Erica B.'s - D.I.Y. Style!

What I'm Wearing | When in Doubt, Wear Red!

2013-05-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

I love the color red. When I'm feeling like I'm in a rut, I wear red. I've been feeling really "blah" this week. My sewing mojo has gone missing; I'm working on a project that has taken much more time than it should've. I have an "almost" finish dress hanging on the dress form that only needs hemming. I'm summoning the energy to just finish it, so I can move on to the next project.

So today, I decided to wear my favorite red skirt, red sandals and a pop of red on my lips. Because the color red is energizing! It motivates me to get up and take action. And to piggyback off of my previous post, my clothes affect the way I'm feeling.

When I want to feel uplifted, there's no way I can do that looking like a slob. Walking pass a mirror will make me want to crawl back in the bed. So instead, I fluff myself up and go out and get some fresh air. Now, I'm ready to reclaim my sewing mojo, get that hem finished and on to the next project!

Wearing: top: Vogue 1248; skirt: New Look 6003; shoes: Nine West from Nordstrom Rack.

America: A Nation of Slobs

2013-05-19T10:45:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching CBS Sunday Morning. They did a delightful segment on Dressing down a culture for refusing to dress up. Apparently Notre Dame Associate Professor of History Linda Przybyszewski (I had to cut and paste that!), (pronounced preh-beh-SHEV-ski) sparked some sort of "controversy" when she wrote a book called: Nation of Slobs: How Americans Learned and Forgot How to Dress. And she evens teaches a class called Nation of Slobs: The Art, Ethics and Economics of Dress in Modern America.

See, not only is she a professor of history, she's also a master dressmaker, collector of vintage patterns and books and expert on the history of fashion.

We used to live in a world where people cared about how they dressed. I am shocked how often I will be out somewhere, whether on a street or in a restaurant, and I see only a handful of people who seem dressed appropriately, and even fewer dressed beautifully,” she says.

I agree and say the same thing almost daily. Her aesthetic is not one I personally share. I'm not into vintage; the 1940s and 1950s, just doesn't do it for me. But I do believe in dressing well and appropriate. I'm constantly striving for "a perfect fit". It seems to me that we've lapsed into a culture that puts no value in personal appearance. And will trivialize those of us that do as shallow and vain or "trying to be seen" (the things I've been told). I've even been questioned by readers here as to why I make the clothing selections I make, since they've deemed me not worthy of "dressing up" since I don't work outside the home. Even though it's become de rigueur to wear pajamas to drop kids off at school or to make a trip to the grocery store, I'll gladly keep "doing the most" (yes, somebody actually told me that once).

In this article: The Lost Art of Dressing, Linda Przybyszewski sites reasons on why she feel people stopped dressing up. Like Baby Boomers moving into the suburbs... the Youth Movement of the 60s... and the 70s, when the Feminist movement caused home economics to be formally dismantled. It's all very interesting.

But what I truly like about this lady is not only does she talk the talk, but she walks the walk. In this article, she talks of her love of sewing She makes almost all of her clothes (she doesn't knit sweates or cobble shoes, though. LOL). She says:

Dressmakers feel sorry for people who don't sew, she says. Most people are dependent on ready-to-wear sizing they don't realize their clothing could be made to fit."

I'm not saying everyone needs to run out and commission a dressmaker and have everything custom made. But an alterations person in their life might be nice if they can't do it themselves. And she also says:

Sewing is not that hard to learn, she adds. People think its hard to sew, but they'll spend hours miserable in the mall looking for something to wear.

This I agree with. If you're "size challenged" (tall, short, large, small, disproportion, etc...), I don't understand why not just learn to sew and make your own clothes. Just my opinion!

What I'm Wearing | Perfect Combination: Chambray Shirt + Maxi Skirt!

2013-05-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

For the last couple of years, they go-to clothing item of spring and summer is the maxi skirt. And one of it's perfect partners is the chambray shirt.

Inspired by Pinterest

A chambray shirt and maxi skirt is a perfect transitional outfit.

On a day like yesterday where the temps hovered around the mid-60s, this was a fabulous way to still represent a boho-chic spring.

Any color or print maxi would work great with a chambray shirt. But I chose my yellow maxi, because y'all know how I feel about the color yellow!

Wearing: Chambray shirt: DKNY; DIY maxi skirt.

Review: Vogue 1299 | Chain Print Chiffon Ruffled Dress!

2013-05-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day on yesterday. Mine was awesome. I have to admit that I'm loved and cared for on a daily basis. My husband and children make sure and for that, I'm truly blessed! My oldest daughter Amber wanted to do something special for me. She took me out for sushi and this is what I wore.

This is Vogue 1299 from Rebecca Taylor. This is a leftover from last summer that never made the cut. And I'd also picked up this chain print poly chiffon that I'd been stashing since last summer and decided this was a perfect time to use it.

It's been my experience that dress patterns like this are usually short-waisted. And I added an inch to be on the safe side. And I'm glad I did. I omitted the neck tie and pockets. And I added 3 inches to the hem. Since the dress is strapless, I went with a midi length. My rule is this: if you're showing skin on top, skin on the bottom should be minimal.

For my fabric, I used French seams and narrow hems. And I fully lined the dress. And I also made the suggested belt.

I would love to make this dress again. In perhaps a crisp white eyelet. Would I recommend it? If you're comfortable sewing things like French seams and narrow/rolled hems, it's no problem. I would say, proceed with caution. If you are a lady with a diminutive figure, the double set of ruffles could overwhelm your figure. Just be aware of that.

Review: Simplicity 1607 | Florals and Cutouts!

2013-05-10T11:30:00.000-05:00

When I saw Simplicity 1607, it had Mikaela's name written all over it. I knew I was going to make it for her.

This design is from Cynthia Rowley and here's the retail version.

I found the perfect fabric, a beautiful black, white and pink cotton sateen at Joanns.

I cut the size 6 and graded to the size 10 from the waist down. Mikaela is an athlete... a size 0 in ready-to-wear, but she has a solid build.

The only other alteration I made was to shave about two inches off the hemline so that it would fall above the knee.

Since the spray of polka dots ran along the selvage, I cut the skirt on the cross grain. And also used that part for the side front pieces.

Once I got past the criss cross front and back straps, which was like assembling a pretzel, this dress was quite simple to make. What I really like is that it has an invisible side zip, so it won't take anything away from a gorgeous printed fabric. This is a great dress with a lot of youthful style.

Shop with Eileen Fisher Tipsters today!

2013-05-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Belk at the Summit brings you an Eileen Fisher fashion show and, get this, personal style advice from Eileen Fisher's staff! Here is everything you need to know about this uber stylish event in Birmingham!

New York, NY. May 3, 2013 - Everybody needs a little personal style advice and the designer Eileen Fisher has a solution: She is sending the company’s style mavens—known as “Tipsters”--on the road. On Thursday, May 9, Belk’s Summit location in Birmingham will host an EILEEN FISHER Tipster Event at 11:00 am, complete with a fashion show and personal style advice from Tipsters, Gaetan Karr and Maryanne Morella.

“I find our Tipsters endlessly fascinating,” says Fisher, “because they’re so creative in the ways they put the clothes together.” To her the real test of collection is the way it empowers women to create style on their own.

For the May 9 event, Belk has selected EILEEN FISHER Tipster Gaetan Karr, who works as one of the company’s personal shoppers. “I’ve been in retail for 50 years,” says Karr. “I used to shop the collections in Paris and Milan. Over the years I’ve learned a few things. One of them is how to be edgy--with the wisdom of age.”

As a customer service team member, Gaetan loves giving advice all day. She studies up on what she needs to know by playing with the clothes as soon as they arrive in the store. “I think about: Is something running small? How will it look with a skirt, what if you add a belt?” says Karr. “I try to anticipate all the questions a customer will have.”

Gaetan’s co-tipster, Maryanne Morella, is a Regional Merchandise Manager for the brand’s wholesale department stores, and traveling light throughout the country is a top priority. Her carry on is always ready to go and inside, one would find her wardrobe staples: a simple black dress, a lightweight cardigan, and her signature style silver hoop earrings. “Maxi, midi or anywhere between, I love the simplicity of our dresses as the staple of my wardrobe. I personalize them with big, bold bangles and chunky necklaces to add fun and dimension.”

Shoppers who attend the Tipster Event will not only get great fashion advice, they will also have a chance to help a good cause. EILEEN FISHER will donate 5% of the event day sales to GirlSpring, a non-profit organization that provides access to reliable information and positive role models to girls and young women so they can make sound decisions and good choices.

To RSVP for this event, please call 205-968-4200 ext. 305.

What I'm Wearing | My Uniform & Vogue 1248!

2013-05-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

The other day, I was reading a post from a fabulous over 40 blogger Kim at J'adore Couture. It was regarding dressing your age and uniform dressing. Kim specified this article from Harper's Bazaar. The quote from the article that reached my soul and really spoke a message that conveys where I am in my personal style is this:

In my case, now that I'm in my 40s, I find myself wanting to dress not necessarily younger but edgier. Classics that I once loved, like tailored bouclé jackets and basic LBDs, suddenly seem aging. I want to push my boundaries, to find silhouettes that are modern and clean and have a twist. I need a little funk. Not a lot. But enough to keep it all interesting." -- Jennifer Alfano

Yes, yes, yes! Exactly! I'm not trying to look like my 21 year old daughter. Nor do I want to look like an aging, middle-aged woman that's given up. Just a 42 year old Erica -- with "a little funk"!

The author also spoke of creating a go-to look -- a uniform by your late 30s, that you can rely on. I pondered this and if I had to define my own go-to look, it would be a blazer, skinnies and a heel. For me, this is my fail safe look. Here are a few examples of it that I snagged from my prior posts:

And I also like to rely on a top and a pencil skirt. My other look.

But let's talk about what I'm wearing with today's blazer and skinnies. It's OOP - Vogue 1248. This top has been in my sewing queue for as long as it's been released. Once I start sewing things, I always question what took me so long to getting around to making it. Because this top was a breeze!

The description of this top is as cut and dry as it was to sew: fitted top, front and back snap closing. I think the reason this pattern probably didn't do well was the skirt. It was a disaster. And after viewing Andrea Katz on Project Runway, it all makes since. (Remember how she ran away in the middle of the night?! Just wow...) She's a hit or miss designer and she packaged that into this pattern.

But this top is really, really cute! The only alterations I made were to lengthen it by an inch at the waist. I find that most button front shirts from the Big 4 are always drafted really short (for me). And I choose to use flat-felled seams. I used another great Thakoon fabric, a white cotton shirting from Mood Fabrics.com.

And I absolutely loved all of the cool details. Details will reel me in every single time. Check out the triple stacked collars! How cool is this? What made them so easy to create is that they're not interfaced. Seriously, what would be the point? There are three of them.

And my other favorite detail are the back snaps. And it's not just a decorative addition. They're real snaps! I had to space mine out a little more than what was suggested because of length addition.

Very cute! I would love to make this again, in say a chambray and a black. Since it's OOP, I've gingerly folded the pattern pieces, placed them back into the envelope and filed it away. I would hate to have to pay full price!

Wearing: blazer: Vogue 8721; jeans: Escada Sport, similar to these; shoes: MRKT from DSW (old); clutch: Urban Expressions, same one in black and similar here.

Do YOU have a "go-to uniform" look that you rely on?

Review: Butterick 5886 | Gone With The Wind Fabulous!

2013-04-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

I could get my twirl on in this!

The moment that Mood posted a photo of this gorgeous fabric on their Instagram account, I immediately found it on the site and pulled the trigger on the purchase. I was already in the mindset to make summer dresses, but I was still mentally deliberating on fabric choices. And seeing this fabric at that exact moment... well, it was just serendipitous.

This beautiful paisley print silk crepe de chine was the perfect marriage of fabric and pattern to Butterick 5886. This fabric is so lightweight, floaty and luxurious. It was perfect for a halter-style, high-low hem dress.

As much as I love silk fabrics, they're usually difficult to handle. But this fabric cut beautifully and was easy to handle. I had no trouble keeping it on the grain, nor did it "crawl". I used French seams and a narrow hem, because the wrong side of the hem shows.

Fashion tip #1 - A good racerback bra with a deep front closure is perfect for this!

Fashion tip #2 - To insure there's no "slippage", pick up Topstick Hairpiece Tape. I got mine at Sally's Beauty Supply. In my opinion, it looks a lot neater than using a pin.

The seams are understitch. And I used a China silk from my stash to line the dress.

For the pattern, I lengthened the bodice by an inch.

And the skirt by three inches.

And here's a tip: For silk dresses with zippers, always interface the zipper insertion area.

I absolutely love this silhouette, and I can see myself living in these kind of dresses all summer!

Review: Vogue 8870 | Bold Stripes!

2013-04-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

First sundress of the season! I'm so ready for warm weather. That is until it's over 100 degrees and humid. Then I'll be begging for fall!

Which comes first, the fabric or the pattern? That seems to be a common question for those of us that sew. For this particular project, the fabric came first for me. I was on a quick jaunt to Hancock to partake in a pattern a sale. As per usual, I was weaving my way through the aisles perusing the fabrics as I made my way to the pattern cabinets in the back. And lo and behold! My eyes landed on the most perfect bright, sunny, multi-colored nautical stripe print fabric! Does it not scream SPRING?!

My next challenge was to find a pattern that would highlight the fabric and allow it to shine as the star. I picked Vogue 8870. I loved the fact that it's a sundress and has a high-low hemline.

The description is: pullover dress has loose-fitting, blouson bodice variations, elasticized (seamed) waist, side pockets and narrow hem. **Wrong side shows on back hemline.** ~~A: mock wrap, front pleated bodice, and two-piece sleeves. Note: no provisions provided for above waist adjustment.~~ B: elasticized upper back.

I cut view B. I added an inch to length of the bodice and three inches to the length of the skirt. I omitted the pockets. I lined the bodice instead of using facings. I left the skirt unlined (I decided to just wear a slip), and I used French seams since the wrong side is showing. And I used a narrow hem. And since the stripes ran vertical, I cut the fabric on the cross grain.

This is a very easy pattern that sews up quickly (unless you're using French seams and matching stripes). This is a great pattern that I highly recommend, because even it you don't want to show as much skin with the straps, you can use the version with the sleeves. And you can use the shorter length.

I'd like to make the other version as well, but I doubt if I'll get to it. My spring/summer sewing list is LONG and still growing!

NEW Facebook Page!

2013-04-19T13:00:00.001-05:00

www.facebook.com/ericabunkerdiystyle

I've finally gotten around to creating a "personal blog" Facebook page, that will ONLY have fun fashionable and sewing content. Feel free to "LIKE" it up!

And...

I'm also featured as today's "True Fashionista" on Wardrobe Oxygen. And be sure to go through and read about the other true fashionistas as well!

Have a great weekend!

The LWD | White Dresses for Spring!

2013-04-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm a firm believer in wearing white all-year-round, nothing signifies spring like a LWD! A milky-hued frock is the perfect blank canvas. You can take an optic white dress and accessorize it with any color or multiple colors! Or you can add neutrals, metallics and animal prints.

These are two of my favorite white dresses: Vogue 1029 and Vogue 1087. Both made in ponte knits. This year, I've decided that I want a crisp, white shirtdress for spring. And probably a sundress in a white crepe de chine for summer.

Are YOU planning a little white dress for this season?

What I'm Wearing | Pink and Black!

2013-04-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

Can I just tell y'all how much this sleeveless blazer has become one of my favorite things to wear?! Oh... I did... my bad.

Well, I'm wearing it again. To my chagrin, it has at least been a week since I wore this last... I know that's not a long time, but I really want to wear this thing everyday! Have you ever made (or bought) something that wasn't majorly "special", but you just kind of fell in love with it and wanted to wear it often? Well, that's how I feel about this sleeveless blazer. I've decided that I MUST make a white one too.

And another thing that I'm loving right now is McCall's 6707. I knew I'd want to make these over again and I had this most amazing lightweight wool gabardine from Mood Fabrics in my stash. It's great because these pants are light enough to wear all throughout the summer and they also have stretch. And who doesn't love the comfort that a stretch woven offers?

One of my new Spring polishes: Essie "Madison Ave-Hue".

Wearing: sleeveless blazer: Simplicity 1756, or similar here and here; tank (old), similar here and here; pink trousers: McCall's 6707; black raffia and leather clutch (old); shoes: Shoemint.com.

What I'm wearing | Black, Leather and Orange!

2013-04-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

My leather sleeve dress has been a favorite since I made it.

It's always been something so chic about leather (or faux leather) sleeves.

And when I made my black sleeveless blazer (or vest), I knew it would turn into a wardrobe staple.

And the pairing of them together was brilliant and made me smile!

And I don't care what the weather is like outside. For me, it's spring. I'm sick of tights and boots, so I'm in sandal mode from now until October. So screw 50 degrees. I'm rocking open-toes! And I love my fringed suede bag.

Wearing: dress: Simplicity 2064, similar here and here; sleeveless blazer: Simplicity 1756. similar here and here; sandals (old): Zara.com; purse (old): Big Buddha.

What I'm Wearing | A Casual Night Out: A Peplum, Distressed Boyfriend Jeans and a Pointy Toe!

2013-04-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Boyfriend jeans have to be the most comfortable thing ever. I found these at TJ Maxx at a RIDICULOUS markdown. They were regular $295.00. YIKES! I got them for a mere red ticketed $39.00. They were perfectly faded and I added more distressing to them.

They are capri length with side slits. And did I mention that they're comfortable? LOL They have a great relaxed fit, the antithesis of skinnies!

The way that I decided to style mine was to wear them with a pretty, frilly peplum top and pointy-toe metallic silver pumps.

These shoes will be my new neutral!

Wearing: peplum top: New Look 6130, similar here and here; jeans are Escada Sport from TJ Maxx. Similar here and here. Pumps are from ShoeMint.com.

Obsessed: I Like Wearing Black & White!

2013-04-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Black and white is ALWAYS my default when I really don't want to put a lot of thought into an outfit, because it always works! No matter if you pair separates, color block it or wear a graphic print. And if you want to add color, add it with your accessories.

What's YOUR default, black and white, a single color, or neutrals?

What I'm Wearing | Daffodil!

2013-04-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Spring has sprung, and the daffodils are in bloom!

Inspiration:

InStyle - April 2013

Bright and I mean BRIGHT, neon yellow has to be one of my all-time favorite colors. Every year this time, I have to make a point to purposely avoid buying fabric in this color.

I swear it just jumps out at me in the store!

And I'm also continuing with the lace trend. What can I say? I'm hooked and I'm sure there will be more colorful lace to come!

And why stop with the dress? Let's go with a yellow shoe too!

Wearing: lace dress: McCall's 6460. Similar here; and sandals are from DSW.com.

Review: Simplicity 1650 | Devil in a Blue (Lace) Dress!

2013-03-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Let's call this look,"Devil in a Blue Lace Dress".

When the Mood Sewing Network decided that it was time for a group project, that was not what I wanted to hear. I don't even do sew-a-longs because I truly prefer to roll solo when it comes to sewing. It's not that I don't play well with others, it's that my sewing is personal. It's dictated by my mood and what's inspiring me at the moment... not a consensus plan. And to be quite honest, lace was not on my radar. Sure, it's pretty and one of the hottest trends of the season. And even though I probably would've gotten around to doing a lace project eventually, I was just not in the mood now. I'm obviously not oppose to lace, I've made a great lace dress before. But, being part of a group means that sometimes you have to go along to get along.

I can't even begin to tell you how difficult it was to decide on a project. I even began to curate a Pinterest board dedicated to lace, for inspiration. Then there was selecting the fabric. Have you any idea as to how many variations there are of lace? The only thing I was definitive of is that I wanted it in a bold color. And thanks to Carolyn, I found the perfect one in the brick and mortar NYC store.

The lace is beautiful, but has a lot of stretch. I knew that would be a nightmare to work with. So my way of working with it was to spray it down with fabric stabilizer, allowing it to dry and smoothing out it's crinkly texture with my iron. After that, this beautiful lace was a dream to handle. I underlined with a matching blue fabric... a stretch satin. I opted not to line the dress. I actually like the way the dress wears... it has the look of a dressy/cocktail frock, but the comfort of a knit.

At first, I had my heart set on a lace trench coat, a la Burberry Prorsum. Ambitious, I know. But the varying factors (i.e. the weather here does not permit spring coats; and who really wants to underline all of those pieces?) swayed me. So I went with something more wearable: a lace dress.

Lace dresses can be really conservative or coquettish... really twee. Or they can look really skanky and trashy. And neither look define me. So I picked a style that suited my personality... a peplum sheath. I used Simplicity 1650.

I altered the pattern by adding 1/2 an inch to the waist and 3 inches to the skirt. To me, it ran short.

Now that I'm no longer feeling all devilish about this project, all in all, this was a great project that allowed me to challenge myself. And what I learned? That sometimes when you go ahead with an "out of the box" project, you just may learn some things and enjoy it.

The latest from my Instagram...

2013-03-20T15:30:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy in the last week that I haven't had time to do proper "What I'm Wearing" posts. I really, really hate doing "look at me" wordless pictures only posts (even though that formula works for some bloggers quite successfully). I personally feel that MY blog posts should be accompanied by some sort of text. I owe you faithful readers that much! I like to leave the quick and dirtiness to Instagram!

So, let's get started...

Mixed Animal prints! I adore print mixing of all kinds. It's a bold move to put together clashing prints and not look like you've gotten dressed in the dark or going through some emotional issues! LOL I'm wearing my black long-sleeved Vogue 8815 peplum top with my McCall's 6038 zebra print pencil skirt. When I bought these sandals from ShoeMint.com, I knew I had to mixed these prints into an outfit. Kinda matchy-matchy, but I like it!

Lemon, lime and leopard! This was my way of "stepping into spring"! The pants are Vogue 1143 in the "Color of the Year - Emerald Green".

This is another ShoeMint.com purchase. I'd been wanting a pair of metallic silver heels. And they're perfect as a neutral for spring.

Another day of pleasant weather where I was feeling the spring in the air. I'm wearing Simplicity 2250 - white blazer. I'm seriously going to start working on another white blazer next week, before this one is threadbare. I wear it just that much. Also, my colorful silk chiffon caftan which is New Look 6051 over Vogue 8774 - corduroy jeans. I had just noticed I hadn't worn these all winter. They'd gotten pushed back in the closet.

My favorite blue nail polish! Butter London "Blagger".

Wearing my color block shift dress. And hard against the March winds to not have a Marilyn moment!

Again wearing the black peplum top. This top has the versatility of a t-shirt. Probably why I love it so much. And my Vogue 1039 red cigarette pants.

My house is pretty empty and quiet this week because of Spring Break. And I'm pretty happy that it'll be a rainy weekend so I can hideout in my sewing room!

Review: McCall's 6707 | Two-toned Trousers!

2013-03-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

When I saw those two-toned Tibi pants come down the runway at Birmingham Fashion Week, I knew I'd be making a pair soon.

Two-toned black and white pants are trending hard for Spring 2013. Here are prime examples that I gathered from Pinterest.

For my pants, I used McCall's 6707 from NBC's Fashion Star - Season 1 contestant Kara Laricks.

I wanted my pants to be two-toned instead of a tuxedo-like pant. So I cut the entire back in black fabric instead of only the side panels. I added three inches to the length. I make the edgestitched creases because I've always liked that detail on pants. And I omitted the pockets, because I absolutely ABHOR pocket show-through on white pants. So it's not like I planned on putting my keys and cell phone in there anyway. So my pants look a little different than the pattern. What's point of sewing if you can't make it your own? But this is a great pattern to have for this style of pant.

I used a black and white stretch gabardine from Hancock Fabrics. It comes in red as well. I wish they had a greater variety of colors because this fabric was great to work with. It sews up like a woven but wears like a knit. These pants couldn't be anymore comfortable.

As soon as I find more fabric I like, I'll probably make these in different colors. Hmmm... I sure could use another pair of red pants...

Review: Simplicity 1756 | A Sleeveless Blazer!

2013-03-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you do not yet own a sleeveless blazer, run... don't walk to the store or your computer to purchase your pattern. You do know what a sleeveless blazer is? They used to know be known as a... you guessed it, a VEST!

The pattern I selected is Simplicity 1756, from Cynthia Rowley.

For this project, I was inspired by Balenciaga Spring 2013... the ads were fabulous.

I chose a Mood Fabrics black Italian cotton suiting that has a smidgen of stretch (cotton/lycra and it's 64" wide). This fabric has a medium hand, a fabulous drape and is lightweight enough for warm weather garments. And what really impressed me is how beautifully the fabric pressed and most importantly how little it wrinkles. At such a great price, this will be my go to fabric for basics.

I sewed this unlined sleeveless blazer straight out of the envelope. But I did discover that it has a very slim fit through the hips. So I'll more than likely wear it unbuttoned all of the time.

This is a great wardrobe addition and I would love to have one in white too!

BFW - Tibi Spring 2013

2013-03-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

This is the Tibi Spring 2013 Collection that was shown at Birmingham Fashion Week on Saturday, the finale night. Even though I inject a lot of color in my wardrobe, I love an all black outfit and I'd naturally rather default to all black. And for those of you that feel the same way, here's great inspiration for adding pops of white, spring pastels and prints into your warm weather ensembles.

Note: Notice the pants on the right. Very similar to McCall's 6707.

BFW Night 4 - What I Wore | Inspired by Pinterest!

2013-03-03T18:00:00.000-06:00

This is what I wore Saturday night to the finale of Birmingham Fashion Week. Let me just tell you how awesome that show was! Simply amazing! More on that later...

This is an "Inspired by Pinterest" look. I grabbed my inspiration from all over the place. I'll share a few images to show you my thought process:

The red, black and white was inspired by these two looks. Isn't that glenplaid trench coat everything? I'll have to find similar fabric and add this to my Fall 2013 plan.

And fur collars are all over the place. I love "Street Style" blogs, and I'd been looking at a lot of images from fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris. And I saw so many coats and jackets with fur collars.

Photos from Pinterest.

A fur collar on a coat looks so elegant and dresses up any outfit. Notice the jeans.

So I decided to grab my vintage fox fur collar, which was removed from a mink stole that belonged to my grandmother, and add it to one of my favorite coats for instant chic and glamour.

Wearing: Coat: McCall's 5766; top: Vogue 8815; trousers: Vogue 1143; purse: vintage Chanel bucket bag and shoes: Shoemint.com.

BFW Night 3...

2013-03-02T12:30:00.000-06:00

Last night, it was freezing with snow flurries. There was no doubt about me breaking out the outerwear. I've definitely made plenty to choose from. So I pulled out my camel cape and draped it over an all-black ensemble, with a dash of leopard.

I was nice and warm AND fashionable!

Wearing: Cape: Vogue 8776; blouse: Prabal Gurung for Target; pants: Simplicity 2315; belt: Anne Klein; shoes: Sam Edelman.

Here are my favorite looks of the night:

SOCA

Voted “Best Boutique” two years in a row by Birmingham Magazine readers.

THEADORA

Just voted by Harpers Bazaar for the sixth year in a row as a style leader for the Top 100 boutiques in the USA.

ANNIE GRIFFIN

JOSHUA McKINLEY, from Project Runway

And headlining designer, ANTHONY RYAN winner of Project Runway All-Stars Season 2

I got to briefly chat with Anthony Ryan about Project Runway. He complimented me on my outfit. I told him I made the cape and the pants. He suggested that I audition for Project Runway. I told him that I don't sew "like that". I'm like the world's slowest sewer. And he confirmed that when they're told they have only 10 hours to complete their design, it means they ONLY have 10 hours. I told him I'd be the only contestant in Project Runway history to not have ANYTHING to walk down the runway! LOL

Thanks to Birmingham Fashion Week for another fabulous night!

BFW Night 2 - The Shows!

2013-03-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

There were so many great looks coming down the runway, so I had to share. It was hard to pick, but here are a few of my favorite looks from Thursday night:

MARELLA

VINEYARD VINES

MANDI FAULK

LEONA

And PROPHETIK BY JEFF GARNER, headlining designer.

Fabulous show, courtesy of Birmingham Fashion Week!