Okay, so, I saw this picture of Cate Blanchett in a bird dress, and I just knew I had to make my own. It was a wild idea, but I was totally obsessed.
First, I started digging around for anything similar. Turns out, Cate’s style is usually more about suits and trousers, not so much dresses. I found some info saying she wore a Stella McCartney suit once, which had some cool parts but weird parachute-like pants. Not really what I was going for. But hey, it was a start, right?
Then I thought, “What would it take to get that Cate Blanchett vibe?” I read that she’s into tailored blazers, classic black dresses, and statement coats. That got me thinking maybe I could use a blazer as the base for my bird dress.
I remembered seeing a picture of her in an oversized dress pants and a plunging blazer. That was it! I could totally use a blazer as the top part of the dress. I ran to my closet and found this old, oversized black blazer I hardly ever wear. Perfect!
Now, for the “bird” part. I needed something to mimic feathers. I drove to the local craft store and started wandering around. Found some feather boas, but they looked too cheap and tacky. Then I stumbled upon these beautiful, iridescent fabric scraps. They had this cool, shimmery quality that reminded me of bird feathers.
Turning a Blazer into a Bird Dress
- I laid the blazer flat and started pinning the fabric scraps all over it, trying to create a layered, feather-like effect. This took forever, and my fingers were killing me by the end, but it was worth it.
- I sewed each piece on, overlapping them slightly. It was a total mess at first, but slowly, it started to look like a dress.
- For the bottom part, I decided to keep it simple. I found a black, flowy skirt in my closet and attached it to the blazer. It wasn’t exactly what I envisioned, but I was running out of time and energy.
Finally, after hours of work, my Cate Blanchett-inspired bird dress was done! It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. It’s not exactly a red carpet look, and definitely not up to par with the high-end brands like Louis Vuitton or Givenchy that Cate usually wears, but I was pretty proud of myself. I mean, who else do you know with a handmade bird dress? It’s definitely a conversation starter, that’s for sure!
Wearing it out was a whole other adventure. Let’s just say I got a lot of stares. But hey, at least I felt unique, and a little bit like a movie star. And that’s all that really matters, right? I’m considered a versatile person like Cate Blanchett, I enjoy independent films, and blockbusters, well I like both of them. I guess I’m just a big fan of her.
