December 1, 2014

admin

Vintage 80s Teal Suede Sash Dress

December 1, 2014

admin

If my mom wore this dress in the 80s, it would have been one that I coveted as a kid!

The teal suede sash in front? Better than Miss America!

And that print! It's like an abstract piece of art - brush strokes all over.

It's a little much as is...

...but I'm going to make it winter ready in just a few steps!

The sash was the first thing to go! I grabbed my seam ripper and delicately began removing the stitches holding the sash in place.

With it removed...

...I had to restitch the seam at the shoulder to close this area up. I pinned the open portion and prepped for a quick stitching!

The rest of the dress was a bit too big, so I took in a few inches to make it a bit more fitted.

I removed the extra teal buttons that were on the dress to keep the sash in place and finished all my sewing.

With a little belt cinching action (as well as a neutral color to break up all the jewel tones), my new dress was ready for a Denver day of walking!

I had a sweater and gloves with me, but the weather was in the 70s!! I thought I left LA to get snow and sleet, not warmish temperatures :) I was able to legitimately wear the sweater at night though when it got a bit chillier.

These boots tho... The best pair of walking boots I could have asked for!

(PS - for Cyber Monday, if you're looking for some good boots for the fam, Sierra Trading Post is having some major sales. That's where these came from! Lunch break = boots browsing today!)

I loved how the lining of the dress was teal too. When I walked, and depending on how the dress fell, you could see it pop through.

When there's a lion statue, you have to pet it. It had quite the furry mane!

I loved how this turned out! Removing a dated sash and just making the piece a little more fitted changes everything!

This dress is going to get tons of wear back home in LA!!

Outfit details:

November 29, 2014

admin

Outfit Remakes

Feather Printed Sweatshirt with Buttons

November 29, 2014

admin

Outfit Remakes

Two words: THIS SWEATSHIRT.

It's amazing...

It's cozy...

It's a bit ridiculous...

All factors in me trying to make this totally wearable!!

For starters, I wanted to change the shape of the piece, so I created a deep V shape to make the sweatshirt more of a cardigan-style.

Next, the collar had some issues - lots of spots on the white ribbed material. Not cute. Not cute at all.

I grabbed my seam ripper and began to get down to collar removal business. (I mean, those gross spots!!)

The collar came off and we were rolling!!

The size of the sweatshirt was large and I wanted to take it in to fit my arms better. I liked the bulkiness of the torso, but wanted my arms to be a little more snug. I took the sleeves in and stitched them down. I also stitched the neck, creating a clean seam.

After a little pinning, sewing, and trimming, my new sweatshirt was ready for Denver!!

I paired my outfit with these insanely comfy Gentle Souls boots for a rustic walk in the neighborhood.

This walk included a stop at the swingset.

I couldn't resist hopping on, but let's be honest...it's probably been 20 years since I've been on one, so it took a minute to get started.

Watch out!!!!!

The weather has been on the warmish side, so the big vintage sweater I brought with me didn't stay on for too long!

I thought this would be the perfect thing to wear to the place I've been dreaming about going to since I saw the episode about it on South Park.

CASA BONITA!!!! (The episode is HERE for your viewing pleasure)

Casa Bonita, IRL!!

The only thing about my glorious visit that was not that glorious was that it was closed!! I totally had my Wally World moment.

That's what happens when you visit on a holiday. So, when you can't see the indoor divers (Yes! there's indoor divers!), you pretend to be the diver in the outdoor, unfilled, fountain.

I was SO excited to go to CB!!

I mean, look at all the insane entertainment! Magicians, western gunfights, and cliff divers in one place? The most ridiculously weird and amazing entertainment options you could imagine.

I was like...

However, I did snap a picture to take with me...

Just means that next time I'm going to have to come back!!

Outfit details:

November 27, 2014

admin

Outfit Remakes

Beige Hole-y-day Sweater (Happy Thanksgiving!!)

November 27, 2014

admin

Outfit Remakes

I loved this sweater when it was given me to play around with! It was oversized and comfortable but there were lots of areas of discoloration.

Because it was light beige, the spots were super pronounced.

You can see here on the neckline:

I went to my trusty bottle of Dark Green Rit Dye...

...and changed the color!

From discolored to a gorgeous sage-y green!

Being in CO, the holes in the sweater = Wind Chill, USA, so I had to layer up!

Scarf, snowboots, and winter coat - key ingredients for a chilly day!

It's been such a long time since I've seen snow, so this moment made me very happy :) Even though it was a little dusting, I had to get my feet in! (These Pajar snow boots are my new jam. I'm obsessed with my furry ankles!)

There's nothing like large, glittered presents on the street! When I removed my gloves that were touching the silver box, they were covered in glitter! Small price to pay for a photo next to a life sized gift.

My first day in real wintry temperatures was a total success! Feet were warm and cozy and this upcycled sweater is now part of the loungewear collection! More winter outfits to come...

PS, my jacket is totally a maternity coat! I received it years ago as a gift when I was working in PR for the brand. It's become one of my most favorite pieces and one that gets complimented all the time.

Outfit details:

Blog