Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Pants -Take Two





Outfit Details: Silver Batwing top - Tempt, Grey high neck top - Miss Shop, Pants - by Me, Shoes - Rohde, Sunglasses - Chanel, Golden bracelets - from a Halloween treat bag!

It seems I am often heralded for my vintage style, and while I do have a great affinity with decades past, I like to make them work for me. This is why I mix my plastic children's jewelry with 80's couture; my hoochie heels with high collared tops and just about anything that takes my fancy. I do know my decades, my designers and my history, but I also know what suits me. So for that reason I take an eclectic view of fashion and enjoy finding myself in all my looks.

When high waisted pants first came out I tried on various commercial jeans, but nothing really looked right on me. I had a mental image of what I would look like in these amazing pants and where they might take me. But when I would stand in the dressing room all I could see was a large expanse of arse staring back at me. After years of 6cm flys, adding that much fabric to your behind takes some adjusting in the visual memory. So feeling like I had just gained a good 10 kilos, I put those pants back on the rack.

Rather than be dismayed, I decided that I could do a better job of translating my mental image to reality. I had had great successs with wide leg pants before, so why not go one step further? So I headed out to my local fabric store to pick up some stretch denim and set about drafting a pattern for these beauties. The idea I had in mind was a 1940's casual look, but I wanted them to translate into all kinds of other styles. Much of the success or failure of this idea depends on the accessories employed in this endeavour.

So after yesterday's blast from the past, I give you my more modern version of these pants. This is yet another way I wore them to head to a casual family barbeque on the weekend. I also paired them with the other pair of Rohde shoes I picked up, which were the higher wedge, sling back ones. (Yes, I got them both.)

19 comments:

Tara said...

They look fantastic! The first two photos look so glamourous.

thevintageyear said...

I am in AWE of your pants!

Lady Melbourne said...

Well done, superb job on the jeans, I don't know anyone who can make their own jeans!
Very slick look Mama!
LM
x

Anonymous said...

you look very elegant with your hair in a slick bun. It's sort of like a departure from and extension of the vintage style you dominate.

Anonymous said...

When I looked at the first picture, at first glance I thought you were wearing an eye patch! ;)

I love sailor style pants, they are so flattering. You look great!!

Deirdre Grimes said...

Great look, i like that you didn't let the commercial ones dampen your spirits! great attitude!

K.Line said...

What a talent you are! I love the jeans with the sweater.

floraposte said...

Great look from top to toe! Those jeans are better than anything in the shops.

WendyB said...

I'm so in love with that batwing top!

Scribbles said...

Love the pants - Etsy shop anytime soon?

Zelda Rose said...

Those pants really work on you, and I love your sunglasses.

esme and the laneway said...

Oh my goodness. I cannot tell you how much I love those pants. They are absolutely perfect. Completely absolutely perfect. Literally, awesome.

Lisamaree said...

They are way nicer than anything in Brown Thomas. I found those superhigh wasted jeans abit 1950s kindergarten, as in infantile.
Where as yours are very Hepburn, Katherine this time.
xx

Unknown said...

I'm not a fan of high waisted pants but you can really work the look. I think that is a hard thing to do for most of us but you pull it off with glamour.

Rachael said...

Yes yes yes to those pants! They are fabulous! Wonderful work.

one little simitopian said...

I must echo everyone else and declare my love for those pants! The whole outfit screams "STYLE!"
Kudos to you :)

Rhia said...

Ooh I love that outfit so much! Looks so stylish and nice, vintage and new at the same time. Lovely!

Candice DeVille said...

Thank you so much everyone. I was really pleased with them, but it is great to know that I'm not alone in my amour.
Hammie: That is just what I was hoping for!
Scribbles: I am thinking of having them available in the Etsy shop for custom order, but if you would like a pair, email me and I'll see what I can do.

KD Haha said...

Hello there Doll! i came upon your blog spot looking for plus size pin up. I did find that glamorous picture of kerosene deluxe which gave me many pose ideas.


I am saving your blog and will be back for many visits. i as well as you have a passion for vintage and i just adore you.