4.01.2014

summery separates

Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates

Hi everyone! Wow, I can't believe it's April already... time is really flying by! I had a very busy March - both at work and in the sewing sphere, and, perhaps most importantly, I had a birthday! I am now the ripe old age of 29! 

This month's make for the  Mood Sewing Network was a bit of a challenge. Literally. We were given the task to choose a designer and make a completely unique look inspired by their 2014 spring runway collection. I was pretty psyched about the concept - and also a little nervous! It felt a bit like being back in school and having to problem solve my way through an assignment. How do you make a look that hearkens to a designer, yet doesn't directly copy them, and also maintains a sense of your own individual style? Tricky stuff indeed, my friends. However, choosing a designer was a total no-brainer for me. Rachel Comey is probably the only designer who I continue to keep tabs on, no matter what, and I've had a long standing girl-crush on her for, literally, years. I love her collections, I love her shoes, I loved her patterns for Vogue (hint hint... could we get more of those please??) Like this one... and this one...


Comey's spring collection was really all over the place. Above are a few of my favorite looks from it (you can view the whole collection here). Crazy, tattered denim culottes? Check! Lace getups that are both seductive and frumpy? Check! Velvet slip dresses reminiscent of the 90's? Check! Psychedelic swirly printed sweatshirts? Check, check, and more check!! Really, it was hard to come away with a cohesive statement from this collection, but that's also what made it so great to work with - it allowed for a lot of freedom of interpretation.

Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates

In the end I decided to create a look that was maybe a bit more feminine than what Comey was showing, but I think it would still fit into her collection with ease.  I tried to focus in on a few key elements from a few different looks - the fabric of a piece here, the midriff baring there, skirt lengths, layering and accessories...

Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates

I used this white cotton brocade from Mood Fabrics online store to create this crop-top and pencil skirt.  As soon as this fabric arrived I knew I had made a good choice. It was almost identical to this textured, white fabric that appeared in Comey's collection:


This cotton is more ivory than white and has an almost slub-like texture to it, and a very pretty, subtle sheen.  It's 100% cotton, but has a generous amount of width-wise give, which made it perfect for this sort of curve-hugging silhouette.  It was super easy to work with, as cottons often are, but it did fray something awful, so I was very careful not to handle the cut pieces more than necessary and definitely made sure to enclose all my raw edges.  I fully lined both the skirt and the top with white cotton batiste, which I love as a lining for warm weather clothing.  It gave a nice sturdiness to both of these pieces, while also adding much needed opacity.

Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates
Please excuse that attention-whore of a bra strap... always trying to steal the show...

I used the top portion of By Hand London's Georgia dress for the crop-top, simply adding a back button placket so I could get it on and off. This was a really great way to test the fit of this pattern, without committing to the whole dress. I simply lopped the pattern off at the waist notch, then added an additional inch for a hem.  I did have to make a few adjustments to the bust cups - mainly taking out some of the volume from the bust apex. Now that I've got the fit figured out (mostly at least... I could still tweak away...) you can bet that I'm dreaming up other versions of this dress! 

The skirt is Burda 117 which I liked because it has the perfect mix of high-waisted, long-hemmed, body-hugging silhouette, and includes a back vent (an absolute must for this type of skirt). Of course I still had to take it in some sort of ridiculous amount through the side seams to get the kind of fit I wanted, but all in all that's an easy adjustment to make.

Mood Fabrics white brocade separates
You can see the texture of the fabric a bit better in these close ups
DSC_0020Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates 
One thing that is definitely for certain - Sonja and I have totally been drinking from the same crop-top + pencil skirt kool-aid this spring! If that's not a sign that this trend has arrived, than I don't know what is!  You heard it here first folks - crop-tops and pencil skirts are so. right. now. If I'm being completely honest, I kind of can't believe I not only decided to make a crop-top, but then photographed  myself wearing it and posted it on the internet!! I can honestly say that I have never worn a crop-top before in my life! Not being blessed with abs of steel (more like abs of marshmallow) I always thought it was a look that I couldn't pull off, but I think the proportions of these pieces really help make this outfit more flattering.

Mood Fabrics White cotton brocade separates

Also (true confessions) I actually had the best of intentions of making another Tessuti Tokyo jacket in denim to go along with this outfit. I was even planning on distressing the hems and pockets, like my girl Rachel Comey. However my plans were utterly foiled when I was struck ill mid-month with... well I'm not quite sure, but I've been calling it consumption which pleases the Victorian Gothic in me, and also the plague, which suits the Medieval Mystic in me. In fact, I can still be found hacking out my lungs most nights! So, alas, the denim Tokyo jacket got put off and instead I donned my beloved shibori dyed Tokyo jacket, since I thought Rachel (yeah, we're on a first name basis... in my head) would approve. 

Also, how do you like my new clogs?? I'm in looooovvveeeeee!!!!!

Happy spring everyone!

xx

44 comments:

  1. I love Rachel Comey too. I think your rendition is spot on- taken all the best elements of her style but made it totally your own!

    ReplyDelete
  2. your outfit is stunning! And I agree that your shibori jacket fits right in. So beautiful. I want to try shibori some day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. An entirely delicious combination! It looks so playful :) Many happy birthday returns for your recent milestone, too! You're looking awfully like coat and beautiful red slouchy beanie days are behind you...

    ReplyDelete
  4. you look gorgeous! think i'll take that fashion advice from you and sonja, and make something similar for myself!

    ReplyDelete
  5. well you make "abs of marshmallow" look pretty darn amazing! this look is great on you--fantastic make!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, that jacket is amazing! As is the rest of the outfit, of course. The crop top and pencil skirt combination works surprisingly well! I do think it must be the next big thing :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This outfit is SO cute. I love it on you! You look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Next time I'm in NY we have to wear our two piece getups and go grab a drink with the ladies, because I'm not sure where I'll wear this otherwise!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful fit and styling. I am very inspired by your posts and work.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Melanie! Spring has definitely sprung around here, and I couldn't be happier about it! Although I actually do have some more cool weather makes in my mind (gotta be prepared for next year!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you Jane! That is such an awesome compliment!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Sara! Shibori is actually really easy! It's just like fancy tie-dye.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You would be KILLER in this look!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Haha! Thanks Lisa!! Just for that, I think I'll go have another piece of chocolate ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ohhhhhh, this is SPECTACULAR. And such a genius thing to do with the Georgia dress! I might have to steal this idea from you, I apologise hugely in advance, but it's just too good. And I have been hankering after this silhouette something dreadful. You make it look amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The first thing I was going to say is that you and Sonja are twins. Both of you pulled off this look wonderfully! You took the inspiration, but made it your own. I wouldn't think that this silhouette is flattering, but seeing it on both of you is making me think this could be a universal style.


    Loving the clogs! I just bought a pair of Hasbeens for spring. Next up is getting my toes done. They're gross!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You can TOTALLY rock this look! You look great! And when did your hair get so long?!?!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think your blog was the first place I heard about Rachel Comey! I've since fallen in love with her work, too. I love how your white outfit turned out - the fit on the skirt looks particularly great! I hope your plague is eradicated soon!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love her! And this look:) super fresh and cute.
    not 10 mins ago I was dreaming of a leather pencil skirt with a purple tartan crop, but not 100% sold on my guts yet haha and need to find leather gah!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This looks great on you and love it paired with those spunky new clogs and your tokyo. thanks for the links to Rachel Comy - I've pinned that red lace dress... think I need one of those!

    ReplyDelete
  21. You can do no wrong :) Beautiful summery ensemble!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is so elegant! I love the texture of the fabric. I really want to make this dress--my favorite of their patterns so far (probably it's all those cup-defining lines up there!) I love your idea of turning it into separates--how funny that you and Sonja had the same idea. It's still a "dress", yet makes everything much more wearable.

    p.s. Darn you for enticing me with those groovy suede clogs. I nearly blasted my "signature style" Pinterest with clogs but had to hold back. Rachel Comey and Swedish Hasbeens can do no wrong in my book.

    p.p.s. I really have enjoyed watching your hair grow since your early blog posts. It's really lovely at any length... beautiful waves...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ha ha, "the consumption"! I love the white, very elegant.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the crop top!! I need to join this club stat. I think it looks so chic with the high waisted skirt. Love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh Amy, you're so nice!! I honestly haven't cut my hair since I got married (we're going on 3 years...) and I often feel like it's just beyond my control at this point! Haha...
    Also, I would love to see you make this Georgia dress. I futzed around with those cups a bit to try and get a nice fit, but I know you would really show us how it's done!
    And clogs... So good!! These are by No. 6 and I had been lusting after them for literally years.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you!! My poor lungs are slowly on the mend...
    I am so honored to be spreading the Rachel Comey fan base!! She's got a cool background too - she started out as a sculpture student, which I think totally translates in her collections (especially her shoes!)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks Maddie! After wearing my clogs around literally every. single. day. since they arrived on my doorstep I have decided that they are god's gift to feet! I didn't even know I had back pain from my other shoes until I wore my clogs and it went away! I'm a convert!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you Maria! That means so much to me!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I know, right?!?! Hahaha!
    Thanks girl!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ooooohhh... don't even get me started on leather! That sounds like a fabulous outfit! You've gotta give it a go!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks Kirsty!!
    That red lace dress was one of my favorites too!

    ReplyDelete
  32. You would knock em dead in this outfit!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh! Thanks dude!

    ReplyDelete
  34. You would totally be a stunner in this look!

    ReplyDelete
  35. You look gorgeous! I can see that crop top paired with a full skirt, too. Or a high waist wide leg trouser. Lots of possibilities! I am only three years older than you but I decided this year that every birthday from now on will be my 29th :) happy belated birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  36. This silhouette is soooo hot. And I think we could safely assume the a good portion of the blogosphere have it on the brain right now. Two piece separates. Print on print. Midi skirts. And cropped tops OH MY. You look superb! Also, I too have never regarded a crop top with more than a suspicious eye but now all of a sudden, they seem like a perfectly normal addition to the closest. Fashion huh?!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Nice collection Jacket Coat available at our online store fanjackets
    http://www.fanjackets.com/

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is awesome. I wasn't really familiar with Rachel Comey before, but just looked up her site and was tickled to see that they shot one of the episodes of my favorite web series (High Maintenance...watch the "Rachel" episode) at her fashion shoot. I love the lines on your crop top:)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Ohhh, I absolutely adore everything about your entire ensemble... breathtaking!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I might be a little late to the party but Wowza

    ReplyDelete
  41. Girl crush? I confess - I haz a BIG one - on YOU, gorgeous girl!! You are always SO inspiring to me, and I just absolutely adore this newest creation of yours - STUNNING!! The back view makes me swoon, and I love the clogs too. Love the white, it's perfect. Love it all. SO. MUCH.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Leave it to you to make the crop top classic looking. So envious of your closet!

    ReplyDelete