Day: November 3, 2010

outfits

What I wore Wednesday

stitchywitch16 Comments

This was a week for parties, and for trying to replicate catalog looks.  I’m still working out how to layer with skirts and dresses, since I’m hardly wearing pants at all anymore (and won’t unless we have a blizzard!)

Thursday

Skirt: Burdastyle Jenny

Sweater: 525 America

Tights: H&M

Shoes:Gianni Binni

You’ve already seen this one, but I’m putting it here as proof that I actually did wear this all day on Thursday.  Some days I wonder what people must think about my outfits.  I suspect I don’t exactly look the way parents imagine that a music teacher should, but hey – I’m happier being true to myself rather than trying to dress all “teacher-y” (and I don’t teach in a classroom anyway, so my expectations are different.)

You may have heard the cries of “Gretchen? Seriously?” coming from my house during the PR finale.  I mean, I will say that her aesthetic appeals to me to a certain point – I like long flowy dresses, layering etc.  But I hated the colors (so much brown!) and it didn’t excite me… it did not deserve to win, and I lost a whole lot of respect for Michael Kors and Nina Garcia.

Saturday

Dress: Thrifted and altered, no tag

Shoes: Cole Haan

Going to a casual party, this was my idea of a good outfit to wear for wine and gossip.  It was very comfortable.  This dress was taken in and shortened – I really love it now, especially with the leggings.  It’s very comfortable.  I have a really similar Vogue pattern, and I’m thinking of making up my own version.

Monday

Dress: Thrifted, although one of my readers says it was from Old Navy originally (it has no tag.)

Jacket: Casual Corner, thrifted

Boots: BC

I wore almost the same outfit last week… I’m a big fan of the summer dress with jacket to extend the wearing season (and we still haven’t got cold weather here, so…)

Tuesday

Dress: Vogue DKNY pattern

Jacket: Express (thrifted)

Shoes: Sofft

Sweater Tights: Sam&Libby

I’m thinking of hemming this dress an inch or two shorter and wearing it as a tunic.  For some reason I don’t love it as a dress like this, only over leggings.  Another thrifted jacket – lately I’ve been having great jacket luck.  Last night I found a gorgeous Maggy London Tuxedo jacket with a sequinned collar (which goes into my performance clothes closet)  and a 60s houndstooth jacket.

Wednesday

Jacket: Simplicity 2443 (Cynthia Rowley)

Dress: Mossimo (thrifted)

Boots: BC

I was inspired by this look in the Anthropologie catalog:

Of course, I don’t have a chic little cropped leather jacket (though now I want one!)  I’m actually surprised by how much I like this look – it’s more boho than I usually do, but I quite like it!


crafts · patterns · Sewing

November Plans pt 2: retail inspiration

stitchywitch18 Comments

Back with more!  After the obligation sewing I do have some  fun plans.

First up: outerwear

I know I said I was going to do the Lady Grey sewalong, but as you can obviously tell by the lack of padstitching going on around here, I’m not.  I have about 8 million winter coats (only a slight exaggeration!) and at last count 6 vintage stores within 4 blocks to keep me in the vintage overcoats that I love so much.  But you know what I don’t have?  If you were thinking “a cape!” then you got it in one.  Yes… a cape.  I know, I know, it’s a horribly impractical garment, but I’m seeing them everywhere and I want one!  I’m settled on this pattern:

I’ve never used a New Look pattern before, so it will be a new experience for me.  My inspiration was this capelet from Anthropologie this year (which I can’t find on the website right now… must be sold out.)

Two things though… this could properly be called a capelet.  I own 2 capelets, neither one of which I wear.  It’s silly – the sleeves are too short for outside, but it’s too much like a coat for indoors!  So I will be making the long version (the modeled photo,) which is an actual cape.  I would love plaid, but I haven’t found a great plaid fabric yet, so it may be a lovely solid instead.  The belt is a great idea – it keeps the cape from being too shapeless.  I’m imagining that this will be lovely to wear on my walks around the neighborhood!

Also from Anthro this fall, a basic shirtdress made of fine corduroy.  For some reason this idea really appeals to me!  I’m still considering fabric, but my version is like to be navy cord (the dress also comes in navy, but the red shows the details better!)  I’m still looking for a pattern.  Does anyone have a favorite shirtdress pattern to recommend?

This dress is from Modcloth, and the lookalike pattern is Vogue 8280, the Mouret Galaxy dress knockoff.  I will probably do short sleeves.  I’ve never seen anyone make this version, so hopefully there’s nothing wrong with it!  No fabric yet… and probably not this month, but if I don’t get it down here I’ll forget to make the dress!

Now all I have to do is make time to sew – not likely before Friday with my midweek schedule!