Erica Bunker | DIY Style! The Art of Cultivating a Stylish Wardrobe: June 2013

Google Reader | Closed for Business!

12:00 PM

Well, Monday is "D-Day". Google Reader will be no more. So if you'd like to continue following Erica B.'s - DIY Style!, here are the ways:

BlogLovin' - You can follow my blog (and other blogs that you enjoy) through this service. To import your existing blog reads from Google Reader to Bloglovin', go here.

Facebook - This is my "official" Facebook page, where I only talk sewing and fashion.

Networked Blogs - Also, if you're on Facebook, connect here and my blog posts will show up right in your feed.

Twitter - My blog posts automatically feed to my Twitter page.

Email - Just type your email address in the 'Subscribe by Email...' box in the right sidebar and click Subscribe.

Feedly - This is my reader of choice, and I really like it! It's easy to switch all of your feeds over too... just sign into your Google account via Feedly, and your Google blog feed will be switched over for you. And what I love about Feedly is that if you're like me and read A LOT of blogs, I have mine in categories. And unlike BlogLovin', Feedly keeps them categorized just like they were in Google Reader. They don't have a social media button yet, but I will be sure to put it on the sidebar as soon as they do.

jumpsuit

What I'm Wearing | Romping Around!

3:00 PM

I had errands to run on yesterday, along with Isabella's doctors appointment. She's 18 mos. old, weighing in at 27 lbs and she's 33" tall! She's in the 84th percentile and probably about the size of a 2 1/2 year old. She clearly gets the height from her "Mimi"!

What I like about this romper that I made last year is that all I had to do was throw on this blazer and it gave it a polished looked.

And with all of my running around, I added flat sandals. I do believe in taking care of my feet!

Wearing: blazer: Simplicity 2250; romper: Vogue 1308; sandals: Shoe Dazzle.com; purse: vintage Chanel.

Butterick 5526

What I'm Wearing | All-White Everything!

9:00 PM

Well, it's "officially" summer! And what better to wear when it's summer than an all-white ensemble!

Even though I love to wear white year-round, a crisp, bright-white head-to-toe look just really really pops when the mercury rises.

And one of my favorite pieces in that outfit is a great white shirt.

Even in the summertime, a button down shirt can be fabulously pair with shorts, skirts and summer pants.

Wearing: shirt: Butterick 5526; shorts: Old Navy; shoes: Shoedazzle.com; purse: vintage Chanel.

dresses

What I'm Wearing | Draped-Cowl Back Dress!

10:00 PM

Today, I pulled out one of my favorite summer dresses I've ever made.

This dress is three years old! And I still love it as much as I did three years ago.

And the graphic, striped fabric is perfectly on trend. It goes to show you that certain styles and fabrics are classics and will always be on point!

Wearing: Dress: McCall's 6069; shoes (old): Jessica Simpson; purse (old): The Limited; hat: Banana Republic; sunnies: Karen Walker

button front shirts

What I'm Wearing: Neutrals | Black, White, Khaki & Leopard!

12:00 AM

As much color as I wear, sometimes you have to get back to basics.

And by basics, I mean black, white and khaki.

Some form of khaki should be a wardrobe staple. And for this outfit, it's the shorts.

And added to the shorts are my black sleeveless blazer, the sleeveless white button down that I can't get enough of and leopard print sandal. Because leopard too, is a neutral!

Wearing: sleeveless blazer: Simplicity 1756; shirt: Vogue 1248; shorts: The Gap; clutch: The Limited (old); sandals: Shoe Mint.

Boho Chic

What I'm Wearing: Weekend Wear | Caftan and DIY Cutoffs!

12:00 AM

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great Father's Day weekend!

We had decent weather and I took my husband who's a major DC (and Marvel) Comics fan to see "Man of Steel".

And this is what I wore.

Inspired by Pinterest!

Caftans/kaftans/tunics and shorts are becoming my weekend staples. Along with a pair of gladiator sandals is the epitome of "boho-chic". Somedays, I feel like unleashing my inner hippie! And if there is one thing a boho-chic fashionista loves, it's a good caftan.

Wearing: Caftan: McCall's 6204; DIY Levi's cutoffs; Asos.com gladiators; vintage aviators; Amrita Singh bangles; purse: (old).

Carven

Review: Vogue 8900 | The Cutout Dress!

1:00 AM

This is Vogue 8900 - the cutout dress. When this pattern was released, I felt like the only person that was feeling this look. And that's okay, because I love when the pattern companies pull looks straight from the runway. And I remembered this one to be fresh from Carven's Spring 2013. Yes, a current look!

Carven did their dresses in red and black raffia. And toile. Those toile prints have been popping up all over the place this season.

Vogue 8900 description is: Dress (close-fitting through bust) has cut-in armholes, shaped princess seams, back zipper and narrow hem. I cut the midi length version of view B.

My description is this: LBD - Little black dress for summer - sleeveless dress with round neckline, racer-front, cutout sides with lace insets, full skirt with an exposed zipper.

This dress took quite a few alterations. First was a FBA. As the descriptions states: it's VERY fitted through the bust. It had to have been cut for a flat chest. So I made a 1" FBA and added an additional dart at the front of the armhole. I lengthened the skirt by 3" inches. I wanted a true "midi" length.

I added lace insets to the cutouts, like view A suggests.

And I had to do a swayback adjustment. I've noticed that I need to do this if a dress like this doesn't have a waist seam. And I also added an exposed zipper, like the runway/RTW version.

I used a linen-blend that has polyester in it. Which I seriously don't mind. As much as I love linen, I'd rather not look like I slept in my clothes. The polyester cuts down on the wrinkling. And I used black lace for the insets. Both from my stash. This has to be one of the most comfortable dresses I've made in a long time. It's the perfect length. It's not short and it's not maxi, that I'm forever stepping on while I walk! LOL

Dress: Vogue 8900, similar here; sandals: Asos.com gladiators; bangles: Amrita Singh.

Bold Colors

Review: Vogue 8903 | The Silk Shirt Dress!

1:00 AM

Lately, it's been feeling like monsoon season. Hence the lack of blog posts. But the great thing about rainy days is that I get to spend guilt-free days indoors sewing.

This is another fabric-lead project: meaning that the fabric inspired the look. I'd been wanting a shirt dress for the season and this gorgeous fuchsia geometric print Thakoon silk crepe de chine from Mood Fabrics was a great choice.

The pattern is Vogue 8903. I used view F. I modified the hem by contouring it and creating an asymmetrical hemline. This was my only pattern alteration.

Sidenote: if you're making a shirt or shirt dress, you should really check out Pam Howard's class on Craftsy.com. Great insight and fabulous tips!

If you've ever made a shirt, this dress would be a no-brainer. Especially this version: no collar and no sleeves to set equals easy!

And instead of trying to work out a lining, I just went with a slip.

eyelet

What I'm Wearing: Weekend Wear | Denim + White Eyelet!

8:30 PM

I hope you all had a great weekend! The weather was perfect here and as usual, we were out enjoying it!

Even though the calendar has yet to say it, summer is officially upon us. And what better way to salute it than with white eyelet.

Even when it's in the mid 80's, it's still around 68 to 70 degrees in most indoor venues. And instead of a cardigan, I layered a belted denim shirt over my dress.