My Colors for FW 2017-18

Today I want to talk about my color palette of choice for this fall. I live in Southern California, so fall doesn't really happen until mid November (we're talking low 70s). 

HOWEVER I am making doing with the blazing heat and working in my fall color palette.

Now for the colors!

I've been loving all the secondary colors for this season----violet, green, and orange. More specifically, I love lilac/lavender, hunter/forest green, and burnt orange/rust. I think these colors look great by themselves, or together.

I have organized this post by color and then by color combination! Hope you can follow along! 

1. Green (Shaded Spruce)
This is my favorite shade of green, and it's perfect for the holiday season. It just looks so dressy and high-end!

2. Lavender (Lavender Herb)
Lavender is often thought of as a spring 'pastel'----try a lavender sweater or lilac trousers for the winter months.






3. Orange (Autumn Maple)
Don't be afraid of orange! As you can see, it's no longer judt reserved for Halloween.

4. Combinations!

*tip: try pairing complementary colors together, such as red-orange and blue-green, for a bold yet sophisticated outfit!

DIY Raw Hem Jeans

We all know that the ankle length jean is the perfect cut for transitioning from summer to fall! It also frames flats & boots without all that cuffing nonsense. This tutorial also might be helpful if you have jeans that are several inches too long for you! 

 Here are the jeans before the transformation! I bought them at H&M years ago. They've always been so long on me and I despise having to roll them up so much.
It's important to try on your jeans and see how much you want to shorten them.

I decided to cut them by a few inches, and I used a rotary cutter and ruler to make sure it was all even and straight. 

This next step is optional, but I chose to sew along the raw ends, about a half inch from the edge.

Then, start fraying the edges with whichever method you want! Use a fork, the edge of a pair of scissors, sandpaper, or whatever you like! Pull the weft threads (horizontal) with your fingers, a seam ripper, or even with tweezers.

Toss them into in the washer/dryer and let them fray even more! The stitching we made will prevent them from fraying too much.

Here's how they turned out!
There's also another no-sew option!---you can cut off your jeans and just leave them to fray, old-fashioned style!

I bought these pair of light wash Levi's for cheap at Nordstrom Rack, but the inseam was too long for my taste!

I decided to cut them higher in the front, creating a sharkbite-like effect! The result looks really cool, especially since this pair was already distressed.

There you have it! I love how these turned out, so dig into your jeans drawer and find some pairs that could use a trim!


Happy cropping,

--Courtney

Sewing a Tank Top From Scratch

I've had this lovely crepe-like fabric I bought from a garage sale years ago and I finally had the time and the right idea to make something out of it! I chose to make a pretty tank top that I could wear to work and school for the summer. My decision was influenced by the fact that I had less than a yard and I even had to use some scraps for the straps!

I didn't take any pictures of myself wearing the top, except this one my boyfriend took this blurry one of me at a museum the day I finished it...

Let's get started, shall we?

Sewing a garment from scratch is easiest if you own a similar garment made of a similar fabric. Whenever I try to create a paper pattern based on measurements, I fail! So this is a good option for beginners.

I had an idea in my head of what I wanted this top to look like and a reference photo as well. To be honest, I just did a lot of guessing on this project. With the fabric doubled, I cut out 2 front and back pieces. (Leave plenty of room for seam allowance!)

I actually made use of the dressform I bought in 5th grade by draping my top pieces onto it.

Looking good!


Utilizing the VERY last scraps of my fabric, I cut out 4 pieces (2 sets of 2) for my neckline facing. The goal is to trace the top outline of your shirt onto another piece of fabric; it doesn't really matter how the bottom of the shape looks. 2-3 inches in length is sufficient. Iron on a lightweight interfacing  to the wrong side now if you please!

I pinned the interfacing pieces on right sides together before moving along with the top!

This is what it should look like! Iron the facing and the seam allowance away from your top & press.

Trim any extra seam allowance to prevent bulk. 

Now for the straps!

I actually did not have enough fabric for the straps so I used some scrap black fabric of a similar textile! I wanted thin-almost-spaghetti straps, so I cut a strip about 1.5" wide & 15" long. My final strap length ended up around 12".

Fold your strap in half lengthwise, with right sides together. Sew along the edge & backstitch! Turn tube right side out, here I used the safety pin method.

Gorgeous!

With your top & interfacing with right sides facing together, place your straps in between the layers like a sandwich! Pin them into place. Sew across, using the outermost edge of the top as your guide. Make sure the straps lay flat and don't slip out of place.

After completing sewing the straps to one side, make sure they line up & look nice!

Turn your facing and seam allowance away once again and press. This time, sew through the seam allowance (NOT the shirt front) and the facing. This will make sure it lies flat while you wear your garment. It will be difficult if your top has a v-neck like mine, go slowly!

Try your top on for size and figure out how long your straps need to be! This is important because you will sew the other sides of your straps to the back piece next.

Lay it out on the ground to make it easier! 

Making sure the straps aren't twisted, feed them through the back piece & its own facing and sew shut! Repeat the pressing and topstitching. The process is exactly the same as the front, or whichever side you completed first!

Probably the most difficult part!
Now, you make choose to hem your shirt, add a trim such as pom-poms or fringe, or leave a raw edge like I did! (Not a good idea for cotton fabrics or lightweight sheer fabrics).

Here it is! My finished product. A top I sewed that I will actually wear!

Happy making,

--Courtney

Paris Street Style

Hello! So I recently was blessed to visit the ever-romanticized City of Lights, Paris----and the beautiful Barcelona as well in late June this year.

I, among other fashionistas have forever been intrigued by the concept of Parisian fashion. 

Today, I am so excited to share my personal snapshots of street style in both Paris (and Barcelona too!) I never could have imagined how differently the style of dress is in those western European cities. Nearly everyone is dressed in classic, modest, tasteful, and yet still unique garments. Their clothes and shoes are well made, and often purchased from local independent shops. Our mass-produced graphic t-shirts, cargo shorts, and showy sneakers are simply no match for embroidered blouses, linen pants, and domestically made leather shoes. Grab your cafe au lait and feast your eyes on the fashionable men and women of Paris and Barcelona!

Bon voyage!

---Courtney