Sewing a new skirt & a trip to a thrift event

I've been neglecting to reply to your comments on my previous posts because I've been extremely busy that last couple of days. I'll be sure to make up for it next week!
So what have I been working on? First of all, there is this article that I'm writing for a scientific journal about the subject I graduated on last September. I hope to finish it within a couple of days. Secondly, I have a photoshoot in victorian attire coming up on Sunday! The idea is that I'll dress in mourning costume. I have a lot of basic clothing, but I lacked a good skirt. So I really worked like crazy to finish a skirt based on this example:

The mesh layers took me ages to attach!! It wasn't an easy process, but at least I didn't have to pay more than 100 euros to buy this skirt in a shop. Instead I spent 30 to 40 euros. It didn't end up having as much volume as the skirt in the picture above (though I still have to press the layers outwards a bit more), but I like the lace that I added to make it a more of a personal item. Here is the documented process:

Finished:

Here I am wearing a bustle over the skirt:

I also made a mourning veil, attached to a hat:

Tomorrow and on Saturday I'm going to attend a thrift event! I'm really excited about what I will find there and of course I'll  post about it later. 

New sewing project

I’m in desperate need of a new outfit for a gothic themed photoshoot in which I’ll be participating (for fun). The big obstacle that I am facing is having very little money to spend due to the lack of a steady job. My first idea was to buy some second hand clothes, but I haven’t been able to find anything affordable that is also going to make an impression on camera. (The theme for the shoot is ‘dark victorian’ and I am planning to wear something that looks like a mourning outfit, including a long black veil.)

 The second solution to the problem is the most challenging, but also the most fun…making a large part of the outfit myself! And so, that’s the plan…I hope things will work out, for it won’t be an easy task. My inspiration comes from this expensive skirt (more than 100 euros!) from a Dutch gothic brand called ‘Sinister’:

 Then there is this fabulous black veil (about 40 euros):

 I also noticed this pretty shorter skirt (the green one, almost 90 euros), which would be perfect for everyday wear:

 I’ll be using these skirts as examples for my current sewing projects. I don’t want to completely imitate them, but I’m aiming to achieve a similar look. These are the fabrics and materials that I purchased online, for a fraction of the total sum of money that I’d otherwise be spending:

 

(WHY am I not able to post this picture here horizontally??  It doesn't appear like this in my image map and I don't know how to flip it. The strangest thing...)

Two hour skirt

The fastest way to make a new skirt in a very short time is to cut up an old one that fits you well enough but that is too worn down to be of any use anymore. Lay down the separate parts of the skirt on a piece of fabric you really like and cut out the same shape. Stitch it and add an elastic waistband...finished! You can re-use the pieces of the old skirt any time for making new skirts with other fabrics.
This is not a skirt to make a big impression with, but if you've used a beautiful fabric it will be a nice daily asset in your wardrobe.

 

...and a new longsleeve!

Yesterday I finished another project I've been working on. Actually it only took me two evenings to make this top, so it's very easy for beginners as well! The (German) pattern can be ordered at Farbenmix. The original design doesn't have wide sleeves and one is supposed to apply a rubber band at the wrist part, so the sleeves will have a gathered look. I prefered to make them look a little bit more special and medieval-looking though. It's not that hard to just adapt a pattern a little bit and make it something that really suits your personal taste. I'm with the way the top turned out, especially since it fits me perfectly. (No, unfortunately that is not so common as one might expect, at least not in my experience ;) ).
I think I'm going to make many more shirts with the same pattern and simply use different fabrics!