Fall is my absolute favorite season! And the weather this week matches. So, I'm having a great time planning cooler weather looks.

My skirt is Threadymade Painted Stripe Sunburst Monroe Skirt kit. I shot a review video on IGTV.

What I love most about this pre-pleated skirt kit is that it came with the option of a fixed waistband and an invisible zipper.

I love these pieces. This top will look great with a pair of jeans or high-waisted pants. And I can't wait to wear this skirt with tall boots!

I can't believe it's already July 1st! We're halfway done with this year. Wow... time is flying by. I've been feeling like I haven't been sewing a lot as compared to my prior years. But that just tells me that I have nice and full wardrobe that's efficiently working for me. I've added some really cute pieces this season, but I have a lot of things from previous seasons that are still in major rotation. Cheers to effective wardrobe building!

So, with saying all of that, I can guilt-free enjoy sewing things I like rather than sewing things  I absolutely need. Which leads me to this really adorable two-piece outfit. As with suits, sewing matching sets just increases your wardrobe by adding new amazing separates.

I found this amazingly fun fabric at Mood Fabrics.com. It's the Jadeite and Bright Orange Floral Cotton Twill. It's a lightweight twill... a little heavier than a poplin and it sews like a dream. I prewashed and pulled it straight from the dryer and it smoothed out with the iron perfectly.

The top is McCall's 7929, view A. Right off the bat, I know that the button-up back wasn't going to work for me. Trying to button up the back and twisting the top round, and working my arms through the sleeves really didn't appeal me to me... at all.

So, I decided to modify the back by created a center back panel of shirring. This way, I can just pull it over instead of struggling alone or needing an extra set of hands.

A couple of years ago, I made Mikaela a shirred bodice dress and created a tutorial. You can check it out here.

The skirt is McCall's 7725, view C.

I finished my seams with a Hong Kong finish. And a button and buttonhole instead of a hook and eye.

And I added an inch to the length of the upper part of the skirt. I left the hem of raw because I felt the skirt would would hang better.

I love a good coordinated outfit. And this one is so perfect for a good play on stripes. I'd had this fabric for around a year. It was a purchase from Fine Fabrics in Atlanta. I'd held on to it because every time I pulled it out, it wasn't quite right for what I had in mind. 

The fabric is a bold, red and white lightweight canvas, denim or twill. The fabric descriptions at Fine Fabrics are extremely vague, so you're never completely sure of compositions. I know this one isn't 100% cotton. It had that synthetic smell while pressing. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because when I wore it, I wasn't all creased and wrinkled from sitting in the car.

This pattern is Simplicity 8927. I knew going in, I'd need to make pattern alterations.

Here's the FBA I made to the bodice.

I modified the should straps by adding buckles and eyelets.

For the skirt, I cut view C. There's no way that the other view would've been long enough for me, so I went with the midi length.

I needed to make a full seat adjustment.

This is such a cute pattern. I love how the top meets the skirt's waistband. It almost looks like a dress. I think it would look just as nice in a solid color as well. 

Sometimes, the simplest garment can pack a powerful punch in your wardrobe. And that's what this red skirt is doing for mine. I love the color red. It's a color that makes me happy and on the occasions that I need to be "on", it evokes confidence. 

This skirt from Simplicity 8175 fits that need. It's a self-belted midi length pencil skirt with a front slit. I created mine in a stretch wool-blend crepe that I've had in my stash for a couple of years. I think I bought it from Hancock Fabrics. I'd held onto this fabric for so long because it's not a "true red". It's warmer and what I would call a "fall red", because it is pretty close to the Pantone Fall 2017 - Grenadine 17-1558.

I cut the size 14 and I didn't have to add any additional length. I like the length straight out to of the envelope.

I really like the center front slit. I don't have a skirt like this in my wardrobe, so this is a unique piece for me.

 It's unlined, so I finished my seams with my serger and made a blind a hem.

Normally I would use an invisible zipper, but I was making this at night and I only had a standard red zipper in my stash. So I went with a center lapped zipper.

I made thread belt loop.

I love the length of this skirt. It will work perfectly with heels, obviously and flat riding boots and loafers which are my staples during fall. 

I'm really making up for last year's unfulfilled gingham obsession.  This time, it's a skirt.  A quick and easy wrap skirt.

I used McCall's 5430, view C in the same black and white gingham as used in this top.

My inspiration comes from Michael Kors Collection Spring 2015

This is **supposedly** a 1-hour skirt.  I beg to differ.  This skirt is basically no different than any other skirt.  It has a significant number of pattern pieces, a waist band, closures and it still needs to be hemmed.  It's not a long or daunting project, but it does takes a couple of hours. 

I cut the size 14.  It fits perfectly through the hip, but it was a little big through the waist.  And I added a couple inches to the length.  I cut the pockets on the bias and used D-rings for the closure at the waist.

It's no secret that I have a major affinity for styles from the 70s.  As I've said before, that's my decade!  And I love taking inspiration from that time period which is so hot right now, and making it work for this fall.  My goal is to take my 70s Throw-back trends and work them into my wardrobe without looking kitschy or as if I'm in costume.  And when this period in fashion has moved on, I'll still have great, well-made and wearable pieces in my closet.

For my look, my top is Vogue 9151, view C in this amazing Theory Black Stretch Silk Georgette.  I promise I'll be ordering more of this.  I cut the size medium, 12 -14.  It was perfect straight out of the envelope.  This is a "Very Easy" pattern and I treated it as such.  Where I would usually do French seams, I just serged all of mine.  This fabric has 7% spandex, so I treated it just like I would a knit.  It has just that much "give".

The details of this tunic are quick and great.  I love the yoke in the back with the pleats.

Being inspired by the 70s, I decided that the neckline was a little too plain for me and I gave it a little 70s zhooshing by adding Dritz Eyelets and lacing.  I sewed this using a Schmetz 80/12 Microtex needle.

I love this tunic and it's going to be one of those go-to items I'm going to be reaching for months to come.

The time of this skirt pattern was perfection!  It's new release Simplicity 8019.

This pattern is a re-release of Vintage Simplicity 6814 from 1975.

I cut my skirt, view C in a size 14.  It's high-waist and slim fitting through the hips.  Don't let the pictures fool you: it's not a-line, it's a flared skirt.  So I would base the size of this skirt on whatever you would cut for a fitted pencil skirt that doesn't have stretch.  

My fabric is Khaki Micro Suede from Hancock Fabrics.

I edgestitched and topstitched as if this fabric was genuine suede.  I sewed this using a Schmetz size 80/12 needle.  I topstitched with Coats & Clark Heavy Duty thread using a Schmetz 90/14 topstitch needle.  And instead of buttons, I used Dritz Heavy Duty Brass Snaps.

Styling tip:  To complete my look, I belted my skirt, added a fringe bag and over-the-knee boots.