and now for something completely different...

~ same ole clothes, shoes, sox  ~

Yeah, it's the Sandra Betzina Vogue 1456  top pattern made in linen worn over the Tina Givens Sugar Slip pattern, also made in linen.  And you've seen those coolest of sandals from ebay before.  Just not in this particular arrangement.

~ but notice anything else? ~

Yeah, bay-bee

~ I got me some blue hair for my 65th birthday ~

uh-huh.

~ now I'm blue and old ~

Honestly, I went to a garden party where there were people I see all the time.  And every one of the women thought it was my real hair!  I mean, come on, it looks so fake.   Just goes to show how people don't really look at one another, or pay attention to how anyone else really looks.  They noticed the blue color, but otherwise the cut is similar enough to my usual that they thought I just had colored it.

Anyway, it's a $20 wig from Amazon that my true love gave me for my birthday.  mwah.

Okay then, off to Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell.  Does a wig count as a hat for Judith's Hat Attack?  Probably not.  Stop on by.

An Accidental Ensemble

You know how that goes...you're going for one piece and...next thing you know, you've got a totally different combination.

~ the wardrobe works in mysterious ways ~

 Yes, I made everything.  Well, not the shoes, but you knew that.  Ok, nor the sunnies.

~ this hat brim is so darn big I need a hand(le) to hold it up ~

I mean check it out!

~ yow-sir ~

I made it out of my old, old, very old, like size 8 (??!!) jeans using an out-of-print Vogue hat pattern 8928, view A from 1994.   I lined it with a big scrap of linen left over from a wrap-around dress.  There's super stiff buckram in between for the brim.  And it still flops.  Of course, the humidity has been outrageous for weeks on end with so-called intermittent thunderstorms every day and night.

~ I'm not wearing any new makes, just newly layered together ~

They are both from Tina Givens patterns.  The top layer is the Tessa Slip made in stretch mesh worn over the Poppy Slip (with sleeves added) made from a medium-weight linen tablecloth.

~ back view carrying that big ole hat ~

When I "accidentally" put them on together, I really liked the way the shapes related to each other, not to mention the colors, prints, and weights.   Otherwise, I never wore the Poppy Slip/Dress on it's own because it was just too much of itself, you know?  Tessa kind of cools it down, or lightens it up.  Something like that.

~ and on my feet are a pair of ebay Crocs in pale pink with camo trees ~

And that's the way it was, girls.

This time I'm early so I'll be joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine at I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell  when they all go live.  See you all there!

Oh.  I made a hat and I have it on...so...I'm linking up with the Hat Attack queen, Judith of the Style Crone, of course.  Come on over.

Bug Fest Dress

And July's the season for it.

~ I made the stockings too! ~

~ they're still digging up the street for the gas leak ~

~ yeah ~

Meanwhile, the dress is from Tina Givens Lainey pattern which comes with pantaloons that I made but didn't end up wearing today.

~ bloomers ~

~ pleats ~

~ pocket ~

I did make a few modifications to the dress:  I use my own sleeve pattern for any set-in sleeves on TG makes; made two pockets rather than one; remade the pocket flap to follow the arc of the dress seam; and enlarged the neckline opening.

~ tie key-hole back ~

~ buttoned pocket flat ~

And saving the best for last...my mesh net stockings using McCalls costume pattern 7397

~ front view ~

~ and back ~

They were very easy to make.  Instructions are clear.  After I cut out the pattern, I pinned them up and tried them on inside out, fitting them tighter as needed.   Carefully slid them off and sewed them up.  Trimmed the seams.  I didn't put elastic at the top, but used garters instead.  I think it would be fun to make funky ankle socks too.

The sandals are ancient from T.J. Max, I believe.  Perfect for showing off one's sox.

If I'm not too late I'll be joining up with the usual suspects:  Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine at I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell.   Hope to see you all there!