Inspired By The Past

Kansas City Fashion Week has come and gone. This is my third post covering those events. Usually, I would have rolled all the styles into one post. However, each of the stylings inspired something extra.

This was the third year Rachelle and I went to the Saturday night runway show. I wore pants each time. I'm not sure why I do that, it just happens. I was even planning to wear a skirt up to one week before but then went for pants, again.

This year, I was inspired by the 1930's pajama pants. Although, the French started wearing these wide legged pants in the 1920's, American women didn't start wearing this style as pure enjoyment until the 30's. This is probably the first time American women wore pants in a fashion sense. Usually, pants were only worn for practical reasons or to make political statements. 

I've always thought this pant style was chic. With a bottom leg width of 48 inches, my pants swish, flow and makes me feel so elegant.


I made my pants using Vogue 1168, a design by Donna Karan. Unfortunately, Vogue is not offering Donna Karan designs any longer. But, this pattern is still available across the Internet. The fabric I picked was 100% polyester Peachskin from Joann's. 

Also, I made my Mazarine Blue silk (from Mood Fabrics) blouse using Simplicity 1590. This pattern is a vintage reproduction from the 1940's and I think the two styles from the different decades go together nicely.

Silk reacts to light more than any fabric I know, which is why I love silk so much. In every photo, the blue looks a different shade, depending on the lighting. 

Part of any experience like this is the red carpet, of course. 

We always take a Selfie!

I love hand stitching and especially running stitches because I think they elevate a piece. With this blue silk being so dark, I knew that not many people would see my silk thread stitches. But I know they are there. Sometimes that is what counts. I equate it to having an incredible lining for a jacket; if it is seen or not is not important. It's just your little secret that makes you happy.

 If you are a button aficionado, these buttons are Czech glass that I found on eBay. 

My still life shows the finer points: the silk thread running stitches, the black silk bow and the metallic surface of the Nine West heels. With these, I think I have reached the height of my "heeliness". These are the highest I am ever going! It also features one of my Turkish rings, a black pearl double strand bracelet and my Jessica McClintock clutch. 

Just a Few looks from the 30's

I think these pants need to make a major comeback! What do you think?
 

I realize that not everyone can or wants to sew and so found a pair of pajama pants (or close to) from the Gap for $59. I had a Joanne coupon and my total outlay (including notions) was $31 but I also spent a week making them (on and off).

I actually bought this pattern for the top but never got it made. Maybe some day.

Vogue 1168

I was worried about how this blouse style would look on my figure. I certainly don't have the type of figure shown on this pattern front (I never do!) but I think it looks fine and I really love this design.

The Painted Accessory

I kept the nails dark and did a double layer mani. The bottom coat is Dazed by Cult Nails (no longer in business). The top glitter coat is Cirque's Laser Jet from their collection that they did for the Met's Manus x Machina exhibit. 

And the last word about moving the needle. 

Those who have followed me for a while know that I believe in the value of even the most rudimentary sewing skills. Being able to hem a garment, sew on a button of mend a seam saves both time and money. 

Beginning sewing classes can be found at local fabric stores and online at Craftsy. Craftsy offers classes in quite a few creative areas and even have free classes. A couple of free classes that I have in my class library are Mastering Zipper Techniques and Design Your Own Handbags. 

Currently, I am watching Steffani Linceum's class Pattern Drafting From Ready To Wear. I even have a non sewing class; Focaccia and Flatbreads From Around The World. Craftsy occasionally has sales on their classes. If you get on their mailing list, they will let you know when they are.

That's all I have for today so.......

I will say adieu.
I will see you next week and in the meantime, Happy Styling!

This week, I am linking up with Patti's Not Dead Yet Style's Visible Monday HERE,  Cherie's  Style Nudge's Shoe and Tell HERE, Catherine's Not Dressed As Lamb's I will Wear What I like HERE, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish Turning Heads Tuesday HERE, Living On Cloud Nine's Style Perspectives HERE, Shopping My Closet's Style Me Wednesday HERE, The Pleated Poppy's What I Wore HERE, High Altitude Style's Link-Up HERE, Elegance and Mommyhood's Moda Thursday HERE, Fashion Should Be Fun's Fun Friday Fashion Link Up HERE, Shelbee's Edge of the Week Link Up HERE, Nancy's Fashion Style's Fancy Friday and Rachel's (Rachel The Hat) The Passion For Fashion Link-up HERE and Style Crone's Hat Attack HERE.




Photo credit for this week goes to Michael for my photos and me for the rest with the exception of the photos from KCFW. They were found on the KCFW Facebook page.

Spring Has Finally Sprung and Its Time For Some Straw

Spring and Summer are finally here! They seem to have come upon us together in the Heartland, because it seems to me that the last two months have been pretty chilly. 

With that said, happy June and hello to this month's Hat Attack. This is my sixth month of doing Hat Attack and that is a small mile stone for me. Originally, I wanted to do Judith's Hat Attack soooo badly, so I started this style blogging and have had such a great time doing it. 

With the warm weather, it was time to bring out my straw. Today's look is centered around mixing straw textures of different color. The snafu with today's shots is that you can't see my feet! I've made up for it below with one of my still life shots. 

There is a problem with great days like we are having. My in-house photographer (a.k.a as Michael the hubby) would rather be in his garden than anywhere else. I decided to be a nice wife and bring the camera and I to him. So we have this beautiful green backdrop in front of the Wisteria, but after downloading the photos, I realized that his taller garden grass and shoes don't mix well. 

This look started when I had just found this "new to me" apostrophe jacket on my Friday night "thrift hunt". I am not sure what I had planned for this post, but when I saw this jacket, everything went out the window.

The material is a 98% Cotton / 2 % Spandex and has a free flowing window pane type of design with off-white, black and grey. Gee, this goes with about 90% of my wardrobe. The jacket is a smock design with darts in the front, back and bottom of the bracelet length sleeves. And bracelet length sleeves are one of my favorites, because, as the name implies, you can show off your bracelets!

A back view, to show the slits I put in the back of my capris. Read below for more about that.

And now to the other choices I made for this look. I was drawn to this particular straw Fedora, because a Fedora always has a masculine flair about it, yet the large straw bow just sort of thumbs its nose at that notion. I picked it up at my favorite KC hat store Exclusively For You.  

The four textured sandals from Liz Claiborne picks up on the textures where the hat leaves off. With jute, suede cloth, straw and vegan leather, they manage to tie it all together with the the neutral tones. I wear them a lot. 

The bag is one of my Eric Javits eBay purchases. This is one of his smaller Squishee bags. Again, a straw texture. I love Javits bags for the summer. This one is such a "ladies who lunch bag".  

The jewelry is silver. There was a time when I was really a purist and would not mix gold with silver. Those days are over. I wear whatever with whatever, whenever -- as long as I feel that they can play nicely together.  

Now you can see the shoes

Now on to my capris, which I made. I used Vogue 2948, which is  discontinued,  unfortunately. I like this pattern because it has princess seaming, and for us who have no fannies, princess seam pants are great for getting a good fit. This point brings up something else. The reason I have always sewn is that my body is a very hard fit. Besides making original looks from scratch, it's nice to have skills to alter something off the rack (which is about 95% of the time when it comes to dresses).

The fabric is 100% Linen and I got it online from Vogue Fabrics out of Chicago. As I alluded to in the back view photo, I did change the pattern a tad. The pattern does not show a Capri style, so I just made them shorter and for some reason, I decided I needed slits up the back. A whim of the moment, I suppose. 

I made a top for my pants using another Vogue Options pattern (also princess seaming), and I found this photo from last summer to show you both pieces together. Wow, my hair was so blond. I started going natural back in February and think I have more of a mixed blond/silver tone now.

At a Claire McCaskill book signing through KC's Rainy Day Books

A scan of my pattern. I really want some pants like the sketch. Oh, I need so much more time!

I found one other princess seamed pants if someone was interested in trying to make a pair. I would first search eBay and ETSY for the original pattern because it is out there. These by Burda look a little more time consuming than my pattern. But, wow, they are stylish. It's a PDF so there would be a lot of taping together after you downloaded it.

Did I mention I made these pants twice? I made the longer version (as the pattern) in a 100% Linen black/white plaid that I purchased at a beloved but "oh, no more" fabric store Cy Rudnicks that was located in Kansas City. I need to do a styling with my longer version this Fall because I wear them all the time. 

And Then There Is the Polish............

I have to show you Zoya's Aster from their 2016 Spring Petals collection. This is another winner. It's Periwinkle (one of my favorite polish tones) with flecks of fuchsia. You can't get more Spring than that! 

I will say goodbye for now. This was suppose to be a short post, but, by the time I talk about styling, sewing and my beloved Zoya, perhaps short posts just aren't in my future. Well, I hope you enjoyed it.

Take care until we meet again. I will be back around the same time next week. I usually publish on Sunday afternoons.

This week, I am linking up with Judith of Style Crone's Hat Attack HERE, Patti's Not Dead Yet Style's Visible Monday HERE, Cherie's  Style Nudge's Shoe and Tell HERE, Catherine's Not Dressed As Lamb's I will Wear What I like HERE, Color and Grace's Link Up Party HERE, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish Turning Heads Tuesday HERE, Shopping My Closet's Style Me Wednesday HERE, Living On Cloud Nine's Style Perspectives HERE, Sydney's Fashion Hunter's Fresh Fashion Forum HERE,   High Altitude Style's Link-Up HERE, Fashion Should Be Fun's Fun Friday Fashion Link Up HERE and Style Diary By Osy's Friday Link Up Party HERE.