The Little French Jacket Project

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel

I have no idea where the obsession came from, I only know that I’ve become obsessed by Chanel’s life, her contribution to the history of style and especially by her *Little Black Jacket or Little French Jacket. This means, of course, that I’m going to have to research it deeply and recreate it for myself so that I can understand why a couture version costs in the vicinity of $12,000. So I’m going to learn the couture sewing techniques and create one.

Here is my journey so far.

The LBJ Project Begins [April 27, 2016]

Researching the Real Deal [April 29, 2016]

Finding My Mentors [May 3, 2016]

Learning to Make the Toile [May 9, 2016]

Making a Customized Pattern for the Jacket [May 16, 2016]

Choosing my Jacket Fabric & Lining [May 24, 2016]

Finally Cutting the Fabric & Lining [May 31, 2016]

It’s What’s Underneath that Counts: Marking & Stabilizing [June 7, 2016]

Quilting the Jacket [June 13, 2016]

Constructing the Jacket Body [June 20, 2016]

Setting in and Finishing the Sleeves [June 28, 2016]

Chanel-Style Pockets [July 4, 2016]

The Finishing Details [July 11, 2016]