Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Desperately Seeking Skirts

Day 2 was even better than Day 1, as I'm learning more about what I'm doing. My lunch was still in the office fridge this morning so I was all set. I sat at my desk and continued to read Barack Obama's book, which got put on hold in the whirlwind of the last couple of weeks. (Meredith, I like it a lot so far, especially since the life experiences and observances of a bi-racial man are so far outside my own. BO has always been intelligent and well-spoken so I'm not surprised that I like his writing too.)

I had to rush out to the grocery store after getting home tonight so I didn't get any pics of today's outfit, but this is what I wore, with an ivory cami under the blouse. The skirt is a brown knit Walmart special. I made the blouse a few years ago. It's a Vogue-something — Carolyn, you know it, I think. I left the pantyhose at home today.


After dinner it was up to the sewing room to do SOMETHING so I would have an outfit to wear tomorrow. The nearly-finished Simplicity skirt won out for speed of completion. I added the hem facing, pinked the raw edge and then Steam-A-Seam'ed it into place. I was not about to hand-sew any hems and I knew I would hate the way a machined blind hem would turn out. So, SAS it was. Bonus that it was extremely fast. The whole hemming project took less than 30 minutes.


I'm pairing the skirt with this teal rayon twinset and necklace I bought at Stein Mart last night.


It's very unlike me to wear all solids together, but I'm desperate here. I think it works, but I'll definitely be sucking in the tummy all day. lol But on the other hand, I sit at a desk so my gut will be mostly hidden anyway.


I think I will have to bring out the pantyhose again. My feet are not used to being in closed-toe heels for hours and hours and going barefoot in the shoes gets somewhat uncomfortable by the end of the day. My feet need to "toughen up" a little more, so I will probably rotate PH on/off. Plus, I was actually COLD in the office today and was kind of missing something on my legs. 


This is the skirt graveyard pile. After further consideration, I don't think I have it in me to alter them and I'm not really loving them anymore. I think I'd rather make some new skirts that are more fitted. I'd buy some if I could find what I wanted. But as stitchers, you KNOW how that goes. I'm actually going to try to make a new skirt tomorrow night to go with a cool jacket I got last night. I'm going to use a pattern that I know fits me right now — the Burda I used years ago to make the denim skirt that fits me again and I've been wearing a lot. It's also a very easy pattern, so I may not be overreaching.


I'm not dragging tonight since I got a good night's sleep last night, but I will be tomorrow if I don't end this here and say Good Night!

Oh, one last funny thought. Can you believe I was actually contemplating making myself a nice lunch bag? Hah! I can't wear a lunch bag. I bought one tonight for $5.

22 comments:

  1. I just want to drop off my tip for closed toed shoes with no hose: spray deodorant. I spray my feet with unscented Sure spay and it keeps my feet from feeling sticky.

    You look great in your no-print outfit!

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  2. I really like the outfit with the solid colors!

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  3. I love reading your blog!! So cute and real and entertaining! And I'm so glad you bought a lunch bag too!! Ha ha! And the solids look really really nice btw. Have fun with your new job!!

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  4. Your outfit is gorgeous! I love the solids. I'm loving hearing about this new stage in your life. Go Debbie!

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  5. I love the solids too. Very sophisticated looking.

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  6. I love tomorrow's outfit! Just a tip for the shoes - footlets, aka sockettes or footcovers. These are pantyhose that only cover your toes and heels, designed to fit inside a closed-in shoe (court shoe) and not be seen. They are usually found in the section with the knee-hi stockings. Gives you the best of both worlds.

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  7. Another foot tip: a quick rub with rubbing alcohol once or twice a day toughens them up. Good for starting the hiking season, good for hose-free tender spots.

    Love both your new outfits. It's OK to wear solids occasionally :-). Especially at work. I'm trying to do the same, although it's hard, I don't feel quite dressed, od you konw what I mean? Teal's very much an in Fall color, and looks great with brown, you're doing very well. And you could re-use the cardigan with a brown-and-teal print sometime soon.

    A tested pattern for a skirt that's easy to make is wonderful. Not only more fun than alterations, but easier and often quicker imho.It's perfectly OK to wear the same skirt 2-3 days a week, nobody'll know (as long as it's a solid). And by the time one of them notices, you'll have made a couple more :-).

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  8. I really like the solids together. I am really not much of a print fan. And I ALWAYS wear PH to work. I would feel naked without them. and the world does not need to see my old lady white hairy scaly legs, lol!!

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  9. Pantyhose nooooo! Even though i work full time I haven't worn hose in 15 years. Do you like peeptoe slingbacks? they look very professional and no need to wear hose. I also don't like the feel of a full shoe on bare feet. But some shoe liners might be an idea, Hue makes them and I'm thinking of buying some to use as a model and then making my own my own to match my shoes so there is no show through.

    http://www.hue.com/Socks/Shoe-Liners/Liners/Hue-Perfectly-Bare-Toe-Cover.aspx

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  10. Looking good Debbie! Have fun at the new job :)

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  11. I know you're looking for SKIRTS, but I wanted to let you know that in my area (Central PA), KMart has their summer shirts on special $3-7. I picked up some nice shirts for $4 -- all w/ sleeves, and princess seams. They have some sleeveless, but I'm not going to do that! :) This morning, as I put one on, I thought of you ... I need to take in the seams in the back, front fits good, back .. hangs like bad wallpaper!

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  12. Soo jealous of the Steinmart set and jewelry. That is my favorite store ever and only get to stop at one on a road trip once or so a year. I always get loads of compliments on my purchases there mostly better costume jewelry. I think their quality is just better than lots of places. My youngest daughter loves their clothes and gets to go more often. Your outfit and you look just great. Those skirts you make will net you so many outfits by hitting those sale racks. Sewing a sheath dress might let you harvest some sale jackets also that would take time to sew up. Just being able to alter things for myself has helped so much in my sewing time crunch over the past few years. It is great that you are doing well in the new job. mssewcrazy

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  13. Good call on the lunch bag! Time spent on those needed skirts will be much more rewarding.

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  14. Now you know why I ONLY sew clothing...I need to keep my body covered and can purchase those odds and ends things.

    Here's a hint - if that Burda skirt pattern fits well - pick 3 nice fabrics and make them up this weekend. Match them with some twinsets and you will have 3 new outfits for next week.

    Also, did you get the 1250 dress fitted? That is such a quick sew and will add another piece to your wardrobe fast that will work well with a cardigan.

    Finally, I like the solids on you too...very professional and sophisticated.

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  15. I like the outfit. It's very professional looking

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  16. I love ready your blog! My life is very routine right now (which I don't mind) but getting to read about your new exciting events is so fun, I know I'm pitiful ;-) ! Your solids look great and I second/third the advice about the foot-lets in your shoes so you don't have to wear the PH. Interesting about the lunch bag...another blog had someone getting set to make their lunch bag. I'm with you BUY the darn thing and save the sewing for clothes.

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  17. OOH I love you in solids . You look very professional.

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  18. Love the solids outfit too and the necklace makes it, very pro. Laughed about the lunch bag - one of my own big adjustments to working in a regular office was the clothes requirements of that world were so huge, I started buying the details.

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  19. You've hit on the reason I don't do a lot of accessory or home dec sewing. I need clothes more, and they take longer so....

    Fitting a TNT then making up new skirts would take less time for me than revamping the older ones. I think that's the way I'd go if I was in a rush. Also, sewing in easy-care fabrics and doing all the same colors at once (so as not to change the serger thread) is another option.

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  20. I'm loving reading about your new job and the new body you are creating! Congratulations on both. I'm rooting for you.

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  21. I want a new job too.
    You are looking and writing fine.

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  22. Great outfit, I love the colour combination and hopefully the necklace gives you that extra bit of colour and texture so that you don't miss not wearing a print. At least skirts are pretty quick and easy to make, you'll have a bunch of wardrobe options in no time, and tempting as it is to make things in prints I would stick with some solid separates. (I am the same and end up with nothing that matches!)

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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