Saturday, September 17, 2011

New Skirt and the Rest of the Loot

How come I could sew this same skirt in an hour the other night and it took me all freakin' day today? Yeah, I do work best (at least more efficiently) under pressure. I always have.

This is the finished skirt, along with the blouse and a brown belt I bought at Beall's last night and another sweater I bought at Stein Mart earlier in the week. I'm keeping everything. Oh, I'm also wearing the shoes I showed earlier. I'm keeping these too — they are just too comfortable NOT to keep. While I'm wearing them with all the rest of the outfits below, I'm sure I wouldn't really do that.


I lined this skirt. Or rather, I partially lined it. I wasn't up for fiddling with a lining around a vent today. I also cut the lining on the cross-grain and used the selvage as the hem. I'm running out of invisible zippers. This one is burgundy. One more lining shortcut was to overlap the front pieces on the princess seams, mark (and sew) darts instead, and cut the front as one piece. The lining is machine-stitched to the zipper tape. So with all these shortcuts, it's not like the lining took that much extra time today. It was maybe a 20-minute addition altogether. I guess I just needed to goof off all day, catch up on some blogs, and check my email 300 times around sewing a simple skirt.


It's becoming obvious that this is going to be the year of the sweater/cardi for me. Here's a close-up of the raw-edged trim. You can also see that I used a snap closure for the skirt. Nice and quick!


Same skirt, brown twinset from Beall's. I'm keeping this too. The belt I already had. Beall's has other colors in "my" shades that I'm tempted to go back and buy, especially the mustard-colored set. It's a tiny bit snug but it's my week to retain water IYKWIM and the next size up was too big. It doesn't look too tight in this pic so I'm OK with it. What do you think about mixing browns like this? I was just trying things on without changing the skirt, but I think I kinda like the look. Too bad I don't have some leopard print shoes. Yet. Hahaha!


The brown cascade cardi I showed in my last post.The bottom band looks darker here but all parts are really the same. The directional nap is catching the light differently. Another keeper, I think. (How many brown sweaters do I need? Or teal/turquoise? Hah!) I may trace off a pattern from this since I like the shape and that it's not too "cascade-y."


Wild jacket (knit) from Stein Mart. Not keeping this. I like it, but not enough to keep it for what it cost. And it doesn't really go with much of what I have.


A dress from Beall's. I'm not sure on this one. It looks OK to me, but will I really be comfortable with the sleevelessness and being able to see down to my navel from the cowl? Well, it seems like I can. I always wondered if people taller than me can see what I see when I look down? Note to self: Buy more Hollywood tape with a Joann's coupon.


Yes, I can cover it with a cardi like this, but then what's the point of keeping it only to cover it up? But by itself, it does make me look thinner, doesn't it? Maybe I'll keep it for going out. What do YOU think?


Dress from Stein Mart. Not keeping. It's really a little too tight around the bust and I would have to hem it. I'm sure I can find or make something else that I like better, even though this isn't terrible. The necklace on the right? It can't go back fast enough. I feel (and look!) like I'm wearing a target. But it was worth a try if only to find out it's not me.


And for the heck of it, here's a shot of 3/4 of my closet. The box on the floor at the back is my too-big cast-offs. Much of the stuff still hanging will probably find its way into that box, especially 99% of the pants hanging lower left. I don't wear ANY of them right now. The pants I do wear are out of the range of this shot. My love for prints is quite obvious, no? ;-)


I'm going to sew some more tomorrow and watch football, after I decide tonight exactly what it is I'll be sewing. I have too many ideas/possibilities which is making it hard to narrow it down. It's definitely so cool to be dressing up again.

25 comments:

  1. I love the dress from Bealls and it looks great on you so why not keep it? Makes you look very thin. Isn't it funny how clothing can do that? The cut of my DD homecoming dress made her look positively waifish and she isn't but just the way it is made did the trick.

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  2. First - cardigans are your friend especially when you don't have time to make jackets! *smile* So buy as many as you can because initially you will find it's quicker to build a wardrobe from skirts and dresses with cardis than doing the jacket/skirt/dress/pant thing.

    Second - I like the turq/brown combo and the brown/brown combo. Don't like either dress too much but that's just my opinion.

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  3. Love the new skirt with the teal cardi, belt etc. You look so good! I like the combination of browns, broken up nicely with the belt. I'm not so keen on the Wild Jacket but I love the dress from Beals. Definately a keeper. Not wrapped in the dress from Stein Mart. How much fun is this? It's so cool to be asked for my opinion, yes?

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  4. I like your new skirt, and all of the cardigans you've found! I like your brown and turquoise scheme here! The colours look really good on you.

    The dark brown/medium brown outfit makes me crave a fudgicle, but that could be me projecting my craving! lol! It looks really cute, though, and really shows how small you're getting. :)

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  5. You are putting together a lotmof great work outfits! I really like the bown on brown and agree with Heather, it really is slimming.

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  6. You should go back for that mustard set - it's Pantone's color of the year, and it goes great with all the brown. With teal too.
    Everything is very good, and cardigans are indeed your friends. A small layer of work formality without falling into 80s power dressing. I like that sleeveless dress too, but do you need anything not for work? Only if you promise to go out soon so you have an occasion to wear it.

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  7. Love the skirt sets! - the dresses not so much.
    Blessings,
    Patti

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  8. I really like that sleeve,less print dress and like it even more with the brown cardigan over it. It accents it, IMHO and I don't see it as "covering it up" at all. Lovely clothes1 I can tell you're having a great time shopping/sewing/planning. :)

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  9. The blue cardigan is so pretty, Debbie, especially for a cold office. Looks like you are finding some great things in RTW to build up your wardrobe.

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  10. Your mixed brown outfit is very slenderizing and a flattering color on you. I love it. All the outfits are great, however.

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  11. I like them all but the dress from Stein Mart, especially when compared side by side with everything else.

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  12. You are looking incredibly glamorous these days - we are watching a total transformation before our eyes here. Also want you to know I so much enjoyed coming home from my workdays this week and reading about your own. You have put together a great work wardrobe at top speed and look fantastic.

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  13. You look awesome! I really love the turquoise on you. It's a great color for you. So, where is this Stein Mart? We need one of those in New England!

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  14. I agree that the jacket in #6 and dress in #9 go back. Keep the dress in #7 (put a penny in the cowl and tuck it into your bra), because it does make you look thinner. Good outfits!

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  15. You look like you're having fun with your clothes. Nice combos. I love the brown/blue (or turquoise?) outfit. The monotone browns are good too. I would put a lot of gold chains with that.

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  16. I think the brown/brown with the gold belt looks absolutely fabulous! And the teal cardigan is definitely a keeper. Both of them make you look stylish and classy and just plain great!

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  17. I know you love your prints but the solid colours make you look professional and slimmer. I'm with Carolyn, don't like any of the dresses. I like those shoes; does that make me a fuddy duddy!
    You are looking fab girl.

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  18. I think the skirt/cardi combinations look the best. And the solid colors seem to be more classy and slenderizing. After looking at your pics, (even though I love prints), I know I'm going to be aiming for solids.

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  19. I agree with Carolyn - cardigans are your friend and you can't have too many brown or blue or whatever your favorite color is. I say get the mustard colored twin set when you return the dress. The brown set doesn't look too tight at all.

    Love the brown/brown combo as well as most of the other combos. And the shoes - they don't look matronly on at all. :) Enjoy. g

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  20. I really like your skirt, top, sweater combinations. the proportions look very good on you.

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  21. I agree with your choices. The one dress you are returning I dont liek on you at all. The other one is adorable and with the cardigan it is cute. YOu did an awesome job on the skirts. Go girl.

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  22. I'm enjoying these posts, seeing your work wardrobe come together. Your new skirt is a great addition because it goes with so many things. This is my year of the cardi too. :)

    FWIW, I L-O-V-E the mixed brown outfit. You look so modern, young and thin! I really like the other outfits too, just the brown is my favourite.

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  23. Oh I forgot to say. With the mixed brown outfit, yes you NEED a pair of leopard print shoes. Another excuse to go shopping. :)

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  24. I like the brown skirt - very versatile. And I am all for shopping when you can. Love the cardies. And you sure are a print gal. Me, I am a solids gal. No doubt due to weather, job etc. You are looking pretty hot :))

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  25. I love reading your posts! And I love seeing all the outfits put together, it's great to see your self-made and bought pieces. I can't wait to get back in the workforce again, I really miss dressing up!
    Oh, the Bealle's dress is super on you.

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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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