Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Vogue 8634 + glittery skirt = Holiday outfit

Here's the outfit I made to wear to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert we attended on December 22. They play rock music so I wanted something a little edgy but Christmas-y too.

These 2 fabrics were bought independently from each other. The top is made from a cranberry wool knit from Fashion Fabrics Club and the sequined cranberry stretch wool fancy (whatever that means) is from Hancock Fabrics. I have a ton of the wool knit left over and will probably do some sort of skirt with it. They were both easy fabrics to work with and the top was simple enough to be finished in a day or so.

The skirt was a good two week ordeal. I should have just done a simple straight skirt from my TNT straight skirt pattern but no, I seem to like to complicate things. The top was so simple that I thought I needed something with interest for the skirt. I muslined a skirt from Burda but the fit was way off and I didn't feel like doing the necessary alterations to make it work. Then I cut the fabric for a pleated mini using my TNT waistband. Well, the waistband did fit but the pleats did not take to the fabric well. And no, I did not muslin that one first. Then I had to salvage it somehow so used another pattern for a straight skirt that I'd not made previously and had to add 6 darts to the area under the waistband to make it work. The zipper I'd sewn into the center back and foolishly not tried on until after the waistband facing was completely hand sewn in place stuck out at the bottom like a tail, and no amount of fiddling with it could get it to lay smoothly. It was moved to the side seam where it now behaves itself. After all that I chose not to line it and added some wide ribbon to the inside to keep the sequins from scratching my skin/tights and to act as a hemline facing. However, I really should have lined it because the fabric bags out in the bottom when I sit down for 5 minutes. I may or may not fix that little issue but for now it is going in the back of my closet so I don't have to think of what a nightmare it was to sew. It's a good thing I made the top first because otherwise the skirt would have been in the trashcan.

I wore this outfit to the concert (and did not have the shortest skirt there by far) and also for Christmas Eve with my husband's family. They didn't say anything about it so I'm thinking they thought my skirt scandalously short and chose to ignore my festive clothing completely. What do you think - can a 30 something mom of 3 get away with a mini skirt if she's wearing dark tights and boots with it?

I am cleansing my palette from the nightmare skirt with a very fun little lined jacket. It is coming along s-l-o-w-l-y but now that Christmas is over I hope to finish it up quickly. And we are going to see Les Miserables in early January and I was suppose to make an entire outfit for that as well. It's not happening and I've got to figure out something else quickly.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

40 comments:

  1. Totally cute outfit! As for being a 30-something mom wearing a mini, I say go for it. I have 4 kids (and I'm 39) and my legs are the one part of my the kids didn't wreck, so I rock the shorter skirts.

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  2. I think the skirt and you look awesome!! Keep wearing it!

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  3. With THIS body you can wear whatever you want! You have tremendous level of taste, so nobody can say anything to you. This festive skirt was balanced with casual top, so by all fashion rules you did everything right! And you can even break them to show more of your body from the top, for instance, for a consert it is not such a big deal. Even orchestra consert.

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  4. P.S. Did you like the consert? As I understand, Russian musicians?

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  5. You bet you can! You look wonderful.

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  6. You look wonderful as always your taste is very classy .I am a 30 something and I would wear that skirt as you have worn it in a heartbeat.

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  7. Totally cute outfit and the skirt is not too short. Perfect for holiday get togethers and concerts. We saw similar holiday concerts, Manheim Steamroller and Straight No Chaser and I wore my red pants. I saw that wool with sequin fabric at Hancock’s and loved it, but passed it by because I could not think what to make of it. It made a great skirt.

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  8. I'm 53 and I see nothing wrong with that skirt. Maybe without the tights it would look to short but I think you look cute.

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  9. The outfit is great and the skirt length is perfect for you. I wouldn't give the skirt length a second thought! You look terrific in it.

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  10. Your skirt is far from scandalous! Especially with the tights and boots. Plus, you certainly have the legs to pull it off!

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  11. The outfit looks great! And yes a 30 somthing mom can wear the outfit especially since you wore it tights and boots not fishnets and spike heels! I think you look adorable! This from a 50 something mom of two!LOL

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  12. You look wonderful! The entire outfit is sooo cute!

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  13. I love the outfit! I do not think the skirt is too short, but even if it were, you paired it with a conservative top to make it far from scandalous. In addition, you're more than covered with the tights and boots.

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  14. Supercute outfit! I feel bad the skirt tortured you. However, I do not find it is too short at all - but I do live in LA (haha). if I could go back and tell my young self something it would be to appreciate that young figure! Enjoy it!

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  15. I really love your outfit. I think it is a very tasteful mini skirt...with or without tights.

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  16. Your outfit looks great! The length is perfect, and I love how subdued it is with the tights. Cute sweater, too!

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  17. This is a great outfit and you can certainly get away wearing it since you still look like you're in you 20's!

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  18. Sorry to hear about all the issues, but it turned out great anyway!

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  19. You look adorable in your short, shiny skirt! Any concerns you may have had should be blocked out by your choice of wearing dark tights and boots. The look is totally appropriate to my 63 year-old eyes!

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  20. Those pieces work great together and look awesome on you! Wonderful job!

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  21. you can definately weara shorter skirt with tights and boots...you are young enough and body appropriate to pull it off well. Love the skirt!

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  22. Yes I think the fact that your in-laws made no comment is a comment in itself, but they were not thinking you were dressed inappropriately (because you were so very holiday appropriate), they just couldn't quite handle how fabulous you looked enough to make a comment! I love your blog and plan to enjoy its inspiration throughout 2012...I'm a 50-yr old working mom whose 3 kids are older than yours but I so enjoy what you choose to sew and write about, and your style - thank you for all your posts in 2011! Hope you had a Merry Christmas too!

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  23. You look awesome and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Great outfit!

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  24. Fab outfit, and very well proportioned overall! I would never have thought it was on the short side had you not mentioned it, it looks great on you!
    That top in a wool jersey from FFC is next on my list - did you/do you plan to machine wash the top? It says to hand wash or dry clean, but that's rather inconvienient for a casual shirt...
    PS, thanks for blogrolling me!! I'm so honored! :)

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  25. Sorry to hear that making this skirt was such an ordeal. The outcome however is gorgeous and so is the entire outfit. The colours all work so well together.
    And if you take all the positive reactions on your post, then I believe you have your answer on your question whether a woman your age should/could wear a skirt like this.
    Yes-you-can!

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  26. Absolute, you can wear a short skirt! I'm 63 and still wear them! The outfit is entirely appropriate and looks super on you.

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  27. You look fantastic in this outfit! I would have never guessed you had trouble!

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  28. It is not too short but I think you could bought a similar piece for $10 from F21 or a store .maybe the family didn't notice it because similar skirts have been all over the place.

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  29. What a fun holiday outfit! I have that same cranberry wool and just made a wrap sweater with it. Now, it's a matter of finding time to blog it. ;)

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  30. It is a bit of a relief to me, knowing that you struggle, too. Sewing is not all fun and games, is it? But once again, you knocked it out of the park.

    I have always felt that wearing tights mitigate the shortness of a skirt. It's the bare skin that can put a person into dangerous sartorial territory, depending on the rest of the outfit. And, I also like to cover up more on top if I am wearing a shorter skirt. You look amazing.

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  31. Oh yes! A 30 something year old mom can wear a short skirt especially if they look like you. You did an awesome job! I definitely can't tell that you struggled with sewing it! I am 40 something and have some tasteful shorter skirts/dresses that I wear too!

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  32. A gorgeous outfit on a lovely young woman. Enjoy being young and wear that mini with pride!

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  33. You look great in this outfit. The colour and the style really suits you and the rock chick approach. All the best to you in 2012.

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  34. Love the whole outfit! You can definitely wear the mini skirt with your great legs especially. The top and the tights balance it out so it is not too bare. The outfit looks very classy. Thanks for all the great inspiration on your blog!

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  35. Love this outfit, and the skirt length is perfect for the style. You look great in it! You are also making me want that top pattern, it's so flattering!

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  36. You look great in this outfit! Age doesn't come into it, you have good taste, know how to put a look together and a fab figure so go for it!

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  37. Gorgeous! I have this same fabric in purple that I have YET to sew lol. Maybe soon!

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  38. This is a late comment, I know, but as a 30-something mom of three I would happily wear short skirts if I had your legs. I don't think it's innappropriately short. It looks up to date without being juvenile. I think it's a flattering length on you, so definitely go for it. The great thing about sewing is that you can choose the absolute best length for your own body. After 3 kids, we have to show off whatever assests we still have!

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