Is this pattern testing whether I'm a replicant? Delighted to showcase my suit inspired by Rachael from the Neo-noir movie 'Bladerunner'.
I'm a big fan of all types of film noir and also Neo-noir or more recent movies that play with the film noir styles.
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One of my favourite Neo-noirs is Blade Runner...produced in the mid 1980s (with the 1980s love of the big shoulder just like the 1940s), the movie is set in the fictional time of 2019! I just fell in love with Rachael's suit. It's an amazing grey colour-block that suits the moody nature of the film.
So when 2019 rolled around, I knew I had to make a nod to this film classic with my own rendition of Rachael's colour-blocked suit.
Enter Butterick 6286, a reproduction pattern from the year 1944.
I just came across this photo of my dear little Echo kitty when I was going back through my pictures. Here she is helping me cut out this fabric last January (2019). She unfortunately passed away in May but I now feel like this suit is especially blessed! Maybe it will be my good luck suit?
I put the lighter grey wool on the top as in the inspiration suit and used the darkest grey the bottom of the jacket and for the skirt.
I put the lighter grey wool on the top as in the inspiration suit and used the darkest grey the bottom of the jacket and for the skirt.
The skirt was really simple and quick--it's a great skirt pattern to have. The jacket sections came together quite easily. I kind of wish I had colour blocked the sleeves as well but that may have been too much!
The pattern was pretty straight forward EXCEPT for the jacket collar. Maybe it's because I've used so many vintage patterns but I sometimes find the newer (even repro patterns a bit confusing). I finally got it in the end but it required a bit of head scratching to begin with.
I decided the jacket needed some serious shoulder pads. Like the ones in the movie to help lift the shoulders. There are two things I hate doing sewing-wise that this jacket entails (but that I didn't do..hahaha). Number one is lining. I hate lining. With a passion. I will almost always leave something unlined OR if it's a coat, I'll have a go but with serious thoughts of grrrrr...I hate this. hahaha. The second thing I hate doing is making shoulder pads (though I hate this less than doing linings).
So instead of making my own shoulder pads, I bought some FABULOUS ones from MacCulloch and Wallis, a haberdashery in London. Check out these babies (which you can also get online):
Shoulder pads make all the difference, even then I could have probably brought the coat shoulders in by a smidgeon.
Overall, really pleased with the suit. Now I want to make a matching 1940s hat! I also have quite a bit of the dark grey fabric left. Trying to think if either a pair of trousers or an overcoat would be good (need to check how much of this fabric I actually have!)--even a pleated skirt would be nice.
Enjoyed playing with the Blade Runner props! haha. Living my Rachael cosplay dreams! teehee. Are there any movies that you want to recreate the clothes from?
Photography: Alt Studio UK
MUAH: @evka.allen