Outfitting for a Plague:

〰LOCK DOWN〰

*

                                                               ~ from Kati Koos Shop, Modesto, California

And my first outing during the Plague...

                                                                                                            ~ thanks to Elaine for the photo

...with my True Love, no less.

                    Alas, I didn't have the recommended ensemble at my disposal.

*The protective suit of the Plague Doctor consisted of a light, waxed fabric overcoat, a mask with glass eye openings and a beak shaped nose, typically stuffed with herbs, straw, and spices. Plague doctors would also commonly carry a cane to examine and direct patients without the need to make direct contact with them.  Due to the primitive understanding of disease at the time, it was believed this suit would sufficiently protect the doctor from miasma while tending to patients.  (wikipedia)

MMM'20: Tina Givens Velvets

on a Winter's Day

~ or at least it feels like it ~

~ I actually bought the velvet from Tina way back when ~

I was making her Bethany dress pattern at the time, last seen on me here in 2015.  As you can see, I later changed things up by removing the bodice from the skirt.  I just never wore it as it was.  And do as it is now.   (I have yet to decide what to do with the skirt part...)

Since I still had leftover velvet, I also made TG's Phoebe pants shown above, using other scraps of velvet for the cuff and side inserts.  I've made at least half a dozen of these pants.

The stretch mesh shirt I wear a lot too.  It's made from Vogue 8450 with slight modifications.

 And it all goes deliciously with my Doc Marten's from ebay

~ yesssss ~

~ and the Masked Mug Shot of Yours Truly ~

'til later,

MMM'20: Whatever...

Do I have On?

~ Yes, that is the question. ~

It's a hodgepodge of all sorts of things I just kept piling on.   An old chiffon dress that I attempted to retro-fit and never finished.  A chiffon shirt I retro-fitted that's now too big (so is the dress, by the way).    A refashioned pair of gauze shorts extended into chiffon bloomers.  Complete with a recycled necklace made by a friend.

~ I was shocked at how big everything had become.  ~

~ hmmm ~

~ I also found out there's still pins in this thing. ~

Tell me, do you think it's actually wearable?  Does it need to go back into time out for another several years?  Maybe some re-layering would help a bit? 

~ rain boots from the neighborhood thrift store ~

Attempting to show off my camouflaged necklace here:

~ with the masked mug shot of the day ~

And that's a wrap.

MMM'20: A Handmaid's Tale

When I was undressing last night 
and saw this red dress without the overdress, 
I realized I had everything I needed:  cap, mask, boots 
and even St. Corona gloves.  

Well, those were a bonus.  

~ for my version of a Handmaid ~

~ Don't you think so? ~

~ here's a back view of it all ~

The dress is from Katherine Tilton's OOP Vogue 6334 made in a mesh stretch knit.  

I copied the hat from one I bought from Secret Lentil, but apparently she's closed right now.  You can see the one I purchased from her, here.  I know she has more of the same style in a variety of interesting colors.

You can see the one I made out of a thick canvas last worn in MMM'19, here.

~ Handmaid in her docile, subservient role ~

~ and here she is not taking it any more ~

~ with Doc Marten combat boots ready for anything ~

~ an extra large masked and capped mug shot ~

So you're able to see the details of my decorated St Corona gloves. 

I was seriously compelled to make these after reading Catherine McEver's Corona posts.  I liberally combined several of her ideas, techniques and fascinating information from Stuff You Can't Have.  

A truly must read blog for our time, or any time.

Hope to see you soon,

MMM'20: Chocolate Maraschino

~ as my costume for the day ~

I'm wearing a double dip of two dresses: 

a chocolate embellished corduroy made from Tina Givens Clara Kaftan pattern over

a cherry red mesh knit made from Katherine Tilton's OOP Butterick 5986 dress pattern. 

I eliminated the back center doodad as well as the front slit on the kaftan, added pockets in the flanges, and chiffon rolled up cuffs to the sleeves.  

You can see previous wears here and here.

The red dress has only been worn a few times.  

See other reiterations here and here.

~ with some fav shoes from ebay ~

~ and Ye Olde Masked Mug Shot ~

Later,

MMM'20: Purple with Some Other Color

~ hmmm, I say ~

What do you think?

~ It does seem a wee bit odd ~

But anyway, I've got it on, so that's that.

The jacket is made from faux suede with an attached silk scarf.  It closes with hook and eyes.  I made it decades ago and don't recall what pattern it was from.  It only fits me again now.

~  very plain, but still interesting, I think ~

The dress is from Tina Givens Nani Lee pattern which I've worn before, here.  Made out of an orange and olive green cotton/tencel two-toned twill.  I think the neckline is just lovely.  I did made the sleeves longer, added pockets, and eliminated the zipper because I could easily slip it on and off over my head.

Oh, and I added a scrap piece of velvet for a belt, part of it is a dusty maroon and the other is a vivid cherry red.  The maroon side is showing now.

Great luck stumbling across lavender fishnets in the sock drawer(s).

~ worn with my PSKaufman Oxfords from ebay (brand new for $21.50)! ~

And Last, but not Least...

~ a doctored Mask Mug Shot of Yours Truly ~

See ya later...

MMM'20: Cold in May Wear

~Yes, I'm Very Cool Here ~

The necklace is made from a striped knit someone gave me that I tied into intermittant knots.  There was still enough leftover for a matching mask!

~ and trying to stay warm ~

The dress is an easy make from this free pattern using a mystery knit from deep stash. I just made it a little longer and added the bright blue cuffs and inner collar.  And pockets.

~ worn with matching over-the-knee sox and Doc Marten boots ~

~ Le Mask Mug Shot ~

'til tomorrow...

MMM'20: Made In Quarantine

or Now What?!

~ breath in, breath out ~

Just as I was putting this together, each of my blog posts for the past upteen years turned to zero views.  Great.  Of course, there's no way of getting in contact with anyone from blogpostland, believe me, I've tried.

You know how things go when under quarantine, it's one messed up thing after another.  Am I right? The car battery dies, gets jumped and then needs a new one after all; the cat catches a mouse in the house; we find the old box of dominos, but the dominos themselves are nowhere to be found; Pinterest stops letting me edit my pins.  I did contact Pinterest.  A robot emailed back and said a human would follow-up.  yeah, we'll see.  I could go on and on, but I'll just stop here. 

  Okay (with a deep breath)

~ Here I am again ~

Well, I made this, I don't particular like it, but it's wearable and I do wear it, so there's that.  I mean, it's okay.  The print is just not my style (maybe.)  Although it certainly does catch your eye.  Made from a jersey knit I had in stash for a long time.  I used the Sandra Betzina Vogue pattern I mentioned yesterday for the pants.  I think I made up the top.  It's no big deal.  Just folded the fabric in quarters and then cut it out so there would be no shoulder seams.

  

~ worn with sneakers from ebay ~

 And my Mask Mug Shot

Happy Mother's Day, whether you are or not, do it or don't.

MMM'20: Another Shelter-In-Place Ensemble

~ relaxed and oh so comfy ~

And may I say, pretty, too?

~ well okay, you can say unusual ~

The fabric is a soft, thin sweater knit.  

I made the top awhile ago using Tina Givens Olivia pattern, 

last seen on me, here during MMM'19.

~ do you think the matching mask tips it over the edge? ~

The pants were made during lockdown using the leftover fabric and

 a favorite pants pattern of mine by Sandra Betzina, Vogue 1355. 

~ worn with my lovely and ancient Doc Marten's ~

Now here's a look to behold:

~ Boo! ! ~

Catch you tomorrow...if you don't watch out!

MMM'20: Unadorned.

Lockdown does that to you.

~ and mask-less too! ~

This is from Simplicity 9018 made in a heathered sweater knit.   

So soft and comfy, to say the least.  

~ woo-hoo, and a side view ~

And very plain.

So I decided to add the "vest" shown on the pattern cover.  

You may recall one of my top 5 disasters from 2019 here.   

I chose to resurrect it into what you see below:

~ ta-dah ~

Yes, I modified the vest pattern a bit,

since I was working from something already cut and made.  

But I do think it works much better than what I had originally.  

(How could it not?!)  

The neckline helps immensely, in my opinion.  

And having shorter sleeves means 

I don't get caught on everything with all those loose loops.

~ But wait, there's more... ~

I added ruching to the dress!  

All the way from the hem, up the side seam, to above the waist.  

First I tried self-fabric ties, 

but they were was way too thick and bulky.  

In rummaging through my sundries stash, 

I found a length of gray grosgrain ribbon that worked perfectly.  

I ran it up through one side of the casing I had created,

and then down the other side.

Ending with both ribbon ends dangling out at the hemline.

 Pull to ruche and then tie in a double bow.

They won't slip out cuz...grosgrain.  

I liked the way it created an asymmetrical hemline 

and just added more interest in general.  

But if I wanted a straight up and down look, 

I can just un-ruche it. 

~ worn with super comfy shoes from ebay ~

'til the morrow.

MMM'20: Lockdown Loungewear

~ yes, here I am in my jersey knit ensemble ~

Made decades ago from who knows what pattern.  But the top was recently scaled up to size by adding two triangular scraps of similar fabric into the side seams.  

~ ooo, it's still cold out ~

Now, of course, everything is a bit baggy due to the weight loss from this and last year's exercise/nutrition regime I've been on.  And that is okay by me.

~ ahh, that's better ~

The red canvas coat is made from the Tina Givens Elena pattern, last seen here.

Here's the obligatory shoe shot:

~ clogs from ebay ~

And the Lockdown Look must-have:

~ a me made mask ~

Hope to see you tomorrow...