23.11.11

Screamin' Summer Spearmint Shorts

Don'tcha just love the colour of these shorts?  Don't they just scream out SUMMER.  I purchased this fabric with view to make a Spring pencil skirt, but I am forever ducking out to the washing to fetch my Marfy linen shorts, so I thought a repeat pair was in order.  In magazine speak, they would say that these shorts were "on high rotation".

This is a new colour for me, so I have been pairing it with all sorts from my wardrobe.  Which is your favourite look?  Early opinions will be heeded as I love these shorts so much that I am thinking of wearing them to the kid's Christmas concert tonight instead of a dress.

Starting with Christmas colours, just because that is the top I was wearing today. 


Next in jewel tones.  This Vogue blouse does not seem to have featured on my blog previously.  I made it before I started blogging from a stretch silk georgette. 

Perhaps with neutrals.  I did not make this top; it was a gift from hubby.  It has a lovely neckline edge.

More casual with a t-shirt.

A beachy look with my Tessuti fave top and a tote.  I did make this tote out of Japanese cottons but have never got around to blogging about it.  I actually made 2 of them and donated one to the school to be raffled off.  I am moving house soon and my new neighbour was the recipient of the raffle prize.  I wonder if she thinks it was a unique one-off.  Do you think I will be able to keep using my bag.  Ah, the dilemmas of living in a small town.  Incidentally, the necklace in this photo is the first piece of jewelry that I ever bought myself.  I never dressed up much as a teenage, never wore make-up, never wore jewelry.  This frog caught my heart though.

Perhaps less colour?

Looking back at those photos, I think that the longer length tops are more flattering than the waist length ones.

Anyway, some sewing details.

The fabric is a linen from EmmaOneSock, still available.   The description calls it a tie dye.  It was more uneven in colouring than I realised until I sewed it up.  Look at the photo below.  I am considering this "charm" rather than a defect.


The pattern is Marfy 1668, reviewed previously here.  I did modify the waistband to be a contoured band this time around.

I worked hard on not getting the inside of the front waistband to peek out (which is a problem that has been annoying me for years), using a method described on fashion incubator (method is for collars, but I adapted it to waistbands).  I may have exaggerated the effect a little, but it has worked.  The underlap still peeks out over the top, so I will have to work out how to prevent that in future.

Notice how neatly I have sewn the hook and eye?  I have had plenty of practice lately, on a very exciting project that I will reveal shortly.

And finally, a photo to remind me how I blind stitched the cuff up.  In all the times that I have sewn cuffs, I could never work this out.  Now that I have, I want to remember.




18 comments:

Mary Nanna said...

That is such a beautiful colour on you. I love it teemed with the yellow tee because they are both such great spring colours. I wish I could wear shorts that short but I have never had the legs for it and they are not improving with age! I laughed about your neighbour's tote. That kind of thing happens even in a big city, because no matter where you are, it's still a small world..

Mary said...

Great shorts and a flattering fit and color on you! I love the second look in jewel tones, and also the beachy look with the overblouse and tote. Can I borrow some of your clothes? :-)

Rachelle said...

I love them all! Really helpful I know ;-) love the Marfy shorts mark 2, the colour is lovely and the fit is amazing. Love your new hair cut too. Lots of love in this comment hehe.

Gail said...

Great shorts - After seeing Carolyn's pink shorts and now your green ones I wish I had the legs for a pair. Like all the looks, but was particularly attracted to the beachy fave Tessuti's top and the purple blouse.

Jacqui said...

Gorgeous colour! I'm loving it with the red, the white and the yellow tops especially.

Marie said...

Gorgeous colour. It seems like it will be a very versatile piece this summer.

Summer Flies said...

I love all the tops with those beautiful coloured shorts ... also do not have the legs for shorts like that either. Now I like Hubby top, yellow and the first one. It's been stinking in Brisbane so I can imagine up there!

Bernice said...

Great post. Love your fashion shoot. I like the yellow top and beachy look best. These shorts are a gorgeous colour. I can understand why you love them. Looking great in heels too. Lovin' the new haircut too.

liza jane said...

Ooh, fun color. I like it with red the best, followed by your beachy top.

meli88a said...

You are making me miss summer -- it's just about freezing here! I like the outfits with the red, purple, and yellow tops best. Versatile indeed.

Sigrid said...

Lovely shorts. Longing for warmer temperatures at seeing your pictures. Great, versatile color.

Gabrielle said...

I know I'm too late for my comment to be useful but I love the look of these shorts especially with your little yellow top - and I also think they go brilliantly with red and white. I think they are very nice with white alone but a bit of red sort of lifts them. Re your bag could you say hers was the first? (was it?)

Carolyn said...

I love your shorts, fab colour, and I have a similar lifestyle that means shorts are in high rotation in my own wardrobe at this time of year too! I like the story about the tote...

kbenco said...

How funny about the tote.
I like the lighter colours with the shorts - the yellow and the hubby top and the beachy look. They are such nice shorts with the bright colour.

Myra said...

Very nice, I would probably have never pair this color shorts with some of the colors you did, but seeing them on you changed my perspective for sure! Great job on a nice pair of shorts!!

Amy said...

Beautiful shorts. Somehow I just found your blog and have been having fun going through other entries! I especially love the billowy white top look, and love all the fun sandals.

MushyWear said...

I love the color of these shorts. I agree with you, the longer top in the second to last photo is my favorite, although every top works as well. How nice is that? to have such variety with just one pair of shorts.

poppykettle said...

I'm loving those gorgeous shorts. I just acquired this pattern for myself and came across your blog whilst trying to find others who had made this - they look great on you!