The 80’s are famous for a lot of things….neons, units, and big floral prints which have all come back into fashion lately.
But there is one trend from the 80’s that I hope never comes back into the fashion world….and that would be the drop-waisted jumpsuit. It just might take the cake for some of the weirdest things put together into one fashion style that I can think of.
Do be assured that I had a lot of dresses that looked similar to this. And I wore them and LOVED them. And now I know why my daughter laughs at my pictures. Me with my big, permed, frizzy hair and drop-waisted dresses with collars that could double as life-preservers if needed….ahhhh….those were the days of my childhood.
So, when the ugly pattern challenge came about I knew it was my goal to re-create, with a modern twist of course, one of the those bad 80’s looks that I so dearly loved. (Although I never had a jumpsuit…..darn it.)
And I hope I succeeded a bit.
I stuck with the gathered capri-length cuffs, but just couldn’t do the drop-waist with it. So, I raised the waistline and pulled it in with elastic.
I also gathered the top as well and added the button placket of the original pattern (albeit a bit smaller).
The life-preserver collar had to go too and so did the sleeves, so although you can’t see them, the final design has wide straps to hold it up and will be perfect for summer.
One apology about the photos….we chose the windiest day ever for a photoshoot and she could hardly keep her eyes open with all the dust. So what you don’t see is her eyes closed for dear life and her holding onto her sweater because it kept almost blowing off, so we hurried and took about 4 pictures and ran back to the car as fast as we could. Hence we did the best with what we had….
Ahh…the joys of your mother being a blogger.
(But she got a lucky gold chocolate coin for her pain….so you shouldn’t feel too sorry for her.)
P.S. I am now a little jumpsuit crazy, and have another one coming up for the Spring Look Book that is in a few weeks. Complete with tutorial and all. So now everyone can have a jumpsuit…..are you all thrilled?
~Elizabeth
So cute! I think that is the ugliest pattern cover I’ve ever seen…
Bwahahahahahahah – hahahaha – deep breath – Bwahahahahahahaha!!! I grew up in the 80’s and I am sure I have seen that pattern, but am so thankful my mom never tried to make it for me!!! I LOVE your remix – I actually just pinned a chambray jumpsuit from GAP that I am going to try to knock off for baby girl that is very similar. The styling is perfect for spring, and it is going to segue perfectly into summer!
You are right, to not judge a pattern by its cover. You really made it look so cute!
My Mom sewed this pattern for me in the ’80s out of a light blue big floral print with a big white collar. Although it would look ridiculous today I looked fantastic in it back then. 🙂 I love your current version and I think my daughter would love it as well.
Oooooooo I love this!!! I love jumpsuits and rompers!! Definitely not the 80’s version though 🙂 This is super cute!
This is definitely my favorite ugly pattern so far. I was pretty young in the 80’s but my sister and I have pictures of matching pantsuit/dress sets that look scary similar to the original. hahaha
Um I may or may not have sewn that pattern in the 80’s. if you ask though I’ll deny the whole thing.
so cute! you did a good job of re-creating it!
Great look! The neon accessories really pull it all together.
Pattern 5353 should be pattern 911! OH MY! That was a doozer! I did have a navy with white polka dot dress with a large white square collar (or adult bib!). I wore it to my graduation I believe (87′) and several other important events. At the time it was IN and a very quality purchase. Glad you put wide straps on the cute redo–will be very functional that way. NIce work…basically you took out all the hideous features!
Oh how I remember this look. I had dresses like this jumpsuit as well and remember thinking they were just so pretty! Wow how fashion has changed thank goodness!!! Love the redo and think it is so awesome of you to put together a tutorial for it. I will definitely sew up your modern version of this lovely (hahaha) 80s number 🙂
I love your re-do of this look! I think a jumpsuit for my daughter will have to be on my sewing list. ~Major Moma
Wow, I can’t believe it’s the same pattern! I love what you did with it and I find it hard to believe that the prairie style jumpsuit was ever in style back in the 80s…lol!
-Ash P
http://distractedashley.blogspot.com
perfect!!
Ack! Did nobody notice the puff sleeves? That perfectly synchronized with the puff leg pants? This pattern has “poodle” written all over it. And it made me wonder – at what age might this jumpsuit have been appropriate to wear? I honestly couldn’t name one. This is probably my favorite Ugly Pattern so far, too! BUT… the madeover version is really cool. Phew. Brava, Elizabeth!
My favorite pattern find so far. Epic. Love what you created with it!
I can’t stop laughing about the “poodle” look. It is totally true!
I can’t stop laughing about the “poodle” look. It is totally true!
Oh this is such a fantastic re-fashioned pattern. I was actually at Target today and saw a Black Jumpsuit in the woman’s section.. I was laughing inside.. Everywhere I turn today I am seeing the 80s coming back to life.. I wonder if the High Hairs Sprayed Bangs would ever make a comeback… HHMMMM!! probably not 🙂
xo
Angelina
Oh this is such a fantastic re-fashioned pattern. I was actually at Target today and saw a Black Jumpsuit in the woman’s section.. I was laughing inside.. Everywhere I turn today I am seeing the 80s coming back to life.. I wonder if the High Hairs Sprayed Bangs would ever make a comeback… HHMMMM!! probably not 🙂
xo
Angelina
Rofl! Ugliest pattern ever- but you did it justice!! Oh, the bribes I come up with to get a photoshoot….p.s. glad you didn’t do the dropped waist, but sort of curious if you would’ve pulled it off!
I have a few of these ‘bad’ patterns! This is a great re-do though!!!
Great job making a cute little jumpsuit from that ever so ugly pattern. I think the oversized bib is the worst thing!!!! Take the bib away and it perhaps looks like pyjamas with the fabric they’ve chosen.
My mom has several copies of this pattern in some boxes left over from when she had a fabric shop. Every time I see it, I cringe. I wish I lived closer to her to raid those boxes for this series…she has some good ones for it and most come from the 80’s. While I never had a jumpsuit, I did have a dress with that kind of collar as well. Still wonder what I was thinking. Love your re-do though and it looks great on your daughter.
Oh my! I actually have this pattern still from when I was a teenager! I am pretty sure that my mom or grandmother made me at least one version, but I don’t remember which. I had several dresses with the drop-waist and I liked them. I don’t remember if I liked the jumpsuit or not. I have a vague recollection of it being a pain to undo when I needed to use the bathroom.
I like what you did with it! And hooray for daughters who will let Mom take a picture in a sandstorm! 🙂
Seriously am loving this series the comments are almost as good as the remix. I love this it is a little old school with a lot of new cool.
I had an outfit like this as a child and loved it. My mom saved it for my daughter to wear but I won’t torture her. Awesome job modernizing it!
Lovely results!
Great reinvention. Raising the waistline does a world of good!
That pattern!!! I die. Like, dead.
I love love LOOOOOOOOVE (said in my best Oprah voice) what you made from it! Amazasausages.
Ten years ago, when I was on my mission in Germany, my mom sent me a homemade dress version of this pattern that was cream with brown plaid that looked like it was a pair of drapes in a former life. Ugliest.Dress.Ever.
My mom made me view B at my request. I loved the jumpsuit and probably wore it every other day. I think my fashion sense has gotten a little better since then. But not by much.
Yep, ugliest pattern ever but the new version the absolute best jumpsuit I’ve ever seen.