Today’s outfit inspiration comes from a completely new realm for me – watercolor painting!
Remember that watercolor class that I signed up for earlier this summer? Well, here’s a shot of one of the paintings I did in my final class (no, it wasn’t a fashion illustration class, but the teacher was open to letting us paint whatever wanted – and she was tickled that I went with fashion illustration, ha!). I had some swatches from Mood Fabrics that I knew I wanted to turn into an outfit for my next MSN post, but the outfit inspiration didn’t come until my pen er, watercolor hit the paper 🙂
Let’s start at the top and work our way down! I used Simplicity 1425 for the pattern, and cut the most simple version (sleeveless, no yoke, no collar). I cut the size 4 and took a little in at the waist, as well as made my normal gaping-upper-back alteration that seems to be a running theme for me when it comes to sewing Simplicity patterns.
My fabric is this beautiful white cotton eyelet from Mood fabrics, which I underlined with this bright white cotton batiste (also from Mood Fabrics), for modesty and some opacity. It’s still a little on the sheer side – as in, I have to watch what color undergarments I’m wearing! – but the two fabrics together make such a fun light and airy top.
Also, I just noticed that there is a fly on my boob in this picture (at least, I’m pretty sure it’s that fly that was buzzing around). Gross.
Sewing was very simple and straightfoward – not to mention fast! Seriously did all this (minus the initial muslin) in the space of a Saturday afternoon. Not too bad! I underlined all the pieces by hand with silk thread (it’s not totally necessary to use silk thread, but it does make it easier to pull out the basting when you attach the seams – which, if you’re as anal-retentive as I am about sewing, you will totally appreciate that, ha!) and I used a 70/10 Microtex needle to prevent puckering, since the fabric is so lightweight. Most of the inside seams are serged, although I did finish the armholes and neckline with bias facing (cut from the same batiste). I can’t really speak for the instructions on this pattern as I didn’t use them at all, but the overall finished top is pretty nice!
For an extra lil’ punch, I stuck an exposed separating zip right up the center back. Kind of toughens up the overall sweetness of the eyelet, yeah? 🙂 This pattern was actually written for there to be buttons down the back – which is a cute idea in theory, but they only called for 3. THREE. How that doesn’t look like a fucking hot mess when you’re wearing the top and moving around is beyond me. I imagine that would gape a lot! So I swapped out my buttons for a fun zipper and I’m loving the way it turned out.
Getting the zipper in was kind of an adventure in itself. I tried googling around for directions on inserting an exposed zipper (I mean, I had a vague idea of how to do it, but I always like to check and see if my technique is right first), but everything I was pulling up was for close-ended zippers. Since my zip is separating (you know, so I can get the top off and on without destroying something in pure rage during the process), those particular tutorials were kind of a moot point. In the end, I kind of winged it, but I think it worked out!
As far as the style of the top – well, I like it. I know it’s super trendy- especially with the dang exposed zipper! – but I’m ok with being trendy. I think peplum tops are super cute and the white eyelet will go with lots in my summer wardrobe. Plus, I can tuck that peplum into high-waisted skirts, so it’s like two tops in one! Woohoo!
Now for the shorts! I used my beloved Sewaholic Thurlow pattern, matched up with my other beloved plum organic cotton twill from Mood Fabrics. My love affair with that organic cotton twill should be well known at this point, I hope. That stuff is amazing. Soft and cottony with a bright, saturated color… a dream to sew, and a dream to wear. I’ve made so much with this particular fabric in different colorways – including moreeee Thurlows! – and I’m sorry y’all have to see it again. Just kidding, I’m not sorry! These shorts rule! Get you some of that organic cotton twill, you won’t regret it!
I don’t really know how much more I can talk about these shorts until y’all tell me to shut up. I’ve seriously made them so many times, it’s kind of like autopilot at this point. I found that I did have to take quite a bit of excess out of the legs this go-round… I think I might be getting too un-curvy to wear this particular pattern 😦 I’m already at the smallest size, so it’s not like I can size down. I’m hoping my adjustments will work for future Thurlow shorts, but I’m kind of afraid to try the pants at this point since there is soo much that needs to be changed now, ugh. I reckon I could find another pants patterns to sub out, but wah! I want to keep making Thurlows forever!
Anyway, fitting issues aside, these shorts were a delight to put together. I played around with the topstitching on this pair and I really love how the it looks so gorgeous and crisp against this fabric. I tried topstitching around the welts this time – something I’ve seen in RTW and always wanted to try – and I think it looks pretty nice!
Oh, and check out that fun lining! Yeah girl! That comes courtesy of this crazy/awesome psychedelic cotton voile print, which is unfortuanately sold out now (but take a look at the other cotton voiles from Mood Fabrics. Sweet!). I love putting crazy prints in my pants because, dude, why not? Business in the front, party on the inside. Or something like that!
Since we’re on a roll with all these detail shots, here are some of the top:
I took waaay too many pictures, but there was so much detail to capture! Sorry bout that!
So I guess the next question is – does she have that outfit from the fashion illustration?
Fuck yeah I do! Ok, maybe not so much the shoes, but I’ve got the purse! Ha! This shit’s from Kate Spade – I bought it after I was having a really rough week (retail therapy totally works, y’all.). It was on sale, but it is still also the most expensive purse I’ve ever bought – and it’s totally worth it! I knew I couldn’t find that lemon fabric anywhere, so I justified it with the purse hahah 🙂
Just for fun, here I am trying to strike a pose like my fashion illustration. Hmm… probably should stick to painting, not posing! 🙂
LLADYBIRD 
I have sewn all my life, but never really stretched myself, although I am trying new techniques a little now, but your stitching inspires me. The quality of the stitching is superb, and the attention to detail is amazing, all at the speed of light too! I also like your fashion style. We’ll done you.
Aww, thank you! That really means a lot 🙂
Love the illustration, hope you do some more in the future. I’ve tried filling in the templates in my fashionary but they look like they’ve been drawn by an eight year old with a Barbie fixation! Your outfit is spot on and the exposed zipper is genius!
I’m trying to keep at it! It’s hard to find the time since there are millions of things I’d like to do all at once! But yeah, I really enjoy watercoloring. So fun!
Love that eyelet. I could see it in a shift dress with neon yellow lining.
That would be beautiful!
Super cute. I love the hardness and the softness of this. Who said Girlie couldn’t be tough. I have this pattern, your version makes me want to tackle it.
Love your zipper and eyelet combo! I love the element of an unexpected surprise in clothing. And don’t feel bad about that fab bag….I allow myself one Kate Spade bag (on sale) once every few years. I just bought a new one last month and it will last me a long time. Much better than buying new cheap bags throughout the year.
It’s my first fancy bag and I can definitely tell a difference between that and the crappy ones I always carry. I’d rather just buy one fabulous bag every few years than a bunch of cheap ones, and this one is pretty fabulous 🙂
Great drawing and painting! Love the top! Will you do more paintings for your projected seasonal sewing?
I’m hoping to! I loove painting… just have to find a way to fit it in with sewing and knitting 🙂 haha!
I’m all over this. TOO cute! Exposed zipper is genius.
Beautiful top, love the hard/soft edge with the metal separating zip. Nota bene: do not make buttons-down-the-back blouses and dresses for yourself if you live alone, or if your significant other travels a lot for work! Them thangs is hard to do all by yer lonesome. I forswore back-closing items when I was a nursing mother, and have never regretted the decision. If a garment does not slip over my head without fastenings, or does not fasten up the front, I don’t make that garment or buy that garment. Well, tops. I do have skirts and trousers that zip up the back, but not many. I’ll re-draft a pant to fasten in front or on the side; and I don’t wear skirts very often, so will suffer a back zipper once or twice a quarter.
I can’t imagine trying to button the back of a garment by yourself! That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen haha 🙂
Both pieces are fantastic!! I love the shorts, especially. The top is great too, but those shorts! The perfect color, amazing topstitching… lovely.
Ooo I don’t know, both pose and illustration look pretty good to me 😉 i love, love, love your thurlows, the colour…top stitching …. Perfect!
Been following your blog for awhile and I think this is my favorite ensemble yet. Awesome job!
I was so displeased with my recent cotton twill purchase- it wrinkles SO easily! So much so that I don’t want to wear the garment I made with it because I look like I walked out of my laundry basket that’s been sitting for a month, even after ironing it! Maybe I’ll have to try this kind though. It looks a lot more manageable!
Well, I will warn you that this stuff wrinkles too – I mean, it is cotton, after all! But it doesn’t wrinkle too bad (just mostly at my legs, from sitting and moving around), and the wrinkles fall out after a couple of hours. It definitely doesn’t look like it’s been sitting in the laundry basket for a month, that’s for sure! 🙂
Lauren, I LOVE the illustration! I tried my hand at it in college, but have yet to take it outside of the classroom.
omggg Maddie, I’d love to see! I bet you’re amazing at illustration, just like everything else 😉
Wow! I wish I had your legs. If I did I’d definitely be making these shorts. However at my time of life and with my cellulite I’ll have to pass. The top though is going on my wishlist of future makes.
Ha! I don’t get a lot of compliments on my legs, so thank you 🙂
Super cute – the whole outfit. Love the exposed zip on the top. I’m curious though, what is the adjustment you do to take care of the gaping back? I seem to have that problem all of the time but usually end up adding darts on either side of the zip.
It’s for a Dowager’s Hump (classy name, huh?). Basically, you’re getting that gape because the back of your top/dress isn’t long enough to reach the base of your neck. Here’s a Threads article with some info, although the method I personally use is from the Fit For Real People Book. I try not to add darts to the back unless it’s absolutely needed, because otherwise they tend to throw off the proportions of the front neckline.
I freaking love this so much!!!
Such gorgeous work as usual! I have so much appreciation for the level of detail you include (such as which needle you used to prevent puckering – that helps!). I’ve been reading your amazing blog for quite a while now and realized it was time I express how valuable it is to me! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Well thank you! Such a nice comment 😀
Oh, that lining! It gives me needs…
completely in love with this outfit! i’ve been wanting an eyelet something or other, and how smart to use it for a top! keeps the sweet factor down a little. plus exposed zipper… YES! love it. also having a little bag envy… so cute!
Looks good! The buttons in back kept me away from this pattern. Wonderful idea to use a zipper that separates.
Okay Miss Lauren, the next time you do an exposed zipper you need to do it with one of these sexy things:http://zipperstop.com/product-category/swarovski-rhinestone-zippers/
Spendy but fabulous. (I’ve ordered all kinds of stuff from them and been super pleased.)
Ahaha that is awesome!
Oh good timing. I’ve had that pattern sitting on my ironing board for a couple weeks trying to figure out what to make it from. That’s a pretty choice, and I’m glad to see it looks just fine with a zipper and will be skipping buttons too.
I really want the thurlows 😦 Maybe I should just do it..
My vote is yes! 🙂
I love the color combination of the top and the shorts. It is a really nice outfit. and your painting is awesome!
Wow you are a talented painter too! I’ve been reading your blog for almost a year. You are such an inspiration to me! I’m finally getting the courage to get back to trying to sew this dress I’ve been working on. You look amazing in the amazing clothes you make! You make it look TOO easy (it makes me insanely jealous!!) 🙂 Are you thinking about going into fashion design or writing patterns? Or do you just love the sewing and creating part? The painting is *really* good.
One of the reasons I’ve been lazy, is that I’ve been a size 3 for my whole life but the last few years I have gained 15 pounds on my stomach and upper thighs and my boobs (sorry for TMI). Um. I’m 5 foot exactly so while I’m not technically overweight, I’m like a size 8 and it freaks me out. I’ve been trying to lose the weight and I have by quitting pop, but I think it’s because I’m over 30. I look like I’m 22 so it’s really hard to get a realistic grasp on it all. I’ve never had a chest, so I have to do a FBA on the dress, and I’m pretty clueless with garment sewing. I’ve been watching tons of videos online to try to grasp it. I don’t really have someone to sew with, so that’s been the biggest problem. But I’m going to finish a couple skirts by the end of this month, to make me start to finish the dress. Sorry for all the TMI. I know I would feel better wearing clothes that fit better and that I like, and I know that would make me work to lose the weight, so I just gotta do it. Do you have any recommendations to give a beginner? I know how to sew on a machine and feel fine doing that. But I definitely need a FBA or dart tutorial. My darts make me look like Madonna from Vogue. While that might be awesome in some situations, it definitely wasn’t for a dress
Thanks so much!
Aw, thank you! Such a nice comment so early in the morning 🙂 I have no intentions of turning to the design world – either fashion or pattern design. I’m not necessarily creative when it comes to dreaming up new designs, and I have no interest in learning pattern drafting. I’d rather just sew 🙂
I totally hear ya on your fitting woes. To be honest, fitting is a long, never ending journey (you’ll think you got it, but you’ll find new things to be nitpicky about… or your weight and body shape will change again!), and it can be very frustrating at times. I’m almost entirely self-taught, if that makes you feel any better – it CAN be done! You just have to be ok with self-learning and making lots of mistakes as you figure things out 🙂 I definitely recommend getting a good fitting book or two – my bibles are Fit For Real People & The Perfect Fit. The diagrams and instructions are really clear and easy to understand. Also, get used to making looots of muslins! SO many muslins! But eventually, you won’t have to make as many and you’ll be able to just coast 🙂 You gotta get to that point, though!
My main recommendation for any beginner is to constantly push yourself to learn more and improve! Once you’ve finished those skirts, push yourself to try something a little more involved/complicated. Don’t shy away from a pattern or fabric because it seems like it would be too hard – that’s the only way you’re going to get better, is by growing! Check out the Fit For Real People book for a great tutorial on FBAs, and for darts – here’s a tutorial I posted recently (you’ve likely already seen this, but just in case!). And don’t ever apologize for TMI! Have you READ some of the shit I’ve posted?? We love TMI over here! 🙂
OMG girl your legs look awesome! I want me some of those, oh! and some Thurlow shorts too for the summer. 🙂
Girl, you are so talented. Is there anything that you can’t do? I enjoy peeking into your blog to see your creations, such a joy and inspiration! Your welt pockets are perfect! I am so intimidated of sewing this type of pocket. Practice makes perfect, I will keep trying.
Your sewing is so inspiring. Your addition of creative details in your garments, like the zipper in the shirt, really take the pieces to a higher level. Beautiful!
Most find a pattern way to read your blog, so I can respond better. I generally read your post first thing in the morning in my email and have my comments then. Now, don’t even recall. (old people problems, lol)
ANYWAY, OMG loving loving this; the drawing and the outfit. You make watercolors looks less evil. I want this outfit, tho I probably would never wear it. I think the fit is great.
You only need to lean your upper half forward a bit and you got the pose. 😉
You and me both! I love reading my blogroll via my phone, but I hate using it for commenting, so I try to save them until I get to a computer. And then I forget everything I wanted to comment on and what I wanted to say! Argh we need a better solution, ha!
So cute! I tried to make a top like that and it looks like shit. Haha Oh well, yours looks awesome! Great purse too 🙂
Love this outfit! You look exactly like your drawing 🙂 I am not nearly artistic enough to paint things that look like actual people instead of blobs, but I think a couple of these would make such cute sewing space decorations!
They do! I have a few hanging up over my desk right now 🙂
Okay, I admit that I lurk your blog more than follow it (though I should really just follow since I check to see if you have posted more than I even check my own blogroll . . .), but I love your Thurlow’s. Don’t apologize for making them again, they are awesome. I seriously need to get this pattern. Just curious, did you make adjustments to make these shorts shorter than the pattern – they look shorter (which I love) than some of the other versions I have seen.
Haha I totally know what you mean… I would lurk blogs for ages (sometimes a couple of years) before subscribing. Dunno why! Oh, and I did shorten the shorts – I took off the cuff, and a little additional length, as I like my inseam to be about 2.5″-3″~ish. Longer shorts tend to look kind of dumpy on me 🙂
How many people mentioned how awesome the Thurlow lining is? I need to get on that list. Love it! It looks wicked as.
SO talented – linings are great – well done you!
UGH, I basically want to straight-up copy this. Looks EXACTLY like your illustration. Looks so cute with tall shoes.
Love this look! Amazing work! You’ve totally just inspired me, as I have some near-identical black eyelet fabric that’s been waiting 18 months for a use… Just bought the top pattern from Etsy – hope you don’t mind a clone top waltzing around the streets of London! 🙂
Amazing! You do realise you need to paint all of your makes from now on;)
Absolutely lurve that eyelet fabric – and the whole outfit. In response to your comments on the Thurlow shorts – I’ve made them and I love them but like you I had a few “fit issues”. Made for curvier women I think. Have you seen the Chataigne shorts from Deer and Doe? Side zip – a bit more of a ’50’s kind of style but they fitted me like a dream (the toile/muslin) and I would say I was a similar size and shape to you. Give them a try – I haven’t quite finished mine or i’d post a pic.
Holy shitballs can you draw or what! You never cease to impress me. My phone suggested I meant impose and yes, your amazingness is a bit imposing, but you’re also inspiring. The sketch is fantastic and the outfit is adorable!
I love this! Great idea to use the zipper! I was thinking the same thing!