Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
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Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Feeling Fancy

12/14/2014

12 Comments

 
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I love it when an outfit comes together the way I imagine it. Lately, I feel like I've been able to hit the mark more with more accuracy than ever before. This is probably to be expected since I've been sewing for four years now, but I'm truly surprised each time it happens.
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I get an incredible amount of satisfaction out of sewing my own garments. I love the level of customization I can put into things: fabric type, patterns, size. And, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having access to types of garments that would, otherwise, be out of my reach. 
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I'm not the type of seamstress aiming to recreate fast fashion garments from Mod Cloth or H&M. I like fancy fabrics and quality construction. My dad has always teased that I have champagne taste and a beer budget; think Holly Golightly standing outside Tiffany's or Carrie Bradshaw's Manolo Blahnik addiction. Fortunately for my bank account, I've never been the sort to spend my mortgage payment or forego food for the sake of a purchase, but it doesn't stop me from looking. wishing. wanting. Sewing makes the things of dreams possible.  
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I sewed this skirt using a piece of black silk that I'd purchased from my very first estate sale. The estate was the home of two unmarried sister seamstresses. They lived in their Chicago  2-flat brownstone from birth; two generations occupied the space before them. They sewed their entire wardrobes through the 50s, 60s and 70s collecting fabrics, patterns and notions along the way. The home was filled with treasures. To be honest, I was too overwhelmed by my inaugural expedition to fully appreciate the fabrics they'd left behind. I left with an armful of fabrics purchased for a grand total of $3.  
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To test the content of this fabric, I did a burn test. I'm not an expert, but based on the burn pattern and the slight sheerness of this particular fabric, I think it's a shantung. It's got a gorgeous lustrous quality and it drapes really beautifully. It's been sitting in my stash for a couple years now waiting for me to improve my skills and decide what I wanted to make. 
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Right now, midi-skirts are at the top of my list for fall/winter wardrobe staples. And, that piece of silk I'd stashed was a perfect fabric for a staple skirt. I considered a few different skirt pattern options, but at the moment, I'm having a serious love affair with my Sewaholic Hollyburn and Renfrew patterns. Soon, I will have a little capsule wardrobe of Hollyburns and Revfrews (MUAHAhahaha). It's really easy to get caught-up sewing these, because both of these patterns are incredibly easy and fast to sew, and the end results are swell. 
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The fabric I used to sew my Renfrew is estate sale fabric too (<$1.00). It's from a different sale and a different decade, probably the 80s. I'm really uncertain about knits. I'm still in the early stages of sewing with them. I think this is a cotton blend. I also think it's what might be considered a stable knit. It doesn't have a lot of stretch. From my first experiment making the Renfrew, I knew that it wouldn't be a good candidate for the crew neck version of the pattern; I used a fabric with similar stretch on my first version and went MAD trying to get the neckband to lay flat against my body.  So I chose the cowl option. And, the final result is pretty fantastic. I would love some pointers on the fit of the Renfrew, particularly through the chest and front shoulder area; otherwise I'm happy with the result. It pairs beautifully with my black Hollyburn, but it's got enough gusto to stand on it's own with a pair of jeans. Both these garments are versatile separates with lots of potential for outfit building. 
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I did a little looking around the internet. Turns out, silk midi skirts are difficult to come by. Burberry sells this one for $1,003, this Piazza Sempione skirt is $890, and this Honor skirt is still $600 at 50% clearance. I'm certainly not comparing my own sewing abilities with these professional, luxury design houses, but I do have a completely custom silk skirt for a couple dollars and I wouldn't if I didn't know how to sew. That's pretty cool. 
12 Comments
Carla link
12/14/2014 02:42:30 pm

Oh goodness, that skirt is GORGEOUS! And your reasoning for loving sewing is exactly the same one I have. Making something so custom is a great feeling! And a super versatile skirt, you can get away with wearing it all seasons!
"My dad has always teased that I have champagne taste and a beer budget" My mom teases me with that as well. Oh parents.

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joelle link
12/14/2014 02:51:54 pm

Beautiful! i am totally in love with my hollyburn too. such a great basic, and the midi lenght is very classy on you.

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Nicole link
12/14/2014 03:40:41 pm

What a lovely skirt and top- I have been meaning to make a new Renfrow, but it always gets sent to the back of the line. Maybe this will force me to do it!

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Brooke link
12/14/2014 11:14:55 pm

I bet those expensive name brand skirts don't have pockets! Love your outfit and it's so fun to have a story attached to the fabric. I completely agree, sewing is cool! Especially since I also have champagne taste and a beer budget. =)

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EmSewCrazy link
12/15/2014 12:10:39 am

I love hearing sewing stories like these and girl, I need to come estate sailing with you! You find the best things!

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Alicia link
12/15/2014 03:09:56 am

Oh man, I love your logic behind why you sew, and the results are hard to argue with! Your outfit is so classic and beautiful. I feel you on the midi skirts. I've been wanting to add a solid, wool skirt to my wardrobe for a long time but haven't found one at a price that I can justify. You're making me wish I could sew!

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Jo link
12/15/2014 07:42:44 am

I would feel so smug about having found that stunning fabric ;) I don't go to estate sales (wouldn't even know where to find them!), but I wish I did for gems like this! Well done, that's awesome :D

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Amanda link
12/15/2014 12:48:28 pm

That silk looks a lot like the silk dupioni I used for a dress earlier this year so I assumed it was that, but I guess not! Love this combo, and your little dog too. :)

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aleah link
12/17/2014 03:09:59 pm

This is a great outfit! I also love when things come out like you'd imagined :)
I have exactly the same problem with the Renfrew pulling in the front armpit area - my best guess is that because Tasia drafts for a traditional pear shape, the shoulder draft is narrower than my shoulders. I now cut a size larger than my bust size in the shoulders. I find that the Renfrew armsyce is just too small for me - when I made a sleevless one I had to cut down the armholes by over an inch. You could try scooping out the bottom of the armhole curve a little?

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Sassy T link
12/17/2014 08:38:44 pm

Lovely.
Would you mind me sharing your Mad About Plaid dress on SSB in the future as part of my retro Wednesday series? I credit, link to your post and let you know when featured.
https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees

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Sara link
12/18/2014 02:53:04 am

I LOVE your outfit -- this is very much my style as well. And the reasons you sew are similar to mine. :)

I made a Hollyburn for Thanksgiving but it was too long on me...and then I shortened it too much! *sob* I've already got at least 3 colors of that skirt planned though!

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Nat @ Made in Home link
12/21/2014 05:10:37 am

I love that skirt. Great outfit!

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