Winter Spice

I made more pumpkin spice cookies this weekend, fall may be over but I still love me some pumpkin spice cookies! Today I have rather a pumpkin spice colored ensemble to show you too, even if the flowers on this skirt are a bit more springy.

The burgundy and pastel floral pairing is actually quite difficult to style strangely, and I don't end up wearing this skirt very often despite the fact that I really love the print. This past weekend I paired it with a Vivien of Holloway slash neck top in a wonderful cinnamon brown color. I really like these tops so far but I do have a few grumbles about them: the fabric, though nice and on the thicker side, shows the seam lines of lingerie like a thin t-shirt would (which is no good for vintage style bra wearers like myself as the cups usually have a horizontal seam that shows right through even with a cami layered in between), and for tucking them in there is a bit more fabric through the waist that gets bunched to the back in favor of a smooth front. The ease through the waist does mean these tops look great untucked for a more 60's vibe, but I nearly always wear any top tucked into skirts. The slash neck is great for showing off brooches, but I had to sew the neckline closed about an inch more on either side so that it would cover my bra straps. All in all I'd say they are really nice but not perfect, and will be really great for travel days or other times when I want to keep my vintage style but be extra comfortable.

I feel like I am so behind on many of my creative projects, but I also feel like I am always saying that! Hopefully I can finish up the skirt I am in the middle of making and can show off the lovely fabric you all soon <3

Skirt: Zara
Top: Vivien of Holloway
Shoes: Royal Vintage Shoes
Belt, Handbag, & Jewelry: Vintage

Mini Pageboy Brush Out Hair Tutorial

I don't really want to make a habit of posting videos over here on the blog on Fridays, but just so you all know I plan on trying to get a YouTube video up every week on Thursday or Friday! This week I show you how I brush my hair into a smooth little pageboy style after I have it curled. 

I filmed this just after I curled it for my last video, so it is the same hot set from my 1/2" barrel curling iron. I find curls from such a small curling iron, and that are left pinned up to cool, are strong enough to withstand a brush out. Brushing out a wet set takes much longer for me, but from the hot set it is less tiring!

 I hope you all enjoy the video and have a great start to the weekend!

Sapphire Blue Jacquard

I always liked the jacquards in Gretchen Hirsch's fabric line at Joanns (why no more? more please?), so when I spotted the blue colorway in the red tag sale area at my local Joanns I snapped up a few yards knowing I just couldn't let it get away. Goodness was that the correct choice! The fabric looks lovely flat on the bolt, but in 3D it really comes alive and almost glows!

I decided to use my favorite dress pattern, with the kimono sleeved bodice I never tire of and a curved neckline. The dress is unlined, the seams finished by serging them and the neckline finished with a self fabric facing. Mostly I am still at war with my other bodice pattern, but for some reason this version (which was drafted from the same base pattern) is fine? Something in the kimono sleeve solves problems that arise on the version of the bodice with set in sleeves. I thought I'd leave battle for another day and simply enjoy making a new dress. I did rather enjoy it, and I am super pleased with the finished dress!

I hope my next sewing project goes just as smoothly, and seeing as it's just a pencil skirt it shouldn't be too much trouble. The lack of wool pencil skirts in my closet is quite annoying in winter! I am just so happy to have the first project of the year completed as now I feel as if I am getting my sewing rhythm back after a bit of a funk.

Happy Friday to you all, I hope you have a most wonderful weekend!

Dress: Made by me
Shoes: Zara
Fishnets: Amazon
Belt, Jewelry, & Clutch: Vintage

Wintry Sewing Plans

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I always have more and more projects lined up, and as it's been a few months since I updated you all on what I've got stacked up ready to make in my sewing room, I thought today I'd give a little run down of what I'll be working on soon!

First up is a winter appropriate 1930s dress with long bishop sleeves! The examples above are all inspiring me towards a simple design with dramatic sleeves. The high boat-neck of the example in the lowest left above is very appealing as it would leave lots of room for showing off brooches or dress clips. I'll try and find a vintage belt buckle I like to match the brown wool I have picked out, which is this option from Mood fabrics. I originally bought the wool to make a brown suit, but I think it has a nice enough drape to make a dress instead. I'd really like to make more 30's dresses and pieces in the future, and there are several projects in my near future towards this aim!

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 ...Including some 1930s skirts, again in wool :) I found a subtly plaid brown and green wool at my favorite Colorado Fabrics (formerly Denver Fabrics) and I plan on making a skirt very similar to the one in the center above, slightly flared with a single pocket for added detail. I can't find a source for this inspiration skirt other than Pinterest sadly, but it's just perfect so I may end up copying it exactly. The other wool I have lined up is solid black and I want to try a more pleated front 30's style, but perhaps with some buttons as accents too like the skirt on the right above. I'll have to see how well the wool I've got holds a crease, I would like nice crisp pleats if I go that route. It will be so nice to have some fall/winter 1930s separates in my closet finally!

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In addition to all the wool awaiting it's destiny, I also really want to make a black velvet dress in a simple late 30's/early 40's style. I'm thinking slightly puffed (or perhaps even pleated/darted?) sleeves with a shoulder pad, a squared neckline, and a simple a line cut skirt. I'd make a matching belt with a vintage buckle again, though I might figure out a way to make the belt snap/hook onto the buckle so I can change it out from something glitzy for evening to something like plain celluloid for daytime. I really just want another dress to wear dress clips with, I love dress clips!

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Then there is one more 1930's project on my list, a matching dress and cape! Yes a cape, a little Sherlockian checked cape with a matching dress! Marsha Hunt's ensemble above may have been the very image to put the idea into my head, how chic is she? I know the fabric I used for my tan mini-houndstooth skirt and bolero comes in dark grey too (it can be found at Joanns) so I think I may just use that for this project as it has a nice drape. I'll just have to find some buttons I like that look more like vintage plastics rather than new. I do enjoy button shopping so I am looking forward to it! I really could use more winter appropriate (aka long sleeved) dresses in my wardrobe so this ensemble and the brown wool dress will go a long way in helping with that!

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Another wool I picked up from Mood fabrics over last fall was this lovely black tweed with white flecks. Once I finally fix my bolero pattern (grumble) I hope to make a little suit like those above. It seems bolero suits were popular from the 1930s through the 50's and I'd like to have my bolero pattern fixed and tweaked for each era so that I can start making more of the style. A short jacket means only half the tailoring to worry about right? Another speckled fabric in my stash is this gorgeous raw silk which I originally bought to make a pencil skirt, but I can't decide now if I should perhaps make a dress instead since the fabric is wide enough I can probably get away with it. Then again I could try and make pencil skirt and a matching bolero? Hmm I can't decide!

I am already in the middle of another wool project (I know, so much wool!), but wait till you see this fabric! A truly scrumptious vintage flecked wool in an army green color I found on Etsy. The flecks in it are all different colors, teal, blue, rusty brown, white and even purple. It's soooo good. I only had a yard so it will be a nice long pencil skirt to wear with all of my slash neck knit tops and other sweaters. I can't wait to finish it up and show you all!

How is your winter sewing coming along? I had a slow start getting back into sewing after taking a bit of a winter break. Seeing as I sew all day at work and then sew for myself all weekend it was no wonder I needed a little rest from my machine, but I managed to complete a new dress last weekend! A dress you will see very shortly as I love how it turned out <3

Through the Trees

Any bird enthusiasts know what kind of nest this is? It was so small!

Winter without snow seems almost more devoid of color than when it is shrouded in white. The crispy beige twigs and leaves seem drained of life, where as snow creates a crystalline beauty striking enough it doesn't need color. Which is a floral way of saying I am bummed the snow keeps melting before I can capture it on camera.

This suit jacket has the biggest shoulders I have yet encountered in vintage 1940s suiting! It's also quite long on me, which proportionally would look better with a matching skirt, but time separated this jacket from its skirt long before I picket it up during the wonderful FabGab's Black Friday sale. Still, the pinstripes and sharp shoulders make me feel like a bit Hildy Johnson (aka Rosalind Russel) in His Girl Friday, so all's well. I paired the sober grey jacket with the skirt from my black suit and brighter orange accessories for some needed color. Once upon a time I said I would never collect gloves, they just weren't for me, but oh how I have changed my tune! Gloves are one of my most favorite accessories now, they provide such a great opportunity for getting some nice color and harmony into an ensemble. The orange pair I have on here will be so great for next fall!

I hope all of you had a great weekend despite Friday being, lets face it, one of the stupidest days in the history of the USA (and that's saying something). It was only the women's marches on Saturday that gave me hope again, and for that it was well worth waking up very early on the weekend to go for a walk with a few tens of thousands of other women!

Suit Jacket: Vintage, Fab Gabs (Etsy)
Skirt: Vintage (from my black suit)
Shoes: Nine West (Amazon)
Fishnets: Amazon
Handbag, Gloves, Earrings, Hat, & Scarf: Vintage

Hair Tutorial! My Everyday Retro Hairstyle

Unless I am going for a very eras specific look, I usually just curl my hair and mold it into a basic retro curled style. Today I have my first video hair tutorial for you all, showing just how I do my hair in most of the photos that end up here on the blog! I hope you all enjoy it and have a great weekend :)



PS : To all those marching, whether in DC or closer to home, thank you! All of us must remember now to lift up other women and people of color, members of the LGBT community, and members of other at risk communities more than ever before. We are entering a very hostile and negative world today, it it our job to thrive and do good works as best we can facing such times. Make a point to shop small from women, make it a priority to see films directed and produced by women, encourage and help out other women! For too long the world has told us ladies to compete and tear each other down, we just can't afford to do so.

Suiting Season

I promise this isn't another navy suit, its really black, but since its got flecks of burgundy and teal running through the fabric it reads almost navy in photos!

Though it is another new suit...see why I am trying to shop less this month! I picked up this beautiful color flecked fabric, just my size, and beaded details too! suit over Christmas. I think I actually bought it (online) on boxing day, so there is that...I snuck in one last suit purchase before January! Well winter is suit season after all, and this one was much too good to pass up. It was one of those cases of not really many measurements and less than stellar photos for the listing, so I was so pleased when the suit arrived and was in great condition and fit perfectly! It does look like once upon a time someone put some tiny double ended darts in the front and they have since been let out, but it's not too noticeable and with a good steaming (though I am currently without a steamer) I think the remnants of the folds would disappear. Or I may put the darts back in as the front is a tiny bit big so I'll think on it.

For its first wearing I decided to highlight the burgundy flecks in the weave of the suit and pair it with burgundy gloves and accessories. I wore these same accessories with my navy and ivory Lilli Ann suit back in the fall so this outfit almost feels like cheating since it is so similar!

I hope you have all had a great week so far, it's nearly the weekend again! I am going to see Hidden Figures with my parents tonight so that should be super fun as I have really been looking forward to
seeing it. I'm sure I'll have a mini review of the costumes up soon :)

Suit: Vintage (Etsy)
Faux Fur: Made by me
Shoes: Royal Vintage Shoes
Tights: Hanes (Amazon)
Gloves, Handbag, Hat, and Jewelry: Vintage

Wool Blends in Winter

This is the third appearance of this dress here on TCH, but it is a winter favorite of mine! The wool blend fabric and roomy long sleeves of this dress feel extra cozy and warm for Colorado's winters. The shades of burgundy also make the dress a snap to style too, as I can wear it with any neutral or even a bold color as an accent. I've worn it here on the blog with beige for its debut, and with mustard yellow, but today it is basic black.

However, the fun buttons on the yoke of the dress bodice do make it hard to pair with a brooch, so this time I pinned the brooch onto my hat instead! I always forget how versatile beret hats are since they can be worn molded into different shapes. Flat, tilted, on the back of the head, pulled over the ears, and even jazzed up with jewelry pinned on! I am on the look out for berets in other colors now, especially in forest green or navy blue.

Though you probably can't tell from these photos, I've had my hair cut into a modified middy! Yep layers, eek! I have to set it now right? Above you see it styled my usual way with a 1/2" barrel curling iron and curling everything under/down. I'd like to use foam rollers and some pin curls more, especially since it's better for my hair to get a break from heat styling. Anyone have a favorite setting pattern I should try out?

I hope you all had a most wonderful Monday, even if Mondays have a bad rap!

Dress: Made by me
Gloves, Brooch, & Belt: Vintage
Clutch: Thrifted (Savers)
Fishnets: Amazon
Shoes: Royal Vintage
Beret: Target