Firecracker's Blog

WIW: sweatdress & 2 other outfits

March 10, 2015

Last week I completed a dress from fabric and a pattern I got at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo the previous weekend. That might be a record for me getting something made up from my purchases at the annual Expo. I wore the dress to work yesterday and wanted to show you all here. The other outfits are less exciting to me, but they're included here in the interest of documenting where I am with my style.

The outfits:
1-3 (worn to work): denim heather sweatshirt dress (made by me); navy tights; taupe cutout booties (Kork-Ease, Stina); blue and white arty earrings (local craft, gift from DH); olive leather moto jacket (AllSaints, Hawks); taupe shoulder bag (Aunts & Uncles). Felt pretty good in my new sweatdress!

4-5 (worn to work): brown and white scroll print burnout knit tunic (made by me); brown wool cropped pants (made by me); mushroom nubuck ballet flats with cross straps (Naot, Lan); olive moto jacket and taupe shoulder bag as above. Felt so-so in this outift, though I might repeat with different footwear. Still battling plantar fasciitis, and these Naots are the same footbed as my gray shimmer oxfords.

6-8 (worn for a day off): stone corduroys (Patagonia, slim cut); olive heather knit cowl top (made by me); taupe and ivory handknit cardigan (Amy Brill); taupe cut-out booties and shoulder bag as above; taupe trench (Calvin Klein). Felt better than it looks. I despair over the back view. I bought these cords to replace an Eddie Bauer pair that I always wanted to cover up, and I think I just have an issue with my backside in light pants. I could not settle on a longer cardigan, though, so I decided to bare (the backside) and bear it! :)

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

27 Comments

  • replied 9 years ago

    That new MBM sweater dress is so fab. I love the seam details and the hemline shape at the front is like the bottom of one of my sweaters. Lovely! outfit 2 looks cool with those pegged draped pants. I love the look of it with your jacket on top. The layering really works. In 3 I see no rear problems! It's a fresh, relaxed Springey outfit.

  • AM replied 9 years ago

    I want a sweatshirt dress! So great.

    Not sure if I have become an addict to long lines but I was kind of wishing for a black bootie in the first two outfits. I really like the second outfit with the moto. And I do believe that the third outfit might be my favorite outfit for the jean (boyfriend?) look. But are these really boyfriend. I don't know. I'm new to boyfriends. But it's a very nice look. Going back, they are slim cut. And your bootie (butt) looks great.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    The sweatdress is totally great. Wonderful combo of the sweatshirt style with asymmetrical hem.
    You look fine in the cords. I have back view issues for myself. Have decided that most light-colored pants are not worth the angst of too fitted vs too saggy. That even goes for very light gray work trousers for the most part. Made an exception for the Kut white jeans. Anyway, yours work!

  • replied 9 years ago

    All three looks are wonderful! Great sweater dress. I swoon over your olive moto.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    Great dress & I  love your olive jacket too :)

  • kellygirl replied 9 years ago

    Wow! You look terrific x 3! My fave is the second one. You look amazing in those cropped pants--especially with the moto. The others are awesome too but something about the second one is so arty and edgy. LOVE it. 

  • Ruth M replied 9 years ago

    1-3 Your sweater dress looks so COSY and that is a great hemline. I do see what AM means about black footwear, but I like the way these taupe booties bookend your hair. Your choice of jewellery is perfect - the earrings pick up the white stitching along the neckline and yoke of the dress, and the silver bracelet(s) are a good choice with heather grey. Happy to see the fab olive jacket again.

    4-5 This outfit looks comfortable and easy. Beautiful tunic. I'd be interested to know if you felt less "meh" about it by repeating with different footwear, as you suggested. I had been wondering how your PF was - I hope it's at least improving a bit.

    6-8 I like this outfit a lot, and the back view seems fine to me. But given that you were less than happy with it, kudos to you for saying "the heck with it" and sticking with the shorter cardi.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Please make me  a sweat dress like that!  I love it!  And regarding the back view of the light-coloured cords.....I think pretty much everyone looks this way in light coloured pants.  I'm with unfrumped in deciding to abandon the look personally, but I think you look completely fine!  They are what they are.  It's why I have given up on white jeans .  No-win situation.  I love outfit #5 - and like the moto best with this outfit.  Those pants are terrific on you! 

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    That sweat dress is fabulous! What a terrific item. I'd probably live in it half the year! 

    I think you look amazing in the light pants -- back view included. You have an enviable figure for jeans and this is fab! I sometimes worry about my own back view in all pants, to be honest, but then I realize, what the heck. It is what it is. And also -- it's usually in motion, not standing stock still like this for a photo. In motion, we all look graceful! :)

    I join with the others in thinking that that olive moto was one of your best purchases ever. 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    LOVE THE SWEATSHIRT DRESS. Killer look, Sharan. (I thought of Suz when I saw it, actually - and my comment is right after hers. HAH). 

    Those ankle strap ballet flats work well with the slouchy crops. Very fashionable. YLF. 

    And you know you had me with the cream bottoms. 

    Always a pleasure to see Queen Arty Glam. 

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Oh my, that dress! Makes me seriously consider getting my machine out....
    All three looks are great. From all angles :).

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    That cozy sweatshirt dress looks amazing with its assymetrical hem. I really want one! But my favorite outfit here is #4 for it's easy elegance. You have an enviable shoe collection too. I agree with Suz. Our bottoms are usually in motion. Those light psnts look great on you.

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    What an amazing dress sharan!! Love it! Good thing you whipped it up so quickly! Second outfit is great too. - really! I like the slouchy pants. And your cream bottoms are nothing but flattering. You are hard on yourself. You are really looking great!!!

  • replied 9 years ago

    Wow, you MADE that dress. It's brilliant, and looks so great on you. You should feel good in it, it looks fab and you created it. I'm also loving your cords -- back view included. I think we all despair over our back view, yet when other people make the same statement we just don't see why they feel that way! Suz makes a very wise point about being in motion.

    I also love your pants in 4 and 5.

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Amazingly great dress. I like the second outfit better than you did I think, especially with the moto. Hope your feet feel better!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, everyone--it looks like the sweatdress is a winner!

    Thanks for all your kind comments and commiseration about back views and light pants, too. Suz and Joy, you are so right--fortunately we don't stand still a lot, and we look better in motion, from all angles!

    Diane, Kelly, Angie, Joy, and Jackie--I'm encouraged by your appreciation of outfit 2. I really wondered about wearing those cropped pants with flats. Joy, "easy elegance"--I could hug you! Shevia, too--we cross-posted.

    AM, the stone or cream cords are a slim cut, but not too skinny, which I really like about them. And they are such a soft corduroy. I get what you mean about creating a longer line with dark footwear. Actually the combo I tried on with the sweatdress that I liked best was my espresso moto boots, with a dark brown, wide stretchy belt over the dress. But the boots are not quite as comfy at the moment with my foot issues. And I wanted to try dark tights with the cutout booties, after Approprio suggested it on another thread.

    Ruth, thanks for your detailed comments. I have a pair of heeled taupe booties that I liked with outfit 2, but I wanted to forgo the heels. And I really want to find ways to wear these flat Naots. Although oddly enough, the heeled Kork-Ease were more comfortable. I can never tell what's going to work! Yes, unfortunately the PF is not a whole lot better. It's better in the original foot, but I now have it in both feet. Some days are okay and others are not. Eventually I think (hope) it will heal.

    Suz, your comment about the moto makes me smile! 

  • fuzzylogic replied 9 years ago

    Oh, I love #2!!!! Slouchy over slouchy works wonderfully with cropped pants and flats! This silhouette has been quite big here over summer. The outfit might work with slides too if they fit your style.
    #3 is classically lovely- Perfect for those days when you want to look put together and feel cosy.
    The hem line on your new tunic is the point of difference that sets your dress apart from the tunic crowd! #1 & #2 have an 'artsy' vibe.

  • Deb replied 9 years ago

    Like Lisa, I'd love one of the dresses too....it looks great and super comfortable. I think we have seen all the other pieces before yet I never tire of your gorgeous clothes and colour choices. Rest assured YLF from front and back views!

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    That dress is ultra gorgeous! I seriously want to move to Seattle just so I can take your sewing classes. As for outfit #2, I wish the outfits I felt so-so in looked half this good! This looks very arty, and looks great on you. And I see no bootay issues in outfit #3. If it felt better than it looks, then it must have felt super fantastic because it looks fantastic!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    I'm battling PF right now too Sharan so totally sympathize :)

    LOVE the sweater dress - my goodness you are so talented.

    And I actually really REALLY like the cropped brown trousers with the moto. It's not typically a silhouette that speaks to me but there's something about this combination that works so incredibly well on you.

  • Sara L. replied 9 years ago

    I love your sweater dress - it looks amazing.   The hemline is great.  I also really like the cropped pants in #2.  Something about the slouchiness, the crop, and the shoes really work together.  Your cords look fine to me - both front and back view.  I don't see anything to worry about. 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    The ankle straps with the cropped pants makes a huge difference, Sharan. Try black booties too. Higher in the shaft is better. 

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    Great job on the dress - looks great on you and I'll bet it is comfortable. I also love the second outfit esp. with the moto - you create beautiful wardrobe items that seem really perfect for you. And number 3 looks great too - no backside issues from my view.

  • Staysfit replied 9 years ago

    OMG!  I love that new dress on you!  The hem and seams are great details and it looks so cozy. 

    I have to add that I see nothing wrong with your backside in the light colored cords.  Maybe there is something that you see or are self conscious about that I am not noticing?  Pictures are always different than real life so I don't want to discount your perception.  If something makes you feel uncomfortable when you are wearing it,  or you are not happy with how it looks, you have many wonderful options to use instead and perhaps you should move on to something that makes you feel better.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    fuzzylogic, aha! I'm envisioning the Birkenstock look with the pants, right? Interesting thought--thank you!

    DEB, I could teach you and Lisa how to make one, okay? And Karie, once she moves here to Seattle. What fun we would have.

    Angie, thanks--I think my black suede booties would be the ones to try (with cuff turned up).

    Shannon, sorry to hear you are still dealing with PF, too. I just posted on your thread about it.

    Sara, Texstyle, and Staysfit, thank you!

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Late to the party, but my goodness that sweater dress is so fab.  Did you draft the pattern?  Something like that is now on my wishlist for winter.  You look wonderful.  As always interesting pieces and shapes and excellent proportions.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thank you, Deborah. I made the dress from from a new pattern from The Sewing Workshop. I'm thinking of making another one in black and white, right up your alley. :)

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Welcome to my style blog. Dressing is something all of us do each day, but for me it is also a hobby. I like to find new ways to wear the clothes I have, make new clothes to add to my wardrobe (yes, sewing is another hobby!), shop for clothes, read and discuss fashion. Following You Look Fab has fueled my interest in taking outfit pictures to see where I've been and to get different perspectives on style. Thanks for joining me. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.