Flashback Fridays: Recent(ish) Vintage Clothing Buys

So this week instead of an inspiring(embarrassing) look from my past, I'm going to show you a few of my last vintage purchases. I like shopping for vintage or secondhand clothes occasionally, but I don't have the patience for it often. I prefer to look where there is an already edited collection, so I don't have to dig through the old sweatpants and who knows what.

This dress is from my trip to NYC this last March. I found it while shopping the Flea Market Walk with my friend and colleague Holly. It's bright, crazy, and might make me look like a whacko, but I seriously don't care. It's silk, and I love the kimono sleeves and draped neckline.

This shirtdress is another NYC find. I loved the print the second I saw it and had to have it. It's a little snug, so the jury is still out on whether I will alter it into a top, or cut it apart and use the fabric for another project. Undecided.

This skirt is from my trip earlier in the week to Red Velvet in Springfield. I loved that their store was styled more like a department store, so the skirts were with other skirts, the dresses with each other, and so on. I'd had my eye out for a high-waisted pleated midi length skirt, and when I saw this blue and aqua polka-dot number, I was a goner. Plus it fit perfect, so it was a must buy. I also loved that mom & I were able to sit down and have a cupcake after some shopping. Super fun.

To read more Flashback Fridays, click HERE.

The long (torso) and short (skirt) of it....

So one thing I really enjoy about blogging is showing off finished projects that turned out great. It's wonderful showing them to a community (online) that gets what goes into a handmade item of clothing, and saves my family from me excessively blubbering on about seam finishes, facings and who knows what else.

But I'm a real person. And sometimes those well-intended projects do not go so great.....

Exhibit A:

I loved so many things about the idea of this dress (pattern is Simplicity 2222). The pockets, the racerback, my idea to add piping. I had even considered making this one a romper, but figured maybe I'd just try it in a dress first to check the fit, since my first romper went well. (and again....how many rompers could one person need?) This would make a very good case for muslins, because I prefer not to do them unless it is for a special occasion. If I would have done it on this one, I would have saved cutting into the pretty brown/turquoise print cotton fabric.

I started out by lengthening the skirt of the pattern because it barely looked like it would cover a 13-year-old's rear end, let alone mine. I should have just faced facts, though, the drop-waisted silhouette is just not good on my pear-shaped body. Add to that, the top is waaaaaay long in the torso, and too blousy. Not flattering. I tried taking it in a pinch on the sides....no luck.

So honestly, it's not like it's a total lost cause. I made my mom try it on, because she is taller than me, but apparently that doesn't matter. The torso still looks like it's made for a giant. She politely declined and then I started considering the other options. I could take it apart at the waist and try to shorten it?

Let's face it. I'm lazy. I love sewing, but I don't love altering. I'm thinking I might just chop it off into a sleeveless button up. What do you think? Should I try to salvage the dress, or just give up and turn it into a top???

Self-Stitched September 2011

So it's almost here! Self-stitched September 2011. I have participated in these handmade challenges before, SSS2010, and MMM2011. My first two attempts weren't quite as successful as I'd hoped, because I really just got back into sewing my own clothes about a year ago. They did make me more aware of ways to work my handmade clothes in with my ready-to-wear garments to make more interesting combos. This time, I feel much more prepared, since I've been sewing all summer, and I have lots more garments to work for different parts of my life...work, casual, dates, etc. So here's the pledge:

'I, Sasha, of sashamakes.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to wear at least one handmade clothing item each day for the duration of September 2011'

This time I'm not including accessories or re-fashions, because I want to literally wear handmade each day. I will be including sewn, and knitted garments, the latter of which I really don't have any finished, but am working on a cardigan. It will be more challenging, but certainly fun to mix and match everything! Will anyone out there be joining me? If you want to learn more, go here, or click on the logo on my sidebar!

Romper Inspired by DVF

I am a HUGE fan of Diane vonFurstenberg's work. I love her aesthetic, her chic, carefree clothes, and also how her clothes flatter the female figure. Add to that a super-inspiring American storybook life, and the iconic wrap dress, and I'm a devout follower. I have sewn my own version of the wrap dress here, and plan to make another in the fall. I'm also the proud owner of a DVF vintage re-make that I'll have to feature someday (maybe on Flashback Friday??).

So when I catch up on the latest runway shows, hers is always at the top of the list. I haven't been able to get this look out of my head since the Resort 2011 collection came out:

(image, Style.com)

I already knew at some point this summer, I wanted to make a romper, and this was the perfect starting point for inspiration. I ran into a graphic chevron print knit, and McCall's 6083 pattern and the rest is history.

I wouldn't say I used my A+ construction skills on this one, because let's be honest....It's not going to become a staple in my wardrobe. I do love how it turned out, and I'm ok with the fact that I didn't hem the bottom, and my stitches on the snap at bust might come out in 3 wears. This is fast fashion, and there's a chance this is the only season I will be able to wear it anyway, so it's no big deal. I do love how comfy it is and I'm already scheming in my head of a way to make a fall version, maybe similar to Sherry's or her inspiration. I love the one-piece ease of the whole thing, and the fact that it doesn't wrinkle is a huge plus. I can see this being something awesome to take on a tropical vacation (if I had something like that going on...which I don't lol)

A couple of notes about the picture.....
Yes, I am making a weird face because my husband was in a hurry.
Yes, that is a cat in the bottom of the photo. Percy, our outdoor kitty.
Yes, my legs are always that white even after a week at the lake. SPF 85 people.
No, you cannot have my backyard :)

Flashback Fridays: Sweetheart dress

Another installment of Flashback Fridays :)

This is a dress I made for a sweetheart dance my sophomore year of high school, that I then wore to National Honor Society induction. Yes. I was a nerd. Ok, glad that's settled.

Sorry for the lackluster photo above, but that's what happens when you have the gym lights out for a candle-lighting ceremony. The dress was a two-piece, ice blue satin. My grandmother recommended that I use another fabric. I took that as a challenge. It certainly caused me some headaches, especially with sewing it on the garage sale sewing machine I had been using. I believe it was after this, though, that my mom realized maybe sewing wasn't just a phase, and I actually needed a new machine. She took me to get one with my grandma (the one who discouraged the use of satin), and we picked out a Singer school model. It's the one I still use today!

This photo had to be included if for no other reason than embarrassing my classmates. Left to right that's Evan, Carrie, Amanda, John Tom, Me, and Kristen. You're welcome :) Don't we look snazzy???

To see more Flashback Friday, click HERE.

Flashback Friday...four eyes

Here's a photo just for fun since I'm out of town. Did you know I used to wear glasses all the time? Had to from 3rd grade up until I graduated college. Then I got LASIK which was the most miraculous thing ever! Now, I just bought a fake pair of glasses for fun. Ironic isn't it??? Haha...this picture isn't old, but the dorkiness goes way back :)




...and I am wearing one of my recent makes here!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Flashback Fridays: Raised on Promises

This one's a doozy...lol. So for school pictures one year (the night before to be exact) I decided I didn't have anything suitable to wear the next morning. I got busy DIYing an outfit that included my already bleached jean jacket, a thermal with the sleeves cut off, and a flag painted on, and some old jeans bleached out and splatter painted. This is the picture mom took before I left for school...classic:

And the school portrait for proof. Gotta love those braces:

*Title: Lyrics from Tom Petty's "American Girl"
Hope you enjoyed this installment of Flashback Fridays. To see all of this series, go here.