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

Tres bien ensemble

Mad About Plaid: Advance 9441

11/20/2014

24 Comments

 
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Welcome, friends, to my winter wonderland (haha). Wasn't it nice of the snow to pop-in for blog photos? It really was an appropriate and very scenic way to document my recently finished cold-weather dress. 
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Throughout the month of November, I've been playing along with Bimple&Pimble on instagram for a photo challenge she calls #bpsewvember. It's a fun little game wherein each day of the month has been assigned a theme. Anyone participating snaps a picture relating to that theme and adds the hashtag. One of the themes was 'signature style'. It was challenging for me to put my thumb on what, exactly, I define as my style. I came up with: comfortable, vintage without being overtly era specific, classic, and quirky. More and more, that description applies to all of the things I make. Funny, I don't think it was a conscious process. It's been quietly evolving in the background.
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This probably happens to a lot of us who take advantage of the opportunity to customize the things we wear. Knitters fabricate the very fabrics their garments are made of and have options in pattern, yarn content, yarn color, etc... We can also make fit modifications as we work and tweak a garment until we're happy with the result. Sewing is much the same. 

I suppose it makes sense, that by repeatedly taking liberty with the array of options we have at our disposal, each of us hones our style with each project. After enough projects and preferences, certain themes or ideas start to recur; I guess that's what style is. 
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This recent make conforms wonderfully with my definition of signature style. Although, in recent years, I haven't been wearing as many dresses as I used to. A few years back, I wore a skirt or dress daily. It's really easy to feel put together when your entire outfit consists of a single item of clothing. For one reason or another, I cycled out of the practice. Burn out, perhaps? After making this dress, I think I'm ready to bring a few back into rotation. 
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This particular dress was sewn with cold weather in mind. The fabric is a wool/poly blend I bought from TDO during a sewing blogger meet-up. It was a remnant, and I'm pretty sure it is upholstery weight. It's heavy. It's also cozy and warm. 
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I sewed from vintage Advance 9441 (another #vintagepledge!) Normally, I add a lining to all my dresses, but the fabric is weighty and the skirt is insanely full, so I decided to go without one. The pattern goes together very quickly. To make things even easier, I opted out of facings and finished the neckline and the center-back seam with bias tape. I kept the rest of the inside pretty with french seams.

The sleeves are cut-on to the bodice. I spent a lot of time matching up the plaids across the horizontal seam lines, but I completely overlooked the top sleeve patterning. It looks messy. It's the sort of thing that makes me crazy. I care less than I would normally, because I really love the dress, overall. And, my misstep won't prevent me from wearing it. The most time consuming, and most worthwhile, part of this project was sewing horsehair braid into the hemline of the skirt.    
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The horsehair braid works wonders at giving the skirt body and adds a little extra swish. I think this dress pattern is a great classic. It's delightfully June Cleaver, but works well with modern accessories. Mixing eras is one of my favorite things. I should add that to my above style description. Actually, that might be the most predominant element of my style. Our whole house is decked-out an eclectic blend of 1920s-now. Speaking of interiors... we brought the photo-taking indoors to warm-up, and I tried to strike some June-esque poses. 
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June likely would have left the fire to Ward while she was in the kitchen warming some buns. 
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Not those buns.... I fail at domesticity. 
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Finally, my very best June Cleaver. 
How do you (or don't you) define your style? What changes? What stays the same?  
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24 Comments
Meigan link
11/20/2014 01:40:48 am

This is fantastic! The fit, style, and fabric are wonderful together. Nicely done. :)

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Renata link
11/20/2014 03:19:25 am

This is an amazing dress, the fireplace photo is too funny! :)

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Alicia link
11/20/2014 03:22:04 am

Oh my, this post is awesome. :) Your dress is fantastic! I actually purchased a plaid dress from the Gap this year to try to add some more dresses and skirts to my typical pants+sweater rotation. Yours is wonderful, I love the fullness of the skirt. Have you heard about the capsule wardrobe? I don't have the links handy right now but the people who do it talk a lot about defining style and finding your uniform and working it into your wardrobe.

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Melanie link
11/20/2014 03:44:29 am

Oh my goodness, I love this post, and the dress is amazing. You certainly have inspired me to make something similar next year as we down south, approach winter. My style would be eclectic vintage modern mix and probably cute. I don't seem to be able to do the full grown up style and since I'm already grown, I can't see that part changing!

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Robbie Brewington
11/20/2014 03:53:04 am

I love how you define your style! This is something that is probably evolving in the back of my mind too--but I have no idea what it would be just yet. Anyway, you look great in that dress! Almost makes me want to live where it snows!

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Amanda link
11/20/2014 03:53:33 am

Ha, love the buns shot! Classic. The snow falling is absolutely perfect for the photoshoot, it all seems so magical. And I love your plaid dress! I didn't even notice the part about the sleeves, I think they look great (but I know the feeling, it's hard when YOU know about it). Actually my signature style seems to be similar to yours, so thanks for summing that up for me. :)

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Cari link
11/20/2014 04:11:46 am

Love your dress. I would wear it in a heartbeat. Your fireplace pics crack me up too.

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katie metzroth link
11/20/2014 04:52:09 am

This dress is fracking fantastic. Like I might throw a plaid party just to show it off fantastic! well done!!!

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prttynpnk link
11/20/2014 07:07:27 am

oh, yes. I love this very much- the belt and shoe styling give it a little edge and it's really fun.

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PolsaPop link
11/20/2014 09:50:02 am

Perfect June Cleaver!

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Renee Anne link
11/20/2014 12:49:02 pm

You are just so frickin' adorable. And those photos *almost* make me miss winter in Wisconsin...almost....

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Reana Louise link
11/20/2014 02:48:22 pm

I could never dream of looking so elegant in the snow! The picture would be blurred from my vibration, my lips blue, and my hair doing some kind of odd static thing. I'm equally impressed by your ability to stand in the snow as your dress haha! I still haven't tried horsehair braid but your words make me want to give it a go.

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joelle link
11/20/2014 05:32:50 pm

snow!! i am so jealous! love the dress too, the cut-on sleeves is a really flattering style.

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tanyamaile link
11/21/2014 04:04:12 am

Perfection indeed! This is the perfect winter dress. So, so wonderful! I especially like your photos. A winter wonderland outside and a fire inside - you can't get any better than that! :)

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Sassy T link
11/21/2014 05:30:44 am

Love the dress and the photoshoot!
SSB https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees

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Jo link
11/21/2014 02:50:34 pm

I love this! It's so beautifully elegant! Great photos too :)

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Sally link
11/22/2014 05:00:04 am

You are too adorable! I love love LOVE the plaid you used - I can never seem to find plaids I like in weights for dresses :( These photos are just amazing - the snow outside and the fireplace inside! Perfection! :)

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FoamOfDays link
11/22/2014 06:00:44 am

Oh, I love plaid! Gorgeous dress and suits you so much! Love the photos, and I'm jealous about the snow..

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Annamari link
11/22/2014 08:55:18 pm

I so much admire you, both for your knitting and sewing.
This dress is just gorgeous.

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Lynn link
11/25/2014 11:47:21 pm

First off- you so DO NOT fail at domesticity! Look at that dress! Perfection.

Second- the dress, the photos, the shoes.... I love it all! You wear it well. And it couldn't be a better time of year for such a get-up!

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Lisa link
12/19/2014 07:48:15 am

This is absolutely one of my favorites of all I've seen you sew! The plaid suits you, it really does. Gorgeous!

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Sassy T link
12/30/2014 06:14:30 pm

Featured on SSB, thanks for permitting. https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees ❀

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Sue @ A Colourful Canvas link
7/7/2015 02:00:44 am

Hey! I missed this post! Lucky me that Handmade by Heather B has linked to it!

I love your winter version of a fit and flare. It's something I aspire to make this fall! Your photos are gorgeous, as are you!

Beautifully sewn!

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Tasting with Tiffany link
11/29/2020 10:02:11 am

Loved readiing this thanks

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