I had the most thrilling and enjoyable layover today! In a twist of luck, Crew Scheduling reassigned our crew for a 40 hour layover in NYC. I felt like I won a vacation! I had an entire day in NYC to do just as I please in my introverted, exploratory way. Immediately I knew how I would spend a good part of my layover…visiting NYC’s Mood Fabrics for the first time! This is the fabric store featured in Project Runway, and it is a very important place to Fashion Designers in the NYC area and beyond. You can read more about it on Mood Fabric’s website.
I have been longing to shop at Mood Fabrics. Even though I have NYC layovers quite often, I have never had a long enough stay to be able to visit the fabric store. Today I made my way via hotel van, M60 bus, and N subway to 42nd street and walked in the rain to their location at 225 W 37th St in the Garment District. You must take an elevator to the 3rd floor to enter. I felt like I was in 7th heaven just off 7th Avenue. The amount of fabric is overwhelming and it is stunning (much of it is remnant from high end fashion designers). This is not like Joann Fabrics which I am used to. You really must have a specific plan in mind upon visiting or you will be all consumed by limitless creative possibilities.
I had a 1950’s suit in mind for a project. This is yet another vintage pattern I scored at Vint’illage in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Typically I would not look at a sewing pattern’s fashion illustration and set out to literally make a matching replica in color and print to the featured image. However, in this case when I look at that red skirt suit with the leopard collar and gold buttons, I can’t help but want exactly that look. I strongly desire to have this outfit for Cunard trips and I would like to make this to wear to the pre-party meet and greet for the Dressmaker’s Ball in September. I did not know I was going to be having this layover in NYC, so I had to look up a copy of this sewing pattern online and see what the fabric and yardage requirements were Thankfully I found it for sale on etsy and I was able to get this information off of their product photos. Having this specific project in mind really helped me have an aim when looking around the store, but it did not stop me from daydreaming way too much. I stayed in the store for close to 3 hours just taking it all in.
I found the perfect fabrics, a red boiled wool and a perfect leopard print that is more of a soft fabric print that a faux fur (which I wanted to stay away from in this look). I feel like the fabrics I chose are exactly spot on for the look I want to create.
The staff I encountered, three different people, were very warm and helpful and cheerful. I have nothing but good things to report about my visit and I will treasure the memory of the visit and I will find this suit to be extra special because of it.
