Red, White, & Blue SUPER Dress!

It started with me looking on-line for "cowl neck dress patterns free" and I found the "Eva" dress which I thought looked easy to sew, beautiful lines...Then I signed up for the "Your Style Rocks" site to get access to the pattern, and looked at The Opulent Poppy blog to see the Eva who designed the dress--she made a super modest one out of vintage yellow cotton.  (Hurrah for MODEST WOMEN!)

Printed out all 54 or so pages of the pattern in my size.  Carefully taped them together, cut them out, and started looking for stretchy fabric in my fabric storage.  Nothing in yardage, and being thrifty makes you more creative/desperate...

I had recently gone through all the boy's t-shirts with Stewart as we looked for post-mission clothes for him.  Superman was in a Sam-doesn't-want pile and too big for Stewart (he likes to wear correct size, slim & trim and not baggy) and the Nebraska map fabric was a too-small-but-Roxie-didn't-want pile.  Instead of using top of pattern I used a tissue-weight t-shirt that was way too low on it's own. 

When Suzanna saw the skirt portion she was immediately complimentary and interested so I made it to fit her.  She wore it to Church Sunday with a red belt that cinched in the middle more on her hourglass figure and she got many, many compliments.  The Young Women's president couldn't believe I made it and wanted the YW to learn, use their old YW camp t-shirts.  Actually her parting quote was "You should PIN it!"

The front portion of skirt is one t-shirt--one without side seams so I cut the pattern as it fit under the left arm-pit and wrapped around the right side onto the back of the t-shirt.

Mixing & matching other cast-off t-shirts and stretchy fabric tops I made 2 other dresses, a turquoise & bright neon yellow one I love and a modern polka-dotted yellow & gray & black & white.  They went together quickly because I was using a t-shirt or stretchy top that is finished and using the t-shirt hems for the hem of the dress.  It is a color-blocked look, very comfortable, totally me. 

So where is the picture?  I need to be a little braver to wear it, because it is so wild, new, artsy.  I say it is totally me and then I get nervous, embarassed a little, not wanting the attention I know I will get.  I need some confidence-boosting cheerleaders.  John loves it, it is modest, maybe a little sexy because I look like a woman in it, with girl parts, instead of hiding.

I altered this top after Cardigan Empire's suggestion that cowl necks are perfect for my Delicious Apple Middle body shape, and felt pretty on our date to Star Trek movies (Saturday matinee with all the kids in tow, so it was more a family outing than a date-date).

(Dirty mirror needs to be cleaned.)  Did not want to wear a tank top or another t-shirt underneath so sewed in another fuschia modesty bib layer (another t-shirt) just under the cowl to bring the neckline up higher.

Save those t-shirts, even with holes!  The Superman dress has two hearts appliqued on random cities to patch over two tiny holes.  If you don't think you will make anything with those t-shirts, donate them to me, and I will hand-craft one for you (or me!).

Skirt Redo

I wore the same skirt this week to Church that I wore last week, but I sewed the "gores" closed, leaving the bottom four inches as pleats, and cutting out the extra fabric. Changed the entire sillouette, from pouffy to pencil. Lots of compliments. Felt good. Lady-like instead of frumpy. I never would have tried on a skirt this shape--I've always bought the flowing, lots of fabric options because I worried how they would fit. And fit makes a huge difference in how things look. Hard when your size is going up and down having children and experimenting with dieting/exercising. My challenge has been to go through all my clothes and take photos to help me decide if it is a flattering outfit, or a fail, and either change something or get rid of it. Declutter that wardrobe!

AFTER

BEFORE

Wardrobe Evaluation: skirts & shirts for work

No matter what my weight, I am boxy-square shaped.  Short-waisted, narrow shoulders.  Thick-wristed, narrow-ankled.  Bigger stomach than rear end (pants would probably fit great if I wore them backwards).

I've been reading some wardrobe self-help books.  How to express your personality, how to find flattering clothes that FIT & Flatter.  I have to add on my own, ones that are modest, and don't cost a fortune...Going through my closet and drawers, this is what I wore to work last week:

#1 in Brown.  Skirt & top thrift store finds.  The skirt was originally a Land's End long sleeve dress with an uncomfortable polo-shirt collar that I cut above the elastic at the waist retaining the awesome pockets.  Stretchy, comfortable.  Empire waisted wrap shirt in vertical stripes.  Long sleeves with cuffs at wrists.   I would wear this again, but not perfect.  Skirt length a little long?  Grade: B-

#2 A line flowered thrifted skirt, solid 3/4 jersey top Sears sale.  Comfortable.  Busy bottom half.  Grade: B

#3 Plum & Polka Dots!  I loved wearing this!  Thrift store top, Sears sale skirt.  Bright happy color, comfortable skirt, like the length (longer than brown #1, hadn't noticed), sleeves cuffed at 3/4 length.  Curvy in right places, slimming.  Grade: A-

#4 Black & White & Gray thrifted top hits my elbows, Target sale skirt looks blocky/frumpy.  I need to wear this top with a more flattering skirt?  Grade B+

#5 Purple Old Navy sale & Light Blue Target sale.  If I had seen this picture before I left the house, I do not think I would have worn this.  Too flowy.  Too busy on bottom.  Grade: C

I might as well use the fabric on this skirt for a quilt, 100% cotton.  What do you think?