I’m spending a lot of time outside this season, what with no where else to be. The choices are after all, inside my own house or outside: in the yard, on the trail, at the drive-in, on the water now a bit. But with the sunshine comes radiation, and sunburns if precautions aren’t taken. I’m always looking for, or to make, breezy summer attire with very good coverage from the sun that also serve an aesthetic purpose.
While rummaging through my fabric stash looking for more mask-making materials I came upon this leftover print polyester. I thought it would make a nice tunic top, something with lots of ventilation as the fabric doesn’t breath well, but it makes a good barrier against the sun and bugs. I modified a commercial pattern to be cropped in length with a tie at the front. I find myself making more elaborate everyday clothes this year perhaps because the renaissance fairs are all cancelled and I have less cause to daydream about costume-wear.
Clearly I’m having a vintage moment instead; spurred on by this idea that outdoor picnics and tea parties are a safer alternative to indoor socializing, and therefore one of our only options to be festive. I’ve fully embraced the tea-party aesthetic this year, and have sewn (and purchased) several garments to fit my new garden-party lifestyle.
The skirt in this outfit is an example of a modified purchased object. Often it’s cheaper to start with a garment that’s close to what you want, and make alterations to get it the rest of the way there. It’s a linen blend that should keep me cool while I put all of this effort into curating my warm-season wardrobe.
