Express Myself: Mission Accomplished

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, I embarked on a journey into unknown lands.  Never before had I attempted to create a ruffle-trimmed t-shirt, reminiscent of my beloved (all too expensive) $40 shirt at Express.

The Forbidden Fruit

Different color shows detailing.  The shirt I wanted was blush pink.

After falling completely in love with an item that was never meant to be, I put my thinking cap on.  On a whim, I determined to make a shirt of my own, exactly like the Express shirt... for $20 or less.  When I typed that bold statement on this fledgling blog, I must confess that a little inner voice was whispering in my ear:  Are you sure you can actually deliver that?  That is a tall order and you've never done anything like it before...

Fast forward 4 months, a few holidays, and a couple of sewing machines later,  I am happy to say that

I have been victorious!  

This project has been a lot of fun, but it's been a learning process as well.  Such lessons as how to sew such stretchable material and create ruffles with ribbons was simply trial and error.  Nevertheless, it has all been worth it.  I am now the proud owner of a blush-rose-pink ribbon and ruffle-trim tank top just in time for the spring season!

The best part of it all??  

My total sum cost for the shirt was $19.50!!  

Recipe for success:

2 tank tops, Black Friday sale at Target = $9 ea. 

1 spool of ribbon, blush rose pink, Black Friday sale = $0.50

1 spool of thread:  already owned

Dash of love

Pinch of Determination

Voila!

~how divine~


What do you think?  Did I succeed?

This project was actually quite manageable. It's shocking how simple it is to take a simple tank top from shab to fab in about 10 easy steps!

1.) Purchased two tank tops that were durable, yet affordable.  Wash them first so that they are pre-shrunken and clean.  

2.)  Cut one of the shirts into strips approximately 1.5 - 2 inches wide. 

3.) Use a seam ripper to separate the strips, creating twice as many. 

4.) Lay flat over the front of your intact tank, slightly overlapping.  These will be your ruffles.  

5.)  Cut one strip with a curvature side and sew this to the neckline, gathering evenly.  

6.)  Take your ribbon and trip some of the strips by sewing them on.  The ribbon will gather naturally, creating a slight ruffle.

7.)  Remove the strips from the front of the shirt, setting them aside.  Take a seam ripper and unstitch the sides of the tank, enabling you to work with the material more easily.

8.)  Begin sewing the strips on one at a time, ensuring that each new strip or layer completely overlaps the stitching on the previous strip.  Alternate ribbon-trimmed strips with rough edge strips of the jersey material.  This will create depth and interest to the tank.

9.)  Sew the strips up to the neckline.

10.)  Turn the shirt inside out, gathering both sides together.  Maneuver the strips/ ruffles so that the rough edges peak out of the sides.  Re-sew the sides of the shirt together, gathering the ruffled edges this time.

11.)  Turn right side out.  Wear and enjoy!  Perfect for pairing with a cami or draped cardigan.  

Hope these pictures were helpful, but if you have any questions about creating your own look, let me know!  I'd be happy to help.

PS.  I was first inspired by -- and frequently consulted -- this Tutorial on How to Make a Ruffle Shirt  while happily sewing away!

The Grace of Lace

Feminine elements are everywhere this season; women are proudly channeling their inner lady with ruffly shirts, feminine colors, and full skirts.  In keeping with the season, what could be more feminine and alluring than soft, delicate, intricately-woven lace?

Photo Courtesy of MyPointofView

Lace has been around for centuries, making its first debut into wide-spread use in the 15th and 16th centuries.  Previously used as table cloths, doilies, to embroider petticoats, accent wedding gowns, or provide more coverage -- think Victorian era high necked dresses with a broach at the throat -- lace has served a multitude of purposes and remained a popular favorite.  In early eighteenth-century France and Belgium, lace-makers produced some of the finest hand-made lace in the world, minutely woven with intimate detail.  Consider the role that lace has played in the Spanish culture: mantilla-clad ladies with lace-accented fans immediately come to mind.

Lace is also a favorite for bridal wear.  According to the recent WSJ article The Changing Face of Lace, "Grace Kelly's full needle-lace wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Rainer of Monaco was stitched by an army of MGM seamstresses in four complex parts."

It is distinctly feminine and has largely stayed within the realms of women's fashion, except for the brief historic time period when gentlemen would sport a rather gaudy lace cravat.  Doubtful that it will be making a come-back any time soon!

Why is it so popular?  Lace is alluring to both men and women;  it is both fragile and yet strong, appealing to the eye, mysterious or revealing, depending on how it is worn.  It is as adaptable to the wearer as the individuality of the wearer herself.  Overall, it makes ladies feel gorgeous.

Happily, designers are implementing lace elements with reckless abandon this spring. 

D&G Dress courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Oscar de La Renta dress courtesy of Style.com 

GUESS lace pumps courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Photo courtesy of ShopRuche.com

Free People jacket
courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Photo courtesy of Anthropologie.com

Photo courtesy of ShopRuche.com

Photo courtesy of CupcakesandCashmere

This trend can be worn in small doses whether in a shirt that has elements of lace peeping out under ruffles, or shoes that sport lacy accents (too chic!).  It can also be a bold statement with an entirely lace-layered skirt a la ballerina-esque, or a lacy shirt.  It is rather uncomfortable to see women wearing lace shirts with little underneath.  Spare everyone the awkward moment by pairing the lace shirt with a cute undershirt, possibly of a different color for an added punch.  For an edgy look, layer the delicate lace with a harder material, such as a leather crop jacket or heavy draped cardigan for added dimension and interest.

Back to the Future

So much has changed in the world of fashion since 1950.  Or has it?  Remember the silhouette that defined the age?  Cinched waists, high boat necks, full a-line skirts that flattered every woman's figure were the staple of the decade.   The look was sported by such iconic figures as Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, for example.  Who can forget that basic black dress or the woman who wore it?  

Audrey's looks were effortless, understated, yet unforgettable.  She had an ease about her which could not go unnoticed.  Swing dancing into the 60's, discoing through the 70's, head banging through the 80's and 90's, it seemed as though these looks would be confined to the dustbins of history, a vague but charming memory from a bygone era. 

Yet, in her New York Times article "This Old Thing?  Actually, It's New," Kate Murphy made it official:  vintage is definitely making a come-back.  She outlines the resurgence of popularity for vintage clothing and the steady influx of designers leaping in to meet the desire.  Sites such as Shabby Apple, Modcloth, ShopRuche, and sites that cater to small businesses such as Etsy are experiencing increased attention and are expanding.  Nostalgia has been dragged out, dressed up, and worn all over again.

The signs are everywhere.   Consider some examples from Carolina Herrera's recent "Ready-to-Wear" Fall 2011 Collection that hit Fashion Week in New York last month:   

Photo courtesy of Style.com

Photo courtesy of Style.com

Carolina said she designed this collection with the "real woman" in mind; nevertheless it still merited comments such as "lush simplicity" from the critics.  We'll take it.  Although less flashy than the usual collection to make it down the runway, somehow the easy color palette and uncomplicated lines still retain a sense of timeless elegance that is flattering.   Then again, how can one go wrong when they channel their inner Audrey?

Women, moreover, are longing for a more feminine look and enjoy the thrill of feeling girly.  Many women feel confined to a hectic lifestyle spent largely in a small cubicle.  For them, the experience of putting on a dress and jaunting around is a welcome respite from the daily grind.  Perhaps the trend is also influenced by the show 'Mad Men' or it could be that individuals are instinctively longing for a simpler time.  With the economic downturn, many women could be experiencing the need to prioritize and downgrade; in the process, feeling more attracted to clothes that are make them feel good, are uncomplicated, and are flattering.  With so many other entities to address, why spend excessive amounts of time fretting over clothing?

Whatever the reason may be, according to the predictions of many fashion designers, the vintage vibe will be around to stay for a while.   What welcome news!   

Quote of the Day

 At 20 you've got the face you were born with.

At 30 you've got the face you desire.

At 40 you've got the face you've made for yourself.

At 50 you've got the face you deserve.

~An old Chilean adage.