mdlaj

I understand I handled to talk about this (at excellent length) before–the issue I’ve had with the Duro-dress shape is that it somehow demands new shoes for the new proportion. I had discovered summertime shoes, but, if you hadn’t noticed, summertime has slipped away. It has already *snowed* right here in Chicago!

The new shoes I discovered are the ones at left, which satisfy my stringent shoe demands (not as well high a heel, ankle strap, round toe) as well as have the added benefit of making a lovely resonant clomping noise if you truly stomp. (I swear, I’m perpetually six years old.) plus the platform wedge makes you a great deal taller without the concomitant foot pain of “real” heels.

I likewise handled to track them down in brown. I was lured by the red ones — who isn’t lured by red ones? — however I haven’t handled to effectively wear red shoes since eighth grade. buy them, yes. handle to leave the home in them? No.

I have these perpetual dreams of ending up being (at this late stage) one of those elegant minimalists; somebody who buys two of everything, one black as well as one brown (or red, or cream) as well as eases with life effortlessly coordinated, slippery as an eel. This, as you may imagine, stays only a dream. every time I work towards this suitable (which in my head is sometimes called the “live like a stereotypical designer project”), perhaps by making five similar skirts in boring colors, I am distracted by something shiny as well as whoops, I’m off once again in some wild print, leaving the bad dark-brown skirt moping in the closet.

The closest I ever get to that blissful minimalist specify is by managing to sew a series of wild prints in a similar color family, so at least I can get by with a few pairs of monochrome tights as well as a couple of cardigans. as well as two pairs of shoes, one black, as well as one brown. If I’m lucky, as well as I don’t get distracted by patterned tights as well as sweaters, this mainly works.

Does anyone right here have the expert-recommended two- or three-color closet? exactly how do you do it?

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Two-Tone, always Two-ToneOctober 12, 2007
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keep in mind this fabric? and this pattern, which I made into this dress? Well, I didn’t have enough of the car fabric (damn directional print!) so I thought, oh! PLAID! Of COURSE!

But there was no method in hell that I was going to match a plaid with a large repeat across eight gores, so I put a customized circle skirt on it, instead.

I’m not rather sure I did a good enough job on the plaid (it matches perfectly at the BACK, I swear! across the zipper, and everything!) but it’s as well late now, and besides, there’s piping at the midriff! That ought to break it up a bit. I have realized, actually, just now, why I am so consumed with midriff lines — I’m so shortwaisted that breaking it up makes me a bit longer from take on to waist. Or, at least, that’s the idea.

I’m using this to give a talk on Saturday. The idea is: if you can’t be entertaining, be attractive (although, I promise, I am going to try for entertaining, too!). Once, for providing an academic paper, I used a bright green 1960s Jackie O.-style shift and jacket. The jacket had jeweled buttons and I had, by complete coincidence, matching green and white shoes. I keep in mind the attire in more detail than the paper!

It needs a good pressing but even I’m not masochist enough to iron something tonight that will be in a suitcase for twelve hours tomorrow. (And even hotel irons can press well if you utilize a moist washcloth as a pressing cloth.) I truly desire I had grey suede wedge heels, but that’s pushing it, even for me. (I *do* have a yellow bag.)

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It might just be …May 28, 2006
My first Fabric!June 4, 2008
Oh, Fabric, Why Can’t I stop You?September 26, 2007

I know this isn’t a dress, but regular readers will know of my preoccupation — really, obsession — with short-sleeved cardigan sweaters. I *love* them. There is no better A/C-fighter/shoulder-coverup in the summer than a short-sleeved cardigan. A cardigan, a nice tee, and a pretty skirt is perfect for nearly any occasion … but it’s been so hard to find decent short-sleeved cardigans! (Searches tend to turn up these horrors.)

And now, in answer to unarticulated prayers, it seems that J. crew — yes, that J. crew — has them. In TWELVE colors, including orange, kelly green, and two different yellows.

They’re not cheap, unfortunately ($65) but they’re not insanely unreasonable, and I’ve been satisfied with J. crew quality in the past. but here’s the most important part: I called to get the neck-hem measurement, and it’s 21.5 inches in the medium. Yep — if you’re shortwaisted, as I am, that should hit you perfectly at the top of the hip, which is where sweaters should fall. (Honestly. They’ve done all sorts of calculations, and invoked the golden ratio, and everything. That’s where they should be.)

Sadly, about half the colors (including the green, the orange, and one of the yellows) won’t ship until 6/16. (I really want all of THEM, but I’m going to limit myself to one or two and see how they work out. I’m even tempted by the bright purple, and I hate purple.)

Now if I could only find mesh polo shirts that measured 21 inches or less, shoulder to hem, in nice colors, WITHOUT some big honking logo, my (sartorial) life would be nearly perfect.

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Mad, Plaid, and dangerous to KnowNovember 8, 2010In “Lands’ End”
Moths in the Pocketbook [caution: long entry]July 2, 2007
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What are you using to the party? (Which party? The celebration to celebrate Jen’s fifth anniversary with MOMSPatterns — that party!) I’m using this. as well as eating pigs in blankets. In my head.

It’s a online party, happening this weekend, as well as in event as well as as a say thanks to YOU, she’d like to run YOU a 20% off weekend sale on all patterns on her site! utilize the coupon code ‘happyfiver’ when you inspect out from ideal now up until midnight EST Monday, September 12, 2011, as well as the discount rate will be applied. Please keep in mind that Jen ships for complimentary in the USA & Canada with the purchase of 5 or a lot more patterns, as well as uses discounted shipping internationally  

(Discounts may be utilized on any type of patterns, routinely priced or sale priced!)

(Definitely inspect out the 40s as well as 50s patterns, there are tons of new ones …)

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Happy Anniversary, Jen!August 31, 2007
Today’s Pattern Heckling as well as SaleMay 28, 2010In “The Eighties! They’re Back!”
Happy Anniversary!September 1, 2009With 21 comments

The very first evaluation of The trick Lives of gowns has shown up in my feed visitor … from Sarah at the blog domestic Sluttery:

As the author of A gown A Day, Erin McKean conjures up the most gorgeous descriptions of clothes, including a cherry pie print blouse that sent me directly to eBay. In Mimi’s shop, Dora finds that each product includes a story, as well as these were absolutely beautiful. The gown that is only for dancing, the gown that is for a extremely specific meeting…

Although specific aspects of the plot were a bit predictable for me, The trick Lives of gowns is a heart-warming as well as lovely book that would make a fantastic Christmas present for any type of vintage lover.

Thanks Sarah! Of course, the book isn’t out up until February, however I presume they still have book tokens in the UK, right? (I utilized to like reading about book tokens in children’s books. as well as speaking of children’s books, the cover picture at that publish is for the UK edition — doesn’t it look extremely Noel Streatfeild? I am so lucky in my book covers …)

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Secret Lives of gowns #14March 27, 2008With 80 comments
The trick Lives of Dresses, Vol. 5July 16, 2006
The trick Lives of gowns Charity Drive 2008December 5, 2008

Jilli sends this stunner our way, with the caveat that it doesn’t play well with petticoats. If this makes no sense to you, comprehend that Jilli is the proprietress of Gothic appeal School.

Obviously, what this gown *is* appropriate for is riding on Vespas–but then, what isn’t? If I had a Vespa I would trip it INDOORS. I would online in a storage facility just so I might trip it from my bedroom to the kitchen area as well as back. fail to remember that “when I am old I shall wear purple” nonsense; I figure that as soon as my chances of having a ministroke top my chances of being in an regrettable Vespa accident, a Vespa I shall have.

I expect the Vespa right here is some type of semiotic shorthand for “I am La Bella Italienne! See, I wear the material of brown to set off my skin of olive!” however the issue with utilizing a Vespa in fashion ads is that nothing is as awesome as a Vespa, so people think, “oh, yeah, good gown but–LOOK AT THAT VESPA!”

Anyway, this gown is on clearance (well, $99, decreased from $198) at Barrie Pace, a catalog I have not seen much of because I left the Southland. There are great deals of other things on clearance that all seem extremely wedding-friendly, not only for guests however for bridesmaids-sans-butt-bow as well as mothers of brides as well as grooms. In fact, there were a couple other gowns that I liked a bit much more than this one. Why don’t they get pictured? No Vespa.

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Or “GBS,” as I like to call it, now that we’re friends:

Note: I am not the person doing really cool research on the British road system. I’m the other one.

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Work In Progress: gray ruffle DressJune 2, 2008
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International wear A dress Day 2009 — Today!October 29, 2009With 83 comments

Oh, it’s not all puppies as well as popsicles right here at A gown A Day headquarters. Not whatever that rolls off the assembly line gets worn, or even looked at without a shudder. This is one of my more spectacular failures. So spectacular, that even though this was completed more than a YEAR ago, I couldn’t bear to even look at it up until now.

It shouldn’t have been this way. I’ve made this specific pattern three or four times, as well as it always looked quite good, as far as I might tell. (I made it twice in liberty prints, one lawn, one Jubilee, as well as when in a huge print of pink roses.) as well as when I saw this fabric, shimmering happily on the computer screen, I figured, “Oh, fun, HoJo’s blue!”

I swear, if I had a time machine, one of my to-dos, right after killing Hitler as well as visiting Claire McCardell, would be to go back as well as prevent myself from pushing the “place order” on this one.

It was quite obvious from the beginning that this was the wrong material for this dress; it was as well stiff, even after a few washings, as well as it showed every bit spot. Yet I kept on. I didn’t try it on at all (why should I have? I’d already made the pattern three times) up until I was about to hem the skirt. then — oh lord. The gown hung as if it were made from cardboard, as well as the color left me appearing like some minor character from a horror movie. Not any type of character with a name, however somebody you see in the credit histories noted as “Zombie woman who Loses Eyeball in Punch Bowl.” Yes, it made me look like a bit player in Zombie Prom, which, now that I inspect IMDB, is not just my fevered invention however a genuine actual movie coming out this year. (Why didn’t they phone call me? I have my own costume.)

The only redeeming function of this gown is the buttons. They’re vintage, as well as extremely nice. I’m not rather sure what to do with the rest of it. I might cut it up for an A-line skirt; if I kept this color (which seems to be my Kryptonite) away from my deal with it might still be cute. I might just put it in the stack for the salvation army (they take anything); I might put it up on eBay (sucker born every minute); I might send it to the producers of Zombie Prom II: The After Party; I might discover a farmer as well as offer it to him for his scarecrow. great deals of options. The only choice closed off to me is really using this as is.

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