Speaking strictly for myself, let me answer the question this way: My company has excluded me from the holiday bonuses if I don't go (which I can live with), the pervert who kept trying to touch me quit, and my last excuse for bowing out of these things has been removed. (They are making menu provisions for vegetarians and vegans).
Additionally, I am smart enough to realize I appear antisocial by continually not attending. This year will be an all night event: cocktails, dinner, dancing, hotel room. I don't like the overnight part but the hotel has a reputation for being extremely posh, so it may be worth it.
This means I need a dress. (And I would be a liar if I didn't admit that making it has me all kinds of excited.) This will be a formal sort of frock that is appropriately beautiful for a company event and appropriately modest for me.
Here are the patterns I have chosen:
In going through my pattern stash I found 2 skirts I thought would be sweet but no blouse patterns that were just right. Skirts being preferred over dresses because they hide a myriad of figure flaws and remove the need for any special foundations. I settled on the skirt above. One down.
The search for a great pattern for a blouse or top lead to the shrug pictured above. Instant love! And McCalls started a 4-day $1.49 sale while I was online. I couldn't believe my luck!
I was just about at my wits end when I found the New Look pattern. The styling is perfect - suitably open at the neckline and form fitting to compliment the loose flow of the shrug, but suitably covered so I won't feel like I am showing too much.
Since the ensemble is based around the shrug, I sought fabrics for it first. The pattern calls for chiffon or Georgette.
I hit Elliot Berman first and have 2 samples on order. Since they specifically say they don't want
Other choices were this lovely silk chiffon/Georgette from Manhattan Fabrics that has been on my wish list for years:
And this bold and unusual piece from Fabric Mart:
I went ahead and bought yardage on these - including plenty extra for fudge room and fussy cutting, if needed.
What I don't use for the shrug will definitely become a blouse. The Fabric Mart chiffon is very wide so even if I do use it, there will be plenty left over for a blouse and possibly a scarf, too!
Don't ask me where my champagne taste came from. I sure as heck didn't grow up wealthy and I have not won a Publishers Clearing House Giveaway yet. So the fabrics for the top and skirt forced me to restrain myself. (The $50 - $75 per yard fabrics - as gorgeous as they may be - are just out of my budget for a special occasion dress I may only wear once!)
The top can be made from fabric suitable for the skirt or from velvet. Introducing another color and texture just makes me want to squeal with glee. Matching another color makes me want to crawl back in bed and pull my quilt over my head.
So I ordered a plethora of swatches.
This assortment from Farmhouse Fabrics:
Velvets and velveteens. I very much doubt any would be fluid enough for the skirt, not to mention may be way too warm for both pieces. Some of these colors may just work so perfectly with one of the Elliot Berman samples that I may go with a different shrug fabric all together!
I had this teal silk-cotton blend in mind for the Manhattan Fabrics chiffon...
...but decided to get swatches of the other colors to see if maybe there is a better combination (once I am able to place the actually fabrics next to each other).
I ADORE that copper/pumpkin silk-cotton and hope it looks good with this and my complexion because it would be an unexpected color.
Both sample groups have a "royal blue" in them that look rather purple on my screen. Definitely need to see these fabrics live and in person!
In the meantime, I can start a muslin for the skirt. Once I get the shrug and top patterns, I will muslin them too. This year I am NOT going to still be sewing on the day of the party!!!
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