When YouTube Fails (or, Life Before the Internet)

Trying to repair a store bought sweater with an intricate stitch, must figure it out without help of internet, oh my! How things used to be -- you used your noggin, your network, and trial and error.

Planning to Fail = Guaranteed Success!

I'm not sure this fabric and pattern are a good match, which means I can only be pleasantly surprised by whatever turns out (assuming I can wear it). The fabric is a two yard piece of rayon or cotton challis, about 54" wide. It's super drapety (yes, I made that up) and after washing and drying it's gotten a little wrinkly. It's a bit sheer and the scale of the floral print is quite big, with big spaces between motifs.

It's that last fact which makes this such a hard fabric to do anything with. Regardless of one's actual size, large motifs with lots of space in between make one look huge-normous. Sometimes this can work, but it's tricky business. However, sitting in my stash won't change the fabric into something more flattering, so I'm forging ahead by combining this fabric with a Suede Says pattern by Simplicity (2222).

I'm doing look A in size 20, minus the chest ruffles. I'm not sure I want chest ruffles, it's a little too uber-girly for me. I'm going to cut larger than the pattern is to allow for French seams and my ample hips, but I don't expect to make any other modifications. I've already read through the instructions -- love how the pictures are separate from the words, for those of us who know what we are doing -- and I think the pocket construction and waistline treatment are quite clever. So I'm looking forward to make a surprising success ... or something I can sell at my sample sale later this summer.

Oh yeah -- I'm having a sample sale later this summer. Or maybe later this month. Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted!

Standards, And How They Set Goals

I come from a larger family (four children), which meant that there was a lot more conforming to house standards and a lot less doing whatever the heck I felt like. One standard that was set was for cleanliness, and to a lesser degree, neatness. I bet you think those two are the same! But they're not. Cleanliness requires that you scrub ... and wash ... and wash, and scrub. Neatness requires that you put things away.

After many decades of fighting the yoke of cleanliness, I've finally succumbed to it -- after all, there's something to be said about living free of dust, mold, bugs, and sticky filth. But neatness? Well, that was never drummed into me. But I did have a special appreciation for arranging things nicely, and having a place for everything (and everything in a place).

Lately, life got me down and I let my room go to the wrong side of the neatness barometer. But somehow, today, I can see more of my floor than I have in a long time. And I feel inspired! Inspired to ... sew. Yep. See, most of the crap that's turned my room into a hoarder's fantasy is sewing stuff. Patterns, patterns, and more patterns; clothes waiting to be re-styled; sewing projects in progress; and new cuts of fabric. Oh, and shoes. Because I'm a woman and I can do that. But anyway!

The point is that I've somehow cleared a little space on my floor, and I want more. So I need to sew -- sew through each pattern to see how it fits, sew through the piles of fabric so that they are clothes and not piles. I can already foresee the strain this is going to put on my meager closet, but hey! I'm all about making sacrifices. If that means having more to wear than I ever have in my life, well -- what's a woman to do?

Long Time, No Sew

Well, not really -- I have been sewing, just slowly, for myself, and I haven't been documenting things. But all of that is changing now! Well, some of that is changing now. The documenting part.

A little personal back story on where I've been in my life: back in 2010, with the big 3-0 looming closer on the horizon than I would have liked, I decided to grab the reins on my life and pull it in line with my artist's spirit. So I quit a very cushy job just before there were no jobs to be had, with the intention of finding my creative niche and establishing myself in it. I settled on fashion design just after I ran out of savings, and thus began some very Hard Times.

But happily, through sheer will power and just the right lucky breaks, I actually found a job in my preferred industry, using the skills which I spent two intense years teaching myself! The reality is definitely quite different from the dream, but that's probably the nature of things when you actually get what you wish for. The best part is that I can finally ease up off myself, creatively speaking.

Doing so has been a hard decision for me; I definitely don't come from an environment which supports 'play' or 'recreation', much  less having hobbies for the sake of it. But I feel that it's best for me now to simply play at sewing and making, instead of forcing myself to build my fashion empire Right Now. In this case, there really is tomorrow. So I'm officially taking a break from being a fashion designer, in order to enjoy being a home sewer who makes her own clothes.

Stick around and talk sewing with me, or ogle my fancy new clothes -- whatever floats your train! I would love the company, and who knows what will come of our time together.

--Ebi P.

High-Low News

The high-low skirt is coming along nicely, and definitely busted my entire stash of this particular fabric! I made it a little small for me, so it’s going to be one of the first offerings in my Etsy store next month – yay for busting stash and making progress toward a personal goal!

Love!

Ahhhhh! The Colette event at Grey’s Fabric and Notions was so much fun! I loved the variety and diversity of the sewists who were there, the staff at Grey’s was friendly and helpful, and Sarai of Colette was super sweet and had a great sense of humor. It was a wonderful experience, and I am so glad I went.

I did a little shopping, but with fabric like this…

…who could resist? And, I am happy to say I brought home a Colette pattern: the Lady Grey, a trench-like coat with a huge lapel. Perfect for balancing out those with proportionally wider hips! I love Colette’s sizing system; somehow, I am only an 18, which means I can make a muslin from the pattern as-is. Yay! No pre-sewing pattern alterations. I look forward to sharing more about this pattern, as I am going to begin work on it right away. Baby needs a new coat!

Colette Patterns in Boston!

The Colette Patterns team will be in Boston today, as part of a live event/trunk show. I’ve never sewn any Colette patterns, for various reasons, but maybe I’ll be won over by what I see and hear at this event. At the very least, it will be my very first sewing event! So I’m pretty excited.

I’m also excited to check out the local fabric store hosting the event, Grey’s Fabric and Notions. I’ve never been there, but I’m looking to upgrade my Pfaff and the owner is a Pfaff dealer – perhaps I’ll get to test out some Pfaffs before the event. Two birds one stone!

Two On Deck

I’ve discovered that stash busting sewing is different from other kinds of sewing. Stash busting is all about using up fabric, and less about perfectly made projects – which, of course, is the exact opposite of my normal approach to sewing!

Lucky for me, I have a much more talented crafter friend who told me about her slapdash approach to sewing. So I’m giving it a whirl this month, and seeing how it compares to my usual approach.

This is the beginning of what will be a slightly gathered, slightly flared, high-low hem skirt. I know high-low hems in skirts are a little passé, but I’ve been wanting to try high-low sewing for quite some time. I didn’t really measure anything for this skirt; I basically folded the fabric in half width wise and drafted out some shapes using masking tape.

I drafted pattern pieces for this cardigan, but in hindsight I think I could have used masking tape to block out some shapes on the fabric itself. That being said, I really enjoyed drafting the pattern! I love patternmaking. I mentioned before that I wanted to try Bored and Crafty’s cardigan tutorial – this project is that attempt!

So far, I did not find sketching out shapes on fabric as satisfying as drafting a paper pattern, but it may have been faster. I’m not sure, because it was so frustrating not being able to be sure that everything would line up perfectly after it was cut. That being said, I’m trying to channel my inner Satisfactionist, and make progress on the Stashbusting Sewalong. I think the skirt qualifies for the April ‘vibrant color’ challenge. What do you think?

Sick!

I have the flu! It's not that bad, but I am definitely sick. Nonetheless, I do plan to post my progress on my first batch of Stashbusting 2013 items tomorrow. As for when sewing will occur, well ... patience, grasshopper.

Game Plan, April 2013

As mentioned in my previous post, things are changing – for the better – here at Mostly Raaw Edges. I’ve got themes and goals and I want to share them with you!

This month, the theme is stash busting. For those of you who don’t craft, a stash is a collection of materials that crafters have at the ready. It sounds great, but stashes grow out of control faster than children grow up! And my fabric stash is no different.

So for April, I am joining the 2013 Stashbusting Sewalong, created by CationDesigns and EmSewCrazy. And here is my pledge:

"I, Ebi of Mostly Raaw Edges, commit to sewing only from stash fabric in April 2013, by creating projects for what I have. I commit to using at least six pieces of stash fabric this month, and buying fewer pieces of fabric than I use from my stash."

My goal in joining this challenge, besides reducing my stash, is to get over my fear of ‘ruining’ fabric, and to reduce lag time between projects.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Next, I have a personal goal. I have been talking about opening an Etsy store for-ev-er, and finally it is time to put my money where my mouth is. My goal is to sew ten or more items by April 30, so I may open my store in May 2013. This ties nicely into the stash busting goal, because some of the fabrics in my collection are no longer very ‘me’ – but they could be very ‘you’ or ‘someone you know’!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finally, my professional goal. Starting up a clothing line is a monumental undertaking, but just like the pyramids were built one brick at a time, so will I build my line. I’ve finally got a decent collection of sketches, so my next hurdle is making samples of my designs to see how they look in real life. My goal this month is to make one finished and perfected sample. It may be a new design, or it may be the Peekaboo Polo Tee which debuted in February. We shall see…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Whew! April is going to be a busy month. Better get cracking!

Showers, Fools, and Sewing News

Today in Boston I got caught in some serious rain on the way home, and thought: ‘April showers bring May flowers’. Which is all well and good, of course, but not when the rain is beating down directly on your head! I came home and had to put a towel on my wet hair.

It’s the first of the month and almost three months since I began blogging! The time is right to introduce some structure to Mostly Raaw Edges. Each month, I will have a theme, personal goal, and professional goal, which I will share with you. The theme will shape my sewing for the month as well as determine which other sewing blogs and online media I share with you. The personal goal is just that, but it’s nice to say it publicly and be accountable to that statement! Lastly, the professional goal has to do with bringing my clothing line, Raaw Atalanta, from an idea to reality.

I hope you stick around for the new changes, because I think they’ll make Mostly Raaw Edges more engaging and educational for you – and what is life without new ideas and fun times?

(ha-ha-ha! Happy April Fool’s Day, courtesy of Google.)

Be a Satisfactionist

Sue Kim made up the term ‘satisfactionist’ to recommend those of us who sew be more focused on satisfying sewing, than perfect sewing. It does not mean we set out to sew crooked seams or bumpy hems! Being a satisfactionist means accepting the little ‘oopsies’ that occur during sewing, without letting those ‘oopsies’ jade our view of our handiwork. It is important to enjoy sewing, and it is gratifying to be fully proud of our efforts.

When we begin sewing, we hold ourselves to the standards of items we bring home from the store – items sewn on specialized, powerful machines by people who use them eight or more hours a day, five or more days a week. Or we want our projects to look exactly the projects of our grandma, who has been sewing for longer than we’ve been alive. Or exactly like our favorite sewing blogger (who, let’s face it, probably does not share her duds!). So time and again, we come up short.

But that isn’t very satisfying, is it?

It is satisfying to credit ourselves when we finish our projects, when we tackle new techniques, and when we fudge things that turn out to be awesome. And it is very satisfying to graciously accept compliments on our work! We don’t have to mention that the interior stitching was done in two colors because we ran out of thread, or that our hem is slightly uneven, or that our buttons don’t quiiite line up with our buttonholes.

Sew for satisfaction, and be satisfied with what you sew.

Circle and Twirl

I absolutely love this skirt! I think it is one of the most darling things I’ve made so far, and I’m looking forward to giving it a good home, courtesy of my new Etsy store, The Be Market! (More on that in a future post.)

Circle skirts are pretty straight forward to make, though their simplicity means that you can get very creative with them. For this skirt, I love the free-floating hem embellishment I made (above), as well as the ribbons I inserted in the side seam (below).

If you’d like to make your own circle skirt, here’s a a great tutorial to get you started!

Just Call Me Goldilocks

As mentioned before, my first attempt at a Floral Bag by Sue Kim was too big. So I went ahead and made the smaller version … only to find it fits my laptop, and not much else. Too small! On the plus side, I still love this bag pattern.

I didn’t put any pockets in, both to speed up construction and because a gathered interior encourages pockets to tip over, spilling everything out of them. But for my intended usage, pockets are really a necessity. I could always wear one of those new-fangled cross body bags which are coming into vogue, but I like my bag to be my purse as well.

Nonetheless, I’m going to make another Floral Bag, in a size halfway between the large and the small, and I’m going to figure out a way to make effective interior pockets, too. And maybe some subtle exterior ones, too! I’m envisioning something country and rustic, like little blue flowers on a red and white gingham background. Maybe with a cheerful yellow lining? We shall see.

Giving Up On Catching Up

Confession time: I’m not a very trendy person. Or rather, I’m not trendy in a timely fashion. It takes me two to four years before I finally hop on the bandwagon, by which time the trends have begun to shift ever so slightly. The other day I realized that my mistimed wardrobe changes are part of the reason I am often unhappy with my appearance, and I decided that I need to more strongly develop my own personal style, so that I am less upset by fashion changes in the world around me. That, and I need to be more adventurous about jumping on things while they’re hot! Part of the fun of fashion is the play aspect of engaging fully with whatever the fashion gods deem ‘hot’. Right?

Floral Bag, or Who’s Laughing Now?

Say hello to the Floral Bag from Sue Kim’s fabulous book, Bags: the Modern Classics!

I made the large size, and it is HUUUUUGE! I’m embarrassed to wear it in public, because it is so big. It reminds me of the trend of giant bags a few years back, do you remember that one? I secretly used to laugh at women carrying bags large enough to stash a two-year old baby in. But who’s laughing now, hmmm?

However, the good thing about the size is that the scale of the print on the fabric matches the vastness of the bag perfectly, so it’s actually looks and feels appropriate and intentional. With it’s size and light weight, this bag is perfect for travel, whether as a carry on for a flight or as a weekender for a short getaway.

And from a personal standpoint, this bag neatly fits into my complement of purple travel bags – I just realized that all of my luggage is purple!

Pinky Pye

I’ve named this project after a book the childrens’ librarian at my local branch directed me to. The book, Pinky Pye, is by Eleanor Estes, author of Ginger Pye.

Ginger Pye is one of the most bizarre but unforgettable books of my childhood. I remember reading it and being boggled by the thoughts that went through the characters’ heads, as well as the complicity of the adults in the story. It may have been that I read that story at an older age than its intended audience, and so had a harder time suspending my disbelief; at any rate, I eventually bought the book and re-read it a few times.

I’m looking forward to cracking open Pinky Pye, and wearing the rather interesting-looking pink scarf I’ve named after it!

Fail to Plan

Ah, planning. A good plan is a wonderful thing, but I (rather stubbornly) try to do everything without one. I’ve been getting by, paying lip service to this important practice, but I think my days of living by the seat of my pants are numbered!

Thanks to the wonderful book by Sue Kim I recently discovered, I decided to make myself a new bag, to replace this one:

The above is Butterick pattern B5622 in the large size, and it was a total cinch. I don’t think bag patterns get any easier! But my beloved tote is showing serious wear and tear, and won’t last much longer. I decided to replace it with the Chic Hobo Bag from Ms. Kim’s book. Two hours of reading directions, tracing a pattern, and drafting a new pattern later, I realized the fabric and pattern didn’t match.

Ugh….

If only I had analyzed the fabric before doing all that work, I could have scrapped the project or used a different fabric! The more I sew and make and alter patterns, the more I am forced to accept the importance of planning.

Planning goes beyond simply buying enough fabric for the project at hand. It includes analyzing the fabric appearance, fiber, and drape for suitability to the project; assembling all materials needed and checking that they work together aesthetically and functionally, and are present in sufficient quantity; reviewing project directions, pattern pieces, and dimensions; and more.

But most importantly, the starting point of any successful sewing plan is considering how exactly the project will be used when it is finished. Had I done that step only, I wouldn’t have bothered making the Chic Hobo Bag at all! I would have recognized it is too small, and attempted the Urban Carryall or the Floral Bag.

Well, tomorrow’s another day. And I’ve (finally) got a plan!

Bags, For the Uninitiated

I’ve got another book review for you today! I just got Bags: the Modern Classics, by Sue Kim, from my local library, and I am in love. I am going to start making a bag right away, the Chic Hobo Bag. AND I’m going to trace all the pattern pieces to play with after I return the book, AND I’m going to buy this book!!! It’s that good.

Buy the book online: Amazon

Check it out from your local library: WorldCat

Really, if you like the idea of sewing your own bags but feel that the time (and money) spent on acquiring and wrangling bag hardware make the exercise not worth it, this is the book for you. Most of the bags Ms. Kim designed require only fabric, thread, and sewing machine, especially the bigger bags. I absolutely love that! I don’t want to buy expensive hardware, and frankly, I love simple, cloth bags – you can throw them in the washer when they get grody. Amirite?

Anyway, this is the fabric I’m going to use for the CHB – isn’t it spectacular? As a first generation American (US) of Nigerian extraction, I am sensitive to the bland interpretation of all things ‘African’ according to American sensibilities. When I saw this fabric, though, it spoke to me. Not only is it my signature color palette (red-black-white), it also has that faux-African thing going on in a much less obnoxious, plastic way. Yay for interpreted heritage! (And speaking of heritage, I do actually have fabrics purchased in Nigeria, some of which I will soon be sewing with. Exciting!)

I expect this bag will only take an afternoon, so stick around to see my version of Ms. Kim’s lovely design – and also my review on the quality of her instructions. Yay!

Like Shooting Off a Flare

I love this shirt, not the least for the banded hem detail on the sleeves, but it’s significantly more conspicuous than my normal fare. It feels perfect and fits like a dream, though, so I finally wore it out of the house the other day. I discovered that if I hike it backward a bit, I can come off as demure. Whereas, if I wanted to use my cleavage for good (and not evil), I could wear it as I designed it to be worn, Heh heh heh.

Anyway, call this one a success and throw it in the hamper! I look forward to pairing it with racier things than jeans when summer comes. I also look forward to turning it into one of the first Raaw Atalanta fashion patterns for home sewers, to be released this year. Stay tuned!

Wrap This One and Tie It With a Bow

I’m sure you’ll recognize the Hounds scarf I am wearing from a previous post, and you got a sneak preview of this skirt in the video I made for Hounds – so now, here is the skirt in all its glory!

This project was satisfying because I finally did a waistband up to my standards. (Like most sewers, everything must be *perfect* or it Doesn’t Count.) I am already looking for more projects with waistbands, so I can keep hitting sewing home runs!

The other reason this project was satisfying was how pretty the end result is! My store bought wardrobe is fairly drab, and completely lacking in purely pretty pieces. So it’s a great joy to have such a lovely skirt in my collection, and that I made it myself makes it that much sweeter.

I used McCall’s pattern 5430 for this project. I added several inches of width along the center front and center back lines to accommodate my hips. I also combined the pockets from view C with the flounce-front in view A. I followed the pattern instructions pretty closely, and I am quite happy with their clarity and sequencing. I definitely recommend this pattern.

On to more sewing! I wonder what is next …

Release the Hounds

Fun factoid about me: I am horribly, intensely allergic to dogs. I’m so sensitive it’s embarrassing! So this houndstooth check scarf is as close to man’s best friend as I can safely get. (“Hounds” tooth … get it?)

I absolutely love this scarf, and look forward to wearing the heck out of it! I’m also proud of it because it is my first attempt at doing a two-pass baby (rolled) hem on the sewing machine. I do have a rolled hem foot, but it frankly never occurred to me to use it! I’m a bit analog, what can I say.

If you want to make a scarf like this, all you need is 3/4 to 1 yard of fabric that is at least 50 inches wide, and some thread. You can use a rolled hem foot, or do a two-pass rolled hem (i.e., stitched, trimmed, and stitched again), or even do a rolled hem by hand, to neaten up the four sides of your rectangle. Et voila, you’ll have a scarf!

I am the world’s slowest sewer *and* I used two colors of thread for the hemming because I thought it would look cool (and it does, thank you very much), and the whole project took me less than two hours. So if you want a cheap, instant gratification project, definitely give a scarf a try!

Back From Beyond

It’s been several weeks since I last posted on here, though I promise I have been sewing and thinking of content! However, I have burnt myself out on trying to make the best blog ever, and need some time to get perspective.

 

So for now, I will continue to sew and think about content. But I’ll be sewing for me, and I’ll be posting blogs that are less rigorously edited/hyperlinked than before (though I promise to be vigilant about typos!). And yes, I will post prior entries which are all in draft limbo. I hope you stick around for my selfish sewing, and I do hope you get something out of my projects that helps and enriches your own creativity.

Every Day I’m Patternmakin’

Today I’m hard at work on the pattern for version 2.0 of the Peekaboo Polo Tee I debuted last week. It’s going well, and I hope to have the prototype made and photographed before the end of February.

Patternmaking seems less glamorous than draping, perhaps because it is more technical, but really it is quite magical that lines drawn just-so on a page can become the garment of one’s dreams! Especially if a dress form is financially out of reach. I personally love making patterns, and making the patterns for my own designs is especially rewarding.

I’m going to return to work now – au revoir for now!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, because I love the idea of a day where people freely and openly share their love and affection for people in their lives. I hope you are sharing your feelings today with those you love, one way or the other. And I hope you’ll accept this photo of roses as my Valentine to you!

I Want So Badly To Be Good

I love the details on this dress, I love how well it fits and moves, I love how easily it went from sketch to pattern to garment, and I loved styling it with so many different patterned elements – purse, shoes, cardigan, and earrings. The more patterns, the merrier! I guess that’s my inner rebel without a cause expressing itself.

I’m a public school girl, so I never wore a uniform – but this dress definitely has that Catholic school uniform look, to my untrained eye. What do you think?

At any rate, Catholicism in my mind will always be associated with Madonna (sorry Pope Benedict!), so I took this blog’s title from her song Girl Gone Wild, and I’ve embedded the video below for your viewing pleasure. I know I shouldn’t be shocked after all these years, but … she definitely had my jaw on the floor with this one. I love Madge!

A Little Bit of Peeking

If it’s subtle as a car crash and there are buttons involved, it’s a safe bet that I designed it! This shirt is totally, typically me. I call it the Peekaboo Polo Tee, due equally to the exposure of décolletage and the strategic placement of a giant button over an implied placket.

I have no clue where (or when) I will wear this shirt, but I’m glad I made it because there is something magical about going from sketch to pattern to sample. I plan to tweak the pattern a bit and make a version 2.0 Peekaboo, so stay tuned!

Silversand Cardi

You saw me cut it out, now you get to see the finished product: the Silversand Cardigan! I named it Silversand because of the color of the fabric and the metallic threads running through it.

This was a really fast project and I’m quite happy with the way it turned out – I wouldn’t change a thing! Also, this cardi is quite warm, despite being sleeveless; definitely good for those early spring or late summer nights with a bit of bite in the air.

The pattern I made is a good one for chunky knits with good drape, because it minimizes the amount of bulk covering the front of the body, so I may make a tutorial on how to draft this pattern using your own measurements (or tried-and-true pattern, or favorite shirt). We’ll see!

In the meantime, though, if I decide to make a light weight drape cardigan, I will probably follow the Light Drape Cardigan tutorial by Bored and Crafty. It’s perfect! (And an instant gratification project, too!)

The Look and a Grain of Salt

Today’s book is The Look: A Guide to Dressing from the Inside Out, by Randolph Duke. (See if your local library has this book on WorldCat, or buy it on Amazon.)

In my quest to read everything on personal style, dressing, and fashion, I rather dubiously checked out a slick-looking book called “The Look” from the library. It wasn’t a waste of time, but watch the video for the inside scoop on this effort.

Paprika Bites the Dust

Do you remember my beautiful Paprika dress, which was coming together so perfectly? Well, unless I lose about seven pounds, it’s going to have to stay a thought. After all that hard work, I closed up the back seam to find the dress is way too tight in some areas, and way too long in others – and I can’t go back to fix them without undoing hours and hours of work. I simply don’t have the heart for that right now, so I’m putting Paprika in the failure pile for now, and moving on to other things.

But it’s okay! Failure and mistakes are part of sewing. And since I know how much you loooove my modeling photos, here’s a consolation prize: a really funny video that I made one lovely unemployed day in my youth.

On Deck

Remember this?

Even though it’s the middle of winter, this is the perfect time to begin thinking about warm weather wardrobes. (Ooh, alliteration!) For sewers and non-sewers alike, it takes time to pull out and review last year’s summer clothes, and decide what needs to be added to the collection for this year.

And that’s where the similarity ends, because sewers can do something non-sewers cannot: make our own clothes! Once we decide what we need and want, we can make it happen.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have never owned summer clothes. I’ve had t-shirts, of course, but they are the kind you get from volunteering, or the merch table at concerts, or the men’s section of your local discount clothing store. I’ve never had shorts, skirts, tanks, or anything that said ‘summer’. Or ‘spring’. Or even ‘cute’. So this year, I’ve got a lot of sewing to do.

Me, every summer ... minus the hat.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have a frilly tank top and a simple t-shirt in the works, as well as a maxi dress. I also whipped up a pair of shorts. But what I don’t have is a vision … yet. For that, I’m going to look both to high end designers and the world around me. In a series of posts, I’ll share my finds with you, and maybe we'll both find some inspiration for our wardrobes this year!