Floating Fur
I often get pigeon holed into an idea when I am going through the process of constructing a garment. Last year when I was working on my thesis I got obsessed with stitching together different fabrics together, i.e. patchwork. I experimented mainly with spandexy textures, as well as lace.
These below are my first two attempts. Both are experiments of course.
Recently I devoted my free time continuing this patchwork experiment. I wanted to tackle the difficulty of patchworking two contrasting textures; something thin as air like organza and the other, a heavy pile..a fur type fabric.
I had in my mind an idea that patches of fur would be “floating” on top of sheer organza. I didn’t know what shapes to make the patches of the fur but then finally I decided it would have to be an organic line, the same way the edges of the skinned fur were organic. I also didn’t know how to finish the hem. It could possibly be straight? but then I realized that every good designer takes advantage of the natural abilities/benefits of the fabric itself, they don’t design against what the fabric offers. I often designed clothing against its natural abilities, and my garments would end up looking “stiff” or “awkward”.
I also envisioned something “prettier” looking but I realized once I finished this jacket it had a grotesque/savage quality to it. The weather has also been so hot/cold round here. Never know when to throw on FUR or when to throw on a crop top. This jacket was also an attempt to create an “in between the seasons” piece. The fur may keep warm but with the organza insets I wanted the jacket to breathe.
This was the base pattern for the patchwork jacket. I wanted to back to round out longer than the front hem
Raw materials. I used this fur, as well as black organza.
Category: Fashion | Tags: feature 97 comments »
May 27th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Geez, Luxirare! Did you do all the sewing yourself? All those fur edges are overlocked – that’s a lot of work! Anytime I’ve ever worked with furry stuff, it gets all up in my nose and eyes, yuck. I love the peek-a-boo areas, it’d be cool to wear something crazy florescent underneath.
You are a fantastic furry monster, like a modern cave woman. Impressive, as usual!
May 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am
oh well this is cool as all hell. yah yah!
May 27th, 2009 at 11:16 am
i really love these!! especially the first jacket!
and the fur jacket is so cool! also love your photos, as usual.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Oh my life. Just wow. I love that it’s a breathing fur jacket. I hang my head in shame.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
You never cease to amaze me with your creativity. I’m obsessed with pretty much everything you create. Can we be friends?
May 27th, 2009 at 11:43 am
This is an incredible blog… I can’t believe I only found this now. That coat is something else… I love how the organza gives the the jacket an almost deconstructed look. The black harness is pretty hot as well.
Oh, and the truffle ice cream in your last post looks divine (I’m a huge foodie though my blog doesn’t reflect this). I’m actually pretty sure people would pay for it, you’d just have to serve it in a pricier restaurant. People seem to put foie gras in everything these days (from doughnuts to creme brulee) so why not truffle?
May 27th, 2009 at 11:47 am
dude you are SICK! !never get tired of visiting your site
xx
May 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
like stephanie said: “can we be friends?”..
this is just amazing. i want everything you make, in multiples. in my fridge and in my closet..
May 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Love the shot of the coat on the ground all fanned out… The color of the fur is so wonderful too. Maybe still too warm for this time of year? I can see the layering possibilities for wearing different colors underneath as well.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Whoa Ji thats amazing! I die! I have a shoot coming up in a month and I would love to use some of your stuff. And we should hang out anyway!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
your meticulous attention to detail never fails to amaze me.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
that is simplu incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
that coat is insane, make more and sell them, please!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I love the juxtapositioning of materials!
Very yin yang.
What fur did you use?
May 27th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Whoa chelsea..
really? Would be cool to lend you some clothes
Camera Face–
This is impossible to reproduce and sell. It takes so much labor/time/ and the materials cost is pretty costly
Joshua
Its a type of lambs wool though I am not completely sure!! I know. I should know…but I can’t be 100% sure.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I can’t get over you
May 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Ahhhh, that coat look fuckin’ great!!! But I also love your motorcycle jacket…
You are just great!
May 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I’ve been following your blog but this is my 1st, but long overdue, comment. You are amazingly creative. I love the jacket. And I especially love all your culinary endeavors. I can’t wait to see your stuff on the market. Keep doing what you do!
May 27th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
It looks like you literally skinned that animal and threw it on you back in the best, most creative, fashion-forward way. How is that even possible? Oh right…TALENT.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
whoa, how do you secure the organza to fur? I can’t even imagine the trial and error involved in a piece as amazing as this. I’d imagine that would have to be some sort of super stitch.
You never fail to impress.
P.S. I’d love to see the luxirare take on sea urchin. tis the season
May 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Pammy
are you reading my mind or something? I’m going to do a sea urchin post super soon..
and yes about the patchworking. Yes it took trial and error. When I first started patchworking last year i had to practice alot and the fabric kept failing me. I figured out how to do it though.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
this is amazing!!!! i’m speechless
xo
May 27th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
i need a needle and thread 101 class from you. this is yet another amazing piece of work of yours. i LOVE that you have your own tags. how did you come up with the name luxirare anyhow? i won’t ever get tired of saying this- but you are definitely going places!
xo
May 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
asdfghjkl;!@£$%^&*()
speechless. absolutely incredible. those duffel coat buttons/teeth are a stroke of genius – it looks like your coat is alive!
this is absolutely going to be THE blog to read someday, and you are going to be THE lady to watch someday.
and on that day, i will say – hooray for luxirare.
xoxo
May 27th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
effing amazing.
May 27th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Amazing work.
May 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
wowza yowza. super beautiful creation lux!!
May 27th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
that coat is beautiful ! the combonation of the fur and organza is out of this world. very covetable. <3 !
May 27th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
i am not a fan of real fur, but despite that this jacket is awesome!
May 27th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
this is absolutely stunning. i am at a complete loss for words.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
The fur jacket is pretty badass, but what i really love is that “nude” niker jacket with the nipple ring. It’s so clever. You are truly a talent, Luxirare.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I just cant express how great your blog is!
http://www.honeyortarr.blogspot.com/
May 27th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Dearest Lucrecia-
How did I think of the name? Its a long complicated story. My ex friend and I were working on a collection together last year for thesis (biggest mistake I ever made in my life, most horrible time ever) and we made up our name to be “Rara Luxi”. Its latin for Rare but Luxurious. I liked our label name but I refused to use it because it brings back nightmare memories for me, so I switched it around to be LUXIRARE which is just short for “luxurious” and “rare” which are two things I’ve always looked for in clothes+ food.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Your coat is blowing my mind. Your patience and skill, too.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
good on you for challenging yourself so much, and suceeding!!
amazing result
-X-
May 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
You are SO. FUCKING. AMAZING.
Seriously, don’t even tell me you have no clue what to do in your life – you have an amazing AND marketable talent, unlike me, who just relies on “smarts”.
I’m weirdly in lust with your hangtags, too. Gah!
May 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Maaan, I gotta be honest, I’m new to your blog but I’m in love with what you do here! You just seem to have REAL personal style -as in you TRULY just wear what you like and I really respect that. Thank Jesus you don’t follow a “style formula” lol…and you can COOK =] awesome
May 27th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
this just blows my mind…. i can’t even explain it
May 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
*SCREAMING* girllllllll
this is just *insane*
May 27th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
*sigh*
you shame me and my piddly Janome sewing machine!!
.
.
.
.
.
I have now recovered
I am in lust with the fur and I am proud to announce: you are my new Style Crush!!
*blushes*
May 27th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
This is simply the most amazing fur jacket I have ever seen. Why aren’t you famous yet?!? (Well, in the non-internet world).
May 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
One of the main reasons why I love your blog so much is that NO ONE could ever label you a clone. You are such a unique individual with incredible talents that seem to span multiple areas. Love the jacket. I didn’t know something like this could exist!
May 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
WHAT! You are ridiculous, that is one beautiful piece of clothing. you are extremely talented
May 27th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Again, you’re blowing my mind. That jacket is an art piece. Beautiful.
http://fashionroadkill-halifax.blogspot.com
May 27th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
your early patchwork experiments remind me of Rodarte.
in my eyes you are definitely on their level.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
jesus christ you are amazing
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SEND ITEMS DOWN THE RUNWAY AT BRYANT PARK!?!?
May 27th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
God thats so amazing! Your posts are always so well written too, imo.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
first time commenting here but i’ve been following your blog for awhile…and i always say to myself, “who is this girl?” cause i’m just blown away each time i come to this page.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I can’t believe you made that! Incredibly insane and I’m sure quite difficult. Way fucking cool.
And I would die for a sea urchin post. I love your taste in food. Luxurious and rare indeed…
May 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOOW
that nipple ring slip in the jacket!?!?!?
all those beautiful colorsss??? AND in lace????
IM ALL OVER IT
this is the hot shit
May 28th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Wow that’s amazing. It’s so savage and so delicate at the same time!
xx
May 28th, 2009 at 12:48 am
i had to link to you
http://rayray-thetacotruck.blogspot.com/2009/05/well-i-was-just-put-to-muthafuckin.html
your beautiful clothes are burned into my brain and i want more people to have the pleasure…..
the whole 8 that look ;]
is that beautiful grey coat even available??????????????
May 28th, 2009 at 12:54 am
I love the contrast of the light organza and the heavy fur, it came out incredibly well.
xxx,
Tiffany
May 28th, 2009 at 1:16 am
OMG!!!!! You’re so brilliant. I wanted the jacket so bad
xxxxxxxxx
Nini
May 28th, 2009 at 1:34 am
seriously – you never cease to amaze me! best. blog. ever.
xo
May 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
you are a god.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:16 am
you continue to amaze me ..
ilikeyoursundaypersonalitybetter.blogspot.com
x
May 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
This is so freaking, AMAZINGLY impressive. I can’t wait to see more! best fucking jacket ever, good on you ji xxx blow my mind
May 28th, 2009 at 4:52 am
that jacket is amazing. wow. you are next level talented.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:40 am
this is too beautiful!!! when are you setting up your own shop? and can i please have luxirare fries with that.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am
YOU MAKE ME WANT TO CRY. THIS IS HOW AMAZING YOU ARE.
Seriously, that coat is the most incredible, raw, vicious, perfect thing I have ever seen.
Thank you.
-Ana-
May 28th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Brilliant !!!
May 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
you are incredibly talented, the coat is beautiful!
-jessie
May 28th, 2009 at 11:48 am
c’est même plus un DIY c’est un vétitable habil de créateur… c’est tous simplement magnifique! je reste sans voix…
une seul question: à quand la marque “luxirare” et à quelle prix le vendras-tu?
c’est sur ma B’day wishlist
xx
bonne nuit
la chauve-souris
May 28th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
gorgeous.
I’d wear that fur/organza jacket in a heartbeat
May 28th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Yeah, I meant your clothes!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Yeah dude I agree with Heavy Metal Fashion. I want to cry.
and then get all Wayne’s World on you with “WE’RE NOT WORTHY!, WE’RE NOT WORTHY! WE’RE NOT WORTHY.”
you’re a triple-threat, bad ass forced to be reckoned with and i love ittttt!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
one word: AMAZING!!
congratulation!
May 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
would love to buy pices like this from you if this is ever possible – the jacket is absolutely stunning
May 28th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
oh god..catching up on all of your posts now, and of course this is what greets me!
once again you’ve hit a nerve with the use of organza and the sheerness peeking through the fur, so stunning.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:28 am
DE.VA.STA.TED.
i absolutely love that first jacket you showed in an older post. the nudish boob biker jacket. so good. sooooo good.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:59 am
I m just speechless with ur awesome creation, what i wanted to say was being said by earlier commentors! Love the patchwork n d "button" details! <3
May 29th, 2009 at 6:57 am
You are so talented… that coat is fantastic. I adore your blog, can’t believe how I missed it before! Am adding you to my blogroll, hope thats okay
xoxo
May 29th, 2009 at 7:11 am
And I’m back.. just read some of your food posts and I love that chilli flake/oil/shallot mix too mmm sambal… I eat it the whole time. And…. cilantro!!!! Me too!!!!!! I eat it straight up as well
Anyway I’ll stop clogging up your comments now xoxo
May 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am
ah thank you for the sweet comments you guys..
May 29th, 2009 at 10:54 am
you’re SO TALENTED! this is amazing!!!
May 29th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
oh how I wish I could work for you so I could eat good food and watch you produce such magical pieces! That jacket is fierce; its so interesting to read your thought processes. It looks so savage, and delicate, and well consructed! Perhaps its the way it hangs, but you can tell. I love it.
May 31st, 2009 at 3:26 am
an epic talent.
thanks again for a killer read.
x
May 31st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
amazing… i love how RAW that coat looks! so carnivorous!
myweekendstyle.blogspot.com
June 1st, 2009 at 6:06 am
this is such an amazing coat you’ve made! Absolutely gorgeous design!!
June 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Lord…. first the yakitori and then the coat….actually why is yakitori and this coat even in the same sentence…. forgive me!
That is a stunning piece of work….
June 1st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Wooooowwwwww…. this is totally phenomenal. I LOVE how the toggles look like saber-tooth tiger teeth. It's like what the chicest stone-age hooker would wear for a night out on the town… er, Neolithic settlement. Incredible!! I love it!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
susie-
Thanks!!
Fawn Lust–
HAHA great analogy there. The toggles were purcahsed at M&J trimming and each one costed 7 bux. I had to use them otherwise my money would have gone wasted.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
OMGosh, have only discovered your blog, today, and am in awe! This jacket is absolutely unbelievable!!!
xx
CC
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 am
if this is real fur you should be fucking ashamed of yourself.
Plus it looks like you just killed an innocent thing and hung it on your back.
Thats fucking disgusting.
How can you sleep at night?
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
its pretty simple, anonymous. just like eating meat.
looks haute haute couture, luxirare!
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Absolutely gorgeous. The colour, textures, everything. So fluid looking.
Cannot even imagine all the work that went into it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:59 am
I just found your blog, and I'm blown away. You're gorgeous, chic, you can sew, design beautiful pieces, you know your way around a camera, and you can cook. I'm thoroughly inspired.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
you're pretty freakin' AMAZING!
the ingenuity that went into this piece is so apparent. i love how the pattern kind of resembles tile and i especially love how you spaced the fur pieces perfectly away from each other leaving the organza visible.
KUDOS!
June 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am
flawless. please start making things for sale so i can cry about how i can't afford them…
June 11th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
you're an inspiration for someone in a small working class town full of close-minded idiots, thank you.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
You would make the perfect wife to me if i was a lesbian…You can cook, dress, & sew…Amazing!!!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
jesus christ woman! that coat is amazing!!!!!!
August 10th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Interesting idea you have going with that coat there. Rather unusual, I quite like it.
thequeenjosephine.blogspot.com
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
i love the idea, but maybe it would look even better with a softer/more even fur? anyway, love the see-through pattern.. truly beautiful.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am
Absolutely fantastic!
Where did you get this fur? The shapes, the color are so perfect and poetic!
It must be an invaluable piece!
February 9th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Wearing what you create is the best thing that can ever happen. There are lots of stuff in my closet that I really regret buying. And the most beautiful stuff I own are custom made – material and pieces hand-picked by me and stitched with my ideas. Unfortunately I do not know sewing. I have a tailor who does it for me. It would have been more fun if I knew how to sew.