robinsnest: (Tintype)
sewloud ([personal profile] robinsnest) wrote2013-03-11 02:41 pm
Entry tags:

Part II: the Fopping

kat04
(photo via [livejournal.com profile] madamekat)


The short: He came, he saw, he fopped.

The long of it: I re-wore the same gown as last year, with the addition of new trim courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] mandie_rw, same jewelry and everything! Why you ask? So I could focus all my attention on accessories! And what girl doesn't want to show up at a party with a fop on her arm!

The only part of this outfit that's really fancy and hand-sewn is his shirt. Complete with dorset buttons! I knew that someday I'd want to make him a REAL suit and dammit one shirt is good for all of it so I made it right the first time. The rest is all machine sewn with modern techniques. I bag-lined most of it, which made the whole thing feasible in my time limit. [livejournal.com profile] ladyxjade assigned Rob lavender for someday when they dress as Fops together. And I have to say I think it's a great color on him! Went very nicely with my blue American Duchess stockings that I let him borrow. It's funny the stockings hit so high on my skinny legs that I find them almost too tight at the top but on him they hit just above the knee and fit perfectly! Drat I might never get them back!

kat03
(photo from [livejournal.com profile] madamekat)

The coat and waistcoat are from a butterick pattern and overall I have to say I was really pretty pleased with it. I had to shorten both at the waist by about 3 inches and cut two sizes smaller than the pattern suggested but after that my tweaks were minimal. I lined the jacket instead of just using facings and added functional pockets to both. For someone wanting to dip their toes into menswear I would have to say I recommend this pattern.

The pants were a simplicty pattern and you all have heard about how difficult they were to fit. I think I ended up taking over 6 inches out of them all told. They are a remarkably period correct fit, which meant I had all the period fitting issues that go with that. I thought by using Simplicity I would avoid that! Of all the times for them to get it right. For someone wanting to try out menswear and on a budget it's hard to go wrong with a .99 pattern, but MAKE A MUSLIN or four and be prepared to take them in a fair amount. Oh and I also split the waistband in the back and added ties like the period ones I've seen, I think that helped the fit a lot. But had the sad side effect that when it accidentally came untied he didn't notice that his pants were falling down..leaving a lovely chunk of shirt showing below his waistcoat...oops.

beth01
(photo thanks to [livejournal.com profile] bethhsh)

"What do you MEAN my belly shirt is showing?"

The rest is all in the accessories. We bought slip on men's shoes that I tied bows around, let him wear as much of my costume jewelry as I could find places to put it and topped it all off with a wig I restyled from party city...this wig in fact:



Which with a coupon only cost me $12. I rolled the front mullet part up into rolls and tied the back in a bow. I put it on him just behind his natural hair line and blended his own hair up into the front roll. We got really lucky with the color match. I had bought some white spray to spray it to cover a color difference but it was so close I just left it alone. The roses were given to us by a client of his who didn't want to keep them. Some complicated romantic something. But I am NOT one to turn down a dozen long stem roses!


In total he cost:

Fabric           $15.00
Interfacing    $  3.00
Trim:            $ 10.00
Shoes:         $   4.00
Patterns:      $  8.99
wig:              $ 12.00

Total:           $53.00 Fop. 

[identity profile] mre-awiwench.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
He is an amazing fop and you did a fantastic job on his outfit!
Edited 2013-03-11 18:55 (UTC)

[identity profile] jennylafleur.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
A Fop is the perfect accessory - I'm quite jealous! Oh and I got some pretty god pics of him and one good video - uploading now... :>

[identity profile] brickhousewench.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
But had the sad side effect that when it accidentally came untied he didn't notice that his pants were falling down

Hahahahhaa! Oh my word, my friend from college, Jeff, had the same problem with his 18th century pants. But in his case, his pants fell down while he was playing Minuteman during the reenactment of the battles of Lexington and Concord a year or two back. His friend had to help him pull his pants back up on the battlefield or some such. *giggles again over it* In his case, the problem was because he was used to having his wife help dress him, she apparently knows how to tie his pants so they stay on.

And can I just say, DAYAM woman, that's a good looking fop on that budget! Seriously, on that budget I'm amazed at how well his outfit came out. I love the fact that you found shoes at the thrift store and a $12 wig at the party store! I especially love the knee bows and ribbons on the shoes. He shows them off so well in that second picture. *thumbs up*
Edited 2013-03-11 19:28 (UTC)

[identity profile] starlightmasque.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
You did such an awesome job! He looks wonderful! I can't believe your made that cheezy-ass redneck mullet wig look so fabulous! Gotta be WITCHCRAFT!!

Fop til you drop!

[identity profile] bauhausfrau.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
He looks awesome! I'm amazed at how quickly this came together and even more amazed that you managed the whole thing on a budget that small. Most amazing of all though is that wig transformation, I might have to get me a mullet wig to play with for big H!

FYI the "Eagle's View" breeches and waistcoat patterns are pretty good - not as cheap, but they were pretty easy to make and easy to alter for his long waist.

[identity profile] blackcat452.livejournal.com 2013-03-11 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I love how he turned out, that wig was genius!.

[identity profile] padawansguide.livejournal.com 2013-03-12 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my gosh, this is wonderful! I only wish I could have seen it in person!
ext_482226: (regencygreen)

[identity profile] mandie-rw.livejournal.com 2013-03-12 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
I think it was an accessory well worth the time and trouble! ;) His outfit came together so well in the end - and the transformation of the mullet wig wins everything, ever!

[identity profile] hharris.livejournal.com 2013-03-12 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
What everyone said above. You did a wonderful job with that Fop look, and he wears it well!

[identity profile] rose-bertin.livejournal.com 2013-03-12 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
The fopping was pretty much the best thing I've ever seen!!

[identity profile] heidilea.livejournal.com 2013-03-12 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Fop accomplished!

[identity profile] sadievale.livejournal.com 2013-03-15 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
He looked awesome and totally acted the part: great job to you both, he was a fantastically dressed fob!