For my contribution to the exciting #RetroTikiCollab I wanted to make something that I could dress up or down. I love an elegant sophisticated look, but let's face it, fun and practical better suits my lifestyle regardless of how much I wish I was a femme fatale who's main responsibilities include cocktail parties!
So, elegant and sophisticated with the fabulous wrap skirt and the little bolero combo!
The bolero was my favourite part of the project. It sewed up so quickly and easily, and instantly gives that hint of vintage glamour I am always searching for.
I have already made 2 of these. And it takes up so little fabric that any leftover fabric from a project can be utilised ingeniously for this.
Whip off the bolero for a more sexy look.
I love a whip off kind of an outfit! Makes me feel like a pinup superman!
The wrap skirt is also a super fun make!
Nothing tricky about it, but the side wrap gives the appearance of an advanced make. Ha! It's not. But it makes me look clever, and super cute!
The only point I would make about the skirt, is that it does not have an adjustable waist. The ties have fixed points so do check the fit before finishing the waistline. I could have gone tighter, but it's super comfy, and not everything needs to strangle, right?
The top and skirt are amazing together!
This look is calling out for a tropical cocktail with an umbrella!
Another layer comes off and reveals a one piece playsuit/romper.
I love a playsuit but I didnt have one in my wardrobe. Criminal I know, so that needed to be rectified, and what a perfect opportunity!
So, to make the 2 piece in to a playsuit it is really just a case of joining the 2 pieces at the waist. No pattern adjustment, very simple!
- I sewed up the shorts, omitting the zip and ignored the waistband all together.
- I sewed the top and top lining separately as directed. Boning the lining as outlined in the instructions and then only stitched them together along the top edge.
- I joined the bottom edge of the bodice to the top edge of the shorts(the waistline), matching seams and darts.
- Pressed up the waist seam.
- Sewed in an invisible zip along the centre back.
- And finished by hand stitching down the lining along the zip and waistline.
I used boning casing, which is super quick and easy to sew with.
I also bought pre cut spiral steel boning to save time and save my fingers!
Both of which I bought at
tutusandtextiles.co.uk
The final step is the only hand sewing involved, which you could technically do mostly by machine, but I prefer hand finishing, it's therapeutic at the end of a machine heavy project and does give a beautiful finish.
And there we have the final result!
Such a pleasure to wear!
Although I made this playsuit to be a casual look, it still has that vintage elegance that makes it feel special.
Easy to get on and off with the invisible zip, which keeps the back looking smart.
The only other change I made to this pattern, was to make some cute spaghetti straps, and creating this triple strand strap. I have seen these straps on vintage tiki dresses so wanted to recreate the look.
I'm so happy with how they turned out! For such a small change, these straps add an interesting detail, making the look feel all the more vintage.
I kept the styling of this look pretty simple with a must have hair flower and bamboo bangle to create a tiki look.
Both from
ladylucksboutique which I absolutely love! They have a great variety of hair flowers to choose from.
And the earrings are vintage dead stock I bought from
bowandcrossbones who do some incredible jewellery!!
And one last pinup picture for the road!
Don't forget to check out the other Tiki Pinups from the #RetroTikiCollab!
Akram from Akram's Ideas
Abi from The Crafty Pinup
Bianca from Vintage on Tap
To keep the fun Tiki Party going!!!
X O X O
Christina
