Toile de Jouy - YEA or NAY?

You've seen it in decorating magazines...

Mens Corduroy Shorts REVEAL!

Readers, I finished my shorts!  It took most of the day, but I finished them.

How My Op Shorts Pattern Became Men's Boxers

So I was thinking last night: maybe I should do a muslin of my Op shorts pattern before cutting my corduroy.  Then it occurred to me, if I'm going to go to the trouble of making a muslin, why not make something I can actually wear?  You can probably figure out the rest from the title of today's post.

Mens Shorts Dilemma: How Short Is Too Short?

Readers, some of you may think I'm a flamboyant person, but when it comes to day-to-day dressing, I'm actually rather conservative.  I'm perfectly comfortable on the beach in a short bathing suit but you'll never see me walking down the street with my shirt unbuttoned or rocking a pair of Daisy Dukes.  It's just not the vibe I want to give off.

70's Teen Idol Style

Readers, I am a product of the Seventies, by which I mean that, having been born in 1962, I spent my formative years in that decade.  Some people think of the Seventies as a disturbing time with tacky clothes, but take it from someone who was there: it was a great time with tacky clothes.

Linen Border Print Shirt REVEAL!

Ding, Dong, the Shirt is Done!

I am happy to say the linen border print shirt I made for Michael is finished.  And he likes it!

Border print linen shirt - Day 1

Readers, I tried to come up with a zippier title, I really did, but the best I could do was "South of the Border (Print)" which not only makes no sense, it isn't even very funny. 

Color Me Beautiful -- Friend or Foe?

If you've hung out here a while, you know I'm not really about rules.  That's in stark contrast to Michael, who grew up in a strict military family.  Which is not to say that Michael doesn't break rules -- he certainly does -- just that it's always more of a struggle for him.

Glove Story

Occasionally a blog post forces me to confront uncomfortable truths.  Today I realized I own nearly twenty pairs of women's gloves.

Flea Market Strategies for the Sane and Solvent!

Friends, today has been a very challenging day.  Not only did I visit my local flea market, as I often do on weekend mornings, but my apartment building complex (ten high rises) held its annual flea market today as well.  As you know, despite my decluttering victories, I remain at very high risk of recluttering setbacks!

Reflections on My Third Year of Sewing

Readers, my annual reflection posts are my way of looking back at the previous year, seeing what I've accomplished, and trying to make sense of it all. 

Bodies Then vs. Bodies Now

Readers, here's a quote from Tim Gunn from his recent book, Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style:

Look at any photo taken at a nightclub in the forties and fifties; many a flabby upper arm can be seen going to town on the dance floor, no doubt its owner feeling just fine about her appearance.  Today we gasp because we are constantly told that unless a body part is toned it should be kept, like the crazed wife of Mr. Rochester, locked away to keep from offending the new governess."

Don't Tell Me How To Dress!

Men have them, women have them.  I speak of the highly contentious concept of "figure flaws."

Or do we?

How, exactly, can a figure be flawed?  We're not talking factory seconds here, we're talking about bodies, our own bodies, and every one is different; we come in all shapes and sizes.

Fashion and Surrealism + John Rawlings!

Readers, it's hard to imagine today, but there was a time when putting a lobster on a dress was seen as pretty out there. 

You've probably heard about Schiaparelli's famous dress (pictured up top), and perhaps know that there's a big show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in New York comparing Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, which I haven't seen yet.  Today, you could wear an actual lobster and I don't think it would raise too many eyebrows, but such is the world we live in.

Things I Don't Get, Vol 2: The Bubble Dress

Readers, do you trust your own taste?  I mean, if you don't like something that's popular, do you wonder if you're just too small-town and unsophisticated to get it, or like the boy in The Emperor's New Clothes, are you able to confidently call it like you see it?