Thursday, October 8, 2009

Boleros: Yea or Nay?

Before making the "cropped, cutaway bolero" from Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing, I can't say that I'd given the bolero, in general, much thought. Boleros just sort of existed.

Actually, wait! I had completely forgotten until just this moment that I wore a bolero at my wedding and liked it quite a bit. Shall we take a little trip down memory lane?

Here I am as a blushing bride, in my little white bolero.

Also, I'm not trying to brag here, but can I just take a moment to appreciate how great my skin looked?
Aww, how cute were we?!

I'm sorry, what were we talking about? Ah yes, boleros.

I was interested to hear in the comments how many of you are anti-bolero. Fascinating! I always thought boleros were kind of innocuous, and not really deserving of strong opinion either way. Though, before I embarked upon making my black velvet bolero, I remarked to my husband that I worried I would look like a dancing monkey in such a get-up. His reply? "Just don't wear a fez . . . and steer clear of men with organ grinders." (He's cute and funny!)

And then there's the fact that boleros are ubiquitous as prom and bridesmaid attire, usually in pastel polyester. Exhibit A:

Though I want to state for the record that the pattern above is a great basic bolero pattern. I'm merely pointing to the styling of it.

But I want to hear from you. Boleros: yea or nay?

38 comments:

  1. I like them - in the right context - not pastel polyester, but velvet, wool, and other cool fabrics, they are very retro-chic

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  2. I don't really have an opinion either way when it comes to boleros, I just wanted to say you looked beautiful on your wedding day! I love your hair and the flower.

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  3. You are stunning in your wedding pictures! Boleros: On other people, yea! On me, nay. Only because I am really tall and very long legged and short waisted, so a bolero exaggerates all the wrong things on me.

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  4. I'm a big fan of buttons myself, so I don't tend to wear anything that doesn't button..at least if I want it to. So no boleros in the closet. But I'm not opposed to them, in fact I quite like the drawn-on-sleeve on the pattern envelope, which I think it what you're making in plum? That would be super cute :)

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  5. I have tried to wear boleros but all I manage to do is look ridicules. So nay for me.

    Your wedding pictures are beautiful. :-)

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  6. I didn't think I liked boleros, but I love the one you made below with the blouson sleeves. If the sleeves were straight, I don't think it would have worked.

    I agree - you look so beautiful in your wedding pictuires.

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  7. I WISH I could have found a bolero for my wedding dress! Instead my chubby little baby arms were exposed to all the world! I like boleros...on other people. I like the idea of them, but not on me. I don't think I have the right body type for them. But I do love yours!

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  8. Personally, I dig the bolero, and they look nice on me. It's a cool little thing you can throw on if you don't want to do a full-on sweater or jacket with a dress. And I have to agree that you look amazing in your pictures! Also, that pattern you showed is yes, very bridesmaid-like, BUT, with the right fabric and embellishments it could be very 50s style. I mean, leopard and black would look really smart, you know?

    Thank you for continuing to be extremely inspirational to me-I read your blog every day and love it so much! Wish you lived in Phoenix-I need a sewing buddy!

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  9. I don't mind boleros. They seem to be a good way to keep warm without hiding too much of a dress or a figure.

    You looked really nice for your wedding. The pixie bangs look great on you.

    I like your blog. It's fun. I just started sewing a few months ago but it took a little while to find blogs of others who sew with a style that appealed to me. Thank you!

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  10. forget the boleros--how GREAT was your hair?!

    (but for the record, i join the masses of anti-bolero folks)

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  11. Lovely photos! Love the hair. Now to boleros--I love the look when I see it on others, but I don't like them on me. I want more coverage on my self-conscious area!

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  12. I've never been a big fan, because the ready-made sort look horrid on me. Short waisted/small chested - I need more definition than a bolero gives. I'm a cardigan girl. Boleros are fine - for other people.
    Seeing the cute vintage illustrations, and your cute velvet bolero, make me wonder if I'm missing out. If I had a bolero that fit my proportions, perhaps I would be a bit more keen on them.

    Also - your wedding photos are beautiful! Very cute together :) And your hair was absolutely amazing - makes me wish I could pull off short hair.

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  13. boleros => YAY.
    I would have worn one to my wedding 5 years ago if I had been better at fitting. At that time, I still hadn't learned my own fitting requirements.

    You, look AMAZING in your wedding pics!
    again,
    boleros => YAY

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  14. Wow! You looked so beautiful on your wedding day. And yes, you had and have great skin.

    I haven't worn boleros as of yet, but I would like to give them a try. I think they are very stylish looking. I'm sure it depends on the body type, though. Boleros look great on you.

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  15. I would say ... it depends. I live near Spain, so 1/ bolero always smacks of torero to me (yuck) and 2/ here, it's usually dogdy, loud, polyester ones worn by the regional speciality, the kind of girl we call the "cagole" (think cheaply-clad, polyester-loving, over-tanned and rather low-class airhead with a tendancy to chew gum noisily, talk very loud to her Iphone and show way too much undeserving skin).

    So I basically, I don't like them.

    But here and there, I found some I like. Like the one pictured on your book, or your wedding one. When it's a classy design in a classy fabric with the right clothes around and the right person underneath, it's beautiful. But it's so easy to go wrong with them ... I just don't dare :)

    (By the way, sorry for my English, it's not my 1st language ...)

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  16. i like the look of some, especially in wool, as a winter look...

    but they make me look like a broad-shouldered midget with giant breasts and no hips. so no thanks.

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  17. I've always loved boleros! And can I just say your wedding photos are stunning, you made such a beautiful bride!!

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  18. How on earth could anyone hate a bolero? They basically serve the purpose of belts when you don't want to wear one - emphasizing your waist.

    I don't have one, but I like them! They're on my to-sew list. :)

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  19. Boleros: an enthusiastic YES! Because sometimes its impossible to find a little cardigan sweater or shrug that will match a newly-made dress. It's incredibly easy to whip up a quick and perky little bolero in matching fabric. Even easier if you make it reversable!

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  20. A bolero can look great with a vintage, strappy or strapless dress, the right one, that is. Wow, that close up of you at the wedding, you look a bit like Wynona Ryder in her youth, in a good way, very pixie like.

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  21. I am pro-bolero on other people, but anti-bolero on me. As I am the widest by far in my shoulders and bust, in a bolero I look a bit like a hulking linebacker. I think they look great on women with daintier top halves, a very feminine look.

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  22. Did you notice how many people said yes to boleros - but not on them?

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  23. Your wedding pics? Gorgeous! What a chic ensemble you had!

    I'm with the others... boleros on others hooray :)

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  24. Beautiful bride!

    I am a vote for yay. I particularly love boleros of the sweater/knit kind with a fancy ribbing. They look great over a plain frock and really emphasize the waist.

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  25. I wear boleros, crop sweaters, and the like when pregnant. Otherwise, I never think about them!
    You and your husband are adorable!

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  26. Great wedding pics! Chanel was big on boleros. you can findlots of photos of her in them with gowns mostly.

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  27. You are adorable in your wedding pics! Thanks for sharing.

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  28. You look beautiful on your wedding day!! (Not that you don't now!) Your hair was so cute! How long have you been married?
    I think boleros are cute with some evening gowns, but don't know that I would be particularly fond of them with other outfits.

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  29. Yea for boleros! I love them on most people. I love you with short hair! Just too stylish for words! Married about five years or so?

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  30. No, I'm not really in the bolero camp. I know it looks cute with some outfits, but most of the time it just isn't my thing. I can't even really explain why.

    Beautiful wedding pictures by the way. You look very lovely, soft and romantic, and very happy!

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  31. I really like boleros. I have a few and find them quite versatile. I have a short sleeve knit one I regularly wear at work, I have a couple of jersey ones and a lace one. Plus I have a very Spanish style white one that I love but have never been game to wear out because people might mistake me for a Flamenco dancer. I just admire it occasionally :)

    While on the subject I'd love to make this knit one http://www.burdafashion.com/en/Magazines/Archives/145_Bolero_jacket_106_A_Skirt/1270777-1463237-1484044-1484047-1484243.html

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  32. Aw, thanks everyone. You're making me want to cut all my hair off again! It was fun pulling the old wedding album out. And yes, we celebrated our five year anniversary this past June!

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  33. I think the success of a bolero is almost entirely dependent upon the figure of the wearer. I only say "almost" because I am sure that the exact cut and the overall outfit may have some influence. I think the one you wore at your wedding looks fabulous, and it looks good on the pattern envelope, but it does not look good on me. I am essentially reverse-pear shape; I have large breasts, but my hips and waist are essentially the same size. If I wear a bolero, it just makes my breasts look huge and saggy.

    Now, back when I was a tween and still developing, I made a bolero that I liked a lot. It had a scalloped edge, and was therefor probably one of the most advanced sewing projects I have ever made.

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  34. Boleros YAY all the way! Love them! They make me happy :)

    Can I just say how gorgeous you looked on your wedding day?! Fabulous dress and I love love your hair!

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  35. I'd also like to say how beautiful you looked on your wedding day!

    As for boleros, I'm like you, hadn't given them much thought, but I have to say the short sleeve cross-fronted version of your pattern is making me take notice! Looking forward your next bolero incarnation! Happy sewing

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  36. Not a fan of boleros at all.I don't like half jackets. Your wedding pix are very sweet!

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  37. I love them as an alternative to cardigans...being short and curvy, they help sectionalize and streamline my body (the fashion theory of three at work here!) into smaller bits rather than a lunky torso and a lunky bottom section. They are adorable over t-shirts.

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  38. How wonderful this will I try it Thank you

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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