What I Wore Wednesday

Last week I had to drive Dave to work mid morning.  It's a 45 minute round trip so I decided to make it worth my while.  First I rewarded the chauffeur by taking myself to San Churro for hot chocolate (REAL hot chocolate - there is no substitute!) and churros with caramel dipping sauce.  Really, that probably would have been enough of a reward in itself, but I decided to take myself to the three op shops near his office.  First up was the fairly new Smith Family op shop which is massively overpriced.  Like ridiculously so.  I would have bought myself a pair of men's Gap oxford shoes if they weren't $38 (I googled and I could buy them brand new for $41!).  I did however buy 2 Judy Blume books (turns out I already had them with different covers - do'h), 10 zippers and this dress.

I really loved the fabric, the neckline and the sleeves, and it's fully lined.  But I really didn't like the high waistline.  It made the dress feel like a big sack and wasn't flattering at all.  After pondering it for the afternoon I realised the gathered waistband wasn't gathered after all - it had pleats!  So I sewed them down, wore a belt lower than the seam and now it's so much better! 

I bought this sweet brooch from a girl I follow on Instagram.  It's made from a vintage puzzle piece.  So adorable!

And these are my new shoes from Modcloth.  Unfortunately they're a bit small.  They're wearable, just not for days involving lots of walking.

They do go perfectly with my jacket tho. :D

Dress - Op shop (it's a unknown Asian brand)
Jacket - Material Pleasures second-hand clothing store (Caroline K Morgan)
Belt - Yes Style
Brooch - Butter and Buntings
Shoes - Modcloth

I got a few other pieces of clothing in Vinnies and Salvos that day so I'll share them here soon!

What I Wore Wednesday

I bought this cherry fabric at Lincraft recently in a 40% off fabric sale.  I LOVE SALES!  I only bought one metre because that's all I'd need to make a skirt.  Afterwards I realised the border print was only along one selvedge, which meant the border wouldn't go all around the hem of the skirt, so I went back to Lincraft to buy another metre... Of course I wasn't the only one with such fantastic taste in fabric, so unfortunately it was all sold out!  As were all the other Lincraft stores in Canberra.  So it sat in a bag for a two or three months because I couldn't decide how I would utilise the border print.  Should I have it only on the front hem?  Or use it in the waistband?  Or run it up a side seam?  In the end I decided to just have it on the front hem.  And I can't see the back when I'm wearing it, so I'm pretty satisfied LOL.
 

 

 

Top - Modcloth
Skirt - Made by me
Shoes - Ernest Wyler

What I Wore Wednesday

I've been neglecting my blog, but Mardi's Blog Hop post has got me going again.  So now I have a few outfit posts coming up soon.  First one coming up!

Last year I bought some gorgeous check fabric at Spotlight, reduced to $3/m.  I bought quite a lot and last year I made this dress. It's tricky to sew with because the fabric doesn't sit straight - it warps all over the place, but it falls beautifully and feels lovely to wear.

I had heaps of fabric left over so I recently made a skirt.  I decided to use up ALL the fabric, which meant it was a really full skirt, but also quite long.  I didn't use a pattern - the waistband and the skirt are both just rectangles.

I'm still not sold on the length - I'll probably shorten it eventually, but I've worn it several times at this length.  The skirt is roughly pleated into the waistband.

 

I bought this top at the Zonta pre-loved clothing sale recently.  I loved the colour but it was shapeless and un-flattering.  I took the sides in before the following picture was taken, and afterwards I sewed some vintage lace around the collar for a bit more pretty.

 So my very thrifty outfit went a little something like this.

Top - $10 at Zonta pre-loved clothing sale
Skirt - Made by me for about $6
Cardi - hand me down from my sister Alicia
Brooch - gift from my sister Charlotte
Shoes - faves from I Love Billy, which are knocking at deaths door but I refuse to turn off life support just yet

My friend Sam, who has the most awesome taste in clothing, has recently started a blog and done a Bernie Dexter dress post here!

What I Wore Wednesday

I loved this reproduction 1960s shirt dress pattern, and bought some cute bird and leaf fabric along with some royal blue for a contrasting collar. (Butterick 5747)

I thought some matching buttons would be cute. :)  They're so easy to make. 

The dress was too small to start with but after letting out the seams it fits OK.  Not awesome, but OK.  I'm really happy I went with a contrasting colour.  I ditched the dickey (he he) cos that made the neckline too high and I already liked the shape of the neckline with the collar, so I bought a cheap singlet top to wear underneath which only shows a little. I wish the skirt wasn't so deceptively full in the drawing - otherwise I would have made it much fuller!  I didn't realise until it was too late.

 

 Dress - Made by me
Singlet - Kmart
Necklace - Diva
Crocket Bracelet -  Made by me
Shoes - Yes Style

I just googled my pattern number and found some gorgeous dresses made from this pattern.
Love this red and white one.
The close ups in this apple fabric are gorgeous.

What I Wore Wednesday

I went through mum's vintage patterns when we stayed with them at Christmas, and came away with a few to play with.  I tackled the bottom right pattern first.

I took the pattern pieces out of the packet and almost threw away the first couple of small pieces, since they had no printing on them.  I thought they were rubbish.  Then I realised ALL the pieces were like that, and they had little holes punched in them.  I did freak out a little at first, but after reading the instructions I realised it was easy to cut and mark up.

I do love this fabric, but I've decided the style doesn't really suit me.  It does look better with a belt tho.

 And a cardi breaks it up a bit too.

Here are some pics of mum in 1969 wearing a dress Grandma made her using the same pattern. She has the version with sleeves, which I actually tried with mine, but it looked too utilitarian so I removed them.

Mum's dress has the neckline according to the pattern.  I altered mine cos it was SO high and choking me!

Dress - Made by me
Belts - Unknown
Shoes - ASOS
Crochet Necklace - Made by me
Cardi - Hand me down from my sister in law

What I Wore Wednesday

I bought TWO red dresses from Modcloth.  It was good timing to get them both just before Christmas!  I wore this one 5 times in less than two weeks, but I figured that was OK cos I had a different audience each time.  :) 

Dress - Modcloth
Necklace - Mimco

Shoes - ASOS

What I Wore Wednesday

Are you a fan of Modcloth?  I LOVE Modcloth.  It is so my style.  But I rarely buy from them because they're in the US and postage is a killer.  They currently have free international postage if you spend over $150 so I bought a few things at half price, with free postage!  This is the one of two dresses I bought, and I ummed and ahhed about this and then decided at the last minute that I would buy it.  When it arrived and I tried it on I LOVED IT!  Sooooooo happy I decided to buy it in the end! It arrived the day before a work Christmas party - perfect timing!

Dress - Modcloth
Shoes - ASOS
Necklace - Handmade Markets

What I Wore Wednesday

I think we're up to dress number 7 using this pattern!  This is one of the two shorter versions I made for winter, which I can wear with black opaque tights (a fave).  You can't see much of the shoes in the pic, but they are red suede wedges I got in Wellington NZ last year.  I don't wear them often - I feel a bit like a tranny when I wear heels cos I'm ridiculously tall, but they are so pretty!

 

 

Dress - made by me
Cardi - SES
Shoes - Ernest Wyler
Necklace - Only Pearl on Etsy

What I Wore Wednesday

My home made check winter dress turned out to be pretty versitile.  I love it paired with teal tights, belt and necklace and an angora cardi handed down from my sister Alicia (I am so lucky with her hand me downs!).  I wore this to the National Gallery to see the Turner exhibition with my parents, and bumped into Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne.  Well I was too chicken to talk to Denton but Jennifer Byrne just feels like an old friend so I told her I think she's wonderful and got a pic with her. LOL.  I'm such a dag.

Dress - made by me
Cardi - hand me down from my sister
Tights - Glassons
Belt - Jay Jays
Shoes - I Love Billy
Necklace - Etsy

What I Wore Wednesday

Remember the armchair Dave and I made over recently?  Well I had heaps of fabric left over so made myself a skirt.  And I do love it!  I didn't use a pattern, just used a skirt I already have to copy from.  And it cost me practically nothing - leftover fabric, no pattern, and a zip from one of the cheap asian junk shops which worked out to cost about 50c!

Top - Temt
Cardi - Ally
Leggings - Valleygirl
Necklace - Only Pearl Etsy
Shoes - Windsor Smith

Tassy loved my skirt too so she promptly put in an order for one.

What I Wore Wednesday

Say hello to dress number six using the pattern I bought after Christmas!  Even tho it's sleeveless this one is definitely a winter dress for me.  I'm too pale to show my skin against that much black!  Plus it's my winter length, which means it's shorter cos I can wear it with black tights lol.

This dress cost me about $5 (!!!!!!!) to make!  The fabric was on clearance at $3m and the lining was bought at a second hand shop in a pack of several fabrics for a few dollars.  I did have to pay full price for the zip tho!  About $2.

Dress - made by me
Cardi - SES
Belt - Asos
Necklace - crocheted by me
Boots - Dianna Ferrari

What I Wore Wednesday

 I am pretty darn proud of this skirt I made.  It has a curved waistband and I didn't use a pattern!  I used a skirt I already had as a guide and it worked out so well!  I love this Australian designed Prints Charming pattern.  Dave says he always wants to colour in the doodling when I wear this.

I love this necklace too!  I recently bought myself 6 necklaces from an Etsy store, using some birthday money.  I'm so happy with them!

Top - Sussan
Skirt - made by me
Shoes - Windsor Smith
Necklace - Only Pearl on Etsy

I'm also sporting a haircut - for the first time all year!

I'm linking back to What I Wore Wednesday on The Pleated Poppy.