New Year Party Dresses and Gifts

Hello dear all!!!

I hope you had as much fun this past New Year's Eve as I have. How did you celebrate? Me and my fiance hosted a big party which lasted until about 6 a.m. It was fantastic to see our friends some of whom we have not seen in months! It was especially magical because my sister came to visit me and celebrate with us! It goes without saying that I prepared something special to wear for the New Year's party!

My sister chose to wear the dress I made from Butterick pattern 5324. She makes it shine! And it perfectly compliments her sky blue eyes! As for myself, I wore this yellow my number. Yellow is my favourite colour. I wore the dress with the red coral necklace I bought in the Dominican Republic during our friends wedding trip and the peach pumps, a present from Shannon the designer. I like how these colours contrast with each other.

And then of course there is this glorious moment of opening New Year presents.

Excited about my gift!

I lucked out this year because my fiance gave me something that will allow me to diversify my designing and making techniques. It is a hand press machine that can do grommets and all kinds of snaps! My fiance knew exactly what I wanted! Here is the beauty:

My New Year gift!

So my New Year resolution this year is to make more pretty clothes!... with grommets... and snaps!...Don't be surprised if you notice a surplus of these design details on my future creations...  (Blame the man!)

How did you celebrate? What gifts did you get or give? What did you choose to wear?  Do you like to wear something special to mark the beginning of the New Year? What are your resolutions? 

Happy New Year Everyone!!! 

Hot Salsa in Cold December

Hello darlings!

You may not know this but I dance. I love dancing! And I try to come out and dance as often as possible. Unfortunately, that "often" happens very seldom. But last Saturday I attended the 3d Annual Winter Ball hosted by Steps Dance Studio where I take my Latin dance classes. It was a joyous event in a gorgeous venue spiced up by a delicious food menu and hot Latin vibes. On top of that, me and my fiance, along with our group mates, performed our salsa routine at this ball. We performed the same routine as we did at the Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress 2013 earlier in October. Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress 2013 is the biggest festival of Latin dance in Canada so it felt very special to be able to perform on that stage. Here is the video of our dance routine from the Congress: 

I enjoy performing a lot! So I was only happy to perform our salsa dance at the last weekend's Winter Ball. After long months of tedious practice it feels very gratifying to showcase what you have learned. Here are some photos from the Ball's performance:

 

 

Besides my performance costume (which is quite revealing to say the least), I wore this champagne lacy dress I made for the past New Year's Party. 

Me and my fiance social dancing

Its shiny material and lacy outer shell are still more than relevant. Besides, its flare and cut out back are very appropriate for social dancing. And believe me I did plenty of the latter! So it worked out that I greeted 2013 and bid my farewell to 2013 in the same dress. It served me well! 

To new dresses in 2014!

Outfit Idea #20. Pretty Plaid Dresses.

Hello fashion-lovers!

Plaids are everywhere this fall! Every apparel store window displays some outfit in plaid. Coincidentally, I happen to love plaids and especially plaid dresses! That is why I decided to show a couple of plaid dresses I made a little while back.

I made this blue plaid dress from McCalls Pattern 5466, which is now out of print. It has tucks at the neckline, cap sleeves and in-seam side pockets. I love its hourglass shape. I usually wear it with this black bow belt. But it is always good to diversify the look. So I styled it with this black blazer cinched with a blue skinny belt. The blazer gives it a professional look and the belt adds a touch of sophistication.

The second plaid dress I want to share is probably my favourite yet! Unfortunately, I cannot recall which pattern I followed so it will have to stay a mystery.

It has a square neckline, wide elbow-length sleeves, it's very roomy and has big big side pockets! I love how unusual it is! I love how wide its sleeves are and how loosely it sits on the body. There is a certain kind of sexiness about it. And I especially like that it goes with just about anything beige or brown. So I can wear it with a beige belt...

...throw on a neutral blazer...

...and wear a woven beige belt over it...

You can further diversity the look by adding an extra layer underneath like a blouse or a turtle neck. Isn't it just perfect for winter?

Do you like plaids? Do you think of plaids as primarily fall/winter-appropriate? Or do you think you can sport them year round?

The Bright Side of a Black Shift Dress

Original Sketch

Hi guys!

Poster by Invisible Creature

Some of you have been asking to show you my sketch-to-garment process and I thought I would share this dress with you. 

Here, on the left, is my original sketch. The design was inspired by the digital artwork by Invisible Creature (on the right). I liked the combination of colours and thought it would be interesting to incorporate hot pink into a tailored formal look.

It is a sleeveless, collarless shift dress with two slash pockets in the front and a zipper in the back. I removed the darts into the fluid style lines both in the front and in the back. There is also a vent in the back.

The dress is made out of 100% wool cashmere and lined with some sturdy taffeta lining.

 I like how hot pink adds a flirtatious note to this otherwise formal silhouette.

I have been waiting for an occasion to wear this pretty dress. But since the occasion did not present itself I just wore it to work and was utterly comfortable thanks to the luxurious fabric!

Lilac Peplum Petal Dress + Keeping Cool in +40 C

Hello fashionistas!

I have recently gone on an amazing vacation which was paired with a magical event - our friends' wedding! Other than the happiness surrounding this beautiful couple I was overjoyed by the prospect of making a new dress. What else is new? Just give me a reason! 

I made the dress from Simplicity Pattern 1876. But, as I so often do, I made my own modifications to it. I decided to make the bodice out of a contrasting fabric - lilac satin - and the bottom petals - out of a darker purple one. I had a scrap of lace which I had bought as a sample a while ago. I thought it fit in beautifully as a belt to the dress. I also sewed a lilac flower to it to make the dress look even more festive and summery.

The wedding took place on the hottest day of our vacation. (That is why you see me drenched in the picture!) But that is why I was happy with my choice of dressing: strapless and short! I wore the dress with a nude envelope clutch and my nude heels.

Since the resort life for me is a non-stop party I had to think how to look party-like and not drop from the heat while at it. So here are a couple of solutions I came up with. 

Apparently, white shorts go with everything(left)! And a top can function as a dress if it is +40C outside (right). Just because I am melting does not mean that my accessories should dissolve too. My favourite peep-toe lace up shoes went great with an asymmetrically draped yellow top! And my new BCBG flat sandals perfectly completed my aqua dress.

Here is a close-up of these gorgeous creations! 

Can't. Get. Enough!

Lesson of the week: don't let the heat melt down your fashion sense!

Trend Alert. All Lined Up.

Hello trend-watchers,

Another day - another trend. Today I wanted to share with you what I thought would be an overarching styling detail for Fall 2013. Seen on dresses and shirts before, contrasting collars and plackets are evolving into sharper style lines. For upcoming seasons, designers are turning these emphatic lines into trimming and piping details accentuating pockets, armholes, necklines, hems and seams.

This trend is not reserved for dress shirts solely. Dresses are being styled in a similarly sharp way:

Coincidentally, yours truly just came back from Holt Renfrew where I spotted this dress by Michael Kors:

As you can see, the trend is on and it's high time to make a sharply lined number for yourself. A self-made alternative to this trend can be easily found in a Vogue patterns collection.

V8855

And if you are interested in making a dress with contrasting style lines, you do not even need a special pattern. All you need to do is simply cut a bunch of really long bias strips and apply them over top of any seams or edges you wish to accentuate. Here, you are the designer!

Happy designing!

Image source: http://www.style.com/,
                      http://www.mccall.com/home.html

Trend Alert. Colour Blocked Dress.

Hello trend-watchers,

Today I am starting a new series of posts about what is happening in the fashion world. More precisely, I want to share with you my personal finds of what is trending on the runways. Pre-Fall  2013 runway shows have just finished their rounds. With so much visual information out there it can be confusing to distill the essential "in" elements. That is why I spent hours watching the show photos and have come up with a few pointers as to what to prepare for this Fall.

The most fashion forward among us may think that a colour-blocked dress has long become history, however, designers refuse to give it up and have cooked up a whole fresh batch of these brightly spotted numbers.

They come in various cuts and lengths, and the lines have become more fluid. If you are looking to get one of those for slightly less than what a designer label will cost you, then you may want to check out these Vogue Patterns. 

V1326

V1329

The beautiful thing about making a runway-inspired item yourself is that you can modify and adjust it whichever way you please. You are not obliged to stick to the pattern you use. You can always shorten or lengthen the sleeve or the hem, change the neckline, or shift a style line. I am not even mentioning the fun and freedom you can have with the colour choices!!! The options are endless!!! So although we have already seen similar dresses these past couple of seasons seems like they are here to stay (at least for now). If that's the case why not experiment and have fun with them!!!

Happy trending!

P.S. Check out my own take on a colour blocking dress here and top here.
Image source: style.com

Outfit Idea #11. A Happy Dress for a Happy New Year!

Hello fashionistas!

I think you will agree that New Year's Eve is the kind of an occasion which simply has to be celebrated in style. This magical night only happens once a year. So which girl would not want to feel like a Cinderella at a ball while the clock strikes 12! The only exception is that she can stay at the ball and continue partying until the first day light of the New Year! And if you choose the right attire you will definitely not want to leave early.

For this special night I wanted to come up with a special dress. I have kept this gorgeous brown-and-gold lace fabric in my stash for a while. This time I finally found a perfect design for it in combination with this beautiful champagne taffeta. These fabric choices reminded me of sparkling drinks and fireworks and seemed appropriate for such a big holiday as New Years! I made this dress from McCall's pattern 6647 with minor modifications. 

The front of the dress has a seemingly simple silhouette. However, it harbours a little flirty surprise in the back. 

I switched the lengths around from what the pattern suggested and made the bottom layer longer than the lace layer. This modification created a border at the hem and added an extra design interests.

I love how this dress goes nicely both with the heels (for indoor partying ) and with my new cognac boots (for outdoor fun). This dress-with-boots combination came in especially handy this New Year because I had to travel from one party to the other in the middle of this festive yet chilly night.

My favourite gold-tone jewelry and the sky-high nude heels perfectly complete the look and make me feel like a princess! Cinderella could only dream of the kind of a ball that I had this year!

Wishing You a Happy and Stylish New Year!!!

Project Catwalk at Creativ Festival

I have something very special to share! I have been reveling in a creative oblivion for the past few days. My past weekend was wholly and solely occupied by a very exciting event - Project Catwalk at Creativ Festival. This is a weekend-long event which takes place every October at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It is the biggest marketplace for the lovers of crafts of all kinds. The festival offers a multitude of workshops, classes, presentations and seminars bound to satisfy any creative craving out there. The best part of the festival for me is the Project Catwalk competition. And this year I became the lucky participant!!!

We - me and my wonderful team mates, Stefanie and Cindy - were given a challenge to create a runway look in three days: beginning Friday 11 a.m. and ending Sunday at 3 p.m. The theme of this year's challenge was the 25th years anniversary of the festival. Thus, the overarching topic was "Celebration with a touch of Silver". Each of the five competing teams was given $200 to spend on the materials for the garment. One of the conditions of the competition was that all of the materials for our garment had to come from the floor of the marketplace. So, ready to design, draft, stitch and sew, off we went!

I could write on and on about the experience I had at the competition. But one picture is worth a thousand of words. Therefore, I will not strain your eyes with more text but rather share some of the pictures from this fantastic event.

Sewing away at our assigned Seneca booth, where we spent 3 days with no food, water or breaks (not that we wanted any of those anyway!).

Inspired by the Silver Screen starlets of the late 50's/early 60's, we designed a convertible look: a body-hugging LBD a la Audrey Hepburn, with a shawl collar which can be worn as a hood, as a shalw, or off the shoulders. The dress has princess seams, is fully lined and has a marvelous sparkly zipper in the back.

Our little black dress with a touch of sliver.

To add glamour to the look we created a detachable over-skirt made of various panels, asymmetrical in the front and symmetrical and, may I say, quite spectacular in the back. Some of the panels were machine embroidered by our kind sponsor Bernina Sewing Equipment. We decorated the waistband of the skirt with crystals and Cindy made earrings and a bracelet to go with the outfit. You can tell that we had no shortage of silver in our look!

Putting together the panels of the over-skirt.

Here is the whole runway look! We wanted it to exude celebration, glamour and originality.

And here are my lovely team mates! Thank you ladies for such a tight and organized team! You rock!

                                          
                                               To many more adventure in creative land!!!

Outfit Idea #6. Colour Blocking.

Today I wanted to share with you my take on colour blocking. I went graphic with it. I made this dress from McCall's pattern 6278. However, since the peter pan collar has been all the rage recently I decided to adorn the plain neckline of this dress with my interpretation of this fashionable detail. The shape of my collar mimics the angles of the black side panels on the hips and, thus, gives consistency to my dress.

I like how the black and white colour scheme and the collar create the sense of the conservative. Yet, the angular details and pops of red in my outfit give my dress an extra edge. I especially love the shoes that I chose to go with this dress. Metal studs and colour strips also make the outfit more daring. Just the way I like it!

Finally, it is a perfect day to night dress. Drop the bright red, throw on a jacket and you can easily wear it to the office. Pull out your daring heels and bright-coloured purse and you are ready for the night on the town!

Outfit Idea #2. Floral Dress.

Unless you have been living in a box (I will not judge you if it's a shoe box), you have probably noticed the floor-length-floral-print-dress trend mesmerizing us for the past two summers. Well I have too. However, I have been resisting the temptation of buying one because I promised myself that I would make it. Guess what? I kept the promise! I made this long goddess dress from Simplicity Pattern 2692 and would like to demonstrate two different ways of wearing it.

Dress it Up

You can turn this seemingly simple dress into a cocktail or a special event one by choosing the right pair of shoes and appropriate jewelry.

Pairing it up with your nude high heels gives the dress an immediate lift in terms of the type of the occasion to which it can be worn.

Because of the asymmetrical neckline and a fairly busy print I decided to skip the necklace. To keep in line with the femininity of the tender floral design I went with the pale pink pearl drop earrings and pearl bracelet. I like how haphazardly the pearls of the bracelet are arranged.

The subdued pastel colours of the overall outfit make it look natural yet sophisticated. Top off this outfit with a subtle floral perfume and you are fully ready for a summer wedding or an outdoor cocktail event.

Dress it Down

For a day about town swap your high heels for your favourite flat sandals (mine have a floral detail on them), skip the evening jewelry and grab a wide-brimmed sun hat. A beach tote can work just as well in the sweltering city as it does on the beach. 

I hope you agree that this outfit breathes ease and chic. After all, who says you cannot run errands in style? 



"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!" - Leonardo da Vinci