Since the pandemic, I haven't been out-out. When I say out-out, I mean in really crowded places -- maskless. The July 4th weekend was my first fully-vaccinated outing. I am the consummate people watcher; I love looking at people and what they're wearing. So, I had missed being out so much and I was feeling the isolation. It felt good to make some pretty clothes for a weekend of good friends, good music, good drinks and good laughs.

I love shorts. This is the Deep South and it's always hot and humid. And in all honesty, I get it in the gym and y'all are going to see the results of 3 days a week jump squats! McCall's 8009, view A is perfect for a night out. My fabric is a poly crepe from Jo-Ann that I bought last summer.

I cut the size 14 in the bodice and the 16 from the waist to hips. I lengthened the bodice by one inch. I also lengthened 1 inch at the waist and an inch at the rise.

I made a 2 inch full seat adjustment to make sure I had enough coverage in the back. And I also added 1/2" to the crotch length. See, I have a 31" waist and a 45" hip. With ready-to-wear shorts, I have to deal with hiking up in the back and not enough length in the crotch. So, when I'm walking, it causes the shorts to ride up and gather right in between my legs. It's not comfortable or cute. So, when I learned to make these adjustments, it was life changing.

To top off my look, I love dainty 14k gold necklaces. In the last year, they've become my gold standard. See what I did there! Previously, I picked silver jewelry to match with my platinum wedding set. But since I don't have to wear that anymore, I've really leaned in on the gold jewelry and I'm loving it so much. Gold is warm and looks so much better against my skintone. 

For this look, I with pieces from Aurate New York. I'm wearing the Infinity Bar Necklace and the Obelisk Pendant. (The earrings are the Long Beam Hoops.)

Are you a fan of gold jewelry too?

My obsession with this season's most popular trend continues.  

This time, it's Simplicity 8124 by one of my favorite designers in RTW and sewing patterns, Cynthia Rowley.  I went back and forth on whether to make the dress or the romper.  That dress has a LOT of fullness in it.  I'm not a fan of that style on myself.  If I lengthened it, it could go matronly quick.  I'd want to belt it.  I think it's adorable in a short length, BUT -- even with the warm temps, it's always breezy here.  One good gust of wind... y'all get it.  So no.  I went with the romper.  It's something that I will actually wear, often.

My fabric is Silky Print Fabric-Tribal Aqua Rayon from Joanns. It's basically rayon challis. I haven't worked with challis in a while.  It's really easy to sew and press.  But it wrinkles as bad as linen!  As fast as a sat in my car and buckled my seat belt, it was a wrap.  So it is, what it is.

I cut the size medium and it feels super comfy to wear.  The construction is so simple that I barely glanced over them.

The only thing that I don't particularly like is the neckline.  I've made enough of these to now know that I prefer the casing to be a separate sewn on piece, instead of simply folding the neckline over.  I feel that it affects the way the elastic lays.  Mine rolled, even with no-roll elastic.  I felt I had keep adjust and readjusting.  

Summer is in full-effect here in the South.  And cool, casual, chic and comfy looks are required.  And one of my favorite summer fabrics is silk crepe de chine.  I love it in everything and I can always find a garment that it'll be perfect for.

When I saw this beautiful magenta 2-ply silk crepe from Mood Fabrics.com (which unfortunately has sold out.  Here is a great alternative, I knew that I would make something fabulous where the fabric could do all of the singing.  So I picked this romper.  In my area, as soon as the mercury touches 80 degrees, everyone pulls out the shorts!  So why not a pair of silk ones?!  Because when it boils down, a romper is basically a tank top and shorts.  But the best part is that it's one-piece dressing.  I love mixing and matching separates like nobody's business, but sometimes I like to grab and go!  

So for this look, I chose Simplicity 1355.  The lines were perfect to showcase such wonderful fabric.  And wonderful fabric it is indeed!  This silk is the PERFECT weight!  And the drape is off the charts!  It cut beautifully.  I didn't have any problems with "crawling" as some silks and sheers are known to do.  And it sewed problem-free also.  I used a Microtex needle and made gorgeous French seams.

For this romper, I made my usual alterations:  

I cut the size medium and added an inch to the bodice to insure a blousing effect.  

And I added an inch to the crotch and an inch to the hemline.

The back was huge and the faux back wrap-style was DEEP!  It's summertime and we're already having days that heat up to the low 90s.  Adding an additional layer of a tank or cami underneath this is out of the question.  And also, I feel that it takes away from the original fabric.  So I had to come up with a "seamstress' solution".  When dresses plunge to deeply in the front, seamstresses add "modesty panels".  So, why not add one to the back?  And that's just what I did.  This solved the problem of the bodice being "bra-UNfriendly" and also the oversized issue of the straps falling off the shoulder.  I basically measured crosswise from where the bra band would go and cut a triangle and sewed it in using a topstitch.  Problem solved.

This fabric is amazing and the photos just don't even do the color justice!  It's one of the most vibrant jewel-tone magentas that I've ever seen.  And I've made a mental note to buy extra of a fabulous fabric the first time!

I had errands to run on yesterday, along with Isabella's doctors appointment.  She's 18 mos. old, weighing in at 27 lbs and she's 33" tall!  She's in the 84th percentile and probably about the size of a 2 1/2 year old.  She clearly gets the height from her "Mimi"!

What I like about this romper that I made last year is that all I had to do was throw on this blazer and it gave it a polished looked. 

And with all of my running around, I added flat sandals.  I do believe in taking care of my feet!

Wearing: blazer: Simplicity 2250; romper: Vogue 1308; sandals: Shoe Dazzle.com; purse: vintage Chanel.

Recognized this modified pattern?  Well, in case you don't, it's Vogue 1308 by DKNY.  Instead of sewing a full jumpsuit, I decided to modify it based on this romper from the same collection:

I liked the asymmetry of the single ruffle, so I only added one.  And since this is a knit fabric that will not ravel, I left the finish on the ruffle raw.

The original garment is silk.  I used a rayon/silk blend from Mood.com.  This fabric feels amazing.  It's the same weight as a t-shirt, but like the softest t-shirt you've ever felt.  However, the downside is that this fabric is extremely fragile.  It's the kind that you have to sew it right the first time because if not, you'll rip it to shreds trying to undo stitches.  And I also noticed that there were tiny holes left from the tracing wheel.  

I added an inch to the bodice length and I altered the pants to a mid-thigh length and made a 1 1/2 inch hem.  I stabilized my hem by interfacing it with a lightweight knit fusible.  That's the only way to prevent a janky/wavy-looking hem that we sometimes end up with.  

The pattern suggested French seams.  Since I used a knit, I didn't do those.  I just used my serger.  Had I used a woven such as one of the suggested fabrics -- crepe de chine, I would've gone ahead and done them.    And be warned, I found the armscye to be really low.  I'm talking full bra band revealing low.  So I had to take that in by around 3 inches.

The instructions were very simple to follow.  Even though this pattern is rated "EASY", it's still a Vogue.  The neckband and armholes have bias binding.  You have sew a casing for the waist elastic too.  And had a used a woven,  I would've done the French seams.  So be prepared to invest a little bit of time for those steps that make Vogue patterns special.

I hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!  We did!  On Saturday while checking out the patterns that were on sale, Mikaela saw this romper/jumpsuit pattern and asked me to make it for her.

View A was perfect for her!  She picked the same fabric that I used for my dress.  I cut the size XS - size 4, and it fit her straight out of the envelope.  

We decided to add an exposed zipper as a fun little detail.

Here's the close-up.  

I started to omit the sash, but after it was finished it looked like it needed something at the waist.  So I went ahead and made it too.

This is such a cute and easy summer piece.  I may make her another one because she really loves this!

silly girl!

Wearing: romper: McCall's 6362; shoes: Toms Glitter Slip-ons; jewelry: Forever 21 and Tiffany & Co.