Sewing with Gorman

Way back in September or October (it’s so long ago I can’t actually remember which month it was) QueensPlaza did a promotion with Gorman where they ‘gave away’ a free Gorman dress pattern.

When I say ‘gave away’ I mean you signed up for a promo email and they sent you instructions on how to download the pattern and instructions.

Well I’ve finally got around to making this dress and let me tell you it was not easy. I am lucky I have a wonderful mother with superior sewing skills to mine who saved the day!

The first problemo?
The pattern was out of scale. Sure I can hear you ask ‘Maybe you printed it wrong?’ Rest assured my friends I did not. I followed the careful printing instructions laid out for my by Gorman (as did some friends of mine) and the pattern was still not right. Luckily I actually already owned the Backgammon tea dress of which the pattern was for (you can see it here) so I was able to use the cut out pattern and my actual dress to mark and cut out the fabric.

The second problemo?
Man those instructions are hard to understand! Trying to sew a dress without some printed ‘how to’ steps accompanied by instructions was a first for me – and my mum who’s been sewing for about 35 years.

It was like reading a foreign language to be honest.

"Join front and back fabric bodice side seams and join front"...join front what?? Can you be a little clearer?
It was about here that my mum took control of the situation, decoding the instructions, advising me what to do and basically taking over the whole project.

And thank god she did. If I had persevered any longer I may have fallen into the ‘danger zone’ *

The third problemo?

I was too god damn tired (and a little unwell) which is never a good time to start a new sewing project. Sewing when you’re not in the mood is pants.

But it was all worth it because look what I (ok so really my mum should have most of the credit) made.

I really wanted to buy this Gorman dress because I love the fabric so much but instead I used it for fabric inspiration and ended up with this.

Ain’t she a beauty? What do you think? I wore it for my birthday party this weekend and everyone loved it just as much as I do. Also please excuse the wrinkles in the pics - I was too tired to iron before outfit photos.

How are your sewing projects going? Have any of you tried sewing your own Gorman dress with the free pattern? How did you find it? And more importantly have you seen the latest collection? I LOVE Lisa Gorman for always giving us patterns and colour and I promise I'll do a post on the Winter Collection soon.

Until then, Happy sewing everyone!


*the point at which sewing makes me so crazy frustrated I resort to eating peanut butter from the jar and crying during the advertisements for the new series of ‘Biggest Loser’.

A-dressing a dilemma

With April almost here it means that May isn’t far behind it. Frick.

Normally, I’d be excited for the drop in temperature to a ‘chilly’ 15°C and the opportunity to start sporting scarves and tights on a regular basis (without being regarded as a loony), but unfortunately not this year.

This year, things are different because May brings a most nerve-racking, dreaded event with it…my ten year high school reunion.

I know. I can’t believe how bloody old I am either.

But aren’t you amazed at how good I look for my age? How youthful and fresh I am? No? Anyone? Helloooooooooo.

Oh well, time to move on. 

I can honestly say that I am looking forward to spending an evening drinking champagne, eating canapés and gossiping with some of my best girlfriends (maybe we’ll even dance to Time after Time Romy and Michelle style). However, this hasn’t stopped the monster of insecurity  from rearing its head and posing a very serious question to me:

“What the hell are you going to wear?”

Damn monster knows I have no idea! Even thinking about it feels stressful because I’ve decided that dressing for a high school reunion will kind of be like dressing for a first date. You want to look slammin’ hot but completely effortless.

I also need to convey a sense of ‘I’ve got it together, am a very successful person with a highly overpaid job, lots of friends and a Fortune 500 CEO boyfriend who models in his spare time’.

On a side note when I wrote that sentence I had to stop a minute because I realised that I actually do have at least a little bit of that ‘got it togetherness’ going on. I have wonderful friends, an amazing boyfriend and a job that I enjoy but still HOW DO I CONVEY ALL OF THIS IN AN OUTFIT???!?!?!!!?

A quick look on Asos (who I see are now doing FREE standard shipping to Oz 100% of the time - YAY!) and I found these. My favourite of the two is the green one in the middle - the ASOS Premium Pleat Shoulder Dress With Full Skirt for 50 pounds.

Which do you prefer?

Thoughts? I think it's quite simple but still really cute and with the right accessories it could be a home run style wise. I can almost see myself sauntering into the room, heads turning, people acknowledging...then walking into a bar stool and falling down some stairs. Unfortunately,clumsy is my game not graceful. 

On H&M I found this perfect piece of sunshine (the yellow dress) which I've worked into Polyvore to try and show you how I'd style it - black tights, glam jewelery. Simple and relaxed but still a little different.

I want it all! by myheartbeats featuring a silk skirt

Adorable no? I am DYING to own it and everything in that picture. Although I already have the ring thanks to The Boy and some new black brogues exactly like that pair...let’s just forget about that shopping ban ok?

So tell me am I on the right track for my reunion outfit? Do you think I could work a yellow ruffle with black tights and brogues or would I be committing fashion suicide?


I want your thoughts so lay em out people!


xx

A change in the h-air

Recently (I'm talking last Saturday) I made the decision to dye my hair from a fairly light blonde to a warmer light brown.

Basically, I've gone from this:

Blondy McBlonde

Multi-tonal blonde

To this:

The new 'do

I personally, really love it and have had some lovely comments on it so far but it is so dark I'm not used to it yet. (Sorry for the poor quality pics by the way - they were taken on my iphone!)

What do you think? Do you prefer light or dark?

Mission completed

My eyes wandered over her gently curves and glowing tan. At that moment I knew the search was over. I had found my sole-mate…

I have forever been on the hunt for the perfect tan wedge and indeed I’ve flirted with investing in a few potentials, but they were never quite right for me. They didn’t fit properly or I didn’t like the colour, one was too wide, another not wide enough...I had all but given up when on a fateful day in January I walked past Payless Shoes.

There she was, sitting pretty in the window.

‘Try them on’ said my sister A. 

‘It can’t hurt.’ 

Little did she know the pain my feet had endured on their 2 year “Tan Wedge Heel Mission”.

‘I suppose there’s only one way to find out…’ my voice drifted off. I was already imagining us together. Prancing around the office paired with my Navy Cue frock, sipping cocktails with my girlfriends and dominating dancefloors everywhere.

‘Come on then’ A said, dragging me into the store.

It wasn’t quite the place I’d imagined finding my shoe crush. It smelled vaguely of rubber and lacked the enticing atmosphere of the shoe shops I more regularly frequent…but I soldiered on.

Slipping my feet into the size 8 I felt like Cinderella.

‘They fit like a glove!’ I cried with joy.

I stood up and walked a few paces. They didn’t exactly feel like slippers but they were comfy and they made my legs look nothing short of amazing. I walked a little more and wiggled my toes. Puuurfect.

‘Buy them’ A said, ‘They are $69 and they look twice the price!’.

I tucked the shoe box under my arm, whipped out my savings card and ran to the cash register where I was greeted with the words every woman loves to hear…'alright there? You know if you buy another pair they’re half price?’

I did the maths in my head and practically started to hyperventilate. I could get the same shoes in black for $35?! ARE YOU SERIOUS? That’s $104 for two pairs of dream wedges!?? WHERE ARE THEY?!??! I WANT THEM NOOOOOOOOOOOW!

Of course, I didn’t say this out loud but simply responded with a much more, albeit less fiscally responsible ‘Why not?’.

And why not indeed...threesomes can be fun.

Simple, classic & versatile = my perfect match

What a Betty...

Like many women, I love summer.  Every year it swings around bringing with it many of my favourite things: long days, tropical fruit, music festivals, the chance to wear Barbie coloured nail polish just that little bit longer, golden tans, icecream and party season (Christmas, New Years and then my Birthday = cocktail dresses galore!). 

Albeit, with the good there sometimes comes bad and there are also a few things I dislike about summer. Humidity – the enemy of nice hair and shine-free faces, occasional sunburn and the annual summer swimsuit search.

This is a hunt dreaded by women everywhere. I mean let’s be honest, who wants to expose their pale winter skin and those few extra kilos in an unflattering store mirror when they’re surrounded by pictures of Jessica Hart and Jennifer Hawkins flaunting their tanned thighs and toned butts. Really, can you think of anything worse?

Miss Universe and Miss Model-of-the-moment staring back at me while I struggle to fit my DDs into a bikini is not my favoured activity (and for that matter designers please take note – girls with boobs wear bikinis too and a C cup masquerading as a DD is a swimsuit FAIL).

This year however, I surprised myself with a mostly pain free tog-shopping excursion. I magically seem to have detoured past the usual routine of crying over my muffin top in the fitting room and I found a swimsuit that I feel comfortable in – and would you believe sexy – when I put it on!

It’s a MIRACLE I hear you cry..and yes you better believe it because it’s true. 

If you read any women’s magazines you should know that nautical is once again ‘in’ right now (I personally feel that it is pretty much never ‘out’ though). One pieces are also rivalling bikinis in sales…and my new swimsuit, well she ticks both of these boxes. I’m going to call her Betty.

Betty's on the far right

Totally foxy no?

Back view (I wish my arse looked like that!

Betty is pretty damn fabulous don't you think?! When I put her on I feel like a 1950’s pin-up girl flirting with wealthy playboys and soaking up the sunshine on the French Riviera (which incidentally is her real name). She’s cut like a siren, hugging my curves, placing emphasis on the good and drawing attention away from the bad. You could say, we are a match made in swimsuit heaven.

I plan on wearing her with a tan, loose beachy waves (provided humidity decides not to join my beach party), a little sarong for some Car to beach modesty, and my good old Havianas. Bring on summer I say! Hmmm if only I could get away with a red lip and wined eyeliner at the beach…

K

Can you be in love with a dress?

Last night I did a little online shopping at my old favourite ASOS and bought the dress that will hopefully serve as the centre of my party outfit on New Year's Eve...that is unless I fall in love with another one in the post Christmas sales (highly likely). Anyway, I won't keep you waiting long it's the Motel 'Wanda' dress in leopard.

I personally feel that this dress is pretty much my best discovery since finding white chocolate covered Oreos in Greece. Yup it's that good. I plan on wearing it with insanely high black pumps or a pair of cute Primark flats depending on how the evening works out. I'm already looking forward to wow-ing the boy T with it.

And just think of the possibilities after NYE...music festivals with a straw trilby and gladitators, to the office with a blazer, opaques and ballet flats. Really, if you can find a leopard print dress that as adorable and versatile as this I applaud you. Of course you could just go and buy it too. I won't mind. It's only natural to be obsessed with leopard print and to want to look modestly sexy (i.e. not like a tart). And it's such a good price! Really, thanks to its designs, quality and pricepoint Motel is fast becoming one of my favourite brands. I would wear pretty much everything on their website if I could afford it all but I will also freely admit that some of their designs may be a little too short/tight/unsuited for my figure.

Four totally different yet equally lust-worthy pieces you might like...

1. First date perfection. Understated and cute but still a whole lotta sassy.

2. Hot outfit to wear to a festival/gig or simply out with the girls.

3. The perfect outfit for when you know you're going to see that ass called you're ex-boyfriend.

4. Relaxed and polished for a weekend full of pretty much anything: brunches, BBQs, shopping, drinks at your local, seeing a movie with friends - anything!

1

2

3

4

And that my friends is all for this evening. I am off to shop the Urban Outfitters website now. I mean erm write a new budget.

K