I was sketching in a park in Portland last week and saw a kid's jacket turned inside out

The lining was this bright orange and yellow plaid, way cooler than the plain blue outside. It made me think about reversible clothes in a new way. Three years ago, I made a reversible coat but the two sides were just different solid colors. Now I'm thinking about designs where the 'secret' inside is the real show, like a plain black dress with a wild, printed lining that only shows if you roll the sleeves or cuff the hem. Has anyone tried making something where the inside fabric is the main feature?

4 comments

4 Comments

wadew512mo ago

Secret inside is the real show" is a great way to put it. I always saw the lining as just extra, but now I want to try that.

ninaowens2mo ago

Wait, are we really calling a jacket lining the "real show"? It's just fabric on the inside. I get it if it's a cool pattern or something, but it's still hidden most of the time. Feels like people are making a big deal over nothing.

corablack1mo ago

Okay but that's EXACTLY the point, it's a secret! It's like a little inside joke you have with your own clothes. Sure, most people won't see it, but YOU know it's there and it makes the whole thing feel special. It turns a basic jacket into something with a hidden layer of fun. I totally get what @wadew51 meant now, it's not about showing it off, it's about the good feeling of having that cool detail just for you. Calling it nothing feels like missing the whole joy of making something personal.

the_iris2mo ago

You ever get so into a project you forget which side is supposed to be the outside? Asking for a friend who definitely didn't wear a reversible skirt wrong for a whole day. I'm totally with you and @wadew51 on this, the secret inside is the whole point. It's like a little surprise for you or for anyone who gets a peek. My last attempt was a vest with a boring grey shell and this insane floral lining, and I spent more time picking the lining fabric than the outside. It just makes the thing more fun to make and to wear, even if it's mostly hidden.