I left that play place with a resolution. This summer shall be The Summer of No Pants! No pants, no jeans, all summer. Since my boys flank the seasons rather nicely, I've decided that from Milo's birthday (June 17) to Huck's (September 22) it will be skirts and dresses only, all summer! Unless it would be dangerous or impractical (say, if I plan on doing handstands on a motorcycle). Or laundry day. I may wear pants on laundry day so that I can wash all of my skirts and dresses. Otherwise, NO PANTS! And thus, it hath been writ.
So, in preparation for The Summer of No Pants, I've decided to do a Friday Find! Gasp! Shock! I know, right? I stopped doing a weekly Friday Find because it took a lot of Internet research time that I don't have right now. Plus, I ended up spending a lot of money because of all of the time I was on Etsy. But I'll occasionally bring the feature back when something strikes my fancy bone. I have been digging around for tutorials and inspiration on skirts and dresses. I'll definitely be buying some new digs, but I would like to make some, as well. I've got three months to crank out some cute stuff!
So here they are, my Friday Finds for The Summer of No Pants Inspiration:
High-Waisted Pencil Skirt from Pants
This is a great, simple tutorial. I have a bunch of old slacks from my office days that are too nice to get rid of, but are not appropriate every day Mommy wear. I think I'm going to hack up a couple of them and make some cute pencil skirts. I'm digging the high waisted thing that's happening right now, too.
The Sew Weekly Blog
What can I say? This blog is pure awesome. The blog author is cranking out one dress per week, and by the end of the year she hopes to fill her closet with only handmade clothes. Most of the dresses are made from vintage patterns and vintage materials. And they are gorgeous!
Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics
I bought this book a few years ago when I was very new to sewing. I enjoyed it then, but after awhile it got buried on my bookshelf and forgotten. I recently dug it out, and I am once again excited to try out several of the projects. It is not a book of patterns, but rather a guide on how to measure, cut, ruffle, pleat and customize several different kinds of skirts.
The Marie Skirt on Burda Style
Burda Style is such a great source for free and almost-free patterns. This one looks easy and versatile. I just hope I don't end up all crooked like this poor girl!
Pretty Much Anything From Anthropologie
Alright, alright. So this one's a bit of a cop out. But, seriously, I love too many of the dresses and skirts to single out one as a "find." Although, I do really like this ruched skirt, and I think I could make knock-off pretty easily. . . someday I will have bags of money and I'll spend it all in this store! *sigh*
Very good idea! I would love to wear more skirts during spring and summer with some cute little sandals or flip flops, I just don't have any or the money really to purchase new ones. Maybe the thrift store!
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diane
I'm feelin' this post like crazy. Look at these grubby jeans, unwashed hair and fading hoodie. It is so ridiculous. THIS is a great idea! Skirts are so easy to make too...
ReplyDeleteI'd love to wear more skirts, but I have a doberman. Any doberman owner can tell you why... :D I still may try to sew that first one, however.
ReplyDeleteYay! I have been pants-free since the first day of the year (other than going to the gym/doing a duathlon and one day where I wore pants under my dress...but I'm sure those can be forgiven!) and it really is not as hard as it first appears. I feel so scruffy in pants, and have people compliment me so often when I am wearing dresses and skirts, and have had lots of people comment on how 'dressed up' I look.. just because I'm pant-less!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the 70's wrap skirts, wore at the waist, with a little singlet underneath at the moment. Super easy to make and so easy to wear. (here's a great base pattern too: http://www.fitzpatterns.com/collections/free/products/2211-dana-a-line-wrap-skirt-sewing-pattern).
Anywho, good luck and viva la skirts! x
In my rebellious teen years, 17-19, I wore only skirts. Long flowy skirts and no bra because I was a hippy! Then I started riding my bike to class and working outdoors. And so became part of jean landia.
ReplyDeleteHowever I was thinking I just need more kinds of jeans. I keep hearing about these skinny jeans and I don't have all the colors of blue yet. Surely I just need more variety of jean. This does sound pretty ridiculously now that I am writing it out.
I think you should also declare this the summer of the shaven legs while you are at it.
Oh how I wish I could do this too! I practically wear jeans in my sleep. My jeans have a whole section in my closet. About two years ago I tried something similar to the skirts thing but it just involved wearing something other than jeans and a white t-shirt everyday. It didn't go so well. I think I lasted two weeks. My daughter kept asking me where I was going so dressed up!
ReplyDeleteGood luck – it’s really not that difficult I have worn skirts and dresses only now for several years, I live in the country and have 3 small children but it’s perfectly practical 99% of the time – after all women only wore skirts for hundreds of years and they had much harder lives than we did ! My advice is to bye slips and tights !! And NO it’s not for religious reasons or anything they are just more comfortable and above all feminine.
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