The House of Mirth

Vienna!

2012-01-12T23:18:00.004+08:00

Guten tag from Vienna!

Sorry about the crappy iPhone photos and no outfit shots, but I am having technological issues and I´m all by myself so it´s logistically difficult to take a photo that is more than my arm´s length away.

Vienna is an absolutely beautiful city. I wish I had some company but I´m still having a good time. I haven´t even got lost yet, which is a miracle in itself. There is a maze at the castle I am going to tomorrow that I´d love to see... but I´m afraid that if I enter it I´ll never return... I much prefer travelling with someone who can take charge of all navigational matters!

I was pretty excited about doing lots of shopping here but I´m a bit disappointed. I bought a beautiful vintage top from the most fabulous vintage shop ever but everything else is either H&M or Versace and nothing in between. Oh well, I´ll save all my money (and suitcase space) for England.

I´m going to be settled in England on Monday, so hopefully I´ll be able to do a proper post then.

Hyperallergenic necklace

2012-01-03T16:21:00.002+08:00

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post. It's so lovely that anyone is still reading my blog when I have been so lax with my updates.

Here is another one the dresses I made for my upcoming trip. It's a blatant rip off of the not-terribly-original Wiksten Anna dress (except mine is lined, is more fitted and has more interesting sleeves). I wanted to go for the casual chic look... however I'm a little worried that it looks like some sort of standard issue garb given to me when I got too old to live at the orphanage!

I thought accessorising would be the key. Although I'm useless at that and own almost no jewellery. I think it looks quite good with my $2 charity shop necklace... but I can only wear it for 2 hours at a time as I am completely allergic to any metal that isn't frightfully expensive. (This is perhaps the reason why I don't own jewellery.)

I have been organising my travel wardrobe and it's not as dire as I first expected! Stay tuned in the next few days for outfit pics, tips for dressing for winter travel and ... *drumroll*... my travel itinerary.

I am never sewing velvet again

2012-01-01T16:06:00.004+08:00

Greetings!
My absence has been long, but, as usual, I have returned to post some lack-luster new outfits.

I'm going to Europe for 8 weeks next week (Aahh! Typing that makes it seem so real!). Since I have no winter clothes (as evidenced by my untimely mid-Self-Stitched-September departure), my mission is make at least 3 warm outfits to get me through a week or so before I can buy up big at Topshop.

I've made a few things but I'm not 100% thrilled with any of them. I'll post them all over the next couple of weeks, plus some Europe photos, hopefully, although I'm not quite sure where I'm going to get a camera from...

I've been completely obsessed with silk velvet lately, but I haven't been able to find any affordable stuff online other than the undyed variety from the excellent Silk Wholesalers. After spending 3 years dyeing everything for uni I swore I'd never ever dye anything again, but I caved, and dyed it a gorgeous dusky pink (it was supposed to be red... but the colour is more gorgeous than I had planned).

Unfortunately, as I should have realised, velvet is a bastard to work with, especially since you can't iron it. Apparently you can get some kind of miniature bed of nails, so you can iron without crushing the pile... but I was in a hurry and couldn't be dealing with that malarky.

I don't think the style of the dress takes full advantage of the gorgeous drape of the fabric and I think a simpler, less fitted design would have looked better. But the dress is wearable, I hope.

Does anyone have any good velvet-sewing tips?

The offending dress

2011-09-16T18:30:00.004+08:00

I tried my new dress on this morning and I've decided it's fab. I think I was being a drama queen the other day and my issues with it were mostly unfounded. Here it is!

It's got the same frill/sleeve situation as my new white lacy top. The colour's not quite right in the pictures; it's quite a lot duller and not at all shiny... but you get the idea. I made it from a silk/linen that I've had lingering in my spare room for years. It is lovely fabric, but it does crease like a bastard... but I think if I wear it in a casual setting on a hot day with the Swedish Hasbeens I'm about to buy online, it'll be fine.

I'm solvent again so I went shopping today and bought some new green suede shoes, because a girl can never have too many pairs of green shoes! I am also going to the hairdresser on Monday to try and sort out my hair colour debacle. I hope she doesn't make it worse.

I've got some more SSS pictures, but I have dodgy hair in them so I'll add them another day.

SSS - day 14 + sewing based rant

2011-09-14T17:55:00.003+08:00

Frankensteined and refashioned cardigan(s) as blogged here

I had such a lovely day off yesterday that I decided to take another one off today to finish my new dress. I clearly jinxed myself as I had a bad day, I ate about 6000 calories and I'm angry about my dress.

The intention was to make something with a relaxed fit with a similar sort of vibe as this gorgeous 1920s dress as worn by Rhiannon of Liebemarlene Vintage.

I'm worried mine just looks like a tent. Admittedly, Rhiannon is a stick insect, so perhaps non-fitted dresses just suit her better than me. Can any of my lovely bloggy friends help? How do you make a loose fitting dress without it looking like you made something 3 sizes too big?

The other issue I am having is one that has been plaguing me for years. What do you do with fabric that creases like a bastard? I know that theoretically the solution is to make something that lends itself to the creased look... which is why I chose this particular vibe of dress. But again, there is a fine line between looking relaxed vintage cool and looking like you couldn't be arsed ironing your dress this morning.

Grrrr! The offending dress has been relegated to my wardrobe and I don't want to see it for a while. Perhaps it's not as bad as I think. I'll let it settle for a while and I'll take it out for some photos when I'm feeling less belligerent.

SSS - days 9, 10, 11 and 12

2011-09-13T15:38:00.000+08:00

Hopefully soon I'll blog about something other than what I've been wearing this month! I've got the day off today and am making a new dress! Hopefully it will feature soon.

Day 12

I've decided that I actually really love this refashioned mustard blouse.

Day 11

I bought this gorgeous vintage yellow linen from eBay ages ago. Lemon is one of those colours that I absolutely adore, but I don't think it adores me. Initially I wanted to make a dress from it, but I thought it would be safer as a skirt, so it wouldn't be too obvious that it doesn't suit me.

The top was once a lovely 1950s blouse but it was massive and very unflattering so I saved the front and the button-up back and used pattern for my black lace top to turn it into a crop top.

Day 10

Sorry about the terrible photo and my friend's foot. Better view of the dress here. I'm also not supposed to be wearing that bloody cardigan ever again... but I just can't seem to part with it! Argh!!

Day 9

This is my attempt at making one of those enormous-shouldered Balmain blazers that were all the rage a couple of years ago. Each shoulder has 2 of the biggest shoulder pads I could find stacked on top of each other.

SSS - day 8

2011-09-08T14:48:00.002+08:00

Better outfit today! It even coped well on the bike! Thank you for all your lovely tips. I'm a bit behind with replying to comments/reading all your delightful blogs, but I'll be back with you in a few days.

SSS - day 7

2011-09-07T18:37:00.003+08:00

I'm so sorry, this outfit is dire. I've only uploaded it for the spirit of SSS, but I think this photo confirms that I should never wear it again and that the cardigan of doom needs to go to a better place.

I've started cycling to the hospital because I desperately need the exercise and I don't mind exercise so much if it has a purpose (ie to get me somewhere I'm already going). But this puts further strain on my already meagre clothing pool.

What can one wear while cycling and still remain chic?

Edit: Oh yeah... the self-stitched part is the blouse that is refashioned and is actually reasonably cool but you can't see the good bits in the photo.

SSS - day 6

2011-09-06T16:30:00.003+08:00

OK... this is where my outfits start getting boring. I'm struggling a bit now to find things to wear that you haven't seen, that are seasonally appropriate and that are not too unseemly for the hospital. (Who knows what I'm going to wear when I start birthing babies (no one gets that reference)... I don't want anything to get soaked in amniotic fluid. Yuuuucckkk!)

I'm wearing my draped skirt (for which there is a very old tutorial here) and my lace crop top which I am yet to blog about. It's made from lace I bought when I visited Tessuti in Melbourne (I'm pretty sure you can buy it online). I think it cost me $165/m and I bought a metre... which is crazily expensive, but my logic at the time was that I'd pay more than that for a top, so why shouldn't I pay that much for fabric? In the end I was delighted with my top. It has raglan sleeves and little bows on the arm seams and down the back. I'll photograph it better on the weekend. And I used to the left-over lace for a very foxy wiggle dress that I will also photograph at a later date!

So I suppose I got my money's worth... but I doubt I'd pay that much for fabric again. What do you think? How much would you be willing to pay for fabric?

Sewing leather + SSS day 5

2011-09-05T17:56:00.000+08:00

I thought I'd do a little post about sewing leather, since a few of you have commented about how daunting sewing leather seems. I'm also a beginner at sewing leather, but I think these are the main things you need know for making basic leather items.

Really the only differences between leather and normal fabric are:
1) Your domestic machine will dislike it;
2) You can't iron it;
3) It's not woven; and
4) You can't pin it.

1. Your domestic machine will dislike it

So you'll swear a lot and break a lot of needles.

Use heavy duty leather needles and heavy duty upholstery thread.
Use a large stitch on the machine (I use a 4 or a 5 on my Bernina) as you want to minimise the amount of times the needle goes into the leather.
Try to avoid mistakes, because once a hole is made in the leather it doesn't grow over again.
PICK A SIMPLE PATTERN! You need minimal seams and minimal detail! You will probably murder a family member if you attempt anything that involves plackets or vents or bound buttonholes (haha not that I ever attempt those things anyway).

2. You can't iron it

This is the most troublesome bit... which means you can't press your seams. The solution is:

a) Glue down your seams, presumably with craft glue or leather glue and then put a big book on them to hold them flat while they dry; or
b) Sew down your seams

I did the latter for my leather jackets because I was too lazy to go to the shop to buy glue. This turned out to be tedious as I violated rule 1 and I hadn't learnt yet to minimise sewing. But it technically can be done.

3. It's not woven

This is the best bit about sewing with leather. Because there is no grainline you can lie out your pattern pieces however you want and, obviously, use less material. And there is nothing more glorious than cutting leather.

4. You can't pin it

You can't pin down your pattern when cutting - just lie the pattern pieces down and draw around them with a permanent marker.
You can't use pins when sewing. For tricky bits I used hair pins to hold it together. Using pins when sewing is stupid anyway! Try to get out of this habit as early as you can as it's time consuming and unnecessary and totally easy once you get used to it.

That is all, really!

Here is what I wore today. I'm back at uni doing my obstetrics and gynaecology rotation. I really don't want to do it as it involves 12 hour NIGHT shifts on the WEEKEND. Waahhhhh!!!

The thing I really love about SSS is it gets me wearing things I wouldn't usually wear ie this mustard blouse. If I ever went to get my colours done I'm sure they'd tell me to never, ever, ever wear mustard... but I always like doing things I'm not supposed to do.

I'm wearing:
Self-stitched linen/cotton gingham skirt
Thrifted mustard blouse (I cut the sleeves off and rolled them up)
Cardigan that needs the bin asap as I have worn it pretty much every day for the last 2 years and am sick to death of the sight of it
Glorious vintage shoes
ASOS tights
And yes, my glasses are real. I wear them when I'm too poor for new contact lenses

Because I totally need another white lacy top + SSS day 4

2011-09-04T16:15:00.004+08:00

I've just written a post about sewing leather, but I think I'll save it for another day when I'm feeling lazy and don't have much to say.

I'm giving my brown leather jacket another outing today with my amazing hot-off-the-press new top. I used another variation of the pattern I made for my lavender blouse and Seventh Day Adventist dress (and I have 3 other variations in the pipeline - I think this pattern has proved to be very successful!). Unfortunately these photos fail to convey its fabulousness. I might take some better ones before I put it up on BurdaStyle. I made it out of the most beautiful vintage whitework fabric that a lovely eBay seller accidentally sent to me (and didn't want back) a couple of years ago.

This is now my 6th white/cream lacy top. There is now an embargo on white lacy tops! Enough!

All I need now is a whip and a hat...

2011-09-03T16:54:00.002+08:00

Apparently this outfit makes me look like Indiana Jones, which I'm taking as a compliment as I adore Indiana and he is welcome to explore my temple whenever he likes.

This is my other leather jacket as detested by my sewing machine. I can't be arsed taking close-up pictures today so I'll do it another day.

Top: For Love and Liberty
Trousers: ASOS
Glorious shoes: vintage
Belt: vintage

Refashioned leather jacket + SSS day 2

2011-09-02T12:54:00.003+08:00

It's freezing today! It's a shame it's so cold for the second day of spring... but it gives me a chance to show off my newish refashioned 80s leather jacket! I found it in an op shop for $40 and I adored the gorgeous leather and the embossed suede panels. The original had those shiteous 80s batwing sleeves and waistband that do absolutely nothing for me (I look terrible in anything where you can't see where I start and where I end). So I pulled it apart and sewed it back together using parts of the pattern that I drafted for my other leather jacket. I had to guess a bit with the shoulder seams and the side seams because I wanted to keep the lapels intact and it's ever so slightly too small around the shoulders... but it's leather and should stretch a bit!

I'm wearing it with my enormous thrifted blouse which I quite enjoy, even though it makes me feel like Maggie Tabberer who, as all my Australian readers will know, is not someone that a youngish and fashionableish person should aspire to be like.

Here are some detail shots. How cool are the cuffs! (When I refashion things I try to keep as many as possible of the cool details of the original intact). I lined it in silk/cotton.

My sewing machine DID NOT APPRECIATE this jacket (or my other leather jacket). I wouldn't recommend sewing leather with a home sewing machine unless you're very patient and tolerant of a sub-standard finished product. I used one of those big fat leather needles (probably more like 20 of those big fat leather needles) and heavy duty upholstery sewing thread. Notice how I have no detail shots of my topstitching? That's coz it's crap. But no one has noticed yet other than me and I don't much care.

Lavender top + SSS day 1

2011-09-01T10:45:00.003+08:00

It's sad times today as my 2 week holiday is nearly over. It's been brilliant being able to sit around the house all day watching Breaking Bad and the excellent new The Hour (which is satisfying my Mad Men craving). I even tried to exercise yesterday and rode my bike to my mum's house. I only managed to crash into one parked car...

I'm so glad I continued with this top because I really love it now! I was worried it was going to be a bit mumsie and 1970s maternity top-esque, but it's pretty much exactly as I planned.

I used a slightly modified version of the pattern I drafted for my Seventh Day Adventist dress. I used a silk/cotton, which I probably wouldn't choose for it again - something a bit more drapey would have worked better... but no big deal.

Work in progress

2011-08-30T10:45:00.003+08:00

I'm on holidays from uni for 2 weeks - 1 week has already gone :(. I went to stay at my Dad's house in Albany for a few days, so no sewing has been done. Here is me looking thrilled when halfway up a massive hill, 1 hour post my exercise limit.

Before I went away I started work on a lavender blouse. It was supposed to be all sexy and romantic but so far it looks very lackluster indeed. One of the most important skills to learn with sewing (and anything else creative) is when to persevere and when to give up.

What do you guys think? How do you know when something is going to work out or when it's just going to be a big fat waste of time?

Self-Stitched September

2011-08-30T10:06:00.004+08:00

So I was supposed to do this last year.... but alas it did not happen. But I'm totally excited to do it this year! I'm actually quite annoyed that September is still 2 days away.

I don't have enough clothes to do full hand-made outfits or post every day (unless you want to see me wearing the same thing 3 times per week), but....

I, Lily Bart, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to wear at least 1 hand-made and/or refashioned item each day for the duration of September 2011.

Electric blue, big sleeves

2011-08-24T09:30:00.002+08:00

Two blog posts in two days! Goodness me!

I made this dress a while ago from an enormous 80s dress that I bought at an op shop. I loved the colour and the sleeves but the it was huge, long and high necked*. Why why why do I never take before photos??

This is actually one of my favourite dresses and I *think* it looks good when I look in the mirror, but it looked quite awful in some of the photos I took (and immediately deleted!). Now I am rethinking its favourite dress status. Which do you think lies more, the mirror or the camera?

* Seventh Day Adventist style. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my last post. It's just not the particular sartorial experience I am going for!

Seventh Day Adventist

2011-08-23T12:06:00.004+08:00

Ohhhhh dear....
It's been over a year since I last blogged. That is outrageous. My absence was somewhat due to laziness but mostly due to my lack of a decent camera. Now I have semi-permanent access to some sort of fandangled SLR thing so I'm back.

Much has changed in the last year! My boyfriend and broke up, I totally ruined my hair and got some awesome wallpaper.

Here is my latest dress! I nearly threw it out because it made me look like a Seventh Day Adventist, but I shortened it, cut heaps out of the front and I think it's OK now. I've wanted to make a dress with faggoting (hehehe!) for ages, but I couldn't be bothered with it so I used an insert instead. I also gave pintucking a go, which was surprisingly difficult, and mine looks pretty messy up close.

I'm wearing the dress with an awesome cotton slip I got from an op shop for $2.50. I love how its previous owner wrote her name on it with permanent marker. (Although it reminds of when I was a kid and my mum wanted to write my name in my underwear when I went to school camp. Urgh!)

Apologies for my hair. I'm growing out my fringe, trying to get it back to my natural colour and trying to grow it long again (all very unsuccessfully) and it looks terrible and I have no clue what to do with it. Any ideas?

Throw me a pity party

2010-07-01T07:01:00.002+08:00

I really need to do some sewing. I have nothing to wear and I feel like I need to do something productive with my spare time. But I'm totally unmotivated. My latest attempt was a disaster (the first disaster I've had in a long time) and I can't think of anything else to make.

How do I get my motivation back?

Oh! And everyone else seems to be announcing their participation in the BurdaStyle book, so I suppose it's OK if I jump on the bandwagon. I'm doing a coat. I hope I can do it justice! I haven't got my fabric yet, so unfortunately I can't really use this as inspiration to start sewing again just yet.

Impractical 1960s dress + Mr Darcy top

2010-06-21T14:15:00.003+08:00

Here they are together! I actually think this is quite a fab outfit. I wore this today to the hospital. The dress was comfy and I wasn't too hot or cold... so I'll definitely wear it again!

I'm currently working on a dress version of the Mr Darcy top. It's funny... Roe of Yes, Honey Chyle asked me the other day if sheer fabrics are hard to work with and I was like "nah nah, they're fine!!!" THEN I made the catastrophic error of making my new dress out of silk chiffon... and let me tell you it's an ABSOLUTE bastard and I think that doing silk chiffon bias binding will be particularly heinous. I'll keep you updated!

Self-Stitched September

2010-06-21T14:08:00.003+08:00

Ok, so I've decided to do So, Zo's Self-Stitched September. Made-me-May was a brilliant idea, however I was reluctant to join because I have so few clothes that it's a bit embarrassing to post the same outfit 4 times a week... But since September isn't for a while, I can sew like crazy in order to build up a socially acceptable amount of clothes.

'I, Lily, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear at least one handmade item of clothing every day for the duration of September 2010'.

What's going on? 2 blog updates in 2 days??!!???

2010-06-18T20:31:00.002+08:00

Hello friends! Here is my new Mr Darcy top. I'll take some photos of it under my impractical 1960s dress tomorrow.

As you can see, I've also chopped off all my hair. It was very sad to see it go, but the ends were SOOOO fried from dyeing it from blonde to almost black and back to blonde again... so they had to go. I am quite sad... but I suppose it will grow back (in a couple of years!!). It's supposed to be all 1960s and huge, but I'm not very good at doing it yet.

Game of 8 questions

2010-06-17T15:14:00.003+08:00

I finished my Mr Darcy blouse to wear under my impractical 1960s dress. It is FABULOUS! I like it so much that I'm making a similarish dress out of the same pattern. I tried to photograph it this morning, but it was too dark and I look offensive so I'll try again tomorrow.

In the mean time, the glorious Tilly of Tilly and the Buttons tagged me in her game of 8 questions.

Here they are!

1. What is your staple meal? (ie. what meal do you cook most often, when you can't be bothered to think of anything adventurous)

I actually really hate cooking and going grocery shopping. I am a bit obsessed with Thai red beef curry, so I get my boyfriend to make that for me all the time. (I'm actually furious at the moment as he was supposed to be doing that tonight but he's decided to do an Indian curry instead... ggrrrrrr!!!)

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A cat! I've always wanted to be a cat! If that can't happen, then ideally I'd like to be a housewife, although I'd have to get a maid and a cook as I have little inclination towards housework. In reality I am going to be a doctor in 2.5 years... however this is very disappointing indeed!

3. What book are you reading at the moment (if any)?

Everything is illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Bloody fantastic.

4. How do you relax?

I do a lot of this!! I like reading, watching TV, going to the movies, binge eating, sewing, drinking endless cups of tea... the list is endless.

5. What colour are the interior walls of your home?

White. I have to say I am very guilty of neglecting my house! All my creative energy goes into my clothes so my house is totally boring.

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

hehehe... there are so many! I have to confess that I really really really love stalking people online. (ie people I went to school with, my ex-boyfriend, his wife, people I can't stand...) AND I also enjoy going on online dating sites to see if I can find anyone I know. This is actually really tragic. I should not have admitted this.

7. What time is bed time and getting up time?

Oh dear. I am such a nanna. I usually go to bed about 9.30 and wake up about 7. (Tilly, this game is making me sound like the saddest loser ever!!).

8. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

Too long! At least an hour a day.... but if I'm supposed to be studying, probably more like 4 hours per day.

Ok, so I'm going to tag the following:

Danielle from Going by Dirigible as she is a lazy arse on holidays
The extraordinarily hot Roe from Yes, Honey Chyle
Carolyn from Handmade by Carolyn who is very good at updating her blog
The ever fabulous Brumby from UtBwB
Stephanie from The Naked Seamstress as I'm dying to see what she's going to make next

And if they care to participate, they can answer the following questions:

1) If you could live in any time and place, when and where would it be?
2) Other than Mr Darcy, who is your most shaggable fictional character?
3) Do you have any hidden talents?
4) Tell me something embarrassing about yourself!
5) What really gets on your nerves?
6) Do your family and friends read your blog?
7) What's your favourite movie?
8) What does your dream cat look like? (Mine is a big fat fluffy orange Persian with a squished face called Darren or Darryl. Not liking cats is not an option!)

Here are some pretty pictures from the Givenchy Resort 2011 collection

60s impracticality

2010-06-13T16:26:00.002+08:00

My exams are over so I'm back in sewing action. That's actually a lie... I've been too lazy to do anything, so I thought I'd take a couple of dodgy photos of this dress instead. I started it a few months ago but it didn't fit me properly at the back (despite doing about 982343 toiles) and I finally got around to fixing it a couple of weeks ago.

I used a pattern for this one:

Doesn't it look EXACTLY the same as in the picture????

The problem with this dress is that it is a winter dress (I made it out of a gorgeous wool/cashmere coating fabric), however what's the point of a sleeveless winter dress??? Also my bingo wings are not my best feature, so I definitely think some sort of top to wear underneath is the solution. I was thinking a Mr Darcy-esque loose fitting blouse with a pussy bow at the neck and enormous 3/4 length sleeves? What do you guys think?

MEANWHILE welcome to all my new followers! I can't believe how many of you there are. Sorry I have been so lax with my posting. I was going to do some sort of giveaway for the 200th follower but I don't know how to tell who the 200th follower is? If someone can tell me how to figure this out, I'll do a giveaway for my 300th follower.

Black and white checks

2010-05-08T15:06:00.003+08:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to put up photos of this dress! Here it is! Unfortunately it doesn't look anywhere near as fabulous in the photos as it does in real life. (And my left eye isn't actually half the size of my right... that's just one of the perils of poor lighting and no photographic skills whatsoever.)

I feel wretched today. My throat is so sore and I have all this crap in the back of my throat and it's total agony when I cough so I've got this constant choking/not being able to breathe sensation. Hideous.

Meanwhile, I'm a total moron. This dress is actually a refashion, but it was so dire in its original state and I had such low expectations that I didn't bother to take a photo of it! Think gross 80s suit with elastic waisted pleated skirt, a shoulder-padded overshirt with an enormous polyester lace collar.

Vintage inspiration

2010-05-02T19:08:00.003+08:00

I've just finished the most fabulous dress I've made in a long time. It's along the lines of these two dresses, but infinitely more fabulous. No more daylight today, so I'll have to do a photoshoot another day. I'm not quite sure why I decided to make such a summery dress when I have absolutely nothing for this coming winter... I suppose when you're inspired you just have to go for it... it's just a shame that I won't be able to wear it for another 6 months!

Deliciousness

2010-04-25T12:24:00.004+08:00

Arrghhh I really want the following items!

I haven't made anything in so long. I'm terribly depressed about it. But I did get a tonne of fabric from the Joveeba sale last weekend. And I got to meet Vanessa, Melissa and Sandra from the Perth BurdaStyle group which was delightful! Hi girls!

This is the latest monstrosity I'm going to refashion:

Yes, it is an early 90s elastic waisted suit! Hyacinth Bucket would cream her jeans all over it. Any ideas? Does anyone know how to remove permanent pleating??

Tired

2010-04-17T10:10:00.003+08:00

Here is my new refashioned dress from the 80s monstrosity in my last post. I'm actually really pleased with it, especially since it is quite casual and I am totally lacking in the casual department. I'm obsessed with stripes going in different directions and this has given me loads of ideas for other things.

As you can see, the shitty camera has returned, so apologies for the dark photos.

I've also nearly finished my 1960s dress. I've temporarily given up as the wool has stretched and it's too big at the back and needs taking in. I have no patience for alterations so I'll deal with it when it gets cold enough to wear it.

Uni is horrific at the moment. So I have no idea when I'll get time for my next project :(

H&M knock off top

2010-04-10T16:15:00.005+08:00

It seems a bit ironic to knock-off an H&M top, since everything there is so cheap it's hardly worth the bother... however H&M doesn't exist in Australia and I really loved this top, so I tried my best to copy what I thought it looked like based on the 2 pictures I had.

It can be worn tucked in, with the bow worn at the waist(top 2 pictures) or it can be worn loose, with the bow at the hips (bottom 2 pictures). I'd probably wear it the second way with my hipster harem pants, however I could not be bothered ironing them for the pictures (and I'm a little scared they no longer fit).

I had a brilliant time in Albany. I went to many op shops and found heaps of fabulous stuff. I got some brilliant vintage coats (that unfortunately don't really suit me, so they're going on eBay... tragic... I know...) but I'm particularly excited about the stuff I bought to refashion!

Here is a little teaser of the dress I'm currently working on refashioning. I know it looks hideous... but I love the stripes going in the different directions... so I'm pulling it apart right now to turn it into awesomeness. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of the weekend.

Wet boots

2010-04-07T09:21:00.003+08:00

I have the week off uni this week so I'm spending it in Albany with my parents. I have done much sewing! I made a dress version of the H&M top that I mentioned in this post. Thanks for all your help regarding the construction! I sorted it eventually by just making a normal dress, then having a "cape" type thing sewn to the back of the neck which comes around to the front as the bow. I've also made a top version of it in a different fabric. Photos to come. I actually loathe this photo but I'm in a hurry so it will have to do!

More Final Collection 2005

2010-03-28T18:45:00.003+08:00

I have my psychiatry exam on Thursday, so sewing will resume on Friday. Dad has taken back his camera, so awful photos will also resume.

In the meantime, here are some more pictures of the work I did at uni. All except the first two pictures are made using my top secret felting technique. (Oops... it's just occurred to me that the middle picture is sideways...)

Winter wishlist

2010-03-21T18:22:00.003+08:00

I made a resolution to stop sewing so I could get some study done. Instead I've done nothing but download TV shows... so no clothes and no study either. Urgh! Did anyone see the Skins finale??? Did anyone else think it was the most shiteous resolution ever?

All I can think about is things I'm dying to make:

1) Lounge-wear

I can't stand wearing normal clothes around the house as they're sooo uncomfortable and I'm very anti-brassiere. Unfortunately I refuse to pay $100 for a decent pair of trackpants (the only ones that are long enough for me are outrageously expensive and I'm not at all interested in making boring items of clothing). Consequently I tend to wear Michael's old t-shirts (all in colours that are heinous on me eg royal blue) and my old faded and stained trackpants.

So I've decided that I need to find some self respect and make something comfortable yet glamorous in the vein of the gorgeous Hannah of Hannah and Landon. I'm thinking quasi nightgown dresses (similar to Hannah's below) made of vintage white lace with over-sized vintage cardigans and cable knit socks (all of which are also wearable outside the house).

2) Undies

I never, ever, ever thought I'd be inspired to make underwear. Then I saw the new Lonely Hearts lingerie collection. AND I'd like to make a vintage style high-waisted bikini for next summer, so I think underwear would be good practice!

3) This top

I can't tell how it works... it seems the bow at the front might be adjustable??? And it's not attached at the front so you can tuck the top in or leave it out???? No idea. But I must have it! If anyone has any ideas regarding the construction, I'd love to hear from you!

4) Refashioned furniture

I appropriated a vintage telephone table and a cool vintage chair from the roadside garbage collection today (much to Michael's displeasure) and I'm going to tart them up! I've also decided that my utter lack of house decoration shows total lack of self respect so I need to make more of an effort. I will post pictures as soon as they're done!

5) Something along the lines of this dress

Someone gave me this pattern and I immensely adore this dress! Especially with the furry hat and the little gloves! However I have the following issues:
1) In order for it to be as "turgid" as in the picture it needs to be made out of a fairly thick wool fabric. However, if it's cold enough to wear fairly thick wool, I'm going to be freezing without any sleeves!
2) My arms are certainly not my best feature and I'm not sure if I want them on full display
3) The fabric that I had intended for it (charcoal wool with chocolate brown flocked hearts!!!) will not show off the lovely top-stitching.

It is indeed a predicament!

6) Something involving faggoting

I've never faggoted before, but there's a good tutorial on the Colette Patterns website, so I'm keen to give it a go.

I'll try to wean myself off downloading stuff this week and do some sewing. I am having withdrawals!

Tinctory

2010-03-14T23:09:00.003+08:00

I'm exhausted. I would go to bed but I'm waiting for my carrot cake to bake (we get to watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at uni tomorrow, so I am baking in celebration of slackness).

I thought I'd use the spare 7 minutes left on the kitchen timer to blog about Eva of Tinctory, an amazing jeweller, brought my my attention by the gorgeous Polly of All That Glitters Is Not Gold (who also makes her own magnificent jewellery). Eva makes the most amazing jewellery out of smocked silk. I'm not actually that big on jewellery, but I do adore textiles so that might be why I'm so obsessed.

I was soooo close to buying the first necklace, then I remembered that I have no money. Grrrrrr!

Arrgghhh, they're so beautiful I can't even bear to look at them anymore. Good night!

Friday!

2010-03-12T17:03:00.002+08:00

I cannot articulate how glad I am it's Friday. I have been struggling at uni due to the fact that I HAVE DONE NO WORK ALL YEAR due to the fact that I'M INCREDIBLY ADDICTED TO SEWING!

Every night this week I've been just about to start studying... and then I think "I'll just refashion this cardigan and I'll study tomorrow...". And then the next day I'll think "I'll just refashion these shorts and then I'll study at 8.30"... Then at 8.30 I will go to bed as I am a nanna. Grrr!

Anyway, my battery ran out before I could take photos of my new refashioned cardigan (it's very well made, warm and useful, but quite boring, so you're not missing out on much). I did manage to take some (blurry) photos of my new shorts, however. (Sorry, it's a bit late in the day for photos, but I didn't want to wait until tomorrow.)

I didn't take any before pictures, because they were just a pair of men's business trousers, and we all know what they look like! This is what I did:
1) Cut off the legs
2) Cut the scallop at the front
3) Made bias binding out of the fabric from legs
4) Sewed bias binding to the hem and blind hemmed it
5) Hand sewed white lace trim (what I had left over from my chemise top) onto the pockets and the scallop
6) Replaced generic plastic buttons with vintage glass buttons (also left over from chemise top)

Was very quick and very easy! I'm not actually into what I'm wearing with them. I feel they need some red heels and some sort of "sailor" top. However I have neither so you'll have to make do with inferior styling for the photos.

Why can't I think of good titles for my blog posts?

2010-03-08T15:23:00.004+08:00

At last my dress is finished!

Here it is:

Sorry about my terrible sunburn! I got it 3 months ago and am STILL waiting for it to fade.

I'm thrilled with my dress. I got the fabric a while ago from ebay and I wasn't expecting it to be so nice! It has a gorgeous drape, but the pattern is also delightful (and helps to emphasise curves)! But I couldn't decide on a design. On the one hand I wanted something drapey... but on the other hand I wanted something simple to show off the pattern. But then I couldn't have any darts or seams at the front obstructing the pattern...

Solution: Circular sleeves to show off the drape, and plain at the front with awesome diagonal front darts (that you can't even notice). It's kind of a hybrid 1960s/1970s dress. It seems really simple, but it was actually one of the most stressful things I've ever made! (Oh, and I think I'll sticky tape it to myself when I actually wear it out to stop bra straps showing... I just couldn't be bothered doing that for the photos.)

Nothing new to show you

2010-03-03T17:56:00.003+08:00

I have made no progress with my new dress. I have been exceedingly lazy. It will be a short tight sheath dress with circular sleeves made out the most spectacular vintage wool crepe you've ever seen. But I haven't even finished the pattern yet! Arrgghhhh!

In the meantime, I have actually found an Autumn/Winter 2010 collection I actually like! It's Halston and it's stunning.

Arrgghhh and those boots in the furry coat picture!!! I NEED! As a matter of urgency!!

Are you a transvestite?

2010-02-27T11:17:00.001+08:00

Woah! Thanks for all your input re my buttons! Hahaha I still have no idea which ones I'm going to use. At the moment I'm slightly more inclined towards the coat of arms buttons just because I seem to have misplaced one of the brass domes and I can't really be bothered looking for it!

I'm very excited as it's a long weekend this weekend (I have no idea what Monday's public holiday is... nor do I particularly care!!). Michael has gone camping, so I get to spend the whole weekend shut up in my house sewing (hopefully interspersed with some bits and pieces of study if I'm feeling like a good girl).

I am FINALLY feeling inspired and have plans for a top and a dress. Hopefully I'll have something to show you by the end of the weekend.

Here is the sweater refashion that I have been working on ever since I joined Wardrobe Refashion.

This is it in its unadulterated state:

I found it in a garbage bag at the back of my mum's wardrobe. Someone gave it to her in about 1995 and she always hated it so she felt bad about throwing it away. It was a nice fabric and I really liked the cable knit at the back (I think that's what it's called), so I thought it would be a great idea to make it smaller and wear it backwards (with the buttons at the back). My overlocker broke halfway through and the bloke who fixes it has been a prick so it's taken FOREVER!

I originally intended to wear it with my black harem pants, so I dyed it "black". My usual dye supplier was on holiday so I bought shitty, yet expensive, dye from Spotlight (I think I spent about $40 on it!!!) and obviously it's not at all black... but I do like the colour! Unfortunately it looks like crap with my black harem pants, so if I was going to do it again I would not have bothered dyeing it!

Apart from the broken overlocker and dye debacle it was really easy to do. I cut off the waistband and sleeveband (don't know the proper name), leaving a 1cm seam allowance. Then I removed the sleeves and cut about 7cm off the bottom. I reattached to the sleeveband to the armhole (to create tiny little sleeves) then used my overlocker to remove about 5cm from each side seam. Then I reattached the waistband and changed the buttons. DONE!

It's soooo hot in Perth at the moment. I've had to sleep in the lounge room with the aircon on all night! And my self esteem has taken a bit of a beating as one of the psychiatric patients asked me yesterday if I am a transvestite! Although I'm not too insulted as he wanted to hold my hand and kiss me 5 minutes later (although maybe he just has a thing for trannies??). HILARITY!

Help!

2010-02-22T18:01:00.002+08:00

I'm nearly finished my fab new refashioned cardigan. I still have no idea what to make for winter... so on Saturday I decided it was about time I did something with the vile yet good quality wool jumpers that I bought from an op-shop last year. This is the almost finished result:

These are the monstrosities from which it originates:

The only problem is... I can't decide on the buttons! I spent about an hour at Spotlight today trying to decide.... so I bought both... but I still don't know which I like better.

Option 1 - Black and silver metal and glass coat of arms buttons

Option 2 - Brass domes

Option 3 - Hypothetical vintage brass buttons from eBay

Option 4 - Something else entirely which you will specify in the comments

What do you guys think?

Today's outfit (and Monday's... and Tuesday's...)

2010-02-19T16:07:00.005+08:00

OK, I basically haven't taken this off all week!

A few people asked me what I intended to wear with my new "chemise" (aka fancy crop top). This is it! (The skirt is also new.) I'd also quite like to make a short, tight, floral high-waisted pencil skirt which I think it would also go very well with.

I tell a small lie... I didn't actually wear these boots with this outfit today as it was too hot... but they arrived in the post yesterday and I couldn't resist wearing them for the photo, at least. They're these divine Loeffler Randall boots that I've wanted for at least 3 years. I got a really good price for them on eBay, so I'm thrilled. You can't get them in Perth, so I guessed my size and they fit perfectly!

I'm feeling at a bit of a loose end as I don't know what to make next. I bought the most gorgeous vintage paisley wool crepe from eBay and I'm keen to make a dress but it's so nice I'm scared to use it. I originally intended it to be a pencil skirt... but Michael said it would look too much like part of the Qantas flight attendant uniform... so he's made me even more nervous about it!

Oh and I've FINALLY updated my blog list. Apologies if I've left you off. If you'd like to be added or you want to swap links or whatever, let me know and I'd be glad to oblige.

Lonely Hearts

2010-02-17T18:00:00.000+08:00

I'm actually starting to get quite worried as winter is coming soon and I have nothing whatsoever to wear. I am especially concerned as I finally mustered up the courage to weigh myself this morning and confirmed my suspicions that I have gained 6kg in 2 months. Therefore most of last year's clothes will not fit, especially considering that I only just managed to squeeze into them 6kg ago.

I am also unable to think of ANYTHING to make! I have been trying to look for pictures for some inspiration, but nothing has really grabbed me, and what I've seen of New York Fashion Week so far is a little disappointing. I did, however, find an amazing pair of Lonely Hearts black velvet jeans from Maximillia, but (of course!) the only sizes left are minuscule, so I can't have them. (I can't make them either as jeans greatly exceed my sewing ability). I'd never heard of Lonely Hearts before, so I went to their website to see the rest of their Autumn/Winter 2010 collection, but it's one of those stupid artsy videos in which you can't actually see the clothes... But I did really like their Spring/Summer 2010 collection! Not overly helpful in terms of something to wear for winter, but fab nonetheless. Here are my favourites!

I'm still no closer to finding winter inspiration so...
Southern hemisphere readers: what are you looking forward to wearing this winter?
Northern hemisphere readers: what did you love wearing this winter?

Unfinished, but I cannot contain my excitement

2010-02-14T17:32:00.003+08:00

Behold my magnificent new top! It's not quite finished as I ran out of trim for the armholes, but I'm sure you get the idea.

I was going to do a post on a cool new designer, but this was just too fab not to share immediately. I call it my "antique chemise", because I refuse to admit that I actually own a crop top. It's made from this gorgeous antique embroidered whitework from ebay. It was only 50cm wide and 1m long, hence it's length. It's got gorgeous 1930s glass buttons, which are divine but unfortunately didn't come out so well in the photos.

I've actually had quite a productive week despite being dead busy at the asylum (I have a rotation at a psychiatric hospital, but I adore the word "asylum", so I call it that, despite its political incorrectness). I also made the black gingham skirt in the photo and FINALLY finished my refashioned jumper from weeks ago (overlocker is back in action).

Outfit photos another day when I'm not looking like Haggis McBaggis.

Blatant plagiarism

2010-02-07T16:51:00.002+08:00

Here is my new dress! I was so pissed off because it was all finished on Wednesday and I went to wear it to uni on Thursday and the zip broke! There is nothing more irritating than having a finished dress malfunction!

Unfortunately I cannot take credit for the design. It's almost a complete rip-off of Jenny Gordy's Wiksten dress; it just has a lower waist. I don't really like copying other designers' work (usually because whatever you make just looks like a low rent version of the original) and I actually intended it to be quite different... but anyway, it's fab, so it doesn't really matter.

Meanwhile, I've had this blog for over a year now and never once got an award and then all of a sudden I got 3 in 2 days (I think I actually stumbled across a fourth by accident, but I can't remember who it was now, so please make yourself known)!

Carolyn of Handmade by Carolyn and Stephanie of The Naked Seamstress both gave me a Kreativ Blogger award! I'm supposed to name 7 things that you won't know about me.

1) I am a racist eater as I hate black food! Like Carolyn, I also loathe coffee. I will literally throw up if I have one sip of it and I don't understand why everyone is so obsessed with it. Similarly I also cannot stand Coke (or other cola flavoured beverages), liquorish and black jelly beans. (Although I do adore tea and dark chocolate so am not entirely racist!)

2) I am a massive Anglophile (like Stephanie), and for some reason have a ridiculous desire to live in a council flat in Manchester.

3) Despite being obsessed with clothes, I cannot accessorise AT ALL and am terrible at putting together a decent outfit.

4) My boyfriend Michael plays lawn bowls ALL THE TIME (like 4 times a week) which, although old-man-esque and tragic, I don't mind as it gives me more time for sewing.

5) I love obscure TV shows, especially my all time favourite The Royle Family. I could watch it all day every day for the rest of my life and still find it hysterical. Michael's family is almost exactly like this, which is possibly why I like him so much!

6) I have a phobia of acrylic nails, especially the fancy ones with Swarovski crystals on them. I also hate those hair extensions with the plastic bits that attach them to your hair so you look like you have massive head lice.

7) I am exceedingly disorganised, lazy and untidy. 5 minutes after I tidy the house it's covered in my shit again. I just don't understand. I do no study for uni until 2 weeks before exams and then get in a mad panic about my impending doom, but I never learn my lesson! I also never have a pen or paper at uni and the only reason I know when to attend is because my friend makes me a timetable!

I also got a Sunshine award from the fabulous Cindi at Tally's Place. Thanks so much!

Ok.. so I'm supposed to tag 7 people for the Kreativ Blogger and 12 people for The Sunshine Award... but that's 19 people and I don't think I can deal with so many tags!

Instead I'm just going to tag the following people, and they can have both awards!

1) The very creative and fabulous Brumby of UtBwB

2) April of The Right Hypotenuse who makes some fabulous chain necklaces
3) The superlative Queen of Mayhem who has some brilliant photos of some amazing outfits!

Woah, long post. That took forever!

Pink & Red

2010-02-01T18:53:00.002+08:00

Sewing machine has been moved into my house! Michael is not pleased and he says if he sees any sewing mess outside of my "hovel" (the spare room), then it's going straight back to Mum's house. New dress will be ready tomorrow, hopefully, but in the mean time here are some pictures of the dress I entered in the Pink & Red contest on Burdastyle and Sukicat (isn't she delicious???).

Possibly too much wine for blogging

2010-01-29T23:51:00.003+08:00

Hello friends!
I have made very slow progress with my new dress this week due to the massive inconvenience that is university! How do people with full time jobs manage to get anything done??? To make matters worse, all my sewing paraphernalia is at chez mama, so I can only sew when I can be bothered going over there. Michael won't let me have any sewing stuff in the house... but I'm a bit tempted to just gradually smuggle it all over here...

Anyway, a couple of people have asked me about the details of my coat from ages ago, so I thought I should post some (slightly) better pictures. Sorry about the lack of pants, it too hot for them today.

Unfortunately there won't be any new clothes until next weekened at least, due to the fact that this weekend is going to be spent in bathers at a resort next to Michael's brother's extremely thin girlfriend. NOT happy.

Invasion Day

2010-01-26T10:56:00.005+08:00

Uni started again yesterday, and I must say, I am struggling as I am very unaccustomed to leaving the house for more than 3 hours at a time! Luckily we get the Australia Day public holiday today, so I am using the opportunity to sew and photograph my new dress!

I can wear it to the hospital with my new top, or by itself. Note the cool darts at the front and the gingham going in different directions (I'm totally obsessed with gingham and stripes at the moment).

Edit: Yes, my shoes are decidedly delicious! They are vintage from eBay. They need breaking in and my feet are massive in this heat, so I won't be able to wear them properly until it cools down :(

Tagged! 7 things I love.

2010-01-21T17:46:00.005+08:00

I've been tagged by the delicious April of The Right Hypoteneuse. I'm supposed to name 7 things I love and then tag 7 people. I'm not going to bother tagging anyone, but if anyone wants to do it, feel free.

1) My new top
I finished this about two hours ago. This is my second version... I cocked up its first incarnation yesterday (it now belongs to my mother who is not so picky about burn marks and a wonky neck-line). I was extra careful with this one, and it's pretty close to perfect. I don't have anything to wear with it yet, so you'll have to cope with a picture of it on the hanger.

2) My new fabric
Some of my fabric that I bought online arrived today! It's faaabbbulous. The floral one is from Tessuti (it's called Suki Mauve Bloom... and I have to confess the main reason I bought it is because it has the same name as my cat) and the others are from Superbuzzy. Don't they all go so well together??? That was entirely unintentional.

3) Suki
Especially when she purrs so much that she starts to drool.

4) The fire extinguisher in the hallway
Michael nearly burnt down our building the night before last when he tried to BLOW OUT THE FIRE when our gas bottle on our BBQ caught alight. Luckily Lily thought to use the fire extinguisher (who would have thought....)!

5) Being a Lady of Leisure
I have to go back to uni on Monday and I'm frightfully upset! I just want to spend my time swanning around, sewing and watching the tennis :(

6) Daddy's camera
How much better are my photos since I've been using it????

7) You guys!
Thanks for much for reading, commenting and following! I really appreciate it! I always try to reply to comments and check out your blogs. I'm a bit behind at the moment, but I will get to you soon :)

Fabric suppliers

2010-01-19T13:31:00.003+08:00

A couple of people have asked me where I get my fabric from, so I thought I might share my favourite suppliers with you. Perth is such an awful place to buy fabric... even polyester from Spotlight is $20/m, so it's a constant battle to find fabric that is both nice AND affordable.

Wholesale
1) By far the cheapest way to buy fabric. E & M Greenfield is great for plain silks in various colours and 1m is the minimum order. Silk crepe is about $13/m (the more you buy, the cheaper it gets).

Online
A lot of people say not to buy fabric online, because it's hard to know what the handle is like and the drape etc, but when you live in Perth you don't have much choice. I get about 90% of my fabric online, especially ebay.
1) Tessuti has some lovely fabrics that are fairly reasonably priced (although still slightly more expensive for my liking)
2) Superbuzzy I've just discovered and went a little crazy. Prices also OK, but not ideal (and postage fairly expensive to Australia).
3) I find the occasional thing on etsy, but it's so hard to find anything on that site that isn't a bloody knitted hot water bottle cover!!!
3) ebay is great, especially for vintage stuff. Here are my favourite sellers

British Fabrics -awesome wools and tweeds. (As an aside, how utterly ridiculous is it that it's so bloody difficult to find wool in Australia when it's all made from Australian sheep????)
This seller sells designer fabrics like Armani and Versace (that's where I got the fabric for my reversible dress). However beware, their photos are often dodgy.
mylittleboyke sells the most amazing antique and vintage trims, laces and buttons.

Perth
1) Hands down the best places to buy fabric are the Aurelio Costarella and Empire Rose fabric sales. These are fashion designers who sell their excess fabric at the end of the season for really, really cheap. They use brilliant commercial quality silk, wools and velvet that is often about $5/m. I'm sure other designers in other cities do the same, so it's worthwhile to look into. If you join the Aurelio Costarella facebook group, they send you emails telling you when the sales are, and the Empire Rose fabric sale is often advertised in the newspaper.
2) Angel Silk House in South Perth has really gorgeous silks and linens, however expect to pay at least $60/m - I haven't been there in ages as I can no longer afford it, but I presume it's still in existence.
3) Fabulous Fabrics in Balcatta is good for evening wear fabric , so long as you don't mind forking out big time for it (the handmade French lace is so wonderful, although $1000/m)! The gorgeous Carolyn is a particular fan, but I also rarely shop here due to the price.

That is all! If anyone else knows good places to buy fabric, please let me know! I'm always desperate for good suppliers.

Meanwhile, I spent about 4 hours last night looking for this image. I knew I'd seen it on someone's blog, but I couldn't remember which one! I was so close to giving up when I finally found it on Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing. I'm going to make a similar dress from my gingham Superbuzzy fabric, as soon as it arrives.

Reversible dress

2010-01-17T15:44:00.004+08:00

Here is my fab new dress! It can be worn forwards or backwards and is amazingly flattering and fantastic.

I've also borrowed daddy's camera, hence the clearer photos (you can even seen my hysterical sunburn from 2 months ago... I really am not built for the sun)!

Hilariously, my mum actually semi designed this dress. I was intending to make versions of the dresses below. I drew pictures of modified versions of them both and mum thought that they were back and front pictures of the same dress. Anyway, so I thought it would be a brilliant idea to combine them into the one dress and make it reversible!

First image from Secret Squirrel Clothing
Second image from Mociun

No bows this time, but loads of broderie anglaise

2010-01-15T09:03:00.003+08:00

Urgh! I am sooooo frustrated! Why can I not take a photo?? I think I spend more time trying to take a bloody photo of things I've made than I actually take sewing them! I finally took some photos in which I don't look like a deformed mutant... and then I had to crop them because they were taken from too far away (self-timer issues) and now they're all grainy and horrible. I also wanted to take some photos of the skirt on a hanger so you can see the construction and the details but I just can't do it! Either too much light or not enough light. So hard!

Anyway, this is my new skirt. It is magnificent and I wish the photos conveyed that! (How hilarious is my super-serious pose in the second picture!)

Oh I and nearly forgot! I found the Ann Demeulemeester knock-off sandals that I desperately wanted! They're not exactly the same, but similar. Michael hates them. Whenever I wear them he says "you look beautiful from the ankles up". Hilarious!

Do you wear what you sew?

2010-01-13T19:04:00.003+08:00

The gorgeous and talented Stephanie from the Naked Seamstress wrote a very interesting post where she discussed a problem faced by many seamstresses: why do we so often spend hours making something, but rarely actually wear the things we've made?

I think the reason that so many of us find it difficult to wear what we sew is simply because we don't like what we've made.

After 8 years of sewing, I am sad to say, that it's only been within about the last year and a half that I've started to wear clothes that I made. Actually, at the moment I am so poor and my taste is so expensive that probably 90% of the things I wear I've made. So, in my infinite wisdom (ha!), I thought I'd share the guidelines that I follow when I make a garment, so that I'll (almost) always like it enough to wear in public!

Choose your fabric wisely ! - This is the most important tip!

So many fabric shops (especially in Australia) are dismal indeed and it's so tempting just to buy something because you can't find anything better. When you're choosing fabric, ask yourself "if I saw a garment in the style I am making made out of this fabric, would I buy it?" NEVER buy fabric that you wouldn't ordinarily wear.
If you live in Australia, Spotlight and Textile Traders are fine for zips, thread, calico, lining and interfacing, but don't expect to find any decent fabric there. I have never once made anything out of Spotlight or Textile Traders fabric that I didn't despise.
Polyester and nylon are heinous and should be avoided at all costs. Anything shiny (especially satin) also invariably looks bad (unless you're very thin and a very good designer). Wool, silk, linen and cotton (or a combination of any of these) always look classy.
You're asking for trouble if you try to mix stretch and non-stretch fabric in the one garment.
Unless you're ultra brilliant at sewing/designing and VERY creative, only use fabric for the purpose for which it is designed. Curtain, upholstery and quilting fabric should be used for making curtains, cushions and quilts only! Similarly, shirting fabric should only be used to make shirts (or shirt-dresses), and don't try to make a skirt out of a knit!

Choose your style wisely!

Don't make anything in a style that you wouldn't ordinarily buy.
Only make things in styles that suit you! If you're not sure if you look any good in high-waisted pleated pants (for example), go to your favourite shops and try some on. If they look hideous in the shop, chances are they'll look even worse if you try to make your own.

Make sure it fits!

The whole point of sewing your own clothes is to make them fit better than the stuff in the shops! If you MUST use a commercial pattern, make sure you measure the pattern to determine the appropriate size. Don't just make a size 12 because you usually wear a size 12 or because the back of the packet says you're a size 12.

Make a toile/muslin and make the necessary adjustments!

This is the only way to tell if it is going to look any good or if it will fit. Today I made 3 toiles of my next dress (it's reversible and amazing, can't wait to show you!). If I'd just made it from my first pattern I would have wasted 3 metres of silk.

Ensure the process of making is as pleasant as possible!

Keep it simple. Know your limitations as a seamstress and designer. Some of the easiest things I've made are my favourite clothes.
Make sure it doesn't take too long. If you've been looking at something for too ages, you'll never wear it.
Don't rush and don't cut corners. This ALWAYS ends in tears and ends up taking you 10 times longer than it would have if you just did it properly in the first place.
Don't get bogged down in rules. I have no idea how to put a zip in the "correct" way. Instead of getting angry and frustrated that I haven't done it right, I just make it up as I go along and try to do it as neatly as possible.

Be flexible!

Hardly any of the things I've made actually look the way I've planned. Often I'll be mid-way through making something and I'll realise that it's not going to work. If you soldier on and make it anyway: disaster. Don't be afraid to change your plans; often you'll end up with a more interesting and more fabulous garment that you originally imagined.

If you like it, wear it!

Don't keep things for special occasions. You've made it, so wear it before it goes out of fashion.

If you don't like it, refashion it or get rid of it!

There is nothing worse than something you don't like languishing in your wardrobe. Every time you open your closet it will remind you of your failure. Get rid of it and move on.

If you couldn't be bothered reading any of that (fair enough!), the golden rule of sewing is: Never make anything you wouldn't ordinarily wear, or want to wear. If you wouldn't buy it, don't make it!

Follow me!

2010-01-13T12:25:00.000+08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Final Collection 2005

2010-01-11T11:10:00.003+08:00

I can't believe I didn't think to put these photos up earlier! This is some of my final collection from uni. Bear in mind they are from 2005, so the styles are a bit out of fashion! Most of it's made out of silk and recycled vintage fabric and trims and my special top-secret felting technique!

I have more photos... but I'll put the rest up another day!

Oh dear... these brilliant images make my terrible photos look even more ghastly. Thanks to the brilliant photographer Noni Marston for doing such tremendous work!

Joan Holloway dress

2010-01-09T07:55:00.005+08:00

Here is the shapeless 80s sack to which I was referring in my last post! I caved in and made it tight fitting which was an excellent decision as I feel very much like Joan Holloway in it (I have such a massive crush on her).

I'm so glad this dress worked out. I spent so long on it (and way more money than I would have liked) and I was worried right up until it was completely finished that it would be hideous. I seem to have a time limit with making clothes; if I spend too long on something I get so sick of it by the time it's finished that I'll never wear it. Or, if something takes too long, I often can't tell if I like it or if I just feel compelled to like it because I've invested so much time in it. Anyway, I love the dress and it's modest enough to wear to the hospital, although I'm pretty sure I'll be the first medical student game enough to wear coral!

Me:

Joan Holloway (unfortunately not me):

And here are the cool details of the dress! Of particular note are tucks (or whatever they are called) on the sleeves and the cool sticky-outy pockets. I'm pointing these out because I had to do about 10 toiles before I could get the pattern right!

Draped dress

2010-01-05T08:00:00.004+08:00

I'm working on a new dress at the moment but it's giving me nothing but trouble. I'm onto my 4th draft of the pattern - it was supposed to be loose and comfortable but instead it looks like a shapeless 80s sack so I've given up and am making it tight fitting instead.

In the meantime, here is the dress that I wore yesterday. I made it just over a year ago from gorgeous vintage fabric that I inherited from my friend's mum. I've had it for years but I could never figure out what to do with it.

It was quite interesting making it, because I only had about 3 metres of fabric and I didn't have enough to do the skirt that I intended. Which turned out to be very fortunate as it forced me to drape the fabric instead of cut it, and the skirt ended up being the coolest part of the dress.

Wardrobe Refashion

2010-01-03T15:42:00.003+08:00

I've just taken a 6 month pledge at Wardrobe Refashion to stop buying new clothes and make my own instead. I've been really lazy with my sewing lately so hopefully this will be the excuse I need to make more fabulous things (and hopefully improve my abysmal "modelling" and photography skills).

Here is the new dress that I made a couple of weeks ago. Sorry about the grumpy photo, the sun was in my eyes and it was really hot.

And here is a hilarious photo of my boobs (it's actually the least graphic out of all the boob photos I took) - it's supposed to show the details of the dress!

As you can see, it's made out of two different types of fabric in the same colour. The back is also made out of the same fabric that the bows, collar and sleeves are made from. I had a bit of a dilemma because I had a wool georgette and a silk/linen blend at home that would be suitable for the dress, but I thought that if I made the whole thing out of the silk/linen it would look to dressy and if I made it all out of the wool georgette I'd look a too much like a 1970s dinner lady. But then there's the problem when you combine similar but different fabrics it can look like you ran out of fabric halfway through... Anyway, I think I pulled it off very well and it's my new favourite dress.

Sick of blogs

2009-12-27T20:43:00.002+08:00

If I have to read one more time about how fabulous Alexa-fucking-Chung is I'm going to scream.

One Vintage

2009-11-16T20:11:00.002+08:00

I am sheepishly returning after an extremely long absence! Naughty Lily! I have no excuse, other than that I couldn't really think of anything to write about and I was busy learning boring, irrelevant stuff for uni. Anyway, I'm on holidays for the next 2 months and I'm spending most of it making new clothes, so I'll put up heaps of pictures of my new stuff.

For now, though, I'll show you my lastest find - One Vintage - they restore/remake vintage clothes and charge $982340239842038 for it. Bloody expensive, but definitely lovely.

The Uniform Project

2009-08-05T08:11:00.003+08:00

I think I might be the last person in the world to have discovered this great blog. Thanks to Sophie for alerting me to its presence!

For the 3 of you who don't already know about it, it's a fundraiser for an Indian educational organisation, where a girl wears one dress (with different vintage accessories) for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. It's a great idea, and she has a whole heap of different looks from the one dress. Obviously, not every outfit works, but here are some good ones:

What bothers me about the idea is this: she has 7 different copies of the same dress, one for every day of the week; why can't she just have 7 different dresses? She also has a gazillion pairs of tights and shoes, so I doubt her wardrobe is actually any more sustainable than mine... but it's a fun idea anyway!

Dirty little secret

2009-07-24T12:28:00.006+08:00

Ok, can someone please explain to me wwwhhyyyy I always do this. I never have anything to wear, so I buy/make a new item for my wardrobe. THEN I realise that what I've just bought/made goes with NOTHING I already own, so I think "gotta get something to wear with that". So then I get something ELSE that doesn't go with it, so I end up with a wardrobe full of stuff that I can't wear!

So that is my guilty secret (well... one of them at least) - despite having a DEGREE in fashion and being obsessed with clothes my entire life... I am really shithouse at putting an outfit together!

Behold the current culprits:

a) Vanessa Bruno high waisted silk shorts (hard to photograph, but they are fabulous, trust me!)

b) Blazer that I just made that is covered in cat (note to self: buy lint roller asap). And yes, it has AWESOME Balmainesque shoulders - each shoulder contains two of the most enormous shoulder pads I could find stacked on top of each other!

I've decided I need to rectify this situation immediately. I have not spent the hard earned money of the Australian tax payer on these items for them to sit idle in my wardrobe!

I have done some research and I have come up with the following ideas:

Blazer idea 1:

Blazer with gorgeous slouchy trousers and heels.

How fabulous does she look in this!

Urgh, although I think I should put this idea on the backburner as I don't have any gorgeous slouchy trousers or any appropriate heels and I'm not buying anything else otherwise I'm just going to get myself even deeper into my aforementioned predicament. (Plus, I tried on some trousers like this the other day and they made me look morbidly obese.)

Image stolen from Garance Dore

Blazer idea 2

Blazer with short, tight jersey dress.

It looks sooo cute with those snakeskin pumps!

Shorts idea 3

Shorts with interesting chiffon shirt.
Loving this look, although possible obesity issues re voluminous shorts paired with voluminous top.

Image 3.1 Philip Lim via style.com

Ideal solution: Blazer and shorts worn together!

Worn with some type of plain t-shirt? What colour do you think would go well well purple shorts and black blazer... cream?

I loooooove the dress on the left also.

All Saints (not the shitty mid 90s girl group)

2009-07-14T18:14:00.002+08:00

Why why why can't high street stores in Australia be as good as All Saints?!?!?! (OK... I do actually know the answer to this... because we don't have the population to sustain mass manufacturing... but I will continue to rant nonetheless.)

I haven't seen any All Saints clothes in the flesh, but their website suggests that they have interesting, original and (apparently) good quality clothes made out of nice fabrics at reasonable prices. Australian chain stores, eg Sportsgirl and Witchery, are outrageously expensive considering they've bought some shitty, generic bit of polyester tat from their Chinese wholesaler for $1.50 and marked it up to $69.95. Literally.

Look at how beautiful these dresses are:PS Does anyone know of any decent shops in Helsinki? My boyfriend is going in a couple of weeks and I want to request presents!

I'm back!

2009-07-04T11:57:00.003+08:00

Sorry about my extended absence. I have two excuses:

1) I had exams
2) My internet is screwed. It works occasionally, ie now, or when my ISP sends out a bloke to fix it. Typical.

I'm on holidays now, so am going to spend all my time sewing. Going to make a whole bunch of Alexander Wangesque t-shirts, a black pencil skirt and a cool Balmainesque blazer. Hopefully my exam results will be semi-reasonable so am going to try and wangle some new shoes out of my mother for being a good girl.

It's freezing in Perth at the moment, so I spent all of last week making this awesome new coat.

How divine is my cat?!?!? She's not technically mine... I'm just looking after her for 7 months while my brother's stepsister is in England, but I think I love her more than clothes. Awww look at that FACE!!!

URGH! The football has started! Must leave house immediately. Ciao. xx

Sorry

2009-06-06T19:22:00.003+08:00

Oh dear, it seems my emotions were overflowing in my last post. Evidently, I get very passionate about things I love, especially those that are, in theory, within my reach (ie affordable), yet entirely unattainable! I am totally blaming Pixiemarket if I fail my exams, because I think I spent at least 2 full days in uproar about their lack of Bijux Max sandals.

One of my major procrastination techniques this week was Lookbook. I'm not sure what I think of it. On the one hand, there are a heap of cool pictures that are really useful for outfit ideas; on the other hand, it seems like it's full of a bunch of posers who are creaming their jeans over strangers telling them how hot they are.

ANYWAY, in my travels through the sea of anorexia that is Lookbook, I came across a great designer called Sabrina Goh from Singapore. I particularly like the interesting detail at the back of these dresses:

DEVASTATION

2009-06-03T10:39:00.001+08:00

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I'm so incredibly upset. I've had my eye on these AWESOME shoes from Pixiemarket for WEEKS, but they've been sold out. I went to ogle them again this morning and I noticed that they had one size left (MY SIZE!!) - probably someone returned them.

So I rang up Michael, weasled his credit card number out of him, but by the time I typed it in some other BASTARD had stolen them from me!!!!

SERIOUSLY DEVASTATED. I know they're Ann Demeulemeester copies, but I actually like them heaps better than the originals. Do any of you happen to know if they're sold anywhere else? Has Zara or H&M ripped them off as well? I must have them!

Madame Gres

2009-05-31T21:19:00.003+08:00

Let me introduce you to Madame Gres! Not many people seem to know about her, which is a great shame. In the 1930s she was one of the first designers to cut fabric on the bias (the diagonal) and her best designs utilised neoclassical draping - dresses were made from one continuous piece of cloth and stitched into place.

Aren't they divine? If I ever get married I'm definitely going to make a dress in this style. The main problem for us is that her dresses were made in a really fine matte silk jersey, and I have no idea if you can still buy it.

Joan Holloway is hot

2009-05-27T12:35:00.004+08:00

How hot is Joan Holloway! It's so lovely to see someone who isn't anorexic on TV. And those clothes are GORGEOUS. As soon as I've finished exams I'm going to make a foxy Joan Holloway 1960s dress. I'm even tempted to dye my hair red.

What an honour! I've been tagged for the very first time by the delightful Emmy from Pretty Exquisite.

What is your current obsession ?
Jodhpurs! They are an excellent alternative to tight black jeans and leggings as pants. I FINALLY found a brilliant pair with awesome brass buttons at the ankles. Photos to come!

What are you wearing today ?
My all time favourite house outfit: tracky dacks, ugg boots, one of Michael's heinous surf t-shirts from 1997 and my enormous purple dressing gown. (I refuse to wear anything that doesn't involve an elasticated waist around the house. Yes, I am a closet bogan, and I pray every day that there won't be a fire which requires me to evacuate the house in this state!)

What's for dinner ?
Urgh! Salad! I was exceptionally naughty last week so I need to make up for my indiscretions.

What are you listening to right now ?
Michael keeps playing Bonja (everyone we know seems to have shagged a band member or two), but I think they're shite.

What do you think about the person who tagged you ?
She's fabulous! She's been reading my blog since its inception, and she wears some great outfits and posts awesome images.

What are you biggest daily inspirations?
ummm.... no idea.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go ?
Can I travel through time as well? I regularly get very upset that I didn't live in London in the 60s.

Which language do you want to learn ?
I wouldn't mind learning French.

What are your favorite quotes ?
"Every time I come out of the toilets, right, she was round him like flies around shit. And he's the shit... and she's not even the fly coz she's too fat to be the fly. And she's the shit... and that's what they are: the two shovels of shit."

Anyone who can tell me where that was from can have a hundred points!

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet ?
I really like my silk floral dress with the bow at the front that I made. Which reminds me... I need to get it drycleaned!

What is your dream job ?
Lady of Leisure

Any favorite models ?
I actually loathe models. I find them skeletal and creepy and I don't understand why bloggers are so obsessed with them. I know she's not a model, but Joan Holloway from Mad Men is HOT.

Favorite designer(s) ?
Preen, Willow, Kirrily Johnston, Aurelio Costarella, Proenza Schouler

What do you consider a fashion faux pas ?
Oh dear, I could spend all day on this as it's my favourite topic. The following make my skin crawl:

fake tans
orange clothing that matches one's aforementioned fake tan
acrylic nails, especially the sort with horrible patterns on them
hair extensions
g-strings, especially visible ones
leggings as pants
knee length or above knee leggings
more the one item of denim in the same outfit
dirty denim boot leg hipster jeans
purple dirty denim jeans
any pants that display one's bum when sitting

Describe your personal style ?
Not to my liking! My wardrobe is seriously lacking.

What's the most expensive fashion item you've ever purchased?
hehe no comment. I only like to spend a lot of money on things I can't make - eg jeans, shoes, some coats and knitwear. So even though I might pay a lot for individual items, I also save money by not having a cocaine addiction and making my own clothes.

What can you never leave the house without?
I've always hated this question... ummmmm... my keys?

Willow

2009-05-22T10:16:00.002+08:00

Check out the new Willow collection. It's gorgeous, as always.

New shoes!

2009-05-18T08:03:00.003+08:00

My amazing boyfriend bought me these wonderful Hussein Chalayan booties from the Dilettante sale. They're so soft and comfortable and beautifully made that I've decided I'm never buying a shitty pair of shoes from Witchery or similar ever again (which are ridiculously expensive considering their atrocious quality).

I've needed some black heels for ages so they've opened up a whole new section of my wardrobe. I'm especially pleased as I FINALLY got to prance around in my fabulously sculptural Therese Rawsthorne skirt that I bought last year from Wasteland (my second favourite shop).

It's a pity you can't see my new headband very well as it's AWESOME.

I'm wearing:
Witchery singlet, Hussein Chalayan shoes, Therese Rawsthorne skirt, self-made headband

Things I really hate

2009-05-13T15:43:00.003+08:00

Since I got a good reaction to the "not" section of my last post, I thought I'd rant some more. Let's face it, talking about things I hate is my absolute favourite thing in the world.

Faux jeans

These are all the rage in Australia at the moment. Why?!?!? I know there's a global financial crisis and all... but wouldn't it be a better idea to wear last year's jeans again than waste $15 on a pair of blue leggings with a pseudo fly front? Bah bow, honey! You're not fooling anyone with that camel toe.

Leggings masquerading as pants

Again, surely Tyra Banks is not so poor that she can't go and buy a pair of tight black jeans?!?! I can cope with leggings if they're under dresses or long tops that could pass as an extremely short dress... but someone needs to tell the world that LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! Last week I saw a poor girl in the city whose mother clearly hates her as she let her out of the house wearing leggings that were ENTIRELY see through and you could see her ENTIRE ARSE.

Knee length leggings

Unless you're partaking in the Tour de France, these just look stupid. Ok, I admit cyclists also look ridiculous in a legging of awkward length, but at least they're functional in such a context. The only function they have on anyone else is to look make them look ridiculous.

Hair extensions

I know I've got a legging theme going on here, but I can't talk about things I really hate without at least mentioning hair extensions. I admit that they can look wonderful if you're Serena from Gossip Girl, but extensions-on-a-budget on D grade "celebrities" and the general public are a crime against humanity.

Is Nikki Webster's stylist taking the piss? It looks like someone has glued a blonde octopus to her head. They've made no effort whatsoever to even TRY to blend that atrocity with her normal hair. (For all you non-Australian readers, Nikki Webster was a sweet 13 year old girl who sang at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and has been "reinventing herself" as a crack whore as soon as she turned legal.) Nikki has a new song that isn't much better than those extensions. Yes, I had to sit through that heinous video clip three times to get those screen shots.

Australian Fashion Week

2009-05-08T11:38:00.004+08:00

Ok, so exams are over and I'm back in the land of the living. Sorry for being such a terrible blogger but I can only concentrate on one thing at once. Apologies to Gemma who had to see me at uni wearing the same cardigan every day for the last 3 weeks.

Australian Fashion Week was last week. Generally it was pretty innocuous, but there were a couple of collections that stood out.

Hot

I have been a bit sick of seeing Kirrily Johnston churn out the same old black sacks with drawstrings year after year, so I was delighted when I saw this collection. Everything is so effortlessly fabulous.

Not

Check out these monstrosities from Antipodium. Those see-through harem pants with the knee pads are espeically heinous. Apparently this collection also included a necklace made from tampons. Is it the giant "A" necklace below? I can't tell.

ATTENTION ALL EMACIATED READERS!

2009-04-20T22:24:00.005+08:00

You must buy this jacket IMMEDIATELY. It is so incredibly fabulous, although I admit the act of DIY studding an antique (synthetic (!!?!?!?)) Victorian jacket is extraordinarily sacrilegious.

Sorry about my lack of posting. I have exams next week and have to ~~watch the whole series of True Blood~~ study to save myself from impending failure. I have also been busy fixing my hair colour of doom. To cut a long story short... I spent $210 dyeing my hair exactly the same colour.

In a whole world of pain

2009-04-12T19:46:00.004+08:00

Sorry about my lack of outfit photos of late. I've been busy dying and no longer have the physical ability to put clothes on that are not pyjamas.

My boyfriend and I went to stay with my dad in Albany for Easter and GENIUS here (yes me) decided that it would be a GREAT idea to climb the highest mountain in Western Australia (ok, ok it's not that high for a highest mountain, but I want sympathy). I've climbed it several times before, but mountains must be like childbirth, because I had no memory of how awful it was.

Since climbing aforementioned mountain on Friday, I have been almost totally incapable of walking/standing/moving in any way. In AGONY. Michael has said that I have used up my whinging allowance and have to shut up now.

Am distracting myself with the new Zambesi collection (classic New Zealand label). I never quite know what to do with sheer clothing; I tend to wear it over boring things like black singlets, which pretty much defeats the purpose of wearing sheer in the first place, so I particularly LOVE the sheer black dress over the yellow print.

The peak of doom:

Edit: Michael has just informed me that this is the highest mountain in the South West; Mt Augustus is the highest mountain in the whole state. Blah! It was still high!

Aurelio Costarella

2009-04-08T19:03:00.003+08:00

Gem and I went to the Aurelio Costarella shop today. He's this awesome designer from Perth, but he sells his stuff at Barneys/Bendels etc. Yay for the financial downturn: not only am I getting another $900 to spend on frivolity from Krudd BUT Ray Costarella has seriously lowered his prices (ok ok... at top is is $500 instead of $900... but that's still WAY cheaper....).

Don't tell my boyfriend this, but as soon as my money arrives I'm going to buy this fabulous puffy sleeved leather jacket thing (can't find a photo of it anywhere, he has been slack with updating his website), and this coooooooooooooool blouse that I have been in love with for AGES:

No more slingbacks

2009-04-05T13:46:00.004+08:00

My shoe wardrobe is currently extremely lacking, made worse by the fact that about half of my shoes are slingbacks. Despite the fact that I am thoroughly aware that slingbacks ARE THE MOST IRRITATING SHOES EVER INVENTED, I insist on buying new pairs, only to be reminded about how annoying they are!

Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back; I wore my silver and blue slingbacks and they drove me INSANE. They kept falling off the back of my heel, so I had to stop walking every 5 seconds to bend over and fix them.

I've come to the resolution that I AM NEVER BUYING SLINGBACKS AGAIN! You are all witnesses to this, and if I ever buy another pair you have my full permission to admonish me for my stupidity.

No pictures of the offending footwear, but here is today's outfit:

I'm wearing: Self-made dress, Espace boots, Viktoria & Woods cardigan

I was going for the English summer holiday look:

Image from this month's Australian Marie Claire

I think a more substantial cardigan would work better, so I'm off to buy one now!

Laced with Romance

2009-03-31T13:57:00.003+08:00

I've just discovered Laced with Romance, a fabulous eBay store.

I was soooo close to bidding on this gorgeous 1940s blouse, but that colour doesn't do me too many favours and I really can't afford such frivolity anyway. Am feeling very sad looking at it again.

And look at this divine maxi-dress. I really wanted this one too, but my decision was made easier by the fact that it's not spacious enough to house one of my thighs, let alone my whole torso.

Going to have a go at making them both.

New top

2009-03-29T14:47:00.003+08:00

Today is the maiden voyage of my new top/jackety thing. I made it a while ago but it could never find anything to wear with it. It's one of those really versatile things that you can wear heaps of different ways, so consequently I was overwhelmed by the possibilties. I spent about 2 hours yesterday trying it out with pretty much every item in my wardrobe. Ideally I think it would look really nice with some sort of pretty cream broderie anglaise dress or similar, but I don't have one, so this will have to do!

I've spent the whole day today making the world's most naughty cake for my mum's birthday. It looks frightful, but how could something composed almost entirely of butter, cream and sugar possibly taste bad?

I'm wearing:
Self made top and skirt, French Sole shoes, Witchery singlet and belt from Alice Euphemia

Doctor outfit

2009-03-26T10:33:00.003+09:00

FINALLY an outfit photo in which I don't look stoned, retarded or ugly! Congrats to Michael for his photographic skills!

Sorry about the repetition of garments, but I don't have many clothes and it's not often that I have a photographer around when I'm not wearing tracksuit pants and Michael's hideous Jebediah t-shirt from 1997.

I had my psychiatric assessment at uni today (I was the doctor NOT the patient!), so I had to wear a respectable doctor outfit. Even if I do say so myself, this is a pretty damn good one, especially considering the ultra boring white shirts and black pants that all the other medical students wear!

The problem with doctor outfits is that they are inherently boring. You can't wear anything even remotely camp, and obviously you don't want a whole bunch of old seedy old blokes looking up your skirt/down your top so low cut tops and/or short skirts are totally out of the question. I also have $0 so I refuse to buy or make something boring or frumpy that can only be worn when I'm trying to look respectable.

And yes, I am obsessed with clashing patterns at the moment, as they're fabulous.

I'm wearing:
Self-made dress from two posts ago that I'm wearing as a top, self-made skirt (DIY tutorial is here), Robert Robert shoes and Levante tights.

Courreges

2009-03-24T20:27:00.003+09:00

I've been head over heels in love with Courreges for years. I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some of my favourite designs with those of you who are unacquainted with his genius (philistines!).

He was most famous in the 1960s when he and Mary Quant spent most of their time squabbling over who was first to invent the mini-skirt. He also invented go-go boots and he and Pierre Cardin popularised the "space-age" look.

What's so great about Courreges, though, is the way he did for fashion what Le Corbusier did for design - he stripped clothing to its bare essentials and created the most amazing minimalist garments. He was an engineer before he was a fashion designer and he manages to cleverly integrate the details of a garment into its structure. It's amazing how he can make something so simple look so interesting.

His designs also went a long way to liberate women from the impractical, constrictive clothing of the 1950s; in a time where women were seen as decorative post-war baby machines, Courreges put women in simple, practical clothing such as trousers and shorter, sleeker skirts.

Behold:

A (somewhat) better outfit post!

2009-03-21T08:55:00.002+09:00

I'm all excited for the arrival of winter so I wore my boots for the first time this year! My boyfriend is getting (slightly) better at taking outfit photos, so I didn't have to cut my face out of this one.

I'm wearing:
Self made dress, Satch cardigan, Hussy boots, the belt from my Mad Cortes skirt as a scarf, Oroton umbrella and Mulberry bag (of the fake variety)

Topshop

2009-03-17T20:33:00.004+09:00

My shoe situation at the moment is dire, so I'm considering using Krudd's stimulus package to stimulate the British economy. I love Topshop shoes because they're interesting and relatively cheap (even with the awful exchange rate).

Question 1:
Is it ridiculous to buy shoes online when you have no idea if they're going to fit?

I'm also incredibly in need of heels. Objectively I love the look of really chunky platform heels ala Karla and the Topshop ones below. But subjectively, I see these and think: prostitute (streetwalker, not high class).

One of my brother's prostitute heroin addict ex-girfriends had one pair of shoes, similar to the ones above but with clear soles. As hard as I try, every time I see these sorts of shoes, I am haunted by images of my brother's girlfriend hobbling around in these, a PVC mini-skirt and khaki hiking socks.

Question 2:
Platform heels: crumpet or strumpet?

Pathetic attempt at an outfit post!

2009-03-15T10:01:00.003+09:00

FINALLY I've been arsed to do an outfit post, and what can I say... it certainly is a let down! I'm finding it REALLY difficult to get any decent photos (I'm blaming the camera, not my bone structure!). I've blanked out my eyes, not to remain anonymous, but to disguise the fact that I look totally stoned (I wasn't, in case anyone's interested).

I seem to be finding it impossible to get a photo in which both my outfit and my face are fit for public consumption. Any tips?

I'm wearing:
Self-made dress, Levante tights, Top-End shoes (with permanent marker alterations), Luella headband, Veronika Maine belt

Viktor & Rolf & more trompe l'oeil

2009-03-10T18:50:00.003+09:00

I'm loving the new Viktor & Rolf collection. I've always appreciated Viktor & Rolf but I've never really actually wanted to wear any of their pieces. I can't quite work out if this collection is more accessible than usual, or if am I'm just becoming less conservative in my tastes.

They've done such an interesting interpretation of classical draping, and I particularly love their use of trompe l'oeil, my all time favourite embellishment technique! Look closely at the last two images!

More things I want, but can't afford

2009-03-08T09:45:00.002+09:00

I love this bolero cardigan I found on Etsy today. I'd totally buy it if I had any money (all my extra money at the moment is going towards the unfortunate injustice that is my red light camera fine). Englishdept has refashioned it from a vintage cardigan. I think I may be able to do something similar if I can find a nice enough cardigan. I'll keep you updated with my progress!

Balmain Galore

2009-03-07T14:06:00.003+09:00

I'm creaming my jeans all over the new Balmain collection.

I love the sequin dresses, I love the jackets and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the shoes.

Trompe L'oeil

2009-03-03T19:17:00.003+09:00

I've been obsessed with trompe l'oeil for years. I'd do anything for one of Elsa Schiaparelli's bow sweaters, however I think I'm about 90 years too late.

So it's ESSENTIAL that I get my hands on this amazing Karen Walker dress from her Northern Hemisphere winter 2009/2010 collection (I'm pretty sure this print is recycled from a 2001 collection).

Memento Mori

2009-02-25T11:43:00.004+09:00

This is a very bad sign, it's only the 3rd day back at uni and I'm wagging already. I did go in the morning, so I'm not ENTIRELY naughty... and I did seriously consider going to the afternoon's lectures... but it's raining, and that's an excellent excuse not to go.

I've just remembered this amazing artist, Julia DeVille (how can you not love someone who's named herself after Cruella!). I saw her last year on Enough Rope (when I was once again procrastinating from study). She makes memento mori, objects to remind us of our own mortality, out of animals that have died of natural causes. Her work is fascinating because there's such an interesting duality between the horrifying and the beautiful. I really love animals, so naturally I found her work pretty challenging at first, but she is actually far more respectful of animals than most of us. She's a vegetarian and when she dies her body is to be donated to the Institute of Plastination in Germany, so it can be preserved and exhibited to allow others to do to her body what she is doing to animal bodies.

Her work really makes you think about and our society's fear of death; death has become taboo in our society, when 200 years ago it was a far more accepted part of life. I was totally freaked out by her kitten rugs because I love cats so much, but then I realised that she's making something beautiful out of something that is dead. Why shouldn't we celebrate life instead of burying it in the past?

She also makes beautiful gloves:

I'm in lust

2009-02-24T16:57:00.003+09:00

I've just discovered sarahseven, this amazing seller on Etsy. She makes the most beeaaauuuutiful dresses from recycled bustiers. I want about 10 of them. It's so unfortunate that I'm destitute!

My etsy store!

2009-02-23T20:03:00.002+09:00

I've finally gotten around to opening my Etsy store! Just headbands at the moment, but I'm considering doing clothes as well if anyone is interested. Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6867197

More style inspiration

2009-02-23T17:46:00.003+09:00

I'm loving the latest outfit from Garance Dore. I always get sucked in by stuff like this then find it to be massively impractical. Clearly it's cold enough to be wearing a cardigan AND a coat, but it's warm enough for a mini skirt/romper and 3/4 sleeves. Does such weather actually exist? How does one pull of this look without freezing one's arse off?

It's rant time!

2009-02-20T19:34:00.004+09:00

Can someone please explain to me what's so great about Rodarte? Their fall/winter 2009 collection was ALL THE SAME! There were 6 basic looks (as pictured above): cold weather grey, warm weather grey, warm weather multi-coloured grey, woolly grey, cold weather black and warm weather multi-coloured black. And then, if it wasn't already monotonous enough, they made at least 4 almost identical outfits for each of these 6 looks!

It's not even that anything in this collection is particularly original. Their use of collage is interesting, but apart from being less frilly and not pink, it's essentially yet another incarnation of Michelle Jank's 2001 collection .

I'm puzzled as to whether or not this stuff is actually intended to be worn, or if it's supposed to be a form of artistic expression.

As something to actually wear, it's far too ridiculous. Exhibit A. Kirsten Dunst:
As a progressive form or art, a la Hussein Chalayan, surely they could have presented it in a more conceptual way than on a runway. How much cooler was Alexander McQueen's spring/summer 2005 collection where the models were set up like a game of chess?

Don't get me wrong, I GET experimental and artistic fashion, and I do find Rodarte somewhat cool (the fabrics from this collection look really interesting). But what's the big deal? Has everyone just jumped on the Anna Wintour bandwagon; because something is never fabulous unless she says so?

Bows and pom-poms! What more could a girl want?

2009-02-19T17:51:00.004+09:00

I'm completely convinced that Mulberry is part of a vast international conspiracy to persecute me with its beautiful things. Mulberry have now acquired a new instrument of torture: a clothing line. Check out these fabulous ultra-twee jackets. I'm making both of them... although I'm not quite sure where I can get my hands on fur pom-poms....

DIY draped pencil skirt part 2

2009-02-19T16:14:00.007+09:00

Here are the instructions for the skirt in my last post (click on image to make it bigger).

Difficulty level:
2.5/5 (It's pretty easy, but harder to make than my last skirt. Only try it if you are at least semi-reasonable at sewing).

You will need:
Fabric. I used about 80cm x 130cm, but it's up to you how much you use. Stripes, checks and plaid looks particularly good in this style.
Thread to match fabric
Sewing Machine
Overlocker (optional). Overlock all sides before sewing.
Pins
Scissors
Dressmaker's dummy (optional)
Zipper (goes on the outside of the dress, not the inside, so don't be scared of putting it in!). Again, metal is WAY cuter than nylon.

More DIY! Draped pencil skirt

2009-02-18T16:49:00.009+09:00

I've been wanting a pencil skirt with some kind of gathering at the front for ages now. I've been meaning to make something reminiscent of these Phillip Lim skirts from his Fall 2008 collection, but I could never be bothered making a proper pattern.
Then Gem and I saw this most amazing Vivienne Westwood dress at Dilettante. It's draped in the weirdest and complicated way that apparently there's only one guy in the shop who knows how to get it on (and unfortunately no way I can copy it)! I'm so grateful that I look heinous in copper and am not anorexic, otherwise I almost definitely would have murdered everyone in the shop to have it.
So my point is (finally!)... this dress inspired me to make a draped pencil skirt with some sort of fancy bit at the front. Channelling Vivienne even more, I decided to make it in tartan, which looks especially spectacular because the draping means the tartan goes in all different directions.

I'll include instructions how to make it in my next post!

oOo More Preen!

2009-02-16T21:09:00.001+09:00

Sorry, I'm creaming my jeans over Preen. These are my favourites from last season's collection. So gorgeous.

Preen

2009-02-16T20:04:00.004+09:00

These Preen cutout dresses are really cool. Gem and I saw the coolest one at Dilettante the other day that had black lace in the cut out bits.

DIY shoes!

2009-02-14T21:26:00.004+09:00

I'd just finished reading childhood flames' blog entry where she coloured her Marni wedges with a Sharpie, when the power ran out. I had nothing to do and couldn't leave the bloody house because the gate wouldn't open without power and I was a millisecond away from cutting sick at this stupid electrician bloke who was laughing at me for unsuccessfully trying to open the gate with my remote control. So I decided to colour a pair of my shoes to relieve my boredom and frustration!

Here's what they used to look like:

I've had these shoes for YEARS and I've worn them twice: yesterday and once to the races 3 years ago. I never really liked them in the first place but I needed emergency shoes to match a particular dress which the dry cleaner subsequently ruined. They're an awkward colour; they don't seem to go with anything in my wardrobe and because I'm so white they look a bit weird on me because they camouflage with my feet.

I'm OBSESSED with two-toned shoes (especially the brogues that the blonde Nazi woman wears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; I'll devote a whole blog entry to these one day). I also adore the whole Japanese design aesthetic of asymmetry and slight imperfection to signify that something's hand made. So I've made each shoe slightly different.

They are FABULOUS. You'd can't even tell that they've been coloured in unless you look really really closely and see where I've accidentally gone out of the lines. I did about 3 coats, so there's no streaks or anything. So pleased with self!

Clashing prints

2009-02-14T06:57:00.003+09:00

I love love love mixing patterns that don't match. Ok, I don't actually do it myself, but that's only because I find it really difficult to find prints that aren't hideous, let alone two that I can wear together.

Latest mission: find floral silk scarf to wear with my printed silk chiffon dress.

(PS This image from Garance Dore makes me so sad I dyed my hair dark brown!)

DIY puff skirt pt 2

2009-02-13T12:02:00.003+09:00

Here are instructions for how to make the skirt from my last post (click on the image to make it bigger).

Difficulty level:
1.5/5 (If you're halfway decent at sewing it will be the easiest thing you'll ever make, but if you've never used a sewing machine before, it may be difficult for you).

You will need:
Sewing machine
Overlocker (optional)
Fabric (the amount you need depends how pouffy you want the skirt, and how long you want it. The fabric I used was 150cm wide, so I only needed about 70cm (the 150cm from selvage to selvage is gathered around the waist). If you're using fabric that isn't very wide, you might have to cut the fabric length-wise, so you'll need about 150cm)
Thread
Zipper (the metal ones are way cooler than the nylon ones)

DIY Puff skirt pt 1

2009-02-13T09:10:00.008+09:00

I loved the look of Camille of childhood flames' puff skirt, so I took her DIY tutorial and made it. While it looks fabulous on a Non-Eater like Camille, unfortunately us Eaters are unable to pull off an elasticated waist unless we're going to a costume party dressed as an obese person.

So I made a more flattering version without elastic to cater for the more horizontally challenged reader.

This is my version (sorry, I'm not much of a photographer; everything always looks 10 times crappier when I take a photo of it!):

The back is fabulous; I've put the back seam and a big chunky zip on the outside for a cool deconstructionist look, and the exposed zip means it's way easier to sew (but your mother will undoubtedly point out that your skirt is inside out the first time she sees you wearing it!).

Gorgeous

2009-02-12T09:44:00.002+09:00

I really love this look for winter. Maybe I can recreate it if I make a black velvet jacket and get this vest that Gem and I found in Witchery last week?

Unfortunately this pic doesn't do the vest justice. It is actually really ethnic looking, interesting, ethereal and gorgeous. Although I am a bit morally opposed to paying $350 for something from Witchery.

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2009

2009-02-09T21:15:00.004+09:00

How gorgeous is this? I was totally off Proenza Schouler after their dismal Spring/Summer 2009 collection, but now I'm well and truly back on the bandwagon.