Yearly Archives: 2009

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How to wear menswear inspired pants

21/10/2009 2:19 am \ 2 Comments \

Wednesday, 21st October 2009

Just a quiet day at home, so dressed accordingly. Both pieces I’ve worn already recently, breaking my rule. But I’m wearing the pants again today since they won’t be really dirty from yesterday, although they will be now since I walked the dog in them this morning. Working up a sweat!
And the top is such a favourite I just had to pull it out again. It is one I posted about previously here (Butterick 4985, view A sleeves, view B collar), except today it can be seen more clearly.
And again, I like the contrast of the ripped, shabby, lace-y casualness of this top with its antique type buttons against the very tailored, almost-menswear pants. I think the best way to wear menswear is to have something ultra-feminine along with it.
Oh, and this summer I am really loving Revlon’s Blackest Black nail polish for my toenails. I feel so chic and edgy with it! This is such a departure for me, who is usually wearing coral pink or nude tones on my nails. Yeah, for something different!
Other details:
Pants; Morrison
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Secretarial duties

20/10/2009 4:24 am \ 2 Comments \

Tuesday, 20th October 2009

Today did my duty as secretary of the Ladies’ Auxiliary at school, so dressed secretary-like. Kind of.
This top is McCalls 4454 view C, but made using pieces of leftover silks I had from previous projects and some velvet ribbon I had bought for something else, but not used. The ripped strips of silk were sewn to a bemsilk facing version of the camisole after draping, pinning and fitting on Bessie, (my faithful dummy) and another lining attached inside to hide the bits and ends.
I really like the combination of grey, purplish grey, and bronzy browns; giving it subtle smoky style, and the soft, shimmery layers of translucent silk are sort of ethereal. The ripped edges form a rebellious and untailored contrast to the pants.
The necklace pendant is also self-made.
Other details;
Pants, Morrison
Shoes; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes

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Patchwork

19/10/2009 9:16 am \ 1 Comment \

Found this one and only picture of the other version of the dress I posted about earlier today here, from McCalls 4454, elongated to dress length; the one made out of patchwork fabric bought in Calico and Ivy. It was bought as a collection of “fat quarters”, from which I cut large, medium and small squares. The squares were pieced and the pattern cut out so that the smallest squares were at the bodice of the dress, and getting larger in size down to the hem of the dress, at which all the largest squares were. All were on the diagonal.

I loved the seaside-y colours; it may not look like much from the back but it really was a lovely dress and got a lot of compliments. Sigh. I think it got a rip in it eventually.
I think it looked better than its follow-up, partly because of the pretty fabric, and partly because the skirt was a lot more billowy, a better look for me.
(On a pictorial note, I’m at the top of Mount Lycabettus looking out over Athens …. we walked up to the top and back and really earned our drinks! It was fab!)
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Bouchee dress

19/10/2009 5:49 am \ 3 Comments \
Monday, 19th October 2009
Meeting my Monday morning gals today, so I’m wearing the hot pink Metalicus cardi they gave me for my birthday to show it off. I’m not sure about my dress this morning. Not sure because I always feel I look like an elephant in it. Its from McCalls 4454 view D, which is actually a little top pattern. I used it because I really like the bodice arrangement, and just drastically elongated the whole thing to dress length. I also added some triangular inserts to splay out the skirt and hemline, and added (artistic touch!) two HUGE pockets diagonally and randomly to the front. The pockets were also to cover some discoloured areas; as the fabric was originally from the remnant bin at Fabulous Fabrics because it had partially faded in patches.
Its not been a bad dress as its very cool to wear in summer, but … all ladies like to avoid looking like an elephant. So this may be its last outing. If you are a pear shape, like me, then its probably best to avoid long A-line dresses with no waist definition. I think I need waist definition. The funny thing is I made this same dress (see here) before using patchwork fabric bought from Calico and Ivy, and it looked great (shrug).
The necklace was also made by me, during my beading phase. My ladies this morning admired it!!! Still, they’re always nice to me!
Other details:
Cardigan; Metalicus
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs
Bag; Gucci
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To sleep, perchance to dream

18/10/2009 8:16 am \ 2 Comments \

With the lovely warm summery weather here to stay, fingers crossed, its time to don summer jammies. My choice this year is sort of what a saucy fifties housewife might choose. The colours of mint green combined with red are kind of fifties, I think. The lace with red ribbon is very lingerie, and not pairing it with either black, red or white saves it from being tarty. A final touch was the three apple buttons, (Eve, gettit?) left over from a baby jumper I knitted many moons ago. The shorts have POCKETS! Well, I had enough fabric, so why not. The shorts were made using last year’s summer pyjama bottoms as a template, cut off short. The top is McCalls 4454 view C without the tie. I’ve used this pattern many times, and usually modify it by sewing it much narrower at the torso (about 4cm each side) and inserting a left side zip, but this time its as is and about 5cm longer.

My husband wanted to know why I’m not modelling it, well, ahem I think that’s obvious, no? But thanks for the suggestion…
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Golden glow

18/10/2009 2:51 am \ 3 Comments \

Sunday, 18th October 2009
Mum in a comment asked how I was planning to spice up my life….well, that’s a curly question! But a good starting point would be to spice up my wardrobe, as if I needed an excuse to do something to my wardrobe…
Our moods and emotions are determined and defined in terms of colours, red roses are given on Valentine’s Day, black is worn to funerals, brides wear white dresses, etc etc
So, here we have one cardigan, found in a secondhand shop. Oyster white. Sure its a useful colour which will go with lots of outfits, but isn’t going to turn any heads now, is it? I’ve been known to dye fabrics with ground turmeric with great success, but this time I went with a Dylon pack, from the chemist. (I’ve also got an old red T-shirt which has proven fantastic for adding blotchy pink swirls to a boring blouse, but that’s a story for another post….) One chemical bath later…

Other details:
Cardigan; Country Road, found in a secondhand shop
Camisole; Country Road
Skirt; Vogue 7303, olive corduroy
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Trying artistic photo shoot…

17/10/2009 4:24 am \ Leave a Comment \

Saturday, 17th October 2009

Tried to do something different with the photos today. Every day I discover something new about blogging, so… proof; that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
This is my favourite skirt pattern again, Vogue 7303, view A with the skirt overlay. The cardi is one I posted about here.
Other details:
Camisole; Country Road
Art; Jane Flowers
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Summer, here I come!

16/10/2009 12:24 pm \ Leave a Comment \

Today while in town I purchased my new bathers for this summer and here they are. Tres beautiful, non? I can’t wait to try them out at the beach tomorrow; surf and sand, yeah! Its about time the weather gods smiled upon us! And, no, there is no way I would model these for the blog, (in answer to my husband) Elle McPherson I am not…unfortunately….
No, they’re not homemade, but I’m including them in the interests of full disclosure of my wardrobe. Plus, I love them… Bathers; Jessika Allen for Jets

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