Description:  One-shoulder, two-toned dress with empire waist, invisible side zipper and diagonal ruching.

Last Call by Neiman Marcus, $215

I used a turquoise and cobalt blue crepe back satin.  And I used just regular lining fabric from Hancock.  Colorblocking is such a trendy look right now and seemed to be well represented when we dropped Mikaela off at the school dance.  

This pattern was pretty easy to sew.  It just has quite a few tedious details that were time consuming.  Making the pleats/ruching was one.  And another was sewing in the boning.  

And the topstitching on the strap.

This time I decided to make an elongated crocodile embossed faux leather skirt.  I've been seeing lots of fashions made from skins with exorbitant price tags.  But since I sew, I don't need to take a small business loan out to have something "similar" to the looks I love.  

This time my inspired look was taken from Marc Jacobs and Anne Klein:

Anne Klein  New York Embossed Leather Skirt - Bloomingdales, $450

Instead of using a pattern, this project is actually an upcycling.  These were faux croc embossed pants that were in my closet.  I re-discovered them a few weeks ago while cleaning my closet it out.  They were headed to the donation pile and I saw that Marc Jacobs skirt in a magazine.  The pants already had the waistband in tact and a side invisible zipper.  All I need to do was rip open the inseams and sew center front and back seams.  I then cut it off to the appropriate length and hemmed it.  

And just like with the prior project, I pressed the seams open using a warm iron and a pressing cloth.

I was completely inspired by this upcoming season's a-line leather skirts.  I had pinned a few a while ago and  used them as a reference point.  This Butterick pattern was perfect for what I wanted.  I wanted something that was edgy, but at the same time feminine... hence the flouncy chiffon top and the maryjane peeptoes.  My husband said the look was "June Cleaver on acid"!  LOL  I wanted to wear my new Kenneth Jay Lane belt that I found at TJ Maxx and I kept adding gold accessories.  And while "shopping" my closet, I found this polka dot blouse that I made FOUR years ago!  

I found this faux leather at Hancock.  I'd seen it last year but I didn't buy any.  I took a chance a couple of weeks ago, hoping that they'd have it again and they did.  The fabric is 55% polyurethane/45% polyester.  I bought a teflon foot for my machine (Bernina #56) and used a Microtex needle.  (Had this been real leather, I would have used a leather needle.)  And I had no problems... it was pretty easy to work with.