hot pink!

For this cardigan, I got the inspiration from the Karen Cardigan that BurdaStyle posted last week. Since I don't have a patience to print out pattern, put them together and all that, I just made it myself something similar. I think mine is a bit less flowing, less ruffly because Andy hates ruffle. I do like a little bit or ruffle, but I tend to avoid overly sweet ruffly stuff. I also added two buttons, one outside and one inside of the cardigan and button loops so it can be worn button up as well. As I was taking pictures for the cardigan outside of my house, I found those lovely flowers which happened to be the same color as my new creation:)

The bodice is only one fabric. This time, I connected the front panels and back panel together, instead of making side seems. I wanted to create somewhat flowey less formal look. I am thinking of making this in maybe linen or something for a jacket next time.

Wearing: handmade cardi, harem pants from thailand, unknown black pumps, and thrifted gold chain and pearl necklace.

Girl crush: Gemma Ward

Ever since Gemma Ward was on the commercial for Kose cosmetics in Japan, I became a big fan of her. I tend to have girl crush on girls with kind of baby face, like Gemma, Sasha Pivovarova or Channel Iman. I like rather cute type than beautiful... so I collected some images of Gemma, contemplating in her beauty... wish I look like her.

Images are from Flickr

so windy today...

When the fashion world is all about 80s, studs, strong shoulders and what not, I still like feminine floral prints the best. My style has changed a bit since I started working from home, because I do not have a limitation in what I can wear as opposed to "business casual" environment I used to be in. I could be wearing a pajama all day long for all I care.. but I just don't feel right when ever I do it. I am more attracted to mini dresses, colorful tights and shorts, and my hem line is getting higher and higher...

Here is what I made last night. No pattern is used, but it is pretty simple as you can see below. It is a tent dress, and I want it to be loose and relaxing, something I can belt it up and also wear it loose with leggings as a tunic. So no darts or pleating.

I used a floral print fabric I got from Nippori fabric row a couple of weeks ago. It is relatively thick cotton fabric, and I like it because it does not wrinkle after a wash.

The dress has a small button closure with a loop in the back.

xoxo!

Bubble sleeve cardigan

New creation! Sometimes it takes me a couple days to complete one project, and this was one of them. I sewed a bit and then stopped for a while to think about how to add sleeves. The arm holes came out too big, so if I add regular sleeves, it would end up looking like a cardigan for a man or something. So I slept on it for a day or two, and came up with this idea of bubble sleeves. I pleated the shoulder part and scrunched up the edge of the sleeves with elastic bands to make them bubbly.

Here is the picture of the front panel - I did not use any pattern for this.

I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out - it's loose, and comfy. I added this to my shop:)

Wearing the cardi with thrifted black tunic, uniqlo tights and payless booties:)

Sunday: Church and BBQ

wearing: thrifted velvet dress, unknown tights, payless booties, moto jacket borrowed from my sister, handmade scarf

Snapped this photo before going to church today. I ended up getting totally lost, driving all around the town to go to church. I am like a typical woman, I am terrible at driving, can't read a map, and can't park. This drives my husband totally crazy.

Anyways, I LOVE this crushed velvet dress I found at a thrift store last week. It was only 50 cents, which makes it even better. I didn't try it on, but fits me just perfect. I will be wearing this dress a lot, with different jackets and cardis.

By the way, I recently bought this 70's floral dress from Market Publique. This was my first time, auctioning off a clothes online, because I usually use Etsy or Buy it now button. I'm so excited to receiving the dress!!!

Well, now I'm off to my friends' BBQ party;)

Have a great weekend:)

Friday library trip

I had this uniqlo bf jacket I thrifted a month ago, and the sleeves were way too long for me, because the jacket was for men's. So I did a little diy, and cut off the length, added polka dot fabric for a cuff and change the gray button to matching polka dot.

I am not sure if I like the result, because the polka dot limits the clothes that I can pair with, as opposed to plain gray jacket. but oh well. And I just realized that I was wearing three kinds of polka dot today, with gray tanktop polka dot, and skirt!
I took a trip to a library during lunch hour today to take out some sewing books. I got one about jacket, and old, "Mrs summer clothes" pattern book. I am not sure if I will use their patterns, but I just like to look at the books for inspiration.

Givenchy head bow

Vogue Russia March 2009 issue via phosphene.

Just love the bow headband and velvet (?) criss cross detail in the first picture. They are from Givenchy.

This week's etsy favorite

Just wanted to share what I found on etsy this week: From top, Lovely Lady from OliveVintage, Black and white sketched flower dress, Rosebud, and Vintage floral dress, China vacation, and brown velvet dress from CapriciousTravelor.

Today's outfit: Plaid and black

Wearing: thrifted plaid shirt (borrowed from my sister while she is off to Bali!), thrifted black tunic, uniqlo leggings, unknown pants, thrifted gold and pearl necklace.

This black tunic was just what I wanted: mini, a bit over-sized, and perfect for layering. On top of that, it was only 50 yen!

Since I work from home, sometimes I just have to go outside to get some fresh air. Yesterday, I wondered off to a nearby park. It was beautifully sunny outside! I live about an hour outside of Tokyo. When you think of Tokyo, you might think of all craziness, crowds and neon and so on, and it is true, Tokyo can be overwelming. But if you take a subway to little off Tokyo, you find such a rural area like my place - lots of rice field. I do like living in the city and close access to a fund stuff, restaurant and shopping sites, but this has been a good break from violent, noisy Philly.

And look what I found? A small kitten at the park. Appearetly someone has been feeding this little one. Unfortunately, I can't take any more cats at home since I already have one.. but he is so cute.

Oh, and special thanks to Look 10, who featured my style in the blog (here), and Bleusnow, who purchased and reviewed the dress I made;)

diy leopard skirt

When I have some sewing idea, I get so jittery until I get it done. So, tada! I finished it. It was an easy & simple project. I cut the hem of the dress straight along with its lining, and added waist elastic to make the skirt.

I still think it is too much leopard for me. Maybe I should incorporate the leopard trend of this year in more subtle way, like jewelry and accessories and stuff.
Are you a leopard print fan??

For those who miss summer already...

Don't these pictures make you miss summer? They do, to me.
These lovely photos are from Heidifurre on Flickr.

Saturday thrift shopping

On Saturday last week, my husband, sister and I went to a thrift shopping in town. It might be more accurate to say that only my sister and I went to shopping, because Andy was watching some program that was on the TV at the store. For some reasons, the pictures turned out so much more brown looking than I wanted...perhaps because I took them in a dark room without much light.

Anyways, all the nine items below, I got for 50 cents (50 yen) each!
From the left top corner: 1. leopard pattern dress: I will probably end up re-making something out of this since I am not a leopard kind of gal! 2. no brand black tunic, 3. zara black sweater, 4. navy blue dress, 5. gray tank in polkadot and stripe, 6. yellow sandals, 7. crushed velvet black dress (planning on adding some studs to it!), 8. black sandals and 9. black vest.

Here are what my sister got. They were not 50 cents each, but were great deal! You can tell that her style is much more preppy than mine. I think preppy looks great on her, unlike me, if I put on a button down shirt and a slacks, I end up looking much older than my real age.
the left bottom is, Skorts. I remember wearing them when I was in elementary school. They look as though you are wearing a skirt, and this one she got is really cute for mere $3! (290 yen)

My current etsy favorite

I fell a sleep too early last night, and ended up getting up in the middle of the night. While I was killing time until I fell back to sleep, I was checking etsy vintage shops.

Here are my current favorites (from the top right corner, clock wise): vintage romper by le skinney, floral dresses (on sale!) from she HEARTS vintage, and vintage purple purse from the pudding store vintage.

New shoes

I went to shopping with my friend from high school on Thursday, and picked up these shoes. I was initially looking for flats, but then I found very low heel wedge pumps with gems, and fell in love with them. When I took them home, Andy commented, that these shoes look like the ones Genie would wear in Aladdin...

Wearing: handmade scarf, f21 knit dress, h&m camisole, uniqlo gray tights and new pumps:)

Since the shoes has such an impact, I paired them with a simple black knit dress that I used to wear when I worked at the office. My style definitely changed a lot from the time I used to go to the office and now, working from home. I am more attracted to shorts, mini skirts and bright color tights that I wouldn't have been able to wear to work before.

Oh, and I am definitely enjoying the weather here! It is so mild. So sunny during the day lately and cools down at night. I certainly do not miss Philly's shitty (excuse me) weather.

Japanese sewing books

I recently made a trip to a near by library and took out these sewing books. One on the right in the first picture is very helpful, and the book teaches you techniques about how to make scalloped hem, different way to do button holes and what not. One on the left is from early 90s. The book has really lovely dresses, and it comes with a pattern you can trace. One of my problems with vintage or old patterns is that they look cute in the pictures, but do not fit right in the real life. So I am looking at these pictures for just inspiration sake. Those dresses kind of remind me of little house on the prairie.

A-Plus, A-Line

Remember I wrote about thinking about entering the A-Plus, A-Line contest? Here is my variation! I bought this fabric for the contest 2 weeks ago, but I procrastinated so much. I worked on it about two hours for like three days. It felt like it took forever to make this skirt. Actually I am not even done yet...The lining hem is not done, and button hole in the back suspenders are not made. I worked on it till 12pm last night and passed out! I took these pictures early this morning so I can send them to BurdaStyle. I know, these are not the best pictures, but I didn't have enough time...:(

Besides the fact that it is not completely done, I love how it turned out. When I designed this skirt, I wanted to incorporate three things. One, violet color (from Andy's request), two, high waist, and three, suspenders. Suspender idea came from my little sister. She had a baggy pants with suspenders, and I really needed a little twist to a relatively boring A-line skirt. I was tempted to put a big bow in front, instead of matching buttons, but my sister stopped me. She says I use bow too much.

The back suspenders a criss crossed. I added two pockets on the side, and lined with black lining fabric. Wearing it with a limited white long-T and bandolino sandals and black tights.
To me, I don't really care about the result of the contest. I am more interested in being almost forced (although I chose to enter it myself) to create a garment according to a set theme, by the deadline. I think by doing it, I come up with designs that I naturally don't come up with.

Pretty underwear

Besides un nana cool undies, I think Peach John is my second favorite place to shop my underwear. My sister gets a catalog from them quarterly, and I love just looking at different PJs and cute under wears. Especially those Hello Kitty undies! I am not sure if I will actually wear it, but I cannot deny the fact that I am attracted in them.

I am also attracted to leotards now. I think it is perfect to wear it with high waisted skirts. And it keeps your warm as well, how practical! Although, they kind of make me feel like a baby. I love the leopard one above, and Peach John also had small alphabet pattern (don't have pic) leotard, which was extremely cute.

Sorry for the blury pictures.