Wedding Guest Style : DIY Floral Wrap Skirt

Hello!

We have been having the MOST bi-polar spring here in Virginia! I know some of you are also experiencing this and that makes me happy that we are not the only ones (What can I say? Misery loves company- haha). But you can rest assured: it will be warm sooooonnnnn!

With that being said, wedding season is upon us and I know many of you are planning on attending a wedding this spring or summer and are already thinking of what to wear as a guest!
For your man, I am SO excited to post about The Black Tux!

This type of service was not available when I was getting married and I really wish it was!  With so many options for ladies like rent-the-runway, the guys in our life also need a service where they can rent a modern, high-quality tux without worrying about affording to purchase it and the unnecessary need of owning it! (Some may have the lifestyle that requires owning a tux but usually, it is bought for a special event then just gathers dust in your closet!)

Check out The Black Tux here: https://theblacktux.com for you next formal event or wedding!! I've included a great infographic at the bottom of this post: It will help you decide what is appropriate to wear to what type of wedding!

As for the ladies, the most perfect and versatile wrap skirt!
Check out the video tutorial here!



I really love wearing dresses to weddings because they are one-and-done: just add a few accessories and you look put together! But I love the way a skirt can be worn so many different ways! This can easily be dressed up, like I am wearing it, with a neutral top and some strappy heels. But it would also be great for a beach wedding: throw on some espadrilles and a straw hat and it's perfect!!

(Pair with a white tee and white sneakers and its perfect for the farmers market tooo!) :)

Hope you enjoy the photos and check back soon so you can see how easy it is to make your own!

Thank you so much for reading!

With Love, 

Viktoria 

Off the Shoulder Seersucker Ruffle Midi Dress

Hello!

I am so excited to post this DIY dress! I have been craving (and inspired by) so many ruffle, off the shoulder, midi dresses from all over the internet (AKA Instagram). I knew the ruffle affect wasn't hard to do so I ordered some blue and white seersucker fabric (here- from Fabric.com). Blue and white is always a alwaysss a weakness of mine for summer and I just can't stop with it! But how cute is this lobster one?? Perfect for sailing or backyard seafood cookout. Yum.

I ordered with this dress in mind. It just screams summer, right? Its flowy and effortless; perfect for the beach then to dinner, right??

Let's make it! It's not as hard as it looks!

You will need:
2 yards fabric (I used this one)
Elastic band (one length of waist, one the length of around the shoulders, one for chest without arms)
Matching thread
Sewing machine

I used a strapless maxi dress as a template - it had a similar cinched waist that I was mimicking.

1. Measure your chest and x 1.5 : that will be the width of your fabric. Times that by 2 and fold it in the middle. Lay down your example dress (Or measure with a tape where you want your waist to be cinched) and mark the "waist. Also mark the length of the dress (not including the bottom ruffle). I wanted that to go to about my knee.

2. Measure your waist with the elastic: (pull it around snugly: not too tight but taunt) at your desired waist. To sew it onto your marked waist: first, start a small section at the beginning to attach the elastic to the fabric then continue sewing while pulling the the elastic tightly. This will create the gathered look. (CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK YOUR NEEDLE! Don't rush this)

I used a zig-zag stitch for better hold. 

3. Pin the sides and sew down the line. This is the back of your dress.

4. Measure your chest area. Fold the top of the dress over for the width of your elastic. Sew this closed leaving 2 inches open to thread your elastic through. I use a saftey pin. Sew the elastic together to create your chest.

This is what you have now: 

5. Measure your bottom ruffle. 64 inches long strip, about 10 inches wide. Sew a basting stitch along the top- making sure to back stitch on one side to hold the thread from sliding off and losing your ruffle. Gently pull on one of the two threads and it will create a gather. Gather it the exact size of your opening of your skirt. Sew down the edge to make into a circle/loop.

6. Hem the bottom of the circle ruffle piece, which will be the bottom of your dress.

7. Turn the dress right side out and the ruffle inside out and slide the ruffle piece around the bottom of the dress. Pin the ruffle around the bottom of the dress, so the seam is inside the dress, not on the outside of the dress. (My ruffle attachment looks much longer here because I cut it shorter after trying it on)

8. Repeat this exact ruffle step but with a smaller width piece of fabric (around 8-9 inches in width). You don't want it to be wider to cover up your waistline. Make a hem slot for the elastic around the top- pull through an elastic (the length of your elastic should be the width of your shoulders and chest- Measure around like an off-the-shoulder top).

9. To attach this top ruffle to your dress, I sewed it in 4 places. You can sew all the way across the front and all along the back (making sure to leave the arm holes) but I found this secured it without too many extra stitches in the front. Leave space for your arms on both sides!

10. Make a drawstring- This step is optional but I think it adds a little something different to the dress.
Cut one 2 inch strip of about 58 inches long. Fold in half two times and then sew along the edge. You can iron this and then sew or you can do it while sewing.

11. Find the half point and sew this to middle of your dress, as shown below! This can then be tied around your neck or just as a bow in the front.

DONE! Yay! Now go forth and enjoy SUMMER! :)

This can also be worn as a strapless! Simply take out your arms from the holes! Warning- it's not super snug this way so be careful :)

Let me know if you have any questions! I hope this inspires you to make something new for yourself for summer.

Have a great week!

With love,

Viktoria