Fashionshy: the London Fog trenchcoat

[tuftears]

I got this the other week. It looks good and has been quite warm, nice for the colder winter days. It has a liner, so I can technically lighten it up for the rare summer rainy days.



The downside are the fasteners; they're simple buckles that are fairly inconvenient especially for opening or closing the trenchcoat so I can reach inside for my wallet or whatnot. I have a plan! Unfortunately the plan involves some degree of learning to sew, so it will have to wait for this forthcoming weekend, but basically I'm going to replace the buckles with some parachute buckles that can be adjusted to just the right length.

I'm waffling a bit if I want to get a sewing machine for just this one silly little project, or do it by hand.

Otherwise than that though, I definitely like it. The weight and cut of the trenchcoat give me some authority, I think.

Comments

[centauress.livejournal.com]

You're looking pretty clean and youthful ^-^ Of course, last time I saw you years ago I think you had the flu o-o

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I try to think kitten thoughts. ^_^ What about you, doing all right?

[rowyn]

*d'awws at kitten-thoughts* *pictures you batting yarn balls around*

The trenchcoat is snazzy!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Forever a kitten at heart. ^_^

The sleeves are a bit long but that's part of the whole 'replace the straps' thing. The straps on those literally won't buckle any closer than they are now, due to an insufficiency of holes.

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

Glad to see your hair is growing out!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Slowly, but it's getting there. I'm dithering over whether to cut my hair again in the spring or let it grow some more. It's in a kind of awkward halfway stage at the moment!

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Nice look! :) I like the coat.

It reminds me that some day I probably need to replace my old worn-out duster. (Let's see. I got it in ... uhm ... 1994 or thereabouts? Yeah, might be time for a new coat. It just hasn't been a high priority in Florida.)

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

That duster looks good on you. ^_^ Are you sure it's worn out? Maybe it just needs some TLC.

[cjthomas.livejournal.com]

Hand-sewing is always a useful skill. I've had to replace buttons and fix holes in pockets several times, and most recently had to fix the edging of one of the nicer blankets I own.

Machine-sewing is great for hemming and other tasks where you're sewing mostly-straight on a mostly-flat and reasonable-sized expanse of fabric, but mending and alterations often involve situations where one or more of those considerations doesn't hold. Long story short, machine-sewing clothing is likely to be just as much hassle as hand-sewing, so I'm not sure picking up a machine is worth it for this project.

That said, they're still handy to have, and it's also a useful skill, so go for it if you're interested! Just make sure you know how to hand-sew as well =^.^=.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Thanks, now I need to get a sewing kit, I guess!

[cjthomas.livejournal.com]

(Re-edit due to interface-fail.)

They're cheap; I got my clothing-emergency kit for about $2 at a dollar-store.

The main things to watch out for:

- Do not buy the cheap thread. Pick up actually-decent thread at a sewing store. The cheap stuff will break very quickly under repetitive stress (like you find with clothing on a person in motion).

- You'll want a thimble. These are used when you need to push a needle through several layers of fabric. You don't usually have to do this for mending, but if you're sewing on heavy straps, it'll be necessary.

Cheap-sewing-kit thimbles work, but fit poorly, so if you end up making a sewing store trip, it may be worth finding one that fits a bit better. They're not expensive.

For thread colours in a mending kit, you don't have to match the garment; you just need a colour that won't stand out against it. I normally pack black, dark brown, light brown, and white. What works for you will depend on your wardrobe.

Enjoy! =^.^=

[sassinak.livejournal.com]

Looking sharp, Lynxity!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I don't just have five sharp pointy extremities, my whole look is sharp! ^_^

[sassinak.livejournal.com]

Exactly!