Creativity begets creativity. Mrs. Knowles-Carter is on the road in her own chitlin circuit. The day of the Cowboy Carter Tour announcement, I immediately ordered my boots. Victorious survivors of the ticket gauntlet then ponder “What am I wearing?” I want to be a part of the glorious spectacle that is a Beyoncé stadium show. What pairs with knee high, white, Western boots with silver firebirds and rhinestones? A signature color, orange for me. Online window shopping didn’t meet my needs, which aided my desire to not purchase new clothes. Instead of shopping my closet, I turned to my sewing machine.
No specific inspiration leapt forward other than “cheeks”. Despite my degree in fashion merchandising and design, flat pattern and draping are not my strengths. Etsy provided patterns for tap shorts (kin to hot pants), a corset top, and an overshirt. Blessed are the patternmakers and technical designers. A fresh sewing project never fails to remind me of how difficult sewing is. As a skill set and talent, sewing is due higher respect and pay for seamstresses, tailors, and garment industry workers.
After printing, taping, cutting out 24 pattern pieces, and 46 fabric pieces (body and lining), assembly commences. The tap shorts appeared the least daunting, despite minimal instructions. I held my own until I sewed the leg opening and crotch shut making it impossible to flip the shorts right side out. Instead of giving into the temptation of throwing in the towel on Day 2, Youtube University stepped in.
Idith sewing a bikini bottom helped me understand how to make functional leg openings. Sewing Therapy and Felicia carefully explained attaching the invisible zipper and waistband. My machine had the capacity for exactly one perfect buttonhole. She gave it to the test fabric, but the waistband has enough of an opening for a functional button.
Next up, the corset. I waited two weeks to start this one, if I fear messing up, I’ll avoid starting at all. Fully lined, boning, another invisible zipper, why don’t simply pieces satisfy me? Written instructions including images and a Youtube video, served as guiding lights. Inserting the boning was the easiest part. I beamed with pride and accomplishment when I flipped the corset right side out and closed the interior seam.
Did I wait seven full days to try it on? Yes. Did I have to cut myself out of it? Yes. See friends, when a pattern calls for a medium stretch knit and your fabric of choice is 100% cotton, go up at least one size from the jump. Thankfully, my fear of running out of fabric meant extra yardage was on hand. After battling my printer for new pattern pieces, removing the boning and zipper (also buying another after the zipper head slid clean off), I put together a new corset over the course of a Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. A great time to watch Number One on the Call Sheet (2025) and The Morning Show Season 3.
In the week I avoided trying on the corset, the overshirt came together. Highly detailed instructions, paragraphs for each step, made for the least stressful assembly. I took a few creative liberties: added front yokes, fringe on the yokes and sleeve seam, ditched the cuffs, and made patch pockets instead of a full spade flap. Choices for style and phone storage. The final step was my bright idea to add “Sweet Honey Bri” on the back in sparkly accoutrements.
Most letters I found were too small for my liking, rhinestone cord trim seemed like an appropriate and easy enough solution. 7 hours across weekday evenings, 19 Ryan Coogler Sinners (2025) interviews, 78.5 inches of trim, and probably 100 inches of thread, placed my hand-crafted phrasing on my back. I could wallow in the letters not being as crisp as I hoped but, have I ever made letters before? Have I ever used a rhinestone trim? Do I hand sew regularly? No to all three, no one should care, and I’m proud of me! I also added stars to fill the negative space.
Beyoncé inspires me across mediums. Her love of storytelling makes dressing to the theme feel necessary; we are the visuals baby. I did it for Renaissance, Act III will probably be no different. I can’t help myself. I can give a few weekends and weeknights to creating. Hadn’t had the chance since showcase in 2023. I’ll be in the orange set, rhinestone boots, and white fedora tomorrow night on the lakefront at Soldier Field. See you there!
May 30, 2025
[…] Ma’am most of us aren’t but we can appreciate Western and/or country style. While I opted for orange and fringe, I sent my mom more traditional options. As a highly practical person, she decided on all denim […]