After a week of feverishly slaving away on the final details of my jacket (not really, I loved it) hoping to have it done in time for the Sunday, I somehow managed to pull it off. In between studying for an exam I had on Tuesday, a working week that dazed more than delighted, my 10 year high school reunion (eep!) and Mr. poppykettle’s work Christmas party, I’m pretty pleased I managed to achieve it!
Made from a silk bouclé colourway named ‘Octopus’ Garden’ and bought in a flustered rush of I-simply-MUST-have-this-fabric from Tessuti during autumn this year, this jacket made its debut at the wedding event of the year (in my calendar, anyway!) – a garden party at the beautiful Ripponlea Estate. Mazal tov to one of my closest friends and his lovely wife!
I ended up reducing the size of the collar at the front to better suit my proportions (after general consensus from my lovely sewing-class ladies), as well as cutting a tad off the width at the left shoulder.
I included a strip of the matching silk dupion I used for the trim as the ‘hem allowance’, to allow the habotai lining enough room to move without puckering the fabric hem (the lining is fully enclosed).
The original Armani version (see here) had giant feature buttons as the closure, and this Vogue pattern emulated that. I didn’t want to distract from the business of the fabric I used, so I used snap closures on both sides of the front to hold it all in place.
This was my second attempt at applying tailoring techniques to a jacket, and I’m even more hooked on the process that I was at the start. There are still things to learn and a few fitting issues I’d like to tweak when it comes to the fit, but I’m confident enough now to try another tailoring project in a less forgiving, more tightly woven fabric – something more suit-like for work perhaps? We’ll see about that shortly…
poppykettle 
Stunning jacket – love this colour and you've done such a professional job. I love your version of the Armania jacket – the proportions are perfect.
Wow, it's amazing, I love that collar!
Thanks Evelyn & Esme :)
It's beautiful! I love the colour of your fabric. This pattern has been in my cue for a very long time, and each time I see a beautiful jacket made up from it, I wonder what's taking me so long to make one up myself! Stunning!
Gorgeous! I love the fabric and how you bound the edges. It really looks great on you!
As you already know, I loooove this! Also, I have 1.3m uncut of that food fabric I'm looking to sell if you're interested! xx
Absolutely stunning! The silk edging really makes the jacket. Gorgeous.
It's about 107cm wide, you can have it for $15 :) and depending on where in Melbtown you live I'm sure postage wouldn't be required, unless of course you'd prefer!
Thanks for all your lovely comments – I'm touched :)
Stunning! This looks absolutely gorgeous on you, and the edging is perfect. Congratulations!
Wow! This is so impressive, particularly for your first year of sewing. It's so unusual – I bet you got lots of compliments at the party. Thanks for sharing your post.
Lovely lady, your fabulous jacket is in Burdastyle's 'handpicked projects for 2011!' well done! http://www.burdastyle.com/gallery/292?page=55
This is amazing. So beautifully made. So glad I have found your blog :-)