Swimsuit sizing: nightmare or blessing?

There's something quite particular that I've come to realize starting some years ago, after I actually started caring about my swimsuits and decided to buy my very own pieces: I own swimsuits ranging from size 14 (kids' size) to XL (women's size). So... What is this about?

Sometimes people choose to go one size up or down, depending on the fit of a clothing item, its stretching properties, its junior or non-junior sizing, and other elements to consider. However, I would have never guessed that someone could make such enormous leaps between sizes! But, alas, I have the living proof packed inside my closet.

I currently own around 30 swimsuits, counting bikinis and one-pieces, and even reversible suits. It's funny because I'm not a real fan of going to the beach or the pool, but I have a weakness for swimsuits that hook my mind and bother it for weeks and weeks. Anyway, it's very interesting to compare the fit and sizes of all my swimsuits: (14, 16 and XXL kids) and (XS, S, M, L and even XL adults). I think there's absolutely no logic to be found in this lot, and that's why now I'm always faced by an existential doubt whenever I want to buy a new swimsuit and the seller asks "which size are you looking for?", especially if it's an online shop. My conclusion can only be one: never deny trying on a swimsuit before buying it; and if you're buying online... good luck.

 

Now, about my outfit. The swimsuit that I'm wearing is from a fabulous small business from the Venezuelan seamstress Sussy De Pieren. I actually own several swimsuits from her brand, Tuqueque. Since I first found out about her, I've always admired her exquisite taste in creating innovative, fresh and creative new swimsuit styles. The very first swimsuit that I owned from Tuqueque was a birthday gift from my mother, and it's definitively one of my favorite swimsuits that I've ever owned.

This particular swimsuit came in a size L (mistaken for an M), but it still fits me well enough. Not many people know this, but you can actually tweak some features of a swimsuit to wear it in different ways. For example, this swimsuit is too big for me if I wear the straps crossed on the back; but with one simple move to the front... voilá! I love the printed fabric of this swimsuit, combining a snakelike purple pattern with green leaves. It's very exotic and glamorous at the same time.

I will definitively be posting more about my swimsuits and showing them to you. Meanwhile, feel free to follow Tuqueque on Instagram at @sussydepieren.

Stay tuned for more fashion posts! 

It's black, it's white striped dress

Going back to my basic instincts, whenever I go fabric-shopping I'm always on the look out for striped textiles, which seem to be somewhat uncommon to find. Luck has hit me a few times because I've found a number of striped fabrics that are exactly how I ideally picture them in my mind.

Some say it's inspired by Beetlejuice's outfit. Others think it looks Robin Thicke-ish. I even thought it looked a lot like Hot Topic's dress from their American Horror Story collection. But the truth is that I'm simply a sucker for striped fabrics, and I'd wanted to have a dress like this since a very long time ago. I actually own several black and white striped clothing pieces, counting a hoodie, two dresses, a pair of pants, a knit sweater, two shirts, a pair of stockings, etc, etc, etc.

With a simple strapless bodice and a gathered skirt, the dress has a simple but elegant construction. I don't usually pair dresses with belts, but the day I got these pictures taken I discovered the dress fit a little big on me. I think this brown belt goes particularly well with my dress and it balances it out. Needless to say, I have already adjusted the dress to fit me properly.

The black and white striped fabric gives the dress a dramatic and even burlesque look. I also have this same fabric in red and white, so expect to see a similar dress in those colors soon enough! For these pictures I paired my dress with a black knit choker, a borrowed brown belt, and my faithful black sandal heels by Qupid.

Come back later for more about fashion and crafts! 

Pastel green in the '50s

Since I started sewing seriously and more frequently, I have felt really inclined towards fashion styles from the '50s, and especially attracted by the dresses. They are a perfect combination between girly, elegant, comfortable and sexy, and they can be styled for casual occasions or for more formal events.

After creating two  patterns out of my beloved Ixia fold over pinup dresses, I decided to start experimenting by altering the silhouettes. At first I still stuck to the original shape, but then I went ahead and created the pastel green dress seen in the picture below, which features a narrower skirt and a separate waistband from a different material.

I made this dress using a soft cotton fabric that had been lying around for several years. The only problem that I found was that the fabric is a little see-through. I don't usually line my dresses on the inside because the fabrics I use tend to be sturdy enough, so this was the first dress ever that I lined up, and whenever I wear it I necessarily have to put on a slip underneath the skirt. The waistband is made from a recycled satin waistband from a party dress that I hate, so I felt no regrets when I took it down and cut it into a new one.

My favorite part of this dress, apart from the exquisite color palette, is the bow. It is made out of the same material as the waistband and when I made it I couldn't decide whether I should sew it to the waistband or in the middle of the bodice. I liked both options so much that I finally sewed a safety pin to the back of the bow, making it easy to move it around and stick it wherever I liked the most. I normally wear it as shown in the pictures.

In this case my shoes are black wedge sandals by Vic Matie, my necklace is a key-and-heart matching "Best Friends" necklace from Claire's, and I also paired the dress with a black bolero by Exotik.

Come back later for more posts about fashion and crafts!