Behold my latest pattern purchase, Folkwear 130, up top.
It's called an "Australian Bush Outfit" but isn't that the same thing as a safari outfit? If you're from Down Under, maybe you know. It's a unisex pattern and includes long pants and/or shorts along with the jacket.
Here's an ad for a similar ensemble:
I made something highly suggestive of a safari jacket a few years ago, but it was actually a wearable muslin in a stretchy fabric I'd found for cheap. Michael still likes to wear it, however.
You may know that there was something of a safari jacket craze in the 1970's, with lots of men's and women's patterns to choose from. I think Yves Saint Laurent is responsible for this from what I recall. Eventually this classic look morphed into the double knit leisure suit.
Mainely Dad made a great-looking version in 2012 -- so many nice details.
I'm not sure what fabric I'm going to use on my version. This week I picked up two possibilities, neither a classic khaki. The first is this medium-weight light blue cotton woven:
The second option -- and my current preference -- is this metallic silver- coated cotton twill. Whether I'm going on a safari or just hanging out in the urban jungle, I want to look glamorous.
I'm going to want to make a muslin of the jacket first, of course. I'm hoping to receive the Folkwear pattern early next week.
And that's it!
Any fans of the safari look out there?
Have a great day, everybody!
To me the safari suit will always squeal Roger Whittaker. He of the dulcet voice. He made Dirty Old Town sound quite clean!
ReplyDeleteMy Dad had a wonderful Safari Suit in the 70's. They always remind me of him, that and Roger Moore as James Bond. I think that in the metallic it will be a little bit fabulous. x
ReplyDeleteLove that silver fabric. I have a large collection of Burda magazines and it seems like every year they do a section of safari clothing. I think that you will look very elegant in your jacket. Have fun
ReplyDeleteLove it! I very much wanted to buy a safari shirt dress at H&M once, but like most dresses, it nowhere near could even be imagined to even sortof fit, and I haven't yet made one.
ReplyDeleteAnd then didn't they make it in ultrasuede too? Yuck. But I think in the coated twill....fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSecond one from the left on the Simplicity 9087 pattern... with his best 'Hello Sailor!' pose. Excellent. The 70s was the last decade before postmodern irony took over.
ReplyDeleteSafari jackets have had too much of an unwarranted bad press. Like any garment they can be tweaked to fit the moment, yet folk think they are always have to be 1970s versions. I rather like the 70s ones though. Go for the light blue woven, it'll be super.
I love the silver fabric ! Not only YSL, as later on the movie Out of Africa inspired another outbreak of urban safari clothing. ;)
ReplyDeleteNot sure that style is worn in the aussie bush anymore - I'm inner urban so not even suburban aussie. I suspect it's more a look that was around at one time, not only here but in africa.
This in the silver will be absolutely smashing. Do you have a coordinating pith helmet?
ReplyDeleteoh, now I'm having a flashback to a designer Vogue pattern I made in 83/84. Large envelope, a wrap cargo skirt on a yoke. It fastened with straps/double D rings, and had patch pockets with separate gussets and a squillionty pattern pieces. I finished and it looked hideous on my short and definite hourglass figure - never got worn!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! That metallic would totally rock. I love the whole safari look, and you'll do a bang up job on all the details.
ReplyDeleteI saw your jacket and you did a beautiful job!
DeleteEverything Mainelydad sews is great, in technique, fabric choice, and proportion.
DeleteMainelydad, what pattern did you use for your jacket, it looks great, I was on your blog and couldn't find what pattern you used.
DeleteI kid you not, just this week I was searching all over etsy using "safari sewing pattern". I'm bidding on Butterick 5991, a 1970s Jane Tise pattern. I can't believe I didn't think to look for a folkwear pattern. There is an patternadorable line put out in the 80s by one of the big 4 called Kids Safari Club. I wish they'd made them in adult sizes!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the safari look, but khaki isn't my best color so I'll probably do more of a faded army green linen. Is there a safari park in NYC? I think that's the closest we'll be getting to the deep dark congo anytime soon haha!
Also, they make me think of Wes Anderson on the AmEx commercial, who is one of my fashion idols.
ReplyDeleteI love the safari look, and would swear that it's rarely out of style. Burda does feature it frequently and I have a McCalls and a simplicity pattern that are safari-ish.
ReplyDeletethe blue reminds me of a leisure suit my dad wore. it was lined in an awful kerchief print.
Peter you're right on point! I saw Ralph Lauren's spring collection and it's based on the safari look. That silvery blue will be the bomb! Can't wait till you get started!
ReplyDeleteAhhh this post has put a sneaky little grin on my face. Such great inspiration
ReplyDeleteI like Vogue 1237 Vintage 1970s Ralph Lauren pattern. They featured a big spread for it in Vogue Patterns way back then. Looking at the pattern, with some updates (pants with st8 or tapered legs), it would still be stylist today.
ReplyDeleteThe silver! And don't overlook the trouser part of that pattern; I've made several from it (never the top, though) and love the waistband treatment; same as the fabled Gurkha shorts:
ReplyDeletehttp://goo.gl/fS0kuV
You guys still have the waists for that, it seems, lucky:)
David, I saw that you have a craftsy course for trousers, i have your book and dvd, does the course cover the same material?
DeleteLove these on you lot, it looks original in a modern setting
ReplyDeleteAny one else having flashbacks to the Daktari TV series? Clarence the cross eyed lion and Judy the chimpanzee?
ReplyDeleteYes! I loved that show.
DeleteSpud.
I live in Australia and I don't know that there is much of a difference from a safari suit. There used to be a TV show called Bush Tucker Man and he always wore stuff like this... It's not really a thing these days!
ReplyDeleteI like it. A safari jacket is a classic and timeless garment, I think. And it has an undeniable hint of adventure, even if you just wear it to the grocery store. I like Mainely Dad's version, and I think yours will look awesome in metallic twill. No to the "Safari for him and her" look, though. That multi-colored trim is terrible. They look a little like 1970s flight attendants. Maybe on Qantas? (That's a joke; I have no idea what their flight attendants wore in the 70s. Probably not this.) The pattern wouldn't be bad without the trim, bell bottomed pants and all.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the YSL version in a sateen, without the sharp edges of most. It screams TAKE ME TO MARRAKESH! in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI'm from Australia, and have made the pants, check your length, I found them short. When I first saw the pattern, it reminded me of the Royal Flying Doctors Service (medical treatment for th Outback.)
ReplyDeleteThis style make me think of J. Peterman (in a good way!). Can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteI am an Australian and I have never heard of an Australian Bush Outfit. In fact, I think the old bushies weren't thinking in terms of "outfits" at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is not like anything familiar to me as a country dwelling Aussie . My grandfather who was a real bushy would have worn RM Williams shirt and moleskin pants .he would have worn elastic sided boots and an Akubra hat . In winter thus was teamed with a tweed jacket which lasted for many many years. The slouch gat worn Jan the illustration is the Australian army hat
ReplyDeleteBeing of a certain age (mid century modern), I remember well these suits - we called the leisure suits back in the day. They were made from a new fabric called polyester double knit that you could actually throw in the washing machine. Can't wait to see your version!
ReplyDeleteHere's an Aussie outfit for ya, mate. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://getting-it-together.moadoph.gov.au/new-south-wales/assets/resource-PP-2-B.jpg
Chic!
DeleteYes, but suddenly "Waltzing Matilda" is playing in the back of my mind...
DeleteMainely Dad's jacket looks great. I can't picture the pattern in the metallic blue, but I'm keeping an open mind.
ReplyDeleteSafari style seems teddibly British--makes me think of the African Queen and Kate Hepburn. Women with hips can't wear this style. But my father, who worked most of his life in the tropics, loved the shirt-fabric variations and called his "bush shirts," to wear when he traveled outside the city and needed something a little more than a plain shirt but not a jacket. They were versatile shirts, long sleeves protected from bugs and sun, and could be light jackets if needed. Urban jungles need these too!
ReplyDeleteYou made my heart beat faster from the pic of YSL all the way down those vintage patterns, but the last pic 'safari for him and her' made it stop rather suddenly...
ReplyDeleteI'm an Aussie girl too and I suspect the Folkwear pattern 'Australian Bush Outfit' was not actually made in Australia...it doesn't seem very Australian to me. The safari suit (with short sleeves) was very popular here in the 70's.
My two favorites are Mainely Dad's and the Bill Blass versions and I've seen these in corduroy, also looking very chic. I particularly love this look with shorts.
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