Outfit of the Day: The Black Crepe Dress

Black Crepe 40s Dress. Black patent belt from Divisoria, ballet wedge shoes from CLN, dark purple tights from my sock drawer.

Just a quick outfit post. I had coffee a couple of days ago with my friend Carla who was leaving for New York the next morning ( I'm gonna miss your face, you crazy strumpet !!!)  and this is what I wore. I couldn't find a single seamed stocking in the magic sock drawer so I opted to wear dark purple tights instead. This is the third outfit of my no-jeans-rehab. I just wish I could get more stuff done sewing-wise, but with a three year old who has a fascination with pins, it's very hard.


In other news, I found this bedsheet in our Canlubang house, buried under our collection of inane looking-towels:

Super soft after a bajillion washes.

I have no idea if it's vintage or not. I do foresee a flowery border shirtdress in my future. Mwahahaha. Perhaps mimicking the dress style of the girl on the extreme right:

BEAUTIFUL. Look at her cute wedges!

Speaking of shoes, I need new ones. I ALWAYS need new ones. So I'm off to find the perfect pair(s). 

Rest in Peace, my Cleopatra. 

I have loved you from the time I saw National Velvet at eight years old.

Outfit of the Day: La Dia De Los Muertos Sunday's Best

Day of the Dead Blouse, me; High-waist pleated skirt, me; shoes by Kenneth Cole; kiss-lock purse by Alfa Delon; Cuban-heeled seamed stockings from Annelyn (heehee!); all my jewelry from my bling-loving mom.

This is what I wore last Sunday (March 20th 2011) to little Zoe's baptism. Remember that yard and a half of Day of the Dead fabric I bought on a whim? I wanted to turn it into a purse in the beginning (I was even able to locate a long lost silver kiss-lock frame just for that purpose!) but decided I would get more use out of this material if I used it for a garment. Fortunately, I had some cream colored cotton scraps available for the collar and the sleeve bands, so I didn't have to buy any more fabric. I finally used the vintage buttons I have been hoarding for the longest time on this thing.

Festive Dead!

The skirt was made out of black crepe with vintage buttons used as fastenings. No zippers here! I wanted box pleats for the skirt because... well, I kinda like box pleats. They look so... academic. And this skirt has terrific twirl, without exposing my ohsosehksay granny panties underneath (I kid... not really) I was also inspired by the high waisted 40's trousers and skirts from the 1940s. Almost everyone is into low-waisted skirts and trousers these days and I'm kinda tired of it. I figured, what the heck right?

Lipstick is MAC's Russian Red, which I am rapidly running out of. Must go to a nearest MAC soon!

The combination of puff sleeves and a high waist may or may not work for some people and it may not even work for me, but I'm just so happy with it. 

The priest is late.

My Cuban-heeled stockings in action.

My pretentious "fashion" blogger pose AKA the priest is REALLY REALLY late, I am very very hungry and these normally comfortable heels are killing me.

The baptism was a chaotic affair. There were about a dozen kids of different ages and sizes that were freaking out from the sheer amount of people, all that waiting for the priest who never showed up (another priest had to take over) and most of all, the heat. I was so glad I was wearing a skirt. At least I was somewhat ventilated. 

Outfit of the Day: The Red Cross Shirtdress

This is what I wore today. The dress is patterned after the "Grey Lady" American Red Cross Uniform of World War 2 in Japanese cotton fabric from Cotton Depot, Glorietta 5. The print is a bunch fans and flowers on a pretty jade background. The wedges are from Salsatrends, a local brand (I believe) and my black leather kiss-lock purse is from Alfa Delon.


I am slowly taking jeans out of my life (except when it's absolutely necessary, like when I have to go to certain dirty areas where wearing a skirt is simply NOT an option) I've always wanted a shirt-dress, but none of the shirt-dresses I've seen in the malls or online really appealed to me. Nothing looked right, there was always a catch. It was either too baggy, too drab, too bright, too thin, too short, too shiny, too scratchy... etc. I didn't want a drab, baggy boyfriend shirt dress, I'm a big girl (circumference-wise anyway. I'm kinda short, height-wise) and a drab, baggy boyfriend shirt dress is not going to do me any favors. So I looked to the past (as I always do) and I came across these pictures from the blog Unsung Sewing Patterns:

Photo from http://www.unsungsewingpatterns.net/

Photo from http://www.unsungsewingpatterns.net/

I was sold. A buttoned belt! Pockets! A flattering Princess style line! Tiny epaulets! Fantastic. My seamstress was also pleased because it was an easy dress to make (as opposed to the more complicated dresses I have her sew for my clients when I'm too busy with other things or too swamped with other projects to sew it myself) I love my seamstress. She does such excellent work. 

Pictures taken using my Blackberry camera phone. It was already late afternoon and the light was just mehhh. Better pictures coming soon!

A Sneak Peek!

A couple of days ago, my Uncle presented me with a large Louis Vuitton suitcase FULL of dresses he got at an estate sale. He deals with Antiques and Paintings and I was telling him on his last visit that I would love to get my hands on vintage dresses so I could study their construction, their fabric and their fit. He told me that the next time he goes to an estate sale, he was going to snag a couple of things for me. 


True to his word, he brought me this:

I had NO idea that it was going to be this AWESOME.

This baby is old. 

The suitcase alone had me jumping up and down with glee. The contents were just as fantastic. All sorts of dresses and gowns from the 1940's to the 1980's. I haven't photographed them all and I will as soon as I get them from the cleaners. Of all the gorgeous and questionable dress from that magical suitcase, this is the dress I am most excited about: an original Ben Farrales. Mang Ben is a legend in Philippine Fashion. I have no idea what decade this dress is from, I'm guessing the 1960's? It's like I'm holding a piece of history. It looks even better in real life. 

 In other news, sewing for myself has come to a complete stop due to work (sewing for others, that is) The cream Simplicity dress still on my worktable as well as the 1940's swing dress and what seems to be a bajillion more unfinished garments. Some projects are victims of startitis and some are fated to wait their turn while I finish and pay attention to more important things like Connor, family and friends, clients, the house and other things (in that order). Sigh. I shall get to it soon enough so I can give up wearing pants already!