Midi Skirt & Nani Iro Woven Tank

A few months ago my husband instituted date night. Not so much because he wants to spend more time with me, more because he's a food blog junkie (people who know him are a little shocked right now) and needs a date to try out all the restaurants he's reading about a 5am when he opens his eyes and starts wondering who serves the best burger in the city (Shake Shack, duh!). So far, we have gone out twice. Its shockingly hard to find a sitter in this city, even with all the under employed millenials I keep hearing about. Millenials where are you? Will you babysit my kids? I guess they read the food blogs too. So, in theory this is my date night outfit, but with better hair and make up. And let's me honest, flat shoes. I live in the city, I don't wear shoes I can't walk at least a mile in. 

This outfit really started with Kelli's midi from way back in internet ancient history - 2012. The first time I saw it, I wanted it. I love the volume of her version, but I am a hippy girl and knew I didn't want on seam pockets (Kelli has since revamped her version). The off seam pockets allowed me to only gather the skirt in the middle of the front and back. It cuts out some of the volume, but it also keeps my hip proportion in check. 

The fabric is a teal blue rayon from Jo-Mar in South Philly. At least, I think its rayon. Jo-Mar is the kind of place where you make note of the fire exits when you walk in the door cause the whole place is a bargain basement stacked up mess of highly flammable synthetic fibers. The real deals are in a big jumble on tables and you have to untangle them to purchase. No bolts, no hint at the fabric content, no idea what you're buying. I bought 4 yards because it was $2, and after wrestling it out of the chaos, I felt committed.

And this is what I will be wearing when we take the kids to Shake Shack because we couldn't get a sitter. I la, la, love my new skirt, but will probably wear the top with capris or this skirt most often. I actually bought the skirt fabric first, knowing what I would make with it. Then went on an inter web quest to find fabric to go with it for a woven tank. This Nani Iro double gauze is from Miss Matatabi. Its my first time with double gauze, and it is just as dreamy as you've heard everywhere else on the web. 

I don't think this post needs another picture of me, but things are getting wordy so I'm going to use this grainy close up to break things up. This is my third Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank (first one here, second one here). I raised the neckline and the bust dart 1", and it made all the difference. This print has a very large repeat, and most of the action is along the edges. I cut the pieces perpendicular to the selvage to maximize the amount of print on the finished top. I also needed the full 1 1/2 yards of the unusually narrow (41") double gauze to get maximum color on the front and the back. If the repeat were smaller I would have only needed 1 yard. Fits like a dreamy double gauze glove.

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