolly! She was such a sweetheart and a real person. The best story I heard about filming the movie was the director was a real butt and he would try to tear down all the actresses. He was yelling at Dolly one day ad told her she was a horrible actor. her rebuttal was to yell right back “I’m a celebrity, not an actor, I know I can’t act! It’s YOUR job as director to make me look good!”
My hero!
Haha that is so awesome, and SO Dolly! Gah, I love her. I’ve never personally met her but I know plenty of people who have (at my old job, my boss had several pictures of him and her ~just hanging out~ ahhh), and everyone agrees that she is super sweet and super down to earth. She’s the best!
Not only was I laughing out loud during this entire post, I absolutely adore the shirt and pants. They are perfection! I can totally see Dolly being a little envious… and who doesn’t love Dolly Parton? Terrorists, that’s who. Good work and well written!
OH. MY. GEE. I don’t know where to look first! I love love love the shirt (how dare you call it monstrosity — it’s amazing) and I love the entire look with your high stepping ponytail and short bangs. I am taken back to 1959, dancing in my grandma’s basement/tiki bar under the dangling christmas lights with my handsome cousins in their string ties and crew cuts!!!!
Ahh, I love this comment! I want to go back to 1959 too, please 🙂
WUT THE WUT. I think you were born to wear this outfit and only this outfit for the rest of forever. My only complaint is that you skipped the cowboy boots. How much country is too much country?! I posit that there is NO SUCH THING.
Also I like that you took a Palmer/Pletsch pattern and turned it into something honky-tonk. I love me some P/P. If you’re going to wear sassypants, they might as well fit like a glove.
haha ok ok, you got me. I actually worried that they looked bad since they were brown and my shirt is black… plus, I wanted everyone to see my skinny pants! But next time. I’ll wear the cowboy boots 🙂
Those pants are worth the effort – ridiculously cute outfit! Your look so gorgeous with your up
This is why you’re my favsies. I read the blogs of other ppl in this round of project sewn, but I already know you have my vote, before even seeing theirs.
Aw shucks! You’re making me blush 🙂
Being a complete hick from the sticks (I’m originally from a po-dunk small town where we would go line dancing in this awesome barn every weekend) this outfit speaks to me on soooooooooooooooo many levels. LOVE! Oh my goodness Lauren! I die over the appliques. I die! Please show us a photo with the boots. PLEASE! Dolly forever! Yes!
OH MY GOD that is so amazing. I am thinking of you line-dancing now and it is just filling me up with glee!
Hahaha, I just love the Dolly quote at the end!
I literally lol’d when I saw it. Good ol’ Dolly ♥
Super cute outfit! Who doesn’t love Dolly? Who doesn’t love pearl snaps?? How did you get your pearl snaps hammered on without cracking the pearl? I tried various shims and pads when I used them, but was still 1 for 3!
Ummm well I did crack a few! haha! It’s not so noticeable since they are black, but it happened. I’m thinking about buying one of those tools to set the snaps in and see if that works better. There’s actually a place here that will professionally set your pearl snaps (yep, only in Nashville haha), but they charge $5 PER SNAP and no thank you.
You look awesome! Of course you can wear this in Nashville! I love all the little details you added to the shirt, it looks fantastic. And I’ve always loved Dolly too, she seems like such a sweetheart.
That shirt is awesome. And over here in the UK the western style is actually kinda fashionable for a lot of the year.
I know so many people who would wear that outfit day to day, even with cowboy boots.
Ohhh, good to know. When I come over there, I’m gonna country it up the whole time 🙂 haha!
Haha! Good to hear! 😛 To be fair, you can wear a wide range of styles and not be out of place over here! At least in London any way. 🙂
I grew up listening to Dolly (my mom is a huge fan), and I think you channeled her perfectly with this outfit! Love, love, love the details on the shirt!
This outfit has so much attitude! Both garments look great, but I gotta say that shirt is fan-freaking-tastic! The piping and applique make it look more current (ugh, hate saying that: I sound like an uptight fashion snob!). Love that the pants and shirt are all matchy-matchy (even on the inside!). Congrats on another great project!
Sweet! That’s actually a really flattering look on you. Girl, I have no idea how you pull it off without it looking costume-y. Anyway, I love those dark pearl snaps!
I think the secret to keeping things from looking costume-y (well, within reason) is to make sure they fit very very well. Then it looks more natural and intentional, I think. Well, at least I hope so, haha!
Great job on your outfit. I really love embellishment through applique and embroidery. Yours looks amazing and gives me an idea for some vintage barkcloth I have stashed away which is doing me no good.
This is past cute. The applique was a touch of genius — you’re right, embroidery would have been lost in the gingham and this is a perfect touch. Also, I love that you chose Dolly — she’s a more out-of-the-box style icon. Not someone everyone would immediately choose (well… maybe in Nashville.)
Pants fit is absolutely superb, too! I have a skirt made from that exact fabric from Mood and I’m obsessed with it…. you’re making me want to order more so I can make pants! 😀
This shirt is Awesome!! Love it!!! So Nashvegas! I hope you wear it often!!
Eep! Lauren, this is SO cute. You look straight out of a 1960s Grand Ole Opry show. The barkcloth appliques you did on the shirt are genius. Love it!
Granted this isn’t my favorite thing of yours I’ve ever seen, in my short time of reading your blog, but still, what on earth?! There is ONE other project I like as well as yours (the steam train outfit). Other than that…not impressed! Have voted for you once in each of three browsers, which is all I think I’m allowed… 😦
Aw, I thought the other entries were pretty amazing! Oh well, different strokes and all that. Maybe next week will be a bit more up your alley? 🙂 Thank you for your vote!
I don’t know where to start – there is so much that is rad in this post. So. You: great effort on the piping, pattern modification, appliqué, embroidery etc etc and on loving an amazing woman. Just like everyone else, I think she is fabulous! Enjoy the heck out of your outfit! Rachel 🙂
(P.S. What I mean is that Western just isn’t my thing. I love all the detail you put into the shirt, and I love the gingham fabric and the creative applique-ing.)
You’re totally right – Western is definitely an, ahem, acquired taste 😉
Your beauty is beyond compare with flamings locks of auburn hair, and ivory skin and eyes of emerald green. I love this outfit! You need some bigger hair though, because ya know – the bigger the hair, the closer to god. This really makes me want to go honky tonkin’, and I will be soon hopefully since spring is coming up! And also, we should start a Dolly Parton cover band since we didn’t hear any Dolly last time.
Dude I tried soo hard to get my hair big, but it was NOT cooperating! Hence the ponytail, haha! And yes, let’s start that cover band asap. I’m still butthurt that that lady didn’t know the words to Jolene. You and I could probably sing her right off the stage 😉
Applique? You had me at PEARL SNAPS!! Years ago, I made a similar shirt (without yoke detail) for my then boyfriend – in the Midwest. To say it was a hit is an understatement – people asked me about making more. So I would say this is an all American, soft of ethnicy kind of style. I would not mind making similar for myself today. Yours is beautiful and looks comfortable!! The Archer is on my must-have list.
Great, now I’ve got THAT song stuck in my head 😉
First I wanted to be you, and now I just want to be your freaking best friend. I want a matching outfit so that we could tear the town UP together.
Loz (that’s what you’d be called if you lived in Australia) your outfit is perfect, fits amazingly and suits you to a T. Amazing and well done!
I. Love. All. Of. This.
OMG. This is why you are one of my fave bloggers. I have to admit even though I have seen 8 million Archers I’ve been like, meh, I don’t really wear button downs…But THIS! I would SO wear this!! And I live in Oregon so I could definitely get away with it. High Freakin’ Five! And hello, who doesn’t love Dolly?
TOO cute! And Dolly, and you, are awesome!
Your shirt is wonderful!! I love the black seersucker and piping. And I think it kicks the Archer up a notch or too.
Lovely!! Good luck!!
You rock Dolly.
Dolly will be singing her heart out when she sees this. The hardwork you’ve put into this totally emmulates the graft Dolly has put into her passion. I hope you’re super proud of yourself. Also I LOVE Dolly.
LOVE. WANT. xx
I love your new “digs” — I love that you care about your creations to actually take all the time to hand embroidery instead of just getting things done — I had to check Bloglovin special this morning and go directly to your blog because sometime yesterday your expression “amirite” got stuck in my head and I wanted to see if you would use it today…course also had to check out what your amazing creation would be today — you did do yourself proud…”amirite?”. Thanks for taking the time to do a great blog so often!
I love your outfit!! The shirt is absolutely beautiful, very skillfully crafted and not over the top or costume-y. I just love the rockabilly style,which is what this is making me think of. Your hair is perfect with it – I have bang envy.
I love it, I love her and I love Honky Tonk. Glory be. 😉 And it goes without saying that you and your shirt rock!
Dolly rocks and you rock in this outfit Lauren! I love your attention to detail in the shirt – your embroidery on the applique is beautiful! Would love to see you in this outfit with your cowboy boots – and would a red flower in your hair a la Dolly, be too much to ask?
This is cute as the dickens. I can’t get over your barkcloth appliques against that check, the highwaist pant and the rolled up shirt sleeves….the whole look is SO COOL. I think Dolly herself would be proud. Have you ever seen that 70s profile Barbara Walters did on her ? Those and her interviews with Huell Howser just crack me up everytime, she’s so down to earth and FRANK. Not to mention those wigs. And that *talent*.
Job well done, gal!
I’m sure Dolly would approve! You look fantastic.The applique are the perfect embellishment for this blouse! Great job, Lauren.
LOVE!
Wow! The pieces look so cute together but I love that you could pair them with any number of things and it would look good. Versatile and stylish!
Also, your flat stomach. You know how many spanx I had to wear with my outfit?!
Whatever, you looked hott as SHIT in your outfit! There, I said it! 😀
Really cute! You did an amazing job with the outfit! The jeans are amazing…Can’t really imagine trying to make my own jeans…
I love Dolly, and your look is absolutely amazing. I don’t have the figure to pull it off, but it’s incredible on you.
1. I didn’t realize you live in Nashville – I live in the Chattanooga area. 2. Dolly is awesome and I love this outfit!!
YAY DOLLY! I love her. You did a fan-freaking-tastic job with this one. I would pretty much sell my soul for the body able to sport this outfit. And I would totally go honky-tonking with you, if I ever found myself in Nahsville.
I voted for you and was so disappointed at the results of this project sewn. Don’t know if I even want to see what else happens in the coming weeks. So bummed – you so deserved to take it all
Aw! I’m bummed I got knocked out too, but I’m so happy to see Oona with the first prize for week one – I think she totally earned that one. It’s just crappy that someone (aka, me! ha!) had to be eliminated. I’m def interested to see what those ladies cook up in the following weeks, though 🙂
Lauren, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you’ve been eliminated from Project Sewn. I thought you did an amazing job with your outfit (and there’s so much work in this!) and it really captures your inspiration too. I hope you’ll still show us what you’d made for the other challenges.
Thank you 🙂 I do have my other outfits planned, so you’ll eventually see them all 🙂 The last two are pretty summery, so I probably won’t get them sewn for a while… but the pink challenge; that one is finished and photographed and I’ll be posting that in the next 5 minutes 🙂 haha!
OMG I love your western shirt! I think Dolly Parton was an excellent choice for many, many reasons. =)
Everything about this outfit is adorable and I now feel compelled to go pull out my Dolly album. I am absolutely in love with the flowers.
Wow! I love this entire outfit. The applique! The amazing fit of those pants! All your hard work paid off. I love the cowgirl look and wear it even though I live in LA. Great job!
The skill and talent in this is amazing and it looks brilliant on you. I know the outcome of PS and in all honesty, you were robbed. Robbed! This combo totally kicks ass. You look cute as hell, the fit is impeccable, and the construction is quality.
Robbed.
OMG totally agree! Robbed! The fit on those pants is amazing! And the shirt! This outfit is fantastic!