As the weather begins to turn, a slight crispness to the air and the lengthening of the night, I begin to feel excitement for the coming season. Autumn is my time sartorially speaking and I've made a few new pieces to wear over the coming months which I'm in love with. It's also wonderful to get re~acquainted with old favourites and play dress up with both your new and old clothes, which to me are both keepers of memory and faithful friends.
When I saw that Liberty London had brought out a range of dressmaking patterns I was over the moon, and the Belle Tea dress was one I had to make!
Based on a 1930's dressmaking pattern, I made it in my favourite fabric, a reproduction of a 1930's Liberty Tana Lawn. It's called Honeymoon and how pretty is it?
Dress ~ Liberty London Belle Tea dress Pattern
Fabric ~ Honeymoon (available here)
Beret ~ Tara Deighton Atelier Vintage Tassel Beret (available here)
Bag ~ Vintage
Shoes ~ Clarks a few years ago
Belt ~ Marks & Spencers also from a while ago
Tiny spider webs and sprigs of sweetpea ~ heavenly!
The dress has a lovely Peter Pan collar and gentle puff shoulder. I am, of course, going to have to make this in black crepe too! (To read more about this lovely make, read here)
I love the tones of cream, delicate pinks and mauves accessorised with black that goes with my hair. And I live in fishnet tights throughout the colder months, even though they don't keep you warm!
My vintage tassel beret is my current obsession ( read more about it here) and I love this one in the colourway Cat's Tongue ~ at time of writing, I have a few knitted beret's and kits available in my shop if you'd like one for your winter wardrobe! They also make perfect gifts! ( Shop here)
This dress, the Annabel dress, is probably my all time favourite self drafted dress pattern! I've made it so many times both for myself and for others, and I love every single one! Originally inspired by a Vivienne Westwood dress so I named it Dame Viv, but after making a version for a short film based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem, The Ballad of Annabel Lee, I re named it.
Dress ~ Self Drafted pattern
Fabric ~ Liberty Tana Lawn
Belt ~ Hawk & Dove Vintage
Hairband ~ Madrugar Millinery
Shoes ~ Thrifted (but were brand new from a famous fast fashion brand)
This fabric is another Liberty Tana Lawn, I can't remember the official name, but I call it Tiny Angry Leopards!
The Annabel is the most comfortable and practical dress I own ~ It has an elasticated waist so it's almost like secret pyjamas. And Pockets!
I drafted a delicate puff sleeve, based on a 1930s pattern I'd seen and added sweet ruffles to the cuff and hem. It has that fabulous Vampire's Wife vibe, no?
I love this Margot hairband in leopard print, sustainably made by my friend Madrugar Millinery ~ her pieces are truly beautiful and I've worn this constantly (especially helpful when attempting to hide roots!) over the time I've had it.
And this vintage belt is from another friend, Jade at Hawk & Dove Vintage, which is just around the corner from my cottage. I love the hearts on it!
I'm lucky to live in a small community and to know some incredibly talented people who make, create and curate such beautiful things. I think it's so important, now more than ever, to support your local businesses. How and where we spend our hard earned money is the only power we have after all, in this day and age.
Blouse ~ Self Drafted
Skirt ~ My Full Circle Sewing Guide
Scarf ~ Thrifted
Victorian Locket ~ 21st Birthday gift
My full Circle Skirt in black cotton sateen has to be my most worn item and has been a revalation to me! I made it in the Summer and wore it constantly and now colder days are here, I'm wearing it just as much. Full skirts are a big trend apparently and these look great in almost any fabric and can be styled in a huge variety of ways ~ a real wardrobe hero!
I love the swoosh of my skirt and it makes me feel like I did when I was little and playing dressing up.
I made this blouse from a vintage french sheet because I love the monogram on it, which I placed centrally on my back. And, as I always seem to do, I drafted the sleeves from a 1930's sleeve pattern.
I really love this fit and flare silhouette of this fitted blouse ( based on a 1940's pattern) with the full skirt and I feel that it's so flattering. I feel amazing in these clothes, which is exactly the point!
If you would like to learn how to pattern cut and sew your own full circle skirt, you can buy my sewing guide here.
I hope you've enjoyed this little peak at some of my favourite Autumn looks and that you're able to make some things that you love too! I'm already working on some new pieces and something special for Winter which I will share with you soon.
In this crazy world and times, it's the simplest of things that give the most pleasure and soothe the troubled mind, for me that's sewing and sharing that journey with you both here and over on Youtube, I'm also very grateful to spend time over a coffee with my lovely friend Georgina, who very kindly took these photographs. She's the most wonderful human and you can see more of her beautiful work here!
As the evenings lengthen, I hope you keep safe, inspired and warm,
Tara x