What I'm Wearing | When in Doubt, Wear Red!

I love the color red.  When I'm feeling like I'm in a rut, I wear red.  I've been feeling really "blah" this week.  My sewing mojo has gone missing; I'm working on a project that has taken much more time than it should've.  I have an "almost" finish dress hanging on the dress form that only needs hemming.  I'm summoning the energy to just finish it, so I can move on to the next project.   

So today, I decided to wear my favorite red skirt, red sandals and a pop of red on my lips.  Because the color red is energizing!  It motivates me to get up and take action.  And to piggyback off of my previous post, my clothes affect the way I'm feeling.   

When I want to feel uplifted, there's no way I can do that looking like a slob.  Walking pass a mirror will make me want to crawl back in the bed.  So instead, I fluff myself up and go out and get some fresh air.  Now, I'm ready to reclaim my sewing mojo, get that hem finished and on to the next project!

Wearing:  top:  Vogue 1248; skirt:  New Look 6003; shoes:  Nine West from Nordstrom Rack.

America: A Nation of Slobs

I just finished watching CBS Sunday Morning.  They did a delightful segment on Dressing down a culture for refusing to dress up. Apparently Notre Dame Associate Professor of History Linda Przybyszewski (I had to cut and paste that!), (pronounced preh-beh-SHEV-ski) sparked some sort of "controversy" when she wrote a book called:  Nation of Slobs:  How Americans Learned and Forgot How to Dress. And she evens teaches a class called Nation of Slobs:  The Art, Ethics and Economics of Dress in Modern America.

See, not only is she a professor of history, she's also a master dressmaker, collector of vintage patterns and books and expert on the history of fashion.

We used to live in a world where people cared about how they dressed. I am shocked how often I will be out somewhere, whether on a street or in a restaurant, and I see only a handful of people who seem dressed appropriately, and even fewer dressed beautifully,” she says.

I agree and say the same thing almost daily.  Her aesthetic is not one I personally share.  I'm not into vintage; the 1940s and 1950s, just doesn't do it for me. But I do believe in dressing well and appropriate.  I'm constantly striving for "a perfect fit".  It seems to me that we've lapsed into a culture that puts no value in personal appearance.  And will trivialize those of us that do as shallow and vain or "trying to be seen" (the things I've been told).  I've even been questioned by readers here as to why I make the clothing selections I make, since they've deemed me not worthy of "dressing up" since I don't work outside the home.  Even though it's become de rigueur to wear pajamas to drop kids off at school or to make a trip to the grocery store, I'll gladly keep "doing the most" (yes, somebody actually told me that once).

In this article:  The Lost Art of Dressing, Linda Przybyszewski sites reasons on why she feel people stopped dressing up.  Like Baby Boomers moving into the suburbs... the Youth Movement of the 60s... and the 70s, when the Feminist movement caused home economics to be formally dismantled.  It's all very interesting.

But what I truly like about this lady is not only does she talk the talk, but she walks the walk.  In this article, she talks of her love of sewing  She makes almost all of her clothes (she doesn't knit sweates or cobble shoes, though. LOL).  She says:

Dressmakers feel sorry for people who don't sew, she says.  Most people are dependent on ready-to-wear sizing they don't realize their clothing could be made to fit."

I'm not saying everyone needs to run out and commission a dressmaker and have everything custom made.  But an alterations person in their life might be nice if  they can't do it themselves.  And  she also says:

Sewing is not that hard to learn, she adds.  People think its hard to sew, but they'll spend hours miserable in the mall looking for something to wear.

This I agree with.  If you're "size challenged" (tall, short, large, small, disproportion, etc...), I don't understand why not just learn to sew and make your own clothes.  Just my opinion!

What I'm Wearing | Perfect Combination: Chambray Shirt + Maxi Skirt!

For the last couple of years, they go-to clothing item of spring and summer is the maxi skirt.  And one of it's perfect partners is the chambray shirt.  

Inspired by Pinterest

A chambray shirt and maxi skirt is a perfect transitional outfit.  

On a day like yesterday where the temps hovered around the mid-60s, this was a fabulous way to still represent a boho-chic spring.

Any color or print maxi would work great with a chambray shirt.  But I chose my yellow maxi, because y'all know how I feel about the color yellow!

Wearing:  Chambray shirt:  DKNY; DIY maxi skirt.

Review: Vogue 1299 | Chain Print Chiffon Ruffled Dress!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day on yesterday.  Mine was awesome.  I have to admit that I'm loved and cared for on a daily basis.  My husband and children make sure and for that, I'm truly blessed!  My oldest daughter Amber wanted to do something special for me.  She took me out for sushi and this is what I wore.

This is Vogue 1299 from Rebecca Taylor.  This is a leftover from last summer that never made the cut.  And I'd also picked up this chain print poly chiffon that I'd been stashing since last summer and decided this was a perfect time to use it.

It's been my experience that dress patterns like this are usually short-waisted.  And I added an inch to be on the safe side.  And I'm glad I did.  I omitted the neck tie and pockets.  And I added 3 inches to the hem.  Since the dress is strapless, I went with a midi length.  My rule is this:  if you're showing skin on top, skin on the bottom should be minimal.

For my fabric, I used French seams and narrow hems.  And I fully lined the dress.  And I also made the suggested belt.

I would love to make this dress again.  In perhaps a crisp white eyelet. Would I recommend it?  If you're comfortable sewing things like French seams and narrow/rolled hems, it's no problem.  I would say, proceed with caution.  If you are a lady with a diminutive figure, the double set of ruffles could overwhelm your figure. Just be aware of that.

Review: Simplicity 1607 | Florals and Cutouts!

When I saw Simplicity 1607, it had Mikaela's name written all over it.  I knew I was going to make it for her.  

This design is from Cynthia Rowley and here's the retail version.  

I found the perfect fabric, a beautiful black, white and pink cotton sateen at Joanns.  

I cut the size 6 and graded to the size 10 from the waist down.  Mikaela is an athlete... a size 0 in ready-to-wear, but she has a solid build.

The only other alteration I made was to shave about two inches off the hemline so that it would fall above the knee.

Since the spray of polka dots ran along the selvage, I cut the skirt on the cross grain.  And also used that part for the side front pieces. 

Once I got past the criss cross front and back straps, which was like assembling a pretzel, this dress was quite simple to make.  What I really like is that it has an invisible side zip, so it won't take anything away from a gorgeous printed fabric.  This is a great dress with a lot of  youthful style.

Shop with Eileen Fisher Tipsters today!

Belk at the Summit brings you an Eileen Fisher fashion show and, get this, personal style advice from Eileen Fisher's staff! Here is everything you need to know about this uber stylish event in Birmingham!

New York, NY. May 3, 2013 - Everybody needs a little personal style advice and the designer Eileen Fisher has a solution: She is sending the company’s style mavens—known as “Tipsters”--on the road. On Thursday, May 9, Belk’s Summit location in Birmingham will host an EILEEN FISHER Tipster Event at 11:00 am, complete with a fashion show and personal style advice from Tipsters, Gaetan Karr and Maryanne Morella.

 “I find our Tipsters endlessly fascinating,” says Fisher, “because they’re so creative in the ways they put the clothes together.” To her the real test of collection is the way it empowers women to create style on their own. 

For the May 9 event, Belk has selected EILEEN FISHER Tipster Gaetan Karr, who works as one of the company’s personal shoppers. “I’ve been in retail for 50 years,” says Karr. “I used to shop the collections in Paris and Milan. Over the years I’ve learned a few things. One of them is how to be edgy--with the wisdom of age.” 

As a customer service team member, Gaetan loves giving advice all day. She studies up on what she needs to know by playing with the clothes as soon as they arrive in the store. “I think about: Is something running small? How will it look with a skirt, what if you add a belt?” says Karr. “I try to anticipate all the questions a customer will have.” 

Gaetan’s co-tipster, Maryanne Morella, is a Regional Merchandise Manager for the brand’s wholesale department stores, and traveling light throughout the country is a top priority. Her carry on is always ready to go and inside, one would find her wardrobe staples: a simple black dress, a lightweight cardigan, and her signature style silver hoop earrings. “Maxi, midi or anywhere between, I love the simplicity of our dresses as the staple of my wardrobe. I personalize them with big, bold bangles and chunky necklaces to add fun and dimension.” 

Shoppers who attend the Tipster Event will not only get great fashion advice, they will also have a chance to help a good cause. EILEEN FISHER will donate 5% of the event day sales to GirlSpring, a non-profit organization that provides access to reliable information and positive role models to girls and young women so they can make sound decisions and good choices. 

 To RSVP for this event, please call 205-968-4200 ext. 305.

What I'm Wearing | My Uniform & Vogue 1248!

The other day, I was reading a post from a fabulous over 40 blogger Kim at J'adore Couture.  It was regarding dressing your age and uniform dressing.  Kim specified this article from Harper's Bazaar.  The quote from the article that reached my soul and really spoke a message that conveys where I am in my personal style is this: 

In my case, now that I'm in my 40s, I find myself wanting to dress not necessarily younger but edgier. Classics that I once loved, like tailored bouclé jackets and basic LBDs, suddenly seem aging. I want to push my boundaries, to find silhouettes that are modern and clean and have a twist. I need a little funk. Not a lot. But enough to keep it all interesting." -- Jennifer Alfano

 Yes, yes, yes!  Exactly!  I'm not trying to look like my 21 year old daughter.  Nor do I want to look like an aging, middle-aged woman that's given up.  Just a 42 year old Erica -- with "a little funk"!

The author also spoke of creating a go-to look -- a uniform by your late 30s, that you can rely on.  I pondered this and if I had to define my own go-to look, it would be a blazer, skinnies and a heel.  For me, this is my fail safe look. Here are a few examples of it that I snagged from my prior posts:

And I also like to rely on a top and a pencil skirt.  My other look.

But let's talk about what I'm wearing with today's blazer and skinnies.  It's OOP - Vogue 1248.  This top has been in my sewing queue for as long as it's been released.  Once I start sewing things, I always question what took me so long to getting around to making it.  Because this top was a breeze!

The description of this top is as cut and dry as it was to sew:  fitted top, front and back snap closing.  I think the reason this pattern probably didn't do well was the skirt.  It was a disaster.  And after viewing Andrea Katz on Project Runway, it all makes since.  (Remember how she ran away in the middle of the night?!  Just wow...)  She's a hit or miss designer and she packaged that into this pattern.

But this top is really, really cute!  The only alterations I made were to lengthen it by an inch at the waist.  I find that most button front shirts from the Big 4 are always drafted really short (for me).  And I choose to use flat-felled seams.  I used another great Thakoon fabric, a white cotton shirting from Mood Fabrics.com.

And I absolutely loved all of the cool details.  Details will reel me in every single time.  Check out the triple stacked collars!  How cool is this?  What made them so easy to create is that they're not interfaced.  Seriously, what would be the point?  There are three of them.

And my other favorite detail are the back snaps.  And it's not just a decorative addition.  They're real snaps! I had to space mine out a little more than what was suggested because of length addition.

Very cute!  I would love to make this again, in say a chambray and a black.  Since it's OOP, I've gingerly folded the pattern pieces, placed them back into the envelope and filed it away.  I would hate to have to pay full price!  

Wearing:  blazer: Vogue 8721; jeans: Escada Sport, similar to these; shoes: MRKT from DSW (old); clutch: Urban Expressions, same one in black and similar here.

Do YOU have a "go-to uniform" look that you rely on?  

Review: Butterick 5886 | Gone With The Wind Fabulous!

I could get my twirl on in this!

The moment that Mood posted a photo of this gorgeous fabric on their Instagram account, I immediately found it on the site and pulled the trigger on the purchase.  I was already in the mindset to make summer dresses, but I was still mentally deliberating on fabric choices.  And seeing this fabric at that exact moment... well, it was just serendipitous.  

This beautiful paisley print silk crepe de chine was the perfect marriage of fabric and pattern to Butterick 5886.  This fabric is so lightweight, floaty and luxurious.  It was perfect for a halter-style, high-low hem dress.

As much as I love silk fabrics, they're usually difficult to handle.  But this fabric cut beautifully and was easy to handle.  I  had no trouble keeping it on the grain, nor did it "crawl".  I used French seams and a narrow hem, because the wrong side of the hem shows.

Fashion tip #1 - A good racerback bra with a deep front closure is perfect for this!

Fashion tip #2 - To insure there's no "slippage", pick up Topstick Hairpiece Tape.  I got mine at Sally's Beauty Supply.  In my opinion, it looks a lot neater than using a pin.

The seams are understitch.  And I used a China silk from my stash to line the dress.

For the pattern, I lengthened the bodice by an inch.

And the skirt by three inches. 

And here's a tip:  For silk dresses with zippers, always interface the zipper insertion area.

I absolutely love this silhouette, and I can see myself living in these kind of dresses all summer!

Review: Vogue 8870 | Bold Stripes!

First sundress of the season!  I'm so ready for warm weather.  That is until it's over 100 degrees and humid.  Then I'll be begging for fall!

Which comes first, the fabric or the pattern?  That seems to be a common question for those of us that sew.  For this particular project, the fabric came first for me.  I was on a quick jaunt to Hancock to partake in a pattern a sale.  As per usual, I was weaving my way through the aisles perusing the fabrics as I made my way to the pattern cabinets in the back.  And lo and behold!  My eyes landed on the most perfect bright, sunny, multi-colored nautical stripe print fabric!  Does it not scream SPRING?!

My next challenge was to find a pattern that would highlight the fabric and allow it to shine as the star.  I picked Vogue 8870.  I loved the fact that it's a sundress and has a high-low hemline.

The description is:  pullover dress has loose-fitting, blouson bodice variations, elasticized (seamed) waist, side pockets and narrow hem. **Wrong side shows on back hemline.** A: mock wrap, front pleated bodice, and two-piece sleeves. Note: no provisions provided for above waist adjustment. B: elasticized upper back.  

I cut view B.  I added an inch to length of the bodice and three inches to the length of the skirt.  I omitted the pockets.  I lined the bodice instead of using facings.  I left the skirt unlined (I decided to just wear a slip), and I used French seams since the wrong side is showing.  And I used a narrow hem.  And since the stripes ran vertical, I cut the fabric on the cross grain.

This is a very easy pattern that sews up quickly (unless you're using French seams and matching stripes).  This is a great pattern that I highly recommend, because even it you don't want to show as much skin with the straps, you can use the version with the sleeves.  And you can use the shorter length.  

I'd like to make the other version as well, but I doubt if I'll get to it.  My spring/summer sewing list is LONG and still growing!