Me Made May 2016 Week Three

In May the spring weather always plays a big part in what you decide to wear in terms of practicality. On most mornings this week it was fairly cool, changing throughout the day to a sticky humid warmth. Hence my rather chaotic range of spring-like then autumn-inspired outfits.

I am looking forward to doing a geeky bit of stats analysis at the end of this Me-Made-May. It will be interesting to see what things I am naturally drawn to wearing again and again and those items that I am digging out of the pile having last been worn during MMM2015. A cursory observation at this mid-way point is my most recent makes are getting more wear because they are well constructed with better quality fabrics compared to those garments made a couple of years ago.  

Day Sixteen

Top: American Apparel

Skirt: Dolores Pocket Skirt in Lucienne Day reproduction print from John Lewis, London. Made 2015
Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Tatty Devine Atomic necklace A/W 2015

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Seventeen

Top: Grainline Scout Tee in knit from Girl Charlee UK. Made 2015

Trousers: Gap 

Necklace: Tatty Devine me-made at Brick Lane workshop March 2016

Watch: Olive G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent Marcello loafers

Day Eighteen - photo taken at the end of a long day, hence major creases!

Top: Gap

Trousers: Sew Over It Cigarette Pants in Herringbone Linen blend from SOI, Clapham. Made 2016

Necklace: Wooden pendant hand-made by my Dad for my Mum when they were dating in the late 1960's

Watch: White G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith tan Marcello loafers

Day Seventeen

Top: Grainline Scout Tee in David David silk. Made 2014

Trousers: Gap 

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Nineteen - Evening - A quick change from work clothes for a mid-week theatre trip

Top: Grainline Linden in Liberty knit. Made 2016

Trousers: Diesel jeans
Jacket: Levis

Watch: Olive G Shock 

Trainers: New Balance

Day Twenty

Dress: Simplicity 9620, cotton sateen Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2014.

Cardigan: Gap

Belt: Vintage 80's from Pop Boutique, Leeds

Watch: Clear G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Dante

How has your Me-Made-May been this week?

Have you found it difficult to get the right outfit due to crazy weather?

Lucienne Day Dolores Pocket Skirt #3

Recently I have been a bit under the weather and feeling not totally on the planet. I thought a bit of creativity might make me feel a little bit more human.

Enter my third incarnation of the Dolores Pocket Skirt by Ready Ruthie. I volunteered to be a pattern tester last summer and found the pattern fitted me really well. I think the great fit has to do with the shaped waistband. It doesn't seem to be available commercially yet, but when it does I would highly recommend it.

My two previous versions are blogged about here and here. I was going to make another one straight away and cut out a third but never got around to sewing it together so onto my UFO pile it stayed until the weekend.

Onto the lovely blue printed fabric. It is a limited edition re-run of a Lucienne Day print to celebrate 150 years of the John Lewis department store (it also came in a brown / tan colour-way too).

Nothing new to report in terms of the construction, it went together quite quickly in just under three hours (without cutting out the fabric or pattern) and I was very happy with my top-stitching which was very satisfying to do!

Onto the photos:

Top-stitching galore

More top-stitching on the pocket and a fairly reasonable attempt at stitching-in-the-ditch

I used some left-over cotton for the waistband facing and hem-facing 

Happy to be feeling almost back to normal - the magic of sewing as a healing power!

John Lewis 150 Years

This may be a strange thing to blog about (and before I go any further, NO I am not sponsored by John Lewis - I wish) but John Lewis the famous British department store is celebrating 150 years over the next month. I only know this because I spotted this article in last week's Grazia magazine (don't judge me, a girl needs some vices!)

Grazia magazine's John Lewis 150 years article

The reason I was drawn to the article was the news about a line of collections celebrating John Lewis' work with many famous designers - namely one of my all time favourite textile designers, Lucienne Day. I love her work soooo much,here are some examples of her prints:

Lucienne Day prints ranging from 1950 - 1960

I drooled over the simple 1950's style pattern in the new John Lewis collection and thought it bore a striking resemblance to my Tilly and the Button's Mathilde blouse I made last year (blogged about here)

My Tilly & the Buttons Mathilde blouse from last last summer - an uncanny resemblance in my fabric choice!!

CJ Made vs Lucienne Day at John Lewis

I investigated further because I wanted to look at the whole collection to see what items of clothing they had and look at any alternative colour-ways.
Here is what they are offering in the John Lewis-Lucienne Day 150 Year celebration collection:

It's at this point of the research I started thinking; wow, that's quite expensive, and I bet I could make one of those.....

As it happens yes, I CAN (and you can too) because they have also brought out these lovely prints as cotton fabric so you can buy as much metrage / colourway / design you want and make what-ever you fancy! I popped down to the John Lewis store on Oxford Street to investigate further.

On my way up to Haberdashery on the 4th floor

The window displays for John Lewis were gorgeous!

Right at the entrance of the haberdashery department was a fabulous Lucienne Day display with a 1950's style dress with lots of beautiful prints and colour-ways!

Lots of Lucienne Day prints.......mmmmmm...delicious

Agghhhh, I like them all!

The cost for a metre is £22.00, so they are pitching at the same price as a Liberty Print (i.e. expensive). The shop assistant says they will only be in stock for a limited time, so if you really like the look of these juicy designs you had better hot-foot it down to your nearest John Lewis store!
I am going to save up for a metre or two of some of the designs, although I keep changing my mind which one I like the best.....

Do you like 1950's prints? 
Which design would you buy?