Firecracker's Blog

At the annual Sewing Expo last month, I bought a pattern, or more accurately, instructions, for making a blouse out of men's shirts. It's the Sandy Blouse by Paganoonoo. I've already made my second one, and I'm wearing it today, for a day off and meeting two sewing friends for lunch.

The outfit: upcycled chambray and olive, red, and cream plaid blouse (made by me) layered over a cream long-sleeved t-shirt (Caslon); dark skinny jeans (Mother, the Looker high rise, in Coffee, Tea or Me wash); brown lace-up boots (Jo Ghost).

Another outfit I will wear later is the one pictured with the cream jeans (Levi's) and new cream and metallic slip-on sneakers (Ron White). I went with the darker outfit today, because I wanted to carry a bag that goes better with that outfit.

And the last photo is the "before" shot of the two shirts I combined for this blouse.

I appreciate any feedback or thoughts you wish to share!

When I saw Angie's ensemble suggestion of black, cinnamon and red today, I thought it was pretty but not something I would wear. Cinnamon tones are not really in my palette. But then I realized one of my favorite sweaters is black, cinnamon, and toffee, and I could wear it with some of my burgundy booties.

Here's the result, worn for an afternoon off and a trip to the bike shop to buy more biking goodies!
Black skinny frayed-hem jeans (Mother, the Looker, in Blackbird); black tee (Caslon); black and browns animal print cardigan (Free People, Out of Africa); wine lace-up booties (Joseph Seibel); olive puffer (Lauren Ralph Lauren); olive bag (AllSaints); brown stone and hammered silver necklace, hammered silver earrings.

Thanks for the inspiration, Angie! Thanks all, for looking. I appreciate any thoughts you wish to share.

When Angie posted her holiday outfit, I was thinking of what I would wear for festive occasions this season. I wanted to make a velvet knit dress, and I managed to get it done in time to wear for my anniversary dinner this weekend.

The outfit: purple velvet knit dress with front pleat and placket neckline (made by me); black tights and black suede tall boots (Donald J. Pliner), silver chain shoulder bag (Michael Kors), not pictured: burgundy wool tweed coat (made by me).

I'm planning to wear the dress for Christmas dinner, too. I might wear more sleek looking boots (again, Donald Pliner), and pearls.

I welcome your thoughts!

When Angie posted this Utility Pretty ensemble, I though immediately of an outfit I could wear like it, and today is finally the right day for it.

The outfit (worn for a day off): Olive utility pants (Madewell, cropped by me); olive, blush, and purple floral floaty silk top (made by me); blush 3/4-sleeved cardigan (Halogen); blush clutch (J.Crew); and nude ankle strap pumps (ALG) OR pewter d'Orsay flats (Walk, Frankie).

I'm going to wear the flats today, because they feel less fussy, but I really like the pumps with the outfit. What do you think?

I was undecided about what to wear until I saw Angie's post today on the "Genie in a Bottle" ensemble. I had a pair of voluminous pants that I made several years ago, which were in the discard pile for the last few years. I made them, trying out a pattern, and only wore them a couple of times. They were very wide-legged, and looked like a long skirt until you moved in a way that showed the distinct legs. I decided to try tapering the legs to make them look more like pants, and I ended up wearing them today. They are still not a color I want to keep around, so I will be donating them. But I think I will make the pattern again, using the tapered leg modification. What do you think? Worth another go in a color that is better for me?

I would like to have tried a better top with them, but this was what I could come up with that had the same shade of blue. It's a mauve and multi-colored floral t-shirt, which I wore semi-tucked.

The outfit (worn for a day off, shopping and lunch with a friend): Cobalt blue knit genie pants (made by me); mauve and multi-colored floral cap-sleeve t-shirt (made by me); stone denim jacket (French Dressing Jeans); taupe lace-up low block-heeled sandals (P. Monjo); cream and taupe hobo bag (Fossil).

I look forward to any thoughts or suggestions you'd like to share.

Today I'm wearing a summer top and the step-hem jeans I got at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. The top is a sleeveless shell that I made with a tie at the neck, made out of a soft rayon woven fabric with orange diamonds printed on a soft blue-gray background. I knew the fabric would go with my bright coral-orange cardigan and platform sandals, though this morning it was a little chilly for the sandals, so I wore gray closed-toe shoes instead.

Here's the outfit, worn for a day off: gray and orange diamond-print sleeveless tie-neck top (made by me); blue step-hem cropped flare jeans (Mother, Insider crop step-hem); bright coral 3/4-sleeved cardigan (Halogen); light gray Mary Janes (Think!) or orange platform sandals (Kork Ease, Austin); medium-gray cross-body bag (Olbrish). Also included a close-up of the fabric for you!

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any thoughts you wish to share.

I cut off these shorts a couple of years ago, and this year I updated my DIY cutoffs with some embroidery. I wanted to try embroidering on jeans, and decided that doing some old cutoffs would be a good experiment. Unfortunately, the cutoffs are a bit tight this season, but I'm hoping they will loosen up again at some point. ;)
I'm not sure I would embroider on a "perfectly good" pair of jeans, but on a pair that is less expensive or that I've gotten plenty of wear out of already, I am willing to take the risk.

Today I changed into this outfit after work:
Cutoffs (Lucky jeans, shortened and machine-embroidered by me); pink tank top (OSKA); stone linen knit drape-front cardigan (Nick & Zoe); pink sneakers (Ellen DeGeneres).

I look forward to any thoughts or suggestions you may have!

You may have heard me say I don't wear crisp button-up collared shirts. I used to wear them, and now they feel too formal, fussy, or business-y for my style. If I wear a collared shirt, it is more often in a silky fabric rather than a crisp cotton. And I can't recall wearing a "popped" collar--pulled up around the face--for more than a moment.
So today's outfit is a bit of a departure for me.
I bought this collared button-up shirt about a year ago, because I liked the steely gray color, and because I do really like the idea of a crisp cotton shirt. This one is made of tencel that looks and feels like a soft cotton; somehow, it does not feel too fussy to wear.
When I put it on today, I was inspired by my style icon, Linda Rodin, who is often photographed in a crisp button-up shirt with the collar popped.

Here's the resulting outfit, worn for a day off (1-3):
Cream skinny jeans (Mother, the Looker highrise, in whipping the cream); gray tencel button-up collared shirt with 3/4 sleeves (P. Taylor); navy linen knit vest (made by me); navy nubuck sneakers (Paul Green); silver-toned disk earrings and piano-wire bracelet.
My style icon, Linda Rodin, in white and black crisp collared shirts (4-5). 
Thanks for looking! I welcome any suggestions or comments you'd like to share.

Working at OSKA Seattle, the dress code is to wear clothing from the store/company. Here is my work version of a dress over pants outfit. I bought the caftan dress with the idea in mind that it can work alone as well as over pants or leggings, say, when the weather is cool. I like that it has sleeves, and it is easily layered over an insulating tee, for wearing in the air-conditioned store. I've worn it a few times already on its own as a dress, and over footless tights, with sandal-booties. Today I tried it with pants, and I quite liked it. The look does add some bulk to my frame, but I'm hoping it was JFE (just flattering enough).

The outfit (worn to work):
Black lightweight linen caftan dress (OSKA, Taja dress); black lightweight cotton rolled-hem trousers (OSKA, Tertia trousers); black layering tee (Tees by Tina); pink, white, gray, and maroon stripe scarf (Halogen, painterly wave wrap); pink sneakers (Ellen Degeneres, Chapalove); pink and brass necklace (Madewell, radiate necklace set); not shown: nude pink tote bag.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any feedback you'd care to give. 

I took Angie's idea and wore pants under this dress, rather than the leggings or footless tights I would have otherwise chosen. I kind of liked the effect. What do you think?

The outfit (worn to play in a piano recital):
Short knit dress with black, white, taupe, and gray fashion print (made by me); black cropped flare pants (Halogen); taupe cross-strap flats (Naot); long black and white marled knit cardigan (Bobeau); taupe pleather tote bag with silver studs (Chelsea28).

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any feedback you care to give.