Fri-DIY-Day: Reversible Pulse Warmers

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Oh, pulse warmers ... or cuffs, armwarmers, wristwarmers ... Whatever you call them, I of the perpetually cold hands adore them more than what is reasonable. I've knitted several pairs over the years and worn them to death, but I think I might love these sewn ones even more ... they are sleeker and read a little more refined, especially since there's no thumbhole.

And these are reversible, so you can go from Elizabeth Bennett to Joan Jett in 30 seconds! And they are wicked easy to make -- you can whip a pair up in 20 minutes-ish. And they use up little pieces of fabric not good for much else! What more do you want, people?

What You Need

* 2 pieces of knit fabric that look nice together to you, each about 13" wide and 18" long. T-shirt fabric can work well, as can any knit with a bit of stretch to it.

* Your normal cutting and sewing tools

* Pattern -- The PDF is here. Note on sizing: These fit my wrists -- medium-sized, 8.5" around the widest point and 6.5" around the wrist -- really well. You can make them a little bigger or smaller as needed to fit your measurements

How To

1. Using the pattern with the flat edge laid against the fold, cut out 2 pattern pieces (both on the fold) of one fabric, then the other. You will end up with 4 pieces of identical size and shape.

2. With right sides together, pin together, then serge or zigzag stitch the curved edge of each piece of fabric to make a tube. Now you have 4 tubes.

3. Turn the two tubes made of fabric 1 (plain white in my example) right side out. Leave the two tubes of fabric 2 (the 80s one in my example) right side in.

4. Put Fabric 1 tubes inside Fabric 2 tubes. The right sides of each fabric should be facing each other.

5. Pin one edge of the tubes together, slightly offsetting the seams from step 2. Zigzag right along this edge.

7. Turn the pulse warmer right side out. Press along the edge you just sewed to flatten it out.

8. Now turn your piece around and straighten everything up inside. Turn the edge of both fabric 1 and fabric 2 in 1/2" and pin.

10. Press the edge, then zigzag neatly right around it, catching all layers of the turned-in fabrics.

11. Trim your threads, give it one last press, and you are done yo!

These are so cute, I don't think I'm going to take them off till spring. I love how the white side looks peeking out of my black blazer -- now I just need to re-do my nails.

Have fun dechillifying your wrists!

What Is "Flattering"? Another Tiny Rant

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JessPgh is a Pittsburgh-based professor and fashion blogger at Consume or Consumed who recently wrote a brilliant and, to me, mind-altering response to a commenter who told her an outfit she was wearing was unflattering: I reject the discourse of "flattering."

This sentence has been rattling around my mind ever since I read it.

Why does "flattering" matter so much, and what does it even mean? Jess breaks it down like this: "We all know the "rules" say that for women, dressing to flatter consists of making the body appear as small and/or thin as possible."

This is why folks tell apple-shaped ladies like me to position belts around our rib cages to create the illusion of a waistline even though that is kind of horrifically uncomfortable.

And why pear shaped ladies are supposed to wear wide-legged pants to balance their wide hips, as though wide hips are something which must be balanced at any cost.

And why short ladies are meant to wear heels to create a longer leg line, because you know, short leg lines are responsible for some of the greatest atrocities of our time, amirite?

All of this helpful advice is aimed at one thing: making us look thinner than we are. Smaller. As though we are actually less.

Jess expresses this beautifully: "Trying to ensure women take up as little space in the world as possible is only one of many ways to minimize our social value and cultural input."

Which, honestly, makes me want to construct and wear the biggest goddamn tent dress in history. With crinolines. Because, you know, I am almost 6 feet tall and I laugh loud and adore bright colors and have giant thoughts and not only am I never going to be tiny ... I don't even want to be. I want a BIG life full of HUGE social value and MASSIVE cultural input. So why should I worry -- even for a second -- whether some outfit makes me look small? Why should any of us?

I want clothes that make me feel strong and cute and whatever else I want to feel. Sometimes that means I put on some Spanx so I feel smoother in my clingy dress. Other times, it means I wear a big fluffy sweater that makes me feel cozy. Or I put on some crazy sexy heels. Or I rock some skinny jeans even though they're not supposed to "work for me" or something.

My point is that the range of possibilities is enormous, and they are literally all good. Style and aesthetics are super subjective, and trying to measure up to this imaginary objective yardstick of "flatteringness" is just silly. I, too, reject it.

My hope is that we can decide what we want to wear based on just that -- what we want to wear. What we think is fun, pretty, comfortable, hilarious, dramatic, appropriate for the day we have planned, clean enough to be seen in, whatever. I want each of us to make these decisions based on whatever we want to base them on, not on "the rules" that our (still quite sexist) society proscribes as "flattering" for "our body type."

(So many quotes! So much "bullshit"!)

I guess I just really want us to have a blast when we get dressed. Because, really, besides keeping our bodies moderately covered and protected from the elements, isn't that what clothes are for?

Sunshine and a Peak Experience

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Man, it has been absolutely GORGEOUS in Pittsburgh for about the last 2 weeks -- sunny and 60 degrees almost every day. I'm sucking up as much sunshine as I can now, because we will descend into 5 months of grayness any minute now. In the meantime ...

This is my newest shift, Peak Experience. I made it while writing the instructions for sewing your own shift and have been wearing it a lot lately -- it's a nice weight and the color is making me happy, especially paired with warm brights like this coral jacket and bright green scarf.

The jeggings and brown boots are seeing a lot of play this fall, too, as are the earrings I have on. I got them from a lovely Etsy shop about a month ago and have worn them at least half of all days since they arrived.

Sunshine, bright colors, and sparkly things. So far November has been rad. How's your autumn-time going? Can you even believe that Christmas is like 7 weeks away?

Fri-DIY-day: Earrings! Love!

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In my continuing quest to use up all the world's cool old fabrics, including scraps, I present to you: DIY fabric earrings. I have one slightly weird earlobe, which means I can't wear heavy earrings ... at the same time I adore giant earrings. I LOVE these because they can be as big as you want them, and will still be nice and light.

Plus they feature the colors and textures of old fabrics in a really fun way. And they are super fast and easy and relaxing to make.

What You Need

You do need a little specialized equipment to make these, but if you do crafts already, you may very well have these items lying around.

  • Fabric scraps
  • Kidney earwires
  • Iron-on vinyl: they have this at most fabric stores and on Amazon
  • 1/4" grommets
  • 1/4" hole punch/grommet setting tool (this is the one I have)
  • Cardstock
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Pinking shears

How To

1. Start by applying the iron-on vinyl to the wrong side of your fabric scraps. This binds the edges of the fabric so that they won't come unraveled, and applying it to the reverse side means that your still get to see the texture of the fabric.

Follow the instructions on the package of vinyl -- mine involved peeling off a liner, sticking the vinyl to the fabric, and ironing it in 8 second bursts using the paper I peeled off as a pressing cloth.

NOTE: If you have odd shaped fabric pieces and there is plastic showing in between them, you may want to put a sheet of paper underneath the fabric scraps to avoid messing up your ironing board with plastic.

2. Let the fabric cool. Cut into rough shapes.

3. Glue the fabric scraps to cardstock. I chose some fun contrasting colors for these and used an EXTREME glue stick. Press it down firmly to make sure it sticks real good.

4. Let that dry for a while.

5. What size and shape do you want your earrings? Decide, then cut them out using the scissors. Rather than try to cut through all the layers of both earrings at the same time -- which is easy to screw up -- I like to cut one, then use it as a pattern for the second.

6. Once you're happy with your shapes, use the pinking shears to trim around the edge. It amazes me how much cuter the earrings get after this step! Again, trim one, then use it as a pattern for the second.

7. Now punch a hole in the top of each earring. This is where your grommet will go, and should be fairly close to the edge -- like within 1/4" or so. Otherwise it won't fit onto the ear hook.

8. Time for grommets! The package I got had lots of different colors, and I kind of like mixing them up. You can put multiple grommets in each earring, use different colors for the left and right ones, whatever you like. Follow the instructions for your grommeting tool -- mine tells me to put the grommet in, then lay the earring face down on the work surface and use the tool to squish the back of the grommet.

9. At this point, you can bang them on your ear wires and be done, or you can bedazzle them / attach stickers / embroider a few stitches / etc. I kind of like the simplicity of just the fabric and the grommets, but you do you.

10. Look how cute!

Hope you have fun making about a billion pairs this weekend!

Xo Madge

PS: For more pics and stuff, you can follow me on Inkstagram!

Looking Good, Feeling Good, For Reals

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Have you ever met my grandma, Ma? My whole life she's been both my rock and my style icon. When I was little and bad, she never yelled at me, not even when I trashed her super fly navy crushed patent leather boots. (What can I say, they transformed me into Wonder Woman and/or Isis!)

When I was a teenage nerd, she taught me advanced accessorizing, gave me many of her vintage sparklies, and doled out the best dating advice ever -- don't be so serious! just have fun! (Did I follow it? Not till I was 35.)

Now that I'm grown up, we have a chattier relationship and I get to hear about lots of awesome stuff. Like the very Parent Trap-ish tricks she and her twin sister played on their high school boyfriends ... and the day she decided to marry my dashing older grandpa instead of the boy she'd been engaged to before The War ... and all the fun times they had cruising around in their mint green Cadillac with the white leather interior.

In short, Ma has the best stories, the best clothes, and the best laugh. Even when life whacks her upside the head, she is impish hilarity incarnate.

After 88 remarkably hale and hearty years, she's been struggling with some health problems the last few months, and was recently admitted to a rehab center where she's been resting and getting physical therapy ... and, not surprisingly, hating every minute of it.

The first few weeks there were the worst. She was irritable and depressed and scared -- as any of us would be. She's been independent and super social her entire life, so it's been hard for her to get used to not being able to do as much as she once could. She's usually a voracious conversationalist and reader, but she was quiet, and nothing seemed to hold her interest -- not murder books or sexy books or even sexy murder books. All of this was very unlike her and pretty upsetting for all of us.

The hardest part was that she didn't want to see anyone besides family. One particularly spectacular autumn afternoon a few weeks ago, I tried to talk her into going outside with me where I could wheel her around in the sunshine and she could get a look at the fall colors. "Oh, no, Meg," she said, hands flying up to her usually blonde and poofy / now gray and flat hair. "I just can't let anyone see me like this."

My heart broke for her, but I didn't push. Instead, I made her an appointment at the beauty shop.

The day after her primp and perm, my fiancee and I came to visit her and experienced synchronized jaw drops at what we saw. Her usual response to our arrival was a weak smile and a description of how hard the day had sucked. But that night she was sitting up in bed, chowing down on shortbread and making plans for what she'd like to do with us, more full of piss and vinegar than I'd seen her in months.

For the first time since she got there, we went for a walk around the building, and I was gratified to see her pick up a particularly trashy looking paperback found in the lounge -- Having The Cowboy's Baby, a title from Desire by Harlequin. Go Ma go!

The next morning, I called her before visiting to see if I could bring her anything. "Why don't you just stay home today, Meg?" she replied. "You need a day off, and I'm fine. I love you and I'll see you tomorrow."

My eyes filled up with tears as I hung up the phone. Even weak from a heart attack and unable to get up from her hospital bed, she was able to marshall the resources to care for me, just as she's done since the day I was born. This was the first time she'd been able to since she got sick, and it meant a lot to me. I know it did to her, too.

I credit this both to my Ma's inherent awesomeness and to her hair being beautiful and poofy again. You know, it gives a girl strength!

That the way we look impacts the way we feel seems like the most obvious and even frivolous idea, but gets more profound and real the more you look at it. The dumbest little things can make you feel like -- and even BE -- the best version of yourself.

I know, for me, there is a tangible difference between a day when I feel cute and one when I don't. On a not-so-cute day, I want to stay home and eat ice cream. On a cute day, I want to GO OUT and eat ice cream ... and lots of other stuff, too, like make goofy jokes, play in the leaves, and smile at strangers in the street.

When you feel cute, you become a portal of cute, and out it all pours. It's kind of magic, no?

Anyway.

Next up for the beauty shop lady: Some kind of thank you. Maybe cookies?

Next up for Ma: Reintroduction to lipstick, earrings, and head-to-toe black-and-gold.

Next up for me: Hanging with Ma and remembering to tell her how gorgeous she truly is.

One Shift, Three Looks: Hiya Houndstooth

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Ever since I made this shift about a year ago, it has been among my very favorites. I love wearing it because the colors look great with so many other shades, but it's not at all boring -- it kind of reminds me of Olivia, which is in the shop right now. Check out 3 different looks I put together using this dress.

Look 1: Daytime funtimes

For this look -- which screams BRUNCH to me -- I paired the shift with jeggings (awful word for an amazing garment), my favorite red boots, and a lightweight coat I scored last month at Re-Dress NYC. Sadly, their brick and mortar shop is closing in a few weeks ... but their online shop is expanding and features another amazing garment with a terrible name, teggings.

Look 2: Sparkly night times

This look is a little nutty, but I love it for a night out on the town. Purple tights, a satin jacket, little gray booties, and my workhorse shift. Sparkly accessories take it over the top in the most delightful way. The only thing I'm missing is Rick James -- it's a celebration!

Look 3: Staying warm at work times

It's cold in the office where I work. Hell, it is just generally cold in the world right now and it's only getting colder. I layered my trusty shift with wooly gray tights, a drapey raspberry cardigan, and tall brown boots, another amazing secondhand find from my recent trip to New York. Gotta stay warm and keep moving -- no time to hibernate!

Which look is your favorite?

Fri-DIY-Day: Tiny Bows on Everything!

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If you sew, you have fabric scraps. Perhaps lots and lots of them. I'm gonna show you some ways to use them up and cutify your world at the same time.

Today: tiny bows! I love these little guys because they are super easy, extremely cute, and can be used in about a million different ways -- headbands, gift wrapping, garlands, pins ... Pick a couple of fun scraps out of your bin and let's get started.

All You Need Is

  • Scraps -- mid or heavy weight knit fabrics work best, otherwise the bow will just flop around
  • A needle
  • Some thread
  • Scissors
  • Something round to use as a template

Directions

1. Start by folding your fabric in half. Place your template on top and trace the size of the circle you want to make -- mine are about 4 inches, but play with smaller and bigger circles and see what you like best.

2. Cut out your circles. (I tried doing mine with a rotary cutter and almost lost a finger -- scissors definitely work better here).

3. Thread your needle, and tie a knot at the end of the thread, leaving a tail several inches long after the knot so you can tie it to the other end of the thread once you're done sewing. Set aside.

4. Take one circle and, starting near the center, start accordion folding it. Continue until you've got the whole piece pinched between your fingers.

5. Hold on to the pleats with one hand, and put the needle through all of the folds with the other. Keep holding on or else your pleats will fall out and you'll get VERY ANGRY. (Or maybe that's just me.)

6. Sew back and forth through all the layers 8 or 10 times. If you see that the bow is looking off-center, just take another stitch on the other side to even it out. You want to have 1/2" to 3/4" sewn together so that the sides of the bow can puff out equally on both sides.

7. Take your last stitch so that the needle comes out the first side you came in. Tie the thread in the needle tightly to the tail you left behind the knot. Trim the ends.

That is it! Your tiny bow is complete and adorable!

What You Can Do With Them

Wrap an elastic pigtail holder around the middle of the bow and slide it onto a headband. You can position it wherever you like (I like mine just above my ear). You could even go crazy and put bows all the way across!

Tie the middle with some yarn, and wrap a present with it. Pro tip: No need for wrapping paper if you have a plain box and you tie a cute bow or two on it!

Tie several together and make a little garland. I am totally going to put these on my aluminum Christmas tree this year.

Other ideas not pictured: Bang on a hook and use as a Christmas ornament. Pin to your cardigan or clutch. Pin to a velvet ribbon and wear as a choker or a bracelet. Make a bunch and use them to adorn your curtains, or put them in a bowl. You can basically use them to add a touch of handmade cuteness to just about anything. AND you're cleaning out that scrap bin. Good times all around.

Thanks for reading and have fun crafting this weekend!

Charlie Brown Goes Shopping: A Tiny Rant

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I swear, sometimes when I go shopping I feel like Charlie Brown. I see racks and racks of bright colorful garments hanging there cheerfully, and like a baby magpie I am drawn to touch them, admire them, hunt them and gather them. And I'm always so excited! Cause look at the pretty pretty things!! PRETTY!

Then I get to the dressing room and strip down to try everything on and not. one. item. fits. Womp womp. You're Such A Fat Loser, Charlie Brown! Hahahaha!

Why don't clothes fit me? I don't know. I look pretty normal I think ... at least, I'm not a 3-headed alien. I'm just a size 16 girl with a wider than average waistline. You wouldn't think to look at me that I'd be such a freak of nature that literally 99% of what I tries on looks like ASS ... and not fine ass, either -- ASS ASS.

But apparently an unclothable freak is exactly what I am. Or at least I'm meant to FEEL like that, and then I'm meant to shamefully buy whatever will cover my fatness and be grateful for the chance to do so.

This is such utter bullshit that it makes my head hurt. You've seen my picture -- I am cute as hell! And I bet you are, too! There is no reason for us to settle for gross clothes, or to feel ashamed for even a second if the ones we want don't fit us.

The fashion industry has hoodwinked us in a most alarming way. THEY are the ones who make shitty clothes that fit only the tiniest range of human proportions, and yet WE are the ones who feel bad about it.

WHY DO WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?

I dearly love clothes but am sick to death of the fashion industry.

You too? Great! Come sit by me ... let's talk about a better way to do things.

(Thanks to Dalvenjah for the photo!)

Fri-DIY-Day: Magnetic Pin Cushion

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To celebrate launching our spiffy new custom shift pattern beta test (only 1 spot left!), I thought it might be fun to do a little DIY project that will add both functionality and cuteness to your sewing workspace -- a darling little magnetic pin cushion. I like these because, to me, regular pin cushions are kind of annoying. All that pulling and pushing! And you can lose needles in them! And they're always tipping over and rolling around my sewing table! Argh! So much futzing!!

In addition to being somewhat particular about my pincushions, I'm also rather cheap, so I couldn't bring myself to spend money on an ugly plastic one at Jo-Ann's. Especially when they are this easy to make. Seriously, this is going to take you about 3 minutes, but it's surprisingly satisfying!

Materials needed:

  • A small side plate or a saucer. I got mine at the thrift store for 50 cents. There are so many cute lil abandoned plates in the world and I only wish I could have them all.
  • 3 or 4 little black magnets. I forgot to take a picture of mine before I glued them on, but I used cheapie ones like these. You don't need the super strong ones and I kind of fear what might happen if you use them so stick with the kiddie magnets, kids!
  • A nice strong adhesive -- I used Gorilla Glue

Instructions

  1. Glue a magnet to the bottom of the plate
  2. Press the magnet down for 30 seconds or so to let the glue adhere
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all your magnets, spacing them out around the bottom of the plate
  4. Set aside and to allow the glue to dry
  5. Toast yourself with a flagon of champagne cause you just made something adorable and useful in like 3 minutes! Go you!

I like mine with 3 magnets, which makes it hold the pins pretty well but not in a death grip -- again, I am lazy, and do not want to have to pull very hard to retrieve a pin. If you want a stronger hold, FINE! You may use another magnet or two.

These little guys are also really good at holding coins, bobby pins, or any other small metal objects you are always losing around your house. So make a bunch and put them everywhere and give them away!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Xo Madge

Custom Sewing Pattern Beta Test, or Hey Hey Hey, Sew a Shift Every Day

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Hey y'all! Want a custom pattern to sew yourself (or your daughter, girlfriend, mom, or someone else) a shift? Today you can get one!

Like all of our beta tests, this one is all about getting your feedback both on the fit of your shift pattern, and on the instructions I wrote for ya.

The patterns will sell for $25, and that's what they're priced at today. But once I receive your feedback, you will get $25 off your next purchase with us. So, yeah, basically your pattern will be free once you use it!

I can't wait to see all the beautiful dresses you make! And I can't wait to be able to offer you more and different styles of dresses in the future.

But, first things first. Let's see how you like this one!

Click on over to the shop to get in on the test! There are only a few spots, so procrastinate not.

Yay and thanks!

Way Too Excited About New Shoes

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After a glorious week of Indian Summer, fall is now officially happening ... and it's the gray, drizzly variety. Seems like the leaves changed colors one day and fell down the next! I woke up determined to battle the entropy with NEW (to me) SHOES and built a (slightly insane) outfit around them.

So I got these beauties a few weeks ago on a super-quick trip to New York to see Elvis Costello, who was great! Found them at the Buffalo Exchange in Williamsburg, and, yes, they are practically brand new Fluevogs. For $30. Which is like 90% off the original price! I actually did a little wiggle dance in the store when I saw them, and the shopboy joined me in my glee. Right place, right time, high five.

Here's a closeup. I love them with the purple tights! And I now have a new answer to the question "What goes with everything?"

Have you landed any major secondhand scores lately? Do tell!

Vintage Fabrics 101

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I look at, touch, and buy lots of vintage textiles for Wear the Shift ... and folks always ask where I get 'em and how I decide what to buy ... so I thought it might be fun to share some of my hard-earned knowledge with you on the blog today!

Where to buy

Ebay, of course, has some great deals and a lot of stuff to choose from. Of course, much of it is poorly photographed / poorly described / crappy, so make sure you ask lots of questions, request additional photos, or whatever you need to do to make sure you're buying what you think you're buying. All that being said, I have found many amazing fabrics on Ebay for fantastic prices ... so be cautious but not scared!

Etsy also has a great selection of vintage fabrics. Both prices and quality are a bit higher, and the customer service of the vast majority of Etsy sellers has been great. I also appreciate the fact that most Etsy sellers are not just selling whatever they find -- they are curating stuff that they think is cool. As you look around, you will find sellers whose editorial eye meshes with your own tastes -- bookmark them and watch their new listings.

Thrift stores are incredibly hit or miss, but I have found some of my very favorite fabrics there, like Peak Experience which I'm making for myself this week! (The cobbler is finally getting some new shoes! Woo hoo!) I don't have a lot of spare time to hit the thrifts regularly right now, but I do end up stopping in to my favorite shop a couple times a month, and I find something I like more often than not. The prices also tend to be insanely good.

Word of mouth has gotten me some great fabrics, too. Wear the Shift was actually started using a huge stash of double-knits and wool blends that I was given by my friend Sarah's mom -- thanks, Ruth!

I also picked up several bags of sweet stuff from an awesome lady I met at a the Geek Arts/Green Innovators conference. Once people know you are looking for vintage fabric, you'll be surprised at who has some rad cuts that they want to get rid of! Put it out on Facebook and see what fate and your friends bring you.

It's also worth doing a search on Craigslist every now and then to see if anyone's getting rid of their stash. Like thrift shops, Craigslist can be very hit or miss, but it's easy to check out, and estate sales can be great fun!

What to buy

OK, so now you know where to look for deals. What are you likely to find, and what should you buy?

Part of it, of course, depends on what you like. Some people (like me!) adore a funky polyester double-knit, and others can't abide synthetic fabrics at all. Take a minute to think about and identify what you're looking for -- every preference you can use to limit the selection is only going to make your search easier. Here's a little more detail about the vintage textiles I look for in particular.

Double-knit polyester

There is a LOT of double-knit in the world, and it varies greatly in how nice it is. Fortunately, it is also fairly cheap, so you can afford to take some risks with your purchases. Watch out for lightweight DKP in pale colors, as they are extremely hard to wear without an arsenal of crazy undergarments. Closeup shots can be really helpful in figuring out how a fabric will feel, especially when you can't actually touch it, so don't be afraid to ask an online seller for extra photos if you need them.

Cotton

Many of the fabrics you shop for online will be called "cotton" when really they are not -- just something to be aware of. Also, remember that crisp cotton dresses will probably need to be ironed before you wear them. I actually enjoy ironing (this is how I know I'm getting old) ... but not everyone does, so do what works for you.

Also, lots of vintage cottons are pretty narrow, only 35 or 36 inches wide. Make sure you double check that you will have enough fabric to complete your pattern, as most commercial patterns are designed for 46-60" wide fabrics.

Vintage drapes

Drapery is a category I always try to check out online and especially in person at thrift stores. There are many drapes out there that you will want nowhere near your skin -- fiberglass!! blerg!! -- but there are some super beautiful nice-feeling ones, too. Look for fabrics that are described as soft, drapey, or cotton -- though very few vintage drapes are actually all cotton, that's usually a signifier that it at least feels like cotton.

A special note on barkcloth drapes: Be aware, especially when buying online, that not all barkcloths are created equal. Some feel not very nice, and in fact many of the items sold as barkcloth are not really barkcloth. And folks tend to jack the prices up since barkcloth is so hot right now.

Also, when buying drapes to use in garment-making, keep an eye on the scale of the pattern of the fabric. If the scale is super huge, you may very well end up looking like you are wearing drapes. Again, if you can't tell what's going on from the pictures, ask the seller.

Acrylics

Acrylics can range from lightweight and barkcloth-y to heavy and upholstery-ish. Both can be lovely ... but I've also bought some pieces that ended up being so splitty and annoying that I elected to chuck them rather than destroy my sanity by continuing to work with them. Watch out for acrylics described as having a "loose weave" -- the kiss of death! On the upside, most acrylic blends tend to be very soft against the skin.

What else can I tell you about vintage fabrics? Got any questions or listings you have your eye on that you'd like to help me decode? Or any favorite places for finding awesome old stuff? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

(Thanks for the photo, marywasadj!)

Black and White on a Gray Day

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Hey kids! It's sort of gray in Pittsburgh today, but not too cold. I woke up wanting to wear this skirt, paired with a pop of bright color.


So, this is our Here and There skirt matched up with these comfy rad sandals from Jambu, a long cobalt blue tank from Target, and a sweet little jacket from Svoboda. I adore this jacket, and have a bell-sleeved version that I will be living in once it gets super cold.

I have to give a shout out to Svoboda, because they are probably my favorite plus-size designer. Their jeans are the best, cut beautifully for both comfort and hottness, though they are seriously not cheap. For several years I was able to pick up samples and overstock on ebay at a huge discount, but they don't appear to be selling there anymore. Bummer.

Fun fact: these pics were taken in front of the Electric Garage, where gross old cars are transformed into shiny electric cars by super smart folks from ChargeCar (part of the CREATE lab at CMU, where my honey works). This building used to be an Exxon station, and I worked here one veeeeeery long winter when I was in school. Good times?

Fall Fashion Trends, 1955, pt 2

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Let's hop back in our DeLorean and wrap up the 1955 Fall fashion trends from the New York Times Magazine. Check out Part 1 here.

Slinky Gowns
Oh, I wish I had somewhere to wear that 1955 dress in silk or wool crepe. Mmm...delicious. But, sadly, my life plays host to shockingly few gown-wearing opportunities. C'est la vie. This custom maxi dress on Etsy, however, would get worn to death. Just do me a favor — if you're a redhead like the model, think twice about that purple. (It's available in a couple dozen colors.)
 

Fur Hats
Squee! Totally fab. This pillbox hat wants to be yours. Wear it with MAC's Retro lipstick. I will envy your fabulousness.
 
Sparkle and Gleam
I am a magpie. As such, to keep myself in check, I am constantly reminding myself that less is ususally more. So, rather than an all-out sequin bomb this fall, keep your sparkle understated with a pair of gorgeous rhinestone earrings made with vintage crystals. (Or, you could indulge your inner magpie with the Hard Rock Candy shift....)
 
Casual Furs
I have a love-hate relationship with faux fur. It's divine when done well, but that so rarely happens. This stylish blue fur jacket is trim and fitted enough to avoid that "I skinned a muppet for this" look. And that, to me, is the number one priority in wearing faux fur.
 
Easy Waisted Dress
Hmmm ... where could you get one THOSE?
 

Seriously folks, what clothes are you excited to dig out of storage? I'm SO HAPPY to have my boots back!

Fall Fashion Trends, 1955, pt 1

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A month or so ago, Madge and I were browsing at Creative Reuse and came across these great old volumes of magazines, discards from the University of Pittsburgh Library. Of course, we love the vintage fashions, so I snatched some up, thinking it might be fun to go back to 1955 and see what was fly in the time of McFly. Here's what the New York Times Magazine says the fashionable set will be donning come Autumn, along with some modern alternatives.  

The Return of the Stole
Can we agree that stoles are a bit too fussy to be practical? Sure, it LOOKS good, but here in the real world, I feel like I'm bound to trip on an end, drop all my bags most comically, and land in a muddy puddle. (Just me?) For ladies more confident in their ability to walk, a modern option: this lovely, drapey rayon shawl from Ten Thousand Villages.


Fur Trimming
Nothing says both vintage glamour and snuggly warmth like a faux fur collar. How about one in a fun color from etsy? Wear it over a cardigan or a twee tee and be impossibly adorable. 


Box Pleats
Box pleats are really great — you get ease of movement and you don't look like a total puffball. But I don't see many modern box-pleated options out there, at least not good eco-friendly ones in a variety of sizes. So instead, I offer you this adorable vintage wool skirt, and will let the more petite amongst you fight over it.


Big Sleeves
No modern alternative here because I am seriously not feeling the outsized houndstooth appendages. Sorry, 1955.


Focus on the Hips
As a relatively squarely-shaped person, I'm all for this! How about this drop-waist knit dress on etsy?


Coats! Jackets! Tunic Length, Double Breasted, and Bell Shaped
Kill two birds with one stone and splurge on this gorgeous custom double breasted (and bell shaped!) Melton wool coat. Not in your budget? Mine, either. But I can dream, no?
 

What do you think, will you be adding any of these old-fashioned trends to your Fall wardrobe? Do you like big sleeves? And stay tuned, there's a part 2 to follow.

First Day of Fall Outfit

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Yesterday felt like the first day of fall in Pittsburgh -- drizzly and chilly and gray. The upside? I got to wear lots of layers and bust out some boots to boot!

 

This is an older prototype shift -- you can tell by the neckline -- and I haven't worn it for a while. I think the weather made me want to wear something lavender and blue-ish. I'm also wearing jeggings from Svoboda, boots from Blowfish, and a corduroy blazer I got at the thrift store. Had to get that side shot because I am in love with this bag! My fella gave it to me on my last birthday and there are thistles inside!

Who else is excited for cold-weather fashion?

Hard Times and Makeup

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The last month has been one of the craziest of my life. First, my 2nd favorite website published an article I wrote about the super-fun time when I won a tiara in the Ms. Pittsburgh pageant, which people loved! And which led them to Wear the Shift! All of which was so awesome I could hardly stand it.

A week later, I got up bright and early to start a new job that I'm perfectly suited for, with lots of nice people to work with and interesting problems to solve. Excitement AND money, yay!

Then, later that very same day, I got a call that my grandma was having a heart attack. The world absolutely stopped as we wandered around the hospital and waited for Ma to stabilize.

I am happy to say that she did, and she's at home now recovering ... but she's still quite weak and needs a good bit of help. And our parents are gone, so her care is up to our tiny little family of grandkids -- me and my brother and our partners. We've all been hustling to get her what she needs while also keeping our own lives going.

For me, the last few weeks have been a blur of driving around parking garages, attempting to decipher doctor-ese, drafting and sewing, filling up pill boxes, writing articles, making many decisions, worrying on a variety of topics, figuring out new routines, learning a new software system from the bottom up so I can document it, A LOT of practice in being diplomatic when I feel like being dramatic, and, oh yeah, trying to get some sleep.

In short, I have been stressed, friends, in a way I don't recall ever having been stressed before.

Of course, amazing things have come out of all of this insanity -- crisis leads to growth and all that. But I would be lying if I didn't admit to breaking down in tears at least 50% of the days. All this growth has been hard as hell.

There are things that have saved me ... my fiance the super hero who has been right beside me in the thick of it ... my new colleagues who have been more than understanding ... the doctors and nurses who saved Ma's life in the hospital and the visiting staff helping her get stronger now that she's back at home ...

And makeup! Makeup has saved me, too!

Is this silly and superficial and am I slightly ashamed? Umm, yeah. But when I've been geeking, nursing, and entrepreneuring all day long, nothing relaxes me like a glass of wine and a tutorial from Makeup Geek Marlena or my girl Jane Marie. I pull out my brushes and primers and powders and for an hour or so, I can rock out to Beyonce and lose myself in figuring out how to do a smoky eye that works on me, or playing with my crazy matte shadows from Sugarpill, or perfecting my blusher technique.

Yes, sometimes I do end up looking like my makeover was done by Cyndi Lauper's stylist for "She Bop," or maybe a 5 year old, but it doesn't matter! Because what is really happening is that I'm reconnecting in a small but powerful way to the fun side of life. There is a simple joy in swiping on hot pink lipstick. Add my favorite shitkicker motorcycle boots to the mix and suddenly I'm strong enough to face whatever needs facing. Feeling cute has its own particular magic.

In the big picture, perhaps slanted-eyeliner-brush-fu is not the most important thing. But, as I remind my grandma every day while she struggles to get her strength and independence back, we need to look out for and appreciate the little things. Especially when times are tough. Every day she can walk a little farther and do a little more for herself ... add that up over a week or a month and we are looking at real progress.

On my end, if I can find a minute to feel the sunshine on my skin and put something colorful and cute on my face, that's enough to keep me going ... sometimes even cheerfully!

When you've gone through hard times, were there any dumb little things that totally got you through it? Share, won't you? (I'm hoping someone has something even shallower and sillier than me!)

Also, just for fun: Google image search on "80s video makeup"