The Tiny Closet

A few months ago a friend of mine asked if I'd be interested in designing a dress for her to wear for an upcoming feature performance.  Thrilled at such an undertaking, I felt only the flood of enthusiasm and creativity that comes first (and none of the normal uncertainty and hesitation that comes second with most rational folk) as I instantly promised to whip up something short of amazing.  Yay for the rookie-can-do attitude!

You know you're a beginner at a craft when you think you can do anything.... oy.  

For this beautiful, leggy, swan-like chanteuse, the design I chose was halter... with lots of leg slits!  The material - why, silk of course.  

Basically, I had no idea what I gotten myself into!

I am so incredibly thankful I dove in feet first on this project though.  I mean I'm clearly still learning but if I hadn't agreed to such a request, 

I would never have been crazy enough to create this:

Yep, this project has been my bestie for the past few weeks but sadly I didn't allow enough time at the end to find a 5'10" model to wear this dress for display soooooooo 

I got my 5' self a stool and popped it on.  Silk for days, folks.

My first custom gown work but I really hope believe she will look marvelous in it!

During the day, I try not to eat heavy foods as I get tired very easily and anything heavier than toast will just send me to dreamland.  But I also don't really feel like having just a juice in the middle of the day either.  So, to keep my stomach from growling around 3pm (and to satisfy my demanding sweet tooth), I like to blend this quick snack:

ice cubes

20 almonds

1 tbsp flax seeds

small glass of almond milk

aaaaaaand...

Trader Joe's Midnight Moo chocolate syrup

And why am I wearing Skipper's undergarments?  

Well, I don't have a fit form.  If I did, my life would be a slice of amazing pie.  But I don't so, oh well...

For those you who don't know what a "fit form" is, it's a mannequin form usually of the neck to butt portion of the body.  In the sewing world,
it's made for draping and tailoring commonly for formal wear.  Which I am doing.  But without a fit form :(  wah, wah - you get the picture.

So since I am sans fit form for now, I have resorted to draping and measuring pieces on myself, which means that instead of wearing drapey, comfy clothing,
I have to wear second skin pieces while sewing so I can measure and place fabric with ease.

It's not my first outfit choice for the house but it makes my projects much easier and...

Sometimes I catch myself in the mirror walking by and I have to say, the simplicity of this look is kinda chic no?

Anyway, I wasn't really wearing anything interesting on Sunday but I thought I would just show what I was wearing anyway!

I'm out ladies!  Off to watch my Khaleesi kick some butt in Game of Thrones!!

But you don't understand.  I am obsessed with chevron print!

Ever since I moved to Los Angeles, my mind has been riddled with interior decor ideas.  The aesthetic of my Tiny Closet really spans all corners of my life, needless to say I go simple and minimal. But I love pops of color and well-opportuned spaces for amazing print!

While at the fabric store looking through upholstery fabric, I spotted an incredible collection of chevron prints.  I knew I would have to give time for Theo to mull it over with his man brain (severely doubting his end answer would be "yes" to kelly green jumbo chevron striping for our couch *sniff*) so I chose to skip the inevitable compromise and headed to apparel fabrics to buy a cute and zany chevron print all to myself.

But what would I make??

This:

 I rarely wear skirts.  Come to think of it, the only skirt I do wear more often than not is a piece I actually made for myself.  I am quite short and skirts never hit me right - plus I think I just don't like skirts so that's the end of that buuuut I adore this multi colored, chevron print skirt.  

I adore it to pieces!!!

It was a bit too short, but I couldn't help the width of the fabric.  No matter - I am wearing lil shorts underneath :)  And speaking of playful, I decided to wear a lil bandeau under my denim jacket.  Very Summery!


denim jacket: American Eagle / skirt: Tiny Closet Collection / bandeau: F&F / shoes: CMG

This is a fabulous Spring/Summer item and, because it has gone over so well with my closet and was nearly a sinch to make, I will be making a couple more in equally playful prints.

Last week, I attempted to sew a duplicate copy of a Tiny Closet favorite:

This Asos brand jersey poncho, as I had shown in an earlier post is a go-to for working out and errand runs.  In fact, I loved it so much when I got it in the mail that I ordered another.  

Anyway, it also happens to be a super easy sewing pattern!  So I copied it - but for Winter wear, I thought I would upgrade it a little from 

just a simple jersey poncho to a luxurious boucle or boiled wool poncho for the Winter months!  Great idea right?  Right.

So I picked out some beautiful wool fabric and voila!  Great fabric choice, right?

WRONG.

Notice, I placed a belt right in the middle, cinching all the plaid fabric and essentially cutting up the print, thus giving the eye a break.  Also, I wore matching black long sleeved top under so you have, yet again, another distraction from the plaid.  And lastly, I wore a black overcoat to hide the volume of the print.  So it's pretty okay with those touch ups yeah?  I've still got a ways to go though.

 coat: The Limited / poncho: Tiny Closet / denim: Zara / heels: Deisel

What I do absolutely adore about the stiff wool fabric though is, like I had planned, the cowl-like collar on the jersey version is now stiff and regal on the wool Winter version!  So hot!!!

I spent so much money on the fabric, I will not give up on this!  I've been sewing a black lining in the back.  We'll see how the finished product turns out.  Meanwhile, since I'm incredibly impatient with this, I bought another ream of wool (not patterned) and I will be showing it this week so cross your fingers for me!