Me-Made-May Lite: Days 8-12

Eight to twelve?? I know, I know, I've been negligent. This photo, from Day 11, illustrates what it's been like around here. Busy, busy. (I'm running to catch the camera timer!)

But it's been the best kind of busy: everything feels like it's coming together. It'll be hectic with a career change and a major move, so I can't match the loveliness that's occurring with other Me-Made-Mayers. Check out Zoe's Days 8-10: who wouldn't want these pieces in their closet?. And I think I need this Armani skirt of Tasia's. The list goes on and on. Cuteness reigns, too, on the Me-Made-May Flickr group. They're so, so inspiring.

I had to laugh when I caught Helene's early conclusions on Me-Made-May and fear of Me-Made-May-Murder (for those of us who appear not to be fulfilling our personal challenges!). I'm also coming to conclusions: I need more interesting clothes in my wardrobe. I love basics, but the photos don't lie. Plainness abounds.

Thanks to the Sew U books, I've been majorly crushing on Built by Wendy. I loved these shorts, the combination of city-sporty-cute:



So, I took an old pair of black shorts, added bias tape to the legs and pockets. My Built-by-Wendy knock-off! (I am planning to visit the store when I'm next in New York and hopefully get a bona fide piece or two.) But when I wore them on Day 8, I realized why I didn't really like the shorts in the first place, they feel too flared. But I think I need to take a tip from the BBW model and wear a loose-fitting, tailored shirt to pull off the look.



After the LA heat subsided, I sported the me-made-cigarette pants, a T-shirt I got in trade and a boyfriend blazer.


Days 9-10-11

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 9: Another sweaty day in L.A. Altered capris, me-made-tee
Day 10: Thrifted, altered J Crew jeans, Michael Stars shirt from the wonderful shop in Murphys, CA, Top Shop Consignment
Day 11: Thrifted, altered gauze top and the skirt was handmade by my grandmother in the old country (circa 1960s). It has a matching jacket and dress. This was enticed out of the closet by the Colette Patterns post on seersucker.

Day 12
I had forgotten these in my inventory, but last year I was playing around with converting bootleg into straight leg and I took these old jeans, altered the leg and added rips. I know there's a great deal of contention about ripped jeans, but I like how casual it is. And besides, my jeans never do this naturally. Well, they do, but in all the wrong places. Yikes!

Before:

After:

These were perfect for packing and cooking and running around. :)