What I Wore - Inspired by Marie from Marie Loves...

Grey T-Shirt Hand-me-down from Mrs. Amber Apple {F21}// Navy Blue Camisole J.C.Penny// Black Blazer F21// Owl Necklace F21// Bow Post Earrings F21// Black Flats Payless Shoes// Olive Green Skirt Hand-me-down from Mrs. Amber Apple {Banana Republic}// Green Tights J.C.Penny// Cat Eyed Sunnies Dana Buchman for Kohl's

When I tried on this outfit combination Tuesday night, I immediately thought of Marie of Marie Loves... and how she would wear an outfit like this. The basic color combination is so very her. {Marie, I love your outfits and I'm so glad you are back blogging!} In fact, since we've been back home I've been wearing more basic colors together with just a touch of whimsy & pop of color. I go through moods. Also my surroundings affect my outfits - so does the weather & how I feel. 

I promised I would share what I bought at the antique mall today. So without further ado, what I bought. 

   On the bottom left we have a vintage handbag in navy blue {I think it is from the 50s/60s}. While in the middle we have a black Kate Spade purse from either the late 90s or early 2000s {I'm really excited about this purchase, as one of my goals for 2012 was to buy a Kate Spade purse. And here I found one for $11}. The bottom right purse is a lovely brown shade vintage handbag {50s/60s?} in some kind of print, or type of leather or something. I don't know much about vintage purses at all, and there are no markings in any of the vintage bags. 

Here we have three magazines from 1940. The two in the back are LOOK magazine and the front one is a movie magazine called, Photoplay. I'm going to do scans of these magazines sometime next year, along with tons of other magazines I own - really I own stacks. 

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Now the giveaway winner for the notebook is.....Erika {@justpeachyphotog on Twitter}! Congratulations, Erika! I'll be sending you an email tomorrow and you will have until New Years Eve to respond before I draw a new winner. 

Kate Spade/early 1960s inspired Cocktail Dress

Y'all wanted pictures of my dress? Well, here they are my dears. {The bodice does fit right. It just doesn't look like it in a few of the pictures.}

Pattern: I used vintage McCall's 5294 for the bodice & sleeves.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Not really.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't use them. For this is a really basic pattern and I was doing my own thing. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I can easily make this in one evening {5PM - 11:59PM with a few breaks for dinner & a snack}. Hurray!

Fabric Used: One of the fabrics in the Casa Collection from Joann Fabrics.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added a pleat to the top of the sleeve {instead of making it smooth} to make it more modern. I also used just two rectangles of fabric that was box pleated to the bodice for the skirt {inspired by Kate Spade cocktail dresses}. 

Would you sew it again? Yes! This is a nice basic pattern.

Would you recommend it to others? Yes!

My Love Affaire with Kate Spade :)

I adore Kate Spade. The colors. The Polka dots. The Uniqueness. It all equals up to love. :) It seams that most of my favorite brands & designers are more on the expensive side. Hmm. I wonder why?

Some bags I like. How about the Emma book clutch? How unique is that? They also have Great Expectations, Romeo & Juliet, and The Importance of Being Ernest as book clutches.

How about these fun & colorful shoes? I'm loving the wellies {rainboots}. I really want to buy a pair of polka-doted wellies. And these heels. So cute! Loving the color and the flower. Another thing on my wish list, red shoes.

If I had iPhone I would love to have this Kate Spade iPhone cover. It's cute and so me! Now, the statement ring is pretty awesome too. 

Now the clothes. Pinks? Florals? Polka-dots? Yes, yes, yes! Oh. What joys! =) I love the classic, yet fun touches Kate Spade adds to her clothing. Like fun colors, polka-dots, stripes, large florals, and the like. 

Do you like Kate Spade? What are your favorites?

~Ashley