project past: issey miyake, vintage vogue designer pattern 2979

One of the most dramatic coats i ever made has been hanging on my spare clothing rack for approximately 14 years. Not that i don't like it. It is my version of the vintage vogue pattern 2979 by designer issey miyake, so what is not to like.
It is a great pattern because the coat is reversible so essentially you get  2 coats in one!

I made it from a ivory satin fabric with a black rubber coating on the back of this fabric. Plus i extended the pattern to just above ankle for a longer proportion and therein lies the  problem: the coat weighs close to 2 kilograms, it is heavy. Plus the elastic for the drape at the bottom in the back of the coat (as a result of my lengthening the pattern) sits exactly at knee level and cuts in to the back of my knees when walking. Another thing i changed was adding an elasticized tunnel at waist level plus 2 loops to put a belt on this coat in order to close it. It has no closure in the design and that is not very handy for a raincoat especially in Holland. So even though it looks all right and i really like the design of this coat, i have not worn it much, nevertheless it is one project i cannot seem to part with. I do wear it sometimes for Carnival, a masquerade festivity in the south of Holland in February / March when i go to watch the parade. I only have to add a mask and i'm wearing a very dramatic costume. Because of my choice of fabric and by extending the length it seems to have become a coat for the catwalk, quite extravagant.

Maybe one day i will remake this coat from a light weight parachute fabric, i all ready have the material but there is another issey miyake coat for which the fabric has been cut and sits waiting on my sewing desk to be made for some time now.
It's been too long ago since i used this pattern to comment on the sewing skills needed.  It has an average rating according to the pattern envelope. It is mostly a lot of work because of the welt pockets and the seams are stitched in a flat fell seam as a finishing touch because the coat is reversible.

What is most wonderful about this and his other patterns is the democratic sharing of his designs.  I am very grateful that Mr. issey miyake allowed some of his designs to be distributed by Vogue patterns for  his fans with a smaller purse who cannot afford to buy his clothes ready made in one of his beautiful stores ( i've been to the one in Antwerp, Belgium) Actually making his designs yourself is even more satisfying because you get to experience the genius of this man: he is a sculptor of fabric.  Thank you Mr. Issey Miyake!  Hopefully i will visit Japan one day, it is on the top of my wishlist, but traveling to Japan is so expensive.  Would love to see the the 21 21 Design Sight Museum of which issey miyake is one of the directors together with tadao ando, my favorite Japanese architect.

Below the photographs of my version of Vogue pattern 2979 by issey miyake, this pattern dates from1992.

YouTube video of fashion show with catwalk version of this pattern at 3.36 minutes. "Issey Miyake" Autumn Winter 1990 1991 Paris Pret a Porter Woman: