Completed Project: McCall's 6997 - 1990s Floral Romper

 So this floral romper is the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever made.  True story!  I used McCall's 6997, copyright 1994.  Hard to believe that I was a junior in high school the year this pattern was published! 

I remember this particular style of roomy romper / jumper dress being popular during the 1990s, but I somehow missed ever owning one.  I cut the size 10 and probably could have gone even smaller, but I actually dig the roominess.

Back view.  This romper involved lots of gathering.  From the back, you can really tell this is a romper, but I received several compliments on my "cute dress" when I wore it to work the other day, so it's almost imperceptible to the naked eye (and the business of the print probably helps).   

 Side view.  You can really see the fullness of the the romper here. 

 Here's a link to the fabric I used!  It's floral rayon challis from Wanderlust Fabrics.  I'm so delighted with this fabric!  It was so easy to work with and the drape is absolutely dreamy!  From the very first moment I saw it, I knew that it would be the perfect fabric to use for my retro 1990s romper.  In fact, it's described by Wanderlust Fabrics as "90s Inspired."

Front and back views, sans human model.

Cap sleeves.  I finished the interior seams and pockets with my serger and hand sewed the facings into place by hand.  I used a blind hem stitch for the bottom hem.

Close-up of a few details: Gathers and the self-fabric covered buttons.  It's hard to even see the buttons due to the extreme business of the print!

This romper was super-easy to put together.  Between the cost of the fabric, pattern (found at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for only .25 cents!) and covered buttons, it only set me back about $20.00....SCORE!

In the Works!

I have a couple projects currently in the works!  First of all, I scored an amazing 1970s pantsuit at the Goodwill in Black Mountain, NC that I want to alter into something more wearable.  Here it is in all of its tacky floral polyester glory!  I'm keeping the pants as is; all they need is to be taken in at the elastic waistline.  

I'm definitely going to reconstruct the butterfly collar shirt and mix it with a solid colored stretch knit fabric.  I'm thinking about using the Briar pattern as a template. 

And here's a preview of my latest make.  All I have left is the bottom hem!  I used an incredible rayon from Wanderlust Fabrics.  The pattern is from 1994 and I thought the floral print was very reminiscent of the 1990s, especially when it comes to baby doll jumpers, which is the view I'm making. 

"Te Amo" - Look of the Day

My first post in about 3 months!  I hope to be able to do more of these "look of the day" posts.  You see, I work as a cook during the day and I kind of live for shedding my kitchen scrubs and dressing up every afternoon when I arrive home.  Plus, I suppose this will be the last time I will be able to wear a plaid wool skirt and grey over-the-knee socks and get away with it before the slight winter chill is gone and Spring is here for good.

None of my look is handmade, but the bias plaid skirt is definitely vintage 1970s.  Scored with an entire armful of similar skirts all at once during a lucky pitstop at the Goodwill in Black Mountain, NC last fall (and they all fit, too)!  The awesome "Te Amo" Han and Leia shirt was definitely love at first sight and is from We Love Fine which has nerdy t-shirts at decent prices and awesomesauce customer service too!  The skinny belt is from Banana Republic from, like, 13 years ago.  The combat boots by Espirit are just about as old.  You see, when you're poor you tend to make your things last....