Cinching and Padding

Friends, you don't need a degree in fashion history to know that what we choose to wear on our bodies expresses how we want to appear to others.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise to sophisticated MPB followers -- and really, is there any other kind? -- that if clothing's primary purpose is to keep us from freezing to death, its secondary purpose is to make the parts of our bodies we want to appear smaller, smaller, and the parts we want to look bigger, bigger.  Can we agree on this?

Oscar Night NEWSFLASH: The Peplum is BACK!

First, friends, let me just say that I haven't watched the Oscars, otherwise known as The Academy Awards, in more than a decade.  I don't care anymore, now that the big stars are gone, plus I never go to the movies anyway.  It's that simple.

What I do do, however, is follow Oscars fashion, which requires no more investment than a minute and a half on one of those brain-dead sites like the Yahoo.com homepage the following morning.  Add a few sewing/fashion blogs and your research is done.

Sewing Blog Photography

And now, to unveil the secret of yesterday's mystery box!

A case of the Sewing "Now whats?"

Readers, do you ever finish a project and have no idea what to sew next?  Maybe you feel tired or even a little burnt out?  If so, you may be suffering from a case of the Sewing "Now whats?"

I know I am.

Ultrasuede - Yea or Nay?

Blame Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto.

In 1970 he invented a 100% polyester, machine-washable, suede-like microfiber fabric that went on to define an often-derided decade of fashion.  Indeed, who can talk about Seventies style without mentioning ultrasuede (or rather, Ultrasuede)?

Do You Sew Like You Live?

Readers, I've always been intrigued by the apocryphal saying, The way you do anything is the way you everything.  I don't even remember where I first heard it but it stuck with me.

Cathy models the 70's pantsuit and coat ensemble!

Friends, they say, in Hollywood, you always want to finish ahead of schedule and under budget.

That's why I am so excited to announce that Cathy's latest photo shoot is done, one day early!  Who knew Cathy would be enjoying a glamorous Friday night out at the theater, as Michael had an extra ticket and I wasn't feeling up to going out?

Positively the (next to) LAST faux fur coat post!

Friends, they say all good things must come to an end, but honestly, I could keep working on this coat forever.  And not because it's such a treat, but rather because there is an endless amount of finishing work to be done on a garment like this.

Pocket Love + Don't Call Me!

So much to cover today, friends!

First the big news.  For the first time in my life I have no land line telephone service (and no 212 area code).  Since both Michael and I have cell phones, and now that we have cable Internet (we needed the land line for our lousy DSL), we decided to turn it off.  Since I rarely received calls on my land line anymore, it doesn't feel very different, but the event does warrant memorializing, don't you think?

MPB Valentine's Day Wishes!

Friends, a brief message of Valentine's Day good wishes, from all of us here at MPB as well of as some of our very special guests and sponsors.

"Bling-a-Ding-Ding" - Faux Fur Coat Update!

Friends, if you're like me you have poor impulse control.  That's why I'm just going to go ahead and show you how my faux fur Seventies coat looked earlier today, right after I performed the "turn of the cloth" (flipping the facings to the front), revealing my very understated feral cat lapels and collar.

Fervently fighting faux fur fatigue!

Readers, where did the weekend go?  I can't speak for you, but mine was spent fondling five pounds of fuzzy faux fur.

I'm not complaining though, because miracle of miracles, this fuzz is beginning to look like a coat!

Further Fur Coat Adventures!

Friends, the coat is coming along.  I cut all my shaggy white fur (sheared pink rabbit, for want of a better name) today: fronts, backs and sleeves.  Wanna see one of my sleeves -- undersleeve and oversleeve -- all sewn up?  

70's Faux Fur Coat MUSLIN + Tools at the ready!

I just finished my muslin, readers, and that little voice inside is already asking, Do we really have to do this all over again in faux fur?

Faux Fur Fabric Haul and MORE!

OK, readers, what would you say if I told you I went to the Salvation Army yesterday ("Family Day" -- 50% off most clothes) and found a terrific blue faux fur peacoat in my size for $4.99? 

Put on your sunglasses, and behold!

The Coat Project: friend or faux?

The latest on the Seventies coat saga:  After digging around in the Garment District yesterday, I have decided to go ahead and make my coat, and -- tentatively -- to make it in faux fur.

Random Thoughts about Seventies Coats

So here's the deal: Cathy will model the Seventies pantsuit, Simplicity 7295, but she isn't willing to freeze her a** off in the cold.

Which got me thinking...

Glitzy Fabrics and the Sewing Headache

Readers, I am happy to announce that the top (I'm calling it a jacket) that goes with my Halston-inspired outfit, Simplicity 7295, is almost done.  But oye, the headaches!

Men in their Underwear

WARNING: The following post deals with adolescent themes.  Anyone over the age of 18 should be accompanied by a child.

Glitzy Halston-inspired outfit UPDATE!

Friends, it takes a certain kind of man to pull off a 1975 sequined pantsuit.  Fortunately, I am precisely that kind of man.

Puttin' on the Glitz!

Rhinestones.  Bugle beads.  Sequins.  Fringe.

These are the elements of glitzy dressing, our topic for today!

Farewell, Pfaff 30, etc.

Friends, if you've been reading MPB for more than a year, you probably know that my vintage Pfaff 30, which I found at the end of 2010 on Craigslist and bought from a Broadway actress (whose mother had purchased it new) was one of my most treasured sewing machine finds.

Valentine's Day Sewing -- YEA or NAY?

Readers, let's be honest.  As bad as the modern world can sometimes seem, all one has to do is take a peek back in time to realize that we've come a long way as a culture.