Just to manage your expectations, this post is really not about sewing. Or only just a bit about sewing. I mean, it does feature something I’ve sewn, but that’s a rerun, so not that much to talk about. This is a very self-indulgent and a bit of a vain post, so you might want to switch off now…
Oh good, still here…
Right, so last weekend I went back to Bucharest to catch up with friends and run errands and such. And to enjoy the amazing 28-30 degrees Celsius weather. Because why not, I was still wearing early spring clothes in London, in late May, where it was meant to be, you know, SUMMER!!
So I took the opportunity to get up in summer gear for real, i.e. sandals and no tights and skirts and short sleeves. And short hair (this is where the vanity comes in, I did want to document the first outing of the new do). Which I did, and strutted my summer self all over Bucharest in the sun, including Romanian Design Week. And that is why I have some really cool pics to share with you (thanks to my friend Ana who played photographer with my iPhone).
In case you’re wondering, I’m sitting next to a sort of festival pod, complete with grass, ivy and speakers, and made out of wood. Pretty funky!
The point of Romania Design Week is to, you’ve guessed it, celebrate Romanian designers in all aspects. I was particularly interested in accessories and fashion, and here are a few examples.
Some pretty interesting furniture too:
So, let’s talk about this little top, shall we?
I am (still!! grrr!!) in the process of making my second pair of Ginger jeans. Which, just to be clear, I absolutely love! But it’s a bit fiddly, as I ended up having to make quite a few fit tweaks (basting & unpicking & basting again). I still have the waistband and belt carriers to add and I just got bored. Plus I was getting ready to fly out, so I wanted a quick and easy make to take with me, photograph in Bucharest and blog it.
You might remember this fabric from my sparkly jumpsuit. It’s a quite firm jersey with a metallic thread, from Classic Textiles on Goldhawk Road. I had less than 1m left at the back of the fabric stash, and I kept thinking what to make out of it. Since the very successful Inaris (dress here and top here) last month, I kept thinking that it’s the right pattern to use. And so I did!
I cut a size 38 as before and I added about 10 cms to the length (it would have been way too short otherwise), and changed the sleeve finishing to a band instead of the folded t-shirt option (because I could just not squeeze them out of the remaining fabric). I finished the raw edges by overlocker and sewed everything on the regular sewing machine, exactly as per the instructions.
All in all, it’s a pretty versatile top. I wore it three times already in a bit more than a week, on my casual Friday at work with jeans, as well as for the London Pattern and Fabric Swap yesterday, with beige chinos. Btw, if you are wondering, the skirt I’m wearing in the pics is on loan from my friend, as I’m still not buying any new clothes. Which is a nice segway to this pic, also from the exhibition.
Have a great week, everyone!
Alex
Wow, Alex, you look spectacularly beautiful in you short hair-do! Suits you so well! And thanks for those pictures of Romanian design – I love that yellow dress and coat combo. So interesting, I didn’t have the slightest idea about Romanian design (or anything else for that matter)
Author
Thank you! I have had short hair before, so not that much of a change to me, but i appreciate the practicality :).
The yellow dress is printed with images of naive paintings from the Merry Cemetery in Maramures. They represent the lives of the departed in funny pictures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Cemetery
Ooh I have some glittery stuff I don’t know what to do with, this just might be the go! I love your version.
Author
Thanks Sue! I can’t wait to see your version. I definitely recommend Inari, such an easy make.
The new hair do is stunning, really suits u😃 Looks like you had a great weekend, all that design must of given you loads of inspiration. When I’ve seen exhibitions like that I always rush to scribble down ideas, not that they always get used!
Oh and the shirt is great too, I do with some like that myself.
Author
Thank you! I really liked the airy flowy dress, with the black stitching corsety type thing. I would love to make one myself. The Inari is a really great and quick pattern, i know it’s getting a bit boring, but I can’t stop making it. Really recommend!
Love the shirt and you look absolutely stunning with your new short hair cut!
Author
Thank you so much on both accounts 🙂