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Friday, May 24, 2013

CHALLENGE: THE PENCIL SKIRT


rtw scalloped lace skirt thestylecure.com, floral pencil skirt burdastyle.com, yellow peplum skirt byhandlondon.com, paneled pencil skirt burdastyle.com, lilca paneled skirt burdastyle.com.

It's time for another challenge! The Pencil Skirt Challenge is our second project for the stitch once, rip twice facebook group and I'm excited to try a style I wouldn't usually pick for myself. I am debating whether to go for a more summery floral/pastel style or a something more suitable for evening wear like scalloped lace or maybe a peplum. Another idea is to take a paneled skirt pattern and play around with colour blocking in the vein of the 1960's trend which is tres fashionable right now. Decisions, decisions!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

REVEAL: GINGHAM PLAYSUIT




I have finally completed my black and white challenge project! 11 days after the deadline... but then I did just move across the world to England. Luckily my sewing machine works here, with the help of a voltage converter! I originally planned on making a much needed long sleeved white blouse with black collar tie for this challenge but as the summer crept up in Brooklyn, and with an upcoming visit to the Riviera, I was in the mood for something summery. I have always loved the fun look of play suits and retro swimwear, so I wanted to create something similar to this two piece worn by Rachel McAdams in "The Notebook" but for lounging in style rather than swimming. I feel like I achieved that with this gingham playsuit. 



The shorts are self drafted using a pair of american apparel denim shorts which I added length to, and replaced the zip with a covered elastic waistband for comfort. The top is the free bandeau pattern from Burdastyle, I just added halter straps. All of the seams are french seams and that just makes me so happy- knowing that it will last and I don't have to hand wash it in fear of it falling apart (ahem, my gingham maternity dress). The best part about this project is that it was free, I used the fabric from our old tablecloth which I made last year that we no longer needed since we donated our kitchen table before the big move. I definitely want to make this outfit again, but with exposed red elastic for the waist and under the bust and in a retro print. I ran out of gingham fabric to make a matching headscarf so I would do that too. Next time I will also give more ease at the waist of the shorts so I can slide them over my hips faster as now it is a bit tight - you want to be able to get them on and off quickly when changing at the beach. I loved this photo shoot, the courtyard here is a perfect backdrop for the black and white theme and I felt super glamorous in this outfit. So glamourous that I just had to strike a pin up pose!