A STITCH IN TIME
I can’t sew. I can thread a needle. At a push, I can sew a button back on, but I don’t own a sewing machine, nor have I used one since senior school.
I love it when other people are crafty though and can whip themselves up a pair of curtains or, even better, a new frock. I’m just not one of them.
But back when I was 17, I didn’t let that fact deter me from attempting to recreate a top I had seen on Jennifer Aniston. It was a mere whisp of a thing, a “handkerchief” top, I believe was its correct name.
It was strapless and simultaneously exposed your stomach and your hip bones. Jennifer wore her black version to the SAG awards in 1999 – a vintage year for the Friends star’s style.
I saw it and immediately knew I wanted my own for my friend’s upcoming 18th birthday party, so I set to work, buying what can only be described as a scrap of fabric from a wholesaler.
I chose orange shot silk. It seemed very glamorous to me and I thought it would work a treat with my lowwaisted trousers and sun-bed tan.
Cutting out the shape of the front wasn’t too difficult, just like folding a napkin. I even gave it a little hand-stitched hem. I hit a rocky point when I realised I had no idea how it would fasten, adding a button or a zip was way beyond my skill set. I quickly decided it would simply knot at the back.
I set to work with my nail scissors and approx 20 minutes later it was ready, my very own handkerchief top à la Jennifer Aniston.
It was a mess in real life I’m sure, but on the pictures it just looks like I’m wearing a taffeta napkin as a top.
Why am I telling you this story now?
Last year, I spotted a patchwork coat by SEA NY. It is way out of my budget, so I set out looking for vintage alternatives and came across a brand that up-cycles patchwork quilts and blankets into coats, and it got me thinking, maybe I should get my sewing kit out again.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress...