I am Gordon Gekko - two shirts - french cuffs, contrasting collars!

[ludicrouslouisa]

I was given 4 patterns by my grandmother because she was clearing out her stash, one of which was for a shirt with several different options as to cuff and collar finishings. This was all very well but the pattern was neutered and ineffectual, when it came to shirts. I wanted something with a collar stand! With plackets! So I drafted those bits myself, and used some japanese cotton I got cheaply in Thailand.

So that was all very well. This shirt, however, was the test for my really expensive fabric, some fantastic italian cotton. I bought the last of the roll but it was probably only 1.4 metres - not enough for collar and cuffs. So I got some bits of a white Paul Smith shirt I'd unceremoniously hacked up a while ago - the sleeves were still intact, and I Gordon Gekkoed it up.

Incidentally I'd always wanted to do a coloured shirt with white cuffs and collar, but until now I didn't have the excuse!

Close up of the fabric, which I got the last of from a fantastic draper, which unfortunately closed down becuase it apparently wasn't profitable enough anymore. Now all I have in my town are fabric chain stores which generally only have...awful, awful fabric. I'm going to go cry now.

[bananabanana]

  in sympathy.

What a great shirt. Did you transplant the collar and cuffs from the other shirt?
I can't see the first pic.

[ludicrouslouisa]

I edited the post - hopefully now you can see the first shirt!

No, the second shirt has cuffs I nicked from a Paul Smith shirt which I picked up at the thrift store for $8 a few years ago, but the collar I long ago used on some failed project (well not failed but not that good) so I couldn't transplant the collar. The collar is made out of the rest of the sleeve fabric.

[deruku]

Love it! It looks great on you.

[Gawd]

Fancy!

[jan.elle]

These are so well-executed, great job!