Outfit of the Day: Do you do the Black and Brown?

I love black and brown together, it is such a fun combination that has been booed by "fashion rules". I know for some it is just black and cognac that should live happily side-by-side, but I also think black and mahogany brown are great.

I threw this outfit together to see if this skirt was a keeper or not. I made it last week, mainly as a test for the fabric weight and feel, but I am thinking it might just be a keeper? 

 I was inspired by the full and higher waist skirts from Anthropologie, like the Great Escape skirt. I put an exposed zipper in the back in a dark taupe color, and still trying to decide on either an awesome button to finish it off or a cute little bow with a snap on the back.

Skirt - hand made, Knit blazer + lace tank - Forever21, Tights - Old Navy, Lucky Penny Boots - Anthropologie (Road Not Taken Boots), Starfish Necklace - Old Navy

So yay or nay to the skirt? I don't have anything else in this color, but I have a ton of the fabric. I am one or two dresses in the near future.

If you search "handmade" on my blog, you can see the dress and other skirt I made as well! I like blogspot, but not the fact I can't have two separate pages going on.

What Jess Sews: Ticking Stripe Dress

Thanks to the lovely thatdamngreendress, I can name my creation. Although not original, I didn't know the name of the pattern and after she told me, I could at least name it.

I used the dirndl skirt and bodice pattern from the Built By Wendy: Dresses book, but I shortened the length, added cap lace sleeves, and added an insert into the neckline. The book was easy to follow (but it has very basic picture instructions), although I did have to refresh my knowledge on darts, as the book did not mention them. I made a few mistakes along the way, but I now know how to avoid, and fix them easily.

Here it is in a recent outfit of the day.

Loft outlet army green jacket, vintage 1960s fish necklace, Hayden Harnett Zelda boots, random belt.

The lace is a bit girly girl, but I really like the scalloped edge. I think it balances out the stripes.

My favorite part of the dress is how the stripes go horizontal on the skirt, vertical on the bodice, and diagonal along the neckline.

Hope the week is going well for you! Anything exciting happen to you so far?

Outfit of the Day: Inspired by the Golden Spectrum Skirt, a handmade version?

Ah, love this whole outfit, not the hefty price tag that comes with it though.

Mostly, the skirt kept calling to me. So when I found a knit fabric the other day, my first instinct was to make a skirt with it. 

Here is the result and my outfit for the day. My $4 skirt vs the $400 one.

Skirt - handmade, Leather jacket - The Bay, Gingham shirt - Old Navy, Locket necklace - JCrew, Tights - Target, Over the Knee boots - Pegabo

 I did try to line up the stripes...oops.

Best part? No buttons, bulky waistbands, or zippers. Just comfort.

Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock

While down in Portland, we spent a nice chunk of time browsing Powell's City of Books. That is the biggest (and coolest) book store I have ever been in. I like the fact that they had both used and new books for sale. I hate the cost of books at regular price since I tend to go through them quickly. A book read once is pretty much the same as a new book, except half the price.

I usually tend to browse the cooking, science fiction/fantasy, and sewing/fashion sections. This book caught my eye on the endcap: Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock by Wendy Mullin (found here at Amazon).

  

Looking through the book, it has really piqued my interest. I have been looking for a hobby to start up, and sewing seems like the logical choice since I have a machine handy. The book comes with 3 basic patterns that you can adjust to create 25+ different designs. While reviews state that this is not a book for beginners, I am looking foward to a challenge. I did a fair amount of sewing when I was younger (dresses, coat, blankets, skirts), so it will be nice to get the creativity flowing again. I ended up ordering the book online so when it comes, I can't wait to find some fabric to start.

Now all my crafty readers here in the United States, where do you find has the best prices and choices for fabric? West Coast recommendations are fantastic! Or do you order online?