My title today is sightly tongue in cheek. I don’t consider myself a self made woman. I am who I am because of the people who have loved me and the people I have loved, my upbringing and the DNA handed down to me. But I will admit, I have gone my way on a few things, so I have a part in it too.
But, I did make my top and really like the way it turned out. The pattern is McCalls 6841 and was pretty easy to make. I realize this is from coming from an old seamstress.
When I was 10, my mother decided it would be a great idea for me to make a full housecoat (and I did it, but didn’t have a very good time). Four years after, I decided to sew a corduroy skirt on my own and and never stopped. It was like a fish taking to water. So, if you do your math, that makes 55 years. I’ve taken a few years off, but am finally getting back in the sewing of things.
My fabric was found online at Vogue Fabrics out of Chicago. It and Mood Fabrics are now my two main fabric sources. This is a rayon knit jersey in Bordeaux which is no longer available. I consider rayon a natural fabric (from plant cellulose) and its drape is fantastic.
A finally, the one thing that first attracted me to this pattern were the dolmen sleeves. I’ve haven’t gotten to wear those since the 80’s. YES, I love getting to wear them again.
I first paired the top with my Madewell jeans, and black suede boots (Adrian Vittadini) and a beautiful necklace made by my gorgeous daughter Rachelle.
Next, I wore it a little dressier (week day concert) and used black pants (another nifty thrifty) and black toned accessories. The pants are stretch and originally had quite flared legs. Out came the seam ripper and the sewing machine and I got the pants I wanted.
But it’s the Nine West flats that I finally got to wear! I loved them, bought them but they have always been a problem child as to matching them. It took me a while to get them to work. I always knew they were right for me and I just had to find the right look for them.
The Bell this time is OPI’s Black Cherry Chutney from the 2008 India Collection. I didn’t ever wear polish in ’08, so I have collected some India colors after the fact. This one does have shimmer, but the color is so dark it will be hard to see unless you are in bright sun. I love this super deep purple and it went perfectly with the color of my top, just a tad darker but of the same tone. 
When I first put it on it seems as it’s a fierce animal, “I am woman, hear me roar!”. The middle notes calm down some to this lush richness that I really love. I am going to continue this article elsewhere because most of you already know about Shalimar, and I can’t tell you anything new. But there are some wonderful quotes I found and so if you are interested, please click HERE. It will take you to my perfume page.
Rachelle, my youngest, was my photographer this time around and I though it was about time to feature her. This is Rachelle last Fall at Kansas City Fashion Week wearing LOD by Elodie Auvray, a Kansas City designer.
I’m linking up with Patti’s Visible Monday HERE, Catherine’s
#iwillwearwhatilike HERE, Cherie’s Shoe and Tell HERE,
Color and Grace’s Fashion Link-Up HERE,
and Sidney’s Fashion Forum’s Fresh Fashion Forum HERE and Dawn’s Fun Fashion Friday HERE.
Photography Credits:
Fashion Photos: Rachelle Gardner-Roe of Studio RM Gardner.
Nails and Still Life: Terri Gardner
MeadowTree Style 