Bold Stripes

Hi there!!

I hope you are having a lovely December so far.

To be honest, I've been feeling out of sorts recently; a bit grumpy and tired. I know things are not good when I 'm beginning to be impatient with myself and with others (including Boss. gasp!!!).
I'm now trying to get more sleep and take better care of myself so here's to things looking up soon (very soon, I hope).

Today's post is on this green butterfly sleeve top and stripy midi pencil skirt I made a while ago. I feel good when I wear items I made but unless it's a dress, those items are usually paired with something else. Don't get me wrong, I do like that also - the fact that I make pieces that complement others in my closet - but wearing a complete "me-made" outfit has it's own special warmth.

A few Sundays ago, the uniform for my choir (LA Voice at RCCG Love Assembly) was "wear something green". I wanted to step out of my comfort zone (which would have been green top with black pants/skirt) and I sent a picture to Zi of this top and skirt and asked what she thought (she's the fashionista in this duo). She approved!!!!

Enjoy the pictures below.
I really wanted to wear a brown belt but I couldn't find it in time. Sure enough, I found it as soon as I walked back into my apartment after church. Next time ...

   

   

   

Stappy Cage Top

* Hi there.
I think I've mentioned that August was a very, very busy month. All in all, I think I made 11 pieces of clothing ... I don't know how I did that with everything else that was going on.
Thank God for grace!!!! and strength!!!!
Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll have all the pieces in one post as a reminder to me that "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

This week's post is about my first cage style top for a wedding on August 29th. The sister of the bride wanted this style which she had seen online and a pencil skirt. It took a bit of thinking before execution to figure out how to make the style but I think I did well.

** Enjoy the pictures below.

** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs and Facebook: Zichie Designs

Finished Look

Inside the pencil skirt (I cut the dart threads later).
It was to be very fitted so I added a slit for ease of walking.

Finished the main bodice (except for closure) with 3 straps on the front and 2 on the back as part of the bodice. I made them longer than needed with plans to trim them after the fitting.

Made the armhole and neckline straps and pinned everything in place; ready for the first fitting.

Adjusted the straps during the fitting then sewed them down. Also added the zipper to the top and took in the skirt a wee bit at the hips.

Voila!

Hi-Low Peplum Skirts

* Boss told me last week that I am becoming known as an Ankara (African Print fabric, not the capital of Turkey) designer. Not bad, right? 

I thought about it and realized all (or at least 90%) of the items I have made in the last 3 months and maybe even further were all in ankara fabric. Probably because I know a lot of Africans and they place orders for ankara outfits as those cannot be readily found in stores over here :).

Anyway, it was time for a palette cleanser and once again, it started with a discussion with my sister.

Me: I bought this black and white knit fabric to make a quick peplum skirt. I'm thinking of flipping the fabric for the peplum so I can create some contrast.

Sis: You're making skirts, right?

Me: Maybe I can get 2 skirts out of the fabric. I'll trace the other knit skirt I made.

Sis: Skirts ... one for me.

Me: Oh. Right. Guess I could make yours first and perfect the process before I make mine. 

She had her skirt (yellow floral one below) about 2 hours later. I had mine a few days later. 

(And, yes, I did get 2 black and white skirts from the fabric. I'll post pictures of the 2nd one another time).

** We wore them to church on Father's Day - pictures below.
*** Follow us on Facebook (Zichie Designs) and Instagram (@zichie_designs and @e_fazion) and email (zichiedesigns[at]gmail.com) for custom orders.

Me & Le'Sis

Me @ Le'Car

Side & Front Views

(Hmm, didn't get a back view)

Le'Sis Taking a Selfie

In Other Father's Day News ...

Custom Order for Mrs. K for Father's Day

Knit & Leather Date Night Skirt

* Soon as I scheduled date night last month (February) with my best friend I knew what I wanted to wear (if I could finish it in time). I had been thinking of making a midi pencil skirt for a while and I took this as my chance to do so. I had a week and a couple of days and I wasn't going to bother with a perfectly drafted pattern so I chose some knit fabric from my stash. For something special, I decided to add a leather waistband.
** Thanks to Memkoh's 4 Ways to Wear: White Button-Down Shirt feature  on Style Me Africa, I've been re-thinking how I wear my own shirts and I knew this skirt would be the perfect pairing. Unfortunately, it's been really cold weather lately so the only time I wore the skirt out, I wore it with a sweater, tights and boots. I recently got a chance to style it with the dress shirt ... hope you like it.

New Top Design - Not Sure What To Call It

* In November of 2014, I was Christmas gift shopping when I saw a picture of a doll in a dress that inspired this design. The dress was fit and flare and the bottom was 2-tiers: one floral and one solid pink. It got me thinking ... what if the bodice and first tier were a blouse that could be paired with any bottoms from skirts to shorts to pants to leggings? And while I'm thinking about it, how about a hi-low hemline?

** On Thanksgiving Day, I got Zi's measurements and brought my vision to life in kente print fabric. It worked!!! I was invited to a company's end-of-year dinner party and I made another version of the top in a lovely gold and black brocade that made me think of flames and paired it with the very first high-waist skirt I made. My version of a LBD dress :).
Enjoy the pictures below.

*** Check us out on Instagram: @zichie_designs

The Top in Black & Gold Flames paired with a Pencil Skirt

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 I like how the opening in the front resembles a flame too.

Added black tights, black sandals, gold hair flower and black & gold earrings to complete the night's look.

The Top in Kente Print Fabric

Mullet Dress: Black & Purple

   * This is my interpretation of a mullet dress: business in the front (pencil skirt) and party in the back (circle skirt) - woo hoo!!!!! There are several ways to wear it; here's 5.
  ** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.
*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs

Business in the Front, Party in the Back :)

Criss-Cross Pencil Skirt

   * This is one of the first pencil skirts I ever made so I'm going to start by saying 'Yay!!! It still fits; 3 years later'. I had remnants from sewing another outfit for a friend's wedding (will create a post on that one later) and I decided to do something with all the bits and pieces I had left. The top was made for the wedding.
  ** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.
*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.