Wedding Guest Dressing

I mentioned in a previous post that wedding season has begun. My own wedding on May 2 was the first of the spring and summer, which was nice--all my weekends leading up to it could be spent sewing, not travelling for other people's events! Now, though, it's all about celebrating my friends!

A photo posted by jacksonal (@jacksonal) on May 23, 2015 at 4:58pm PDT

My friend from college (freshman hallmates!), Caroline, was married last weekend--it was a lovely weekend in our old college town and I got see lots of friends. The reception was at her family's farm. Isn't the farm gorgeous? We all went camping here during our first semester, amid the cows. It was freeeeezing cold in the wind, we were all dying.

Onto the dress. I wore the 60s cocktail dress I blogged last week, Simplicity 6220 from 1965.

It was perfect for the occasion and I got loads of compliments.

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Looking at these photographs really makes me realize how unforgiving silk shantung/dupioni is--not while sewing (it's not too hard since it is stable) but the sheen really makes every wrinkle stand out! You'll just have to trust that none of the other wedding guests asked about my fit issues! :)



Trips to campus or classmate's weddings practically mandates class rings.



See you at the next wedding! :)

dress: just-like-the-envelope 60s cocktail dress | clutch: ancient from j crew | shoes: Boden (old)

xoxo,

allie

ps: these photographs were taken on my college campus, which is (obviously) spectacularly beautiful. you can see my needlepoint version here!

Instagram Couture

I've been spending so much time on instagram this month checking out everyone's makes, have you? It's such a great platform for Me-Made-May!

One person that I love to follow on instagram (besides all you beautiful and creative and inspiring people) is the designer Zac Posen. Do you follow him? You should! Here's why:

Real deal construction inside a #ZacPosen #Gown in the #Atelier #process #madeinnyc

A photo posted by @zac_posen on May 22, 2015 at 9:27am PDT

In addition to living a glamorous life and posting delicious-looking homemade meals, every so often, you get this incredible sneak peek at the construction of his gowns. Honestly, these are more "elaborate architectural structure" than "dress."

I don't follow haute couture (or even like, NYFW) at all, so I have no background in fashion (or Fashion with a capital F, maybe) but dang, that sewing!!

Do you follow any inspiring couturiers? I'd love recommendations--I just can't get enough of those interior shots!

xoxo,

allie

ps: he also has a pinterest board called Around the Atelier that features more behind-the-scenes works in progress shots. Just look at that draping! It doesn't help if your model is Dita von Teese, either.

Dinner and a Movie

My new husband(!!) and I went out the other day on a typical date... for a teenager: dinner and a movie at the mall! I was super nice and agreed to see Mad Max: Fury Road with him on the condition that he take some pictures of my outfit in front of a nice big brick wall.

Not pictured: the dumpster about 10 feet to my right. Glamorous!!

(But actually, this may be a new favorite spot for outfit shots: it's like a little courtyard--well, as I said, a courtyard full of dumpsters--so it is totally full of natural diffused light, which I hear is what you are supposed to have for this kind of thing.)

Also, full disclosure: I loved Mad Max: Fury Road. If you haven't seen it, go do it. It was beautifully shot and choreographed and totally brutal. So good.

Here's a weird photograph of me in which all my body parts look photoshopped together and my eyes look semi-audrina patridge-y (2006 anyone?):

dress: me-made in 2012 but somehow unblogged, it's Simplicity 2444 | top: pointed flat collar blouse | shoes: lands end 

xoxo,

allie

p.s. have you seen fury road??? omg let's talk about it.

Just-like-the-envelope 60s Cocktail Dress

I've noticed that my blogroll has been full of amazingly practical pieces recently. I think a lot of the indie designers have been picking up on the desire for functional yet stylish basics and releasing things like versatile blazers and utilitarian denim.

Me? I'm making silk cocktail dresses.

I don't know about y'all, but it is wedding season over here. I'm 25, and it seems like everyone I know is getting married--I have about a million weddings this summer! I call that a good excuse for a new dress (or two, or three).

When I picked up Simplicity 6220 (dated 1965) on etsy I was totally charmed by the right-hand dress, and I knew I wanted one just like it!

I found my aqua silk at Mood (still available here) and it is really very pretty in real life. The color on the pattern image in this post is a little darker than mine is in real life--I don't know if mine is faded or the contrast was turned up for that picture or what, but on my copy, the color of the dress is much closer to the pale aqua fabric I have, not that deep teal. This is really not my color I don't think but I just love it so much I don't particularly care. I will say though that I could not get it to ease for the life of me! I think I did an okay job but my sleeve caps are definitely not a smooth as the line drawing and I have two sets of extra pleats instead of "ease" as directed on the sides of the skirt front and back.

On the fitting front, I did a little SBA (about 1/2 inch, if I remember correctly) which eliminated the dart coming out from the princess(?) seam. I love the V shaped seam. It's really pretty (and not too terrible to sew, either).



I underlined the bodice only with a cotton muslin (possibly an old bed sheet, actually?) in order to give the thin silk some strength and also hopefully make it a bit cooler. The skirt I left unlined, and I'll just wear a slip. I wish I had one of those smaller sixties crinolines, though!

I finished some seams with pinking and some I just overcasted down. This is a dry-clean-only dress, and one which I don't plan on wearing weekly, so I'm not too terribly concerned about my seam finishes.

I finished this late this evening, so I don't have any modelling photos, but I am planning on wearing it to a wedding this Saturday, so I think you'll see it in a what I wore post next week :)

Do you copy the fabric choices and styling from the pattern envelope or do you like to go your own way?  Sometimes it seems a little more "authentic"--not that I strive for authenticity all the time--to copy how they originally imagined it, what do you think?

xoxo,
allie

p.s. i realized after i took all my pictures that i forgot the bow belt! but don't worry: if there is a supposed to be a bow, i will always make it (and sometimes when there isn't supposed to be a bow, i'll add one anyway).

Two Years Ago (& today)

As I mentioned in my Me-Made-May pledge post, I'm participating mostly via instagram this year, but I wanted to check in since we're about half way through! I know this month can be annoying, but I do think it is a good time to reflect on your handmade wardrobe in a more casual way.



You know how sometimes you look back on past fashion choices and think "whyyyyyyyyyy?" Although I never had a goth or emo or whatever phase as a teenager, I think we as sewers sometimes look back on past makes and have the same sort of reaction as you might to embarrassing middle school photos. Especially as beginners, that turn over happens really fast as you gain skills and techniques.

Generally I don't think my what I wore posts will be such downers, but I suppose this is a hazard of looking back at past makes. I made this dress just two years ago (almost to the day!), and already there are so many things that I would do differently.



I feel like although I do have many more options this year for Me-Made-May, I am also becoming more particular in my wardrobe choices. When I look at a lot of my options, I think: nope, not feeling it. Some of this is because I am learning what I like to wear and feel good in, but most of it is because my sewing has improved! I'm not a perfect sewer by any stretch of the imagination, but just look at this bust dart. Where is it going?

So there are some things in my stash of me-mades that won't get worn this year, and that's okay. I will have about the same number of garments as I did in 2013 and 2014, so expect some repeats, but that's okay too. I see improvement in that compared to previous years, I do think Me-Made-May has gotten easier--not because I have more options, but because the options I do have in rotation I feel better about wearing!

dress: Lilly Laurel | shoes: Jack Rogers

xoxo,
allie

ps: i'm totally stealing the "what I wore" idea from Rachel--a lot of times I see everyone's interesting sewing projects just after completion and then they are never seen again!

Forsyth Square, Savannah

I mentioned before I'm going to try to pop in every Wednesday with either a "what I wore" or "work in progress" post. Here's the first one, and it's extra special! Here is a little video (I don't know why fashion/style/sewing bloggers don't do more videos) of me in Forsyth Square during my mini-moon in Savannah, Georgia.

chambray top and skirt | hat: tuckernuck | knot bracelet: kate spade | shoes: saltwater sandals | bag: cambridge satchel co.

xoxo,
allie

ps: if you're ever in Savannah, stop by Fabrika. Small but well-curated selection of apparel and quilting fabrics, cute gifts (tea towels, pincushions, that kind of stuff), classes, friendly owner!

pps: thanks for going fabric shopping with me on our honeymoon, alex.

#mrsjacksonforevaeva

oh shiiiiiit #mrsjacksonforevaeva

A photo posted by jacksonal (@jacksonal) on May 2, 2015 at 3:28pm PDT

No real blog post today, I'm on my mini-honeymoon. 

Here's a silly picture of me and my new husband(!)

I'll be back with me-made wedding dress photos as soon as I get them from the photographer!

xoxo,
allie

ps: my veil is me-made too!

Me Made May 2015

#mmm14 #mmmay14 #memade #sewing #missalliemass

A photo posted by @alliemass on May 13, 2014 at 3:58pm PDT

Me Made May last year. 

I, Allie, of allie J., sign up as a participant of Me Made May 2015. I endeavor to wear at least one article of me-made clothing each day for the duration of May 2015.

This year, my lovelies, I will be participating in Me Made May, but mostly just on Instagram. You can follow me @alliemass (or click on my instagram slideshow on the right of my blog). I'll be using all the usual hashtags: #sewing, #memademay, #memade, #mmm15, (#selfie, #nofilter, #bae, #sexy) etc. etc. 

Are you with me? Leave your insta in the comments, and follow me, I follow back :)

xoxo,

allie

ps: i'm also going to try starting "what i wore" or "work in progress" posts, which ever is applicable, on wednesdays. this is not necessarily as part of Me Made May, but it's a convenient time to start it up!