Monday 25 March 2013

Briar: hacked and blocked

I'm not a wearer of crop tops. I don't have the stomach for it, and never have done.


However, I am a wearer of dresses.


And a knit, two-tone dress with that cropped curve AND a high-low hem at the knees?


Yes, I'll wear that. Especially when it's this comfy and it sparkles.


:: :: ::

  • Pattern: Megan Nielsen's Briar, size L with full bust & narrow back adjustments (2cm each).
  • Top extended to dress length like this.
  • Colour blocked using the right/wrong sides of the fabric - the top half is the cropped length of the pattern.
  • Fabric: silvery sweater knit from the Maison Dorée. One of my more expensive purchases ever, at 10 euros/metre (1.5m was enough, even for dress length). I nearly didn't buy it but couldn't resist the little coloured bits: do you see them? Look closely up top there!
  • Bangle (or do we call them cuffs these days?): H&M, 4 euros. No, I haven't entirely sworn off fast fashion yet. I was going to but then I saw this.

I wore this dress the first time to a birthday party. It might not have the glamorous shape of a fitted dress à la NL6000, but it's got glitz enough and plenty room for dinner and dancing. And we're all old enough now to appreciate that.

:: :: :: 

PS. Wouldn't this make a great maternity dress/top? With a bit more length in the front, I guess - but that cropped curved shape would fall wonderfully over a bump.

PPS. What should I do with my hair?? I like it mid-length and tie-up-able, but it's getting both straggly and boring. Hairdresser given free reign will make it short. Is she right? 

15 comments:

  1. ooh this is fabulous! I love chic clothes that are as comfy as PJs, and this looks like it falls in that category. (And room for a big meal is essential, methinks!)

    I always had long hair (half-way down my back), but a couple of years ago just gave my hairdresser free reign - he lopped off 5" into a bob, and I absolutely love it. It was quite nerve-wrecking at first - but I thought that if was a complete disaster, I could always grow it out again.

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    1. It takes nerves to let a hairdresser do that! Your hair looks great though, not surprised you like it!

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  2. Jo, what a sensational make!! I just love that fabric and what an inspired dress. Now, I love your hair, but why not chop it into a bob? Does your hair sit well with a fringe? Maybe a fringe is a bit out there, but a bob would be cute.

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    1. I think a fringe might be a bit high maintenance - I'm too scared to trim it myself and too cheap to keep going back to the salon... :-)

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  3. Looks sensational!

    As for your hair, what about a long bob? I just got one and I love it, if you get it without a fringe and so it's shorter at the back and longer at the front it will give the effect of being short hair, but it will all go back into a little pony/knob very easily. Added benefit I think, as usually with shorter hair if you pull it back you'll get straggily bits in the front, but this will let you put it all back. .

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    1. hmm, I did used to have something like this, could be the way to go!

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  4. Wow, what a great look! I loooove this dress!

    I love the idea of a graduated bob, too! It could even be the teensiest bit asymmetrical, which would look way cute with a side part!

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  5. Just came over from your feature on Megan Nielsen's blog today and wanted to comment here too! I love your version of the Briar - it's SO cute! The fabric you picked is gorgeous too! Super super super fab!! It's like the perfect dress up/dress down festive (but comfy!) party dress. :-)

    I think that a graduated bob would be cute too - perhaps with longer asymmetrical sideswept bangs in the front? That way you could style them to the front, to the side or, alternately, pin them back if you don't feel like dealing with them. That would leave lots of styling options.

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  6. Super inspirational... Loveeeeeee it

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    1. Thank you! Got to admit - your knit dresses are the ones that really inspire me!

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  7. I m not th best person for hair styles as I like mine long however I keep changing the color

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  8. Ah thank you! I love it too :-) And asymmetrical - I hadn't thought of that. Hmm!

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  9. Beautiful! I've given you a Liebster award ;)

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  10. Wow! This is a super cool version of Briar!

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