Bodysuits & Marilyn Moments

I’m really enjoying the start of summer, which normally brings on a small amount of worry. How will I make it through the furnace without losing my mind? Instead, I’m thinking about all the things I crave in summer that I don’t other times of the year. Like cucumber sandwiches. Smoothies. Inventive cocktails with big ice cubes. According to my crafty drink-making friends big square ice cubes are the rage right now. They take forever to melt and a pleasurable texture on a hot day.

So I have a confession to make–this is the second day in a row that I’ve worn this outfit. And it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done something like this in hopes of getting a good blog picture. My blogging vanity has gotten the better of me! I’m not the best photoshoot planner in the world, and don’t often plan my posts ahead of time so if I miss an opportunity, I’ll wear it again, darnit! On the first day, by the time the sun started to go down I set everything up and my timer went missing. It’s too hard to take selfies without a timer.

On the second day, I had a friend to help but the wind was outrageous. This turned out to be rather fun because it makes the skirt a whole personality of its own. You may recognize this as the Megan Nielson Cascade skirt, which I made last summer and wish I had about 10 more because it’s just so light and easy. Second confession: I had more than one Marilyn Monroe moment while wearing this in the wind. Like, full on Marilyn with the skirt flipping up to my waist, one time in the grocery parking lot. Thank goodness there was a bodysuit underneath!

This is the fun Nettie bodysuit, a pattern by my gal Heather Lou of Closet Case Files. When she asked me to test the pattern I happily obliged even though I have mile long list of sewing-relating things going on lately! It’s my pleasure to support her patterns–and I don’t need much encouraging to when it comes to anything remotely lingerie-inspired. I’m totally sold on the merits of a bodysuit. I like sleek and all purpose basics that cross the lines of lingerie. I love them because they’re comfortable and easy and secretly letting me be a bit sloppy wtihout looking like it.

Heather was onto my game, and I love that she made options for super skin-showing deep backs. It has only been the last couple of years that I’ve started to wear more back-showing garments. I used to feel very nervy about revealing it due to scars and moles and whatnot but I’ve finally decided that I like the character. (I promise I did not photoshop my back–in good light you’d see it all.)

Anyhoos, there’s not much to tell in the way of details. This is a super easy project, an hour or so if you’re fast with the serger! I used a bamboo-cotton-spandex blend jersey that I’ve had in my stash for a few years. For some reason I bought 5 yards of the stuff but I’m glad I did because I’ve gotten good mileage out of it for several projects. It’s a bit weightier than your typical jersey so makes a great fabric that stretches well over the body without show through.

I substituted lingerie elastic as the leg finish, just because I have loads of this stuff. But next time I’m going to try the same banding finish that is used for the neckline. I have a swimsuit with this kind of banding at the legs (instead of encased rubber elastic) and it’s super comfortable.

Ok, one last outtake, just for fun. This is called my “Neiman Marcus model pose”. I have so much more fun when I’m not doing this by myself!

Details:
Bodysuit: Nettie by Closet Case Files (I made size 8)
Fabric: Bamboo/cotton/spandex jersey (I forgot the source!)
Elastic: Sew Sassy
Skirt: Cascade by Megan Nielson, blogged here

Photos: Stephanie Press