PORTUGAL WARDROBE REVIEW

Well, I DID change my mind... I went from this

back to this

and I never for a moment regretted it. My brocade jacket was stylish, comfortable and layered well. I wore all three of the jackets a lot, and layered the raincoat over them as needed.

I added one of my vests if it was cold.

The only vest I didn't use was the black and white ikat one.

Pants? well of the five I took, the Eileen Fisher and the gray chinos got only one wear a piece...

and that was due more to shoes than anything else. I wore my new Stuart Weitzman boots most of the time (they were fantastically comfortable) only switching to the Cole Haan when it really rained.

and because I wore the boots so often, the pant lengths were more important than I realized...so the black jeans and the red jeans got worn the most.

And...because I didn't wear the Eileen Fisher pants, I also didn't wear the tunics I took...so I could have left those at home!

Live and learn!

I wore all my tees and turtlenecks. Yay!

I wore my hat a great deal of the time...not the rain hat, and the scarves and purse were in daily rotation

 I think this was the most cohesive wardrobe I've ever put together, and I enjoyed and felt good in my outfits.

 So glad I had my red raincoat!

I got into the studio this last week, made a wadder and gave it away. I need to get back into my stride!

One  thing that happened recently was that I was chosen by the BurdaStyle Sewing Community as one of the 2015 Top Blogs for Fashion Sewers", and it was a lovely surprise. For those non-sewists reading my blog, Burda is a publishing company that was started

in 1898. It has been publishing a fashion magazine based on sewing since 1949, and designing sewing patterns  since the '50's. I'm honored to be in such august company!

TTYL

Edited to add: off to Visible Monday at Patti's blog...come visit!

This and That...

Here is Katherine Tilton's new top for Butterick, 5891:

and with the collar closed

I used a batik from B&J Fabrics and a striped quilting fabric for the trim. I had a few problems with this pattern, and I still didn't get the "peplums" to look like they do on the pattern envelope. I added a facing to the collar so I could wear it open. It's got potential, but the jury is still out.

Several people asked some questions about the "scarf lifter" I mentioned in my last post which I made to avoid having "flat scarf head" when wearing my hijab

I took a couple of raglan shoulder pads and covered them with black knit

zig-zagged around the stack o' pads and sewed a strip of Velcro to the top;

added a corresponding strip of Velcro to the appropriate spot on the scarf

and Voila...

I can sew Velcro strips to other scarves, too, so I can have a change of hijab!

                                          ******************

I didn't make this, but I think it's a cute look...it's from Banana Republic:

It's a sleeveless peplum, so I'll only wear it under a jacket...

**********************

While browsing Lafayette 148 the other night, I was struck by how much difference   

styling makes, whether for merchandising, or when putting together your own outfit.

Look at the difference between the pictures...the lightweight linen top is the same, but oh, the difference the styling makes. It's interesting to me that Lafayette 148 has both pictures on their site, maybe the "styled" outfit is too much for some?

And again:

Look at these two...I never would have looked at the plain one, but immediately was drawn to #2...I find this fascinating!

Till later...

Playing with Proportion

Remember this?

Well, it's been bugging me! So after I took photos of my new tunic and leggings (at the end of the post), I decided to play with the various pieces of this "Anti- Suit"; I like the pieces separately, and I needed to justify the price I paid!

I think the blouse was everyone's favorite, including mine...here it is open, with narrow pants. Much better! The only problem I have with it is that the collar, cuffs and front band should have been interfaced with some of Pam Erny's Shirt Crisp Interfacing. I always use this in my shirts...you need some crispness to make the collar and cuffs stand up.

Here it is, belted...another good look, again, with the narrow pants.

Next, the jacket...(lightened to show details...)

over polka-dot narrow pants...and the fuller pants

 with the top tied in the back, so it's not so big.
I feel much better, now, knowing that all three pieces will have a place in my wardrobe!

I made another M6607 out of a wonderful French double knit from Emma One Sock

and I also made FIVE pair of leggings/narrow pants...I started out with Christine Jonson's BaseWear One, but I don't like to wear my leggings quite so form fitting, so I fooled with the pattern several times, and finally measured my very favorite RTW pants, Eileen Fisher's Washable Stretch Crepe Ankle Pants (I'm wearing them above with the tunic) every four inches from hem to crotch, and made my own "Frankenpattern". I can cut them out and sew them in under an hour...YAY!

From the left...gray with silver pin dots, black and white polka dots, both cotton/lycra from eBay, and Marcy Tilton's black and gray "Rocket Man" rayon/lycra. Numbers 1 and 2 didn't make the cut!
Off to make a test jacket for my fancy Shams-bought brocade...

Several people have asked about the scarf/necklace I'm wearing in a few pictures...

It's raw edged striped knit strips...very lightweight and soft...wonderful for travel, too!