Pattern Magic twist top; take 3

So, I had originally bought this heavy cream knit stuff with the intention of re-creating exactemente the dress on the cover envelope of Vogue 1087 (below, right), and obviously got disenchanted with the idea since it sat in my stash uncut... and I did start to think, do I really need another dress, when my winter lifestyle is more oriented towards separates, and since doing Me-Made June I have identified a need for tops not dresses... Luckily, creamy coloured stretchy stuff is not that sort of demanding fabric that is only going to suit one and one only type of garment, and so I changed tack.  Hehe, actually not a hugely surprising turnabout since this twist top from the Pattern Magic book is a pattern I have made up twice before and adore, and the colour is hardly a break-away for me either, but still!  I'm in love with this new top already...
I'm sure you are wondering what this intriguingly sculptural one-pattern-piece top looks like when it is laid flat...  no?  Well, since I have just brought it up and no doubt piqued your curiosity, I shall now proceed to satisfy it... kind of me, no?  Below is my older, but the same pattern, charcoal top, now washed and worn for about a year now so maybe has got a tiny tad mis-shapen over the last year, but you get the idea....  When it is on those skewiff details pull the top in to hug one's body beautifully and make for a very flattering silhouette.   The cream jersey I have used to make this new version is quite a bit stiffer than the charcoal, and has less stretch, so getting it on is kind of a struggle.  But once it is on it feels great!  I do love a firm snug top, especially in the winter time.


Details:
Top; the twist top from Pattern Magic, by Tomoko Nakamichi, heavy cream knit stuff from Knitwit
Skirt; skirt "d" from Unique Clothes Any Way You Like, by Natsuno Hiraiwa, silver grey crepe, details here, and to see this skirt styled in 6 different ways go here
Tights; Kolotex
Shoes; Django and Juliette, from Zomp shoes

(below; a spectator...)

Winding cable scarf; grey and brown

This is a scarf I finished last year, but never blogged about for some reason, which is peculiar since I have worn it once or twice... just never got around to photographing it, I guess.  I discovered it anew in my recent winter woolies sort-out.
I knitted it using a pattern that was just on two photocopied, typed sheets stapled together, from Calico and Ivy from where I bought the wool; so I expect it was probably designed by one of the talented ladies at that store.  The design is a cable but instead of twisting over and over the same way to finish up with that classic barley twist cable design; in this design the cable was twisted first one way then the other, so you end up with a meandering cable, that loops in and out of the scarf in a lazy snake-through-the-grass kind of a way.  It is cleverly reversible, so both sides look pretty much identical; thus satisfying a slight pet peeve of mine about right-side-and-wrong-side scarves...  The ends are tapered to a lovely curved arrowhead point, quite an unusual feature.  I should wear it more because I always get compliments for it, but I have this feeling that being of an eclectic mix of neutrals that it doesn't end up going with any colour much except for other neutrals!  Yup, I am very strict about how I mix my neutrals and my colours; I have quite firm views on which colours go together and which colours don't, and the shade is so vital and just has to be taken into consideration also... I know, pretty neurotic huh?
 Anyhoo, the long and short; this scarf looks great with other earthy neutrals, but I don't tend to ever wear it with any actual colours.  So perhaps not as versatile as I first envisioned when I selected this wool!
The wool is a Noro yarn, hand-dyed in Japan, and I'm afraid the tags with the type of yard and the colour  has long been tossed out.... so I cannot provide you with this info.  Sorry!


Details:
Scarf; hand knitted by me, using Noro yarns, to a design by Calico and Ivy
Brown top; Metalicus
Black top; Sexy Woman, found secondhand
Skirt; my own design; charcoal jersey knit
Tights; Spencer Lacy
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

Some thoughts on "indispensables"

I do really have to get onto the white/ivory top issue, and make some more.  This little ivory merino Tshirt that I am wearing (an old faithful from about four years back) has sprung a few holes.  Thus the necessity for a cardigan over the top...  Very very sad.  But looking on the bright side, an opportunity for me to introduce something new...?
Hmmm, see here's the dilemma, when you have something in your wardrobe which is nigh on indispensable, which you reach for over and over and over and wear to death because it goes with everything; when it has reached the end of its life, should one try to replace it with something exactly the same, or should one try to move on and seek out new silhouettes and colours, a new sartorial direction for one's wardrobe?  
I'm torn.  
Another little thing that is really almost dead is my little olive green corduroy skirt, which I keep wearing, but really really shouldn't.  It too is now looking pretty awful. ( When I do dare to wear something that is looking a little shabby and horrible, I can't help but the words of my Granny pop into my head; what if I was to have an accident?  What would the doctors and nurses at the hospital think when they see my hole-y top, or pilled and baggy cardi, or mis-shapen and bald corduroy skirt?  Tut tut...!)
But, I digress; what do you do about those indispensables in your wardrobe? when a really truly favourite basic has had it, do you try to replace it with a clone, or do you see the opportunity to go for new looks?


Details:
Top; Ezibuy
Cardigan; MNG, found secondhand (and covering up some rather un-strategic holes)
Jeans; Burda 7863 with minor modification, grape stretch denim, details here
Scarf; my own design, Patons ivory pure wool, details here
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

Army style jacket, with detachable (faux) fur-lined hood

I mentioned some time ago my new army/military style jacket; finished way back in March, well, here it is!
When we were in Tokyo I saw all ages and both sexes, everywhere, sporting big khaki army type jackets.  All with military details, lots of pockets, cinched in waist belts and sometimes with fur-lined hoods, and I just fell in love with them and decided I just had to have my own.  They just looked so big and comfy and cosy looking, and the girls (and boys) wearing them looked so warm not to mention so so so too-cooool-for-school; casually and bulkily stylish...  I'm sure a lot of the ones I saw were real army jackets, possibly from army disposal stores or secondhand stores, but naturally with my DIY aesthetic I was always going to try to make my own... :D
Of course what I wasn't taking into account was that it doesn't really get all that cold here and especially for the hoodie part of it!  I expect I will wear it without the hood for most of the time... but it was still fun to have a go at making a furry hood, and it just might come in handy for some mornings, and if we ever go down to the country.

Details:

Jacket; Burdastyle 05-2010-127 with my own modifications, khaki ripstop cotton and grey marle fleece lining

Skirt; Vogue 7303, olive green corduroy, to see this little skirt styled in 6 different ways go here

Top and tights; Metalicus

Socks, handknit by me, details here

Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

Dressmaking details; if you want to know...
I used Burdastyle 05/2010, pattern 127 as a starting point, and as usual made a few modifications to get the army-style I envisioned, but as the bones of the jacket are essentially the same I think I can dare to write a review for this pattern??  I used ripstop cotton in khaki, a wonderful fabric both tough and hardwearing and so so so perfect for an army style jacket!  I have also made this and this from the exact same fabric, so I guess it is obvious I love it...!  I'd better not buy any more, hmmm?  The lining is a pale grey marle fleece, and the faux fur is... well, faux fur.  I think from memory, it was labelled silver fox.  All the materials are from Spotlight.
The modifications I made:
Lengthened the jacket by oooh, roughly 7cm? and also slightly enlarged (length-wise) and slightly lowered the lower front pockets.  I chose to enlarge these because I thought the original smaller ones would not have the right proportions on the lengthened jacket...
I drafted a completely different collar, a sorta slightly curved rectangle, because I wanted more of a wide standup collar than the little fold-down one in the pattern...

My sleeves are not vented or cuffed, and have a tab with snap closure, for more of a military-looking effect.
I did not incorporate buttons and buttonholes at the front as stipulated in the pattern, but instead inserted an open-ended zip, again inspired by the styling of army jackets I've seen around
My jacket is fully lined, with grey fleece (for warmth, and also to enhance that bulky look an army jacket is supposed to have)  as it turns out it is very warm!  I did not hem the lining, but enclosed the flat raw edges inside the sleeve and lower hems of the jacket.  The fleece was partly leftover from this project, I had to buy a bit more.

I added a tab at the lower edge, and another tab at the neck edge; both features I mentally noted from the army jackets I saw in Tokyo.  These both have snap closure.

I made a detachable, (faux) fur-edged hood.  For this, I used a modified version of the hood from KwikSew 3667, with the lower edge cut flatter and a bit narrower to fit in with the neckline of my jacket.  It is also lined with fleece, and has buttonholes sewn in the bottom edge, which correspond with the buttons that I sewed inside the collar edge.  I realise the fur-edged hood is probably kinda silly in this climate, but I think it looks kinda cool, and it just may come in useful one day?

My review of this pattern, if you're interested...


Pattern Description:
Unstructured long-sleeved jacket; with two piece sleeves with vents and buttoned cuffs, front buttons and buttonband, epaulettes, four flapped patch pockets at the front, belt loops at waist level for the self-fabric belt and a short, buttoned collar.
Pattern Sizing:
36-44.  I made a 38
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished sewing it?
In essence, yes.  I made a few modifications.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes.  I did some steps differently and in a different order, to accommodate my modifications...
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like everything about this pattern!  The basic bones of the pattern are great; being unstructured it is therefore very easy to fit, to put together and also easy to incorporate your own alterations.  The fun is in adding your own details.
Fabric Used:
Ripstop cotton, and fully lined with cotton/polyester fleece.  A strip of faux fur (silver fox) to edge the hood
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Lengthened the jacket by about 7cm? and also slightly enlarged (length-wise) and slightly lowered the lower front pockets.  I chose to enlarge these not because I thought they were too small but because I thought the originals would not have the right proportions once I had lengthened the jacket...
Drafted a different, slightly curved rectangular collar, because I wanted a higher standup collar than the little fold down one in the pattern
Inserted tabs with snap closure in the top and bottom of the front edges
Instead of the front buttonband and buttons, extended the front opening edges slightly so I could insert an open-ended zip
Fully lined the jacket in a polyester cotton fleece
Added a hood, also fully lined with fleece, and edged in faux fur.  This has 4 buttonholes on the lower edge, and attaches to 4 buttons sewn around the neckline, inside of the collar
Left off the sleeve vent and cuffs, instead inserted tabs with snap closure inside the lower end of the sleeve seam, sewed the sleeves closed to the end and hemmed over the raw edges of the lining.  The lower hem of the jacket also encloses the raw edge of the jacket lining inside
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I would definitely recommend this to others!  I might sew it again, if I need another jacket like this.
Conclusion:
This pattern was one of the first to catch my eye in this magazine, and I always had a mind to make it.  After visiting Tokyo, and being totally inspired by the cool cool army/military style jackets I saw worn over there, I realised this was the perfect pattern I could adapt quite easily to get that style of jacket.  And I'm totally happy with how it turned out; even if the hood is not super appropriate for our climate I still love it, and am very pleased with the smart styling and warmth of the jacket even sans hood.  The waist belt is a nice finishing touch, although I am very glad I lengthened the jacket as I think the belt would have looked a bit funny on the shorter length.

Flares in Black

I have made myself a new pair of jeans!
They are of black, stretchy corduroy with black cotton for the pocket lining and the waistband lining, and are very near perfect; if I say so myself ;)  It seems my lifetime is spent on the quest for the perfect pair of jeans, the design details of which change with passing fashions and fads that temporarily sway my choices.  My current passion is for flares, and I think I have managed to nail them here.  I'm super happy with my plum flares, both in terms of fit and comfort... and only had the teensiest tiniest twinge of regret that I didn't flare the ankles out just that tad further, to make a really truly flared pair of jeans.  Not enough regret for me to be in any way disappointed with those jeans, but just a little factoid I stored away for a future pair ... like a note to self; flare out just that leeetle bit more next time.  So I did, and here they are!
This time, I graduated the lower leg section; from a fitted-to-the-pattern knee and then out to the ankle by about 6-7cm on each side seam overall.  I did my usual centre back pinch-in for a sway back adjustment (illustrated here).  The only other alteration to the pattern was to add a zip placket; an absolute essential feature in any pair of jeans which is inexplicably absent from this pattern.
With great difficulty!, I took a picture of my own behind to show the pocket details... which is the same but mirror image on each pocket, natch.    This time I went with two varying width zigzag lines crossing each other, and two concentric part-circles.  The outer of these was drawn using a jar-lid, the inner is just carefully sewn in a sewing-foot width away.  Easy peasy. 
And it seems fitting that I should welcome a newbie pair of jeans into the fold, just as I am bidding adieu to two old pairs *; welcome, new flares in black, and may you prove as useful and wonderful as my old pair of black straight-legs.


Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863 with minor modifications, black stretch corduroy
Top; Ezibuy
Cardigan; Country Road
Gloves; from David Jones **
Black scarf; handknit by me, details here
Khaki scarf;  made by me from an old Tshirt, details here
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

* I have said goodbye to these (I agonised at unnecessary length about the deterioration of these last month...and have finally, sadly, laid them in the Salvoes basket...) and these straight-legs, in which the zip has gone.


**The gloves... It was flipping freezing this morning; 3C!  Although we had hit our high of 16C when I took these photos I left my gloves on because I thought they added a certain something to my outfit, a sorta chic that was lacking without them...  And I was pretty stunned to see a guy in shorts and a singlet sunning himself on the beach during our walk today!  Decided he must have been a British tourist...  ;)  
It's OK, I'm allowed to joke about the British since I have British blood in me too!   :)

Last day of MMJ'11, and some thoughts

Yeah, so inwardly I was cheering as I set up to take my last daily photograph for this challenge.  I might look kinda calm and faraway here, but on the inside I'm throwing a party!
(for those who like to know: 10C-18C and quite quite windy today...)


Details:
Top; (just the end of the sleeves can be seen) the top part of Burdastyle magazine 08/2009, dress 128, charcoal marle wool-mix details here  (I have since removed the zip as the fabric is slightly stretchy and the top can just be pulled on...)
Skirt; Vogue 7303, bottle green cotton velveteen, details here
Coat; McCalls 5525 view B, charcoal wool, details here
Tights; Metalicus
Socks; handknit by me, details here
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

So, as promised I do have a few thoughts on how this month-long challenge went, which I shall now attempt to summarise in a clear and coherent manner, ahem...
Firstly and most importantly, I think the Me-Made challenges that Zoe organises are a fantastic idea.  On a roughly seasonal schedule, she sets up a Flickr group where seamstresses, seamsters people who like to construct their own clothing can all join in wearing their own creations for the month and share in the creative inspirational aura of "the group".  I have found everybody involved to be constructive in their comments, and very supportive of each other's efforts.  It can be difficult to make oneself wear one's own clothes... often people feel their stuff isn't "good enough", or that other people might judge their (real or imagined) less-than-expert construction or finishing details on their handiwork.  So any plan to get us out and proudly wearing our own stuff has to be a good thing.
However, there are some negatives... I'm not going to dwell on the eventual exhaustion of taking one's own photograph on a daily basis, everybody who has tried to do this challenge will be well aware of that.  For me the honeymoon was over at about the middle, when I had a few very busy days and found it hard to get into it.  Then I got a new little burst of enthusiasm for a few days, which then waned, then waxed, and waned again...
Another negative was the creeping suspicion that I was turning into a fashion blogger, an unsettling thought.  I never set out to be a fashion blogger, and have very little desire to become one.  True, I love fashion with a passion (hehe, I'm a poet, etc...)  I love playing about with my clothes, and trying out new and different combinations of matching different pieces together (simply because it is fun)  and the picture-taking process has proved an unbeatable tool for seeing how an outfit really and truly looks.  Everybody who has tried taking their own photos in this way knows that the outfit you dreamed up in your head doesn't always look super wonderful when you actually put it on.  Even your own image looking back at you in the mirror might appear pass-able, but then when you look at a photo of yourself, walking out and about in the real world, you might suddenly notice some problem that you didn't before.  You have a sudden flash of insight; hmmm, those jeans; way past their use-by-date, or what?!
So taking your own photo can prove useful in this way...  But still, fashion blogging doesn't sit super comfortably with me and I lived in fear that I would be spotted taking my own photo and mistaken for one.  One can only hope the fact that I made all my own clothes with my own hands somewhat alleviates the shallowness of documenting one's outfits...  and ups the interest factor just a touch?
As far as my wardrobe went, I coped fine with my all-me-made pledge, and only resorted to RTW tights, and most days a camisole or a scoop-necked Tshirt underneath, for thermal purposes.  And one particularly windy and cold day I wore gloves.  Yeah, I do have me-made gloves, but I had a lunch and shopping date with my son for his birthday, so I wanted to look smart, and my me-made gloves did not fit the bill.  Occasionally I had comments noting that I was not dressed warmly enough for winter, but I wasn't sure if those commenters realised that A. I was limiting myself to all me-made clothes and couldn't just pop on a few extra (visible) layers without breaking my pledge; and B. winter in Perth probably isn't as cold as people might think.
The usual lack of me-made tops made itself felt; if I am going to do this again I should concentrate on making more tops.  And especially white tops.  I wanted to reach for one of my small collection of white tops, like at least three or four times a week.  What can I say?  I'm a white top lover... so I am going to get onto that one.  I also wanted to wear my little brown hand-knit cardigan a lot, and I wore my trench coat on a daily basis as a dressing gown substitute, as my real dressing gown is not me-made.
My favourite, bar none, aspect of the challenge turned out to be that I chose this spot to take each and every photo.  I just love that I have this little daily snapshot of the winter weather; reflected in the sky and the river.  So glad I stuck with that plan...  The light might not always have been great (like today) for taking a good photo and I am usually a perfectionist in that respect, but meh.  That's the nature of light.
So that's it.  Would I do this again?  Hmmm, dunno.  Right now I'd say no, but ask me again in another few months...

Musings on "winter"

So going by the comments I received yesterday on what I assure you was a really really winter-y day for Perth, I guess it is true that I am a terrible weather wuss (hangs head in shame)  But I was glad to see a few corroborative comments from fellow Aussies, agreeing with me that yes, 18C is cold.  Thank you, ladies.  It probably will get a bit colder here as winter progresses, and we may get a low of 5C for a few awful mornings, and it is possible there will be some whinging.  Fair warning.
But it was nice for us to get the rain.  Unfortunately for our water supply's sake, a typical winter's day in Perth looks more like today.  Although I did see a few grey clouds hovering in the distance, so we may see a few drops today, if we're lucky.
To give some weather perspective to this outfit for the penultimate day of Me-Made June, 11C-18C is our expected range.

Details:

Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine, details and my review of this pattern here

Top; self drafted, navy and white stripe jersey, details here

Scarf; self-drafted, Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino, details and my pattern here

Trench; Burda 7786 modified to be double breasted, beige ripstop cotton, details here

Socks, hand-knit by me, not seen but same as yesterday, details here

Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

Sunnies; RayBan

Actually, our family has survived short experiences in colder countries.  We visited Japan earlier this year, but I did not find Japan to be bitterly cold, like some other places we have been.  Japan has a pleasant kind of cold.  I think it is related to the lack of humidity, or something...
So, for your amusement I have here some photos of our family being incredibly brave about the cold.  These particular photos are from the coldest places in my memory...
The first was taken in Pennsylvania, USA, in early to mid December (I can tell that because my children and I are standing in front of a tree decorated for Christmas)  In case you can't see, because it is an old, poor quality photo, you can barely see a square inch of bare skin showing.  Our US friends often joked, "spot the Aussies!"

The second photo is of my children and me in Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory, Canada; January.  We are each wearing at least three pairs of thermals/jeans which is why our legs look so bulky.  We are all begging Craig to hurry up and take the photo, dammit, because we were all seriously DYING!!, and could only stand still outside for mere seconds.  Like a split second after this photo was taken we all dived into Tim Hortons to thaw and revive. Our friend K, who lives there, thought we were hilarious. 

(And something completely mysterious: why don't more of the Me-Made participant's daily-outfit photos in these countries look more like this....?!)

Puddle-y day

Looking at this photo, you will not be surprised to hear that we had not only the entire foreshore to ourselves this morning, but the entire park as well.  Yup.  Came across not another living soul, er, more correctly; came across no other humans or doggies...  birds aplenty were swooping from puddle to puddle, frolicking and fossicking about like crazy; overjoyed at all the wonderful worm-rich waterholes that had popped up overnight.  Making hay while the sun shines, so to speak, except the sun isn't shining hehe...  hmmm, so that doesn't really work, but you get my drift.
Today feels reeeeally winter-y, like winter should feel and thank goodness (14C-18C, if you're interested).  The rain is sooo welcome.  You see, when it rains in Perth, it really rains; comes down strong and heavy.  This is pretty fabulous, because it makes up for all those plentiful in-between days in which we get no rain.
This dress.  Can't quite shake the suspicion that it is borderline frumpy, but I've hung on to it because it is a good winter one.  I made it quite well and to last, if I say so myself.  The fabric is a good quality wool suiting mix, and it is fully lined and with a central back invisible zip.  I think maybe the skirt is a tad baggy on me, but this becomes a good thing when you want to, say, run like billy-o over to shelter during a sudden downpour.  Or curl up on the couch in the evening.  And possibly the hemline is maybe a tad long to be worn on its own, but I think the proportions of the dress look right when it is belted, like I have done here.  And belting =  warmer = a good thing.  In winter, natch.


Details:
Top; self drafted, grey/mauve jersey knit, details here
Dress; Burda 8511 fully lined and with fitting modifications, tobacco coloured wool mix suiting
Infinity scarf; self drafted and handknit by me from cream pure merino wool, details and my pattern here
Belt; emu leather, from Luxe
Tights; Kolotex
Socks; not seen, but handknit by me too, details here
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough
Brolly; Charlie Brown, from David Jones

3 sleeps to go...

... and Me-Made June is over.
Sorry, I know it sounds like a whinge, but I am very over posing for a photo every day.  was over it probably 10 days ago, actually....  And yes, possibly I could have made it easier for myself by just posing at home or something, but when I decide to commit to something, I stick to it.  Plus, I know when I look back I will be glad I picked this spot to take my photos.  You know what?  The changing clouds and state of the waves on the river, and the wind, and rain (or lack of it); this has been my favourite aspect of looking back over my own photos this month.  I like that I have this little daily snapshot of how winter really is here.  I have loved how the clouds have looked, and how changeable the river is.  Of course I walk by here every day, so I see these things with my own eyes on a daily basis, but you take it for granted.  And you forget.  Having an instant pictorial progression to flick through; I'm really pleased I did it this way.  
I suspect I would enjoy it more if there didn't have to be me stuck right there in the photo, too...  but there you go.
I have a few thoughts festering about this me-made month and will do a sort of post-mortem summary when it is finished... in 3 sleeps...
In the meantime; this skirt.  It was for a time my favourite skirt.  I still love it, and drag it out once in a while, although I have a suspicion lean long-line skirts are perhaps so a-few-years-ago... but meh.  I still like it.
I've realised looking back through my photos of it here that there has never been a side-on shot of this skirt, to show off the layers properly (what was I thinking? my favourite feature!)  Here you can see the back of the skirt has four layers, and the front has four layers, and they all hang free from each other at different levels.  I was pretty chuffed with myself when I pulled this off.  Even now I'm kinda impressed with my old self.  I wish I could pat my old self on the back and say, "Yay! you did it.  Turned out OK!"


Details:
Top; the twist top from Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi, charcoal jersey knit, details here
Skirt; my own design, using Vogue 7303 as a starting point, pale pink, slightly shiny damask, to see this skirt styled in 6 different ways go here
Socks; not seen, but hand-knit by me, details here
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

The age of reason (or not...)

Me-Made June, Day 26
I mentioned my son's 21st birthday yesterday; perhaps a background explanation of what that means in this country would be helpful, sorry.
The simple truth is... not very much any more, actually.  The age of 21 was once upon a time considered the age of adulthood, and the age that one "received the key to the door".
I say "once upon a time" because those concepts have gone in Australia, and even before my lifetime... When a kid hits 18 they are an adult in Australia.  At the age of 18, Aussies can vote, drink, smoke, get married without parental consent (allowed at the age of 16 with parental consent) and are considered to have achieved legal responsibility independent from their parents. 
Even the key-to-the-door idea is completely outdated now, when kiddies as young as 14 often need to have a house-key for various reasons... so the age of 21 and its subsequent big party are just one of those hoary traditions that have been kept up in Australia for no more good reason that it seems a good excuse for another party.  And Aussies need very little justification for keeping another milestone on the agenda that requires another party...


Re today's ensemble; I know I look terribly unstylish, but for explanations please see previous Me-Made June Sundays and attached musings on not caring about looking tres fly on those days...  I almost threw out these jeans after I saw how awful they looked the last time I donned them.  But then I wondered whether they could still function as a leggings-substitute for casual winter-y days... well, the colour!  I do so love this light neutral stone colour (petering out lamely)  So at the last moment they were saved from the Salvoes bag.  But I can see this outfit is somewhat... strange.
Hmmm, thinks; have definite problems tossing old and unflattering stuff out...  the explanation for my too-large wardrobe becomes all too apparent.


Details:
Dress; Simplicity 3745 with modifications, white dotted cotton voile and crocheted lace, details here, and to see this dress styled in 6 different ways go here
Cardigan; self drafted and part of a twin set, leopard print slightly fluffy jersey, details here, and to see this twinset styled in 6 different ways go here
Jeans; Burda 7863 with modifications, details here
Socks; not seen but hand-knit by me, details here
Shoes; Country Road


below: we found this salutation on the beach today