Erin_Sewing

More Autumnizing

Erin11 Comments

Autumnizing

Here’s another 9929 that’s undergone some autumnizing (autumnizing is not as drastic as winterizing). Also, I don’t think you can say “winterizing” when there are flowers clearly visible in the picture behind you …

How do I try to make a cotton seersucker dress autumn-appropriate? By adding a cardigan, knee socks, and boots. The boots are an ancient pair from J. Crew that were probably the luckiest purchase I ever made at the big thrift store at Lawrence and Kedzie in Chicago. (They were FIVE DOLLARS! For those of you keeping thrift store score scores at home). It helps that the dress is all dark colors, anyway.

“Seasonally-appropriate” for me seems to be way more about the colors and the fabric than the style of dress  … I don’t subscribe to that fashion-mag article of faith that you can take some frothy pale-mint chiffon-y dress that couldn’t be more “Easter-tide” if you wore it with fuzzy pink bunny ears, and wear it in October as long as you put wooly tights under it and a slouchy gray cardigan over it. But that’s probably just because I’m a cranky old person. Please vacate my greensward, etc. etc. And oddly, I don’t mind earth-tones in the spring and summer, if they’re in summer weights and shapes; it’s just sundress-style pastels and primary colors in winter that tweak my irk-ometer.

I’m hoping to get some sewing done over the Thanksgiving break: the plan is to make two or three more 9929s … but only ones suitable as party dresses. I have some shantung ready and waiting for colorblocking, some rainbow lamé (yes, rainbow lamé) and even (if I can find my safety goggles and a fume hood so I can cut into it) some Betabrands Disconium. Watch this space!

11 thoughts on “More Autumnizing”

  2. I’m going to have to hunt up a copy of this pattern (or something sufficiently similar) in my size. Every time you show one off I like it even better.

    I also wanted to say that I like this new trend of showing your dresses on yourself. They look so much better than on your dress form and it’s really nice to see what you wear with them. Thanks 🙂

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  3. ohhh…. disco diwashi needs to borrow the disco cape! Love the lame! Need the boots, it is almost time to put the flip-flops away for the season.

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  4. Erin
    I always peep at your blog as we share both dressmaking and language interests – but would be incredulous if this extends to stone masonry too! The stone paving work in your picture is very nice indeed – the perfect platform for autumnal dresses.

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  5. Wonderful dress, yet again! I agree with you about how there’s really no good way to autumnize or winterize most spring and summer colors! I love it when people call women’s magazines out for their nonsensical advice.

    Anyway, this has nothing to do with anything but dresses really, but the women involved in the Petraeus affair wear really oddly tailored dresses! Do they buy them really large for their busts, and then have them tailored down where they can? Who puts inside-out darts on a neckline like that, and then doesn’t sew them all the way to the edge, so that they’re not smooth at the point? The sleeves are odd, too.

    http://gawker.com/5960716/frederick-humphries-is-the-fbi-agent-who-emailed-shirtless-pictures-to-jill-kelley

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  6. I agree about autumnizing – color and fabric are the keys, not so much style. I especially like this look – the colors and proportions are great. I might have gone with a blazer or constructed jacket, but then I live where we have actual winter. 🙂

    I did not know there was fabric called Disconium, but I may have to get some. Please keep us apprised of the party dresses.

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  8. Erin, I am so going to “borrow” your phrase: vacate my greensward

    “Juveniles! Vacate my greensward!” I love it!

    I like the colors of your dress. Fall is my favorite season, but I can’t wear seasonally appropriate warm clothing. I would be too warm at work since I work in a climate-controlled office. Maybe I need to quit my job and find something outdoorsy to do so I can wear the fabulous tweeds and cardigans.

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  9. Can’t wait to see the party dresses. Now that the elections are over, sort of, I’m going to get my irk-o-meter recalibrated…

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  10. I’m with you. I love Autumn colors. (Who am I kidding, I love all colors..) And at all times of the year. As always, you are looking very retro-chic.
    Happy Thanksgiving.

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