Monday 9 May 2016

Butterflies & Blossoms

I truly believe Spring is the time for regrowth and new beginnings, not only in nature but within ourselves as well. This is why I have decided to get back into blogging after taking a hiatus. The break made it easier for me to finish up school (ignore the fact i'm taking summer classes), but it also gave me time to reevaluate what I want out of this blog, and where I see it going in the future.

That said, I decided to break out my butterfly print circle skirt I made last year, following the theme of rebirth and all.


I drafted the skirt out of a Pattern by Gertie, Butterick 5882. It's a retro-style pattern that contains a full circle skirt. I've made the full pattern before and trust me, with a crinoline underneath the skirt is huge! 

I paired the skirt with a black tank and black accessories to make sure the skirt was the main focal point (and so that I didn't look like a bright tropical bird). Colour in general kind of scares me, so black is my go-to when i'm wearing something this bold. 






Outfit Details
Skirt - handmade, drafted from B5882
Top - Forever 21
Bralette - Urban Outfitters
Shoes - Modcloth
Necklace - handmade

Photos by Matt Stinn


Monday 22 February 2016

Sewing the Faux Fur Scarf

image sources: restorationhardware.com, wendyslookbook.com, lolobu.com

When I worked at a fabric store I would always advise the customers to run a vacuum down the sides of the cut fabric when working with faux fur so that the fur didn't go everywhere. Alas, I did not take my own advice and ended up with a very furry studio that may take a while to clean up. 

Despite all this I am quite happy with the way my faux fur scarf turned out. I've been seeing them for sale everywhere in stores this winter and decided to take it upon myself to create my own (more inexpensive) version. 

I didn't have to purchase anything outside of what I already owned for this project. The faux fur was a leftover scrap from when I made my Daisy Buchanan Halloween costume, and the lining fabric was another piece laying around from a previous sewing project. 

After finally getting all the loose fur out of the scarf I have found it to be a fun staple to wear this winter. It goes with almost everything and it is super cozy and warm!



                                             

Monday 8 February 2016

Designer: Valentino


When I first stumbled upon Valentino's pre-fall 2015 collection (using galaxy inspired design elements) I was in absolute awe of the whimsical feel of the line. This started my whirlwind search of all of Valentino's collections. It is safe to say that my initial admiration has not faded.

The haute couture house pays such immense attention to detail, from the strategically draped lightweight fabrics that give their clothes an airy feel to the ribbon embroidery they place on top of it. I can only imagine how long one piece takes to make, even with a team of the best dressmakers on board. 

There is a certain theme that encompasses each collection. Examples would be the pre-fall 2015 line featuring space elements like I already mentioned, a line featuring tiny plague doctor masks if you look closely, and a dress telling the story of Adam and Eve.  




Monday 1 February 2016

Leopard Lights


I spent an exceptionally long time wandering the store pulling this coat on and off while trying to decide if I liked it or not. One minute I felt a bit too Macklemore-y, the next I felt as though I could be photographed for a British street style blog at any second. 

In the end I gave in, and since that I am so glad I have this coat hanging in my closet. It has become a staple piece to throw on over an all black outfit while going out in the evening. I've also tried introducing it to my daywear repertoire by pairing it with a long burgundy scarf, my super skinny black jeans from BDG and a striped blue and white tee.  

Outfit Details
Coat - Design Lab (The Bay)
Sweater - Urban Outfitters
Jeans - BDG (Urban Outfitters)
Boots - Step Ahead Shoes
Hat - Aldo

Photos by Andrew Mareschal

Monday 25 January 2016

Woodland Lace


I have a thing for lace. 

I think it has something to do with the soft, delicate feel it has when I slip it on. It brings to mind the pre-20th century antique aesthetic I love so much, although wearing modern lace has a little more durability than those of decades past. 

Sewing this dress was a breeze. It was a process that only took me a few hours in total to do. Nothing quite vexes me as much about sewing as having to iron every seam to lay flat as I go along, but with this stretch lace I didn't have to touch the iron once as the seams sorted themselves out on their own. I also got to leave the hem unfinished without the threat of the fabric unraveling, which gave the skirt a more breezy feel instead of adding more weight by hemming it. 

I paired this dress with woodland inspired accessories to fit the theme. The floral tights are a new take on the classic back seam tights, while the branch and acorn necklace from local boutique La Vie Lente was a perfect fit for my surroundings. 



 Outfit Details
Dress - Modified from Simplicity 1873
Tights - Urban Outfitters
Boots - Step Ahead Shoes
Necklace - La Vie Lente
Belt - Forever 21
Rings - Urban Outfitters

Photos by Matt Stinn


 

Monday 18 January 2016

Tropical Solace and New Beginnings





With temperatures dropping as low as -46°C this week, it was a no-brainer to take my first outfit photos at the conservatory. It was a nice escape from the reality of the Saskatchewan winter until we walked out of the warmth and were hit with a blast of frigid air once again. 

My polka-dot dress from Modcloth brings some brightness to this season. It's very reminiscent of the classic 1940's shape but with a modern flair, perfect for wearing by itself in the summer or under layers for the cooler months. I always style it with minimal to no accessories as it's a dress that can stand out all on its own. 

I received this dress in the mail ten minutes before I was supposed to depart for a trip to Banff this past summer and immediately squeezed it into my already full suitcase so I could wear it in the mountains. It has become a staple in my wardrobe ever since!




Outfit Details
Dress - Modcloth
Watch - Vintage
Bag - Flashback Clothing Collective
Shoes - Modcloth

Photos by Matt Stinn