Paris, Texas is a favorite movie of mine… and it likely tops a lot of lists for the art house movie lovers among you. Such a visually striking movie, I always see images of it circling on the web, reminding me I ought to revisit it. The compelling and poignant story follows Travis (Harry Dean Stanton) as he wanders back from the abyss seeking reunion with his son Hunter and the love of his life Jane (Natassja Kinski… making a second newsletter appearance!). The self inflicted tragedies that forced them apart get explored through this return and attempt at repair.
The most iconic fashion moment of the movie is undoubtedly Jane in a hot pink mohair sweater dress in the scene where Travis visits her at a gentlemen’s club, and, separated by a two way mirror, the two share their stories. You see stills of this iconic look in every image search of the movie… it might even have been the reason I first watched it, if I can remember! However, there is a heart warming scene that is equally concerned with the transformative power of clothing that we will be focusing on for this newsletter. Towards the beginning of the film, as Travis gets reintroduced to his son he struggles to make a good connection and feel like a father. So Travis takes to his image as first point of revision; he tears through magazines looking for images of the father to emulate. The housekeeper then helps him get into some clothes borrowed from his brother’s closet, and he is transformed from the scraggly and wild eyed wanderer into the image of a father, this borrowed identity of the good dad his brother has been to his son. Picking Hunter up from school, wearing a three piece suit and hat, he is recognized and accepted as Dad, and the two share their first “journey” together, the walk home... I love this scene.
So, that three piece suit! I am learning to make a tailored jacket right now at the Sewing Training Academy, it’s a long process 10 classes in the making that finishes up next week. Before that gets done I thought it would be nice to complete the look with the other two-pieces so I could wear it Travis style :)
Heavily inspired by the designers above I set out to make a feminine version of a vest and trouser, suit-ish. I had a really great heavy weight deadstock navy cotton twill that was a dream to pattern draft right on with tailors chalk. I started with my bodice and pant “slopers”, basic patterns that you use as jumping off points, and traced them right onto the fabric. From there I just made a few tweaks, like added the points at the bottom of the vest, deepening the neck opening, adding space for the buttons and narrowing the shoulder. After first try on of the vest there was so much extra fabric and weirdness due to the structured fabric, so in order to get the close fit I wanted I pinched away the excess into a “princess seam” and ended up cutting it away to form two pieces that would shape together for the front of the bodice, you can see that illustrated through the photos below! Trousers were just super straightforward, flat front, zip in the back… very sleek and thankfully minimal fit issues from the get go!!
I am really pleased with how the look turned out! I think I will get a lot of wear out of this outfit together and as suit separates… I feel like a coool dad.
I can’t wait to share my final suit jacket with you all, coming in two weeks… ‘til then, put on some Ry Cooder and hit the road.
Great reading.
You’re best job yet!