VELVET RUFFLE TOP (inspired by Lela Rose)

A few years ago I decided I wanted to go to New York Fashion Week. Two years ago, two of my best friends went together and begged me to go with them, but the timing was wrong and with my little kids I just couldn't make it happen. Plus, I felt like if I was really going to make the effort to go and leave my family and fly across the entire country, I wanted it to be really worth it. I wanted to be able to attend as many fashion shows as I could, and make as many connections as possible, and two years ago I just didn't feel like I was able to do that in the way I wanted.

This year I was finally feeling in a position to really make that happen, and so I was over the moon excited when I had the opportunity to team up with Papyrus to make this dream become a reality. You can take a peek at what I wore during my time there right here.

Papyrus, as you might know, is a stationary brand. They create the most gorgeous and fantastic greeting cards and stationary, and although they've been a part of NYFW for a few years, this year they teamed up with two fashion designers, Lela Rose and Zang Toi, to make some incredible cards based off of these designers runway looks.

The runway shows are the most incredible experience, especially as a seamstress myself, but as you probably know, so many of the runway pieces are not really wearable in real life.

So today I'm taking one of the Papyrus designer cards and sharing a more everyday piece that I created, inspired by the runway piece from this Lela Rose Papyrus card:

I loved the ruffle silhouette of the Lela Rose Dress, so I used that as my base and instantly knew I wanted something with layered ruffles.

I also loved the color combination of purple and white on the card. I chose more of a berry color, since I thought it suited my skin tone better, and did it in a beautiful velour since velvet is a huge for fall. I chose to do the same boxy silhouette, and then paired it with white jeans to get the color contrast like in the card. I added gray heels and a low messy bun to create a really fun and trendy night out look from this dressy runway look.

I also love the way this top looks with distressed blue jeans, and you know I'll be wearing it with sneakers!

I'm sharing the tutorial below today. Click READ MORE to find it, or click here.

DIY SUEDE SHIFT DRESS

 

OUTFIT DETAILS: DRESS (made by me, tutorial below)  ||  HEELS  ||  BAG  ||  BANDANA  ||  NECKLACE

Fall style this year is going to be full of rich textiles, and suede and velvet are two of the big ones. I picked up this rust colored faux suede a few weeks ago and knew I wanted to make a dress out of it.

I whipped this one up right before I left for New York Fashion Week and then styled it with a cute bandana neck scarf and some killer studded heels. I wore it on my first day of fashion week to the Rebecca Minkoff show, and although it was crazy hot and we were running around full speed, I felt so chic without being over the top.

I'll be styling this dress during the winter with a leather jacket, ankle boots, or anything burgundy. I also want to try it out with a pair of sneakers (of course, my trusty keds!)

Click READ MORE below to find the full tutorial, or click right here!

DIY FRIDAY: LEMON PRINT FIT AND FLARE DRESS SEWING TUTORIAL

DRESS: MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW)  ||  SIMILAR BAG  ||  SUNGLASSES  ||  HEELS 

photos by rad and happy

I've had the idea for a lemon print dress in my head for over a year. And I would have made it way back then, but I could never find a fabric that I liked. I searched online so many times and could never find exactly what I wanted, and then one day a couple of months ago I had a breakthrough -- I could paint the lemons! I've been wanting to make my own textiles for a long time, and after making my fabric for my Valentine's Day dress, I was itching to try it again. 

So for the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I schemed about this dress, not wanting to make it until I delivered so I knew what size to make it. Then as soon as San was born and my mom was here for a week and a half to help with the kids, I took advantage of a few nap times to pump this dress out. 

When I designed this dress, I knew I had to make it nursing-friendly, so I put a zipper in the front. I chose a chunky plastic sport zipper since it added a fun visual element in the front and I love how it adds a little bit of sportiness against the sweet print of the dress. I finished it just in time for Easter Sunday and wore it to church, which you can see here, but I had to grab a lemonade from our local Lemonade for this shoot -- it was just a perfect fit!

I cannot wait to do more textile stamping this summer -- I have a bunch more fun ideas, and plan to do a full video tutorial on my youtube channel on the entire process. So stay tuned for that.

But today I'm excited to share the step by step tutorial to make this dress! 

Click READ MORE below to find the full tutorial.

DIY FRIDAY: SLOUCHY HOSPITAL T-SHIRT DRESS

About a year ago one of my friends sent me an image of a mom in the hospital, wearing a super slouchy t-shirt dress. She was close to expecting baby #2 and asked if I knew where she could find a similar one. I pointed her to a few different places, but I'm not sure she ever found one.

Anyway, I've kept this slouchy tee dress in the back of my mind for all this time, and decided a few weeks ago that I should make myself one for my impending hospital stay. It's perfectly slouchy and soft, easy to pull down to nurse (since it has a wide neckline), and basically feels like pajamas but makes you look a little more pulled together.

Also, we took these photos when S was only 24 hours old (obviously when I was still in the hospital) and I'm already missing how tiny and new he was!

photos by rad and happy

Click READ MORE below to find the easy step by step tutorial!

DIY FRIDAY: 5 DRESSES YOU COULD MAKE FOR EASTER

Easter is only a few weeks away, but there's still time to make yourself an Easter dress! It's one of my favorite traditions and I'm so excited about my idea for this year's dress. Hopefully I have at least a little of my waistline back so I can make it and fit into it by Easter!

Today for DIY Friday I'm sharing five of my favorite dresses that would be perfect for Easter. Plus, if you don't know how to sew, snag The Modern Girl's Guide to Sewing right here for 25% off (with code EASTER25 this week only!) so you can learn how to sew and impress everyone on Easter Sunday with your handmade dress. 

SCALLOPED SHIFT DRESS 

CONTRAST BACK PENCIL DRESS

LIME LACE PENCIL DRESS

EMBROIDERED MOTHER'S DAY FIT AND FLARE DRESS

RUFFLE HEM SHIFT DRESS

Which one is your favorite?? If you make one and post about it on social media, make sure to tag me (@merricksart) so I can see! 

Happy Friday!

DIY FRIDAY: STAMPED BODYCON VALENTINE'S DAY DRESS WITH FLUTTER SLEEVES

OUTFIT DETAILS: DRESS MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW)  ||  MICHAEL KORS BAG  ||  NUDE HEELS  ||  WATCH  || "BALANCE" + "HAPPINESS" NECKLACES c/o MEJURI 

photos by rad and happy

Last year I ran across a bow print dress like this one and instantly fell in love with it. It was sleeveless and more of a swing shape, but I just couldn't stop thinking about the print and have kept it in the back of my mind for almost a year so I could make it for Valentine's Day. So I did my own take on it and made it bodycon (which is obviously more flattering on my huge baby bump) and added some flutter sleeves.

One of the things I've been itching to do more of this year is make my own textiles, so this was a perfect opportunity to try it out. I used a pink rubber eraser and an x-acto knife to carve the bow stamp, and then silkscreen ink to stamp it. So easy, and I love how it turned out.

If you're not a seamstress, you could still make this by purchasing a white dress (like this one or this one) and stamping it. A quick and easy refashion alternative!

Click READ MORE below to find the full tutorial!

DIY FRIDAY: VALENTINE'S DAY SWING DRESS

DRESS: MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW ||  FAUX FUR VEST (ALSO HERE)  ||  SIMILAR ANKLE BOOTS  ||  SIMILAR CLUTCH  ||  SUNGLASSES 

Valentine's Day always sneaks up on me. After recovering from Christmas, I'm always so focused on getting back into a good routine and plowing through my resolutions that suddenly it's February and I haven't even thought of it. But you know how much I love celebrating holidays, so I'm trying to make a better effort to think about and prep for them early so I'm not rushing at the last minute. 

One of my very favorite things is making myself something new for a holiday, so for the next few weeks on DIY Friday I'll be sharing some fun clothing ideas that you can whip something up for yourself for Valentine's Day, whether you're staying in, going out, hanging with friends, or going on a hot date. 

First up is this super easy swing dress. I've made myself a couple of these over the years, and even shared the tutorial two years ago, but I'm resurrecting it because it's the perfect dress for maternity or non-maternity, and easy enough that any beginner seamstress can make one. It's the kind of dress you can dress up with heels and a jacket, or down with sneakers and a hat. And they're great for maternity, but also perfect for non-maternity. 

Make yourself a pink one like me, or do it in red, or white (and throw on some pink shoes!)...lots of possibilities for V-Day! 

Click READ MORE below to find the full tutorial!