Happy New Year!!

It’s the first day of 2013 and I couldn’t be happier for the new year ahead!!  I’m hoping all of you enjoyed ringing in 2013 with your family, friends, loved ones, pups, kitties, and kiddos, and even though I wasn’t physically there with you counting down, I was there in spirit.  I’m really just so lucky to have all of you part of my life and I can’t wait for everything that’s to come!

I had more fun than I should have putting together my little NYE ensemble using this FAH-bulous piece I snagged.

BEFORE

I was obsessed with the extra apron-y piece that covered the top of the dress, not to mention the red and black layers.  It felt super flamenco, except I wasn’t wearing ballroom shoes.

Extra Layers!!

I’m going to coif this into something that screams marvelous instead of meh

I started off by removing that top layer!

Detaching!!!

A clipped seam here, a snipped piece there…

Trimming!!

The layer has been taken down!!!  Maybe I should just wear it like this??

It’s off!!

Yeah, that’s not going to happen

I got rid of the shoulder pads…

Pads, out!!

…and might make myself another batch of change purses with these guys!!

And they’re out!!

Now that the top layer was gone, I trimmed a few inches down the center to begin a V neck.

Trim!

I cut off the sleeves…

More trimming!

…adjusted the shoulder seams (I brought them down two inches to turn this dress into more of a top) and pinned the neckline/sleeves/shoulders in place…

Pin!!

…before I cracked open my sewing machine.

Needles Down.

I tossed on a pair of skinny jeans underneath my new ruffle-y top with my black Kenneth Cole ankle boots and had an outfit ready to say hello to 2013 in!!

AFTER

I wore my go-to, black Cynthia Vincent cashmere cape on top to stay toasty…

NYE!!!

…while watching all the fun NYE coverage!  I was not in NY this year, however seeing Anderson Cooper’s Times Square iPhone shot brought me right back to midtown.

c/o Anderson Cooper – Instagram

Nothing like some fireworks to close out a most exciting 2012.

To a sparkly 2013!!

I’m super excited to meet you, 2013.