I've been such a lazy blogger.  So I've decided to participate in the November challenge from See Jane Write - "BlogLikeCrazy!  It's a new post, every day for 30 days!  So here is my first post for this month.  I'm going to recap my favorite #OOTD (outfit of the day) looks that I usually share on Instagram and Twitter -- on the days that I actually get dressed!

I loved this look so much.  I love the idea of mixing prints.  Now, I'm no Solange Knowles and even though I love the look of mixed prints, I really don't feel that I have an organic knack for it.  I know my limitations.  So I kept my look simple with a McCall's 6964 striped tee and a New Look 6107 brocade skirt.  

Leather and tweed are the epitome of Fall Fashion.  How can one dress for fall without these two fabrics?  I paired my version of the luxe sweatshirt (Vogue 8670) with (OOP) Vogue 1066 tweed pants.  Can I tell you about these pants?  This fabric has absolutely NO stretch!  They're lined with China Silk.  I only wore these pants maybe twice at the most since I made them back in 2008.  They're so beautifully made, if I do say so myself, that I couldn't part with them even if I couldn't wear them. Well they currently fit perfectly and I've become reacquainted with them and we're about to make up for lost time! If you're into making tailored trousers with really well-made interiors, be sure to read the review I did for these pants.  It's good tailoring porn!

I absolutely love separates.  Dresses can look beautiful, but I never get bored with separates because the re-mixing possibilities are endless.  Take this outfit for example:  When I pulled these pieces from my closet, I was forcing myself to "brighten up".  I tend to default to wearing lots of black.  Black is easy and I don't have to give it a lot of thought since there's so much of it in my closet.  I love these (OOP) Vogue 1143 emerald green pants.  They're gabardine and seasonless.  My top is this awesome silk blouse (Vogue 1387) that I wished I'd made in every color of silk crepe de chine that I could've gotten my hands on.  I really love wearing it.  And I topped off the look with what's probably now considere a classic, my (OOP) McCall's 5190 military-style jacket.

The weather had warmed up, but it was October and I still wanted to represent a fall look.  So wore my McCall's 6885 leather-trimmed shirt dress (which is one of my favorites that'll probably wear out), unbelted with a pair of lace up boots. 

This was one of my favorite looks for the month.  I love a pulled together outfit and this Simplicity 2446 - cobalt blue blazer is one of my favorite jackets!  Every wardrobe needs great white shirts.  I need to make another one soon.  But this white shirt is Butterick 5526.  This pattern has been around a long time.  I guess the company realizes that it's a classic and a great wardrobe staple. And to make sure that my look was jazzy and contemporary, I wore a pair of printed pants (Simplicity 1696).  

And my final look for October is amazing Vogue 8921.  I'm not much of a long printed dress kinda girl, but when I find a great print -- it's an epic moment!  And that's how I felt when I discovered this ikat print.  I hadn't worn a maxi dress for the entire spring or summer.  Look, hot flashes are REAL!  I just couldn't be swathed in head-to-toe fabric during hot weather.  But now the weather is perfect.  So why not add a fur vest to enhance the boho-chic look that I was going for!

This post wasn't just for the self-gratification of "look at how I dress".  It's to drive home the point of something I'm extremely passionate about:  Building a well-thought out wardrobe of well-sewn garments that stand the test of time.  

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?

Happy Monday!  I've been a little lazy about sharing with you guys what I wear daily.  Well, that is the days that I decide to surface from my sewing room and put on something other than a pair of athletic shorts and a tank.  

And since school is back in session, my desire to get dressed rarely matches with family photographers' schedule.  I tend to run errands early in the day and by 4 pm, I'm back in my "play clothes".

So for yesterday, I wore this to hangout.  Even though the temps were pushing 90 degrees, I'm mentally willing fall to come.  And something about this September is drawing me to darker hues.  I can't even tell you how much black fabric I've purchased in the last couple of weeks.  I need to initiate a self-imposed moratorium!

And I'd also like to just touch on a topic that annoys me to no end.  It's about being questioned about where I would wear such a garment?  Because the questioner is "unimaginative" (their word) and their life doesn't include occasions to wear such things, so how could mine?!  (Here is the offending/questionable garment.) They even went as far to say:

Wearing:  Top (old); shorts - Vogue 8865; Asos.com Gladiator Sandals.

We invest a lot of time, money, effort and even sometimes frustration into the garments that we make.  Are you loving what you sew?  If not, then why?  This subject has been on my mind because when the seasons change, I always take EVERYTHING out of my closet and do an inventory.  I check to see what needs to be donated, what is showing signs of wear and tear, and what I feel like I need for the upcoming season.  And upon doing this, I always discover different outfit combinations, like this one.

I'm at a place in my style where I love what's going on in my closet.  When you can handpick everything from the pattern/design concept down to the last button, it really is amazing when you think about.  You never have to settle for what someone else has selected and made available to you -- like RTW.  The possibilities are endless!

I'm probably more of a fan of separates than I am of dresses.  With separates, you have endless mixing and matching.  They can be paired with different pieces and you always have a completely different look.  And you'll always have something to wear!

Wearing:  top: Vogue 1248; skirt: Butterick 5285; Asos.com Gladiators.