Made By Lex

Weekend in Napa Outfit

My husband and I got to go to Napa last weekend. It was the first time we had gone away by ourselves in a long time! So I wanted to make something special to wear. So I came up with this bodice top and high waisted skirt.

I used my FAVORITE (and now gone) Vera Wang vegetable dyed cotton to make the bodice top. I made a base with lots of boning, added a built in bra and stitched over the cups.  Then  I made  a one shoulder detailed strap with ruffles, layers, flowers, etc…

Here’s what it looks like laying flat.  It was mostly hand sewn and super fun to layer and put together.

I also made the strap removable so I could wear it plain like this, or under a jacket or sweater.

I made this skirt out of this AMAZING Marc Jacobs wool stretch jersey. It was so amazing! It was like a thick jersey but such high quality material.  It is a $40-ish a yard and I got it for $8!! It is very high waisted with a big band and a large gold zipper down the back. You’re seeing big, bold, exposed zippers on everything and I LOVE that trend! It has a pleat detail in the front, although it’s hard to see in these pictures.

Here’s some solos of it.

The front pleat.

The back with the bold zipper.

Here’s one more back shot.

Ok, that’s about as much seriousness of myself in nice clothes as I can take. Let me tell you what REALLY was going on while my sister was taking my pictures.

“Oh my goodness, are my legs REALLY this white. What am I thinking wearing this  in public?! Can I make my legs look tanner when I photo edit these?” (and I did. This IS what my legs look like more tan after I edited them! If I showed you what they were before you would be blind. Seriously.)

See people! I have freakishly long monkey arms!

“Maybe if I pretend to play with my hair during a picture it will look less obvious.” (Note to self” makes it look MORE obvious. And you can see my armpits. Never a good look)

“I know!! I’ll try to act charming and coy!! And I’ll smile with my eyes the way Tyra always says to do.”

Then my sister and I just started laughing. (Well, really she started laughing at me then I started laughing) My ‘model’ antics weren’t working. I’m just awkward. Sorry!!

My Stillwater Outfit

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas as a family. We got to spend a lot of time with my family and my husband’s family and we enjoyed every moment of it.

Last night we went to Pebble Beach Lodge to one of their restaurants, Stillwater.

(from left to right: my husband, Zach, myself,sister Ana, my Mom Valjean, my dad Rob, sister Antonia, sister Clare, brother Joe. missing one sister, Francesca)

I wanted to make an outfit for it since I don’t dress up much anymore. I’ve been doing a lot of designing lately, which I’ve really enjoyed.
And I need to do a preface. These pictures are so hard to post because I am the most awkward ‘model’. I hate taking these. I just had to say that. It’s hard for me to be this serious. I’d have loved to take these in good lighting, but it’s what I’ve got.

That being said, here it is. My Stillwater ensemble.

The back I pulled off to the side with more of the ‘gathers’ then made another strap pulling the off the shoulder one tightly so it wouldn’t fall off my shoulder.

Here’s a full back detail.

I made the skirt from a sapphie colored silk cotton blend. It has kangaroo pockets and a side zip.

I wanted a pop of color so I made this rose colored hair pin.

Or just buttoned. From the front…

… and the back.