[lucy92]

it almost looks as if these balmain blazers have something like a shoe horn or a piece of plastic in there to keep its shape...

[nuitblanche]

this is a really interesting thread. UNIQ, i'd love to hear how the project goes so i can try the same with my tailor

[jun3machina]

i doubt it's a shoe horn, generally it's cotton batting sewn and sculpted into shoulder pad pieces. it was a technique used frequently during the 1940's in coats...

[gius]

Here are some links for making sleeve heads
http://sew-4-fun.blogspot.com/2007/05/sleeve-heads.html
http://thesewingdivas.wordpress.com/.../sleeve-heads/

courtesy of daniellat

[UNiQFashionista]

thanks you guys for the links...my tailor said she doesnt know how to do it.....she said she can do big shoulder pads but it wont look the same as this one and have that curve

[lucy92]

time to move onto the next tailor! it also might be worth checking with your local fancy department store (neiman, barneys saks etc) and find out what tailor THEY use...

[daniellat]

im so glad ive found this thread, i love all things diy, specially balmain from last three seasons ive been wanting to diy their whole collections. Right now i have my eye on the denim jacket you posted earlier, the studded cross jeans and the turquoise mini dress with the criss cross embellishments, but that one ill put on hold until i get my new dressform.

I havent met a good tailor or seamstress to recreate things straight off the runway, before i knew how to sew i also wanted the look for less but never found someone that could do it the right way.

The tricky part with the denim jacket is the sleeve- shoulder part, the way the shoulder sort of points up and out cant be done just with a shoulder pad, thats why the seam is not right at the edge but a little past the shoulder bone and has a squared shape, this allows the shoulder pad to have more room to stick out more. Also you will need to customize your shoulder pad, they wont be like that on the store. thats just trial and error until you find the right shape, just cuttin and shaping you store bought shoulder pads, maybe even using bra cups instead of shoulder pads.

Note also that the balmain jackets are meant to be worn open, and if you want to customize an already made double breasted jacket it wont look the same when open, since they always have a double layer for buttoning, the ones from balmain dont.

[gius]

yeah it reminded me of the red bikini you made^ .. i was wondering if you could use the same foam material

[-Veda-]

This is just the best thread! I'm not crazy about this shoulder trend (having naturally strong shoulders) but WOW! Really inspiring...and that studded jacket! Ace job! Keep the ideas flowing!

[á la Balenciaga]

the studded blazer looks sooo dope! great job!

[daniellat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gius yeah it reminded me of the red bikini you made^ .. i was wondering if you could use the same foam material

i dont think so, or at least it would be easier to use a pre-shaped cup. the kind of foam i used was all flat, maybe two or even three shoulder pads cut into shape or a bra cup will work better because of the sort of conic shape. or i dont know maybe im just blabbing without even tried it, anyone has already?

[lucy92]

some close up images of the blazer from nitrolicious.com. its more heavily detailed than i thought...

i wonder if a tailor would be willing to add these embellishments to the jacket if someone provided them with beads and jewels.

[Australienne]

It looks like some of them are little rhinestones, at the edges, in varied sizes. Then the built up pieces are bunched up or layered sequins, I have a vintage dress with similar detailing over the shoulders. That is a great close up, I think if you took it to a specialist beader they would know how to do it - that could be expensive though.

[daniellat]

i love the jacket on beyonce i hardly like anything she wears but i have to admit she looks really good.

^the materias are pretty much cheap but if you hire someone to bead a jacket or anything like the one above it will cost you $$$$ its really hard work to bead. i believe the close ups are from netaporter.com, i never saw that kidn of detailing before.

[á la Balenciaga]

the jacket beyonce is wearing looks good on the runway IMO