May 17, 2011

homesewn

La Défense, Puteaux
La Défense, Puteaux
cats & herbs
La Défense, Puteaux
La Défense, Puteaux
La Défense, Puteaux
earrings - Anthropologie / cat print blouse - Zara / belt - vintage, thrifted / skirt - homemade from vintage fabric / tights - Target / boots - vintage Nine West via etsy

This skirt is one of my absolute favorite items of clothing, so I was especially relieved to get it back last week after my epic mail fiasco. I made it about a year ago from some vintage kitchen curtains that I thrifted, and it's since gotten more wear than all my other homemade clothes combined. I am by no means an expert seamstress, but I do love wearing clothes that I've made for myself. It's definitely a skill that runs in my family - my grandmother still does mending and alterations for her neighbors, my mom made all my Halloween costumes growing up (and I still have an incredible coat she made for herself at age 14!), and even my dad did a little home-sewing when I was a baby. He was a stay-at-home dad while my mom finished her PhD, and she still tells the story about how he called her at school one day to ask how to put in a zipper. She told him it was a bit complicated, and that she'd show him how when she got home - but by the time she did, he'd already popped me into the stroller, zipped down to the library, and taught himself how to do it from a book. It's a small thing, but I'm still so proud of him for that.

vent building
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32 comments:

  1. Cali4niachic00May 17, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    I love this outfit!  The skirt is superb. 

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  2. EmilyMay 17, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    I love the pattern mixing. That skirt is incredible, I can't believe you made it yourself. I have a sewing machine, but I must admit that it's been neglected. I'm going to try it out more this summer.

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  3. SantinaMay 18, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    I absolutely adore this mix of prints. The color and print of that skirt are stunning - well done!  

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  4. RunWorkPlayMay 18, 2011 at 2:04 AM

     pretty!! Like a splash of sunshine

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  5. AmeliaMay 18, 2011 at 3:11 AM

     amazing skirt! kudos :) what's the building you're standing in front of? and ps. love the new layout!

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  6. dasmaedchenmitdenlockenMay 18, 2011 at 7:41 AM

     i love your color- and patternful outfits!

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  7. Anja_AHeartandSoulStoryMay 18, 2011 at 8:14 AM

     I looooove that skirt. already told in the other post that it was my favorite of all the things you got back in the package. Even better that you made it yourself! It looks super cute with the kitty blouse. Btw, the background for those pictures is awesome. You always find these amazing places to take your photos!

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  8. CatheyMay 18, 2011 at 9:51 AM

     That skirt is so great. I really need to learn to sew!
    And that building is great too! Where is it? Or more importantly, what is it?

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  9. KerryMay 18, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    So pretty! You'll have to start giving us sewing tips! 

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  10. dixieMay 18, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    lovely skirt! that's great fabric. and great background (as usual). and I just looked at the close up of that shirt - are those cat silhouettes??? amazing! I want it!

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  11. AbiMay 18, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Lovely skirt! I also love that it's made out of something old. Somehow I find recycling, turning old in to new sometimes more satisfying than using new. the example I'm most proud of is my paper bag princess dress: 
    http://thepaperbagmiss.tumblr.com/page/3
    (the very first post on my relatively new blog)

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  12. IzabelaMay 18, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    That is a fantastic story! I love the subtle pattern mixing, and that skirt is fabulous!!!

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  13. ArchivesMay 18, 2011 at 10:50 PM

     ok, first off - that is the cutest story ever. are you an only child (like moi)?

    that skirt is super awesome....but really, emily - the star of this show is you rockin that sheer top with only a bra under it! holy yeah!!!! 

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  14. Kara @ Unusual FormMay 19, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    I love this entire outfit, especially the skirt.  To make it, did you use a pattern, a tutorial, or did you just wing it?

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  15. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Thank you!

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  16. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    Thanks Emily! I didn't use my machine very often until the last few years, and one of the biggest factors in finally getting me to use it more often was taking a short class on how to operate it - I already knew the basics of machine sewing, but learning how to really utilize all the features of my machine made such a big difference! I just took a quick afternoon class at a store that sold sewing machines (and vacuums - why are those always sold together?) and I definitely recommend it!

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  17. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Thanks! I was so psyched when I found those curtains, when I found them at the thrift store I wouldn't put them down for fear someone else might grab them!

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  18. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Thank you :)

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  19. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Thanks Amelia! The building in these photos is actually an art piece by Raymond Moretti called La Cheminée (The Chimney). It's made entirely of glass tubes, and conceals a 32 m. chimney building that vents the highway and train tracks running under the esplanade in La Défense.

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  20. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Thank you!

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  21. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:21 AM

    Thanks Anja! At one point in the mail saga, I thought I'd only be able to get back some of the items I'd have shipped, and this skirt was definitely my highest priority - no way I could replace it!

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  22. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    Thanks Cathey! I definitely recommend taking up sewing if you're interested, with a bit of practice you can pretty much make anything you like! And it saves a lot of trouble (and money) when you can't find just what you're looking for in stores. :)

    The building is actually a sculpture and ventilation stack for an underground highway! Check out my reply to Amelia above for more details about the project.

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  23. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    Thanks Kerry! Now that I'm home for a few weeks, I'm hoping to put together a post or two with some easy sewing patterns/tutorials . :)

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  24. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:48 AM

     Yup, they're cats! And despite being a life-long dog person (and even cat-allergic), I have to admit, the kitties make for a pretty great print. :)

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  25. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:51 AM

     Thanks Abi! I feel much the same way, I love trying to reimagine old things and give them new life. And your paper bag dress is super cute - it reminds me of some of the costumes I used to make for architecture school parties, I'd always get so into making my outfit that I'd neglect my work for days at a time!

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  26. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    Thanks Izabela - somehow cats and herbs just seemed like a natural fit. :)

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  27. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 12:59 AM

     I am an only child - supposedly it makes us better verbal communicators because we spent more of our youth interacting with adults. Totally true, obvs. :)

    Haha, I've actually got a sneaky nude tank under there, but the pockets on the chest give a total bra-illusion that I'd never noticed before! I don't know if I'd be bold enough to actually skip the under layer - maaaaaybe at night. Maybe.

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  28. emilyMay 21, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    Thanks Kara. I sort of winged the skirt, I've made about a half-dozen with this silhouette so I have something of a 'method' at this point. I pretty much live in this kind of skirt over the summer, so I'm actually hoping to put together a little tutorial post on how to make your own sometime in the next couple of weeks.

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  29. bluecollarkylaMay 23, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    I'm crazy about these pieces individually and am completely floored by them as a pair!  Well played, lady!

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  30. Amy AllertonMay 30, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    I love this outfit so much :)

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  31. emilyJune 7, 2011 at 1:43 PM

     Thanks Kyla! I do love a good print-mix. :)

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  32. emilyJune 7, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Thank you!

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