Tag Archives: Miz mooz

Smock ‘n Roll

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Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou FrouCardigan: Princess Highway

Dress: DIY from Fancy Tiger Crafts pattern

Tights: Sonsee Woman

Shoes: Miz Mooz

I was trying to expand my sewing repertoire beyond Colette patterns (on account of the sheer number of Myrtles and Monetas now in my wardrobe!) when I stumbled across Fancy Tiger Crafts. Ostensibly a craft supply shop in Colorado, they also do a few patterns of their own design, including the oh-so-chic Fen Dress which looks like it’s wandered straight off the racks at Melbourne-based hipster-favourite, Obus.

This fabulous smock frock has deep scooped pockets, a boxy fit, and ‘choose-your-own’ features like sleeves, hemlines, and necklines so that you can mix and match your own perfect creation from the one pattern. I’ve made three now, and they’ve all been made of different fabrics with different elements, and I’ve loved every one of them.

This version has a dipped hem and a v-neckline, plus I lengthened the bodice by an inch to give it a slightly dropped-waist effect. For the fabric I splurged on a totally, totally divine cotton-hemp blend ‘denim’, that looks and feels like well-loved linen with none of the wrinkle-factor. I’ve been reading a lot lately about ethical production in the fashion industry (I’ve just started reading this great book on the topic called Wardrobe Crisis – do check it out if you’re interested in fashion and consumerism) and I was reassured to see that the company who supplies the fabric traces the provenance – and worker standards – right down to the raw materials. At $25 a yard It’s probably one of the more expensive fabrics I’ve bought, but the quality speaks for itself and it was definitely worth the investment.

The fabric’s lovely in summer, but Melbourne seems to have finally caught up to the fact that it’s autumn, and the mercury is dropping fast. Teamed with tights (Sonsee, naturally) and a cardigan, the style of the dress is clean enough to layer beautifully.

I kept my jewellery simple, adding my New Favourite Necklace: a ‘spinner’ pendant that lends itself to being endlessly fiddled with during the day (the rough-cut faceted crystal rotates with the flick of a finger).

Frocks and Frou FrouNecklace: Foxtail Boutique

I’ve had my eye on the necklace for the better part of a year now, and I’m so glad I finally snapped it up, because now I want to wear it all the time.

Two-Ways Tuesday: Little Tienda

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Frocks and Frou FrouI bought this summery little smock dress in the height of summer, thinking it would be a nice breezy number to wear on reeeeaaallllllly hot days. It’s the calico version of Little Tienda’s “Las Flores” midi dress and it’s a really lovely piece. At $139 there are cheaper Mexican-style frocks on the market, but speaking from personal experience they don’t come close to Little Tienda in terms of quality and workmanship.

Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou FrouDress: Little Tienda

Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens via Modcloth

The calico fabric provides a nice natural base for the gorgeous embroidery to stand out against. It’s not as harsh as pure white, and the fabric has a kind of heavy softness to it. The flower motif really glows, it’s impeccably sewn, and hasn’t buckled the fabric the way I’ve found cheaper Mexican dresses do.

I’m wearing the XL, which fits with room to spare though I trimmed a few inches off the hem. I wasn’t sure about the sleeves when it first arrived, so I ended up bringing them in a little with a tucked pleat – it’s helped limit the amount of volume around my bust-line and streamline the silhouette a little.

In summer I wear it bare-legged with clogs or sandals, and minimum jewellery, since the gorgeous embroidery really adds everything you need in terms of frou frou.

But of course, it’s not summer right now…

Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou Frou Frocks and Frou FrouDress: As above

Cardigan: Paper Scissors

Tights: Hue

Shoes: Miz Mooz

 I was surprised by how well this dress worked as a cooler weather frock, when combined with tights and a cardigan.

I’m wearing olive coloured tights that  pick up the green in the embroidery, but aren’t too dark against the pale fabric of the dress. The deep red cardigan is the perfect hue to match with the flowers, and I added a brown belt – worn high – to give a some shape to the layers.

Frocks and Frou FrouFrocks and Frou FrouEarrings: Primal Originals

I kept the accessories minimal again – this isn’t the kind of frock that needs a necklace or statement earrings – but I couldn’t resist teaming them with the mother of pearl hoops that I’d bought from Etsy last year. They add the perfect finishing touch to a polished hippie-chic outfit that reminds me of summer on a grey day.