Friday, January 25, 2013

Resolution -Week 3 - Brocade Pants


Hi,

When I saw the brocade trend coming on for Fall, I was really intrigued. It seems tough to pull off, and very unforgiving. But I decided to give it a try as a sewing project.

I picked up the fabric at Mood, in September. It is a cotton mix brocade with some oxblood colors. It is probably one of the easiest fabrics I have ever sewn with: it is stable - no stretching, no puckering, no slipping. A little fraying, for sure, but not terrible.

The pattern was the same one I used for the oxblood pants. Please don't stare too close to the midriff... Between my seam allowances going more towards 5/8" than 1/2" and the holiday overindulgences and laziness and the fabric being s stiff, they turned out a little tight.

Well, let's just call it motivation.

Anyway, they are tough to pull off. I was actually struggling to figure out what to pair them with and I actually like J.Crew's idea of a boxy sweater on top. I was actually thinking a nice a chambray shirt, to really tone everything down. I guess it is because Austin has been blessed with really hot weather. Seriously - high 70s!!! So I am really not thinking about boxy sweaters here.

BTW, Austinites, you are welcome! Feel free to indulge in the hot weather in January while the rest of the country shovels snow thanks to me and my new pair of boots!

So, what do you suggest as a pairing for these pants?

Linking up with Casual Friday today on Two Thirty Five Designs.





Love,

Sam

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

WIWW - Late Edition - Soft and Sweet


Hi,

There are some days when the mental chatter in my head seams like a character from "The Great Debater" - so persuasive...

This morning was particularly bad, as I was trying to get out of be around 5:30 to workout. Seriously, the conversation in my head kept going on even after I had put on my workout clothes. Ms. Chatter (let's call her that and keep PG) insisted on pointing out every little muscle pain, the great workouts from the previous days, the declining number on the scale. Sweet Ms. Chatter could not fail to remind me how comfortable the bed was and how bad I had slept the night before.

me - hanging on to the bed for dear life

It was a true battle of wills, as I tried to remain positive against all of Ms. Chatter's attacks. I could have just gone on the negative and remind Ms. Chatter that I have signed up for a half-marathon that will take place in less than 4 weeks for which I have not trained enough. I could also have pointed out all the imperfections of the my body and the over-indulgences from the long weekend. I think I might have.

But as I battle Ms. Chatter for about 30 minutes, I managed to get dressed, put on running shoes, eat, grab the water bottle, and show up at the gym at 6:10. VICTORY! Well, sorta...

Anyway... After the great victory against Ms. Chatter, I also won against Mr. Ruby - more on him on another post. So I figured I really deserved a nice cup of coffee, some sparkle, and a cute little bow.






Today, I am linking up with the Pleated Poppy - for WIWW. Go check it out!

Love,

Sam

Friday, January 18, 2013

Resolutions - Week 2 - Inverted Pleat Skirt







Hi!

This week I made a skirt with a center front inverted pleat. I used some wool I got from Mood and a pattern from Burda Magazine. It was pretty easy to do and it reminds me of a skirt I used to have. The wool was really fun to work with. Good thing I have more of it left!

I love this look because it is so feminine and fun. I can't wait to make a skirt like this in a more summery fabric for spring. 


Here are a few options for you to choose from:



Today I am linking up with Two Thirty Five Designs for Casual Friday, head over there and check out some more cool blogs and have a great weekend!

Love,

Sam

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

WIWW - Leather jacket, running errands




Hi,

While today was gloomy and cold, we had a very pretty sunny day a few days ago. Perfect for running errands and taking pictures. :-)


Jacket: Doma, Bag: J.Crew, Jeans: Banana Republic, Top: Gap, Shoes: Luz da Lua (Brazil)

I love this leather jacket as a completer piece for an outfit. It was one of the big splurges I did before leaving Brazil in June. It looks cool and keeps you warm! What else can you ask for?

Today I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy for another edition of WIWW. Enjoy!

Love,

Sam

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

What to do when things go wrong?

Hi,

I was looking at my calendar and what was supposed to be published today: the award show looks. I watched the Golden Globes, paying attention to the looks and checked out the pictures afterwards. There was nothing, however, that really struck me as A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. There wasn't even a big "what were they thinking" look.


It all seemed very conservative and safe. The one dress that was really out-there was Lucy Liu's floral. It was big and gutsy, but a little too "Gone With The Wind"(by that I mean, let's get the drapes to make a dress). Good for her. I love Carolina Herrera and Lucy Liu, but maybe that print was a little much.

So, why the frustration? Well, it has nothing to do with the award show whatsoever, but with work. I have been trying to create this web-app from scratch, learning how to code as I go.

While most days are exciting and fun, yesterday was an insanely crazy and unfruitful day. A pulling-my-hair-out kinda day. A day during which I sat in front of my computer trying to get something to work and it simply wouldn't and my trusty gurus at Stackoverflow did not come to my rescue.

What do you do when things don't work?

Here's hoping for a better day at work!

Love,

Sam

Monday, January 14, 2013

Add a pop of color!





Hi,

It seems like orange, which was so popular in 2012 will be no longer. That is a shame, since I actually bought two orange flats during my last trip to Brazil. Oh well!


Check out trends on their way out here, so you don't make the same mistake I did.

So I guess I will just enjoy orange a little longer while I can, adding a pop of color to a drab day.


The weather in Austin has been really crazy, alternating between really cold and really hot (for January). I was really surprised when I went running this past Saturday and it was 70 degrees and muggy! UGH! But then Sunday it was back down to 40 and today we have 35!

I must say it is really hard to do any kind of outfit planning in this weather.

Today I am linking up with the Monday Mingle - so go check out a few of great blogs!

Love,

Sam

Friday, January 11, 2013

Resolutions Week 1 - Oxblood Dress

Hi,

Yesterday was a really pretty sunny day here in Austin. And I am really happy that I finished garment #1 from my New Year's Resolutions.

It is a simple shirt dress in oxblood silk chiffon from Mood. It took longer than I thought to finish it, it always does. Every time I start a project I imagine it will be quick and it never is. Well, next time!

What are your projects this year?





Love,

Sam

PS - Isn't that an amazing view? Love seeing the Capitol from the terrace at our building.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

One dress - three ways

Hi,

I love pieces that I can wear in multiple ways, as seen here and here.

This way we can all pretend to have that huuuuge wardrobe of amazing fashionable clothes, right? ;-)
One dress - three ways




Love,

Sam


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

WIWW - Week 1 - 2013

Hi!

It is a cold and rainy day here! And since I love gray, here is a completely gray outfit.

Gray is one of my favorite colors. I think it all started when I started working as an engineer, in 2000, right out of the 90's and I wore a lot of black. But suddenly black was too much and I started looking for alternatives and I ended up reading somewhere that gray was a good color for my career. I can't remember where I read it, but it was some self-help exoteric type of book.

So, I started buying gray clothes.

And gray shoes.

And gray bags.

Maybe now, 13 years later, I should look for another color.

What do you think?

Check out The Pleated Poppy for more bloggers on WIWW.





And here are a few of my favorite accessories in gray:

Manolo Blahnik BB Suede Pointed-Toe Pump, Gray by Manolo Blahnik: 


Cashmere Bow Gloves, Sizes 2-6, Gray Flannel by Neiman Marcus:

ASOS Gray Silicone Watch by ASOS:
 

See By Chloe Heather Gray Wool Wrap Jacket by See By ChloƩ:
 
Love,

Sam