Amanda’s New York Cape in Fade Away

June 3, 2013

This autumn saw the arrival of a fabric so sublime that it blew the textile-loving socks off most that clapped eyes on it. Called Fade Away and sold by the panel, it was an 82% wool/18% silk ombre coating and it was all gone in a flash. Pamela Usanto, a very talented Melbourne designer, made it up in a simple and striking Logies gown for Virginia Gay.

When choosing and cutting into a fabric, you always want to do it justice. But do you ever find that some fabrics are so swoon-y there’s an added element of pressure to make just the right garment in just the right way so that a fabric is shown at its very best? Well that’s just what Amanda did. Here’s her beautiful, beautiful New York Cape….

So as not to interfere with the overall effect of the ombre, Amanda chose to conceal her binding on the inside of the cape. This meant she handstitched (!!) a black, silk chiffon (!!!) self-made binding on the inside edge of the cape including all (!!!!) interior seams.

 

To complete the look, she chose press studs – the perfect closure choice for this fabric.

Back by popular demand and for a limited time only, we’ve released a hardcopy reprint of the New York Cape. Or if you’d prefer a digital download, you can purchase them here.