I can't believe I went this long without embracing the fringed trend.  I dabbled at it bit with a fringed chiffon kimono that I love.  And I wanted something like that for cold weather.  I wanted to keep my fringe trend mild, because a lot of what I saw was almost too trendy to for me and Lord knows, I love a great trend!

What I like about this (is it a poncho, a wrap or a cape?? ), -- I'm going to call it a fringed wrap -- is that even though it has a fringed trim it's really classic.  And a piece you can reach for when it's chilly for years to come.

I was inspired by this gorgeous Etro fringed poncho worn by Nausheen Shah.  I'm totally hating I didn't take the time to add pockets!  How chic is she?

This piece is completely DIY... and cut free-handed.  I had a chuckle with Oonaballoona on IG because I refused to call this drafting.  Slicing up the middle of fabric and hemming does not constitute drafting.  This wrap was very simple to make.  It was really a spur of the moment project and I didn't take time to photograph while making it.

My fabric is a Linton tweed boucle' that I've had for several years, that was hanging around waiting to become a Chanel-style jacket.  I made a Chanel-style jacket before... with ALL of the hand sewing hoopla.  It hangs in my closet for the sentimentality.  It's too big now and I doubt I'll ever wear it again.  Unless oversized Chanel jackets become tres chic!

So briefly, here's how I made this, it's ridiculously simple:

I folded my 2.5-3 yds of fabric in half, cut ends together.  Then I folded in half again, longwise.  I put a pin in the top of the fold.  This marks the center where the neck will be.  You need something circular to use to make a cut the size of your neck.  I used a bread plate and trace half the circumference on the side of the fold that will be the front.  I drew straight lines down each side of the half-circle's points.  This created the front opening.  And I cut that part out.  You now have a poncho-wrap.  For my finishing I fringed the bottom.  I decided how long I wanted my fringe to be and I stitched above that.  Then I removed all of the cross yarns.  This part takes a while.  Put on a movie or a TV show and go for it.  Then I hemmed the opening with a 5/8". 

If I find another great piece of fabric that wants to become a poncho-wrap, I'll make sure to take detail pictures and give you a much better tutorial.  

Stay warm!

Happy Friday!  I find inspiration everywhere.  But I mostly find it from reading fashion and style blogs, my favorite retail site: Net-a-Porter.com and of course, Pinterest.  My brain is constantly on spring fashion lately.  It's all I can think about.  Here are a few things that I've pinned this week and the sewing pattern doppelgänger.

Alexander McQueen

Vogue 9075

My pattern pick for the Alexander McQueen fiery red flirty mini dress is this pattern.  Since I recently made the jumpsuit from this selection, I know how the bodice fits and to me, that's the most important part of a fit and flare style.  The bodice of the pattern is different from the McQueen, but I love princess seams because you can easily adjust the fit.

Alice + Olivia

McCall's 5530 (OOP) 

When I saw the Alice + Olivia jacket, I stopped what I was doing and immediately went to my pattern cabinet and pulled this one out.  I've had this pattern since it was initially released and I never got around to making it.  I'm so glad I was reminded of this adorable jacket.  I'd love to make mine in white just like the original.  Alice + Olivia styled theirs with high-waist wide-leg pants.  I'd probably do something similar.  Or maybe something as along the lines of what Stacey Bendet would do, like a maxi skirt!

MCQ Alexander McQueen

Butterick 6169 and 6183

I wasn't immediately blown away by the styling of the new Butterick Lisette patterns.  But I looked away from the envelope and looked at the potential of each piece on its own.  Now, how cute would that moto jacket be when paired with the culottes?  I say pretty darn fabulous!

The white jumpsuit is from BrooklynBlonde.com and the black one is Michael Michael Kors.

McCall's 7099

Let's all face the facts:  jumpsuits are NOT going anywhere anytime soon.  They are the ultimate one-piece dressing.  And a long-sleeve peg-leg jumpsuit is a must have for me.  I picked this one.  Whether I make this one, or change out the bodice for a button style, I'm making one of these.

J.Crew's Endless Classic Shirt 

Butterick 5526

J.Crew has made the big shirt hot to me again.  It's like throwing on one of your boyfriend/husband's shirts with a pair of distressed jeans.  I make an awesome white shirt just about every year.  So this one is at the top of my list for this spring.  And this Butterick version is perfect.  I've already made one of the views before, so I know it's a great pattern.

This is yesterday's look:  Urban Equestrian.

I saw this look on YLF and immediately walked into my closet and started pulling pieces to create my own version.  Urban Equestrian is not a literal equestrian look, but an "inspired" version created from combining a tailored wool or tweed blazer, sleek bottoms and boots. 

The key piece for my look is my tweed Vogue 8601 blazer.  I paired it with a denim shirt, white jeans and a pair of Sam Edelman lace up boots.  And for fun, my ponyhair leopard print belt.

I love so many of my clothes dearly, but this blazer is something that I would NEVER part with!

Here's Monday's look which I was inspired by Pinterest! 

After years of seeing everyone wearing painted on skinny jeans, the universally flattering style of flares is back.  

And they look amazing paired with a peacoat (Vogue 2873).  I also added Breton stripes (McCall's 6964) to play up a nautical look.

And speaking of the flares, I am so glad to be able to slide into my Jalie 2903 jeans!

Today, I decided to pair my coat with denim.  It's such a great way to under-dress this coat.  I'd been seeing a lot of bloggers and street style on Pinterest, so I put together my own look.

Inspired by Pinterest!

Images via Pinterest

I'm going to get so much wear out of this coat because it's just that versatile.  And unlike a dress or a top, I can wear this everyday... well at least until it warms here!  Which is a great segue into today's discussion, a new addition to my "Love the Clothes I Make" series.  Most of you have been following me long enough to know that I have a pretty good sense of who I am style-wise.  I've gone through transformations in the almost decade I've been blogging.  Which means, over the years I've learned the benefit of sewing things that I'm going to wear all of the time and return to season after season -- hence this coat!  

 Most of you have been following me long enough to know that I have a pretty good sense of who I am style-wise.  I've gone through transformations in the almost decade I've been blogging.  Which means, over the years I've learned the benefit of sewing things that I'm going to wear all of the time and return to season after season -- hence this coat!

So, my question to is:  What do you sew?  Is it for entertainment purposes only?  Are you a "weekend seamstress" that just enjoys sewing a cute piece or two for the satisfaction of just sewing?  Or are you in it to win it -- like those of us that are serious about wardrobe building and always ready to learn a new technique and add more skills to your sewing repertoire?

These are probably two of the trendiest garments I'll make this season.  But isn't sewing your own clothes such a fun way to participate in hot trends of the seasons for only a minimal investment?  I think so!

I've been craving a luxe sweatshirt and this is my version:

Vogue 8670, view B with the long sleeves from view E.

Here are a few that inspired me from Pinterest.

I used two fabrics from my stash:  an ostrich embossed, faux leather for the front of my top and black ponte for the rest.  I didn't like the the below the hip length.  It was just a weird place for the top to hit on me, so I cut it off about 4 inches.  Other than that, this top is really simple and sewed straight out of the envelope for me.

I've been seeing "fancy" track pants every where and made out of all kinds of elegant fabric...

like leather, stretch wool crepe and sequin.  I decided to keep my simple, well this first pair at least, and make mine in a machine washable ponte so the that I can get plenty of wear out of them.

For the pants, I use a slightly modified version of Vogue 8909, view A.  

I added 3" to the length.  I didn't like the way the pattern elasticized the waist, so I changed it.  Sometimes they can make steps way too extra.  I made the waistband a separate piece and used 3/4" inch elastic.  The separate waistband created more of a flat-front look.  

I also tapered the leg down to a 12" opening.  I wanted a slouchy style, but I didn't want a lot of gathered fullness at the waist or the ankles.  And since I used view A, I added rib knit (found at Joanns) cuffs.  The pattern pieces were huge!  I have a pretty small ankles and they needed to be narrowed a lot.  And I omitted the ribbon drawstring.

I used this red ponte from Mood Fabrics.

All in all, I'm loving this outfit.  These are two great additions to my fall wardrobe that I plan to have a lot of fun mixing and matching with other pieces!

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.

This is what I wore Saturday night to the finale of Birmingham Fashion Week.  Let me just tell you how awesome that show was!  Simply amazing!  More on that later...

This is an "Inspired by Pinterest" look.  I grabbed my inspiration from all over the place.  I'll share a few images to show you my thought process:

The red, black and white was inspired by these two looks.  Isn't that glenplaid trench coat everything?  I'll have to find similar fabric and add this to my Fall 2013 plan.  

And fur collars are all over the place.  I love "Street Style" blogs, and I'd been looking at a lot of images from fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris.  And I saw so many coats and jackets with fur collars.

Photos from Pinterest.

A fur collar on a coat looks so elegant and dresses up any outfit.  Notice the jeans.

Wearing:  Coat: McCall's 5766; top: Vogue 8815; trousers: Vogue 1143; purse: vintage Chanel bucket bag and shoes: Shoemint.com.