Altered plans

So, I had 100% planned to alter the aqua sheath dress I'd picked up at Goodwill in time to wear it to a wedding over the weekend. Things got off to a fine start. I took a 1" chunk out of the back bodice, which improved the fit a bit. But, the front of the bodice was still pretty gapey in the chest and the overall fit remained oddly baggy. I tried a few things but nothing quite did the trick and I was still struggling with the chest being simultaneously too tight and too gapey, so I eventually just threw the dang thing on the floor -- SO over it. Perhaps I'll try again some other time.

I ended up wearing another Goodwill find from a while back, a black twirly dress with a bateau neckline, a little scoop back, and a full skirt. I paired it with a black and white polka-dotted belt, yet another Goodwill find. It was a fun party outfit and the wedding was lovely. Unfortunately we only got a couple of pictures (and only one of me, in which you can just see the neckline of the dress). Sometimes when you're having a super time, it's not easy to get photographic evidence. ;-)

with Tom at the wedding

Oh, and I got a haircut! I'd hoped to redefine my bangs that had been seriously growing out of control... but they kind of fade off to the side now. Eh, well... it works for now.


Anyway, in case you're wondering, the wedding really was great. The reception was in the bride's parents' backyard with a big tent where we all sat at tables below strings of pink and green lanterns and white lights. The bride and groom's first dance was to Walk the Line, and was pure adorable.

first dance

Oh, and I don't have a picture, but did I mention the FOOD?! Well, it was amazing. We had pulled pork bbq sandwiches, cole slaw, mac and cheese, cornbread muffins, green beans, potato salad, and the cake was lemon with coconut frosting - SO DELICIOUS.  It was really an awesome wedding to be a guest at - we were having so much fun, I was even able to drag Tom out on to the dance floor! Good times.

I'm definitely looking forward to attending two more weddings this summer. I've been thinking a lot about my wedding guest dress plans I posted about last week, and was really fixated on how I could use the Milly spotted silk with the New Look pattern. (I'd love to sew this up in the green/blue rayon, also - if you can't decide, just pick both, I always say!) I pinned some fabric to good ol' Ruby to get a better idea of what it might look like to use the spotted silk as part of a dress.

pink bodice with spotted skirt

I'd planned to use the pink sateen for the bodice and the spotted silk for the skirt (the actual skirt will be fuller than this). When I combined the two, it really seemed like something was missing, so I added a black ribbon (left over from some Victoria's Secret "gift wrapped" something...circa 2003?) I happened to have in the sewing stash to give some contrast and definition at the waistline. This was a definite improvement, but I kept gravitating toward more black to pair with the spotted silk. I dug a random piece of black corduroy - literally the only piece of black cloth in my stash - out of the closet and threw it over the bodice. I really think it's an improvement, but I'd love to also add a pink bit at the waist, probably with a bow, to break up all the black. You can kind of get the idea here - just imagine a pink belt.

black bodice with spotted skirt

Obviously, I would not actually use the corduroy for the bodice - it's just acting as a visual aid now. I've ordered some black fabric from fabric.com, as it appears to be a color lacking in my stash - if I don't end up using it for this project, I know it'll get used in something else.

Do you guys think the black is better than the pink, or am I losing it?

I think it'd help soften the look, if I do end up going with a black bodice, to add some kind of collar detail. I own the Heartbreaker Beverly dress (in peacock blue, no longer available?) and really love the neckline on it...perhaps I could do something similar here.

Heartbreaker fashion Beverly dress

Thoughts?