Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Festive Duds



By Christmas Day i'd finished my bubbly twinset. What a treat to be thinking, as i usually do in the holiday season, 'what to wear, what to wear......' and, instead of biting my nails in frustration, think, "Oh! yeah, right!", go to the closet and pick up this little twinset. Done!



Bit by bit i move closer to my dream closet, one by one i tick off the items i've so painstakingly identified as worthy of a spot in my wardrobe. At times it feels so slow!  But more and more often i'm able to realize the fruits of my labor.


I'm not feeling 'wordy' at all about this outfit, but it was a lot of fun to wear and quite physically comfortable as well. Elastic waist and loose overtop is perfect for your feasting-type holidays ;)  In future i'd like to try this look with some sheer/patterned hose. But we've been experiencing a chilly winter this year, with temps around freezing many nights, so i wore wool blend tights instead.

I really like the cut of the little shell in this pattern. I've been wanting to develop a TNT (Tried N True) pattern for a tank/shell for quite a while. This pattern looked very promising so i'm running it up in the leftover fabric from my latest leopard print jacket. I love the pretty little jewel-type neckline of the original pattern, but alas high and close necklines don't flatter me at all. I ended up tracing out the neckline from one of Katherine Tilton's tees onto the body of this little shell, and i am very excited about the results. I've worn a tank just about every day since mid-November, it's been so cold, and i only have 3 or 4 in my dresser. A wider selection would be welcome for aesthetic and practical reasons!



The only trouble with this twinset is finding your way into it. Which side is out, which end is up, front versus back, and so on - it's all so confusing when the material itself is so transparent and similar on both sides. Thankfully i had a wee brainstorn, and marked the inside back neck of the shell with a little embroidered rose.



These are my favorite type of handmade roses. I've seen them called 'bouillon roses' (from the embroidery stitch used to create them) and also 'rag roses'. They're so three dimensional! I stitched this one onto one of the bubbles in the scrap, then trimmed the bubble out when i was done with the rose. I then stitched the 'rose-ed bubble' onto a similar 'bubble' at the center back neck, using tiny stitches and (most importantly) matching thread.



ah, sigh.....how beautiful are those things which are whimsical, frivolous, and banally practical all at once? I can't wait to wear this twinset over my cadmium red medium tank.....

Happy New Year! Best Wishes to you and yours! May you have extravagant luck in your own wardrobe and outfit pursuits this year!

34 comments:

  1. A really lovely outfit for the holidays! Such a pretty twinset - and the little rosette is perfect.

    Happy New Year!

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  2. This looks super on you! You will get a lot of mix-and-match out of this twinset. Off to have a peek at your other creations...

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  3. I really like the twinset - so unexpected and feminine. And the ruffled coat is fabulous too. You've got great style, Steph : >

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  4. I LOVE this outfit on you! That jacket is too die for - is that one of your makes?

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  5. Awww so cute... Love the ruffles on everything. Just the right touch with the rose at the back of the neck. (great idea too) The doted fabric is really interesting. Happy New Year !

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  6. Beautiful photos. I could look at the gorgeous details forever. I love all the falls of ruffles when the coat is added. I also am in awe of anyone who can make exactly what she wants to wear. Hope to see more of you in 2013 :)

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  7. Hi Sheila! Thank you!! i'm so happy you still have a month of your capsule challenge to go, so i have time to get ready for it ending..... heehee! i am enjoying it a lot!

    Welcome Judith! thank you, i think it will be fun. And great start of the year for you, with your amazing dress! Work that mojo, lady :)

    aw, Patti, you make me blush :)

    Thank you Jilly! actually, Mr. E (tony) spotted that piece last year on nordies' website, we waited ane got it on sale. It's Tahari, by the name of 'Heidi', which i love. Mr. E's got an eye, let me tell ya!

    Hi Adrienne! the pure idea of so many ruffles frankly puts me off...but in real life, and with so much black and 'rougher' fabrics, i like it lots! esp. for a festive time. and i do what i can to de-confuse myself!

    Thank you Lynne! i'm glad you enjoy the pix, i really like taking them, editing, and so on. "I also am in awe of anyone who can make exactly what she wants to wear." weellll,'exactly' is a stretch but i get close enough!

    Hoping to see more of all of you in 2013!!! steph

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  8. How beautifully you wear that tiered skirt and it doesn't get away with wearing you. So graceful and also spunky. I'm struck by how many of your clothing pieces feature some sort of cascade but they are none of them enervating. You are fully the master of your cascades! I'm totally impressed and charmed.

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  10. Nice idea for marking the right side! I have a turtleneck that somehow lost its tag and I'm forever putting the thing on backwards as I can't figure out from eyeballing the drape which side is which. Inspiration!

    That's a really lovely twinset. The fabric looks challenging. Was it difficult to sew?

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  12. Well, Vildy, your words have me charmed right back :) Thank you! you know, i think it goes badk to Triumph of Individual Style stuff - my body/face/hair is all very curvy, so i can wear a lot of curves and it harmonizes. I've started making some illustrations that hopefully will make my point - thank you for getting me started on that!

    Hullo P! yeah, go for it! you can make daisy-flowers too, or ribbon flowers, or just a little bow - i love anything that makes life easier.

    Actually, the fabric was pretty easy for two reasons. first, it's a cotton nylon blend and the cotton cuts down on any slipperiness. Second, i stabilized the fabric by brushing on a little stiffener and letting it dry. HTH and happy travels!

    Happy Sunday! steph

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