I love this dress.
It probably helps that I made this dress.
It is comfy jersey with a bit of cool with the appliqué back that has some venting for those hot summer days…where I will be sitting on the deck…with my wine.
That’s my plan.
Dress: made by me
Earrings: Silpada
Necklace: Claire’s (many moons ago)
As I was taking the pictures for this outfit, I was a bit struck at how it looked like I was trying a costume on from an earlier era. Oh well. These pieces will be fine in more modern outfits, too.
I think the shirt will be great with some skinny blue jeans and boots or heels. Can’t wait to play around with it!
I have had a vision of this shirt in my head for about a month, and I finally got a chance to draft it on Sunday. I really like how it turned out, as I have been drawn to the peplum styles of late. There are so many fun things on the runways with peplums in them. Mostly jackets, but I wanted to make this into a shirt.
I took my princess seamed top pattern, added a collar, sleeves and two peplums in the back. The collar was cut on a significant curve, and then I tucked it randomly to give it a puffed up appearance. In the end, it looks pretty much like I envisioned it would.
The skirt was my gored skirt pattern. This fabric was cheap – about $2/yard – and there was a reason for that. The seams were coming apart with the slightest pull on them. This made it less than fun in putting the waistband on it. I need to add some back darts to the waistband to make it fit a bit snugger, but overall I like how it fits. Now I just need to see if it will last more than a few times wearing it!
I was really happy with how this outfit worked out. I think I may make another shirt like this one, but with a shorter peplum in the back. It doesn’t look so nice by the end of the day when you have been sitting on it for 9 hours at a desk!
One thing with making your own clothes, is that sometimes things just don’t work out. This skirt is one of them. I have remade it FOUR TIMES. I think I finally got a flattering silhouette on it this time. The fabric is a very textural stretch poly that I rather like, so it was worth trying to get it right.
The shoes are new and my attempt to find a comfy black knock around heeled shoe. They were pretty comfy in the store, but upon wearing there is some rubbing. Hope that will go away! My last pair bit the dust after a night of dancing, so I needed to find a new pair.
Shirt – Express
Skirt – Made by Me
Shoes - Aerosoles
Jewelry – Made by Me
I made this shirt on Saturday, and decided to wear it to church on Sunday morning. Gave me a good excuse to take pictures of it! Unfortunatley, it decided to turn back into March instead of playing like it was May. I was very, very chilly taking these pictures! I’m surprised you can’t see my breath.
Shirt: Made by Me
Skirt: Made by Me
Boots: Miz Mooz
Headband: Claire’s
Jade Earrings: Gifted
Watch: Montana Silversmiths (bought long ago when I worked in a Western store)
I have been putting my hair up in a lot of braids lately. I LOVE Pinterest for hair inspiration. I am growing out my fringe right now, so I tend to either put it in a braid or curl it with a big curling iron or my straightener. Then I sweep it off to the side and hope it stays out of my eyes. Braids are easier.
This hairstyle was French braids along the side with some hair in the middle put into a bun and pinned. Then I wrapped the braids around the bun and pinned.
The color is a little off…can’t wait for natural light photos as it warms up!
I love maxi skirts, but I always make sure I have some sort of fitted top when I wear them. Otherwise they just seem “too much”.
Here are two of them that I made in the last few weeks…
I decided to make a skirt to match a pink top I had made (before trying it on and seeing that it didn’t fit). I think this is some type of linen, since it certainly wrinkles like it. I bought it several years ago, so I’m not sure what it is anymore. It doesn’t have much give to it at all, so I cut the waistband on the bias. I still put a zipper in the back, though. Hindsight being what it is, I did not need to cut it on the bias. It would have fit fine without the extra stretch and would have laid better. I did 3 gored panels on the front and back, and this skirt took a good 3 yards of fabric to make it. It ended up just a little big, so I threw it in the dryer in the hope that it would shrink up a bit. For some reason I didn’t wash this fabric when I first got it (unlike most of my fabric). It seems to have shrunk up a little and is so much softer. Like lovely soft, and I am sure will be worn much this summer with sandals and a fitted top.
Skirt: Made by Me
Fitted Black Shell: CAbi
Black long-sleeved top: Ann Taylor LOFT (I think??)
Earrings/Necklace: Silpada
Boots: Vivona by the Cool People
This next one is made out of stretch jersery. This fabric was in the box of one-off fabric runs at the fabric store. I like to dive into that big box to see what they have, since you can find some interesting pieces in there. I think many are one of a kind samples.
I based this skirt off a pattern for the skirt in the previous post, and just elongated it. My first attempt with the skirt was with a foldover yoga waist. That didn’t work, as it is just too thin and stretchy. I cut it off and I did another waistband with the 3″ elastic. Better than Spanx, I tell you! This will be nice and flattering during the summer months, and I can wear tons of different colors for a top.
The top I also made. Same pattern as the cream top in the previous post. I added a ruffle to fancy up the neckline and made it a smidge bigger since the cream one was a little tight. The neckline ended up too low on it, though. Back to the drafting board!
Skirt: Made by Me
Shirt: Made by Me
Cami: Ann Taylor LOFT
Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT
Necklace/Earring: Made by Me
Boots: Steve Madden
As I only seem to take pictures of outfits that I have made recently, I will post them!
I love, love, love this shirt. I would love it even more if it was a smidge bigger, but as I plan on *hopefully* losing a few pounds before summer…it should fit better then. It is a stretch poly cotton with a chiffon cowl. I sorta made the pattern off a shirt already in the closet, but I added the tucks and the cowl. Right now I am trying to perfect the fit of the basic pattern and then add in fun changes, like different collars. I still need to draft a sleeve for it, yet.
I made the shirt and the skirt. The skirt is just a simple pencil skirt design in a stretch apparel weight fabric. I think I have made six of them in different colors now. The boots are Miz Mooz and I lurrrvvvveee them. They fit great and are very comfortable.
My hair is 2 side french braids, with a section of hair in the center put into a bun. The I wrapped the braids around the buns and pinned them.
Oh, and I also actually wore a cream sweater with this outfit…it’s not summer here yet!
I got a chance to use some of that fabric that has been sitting in my closet for a long time. I really wanted some clothing items to fill out my wardrobe that I could wear over leggings. I have several sweater knits waiting to be used, so that is just what I did! I used a shirt I had already in my closet as the “pattern” for these tops, though I did them a bit differently.
This first one is using a sweater knit. It is a thinnish sweater, so it definitely needs something underneath when wearing it.
I am wearing it with a pair of brown leggings and my favorite brown boots.
It goes really well with this jewelry set that I made around New Years.
This one is a lycra jersey. The fabric has a great hand and is very clingy. I added some of my artwork with fabric paint to add a bit of interest to it.
I want to get back into doing outfit posts. It definitely gives me a record of things to wear, and lately my creativity in that department has been lacking.
Over winter break I did go through my closet and put together a bunch of outfits. It really helps me to get ready in the morning if there are outfits ready to be picked up and worn.
Here are a few new skirts I made this past weekend and how I styled them for work.
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I haven’t been sewing too much lately (or fashion blogging, obviously). I have just been too busy with work, working out, and raising my kids. Life just is so busy these days. It seems to be slipping away. This weekend we are going to my hubby’s 20th class reunion. Twenty. Next year will be my turn.
Wow…hard to believe we have been out of high school for so long.
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I wanted a maxi skirt, but I cut this one too short. I think it will look great with a tank top and sandals once summer comes around again, though.
The color is closer to the inside picture. I did wear a black cardigan this day, too. It was warm for October, but the office is always too cool for me.
Then here is a blue pinstripe skirt that I made. I really wanted a navy skirt to go with a new pair of booties I bought. It was a bit too warm for those booties, so when it cools down I will wear them with this skirt.
This is my favorite style of skirt, since I make them so the waist is two layers of lycra fabric. It holds your tummy in nice and tight! 
Last Spring I bought a few boots on sale, which I tend to look for boot deals from early Spring to Summer. I love me some boots, but don’t want to spend a fortune.
I acquired these new boots from 6pm.com:
The Type Z boots are SUPER high. They are also plasticy and have no traction. Still…I kept them since they are unique. I love unique. I bought new shoe laces (the laces are plastic, so… much plastic sounds emit from the boots as you walk) and put a traction sticky thing to the bottoms. Plus some inserts. So yeah…$60 is turning into more like $70 – $75.
The Lassen boots are great, and really comfy. Nice soft all leather boots, BUT the reviews said they ran small. They don’t on me. They are almost too big, so I’ll just wear thick socks with them. They were 50% off, so that was a pretty good deal for all leather boots. I wanted a pair of walking around boots for winter and this definitely fit the bill.
I wear boots ALL winter long. It is cold here and I want my footsies to have plenty of cover. Each year I buy at least one new pair of black boots. This year I got two, so my second pair were these Vivona by The Cool People. I got them for $120, I think. Regular price was $250. Yes, I love me some sales…
Oh, boots…how I love thee…
