This is already a very different experience to last year's MMM, which had really summery weather for the first ten days or so. No sundresses this time around!
Day 1:
Pants: Style Arc Sunday Walking Pants. Most comfortable and best fitting tracksuit pants ever!
Everything else: RTW
Had a bit of a giggle to myself at this - it's hardly starting out the month on a glamorous note! But I was in dire need of comfy stuff for home days last MMM, so these are definitely filling a gap. Will post on these at some stage, if only to show a comparative shot of my RTW ones - proof positive of why self-made is superior!
Day 2:
Leggings: Style Arc Wallis Pant
Everything else: RTW
Another home day, and more comfiness (aka Lack of Glamour). Sewing with ponte is the best, and largely why I continued to persevere with knit sewing. I don't wear these as much as the charcoal ones I made, but they're useful for emergencies.
Day 3:
Cowl: Dovetail Cowl, by Carina Spencer
Everything else: RTW.
Quick phone shot, I'm afraid. A sole accessory isn't cheating, is it?
Day 4:
Jacket: Style Arc Audrey Jacket.
Everything else: RTW.
I can't quite make up my mind about this. It's divinely warm without being heavy, and the wool and silk (lining) sewed up beautifully. But the neck really doesn't sit right, which irritates me when I wear it. Plus, I think I like the silhouette/style more on other people than I do on myself... I'll give it a few more chances to prove itself (especially since the fabric wasn't cheap...), but I don't think it'll ever be a true favourite.
Day 5:
Jeans: Refashioned. In this case, dyed. (first with turmeric, as an experiment, then with Rit dye, to even out the colour.)
Everything else RTW.
First of the hoped-for ten days of wearing more than one handmade/refashioned item :). Love this top pattern. The jeans I wear...a bit. I love the colour in theory, but they do feel quite bright on. I really prefer to wear more muted colours, to be honest. But I guess when I get tired of these I can always just dye them black :)
I do sew patterns other than Style Arc, I promise!
Day 6:
Skirt: New Look 6107 (see!)
Everything else: RTW.
How many garments can you wear in 30+ degree summer heat and 13 degree autumn chill? Love it.
(Apologies for odd hand movement - this was the only in focus shot. Well, mostly anyhow...)
Day 7:
Jumper: Beatnik, by Norah Gaughan
Everything else: RTW
You know that one me-made that just makes you happy every single time you put it on? This is mine. It took months of effort and perseverence, and I feel like I'm carrying around a little sense of satisfied achievement whenever I wear it. How many RTW garments can you say that about?
On that note, have any of you read Emma's (This Kind Choice) series on "Connecting with Our Clothes"? Her whole blog is really thought-provoking, but this series in particular is excellent - it examines the way clothes can be more than just a cheap, disposable fashion fix and rather be a visual history of our lives.
And that's the week that was. I really need to make sure I wear a few me made outfits next week if I'm going to reach my goal of ten days...it's harder than it sounds!
Are you participating in MMM '14? How are you finding it so far?
Looks great! My MMM is going well thus far, though I am already finding (and trying to fill!) some wardrobe gaps. Moving from assisted living work back to the art studio has also made for a dressing challenge! Think year I'm also paying more attention to taking a photo every day, and while that can sometimes be a pain it's been positive so far to spend that kind of attention and reflection on myself. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a really great persepective, actually - I hadn't thought of it like that :) It's funny how quickly MMM reveals the gaps, huh! I'm seriously considering bumping pj pants up the queue after seeing yours...
DeleteA stylish week indeed! I've got to say I've found week one a bit me-made-meh - it's been so cold that I've not really been able to be too imaginative with my outfit choices! Your Norah jumper is just amazing - it looks so warm and cozy, you are the cable queen!
ReplyDeleteHe he, cables are my stripes ;) And you're right about the weather - I'm looking at the week's forecast and trying to ration my warmest stuff!
DeleteI love that you have included casual, at-home clothes as well as work appropriate clothes. I'm particularly impressed by the Audrey jacket. It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks! I found last year I couldn't do without the comfy at-home stuff, so utterly lacking in glamour though they be, they're staying in. :)
DeleteI loved this! Casual is totally underrated, you look lovely ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Audrey jacket is great, and looks really good on you. Maybe you could alter the collar if it is annoying? Also, your yellow pants are awesomeness!
Thanks! It's actually really hard to feel anything less than cheerful when you're wearing yellow pants ;) And I may need to play around with the collar; it'd be a shame to waste all that effort.
DeleteFabulous round up, I love how comfy your makes look. You look so at ease in them. I haven't posted any pictures but i am doing the challenge. Wearing home made four days out of seven. It's going well but there are lots of gaps in my MM wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hear you! It's made me that much more determined to master jeans before next May... I hope your gorgeous peacock dress is getting plenty of wear on those four days a week!
DeleteSome lovely makes here! Those 'Sunday walking pants' look like rtw (or better!). I wish we had that pattern brand in the UK. They seem to do a lot of current stuff. Love floral skirt a lot too ( a cheerful thing to wear, I think) and of course jumper really Is fab. Love the patterns on the front and (again!) wish I could knit.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Philippa! Style Arc do indeed have a lot of current stuff; the SA pattern modelled on the lovely yellow dress that Kate wore on the recent Royal visit down here was available the very next day! I'm not sure they have any distributors actually - I've only ever ordered online from them. I'm sure they'd post internationally, if you don't mind the postage rates.... :o
DeleteLovely collection thus far! You got very stylish coming down to the end of the week :) I love the purple jumper! If I were somewhere cold I'd take up the knitting but for now it's all easy breezy for me. Are you doing 10 days of consecutive me made outfits rather than one everyday for the month?
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm planning on ten days throughout the month on which I wear at least two makes. Just trying to gauge whether I'm still making "one-off" garments, or am getting better at sewing more versatile items. :)
ReplyDelete