And a Velvet New Year

Waiting outside for a chauffer to take me back to 1925. I'll have to settle for 2016 arriving instead, and at least the dental care (and most everything else except design) is a whole lot better here in the future.

As the last few hours of 2015 ebb away, I can't help but think of the things I didn't accomplish in the last year (like that final re-write of my long suffering novel). Instead I'd like to think on the things that have gone well, like lots of sewing, learning (hooray learning to knit!), and my new job! Sadly, I wont be sporting this lovely 20's ensemble to the New Years party I have lined up this evening as it will be a much more casual affair. Don't think I'll leave off all the sparkle though, New Years calls for glitter in some form for sure!

You can't imagine how excited I was when I found this amazing burgundy and plum burnout/cut velvet fabric at my local fabric shop. Whenever I have seen similar fabric it has always been horrible stretch polyester, but this lovely fabric has no stretch and I think the pile of the velvet must be either rayon or silk as it feels more like a natural fiber. In any case, it was a total score at $7 dollars a yard! Of course it had to become a 1920's dress, there was no other option! I hand beaded the top neck edge and along the sleeve with iridescent seed beads and the shoulder "seam" (not really sewn exactly) is done with larger iridescent Czech glass beads. I do wish the dress had come out a little longer, but I am still happy with the finished product. While the velvet dress may have been a steal, the slip I made to go underneath was much pricier! The only silk I could find in a matching color was a luxurious silk charmeuse at over 20$ a yard! eek! That's what I get for thinking this dress was going to be a total bargain! At least I'll be able to wear the slip under most of my 20's things.

I paired the dress with my rhinestone leaf hair combs (super inexpensive on ebay, one of my favorite ebay finds ever), a faux fur wrap, and my burgundy t-strap heels. I was most happy to discover that though my hair is cut much shorter than the last time I'd done this hairstyle, I could still wrangle the back into a bun for my customary 20's coiffure. I promise I have a hair tutorial coming soon, though the mervin wave clips really do all the work for me. I remember being so frustrated last year trying to get finger waves, mervin wave clips solved all my 1920's hair issues! Stalk ebay ladies, I just snatched up two more last week on there, they do pop up from time to time!

Well, I'm off to ring in the new year, I hope you all have a wonderful start to 2016!

Dress: Made by me
Faux Fur Wrap: Made by me
Tights: What Katie Did
Shoes: Merona (Target)
Earrings: Charming Charlie
Necklace: Made by me
Bracelet: Banana Republic