Life happens Be Positive

Mccall's Summer 2011 Picks

HAPPY EASTER

SS2011 Set 1: Recap

All the post with details for each garment can be found here.

Fabrics Used:

 

 

I just want to thank everyone for leaving comments, it really helps to keep the mojo going.

And for those of you who are new to my blog, this is the SS2011 Set 2 fabrics, so that is what I will be diving into next.

SS2011 Set 1: Simplicity 2257 Leather Trim Skirt

 
Most Fridays I'm really happy to just be able to put on a pair of jeans, a shirt or sweater and some flats to wear to work but sometimes I want to wear something other than denim but its a challenge to find suitable non-denim separates, that are still appropriate for work without looking to professional, to dressy or to laid back.

Simplicity 2257

 

 

• Added 1.5 inches of length to the hem of skirt
• Made size 18, no other alterations
• Used a golden tan 100% linen from Fabric Mart Fabrics
• Faux leather cognac colored trim was bought at Joanns Fabric
• Free hanging lining made from 100% cotton batiste

 
 
 

 

The shirt I'm wearing is from Macy's, I love that the collar, pocket and epaulettes are cotton poplin but the top itself is cotton jersey, its very comfortable.

 

The piping detail has been emerging more and more on the runway, two skirts that were my inspiration.

Celine SS 2010

 

Yves Saint Laurent SS 2011

 
photos from Style.com

and also The look of the day from QVC a couple weeks ago.

 
 
Animal Print bangles I got from ebay last Fall

 
My mom gave me this scarf probably 5 years ago, I love it, I wear it everyway possible, in my hair, on my bag, as a belt, everything you can think off.

 
Fossil watch, I got this as a gift about 3 years ago, I love it because its like wearing a bead bracelet, you have to really be "noisy" to notice its a watch :)

 

After making so many skirts over the years, a skirt is just another skirt to me. I am trying to be more selective of the designs I choose so I can really add something worthwhile to my closet. This skirt is unique because of the leather trim, it gives it a "designer look" that I won't see going and coming.

If you decide to make it, let me know how it works out for you, it was a quick sewing project.

Well, this is the last garment of my Spring Summer 2011 Set 1, so next post will be the recap.

Just wondering

 

Point noted!

All photos obtained from style.com, link to full Banana republic FW 2011 can be found here.

 
 
 
 

I quickly added a lightweight nude color sweater to my list after I saw this, I have so many dresses that this concept works for without having to make anything.
 
 
B5612 and B5611 can go from summer into fall if layered like this, tucked within your pants or outside with or without belt.

 

 
and thank goodness, something universally flattering.

 
 

Right now, everything is a POP OF COLOR as in bright colors but in the fall its not going to change. Its just going to be fall colors instead of the brights. 

I think for a long time, they have been trying to get people to become "less matchy matchy" but don't take this as a license to just pull any color out of a magic hat.

If you look at all these photos you can see how easy on the eyes the colors for these accessories are on the models, like in the photo with the printed dress, the burnt orange of the bag comes straight out of the print of the dress and so does the shoes, the photo with the model wearing the blazer with burgundy top, bag and belt- one color even though the shoes is a nude.

I only point this out because this Pop of color thing can get way out of hand if you don't understand that colors must "play nice" with each other- for real.

A yellow bag with pink pumps and a green dress, makes for an interesting editorial but be weary of it. Just think about it okay.

Don't get me started :)

 
 
I have two pencil button down skirts but I don't have a Full A line one like this, this is right up my alley. I love everything about this look.

Knowing what to look for makes it much easier to find it.

 

Brainstorming your summer closet

Which is kind of ironic because I'm in the process of planning my late summer/early fall sets, my summer planning have been done since February and my first set is almost complete.

When I'm master-minding my sets this is how it goes on paper:

 

You MUST truely know what you have in there. Let me tell you, I have four wrap dresses, guess what I'm NOT making this summer?

 
I really don't know another way to put it.

I chose the pattern for my summer set based on what I want to wear, where I intend to wear it, what fabric I have on hand, what patterns I wanted to sew and colored fabric that look great on me.

Those are the objectives, so everything I sew have to fall within those requirements.

 
You can buy every pattern you love but you can't sew every pattern you love in one season so get it together.

I don't like spending a lot of time sewing long winded, highly meticulous patterns period, I will do it if I really love the pattern but its not my favorite thing to do so one of my "standards" is to have projects that take a weekend to make, probably 8 to 10 hours max.

I know some people hate to make muslins, if that is you, guess what, that is a "standard" make note of it.

 
This applies for choosing patterns and fabric. I do this ALL THE TIME.

So when I read blogs and people are talking about all the things they didn't expect to happen when they chose their fabric choice, I just wonder, how much thought did they really put into making that garment.

"If I had six hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend four hours sharpening the ax"- Abraham Lincoln

Don't get me wrong, Life happens, you will never really be able to think of every single thing, but as my mom said, you better hate it before you love it because once you commit to it, its a done deal.

Think about all the things that can go wrong and scrutinize it fully, send it to a sewing buddy and let them critique it for you.

 
No rushing to pick patterns or fabrics and absolutely no rushing to sew them up either. If I had a yard of fabric for everytime I mess up a part of a garment when I was sewing because I was trying to get it done so I can go out, or go to sleep or finish up on Sunday night because I had to go to work tomorrow, I would actually have a stash, Its not worth it.

Make a list of what you want to sew and call it draft one, go back through it a dozen times, you should see my new list, its needs tons of editing.

 
Yes, they sure do and not what you expect.

I remember this one wool blend navy dress I made when I first started sewing, it seems like it grew everytime I wore it, is that possible?

It was fine when I first started and became unwearable after a few times I wore it. Colors fade, fabric shrinks, necklines stretch and on and on, don't let it get to you.

That is why I say to do "the worst case situation" as part of your planning, for all these things.

 

After each of my garments is done, I look over it, I scrutinize the finished photos, I make mental notes of what NOT to do and what I can use again and I keep it moving regardless if its super fabulous or MEH!

So even though you are not one to plan elaborate 12 piece coordinating sewing wardrobes, its still good to have some type of direction for your sewing. Pull out that calendar and your patterns and start dreaming.

more later,

Toy

SS2011 Set 1: Mccalls 5847 Shirtdress 3

 

I'm sure you can come up with tons of events that this fall under, just one off the top of my head would be the annual end of summer luncheon that the company I work for throws, in August.

The dress code is always worded very close but not exact, to the description, above.

How many events/places do you have to go during the summer that require you to be "casual" yet you still want to look sophisticated?

I was thinking about this while I was sewing this dress.

Going to the doctor, an appointment at the bank, PTA meeting, you get the point. 

 

 

 

 
 

 
  

 


This dress is four years in the making.
I got this linen/rayon suiting in Trinidad, four years ago.
Once again, this is why I don't buy fabric unless I have an idea of what its going to be used for.
I feel like a classic style pattern would be a good fit for it because I love the look of this fabric, it feels so good, wash and press well.
It was a dream to sew and now I want to "keep it".
God really smiled on me with this one, it was such a great experience to have a simple pattern that just
flows so well.
I use a size 14, made the petite adjustment, added an additional inch to the length
but I didn't add any ease to the bottom shirt, it just fits.
So, I have no complaints.

 

 
I purchased this belt from forever 21 last week, the leatherette cutout pattern remains me of crochet, I guess you can call it a statement belt.

 

I got these bracelets with the belt. What I love about them is that you can use what you like if don't want to wear the whole set together, so you are gettng your money's worth with this set.

 
One more garment to go to complete this set. I hope you are having a great weekend.
 

SS2011 Set 1: Butterick 5600 Shirtdress 2

 "The Knit Dress Alternative"
I don't want to sound ungrateful, knit dresses have been good to me.
Right now, I need less of them but I still want the ease of wear and versatility.
I decided to try out Butterick 5600.
When I saw this fabric at joanns, I remember holding it like "the best kept secret" until
I got to the cutting counter.
The Fabric itself is a cotton that is dyed to look like a straw color linen, the white motif is the original color of the fabric. Its light but not opaque, so you get the look of linen without the wrinkles.
You know I love my belts, but I did go back and forth with the idea of adding the elastic tie belt and casing on the waistline.
I decided to leave it out.
I feel like this look is very trendy right now so I figure if I kept it simple, it will stay longer in my closet.
I like that its on the fringe of being "safari style" with the sleeves and color but without the pockets. This Dress is Short, I added an inch more than the original length.

 

 
 

ACCESSORIES

 

 

 
Coral bracelet from ebay, Simulated Amber, wood and pearl string bracelet made by me and Belt from NY&Company.com

GARMENT PHOTO

 

 

VIDEO

letting go is good for your mojo

It doesn't matter how much a fabric cost me, or patterns or whatever it is, if it doesn't appeal to me anymore, its OVER, we are through!

But that doesn't mean its not hard.

You see the white fabric in this photo.

Let me tell you, I remember the day as if it was yesterday when I got it.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Manhattan, NY when I spotted this white cotton eyelet in the front window of a store in a the garment district 3 years ago.

I just had to have it, I think I was seeing a lot of eyelet in the magazines or something but I bought it and it was NOT CHEAP, but you know how it goes when you fall in love with a piece of fabric and you just have to have it.

Well, this is another reason why I don't buy fabric unless I know what I want to do with it, because I could never find a pattern for this fabric.

I decided to push myself to use it, so I included it with my set 1 collection.

But everytime I see it I just get so TURNED OFF, I have NOTHING for this fabric, I DON'T LIKE TO WEAR ALL WHITE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN I BOUGHT IT, ALL WHITE DOES NOT LOOK GOOD ON ME.

All the above.

Just sickening. I have been walking around my home feeling so demotiviated and I just said, NO MORE of this, its going to another place Far away from me, WE JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS WORK.

and so its gone, to a much happy place.... I hope.

Stash is GREAT, but the ones you don't like as much anymore  is JUNK, CLUTTER and you need to keep it moving, keep what you love, gift the rest. I practice what I preach.

I will post a review tomorrow, I hope you are sewing!

MK FW 2011

Oh, this is definitely my style.

How chic is this?

Leather and snake-skin inlay metal cuffs

Concave shaped metal bracelet

 

And the belt....

 

 

If I can't find a belt like this I may have to try to make one.

These are from Michael Kor FW 2011.