Diggin' the Denim Queen

I've never been much into denim as a "look," but both parts of this outfit are made from stretch denim! SO SNEAKY! I'm basically wearing a Canadian tuxedo!

Construction Notes

The skirt is just a shortened version of Butterick 5556 with a waistband and back zip. I made it from some denim I found at Walmart years ago... it used to be a purply black color but has faded into this nice burgundy/brown (I made it in 2013 or so.) I love that the pockets are in the side-front seams! (And that the lavender pockets match the lavender flowers on the blouse...) 

On the blouse, I cut off the long ties, tucked in the ends and stitched the opening shut, put in hooks and eyes, then added some lavender buttons on the outside of the closure. 

Regrets: This stretch denim was definitely a little heavy for making this top. It made the wrap segment pretty much unusable because the finished bow was so bulky and just not cute! But the fabric was so dang cute... I'm happy with the finished product, but some changes were necessary. 

Pattern Thoughts: Oh, Vogue. You're so good at making stuff needlessly complicated. Instead of making binding for every seam, I just went ahead and made French seams. The size Small is a little big (I have a 34" bust for reference) so I took the top in under the arms. It's still a pretty roomy fit, bosom-wise. I even have on a push-up bra under there and we're still lookin' a little flat. 

 

Styling and Shoot

Photos, as always, by Dyann Diercks !

Blouse fabric from JoAnn's spring collection, skirt fabric from Walmart.
Shoes are Mariana by GOLC, bought at Shoegasm in Chinatown. 

Glasses are one of two pairs I got online from Zenni Optical! These things were $19 with prescription lenses and all!!

Hair Flower by Alyson Thiel, a fabulous artist from Louisville, KY!

I Dream of Jeanie

High-waisted harem pants check a lot of boxes for me. Are they fun? Yes. Are they comfy? SO comfy, it's like you're not even wearing pants! Do they make me feel simultaneously like Princess Jasmine and a 1940s slacks-wearing movie starlet? Heck yeah they do.

The feel of the outfit was inspired by a character made by one of my favorite artists, Sarah of Curious Pip! The character's name is Percy (short for Persephone) and she is a very glamorous bohemian lady with a penchant for plants and wide-legged pants. (Read all about her here!) I even have a compass tattoo like this babe, but it's on the side of my ribcage and the top covers it!

Construction Notes

Luckily, I am the owner of the World's Best Harem Pants Pattern! It's from the 30s or 40s and is labelled Gazian's Theatrical Goods--I think I got it on Etsy! This pair I started in this stripey knit back in 2015 and I've been carting them around half-finished in my fabric box in my many moves since then. This summer was Unfinished Projects Time and these were up there on the list! All they needed was the waistband, and voila!
But, when you finish a fabulous stripey pair of pants, you need a cute crop top to go with them. Enter Simplicity 1426 with all its cute crop top options (this one is Option B), and this cute orange cotton from JoAnn fabrics.

Regrets: Dangit if I don't have trouble with corners! It's hard to tell with this fabric, but the waistband comes down to a little point in front and I have the worst trouble making it smooth. it's got a tiny little bubble that doesn't really show, but I know it's there and it bugs me, haha.

Pattern Thoughts: The top I'm pretty happy with, you can easily go braless with it (but I put in one of those little strapless, backless bra numbers because this thing is a little flattening.) You could easily pop some bra inserts in between the fabric and the lining if you wanted it to be more of a bra top. I shortened the straps by a good 2 inches or so, so there's easy adjustment for bigger or smaller-chested ladies. The pattern whips up easily and is lovely and fully lined!

Styling and Shoot

My beloved Dyann Diercks came to visit me in Kentucky took these!

The sunglasses are from K-Mart, the sandals are from TJ Maxx, and all the fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics. The earrings are from a trip I took to Peru! 

Breakfast at Tiffa-Trees Black Eyelet Dress

I have been hunting for black eyelet fabric for a dress for aaaages. I didn't have a specific plan for the dress, but luckily, after I found the fabric (well, after my mom found it and passed along a good chunk of remnants,) I came across Simplicity's 8051 rockabilly dress pattern and with its peek-a-boo back, it seemed like the perfect little number for the eyelet's fabulous scalloped edges.

Construction Notes 

This dress was extra breezy to make because I didn't have to worry about hemming or finishing the edges of the peekaboo cutout! I only used the bodice of the pattern and then made a basic little dirndl skirt (with pockets!) to take advantage of the scalloped edge of the fabric at the bottom. 

Summation

Regrets: I wish I had made the curve of the neckline a little more smooth--a few more snips along the seam would probably have helped. I also wish I had fitted the waist a bit more. 

Pattern Thoughts: I LOVED how beautifully Simplicity 8051 goes together. Everything fits together very satisfyingly and is just a simple and lovely sew. 

I love the peekaboo in the back, although I think I could maybe have gone a size down with the bodice as it gapes a bit--I don't mind, though, because even gaping looks pretty with eyelet scallops! 

The peekaboo is also a little finicky with bras (and even more so with the eyelet fabric because going braless is a little breezy! Next time I might line the shelf bust and just put cups in the dress itself. 

Styling & Shoot

Dyann Diercks Photography and Colorado's springtime magic worked together on these! 

The fabric came from a small fabric store in Queens, the earrings and bracelet are hand-me-downs.

(Also, I feel that I should point out that my styling of this dress is inspired by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and that is the reason for the really stupid title of this blog post.) 

Pink Velvet Nightie

My beautiful friend and photographer-extraordinaire, Dyann, wanted to do a pinup shoot in her new home studio, so I used the opportunity to use some hot pink stretch velvet I had sitting around to make a cute little nightie!

Construction Notes

I used another Gertie pattern on this one. I looooove a good Butterick pattern, and Gertie's are always so user-friendly!

Summation

Regrets: I wish I'd found a different, more delicate stretch lace trim, but JoAnn wasn't very helpful in that respect, so I used some from my stash. It's beautiful, but a little stiff and doesn't have a lot of stretch, so the hem isn't the best.

Pattern Thoughts: There is some negative ease built into the pattern since it's for knits, but the size 10 was still a bit big, so I took some darts in the back so the garment would skim a bit more closely. 

Styling & Shoot 

Photos by Dyann Diercks, in her new home studio!

Fabric from Etsy, trim was nicked from my mom's lace stash a long time ago.

Miss Scar(Char)let

This is one of my all-time favorite dresses. It wins on so many fronts for me. It's a perfect shade of red. It's spinny. The neckline is dramatic. It has sleeves. It has pockets. So many good things. 

Construction Notes 

I combined the bodice of one of Gertie's patterns, Butterick 5814, with the sleeves from an old Simplicity pattern (9025, I wanted 3/4 length sleeves and luckily, lovely Laura Mae of Lilacs and Lace had done this with her version of the dress as well. So, I ripped off her great idea.) I also forwent Gertie's lovely pencil skirt with drape and instead opted for my old standby: The circle skirt with pockets. 

Boy, I'm glad I did. Look at that deliciously drapey, spinny action. 

The fabric is some weird polyester twill that FEELS amazing, and drapes beautifully, but is a real pain to work with. Hemming was a niiiiiightmare, and it gets iron shine very easily. Oy vey.

Summation

Regrets: Looking at the photos, I feel like I should have tailored the sleeves more, but, they're comfy as they are, so I'm not too upset about it. 

I also didn't quiiiite do my pleats properly; I just sewed them into the seam and then let them live free instead of tacking them down a little ways, which makes for a little bit of puffing out in the front of the bodice. 

I also think I maybe should have put the bows on the sleeves that I drew in my original sketch, but, I can always add those. =]  

Pattern Thoughts: The size 10 of Butterick 5814 was a little big, so I took it in a pretty even amount all the way down the sides. The sleeves on Simplicity 9025 are sort of a rigamarole to make--they've got a shoulder curve that is REALLY curvy, and I had to tone it down a lot so as not to look like a linebacker. 

Styling & Shoot: 

Photos, as ever, by the inimitable Dyann Diercks Photography, taken at the Emporium Kitchen in the Elizabeth Hotel. 

 Dress: Materials bought at JoAnn Fabrics 

Shoes: Poetic License (but found these bad boys for $20 on Poshmark!)

Fox Brooch: MJ's Uptown Antiques 

Feathers, Lace, and Impracticality: A Dressing Gown's Tale

 I get a lot of joy out of things that are beautiful, but are first and foremost practical--pretty things that I have a need for in my day-to-day life (Paperblanks planners, my Laredo lace-up boots, and dresses with pockets are some examples.) Feathered dressing gowns do not fit that criteria, yet somehow, I have still absolutely always NEEDED to have one.

I've wanted one for ages (I've been drooling over Catherine D'Lish's collection along with the rest of the internet) and it finally occurred to me last spring that I should just get on with it and make one already.

Construction Notes

Armed with Vogue 7254 and three yards of All That Glitters stretch lace from JoAnn Fabrics, I went for it. The pattern was perfect for using the scalloped edges of the fabric as the front edges of the robe. (You have to cut them all out, though, as they have several inches of mesh around them.)

I added some fabric to the width of the skirt to improve its twirling capabilities, but it was not without consequence. The extra weight on such stretchy fabric affected the construction--the waistline was pulled down past my hips, so I had to cut a few inches off the length of the bodice to compensate. 

I also didn't like how the pattern's cape sleeves looked on me, so I turned 'em into regular sleeves. 

Summation

Regrets: NO RAGRETZ except maybe I should add another layer of feathers? I always feel like there's never enough. 

Pattern Thoughts: Vogue 7254 is well-put together and easy to understand, but ultimately I made so many alterations for my own preferences that I don't have much to say about the pattern itself!

Styling & Shoot: 

Photos by Dyann Diercks Photography