Confidently Cropped

Hey everyone! I'm kinda excited about this post...this little top has pulled me waaaaay out of my comfort zone! I started to make McCall's 7133 top on a whim, knowing that I would also make a VERY high waisted skirt to wear with it to hide the fact that it is a crop top. I just thought that I certainly couldn't pull off a crop top at my age.

So I did just that, made the top and skirt. As you can see in the pictures below....meh.....

Yeah...not really loving it. Too much of this pattern, maybe? In hindsight, I think that a high waisted pencil skirt would have been better. I just find the whole ensemble overwhelming.

Anywaaaays....moving on...

  I thought, why not (for kicks) just try the top with my high waisted nautical jeans. Bam! I was surprised at how much I liked it and what surprised me even more was the confidence I had while wearing it! Who knew!? Another surprise was that my typically conservative hubby preferred the trousers over the skirt. He thought the skirt was too matchy matchy. 

well paaardoooon me....call the fashion police

(ok....he was absolutely right!)

So on to the pattern.... and my review.

Pattern: McCalls 7133

Fabric used: A tropical print cotton sateen.

Instructions: The instructions were great. This is rated as easy and I found that to be true. It isn't lined which was nice for a summer top and much easier to sew.

Changes I made: I removed the center back seam. I keep making this change to my makes lately...I REALLY don't like unnecessary CB seams. I used an invisible zipper in the side seam instead of the back. I can easily pull the top on and off and it just made much more sense to move the zip.

Repeat worthy: Yes! I am already planning a navy blue one!

The skirt is McCalls 6706. Any of you following me for a while, know that I have made this skirt many times before and can head over to my gallery to find one and a review for it.

After I tried the jeans, I thought I would try my wide legged, high waisted, off white pants. I think this outfit would be perfect for our next trip south. It has a tropical vibe to it and I can totally see myself wearing it to dinner in a resort setting.

So...may I ask... pants or matchy matchy skirt? What if I remade the skirt into a high waisted pencil skirt? Would that be better than the full skirt?
 I like the jeans and hubby likes the white pants. What do you think? I'm also open to more styling ideas if you have any! I'm thinking...my lace Copy Cat skirt or maybe I'll really go all out and pair it with culottes like the pattern! Now we are really stepping outside the comfort zone!

What kind of garments would be outside of your comfort zone?

The Highs and Lows

This dress.... I love it...I don't love it...I love it.... I don't love it....and on it goes! I really like the fabric... it is a blue and white floral with very subtle polka dots in the blue background. Does it get any better!? All my favorite things in one fabric!  The bodice of  Vogue 8870 is great... it's the hemline that I'm fighting with.

 The silhouette is just feels "off" to me.....

I thought I would like a high-low hem but I wish that I had made it into a maxi. I would have worn and loved this as a maxi dress. I don't want to go buy more fabric and take it apart so I think I will first try to trim the hemline like view A. Maybe the less severe high-low version will be more to my liking.

Pattern: Vogue 8870

Fabric used: A pretty textured voile.

Instructions: The instructions were great. This is rated as very easy and I found that to be true. 

Changes I made: Absolutely none! Not one! 

Repeat worthy? Yes! The bodice of this dress is perfect for a summer sundress and I like the twin straps. You could very easily change the straps into one single wide one for more bra strap coverage. Next time I make this I will cut the skirt into a maxi...which shouldn't be too hard.

So...what's your take on the high-low dress/skirt thing? Is it a high or a low for you?

Is It Practical or Pretty...or Both?

I can't seem to keep myself from making pretty dresses...I am quite practical in other areas of my life... really I am. But when I come across such a pretty and painterly print...it just begged to be made into a dress. Another dress...like my closet needs another dress. 

On the topic of practicality... if you want to make a great fit and flare dress that doesn't require a copious amount of fabric or wastage...this is the one. Vogue 1353. Go ahead and look...no... wait I'll save you the trouble...

Whoa!!! Oh Vogue...you make it so hard to love your patterns sometimes! It was pretty easy to pass this one over...until I took a closer look at the line drawings and then the yardage. The yardage was the clincher for me....this beauty only requires 1.4 m! (1 1/2 yards for those of you in the US) Granted, that doesn't include lining but if you are anything like me, you probably already have some that you found on sale stored in the stash. Finding patterns that use less fabric and have less waste has been a goal for me lately. 

My most favorite dress Simplicity 2444 calls for 1.5m just for the skirt! 

Needless to say...I'm hooked on this new favorite.

Pattern: Vogue 1353

Fabric used: The prettiest stretch cotton sateen.

Instructions: I found this pattern to be quite easy to put together. No problems that I recall.

Changes I made: I added 2.5 inches to the length and just did a turn and hem at the bottom. I found it to be too short for me. Next time I may consider going down a size...I'm not sure though. I think that this particular fabric may have stretched somewhat while making it. I may have been a bit too zealous in my pressing. 

Repeat worthy? Yes! I love that this dress uses fabric frugally and it has some lovely details like bodice pleating and bust darts. My only wish....pockets! I added pockets originally but removed them after an initial fit test because I thought that the dress was going to be tighter and I didn't want the pockets to be pulled open. In hindsight, I should have left the pockets because there is plenty of room for them! Oh well... lesson learned and of course I could always add them still!   

I have worn this dress so many times already which is a sure sign that I should make it again. I should actually be making more wardrobe staples but we all know that I won't be doing that!