This post is picture heavy. You've been warned!
TOC:
Hello! I've been meaning to blog about this for a week! A couple weekends ago I made it to the Oscar de la Renta exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. It's a beautiful exhibit, curated by André Leon Talley.
It's only scheduled for San Francisco, so if you're in town before the exhibit leaves on May 30th, check it out!
I took loads of photos, but can't show them all, so I'm sharing a sampling, in no particular order.
You might also want to look at the 176 photos from the Oscar de la Renta Benefit Gala, held earlier this month at the De Young.
While digging through my stash recently, I found a great sweater knit. It's from Emma One Sock and is a wonderful teal print. (I'm really into teal these days.) I decided to sew it into a Presto top. I wear my other Presto tops a lot. (People always ask me if I've lost weight when I do.) I knew I'd get a lot of wear out of it.
But I didn't have quite enough fabric. I was deciding whether I would make the fronts and sleeves from the print (with a solid back) or whether I'd make the fronts and back from the print (with solid sleeves).
I hadn't yet decided, but I went ahead and cut out the front pieces, very carefully. I matched the stripes with great care, and sewed up the center seam. My first try wasn't perfect, but it was close. I could have easily fixed the slight mismatch near the hem, when...
...I realized I'd made a horrible mistake...
Can you see it???
Probably not, so I'll tell you.
I hadn't cut out two fronts. I'd cut out two backs! D'OH!
I could have cut out two fronts from the remaining yard of fabric, but the finished front and back would have completely mismatched at the side seams. I no longer had enough fabric to lay it out correctly.
The final yard of fabric, and the two backs, have been put in a corner for now. I have no idea what I'll do with it, but I have considered making the remaining yard into a short skirt. So we'll see...
I have been enjoying the glorious spring here in the bay area.
I went to see the Oscar de la Renta exhibit on a Saturday morning at 10am. Golden Gate Park was particularly gorgeous that morning! While waiting for my friends, I took a few photos around the De Young.
This weekend I'm off on a sewing retreat. I hope you are having a great weekend!
Thanks for sharing pics of the Oscar exhibit as well as the park. I especially like the photo of the trees with the chairs. What's the name of the trees?
ReplyDeleteSorry about the mishap with the sweater knit. Maybe it will reinvent itself while marinating in your stash. Karen
Thanks, Karen! I had to google "trees outside the academy of sciences" to figure that out. I learned this: "The plaza is planted with many trees laid out in a regular grid array. The trees, mostly London plane and Scotch elm, are heavily pollarded to give a very regular and formal appearance to the plaza." It's from this wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Concourse
DeleteHow wonderful to see the exhibit through your eyes and for the link. Love that embroidered leather! Have a fabulous sewing retreat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jane!
DeleteFor your sweater I would cut one front piece to match the side seams. Then the second side piece I would cut from the solid as well as the sleeve. I think it would look great! Thanks for sharing the Oscar exhibit, for a minute I wondered if I could fly to San Francisco for the weekend...but no.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend at the sewing retreat!
That's an interesting idea, Carolyn, but I can't. The fronts are very long and there is no way I can even remotely match the side seams, even for one front piece. But it is a great idea!
DeleteI was going to suggest putting in a side panel in the solid colour, to visually break the mismatch in the stripes. On the other hand, I would never worry too much about perfect strip matching so I'm probably not the best one to be involved in this! Love the Oscar pics, especially that exquisite re leather coat.
DeleteFun post!! Thanks for sharing all the beautiful clothes...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary!
DeleteWe had the Oscar de la Renta exhibit in Savannah (at SCAD) a couple of years ago - to die for!!! I was wondering about your shirt - maybe you could cut a separate side panel in black or teal to 'bridge' between the front and back? Just a thought. Thanks for all the piccies!
ReplyDeleteHi, R! Yes, I did think of a "bridging" insert, but it would be pretty obvious. It's an idea, though. I'll see how I feel after it marinates.
DeleteGreat pictures from the Oscar exhibit. The embroidered day coat is to die for! I love all his creations, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sewing CPA! Yes, his work is amazing. If you have the patience to sit through the 176 images in the sfgate link, you'll see lots more eye candy!
DeleteOh, Oscar! Hopelessly romantic, indeed. I too could imagine myself in that embroidered leather coat...thanks for sharing the glorious pictures.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at your sewing retreat...major jealousy on my part!
Thanks, Margy! Yes, I LOVED that coat! In fact, I loved many pieces. I went with two friends and one said that, until she saw the exhibit, she really didn't think much of Oscar. Now she's a fan.
DeleteBeautiful post, Shams - thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah!
DeleteI don't know which I like better - gilt feathers or those turquoise shoes!! I guess the world is big enough for me to like both. . .
ReplyDeleteI am a bit envious of that totally fun looking sewing retreat!!!
Yes, Claire, both are great!
DeleteI love teal too.
ReplyDeleteI also love how the palm trees make a topper for the sculpture in your first pic!
LOL. A palm tree hat!
DeleteThanks for sharing the exhibit photos.
ReplyDeleteFor your shirt could you add in a solid fabric and use it for a sleeve, one front and one back? I'm sure you will think of something creative to do with this fun fabric.
Hi Ginger! No, I wouldn't have enough fabric for that. But thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteThanks for posting the photos from the exhibit. I'll be going there this coming Wednesday myself, so I'm looking forward to it. Plus, the Bouquets To Art is happening at the same time, so it should be a great museum visit.
ReplyDeleteLove the shoes!
Hi, Betty. I heard about the Bouquet to Art, but I thought it was happening later. Enjoy both exhibits!
DeleteGorgeous exhibit - thanks for showing and lucky you for going in person. What about cutting the front of your top upside down? No stripe matching required and just a little bit of quirky....it's very interesting fabric and too good not to use somehow.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea, Ruth. Thanks!
DeleteI love the gilt feathers and your shoes. Who made the shoes? I would love to find them online or somewhere in Washington,DC on an upcoming trip. I think of cherry blossom petals as pink snow. Love the bicycle with the pink snow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog on a windy Sunday morning on Long Island! Everything looked wonderful, wish you luck with that beautiful fabric. You'll think of something very clever I'm sure....Nancy
ReplyDeleteEmbroidered leather coat--in my dreams!!! As for the shirt, it's a great opportunity to do a random patchworky thing a la Marcy with coordinating teal and purple or other remnants. And use that cool peachy stripe upside down at the bottom and ends of sleeves to look like scallops. Fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your pictures of the Oscar exhibition, the clothes are truly amazing. I also looked at the photos from the Gala. It has always been my dream to own an Oscar dress, a ballgown of course, but the leather coat is memorable too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a preview of the exhibit and your insights given your talent and craft in sewing! Entrance is every 15 mins, but is there a specific time ticketholders must leave? Some EU museums/galleries have very strictly timed privileges. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your photos Shams. I went to the exhibition last Sunday but it was too crowded for picture taking. Sad about your sweater knit but I'm confident you'll find a solution
ReplyDelete