Daily Outfits: February and March

First an update about the "Virtuous Unicorn" line!  I've been working coloring the sketches.  The animals and flowers are done (and look great!), and the maidens and unicorns are almost done.  I was stymied on the maiden's dresses; designing a dress to go on a dress was a bit meta for me, but it seems to have worked out.

So look for some more previews soon and the actual line after that!

Other then dabbing watercolors onto paper, I've worn some clothes and taken some photos.

Worn on St. Valentine's day, and posted to the egl community for the Red theme.

This coord on lookbook

Jsk: Handmade

Cutsew: Thrifted and altered

Collar: Vintage

Pin: Vintage

Earrings: Gift

Corsage: handmade

Purse: Thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Cuffs: Handmade

Hair Bows: Handmade

Socks: Innocent World

Shoes: Easy Spirit with handmade bow clips

Worn to a Valentine's day party.  I went for a sort hime look.  Not sure what I think about the high bun with my face.  Bit of an experiment. 

This coord on lookbook

Jsk: Handmade
Blouse: Ebay
Mink Stole: Antique's Mall
Tiara: Gift
Necklaces: Handmade
Shoes: Thrift store
Bow Clips: handmade

Striped dress again.  I went for a more mori style this time.  I wore this to drop off my Mother's and my "jewelry" entry for the Philadelphia flower show.   I tried out pinning my sandal shoe clips to my boots but they went a bit wonky and one fell off while I was taking photos.

This coord on lookbook

Jsk: Handmade
Blouse: Forever 21
Cardigan: Burlington Coat Factory
Belt: thrifted
boots: Steve Madden
Shoe Clips: handmade
Sweater Clip: Antiques store
Pin: Thrifted
Tatted Headband: Handmade

And I wore this to the Member's preview of the Philadelphia flower show.  My newest dress, which I can't seem to stop wearing!

A little view of how long my hair has gotten.  I've since gotten a few inches trimmed.  

This coord on lookbook.

Jsk: Handmade
Turtleneck: outlet store
Cardigan: Burlington Coat Factory
Corsage: handmade
Shoes: Thrift store
Bow Clips: handmade
Sweater Clip: Antiques store
Pearls: Gift 
Hat: Hats in the Belfry

And for those interested here is our entry.  The catagory was "Hair Comb" and the theme this year was Hawaii.  Other then the paint it is made entirely of botanical materials (calabash, lentels, mustard seeds, poppy seeds, orange peel ect.)  We won second place; which was great because last year we only got an honorable mention!

Daily Outfit: Fairy Formal Dress

About two weeks ago I mentioned working on a pink chiffon dress to wear to the school's "formal".   Well don't worry, I didn't forget about the photos!

Like I said in the previous post; I am a bit disappointed in how the chiffon hung.   I was hoping for a bit more of a undulating flowy-ness.  The very drape-y effect is quite pretty though, and I'm satisfied in the dress itself.   I'm just being a bit persnickety I think!

It is very enjoyable to dance in!  I just have to be careful spinning because of the circle skirts.  It can get very exciting very quickly!

This outfit on lookbook.

I coordinated it with gold jewelry and my favorite caramel colored heels.  I'm very happy with my experiment of wearing a brooch in my hair.

As a long time lolita an outfit just doesn't feel right without something on my head!  Bows are a little too juvenile for this look, and I wanted something other then flowers.  I find that most hair clips/pins are either boring or too glitzy for my taste, so this worked out nicely.  I just have to figure out how to hid the bobby pins better.

By the by, let me introduce you to my histrionically misplaced twin!

This is a photo of a 1950's debutante; and no she's not related to me at all (that I know of).  It was taken at The Wharton Sinkler Estate, where my Parents were married!  That's all I know about her, but it is quite extraordinary!

Seeing as I was wearing a floofy formal dress I had to try to reenact the photo of course!

Hmm I got the direction her head is turned wrong.  I'll just have to try again sometime!

Sewing: Fairy Formal Dress

The design sketch

 This past week or so I've had a bit of breathing room in between completing orders and waiting for fabric to come in for the next ones.  So I of course have decided to sew something!

Not anything practical mind you, not even a lolita sun dress, or mori skirt.  Rather I decided to make a chiffon fairy princess dress.

I find it rather amusing that when I'm not wearing some combination of mori/ lolita/ ect, or historical costume; I apparently want to dress like an extra from Midsummer's Nights Dream.

It's inspired partly by a vintage 70's dress that I saw while blog surfing, and a Moite jumperskirt.

Here is a mock up of the bodice with some icky blue fabric that was donated to the school.

It was surprisingly easy for how complicated the Moite jumperskirt looked.  Just 4 peices of fabric for the "braid".

I ended up using pink.  I would have prefered a mauve-y purple or seafoam color, but pink was what I could get on sale; which was important because of how much fabric I needed.

The skirt consists of a cotton circle skirt with 3 rectangular chiffon skirts layered over it.  The thing is huge!!  Here it is laid out on a table with my glasses and layering "cheat sheet" .  I wanted to do 4 chiffon skirts, but I just ran out of fabric.

Looking back I wish I had used organza instead of chiffon, as the layers just don't have the undulating body the 70's dress does.  Organza seemed like it would be too stiff though, I've never tried to work with it draped like this.  Maybe I needed something between a chiffon or organza?

I think it turned out nice anyway though!

I have to admit that the criss-cross detail and cotton candy pink color made me feel like I was making a dress for a grown up "Lady Lovely Locks"!  I guess thats not a bad thing; she does seem to have style.

I'm planning on wearing it tomorrow to the school's formal dance.  I want to coordinate it with some simple gold tone jewelry to try to make the color more elegant and refined. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

Daily Outfit: Red Bridesmaid Dress

This past friday we had a dance at the school I work at, so I of course used it as an excuse to dress up!

It may sound corny, but I love the dances we have at the school.  Because we are both a small school and have students of all ages the the activities are varied and charming .  We usually have waltzing, swing dancing, the Virgina Reel (my favorite!), musical chairs, and miscellaneous dancing.  Nearly everyone from the littlest student to us staff members are involved.  Besides I love to dance!

While nearly all of our dances are "casual" (except the last one of the year), those who want to dress up.  I decided to wear this bridesmaid dress I made for my friend Thera's wedding.  It's an infinity dress and I helped the other two maids make theirs.  Paired of course with my vintage mink stole, which I wear as often as I can!  

You can't see it because I'm holding the skirt out, but this dress is much slinkier then I usually wear.  It is a blast to dance in though because of the huge circle skirt.  

This coord on lookbook.

It's a cliché that bridesmaid dresses are ugly and never worn again.  I've been a bridesmaid 3 times over and have ended up with 3 very lovely and wearable dresses.

Heres two coords with the other two.  Click for full size.    

A rose pink dress that I wore for my friend Kristina's wedding.  It has a wonderful 50's feeling and is also a delight to dance in.

This coord on lookbook

I wore this green brushed cotton dress with oodles of pin tucks for my friend Molly's wedding.  We actually found them on sale at Macy's!  

This coord on lookbook

My friend Autumn recently got engaged so I'm looking forward to another surprisingly wearable bridesmaid dress, most probably in blue! 

Do any of you have bridesmaid dress stories, good or horrible?