Tuesday, April 5, 2011

New Skirt and New Look!

I decided that I needed to do something about the (poor) quality of my pictures. After studying many vintage advertisements and pattern envelopes, I came to the conclusion that the main issue with my photos is that they look too pose-y. In most, if not all, of the images I saw, the models were not looking at the camera, and almost never were they smiling. They were usually holding books or golf clubs or looking at something in the distance; in other words, the photos had the look of stylized candid shots. Or more accurately, candid shots in which the models seemed to be saying, "Oh, you just captured a perfect image of my outfit, but I was so busy looking at this tennis racket that I didn't even notice." Ha ha! My favorites featured interesting camera angles and stark contrast of shadows and light. Here are some examples:



When I started this blog, my main goal with the pictures was to simply get an image of my outfits. But as I have looked at more and more vintage pictures, and also at other bloggers' lovely images, I have wanted to not only show the clothes, but also to show them in a visually pleasing way . To that end, I decided that I needed a different photographer. My husband has the ability to take good-quality pictures, but he doesn't have the patience to do so while watching a 22 month-old at the same time. He also doesn't see the need for anything other than a good, plain, serviceable, picture...he's an engineer; what else can I say? :) So, I asked my sister to come over and take some pictures. She was a drama major...perfect! Unfortunately, the battery in the camera was dead when she arrived, so we used my camera phone. Poor planning on my part, with the result that the quality of the pictures may not have improved much (that's why the tweed looks funny and the lighting is bad)! Still, I think that it's an improvement, at least. Let me know what you think; about the outfit and the photos!

Here are our attempts to capture my latest project: a green flannel and tweed skirt:



I didn't make the blouse, but I altered it. I cut a strip off the bottom to make some covered buttons, and I added three buttonholes at the top. Three! Everything is so low-cut nowadays...

I made the skirt using this pattern:


The pattern is very interesting; the back and sides are made in one piece, so that there is no side seam below the hip. It is supposed to close with snaps, but I hate sewing snaps, so I added buttons (fabric-covered, of course!) instead.



It looks great with the cape that I made for this outfit, too:



I even have enough tweed left to make a blazer, but I'm too excited about summer clothes right now, so that will have to be first on the list for fall! I also played around with editing the pictures for the first time, and I think that this one is my favorite:



In this one, the model seems to be saying, "Oh, you just captured a perfect image of my outfit, but I was so busy looking at this baby that I didn't even notice." Hee hee

9 comments:

  1. Pics came out pretty good. No, make that very good. I am so jealous of the garden (snow not quite gone yet, here) Love the first two sweaters.

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  2. I love this, and you are so very talented! The skirt is to die for - absolutely perfect!

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  3. I think they look great. I think you've inspired me. My partner was a war photographer and gets very impatient about taking photos of me in my outfits!

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  4. They came out perfectly- I think the black and white one is my fave, and the one with the cape a close second! They look like they could be original pics! Great skirt too- tis all wonderful…Tups x

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  5. I just started following your blog - love your wonderful sewing. I have a LARGE collection of vintage patterns, but no time to sew for myself - i just get them out every once in a while and dream :)

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  6. These turned out beautiful! I just love the side-buttons on the skirt, as well as the unique piecing. What a gorgeous ensemble--and you look like the picture-perfect vintage model too! :)

    ♥ Casey

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  7. Another wonderful outfit! I just Love the new style photos, especially that black and white one!

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  8. Thank you so much for all of your encouraging comments, everyone! Fabriquefantastique-I inherited this huge, overgrown garden when I bought the house, and after three years, I am not even close to getting it under control! It is still beautiful, though; even gone to seed. Sewn Seabee- So glad that you have started following my blog! I know what you mean; I have more patterns than I could ever sew, and more fabric in my stash than any sane person should ever have...

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  9. I constantly battle this same issue. Ultimately, I think going out in a pretty setting (like the ones shown here) adds a lot. These really are great photos and I love your creations, as always!

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