Floral Mini Skirt

It has been warm and sunny here, and it's really feeling like spring! If you follow me on snapchat (helloalliej) you may have seen a sneak preview of this outfit yesterday--after we took these pictures, we went back to the same location as last week's blue door and sat on the rooftop eating swedish fish and pizza in the sunshine. It was so nice to relax and just spend some time outside.

This is my favorite spring coat; I actually picked it up at the thrift store in my college town, and it has no label, so I know nothing about it but it has some really interesting lines and fits perfectly in a slouchy way.

Do you like my bug pins? I love pins (I don't wear mine nearly enough) and I have a little collection of bug-themed costume jewelry, vintage and modern.

Recently I've been trying to do some serious stashbusting in anticipation of me made May. Simplicity 1370 is a super simple, easy pattern for a straight skirt, and it takes less than a yard if you aren't particular about pattern placement! I had just a bit of fabric left over from my April Showers dress and decided to make a "wearable muslin" of this pattern. Straight from the envelope and totally wearable, don't you think?

xoxo,

allie

ps: is it crazy to be thinking about may already?? i'm trying to get myself excited! ;)

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Neon Pleated Midi Skirt

A simple project today, but sometimes the print makes the project. The neon color doesn't photograph quite as bright as it is in person--it's bright. It makes my hot pink coat look drab (almost). The background is an off-white, so this is going to be a hard one to match things with, but... I couldn't resist.

I made this midi skirt without a pattern, just using the geometric repeat on the fabric to determine the pleat widths. I alternated double and single pleats, inspired by the double box pleats in my recent floral skirt (and that gorgeous $1000 Erdem skirt from that post--please someone click this affiliate link and purchase it so I get the commision and can buy more fabric, thanks).

I believe that most of my readers are proficient skirt-makers already, but if you are not, please let me know in the comments if you would like a few similar simpler projects and/or accompanying tutorials!

sweater: lilly pulitzer, similar | shoes: ferragamo

xoxo,

allie

ps: i'd predict you can expect to see this door a lot in the future--it's a nice photo spot and happens to be right across from a new-ish brewery in town, ponysaurus. they have a spectacular patio. 

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Sewaholic Dunbar Tank

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to exercise more--and to use my gym membership! I used to pay for boutique fitness classes but the more money you spend on classes, the less you can spend on fabric, right?

While I still enjoy running (and bonus--it's free!) it's really annoying to run with our puppy right now. He really just wants to stop and sniff things every two seconds, so running has taken a bit of a backseat. Instead, I joined my local YMCA (though of those descriptors, only "young" applies to me, haha) and I've been testing out a bunch of different classes and hammering out a routine.
I've found a few that I totally love: Thursday HIIT and Friday Barre. I just went to my first Saturday Total Body Strength and it really kicked my buttttt--and my husband's too!

Of course, I still have those days where I have to drag myself over there, and I've found that new workout clothes are super motivating--especially if I made them myself!!

My Pacific leggings have been holding up well and I made the matching top, which has the same thoughtful, flattering lines as the bottoms. I decided to make a simple tank sans built-in bra. I prefer to wear a sports bra and tank together, not an all-in-one top since I think it's easier to take off when you are sticky and sweaty after your workout. It doesn't layer perfectly with my bras, which is fine with me, but I might try to redraft the back for a bit more compatibility on future versions. I made a size six, and it fits just how I like my tanks to fit, tighter through the bust and then looser on the stomach and hips (although I should have cinched the binding around the arms more).

What kind of exercise do you do? Running? Yoga? Spin? My favorite part of taking group fitness classes is the music--I normally don't listen to that much pop music but when Britney kicks in during that last set of squats it's like, yes.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

xoxo,

allie

all black everything + that pop of color reminding you to drink water:

ps: this is the exercise i need to add to my routine... especially after a day sitting hunched at my sewing machine! 

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Galentine's/Valentine's Day + Giveaway!!

 

jacket: Olga Road, old (similar and affordable here and here)
valentine's: skirt | unblogged crop top (same pattern used here and here) | shoes, old (similar here and here)
galentine's: pants | unblogged tank (free pattern here) | boots, old (similar here and here)

For Galentine's Day I'd like to ask Y'ALL to be my gals (and guys, maybe)! I've definitely been feeling the love this year--and it's only February. This blog just hit 500 bloglovin' followers and it has become my custom to do a giveaway when I get to those nice round numbers, so here's to you! Winner (open internationally) will receive a little box of treats (sewing and/or other stuff depending on the winner).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for all your likes and follows and shares and votes (etc etc) and I especially appreciate all your comments, both here and on social media! I really love your advice and constructive criticism and guidance (and compliments are always nice too).

xoxo,

allie

ps: seriously i <3 you all.

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Rose Quartz 1969 Dress

What did you see peeking out from beneath my hot pink coat??


 A floaty little pink dress.

Sewaholic Pacific Leggings & Cotopaxi

Alex and I are (finally) going on our honeymoon this summer, to the Rockies for a backpacking trip. It's actually glamping more than backpacking. I'm very excited. Of course, I need a whole new activewear/hiking wardrobe...

Barbie Style

via @barbiestyle

I know everyone is talking about the new Barbie bodies, but have you seen Barbie Style instagram?? This is not new news, y'all--she has over a million followers--but it's amazing. Astronaut, teacher, vet, and now... fashion blogger?

In addition to being a hilariously spot-on copy of your typical style/fashion blogger instagram, it's also a little bit amazing in the clothes department. Barbie is over a half century old, and she's picked up some great retro style in that time. I'm not sure who makes the clothes, but if they could make some in my size, that would be great.

Oh, wait. I'm the one who does the sewing here, aren't I? I'm totally copying these looks...

A Rosy Raglan-Sleeve Coat

I intend to fill February with romance and lots of pink to stave off that winter gloom. To start us off? A hot pink coat.