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Red dress; 6 different ways

19/02/2015 3:40 am \ 25 Comments \ Carolyn

It’s been a while since I did one of these! I don’t really have deliberate dress-up sessions to test out my clothes’ versatility any more, but it’s still interesting for me to look back and get a general overview of just how well my self-made wardrobe mixes and matches and whether everything works together. This red cotton dress has been an absolute beaut! it’s been worn a tonne and proved itself to be quite a versatile year-rounder too. I made it late 2013, using an adaption of dress pattern M from the Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori.
I think its usefulness has lain in several factors: firstly the cheerful tomato-red colour is supposed to be one of “my” colours, as well as a shade equally at home in both hot and cold weather, and also the style of the dress is quite plain and simple, lending itself very well to mixing and matching with a bunch of other clothing pieces and stylistically not fighting with anything.
Some of the highlights in its life:
At left, its raison d’être was for me to have something for Wildcats games … I wore it to just about every single one and fitted in fine with everyone else! At right, during a long hot summer it was fabulous to wear just all on its own, sans any adornment.

At left; the colour looked good with just about every colour cardigan and scarf that I own; and at right, I’m wearing it here inside out! for Fashion Revolution Day. I chose it for that day mostly because it had patch pockets and not inseam bag pockets, making this the least weird-looking inside-out option in my wardrobe. Hehe and yes, I was brought up that the insides of a piece should look presentable enough for them to be worn inside out without embarrassment, but not that I purposefully make things with the actual intention of wearing them that way very often!
Speaking of that; the mission statement of Fashion Revolution is a comfortable fit for those of us who sew… after all; the question is “Who made my clothes?” If you can give an answer, and by that I don’t think they mean just “Brand x” then you are making a difference. Albeit a small one, but still. If your answer is “me”, then that can only be a very good thing! I am planning to do the inside out challenge again this year on 24th April, please join me!

At left; on cooler days I liked wearing my red dress with my paprika tights because they were such a good colour match, note to self; having matching tights and dresses/skirts is actually an excellent wardrobe idea, I must plan for this more! At right, I really liked this winter outfit a lot too. I know summer dresses can be kind of a weird choice for winter, but if the style is loose enough to enable wearing with lots of layers under and over for warmth then I think it can be done very successfully. I was perfectly warm in this wintery ensemble. Wintery for Perth, that is.

Sadly, at its last wearing I decided that this red dress was now just a bit past its best *sob*. It’s faded soooo much and has developed a noticeable seat in the bottom-al region so out it’s gone to the rag/”potential refashion” bag. Leaving a giant red-dress-shaped hole in my wardrobe 🙁 but I’m hoping my recent red gingham dress is going to step in to fill that.

We shall see, we shall see….

Later edit; I just couldn’t do it! throw it out, I mean. A stint in the refashioning bag, and when I next took it out for a look-see it didn’t look nearly as bad as I remembered. I’ve re-instated it back into the wardrobe again… 🙂

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, dress, Stylish Dress Book

Purple jeans; 6 different ways

06/11/2013 6:34 am \ 21 Comments \ Carolyn

My purple flares have been such favourites ever since they rolled off the sewing machine; an unlikely wardrobe staple. Who would’ve thunk purple jeans would turn out to be such useful things in my life?? Ask the ignorant old-me back then and she probably would have been doubtful… anyhow they have been and I’m rewarding them with a little retrospective.
I made them originally in 2011 using Burda 7863, and in addition to these outfits here they have appeared in a supporting role in several other of my 6 different ways posts too. A few of the following pics are from previous me-made months, some not…
Below, at left; worn with a rusty corduroy tunic top. Boy that top was gorgeously toasty warm. I need another one before next winter; at right; worn with a little self-scarfed top and my brindle knitted cardigan.

Below: at left; worn with a purple Tshirt and a hoodie refashioned from a pair of jeans, at centre; with a grey-dyed-yellow woollen top, and at right; with a plain white Tshirt and thongs on my feet. Admittedly uninspiring, but I included it because this latter outfit has pretty much been my lifetime uniform and so is probably the most “me” ensemble here!

Below: at left; tucked into biker boots and with a long white top and my f-leather jacket, At right; and yup, this one does make seven different ways but (shrug) I almost didn’t include this last picture, they’re on the saggy and baggy side and look a bit awful now, and so faded!!! but I guess that just shows how much they’ve been loved. Worn with my green jacket-thing (later dyed) and a raspberry jersey scarf.

Hmmm; what colour to make next, I wonder… ?

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Burda 7863, jeans

Army jacket; 6 different ways

12/09/2013 9:33 am \ 28 Comments \ Carolyn

My khaki army-style jacket has been my go-to coat/jacket this winter. I made it two years ago, completely inspired by all the fabulously cool examples I had seen out and about in Tokyo. I got home and pretty much immediately set about gathering all the bits and pieces to make one for myself, adapting a jacket pattern from Burdastyle magazine so the features matched the ones I had seen in Tokyo.
Australia often marches to the beat of its own drum, fashion-wise; and looks that are IN! overseas may or may not take off over here. You can never tell…. but anyhow, this winter army jackets were IN! here and I remembered that I had made one (o serendipitous moment!) pulled it out and have been wearing it pretty solidly since. It is sooo warm!
Now, you might think it could only been worn as a casual thing, but being such an on-trend item I’ve found it incredibly useful and the deep olive colour goes with everything I have in the wardrobe. I also made an attachable fur-lined hood to go with it but obviously such a thing is pretty irrelevent to our climate and so I’ve never attached it. Maybe one day I will visit a snowy climate soon and can happily button on the hood without looking ridiculous? A girl can but dream…. but in the meantime these are some of my favourite combos with it from this winter.

Below: at left; casual to the max, worn with my purple flared jeans. Funny thing, I’ve kind of gone off jeans completely lately and don’t want to wear them at all. I’ve semi-tossed these ones out now… they’re on probation…. At right; the jacket kept me toastily, snug-as-a-bug warm on our coldest day (15C) along with my crocheted Granny squares skirt, a black Tshirt, black woollen tights and biker boots. I had my knitted gloves on for part of that day too, but not for the picture… brrrr!

At left; I’ve seen sequins combined with utilitarian khaki in a gazillion gorgeous street-style photos, and loved the craziness of the look, so I wore the jacket over my own silver sequinned skirt, a drapey white top, and with black suede pumps to a dinner with friends, and felt like an ultra trend-ite, for once! At right; sporting a symphony of satisfyingly subtle sludgy goodness, worn with my khaki linen shirt, my sludgy little skirt (incidentally, the same fabric as my purple jeans in the photo above, dyed brown), my olive leggings, and olive knitted socks (not really showing here) A bit drab maybe? but then again drab is my middle name. Seriously, you should see the looks I get when I fill in forms.
(10pts to anyone who can pinpoint that quote….)

At left; worn into the city, with my rusty-red wool/silk skirt, black woollen tights and high-heeled booties, and at right, worn with my gunmetal blue silk dress, red hoodie and paprika tights. Incidentally, this is today’s outfit, and I had a lovely lunch out with Dad. He was wearing this shirt, actually nearly every time I see him he seems to be wearing it! Which is super nice of him 🙂

So, the weather is warming up gradually, in fits and starts, and soon I’ll stop reaching for this jacket but I’ve sure appreciated and enjoyed its cosy comforting warmth and its easy-going style. Hopefully the trend will stick around for a few more winters to come!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Burdastyle magazine 05-2010-127, coat, jacket, own design

Paprika tights; 6 different ways

05/07/2013 11:44 am \ 32 Comments \ Carolyn

Hmmm, a better name for these posts would be 6 different outfits, since there’s only one “way” you can wear most things, and particularly something like a pair of tights! Oh well, I’ve been using this title for too long and it’s too late to change now 🙂
I made these tights only recently just before the start of winter, using my own custom-fit pattern. They are um, quite bright, and I worried a little bit that they would be too bright for my mishmash of a wardrobe. I should not have, because there’s nothing like a spot of spicy crazy colour to pep up a drab winter-y colour scheme. And I’ve been pretty happy at how easily these garish things have fitted in!
So here are some of the outfits they have cheered up over the past few weeks…

Below: at left; orange and ivory white seems like a very summery colour scheme, but it works beautifully in winter as well. Worn with a burnt orange skirt, a long-sleeved white blouse, ivory cardigan, and caramel boots. At right; near opposites on the colour wheel, orange is a natural pairing with blue. Worn here with a blue cotton dress and a blue Pattern Magic cardigan.

Below; at left; worn with a light grey ensemble, a little grey skirt, white drape-y top adds a slice of fresh white, and with a light grey Pattern magic top.

at right; on a super frosty morning I needed gloves! and put together a light brown and charcoal ensemble. Worn with a charcoal top, a darker charcoal skirt, brown knitted cardigan, beluga knitted gloves, knitted socks (not seen) and my charcoal and brown twisting cable knitted scarf.

At left; I used be completely allergic to the very idea of wearing brown and orange together, probably a symptom of growing up in the seventies. I’ve got over that now plus these browns are very deep and rich in tone and the orange is strong and spicy. Worn with my dark chocolate f-leather jacket, a black Tshirt (not seen), my sludge-y little s kirt and chocolate boots. At right; and this is the outfit I am wearing today 🙂 I am wearing a striped Tshirt (not seen), ivory skirt, a long-sleeved woolly Tshirt (reading as grey in this picture here but it is actually mossy green), hand-knit socks (not seen), a creamy, hand-knit Moebius scarf and biker boots.

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Sienna, tights/leggings

Navy and white striped Tshirt; 6 different ways

05/06/2013 3:29 pm \ 23 Comments \ Carolyn

A striped Tshirt seems to be the wardrobe staple of a certain kind of girl, a very stylish and chic kind of girl, that I think is not very like me. I mean, I like to think of myself as a non-conformist, but sometimes you find yourself latching on to a current trend almost without noticing! The striped Tshirt is being touted as a “classic”, but I reckon it is a more accurately described as an ultra-fashionable item, that ipso facto will probably go out of fashion in a few years, like everything else. Whichevs, for the moment it is IN. And I found myself making one. And wore it and wore it!

I looked back through my old photos to find these pictures of different outfits incorporating my navy and white striped Tshirt. It has appeared in a supporting role in plenty of other outfits too, but these ones are all “new” to a 6 different ways post. Five of these outfits are from previous me-made or self-stitched months; the first photo is a portion of one I used as my profile pic for a year!

Below: at left; the plain practical lines of the Tshirt play off well against the overblown silhouette of a pouffy white skirt, and at right; this is probably the “trendiest” out of all the outfits here…. worn with a beige trench coat, a long skinny knitted black scarf, and with khaki skinny jeans tucked into bikie boots.

Below at left; the Tshirt’s first appearance here on my blog, worn with greige corduroy jeans, a jersey scarf and hand-knitted socks, and at right; worn pinafore-style underneath my favourite charcoal grey pattern magic dress, with matching navy blue tights.

Below left; grunged down for a day of sweaty cross-country hiking with charcoal grey shorts and hand-knitted socks, at right, for a rainy winter’s day, the stripes stand out against the pale colours of a light grey longline skirt and a boxy little ivory jacket

It’s funny really that this Tshirt turned into such a favourite, since it was initially just an afterthought, thrown together using the leftovers of some rather low quality fabric. My newer striped Tshirt is made with much nicer and meatier fabric, so I am hoping it lasts even longer, at least until the trend fades away! 🙂

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, own design, top

Leatherette A-line skirt; 6 different ways

07/04/2013 5:30 am \ 39 Comments \ Carolyn

I don’t wear this faux leather skirt nearly enough, given that it is actually a pretty cool skirt. I think maybe that is the problem… maybe it is too cool for me! I’m not really used to wearing much leather or faux leather, except in shoe, boot or bag form. But, using my imagination I can discern that the weather seems to be making a very veeery gradual descent into overall cooler temperatures, so I’m thinking about those parts of my wardrobe again. And about giving all those little sundresses a break. I think this skirt deserves to make a few more appearances and get worn, dammit.
I made it using Vogue 1170, and it first appeared along with my review of the pattern, here.

Below left; worn with a matching, wool and faux leather military style jacket with knitted sleeves. Haha, of course this skirt and jacket wasn’t ever intended to become a matching set, just that I had some of the leatherette leftover, enough to squeeze out some of the pattern pieces of the jacket. Bonus outcome, a sorta suit! Random observation, I am fair dinkum sweltering in this photo here! so this will be a very good ensemble for winter; some day when I get the fashion urge to channel Star Trek or something.
Below right; peeping out from one of my most recent creations, the bell sleeved denim top. I have to admit; this is my favourite of the bunch. I’m kinda head over heels in love with it. I like the contrast of the unpretentious honesty of blue cotton denim against more sophisticated smooth and glossy leather; and the casual, easy-fitting and very un-body-con vibe of the shapes here reminds me of those lovely Japanese pattern book looks.

Below left; with a plain white Tshirt and black snakeskin cardigan; hmm another of the faux leather components of my collection! This might even be an office appropriate outfit; not that my office requires one. I have a friend who does the very same job I do, and we often joke about our “work wardrobe”, haha. Which generally features shorts and thongs, or a dressing gown and slippers, depending on the season, and a dog under the desk at your feet. I would need an outfit that fitted smartly into a real office for about 2% of my actual working week, tops. But I would wear this for such occasions.

Below right; the colours blend in nicely, and the vertical lines of the folds in the skirt are nicely visual juxtaposition against the random diagonal folds of this painted silk, Issey Miyake top. I was pretty pleased to discover this skirt and top look great together.

Below left; I like unexpected things and what could be more unexpected than a leather petticoat? Skirts underneath a dress or dresses over a skirt, take your pick; is a terrific combination for a cooler day. I’m wearing here my trusty eggplant dress; add a big drapey berry coloured scarf over the top, and I think this is a nicely layered autumnal ensemble. Below right, maybe a bit smarter or more preppy whatever that means; I’m wearing a little triple-collared shirt with a net cardigan over, all in visually peaceful gentle shades of grey, coffee and white. I’ve always loved these subtle pale neutrals here. When I started my blog my aim was to branch out and incorporate new and more interesting colours into my wardrobe. So I do enjoy flirtatious adventures with real colours sometimes, but only tempered with plenty of safe retreats to my ol’ pale and drab faithfuls. I think I enjoy colours like a holiday, playing with them for a few exciting funfilled days at a time, and getting back to my neutrals is like coming back home into your own comfy familiar space again.

Hmmm. Waxing lyrical about colours as a metaphor for life again, for heaven’s sake. Somebody stop me. Anyhoo, whatever; I think I’ve ignited a fresh love for my comfortably, blessedly colourless faux leather skirt. Now I just need the weather to co-operate so I can wear it!

Oh, what am I wearing today?? today I am wearing the eggplant dress just above, but sans the extras. Like I said, it still feels like summer here, no joke.

Posted in: fashion, Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, skirt, Vogue 1170

Raspberry cropped jacket; 6 different ways

07/03/2013 4:30 am \ 28 Comments \ Carolyn

I first made this raspberry red, bracelet sleeved, silk hessian jacket a couple of years ago, using Vogue 2894 and the squeensiest length of raspberry red silk hessian. It felt like a miracle I was able to cut out the pattern pieces! but the fabric was obviously meant to become this jacket since it has become a staple piece in my wardrobe. The jacket was originally posted here as part of another outfit, along with my review of the pattern.

Now in past 6 different ways posts I’ve delved into my wardrobe to come up with a whole bunch of outfits featuring the item … but this time I’ve gone for a retrospective look at some old outfits. Five of these photos are from various me-made or self-stitched months… and it was quite interesting to look back seeking out old pictures again…

At left, on a freeeezing summer’s day in Paris, with black jeans and a soft grey hoodie, in a sorta Full Metal Alchemist get-up. Yes, of course I watched the entire series, with my children, hehe. Didn’t you?!! Worth it, my friends. Worth. It. And at right; worn with a white wrap-front blouse and my blue and white patchwork skirt, to a birthday do for my Mum…

At left; brightening up a plain but smart oatmeal dress, and chocolate gloves, tights and boots. I later took Sam out to lunch for his birthday. Incidentally, one of the really great things about documenting your outfits each in those me-made months is that you do have an instant mental snapshot of that day, which sure helps my sad old mind in recalling the day and just what I was doing. Probably I would not remember a single second of this day, if I did not have the photo here….

At right; I never put this photo in my blog for some reason. Probably decided I did not like the outfit after all or something, too much red and purple together but actually it’s not so bad! I am wearing the jacket with my purple jeans, a burgundy scarf, and an orange rtw cardigan.

At left; on a rainy but not too cold day in Paris; I wore the jacket with a navy/white striped Tshirt and a little ivory skirt. btw, I didn’t intentionally put together a French “uniform” that day. I only realised later on how super-cliched I looked. Tourists, huh? So embarrassing….! At right; the jacket adds a touch of colour to an all–white outfit… here worn with my bamboo shoot top and a long layered lace-y skirt.

As the cooler weather starts to roll around again, I will be glad to pull this one out of the wardrobe and wear it again. I’ve always loved the three quarter length sleeves. Plus, it’s kinda chirpy and cheerful, and instantly adds a zing to any old thing it gets slung over.

Posted in: fashion, Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, jacket, Vogue 2894

Blue denim dress; 6 different ways

23/01/2013 11:00 pm \ 38 Comments \ Carolyn

I made this cotton denim/chambray dress using Vogue 1152 about two and a half years ago. It first appeared on the blog, along with my review of this pattern here, and it has always been a favourite player in my wardrobe. The fabric is hard-wearing and casually comfortable, crinkles naturally and charmingly. Comfort dressing, yes!
It’s appeared here on the blog a whole tonne of times already, in daily outfit photos, in the me-made months. In this year I’ve pledged to wear exclusively my own handmade clothes bar the shoes, these are some of the ways in which I can mix and match the dress.
Actually, up until now rtw tights or maybe gloves have slipped into the equation… but not this time! Whoo hoo! I have linked to the construction posts of everything else I am wearing here.

At left; committing the double denim crime… I’m wearing the dress layered over with a chambray shirt made of the same fabric, my scrumply Pattern Magic charcoal grey, spiral leggings and ankle boots. Below right; what’s this? double denim again! Worn with my denim-look tights, green knitted hoodie and knotted blue scarf. Incidentally, who ever said blue and green should never be seen?? I wear blue and green together all the time!

Below left; yes, well, I do love the layered look 🙂 Here, a longline lace skirt does petticoat duty underneath the skirt, and a classic navy blue silk blazer pulls it all together smartly. Raspberry pink sandals add a touch of cheerful colour.

Below right; for a more casual ensemble, this little jean jacket hoodie gives a more laidback sporty vibe to the dress. It might not have appeared on my blog every often, but this little jacket is a favourite of mine already!

Below left; I do like to wear dresses over jeans sometimes, how they become transformed into a tunic. The colour of these ivory flared jeans picks up and accentuates the four rows of ivory piping on the bodice of the dress. Below right; blue-and-green together again! The dress is actually quite low-cut, so if I am going out where actual people might see me I will often stop to grab a scarf to throw on over the decolletage. Adds some interesting colour, and saves blushes! In this case I’m wearing two scarves twisted togeth

er to get a bit more colour happening… turquoise silk chiffon, and cobalt blue knotted jersey scarves. Green and cobalt ballet flats echo the same colours.

These are just some of the different ways in which the dress can be mixed and matched to suit all the seasons. Today I’m wearing the last aquatically-hued outfit, with the blue and green scarves and ballet flats, and I’m looking forward to wearing the others as the weather cools down more. I’m rather chuffed that I could come up with all-rtw-free, workable outfits that I actually like!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Sienna, Vogue 1152

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