Wardrobe Architect Week 12: Adding Accessories

Rather than making a list of requirements for my functional and decorative accessories and deciding how many I need of each, I’m going to focus on the things I think are missing from my current accessory collection. The items below are more inspiration than specific shopping list, especially since accessories are, by definition, not essential and therefore not as high on my to-make-or-get list.

Hat & Sunglasses

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Ultrafino Monte Cristo Straw Fedora Panama Hat // Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer Sunglasses

I’m fair-skinned and fair-haired with light eyes, so these are a no-brainer. I really like how I look in hats, but I only own one: a lightweight athletic hat I picked up for a trip last summer, more practical than pretty. I think I’d like to get something with a slightly tailored fit (rather than a big floppy-brimmed number), like a straw fedora or a Panama hat.

On the other side of the equation, since I got contacts and can finally wear whatever sunglasses I want, I’ve been paralyzed trying to find a pair I like. Everything I’ve tried either overwhelms my face, or doesn’t feel at all like me. I don’t need trendy or statement-making shades, I just need something that doesn’t make me look and/or feel like an idiot! Suggestions welcome.

Shoes

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Dr. Scholls Friendly Striped Ballet Flat // Audrey Brooke Newport Metallic Flat
Me Too Buckle Reptile Ballet Flat // Franco Sarto Jinelle Flat Sandal
Franco Sarto Jinelle Flat Sandal // Crown Vintage Marley Flat Sandal
Kelly & Katie Brice Wedge Sandal // Kelly & Katie Madeline Wedge Sandal

I’ve been living in a pair of black ballet flats since the weather turned warm. Before they completely fall apart, I’d like to pick out a new pair or two in my new palette. The navy and white stripes are right up my alley, but gold and red are both versatile choices that I’ve been meaning to add to my collection for a while. I wish I could rock a pair of boat shoes, because I think they’re quintessentially summer attire and I hear they’re pretty comfy, but every pair I’ve tried on just didn’t look right. *sigh*

I’d really, really like to get a pair of flat sandals this summer. I have a pair of white slip-ons, but they’re not great for a lot of walking because they’re slip-ons—I need some kind of security otherwise I’m liable to fall off my shoes. I love that sandals come in a rainbow of happy colors these days. What I don’t love is that so many styles are just so dang uncomfortable! I’ve avoided thong styles and their accompanying chafing, but it’s a crapshoot whether the insoles on most sandals offer any cushioning. Here’s hoping this summer’s search is more fruitful than last year’s.

Finally, I’d like to throw in a pair of low wedges for variety. Anything to occasionally lengthen the ol’ leg line is much appreciated by this petite.

Bags

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Striped Weekender Handbag – Gray // Vertical Buckles Backpack Handbag // Tote Handbag with Strap

Strictly speaking, I don’t need any more bags, but I do love them so, and it’s nice to have a bag suited to every purpose and occasion. For example, Justin and I make a weekend trip to visit family every couple of months, and we usually share a rolling suitcase for our stuff. Sometimes it isn’t big enough, but the next size up in the set is way larger than we need for such a short trip. I used to have utilitarian duffel bag, but it was retired when the strap on it broke; it would be nice to replace it with something pretty. A small, backpack-style bag would be nice for outings to the flea market or along one of Raleigh’s many greenways, because I could bring my usual kit while leaving my hands free and avoiding the switch-shoulders-every-15-minutes game. Bonus: both the weekender and the backpack coordinate with a wallet, purse, and tote I already own—matching for the win! The green purse is just for color, since all of my other purses are neutral.

Jewelry

Anything colorful and a little statement-making. Natural materials and textures, like leather, are fun too. I definitely favor graphic over intricate or ornate. Beyond that, I don’t know. There are so many pieces of beautiful handmade jewelry online that I have no idea how to narrow it down, let alone choose.

That about sums it up. Ours is not a climate for scarves, even lightweight ones (too humid), so these are the things I reach for when I head out the door in the morning.

Do you use colorful accessories to mix things up and keep outfits fresh, or do you tend to stick to neutral accessories and wear more interesting outfits? Maybe you go for head-to-toe neutrals for a timeless look that goes with anything, anywhere?

Outfit Along 2015

As my Wardrobe Architect exercises have undoubtedly made abundantly clear, I haven’t been so good about buying or making clothes that work together over the last few years…or ever. Like a lot of people, I find a thing I need or a thing I like (preferably something that ticks both boxes) and go for it, without really considering if I can wear it more than one way. Sometimes that’s okay, but mostly it makes me one of those people that has plenty of clothing and yet has “nothing to wear.”

So when Lauren Taylor of Lladybird announced that she and Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots would be teaming up again to host the 2015 Outfit Along, I was all over it like dog hair on a date night dress. What’s an outfit along? It’s a friendly challenge where you commit to sewing a garment and knitting a garment that are designed to be worn together. Lauren and Andi have picked a dress pattern and a cropped cardigan pattern, respectively, and throughout June and July they’ll be providing construction tips on their blogs. Participants can post their completed garments in the OAL 2015 Finished Outfits thread in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry; garments completed by the July 31 deadline are eligible for nifty prizes and the adulation of their peers (but mostly prizes :-)).

The official sewing pattern is McCall’s M6887, which I picked up in a recent pattern haul. I’m planning to sew View A, which has an adorable back cut-out. 2015-06-20_1_Dress-Supplies

The fabric, which I believe is a cotton lawn, is something I picked up several months ago from JoAnn intending to make the Simplicity 1419, the Lisette Round Trip Dress. Sadly, that style is just not for me, as several yards of wadded up muslin will attest. Luckily, it’s enough fabric for the OAL pattern, and it’s a good match for my spring/summer capsule palette. I’d like to think I already had a burgeoning sense of my style preferences, but the reality is that it’s more of a happy accident, as I really just wanted something bright and cheery while we were still in the midst of freezing temps.

The official knitting pattern is Vianne, a cropped cardigan with a mesh back panel. It didn’t really speak to me, and I can’t help but think the mesh would look a little strange with the back cut-out. So I decided to substitute Marion, one of Andi’s other patterns.

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Not too shabby, eh? I started knitting the first week of June, and I’m already to the point where I can start knitting the bottom band. It’s amazing how quickly something flies off the needles when said needles are US 10s. (The pattern calls for US 8s, which is already at the upper end of the range usually given for worsted weight. I went up a needle size preemptively when I swatched, but it wasn’t enough, so I went up again to get gauge.)

Unfortunately, I discovered an error in the final cable repeat on both sides: I made the cable travel too soon, so it isn’t positioned correctly to flow neatly into the bottom band. I was going to just leave the cable and slightly modify the band pattern instead, but after sleeping on it I realized that it’s going to bug me even if no one else can see it. I’m going to attempt to correct the problem without ripping out all of the rows (about 12), but if I completely flub, that will be my only option. Wish me luck!

P.S. The background of those photos is a sneak-peak at another project, a finished one, that I’ll share tomorrow.

Wardrobe Architect Week 11: Planning My Pieces

Two weeks since my last Wardrobe Architect post, yikes! With only a three weeks left in the series including this one, you may well have wondered why I didn’t post on time, especially when I’d expressed so much excitement for planning garments and outfits. I certainly wanted to, but when Wednesday showed up in the middle of the week (as it has a habit of doing) I didn’t actually have a plan. And I knew if I threw together a list of whatever popped into my head while I was sitting at the computer, I’d end up with a list of pieces I wasn’t 100% thrilled about, which is a recipe for a) making a bunch of clothes that I won’t wear, or b) going off the rails and ending up with a closet full clothes that are just as disjointed as I have now. So I mulled it over, looked through my recent pattern acquisitions again, and came up with something that I’m pretty stoked about.

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1st Row Four fitted t-shirts: one white, one aqua, one with navy and white stripes, and one red with a white print.  I’d like to try out the Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Tonic Tee pattern—it’s designed specifically for petites, and it’s free!

2nd Row Two drapey camis made with McCall’s M6359, one in coral and one in yellow. One drapey sleeveless button-down in green; I really like the Portofino shirts from Express, so I’ll keep my eye out for one in a nice cheery Kelly green.

3rd Row Two drapey open-front cardigans, one in navy and one in smoke. It’s a toss-up whether I’ll make these with McCall’s M6084 or buy them from Express. I have two of the latter already that I really like, but I may not be able to get them in the color I want; on the flip side, I know good sweater knits can be tricky to find in fabric stores.

4th Row Three fitted cardigans in green, yellow, and white. I’m knitting the green cardigan already, and will probably knit rather than sew the other two as well. I haven’t picked specific patterns yet, but have plenty of options to choose from in my Ravelry queue.

5th Row A woven khaki pencil skirt made with Simplicity 1465; a knit navy pencil skirt made with Simplicity 1465; and a woven, elastic-waist swishy skirt in some print (not necessarily the fabric or even the color pictured) made with Simplicity 1662.

6th Row A Lady Skater dress, a woven McCall’s M7156, a knit McCall’s M7116 View A, and a knit McCall’s M7116 View C. All of the fabrics are just placeholders, although I’ll probably be looking for things in similar colors and patterns.

7th Row Two pairs of shorts, one in navy ikat (totally ripping off Lauren here) made with the Grainline Studio Maritime Shorts pattern or similar, and one in white, which I already own. Two pairs of leggings, one in smoke and one in navy, made with McCall’s M6173. And—if can miraculously find them in a store, be it retail or fabric—one pair of coral jeggings.

That’s a pretty ambitious list, to say the least. I doubt I’ll get through all of it by the end of the summer. The biggest hurdle will be sourcing and buying fabric and yarn, since I’m trying to sock away money for a big upcoming purchase at the same time. But I’ll go crazy if I don’t have a steady stream of projects, and my wardrobe desperately needs an infusion of new pieces, so I’ll be looking for economical ways to make this capsule wardrobe a reality. I’m open to suggestions if you’ve got them!

Pattern Haul #2: Simplicity

After my McCall’s pattern haul, I wasn’t looking to buy another lot of patterns, but then Hancock advertised a sale on Simplicity ($1.99 each, limit 10) and my resolve wavered. I know they’re known to do better sales—in fact, I just received a flyer for an upcoming one on June 20 where Simplicity patterns are going to be a mere 99¢ each—but I was already planning and scheming in anticipation of wrapping up my Wardrobe Architect series, and I knew I wouldn’t want to wait weeks or months for the next sale, so I’ve decided to regard my actions as “forethought” rather than “compulsive stashing.”

(Patterns are my stash. This, I’m sure, is a surprise to no one but me. Apparently my complete disinterest in stashing fabric and notions blinded me to my desperate coveting of patterns. While my collection doesn’t come close to rivaling those of Lauren or Sarai, I daresay I easily surpass them in glee-felt-while-sitting-amidst-the-stash-as-a-dragon-atop-its-hoard.)

Without further ado, the patterns:

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Top Row

1317 – A basic raglan sweatshirt pattern, because I’m already looking forward to autumn.

1425 – A basic, hackable top, because I like the idea of having options.

1421 – I’ve just transitioned from a pretty casual office to an even more casual office, but I still think it’s a good idea to have a suit in the wings for special occasions, and from time to time I like dressing up jeans with a blazer. This is a pretty thick envelope, so I’m looking forward to eventually learning some new techniques too.

Middle Row

1662 – Swishy! That is all.

1559 – Justin talked me into this one, after I spent way too much time debating between it and the one to the right of it. I tried my hand at drafting a basic pencil skirt once and wasn’t thrilled with the outcome, so I thought it might help to start with a professionally drafted version before trying to make further tweaks. Not sure if I’ll ever use the pants option, but hey, it could happen.

1465 – Another basic pencil skirt option. Between this and the previous one, I should be able to come up with my perfect version. If nothing else, one can have all the modifications for a woven skirt and the other can have all the modifications for a knit skirt.

Bottom Row

2600 – While discussing a mutual love of bags with an LYS owner recently, she shared that when she asked a friend if she should buy another tote or if she had enough already, her friend sagely replied, “One more bag wouldn’t be too many.” This is a philosophy I can get behind.

1374 – Another swimsuit pattern. I’m dreaming of luscious mix-and-match options.

5006 – This pattern is more aspirational than practical, because I have no need of a corset in my daily life, and no planned future occasion for one either. But I’ve always wanted to up my game from a Hot Topic fashion corset to The Real Deal, and now I’ll be prepared when that day comes. (I was a Girl Scout, so being prepared is everything. I also have escape plans in case of zombie and/or velociraptor attack.)

Once again I’ll send out the call: Which of these do you like best? Do you have a favorite Simplicity pattern that I should definitely plan to add to my collection?

Pattern Haul #1: McCall’s

In a previous post, I talked about a trip to Hancock to pick out McCall’s patterns on sale for $1.49 each. If you were wondering what I actually ended up bringing home, well, ponder no more! Here’s a look at what I chose, and a few ideas I had for each one.

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Top Row

M6359 – I thought this top was designed for knits, but I was looking at it again once I got home and realized it’s intended for wovens. I think it will work equally well for both, and it has the potential to become a TNT pattern for summer tops.

M6754 – I have two dresses from Express very similar to the pink one on the envelope, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to perfect the fit of this style and make it up in other colors/prints.

M6173 – I love wearing leggings to lounge in so much that I’ve worn holes in the two pairs I own, but I can’t bring myself to go to the mall to replace them. These are definitely going to be a staple for me.

M6084 – I’m always cold, so I depend on cardigans like these to get me through the over-air-conditioned summer months.

M5400 – As an adult I’ve found I’m not much of a beachgoer (I prefer the mountains and fall weather), but I still look forward to getting a new swimsuit in the summer. I’d like to try my hand at making my own since everyone swears how easy it is, and I’m betting a trip to the beach is more fun when you’re sporting handmade suit.

Bottom Row

M7084 – I think Mary of Idle Fancy must be rubbing off on me, because all I could think was “Who doesn’t need a classic shirtdress pattern?”

M7156 – This is another pattern designed for wovens that I think could work equally well with knits, á la Gertie‘s Butterick 6031, which she featured in her slip sew-along. In a woven like a rayon challis it would make a breezy summer dress; in a sliny jersey it could be a cute nightgown. I’m even kind of interested in trying out the romper version. (I know, I’ve lost my mind.)

M6887 – Full disclosure, I bought this one to participate in the Outfit Along 2015, which I’ll talk about more later this week. So my reasoning was entirely governed by peer pressure (but the good kind!).

M7116 – This is arguably my favorite of the bunch, because it’s just so darn versatile. I like all four variations, I think it will work fabulously in both wovens and knits, and all of them could be hacked shorter to make tops/tunics. Eight patterns in one package? Yes please.

M7117 – I’ve got at least one wedding to attend on the horizon, and I’d like to make my ensemble when the time comes, so it felt like a good investment to snap up a pretty party dress pattern.

Which of these do you like best? Do you have a different favorite McCall’s pattern that I should put on my radar for the next sale?