joelle van dyne: leather and lace

as i mentioned a couple weeks ago, i’m really not a black leather kinda gal- i just don’t know what to do with it! so my old navy leather hangs in my closet, presenting a constant challenge.

i had been wanting to create a frilly bright pink lining for it, but was distracted by a white la perla bathrobe for awhile. while i love the robe and have been wearing it like mad, i still had my original idea in the back of my mind.

when noel took me to a newly discovered vintage shop last week, and i saw a filmy bright pink something peeking out from a rack of nightgowns, i knew that fate had brought me there. it was a nightgown in the exact color i had in mind!

i brought it home and went into a SEWING ZONE, staying up late into the night, cutting and hemming the nightgown until it became this vest (still a bit too long).

now i must confess my little filmy pink dress is also vintage sleepwear. i’ve always loved this kind of thing- i wore a nightgown to my high school prom one year. i’m a sucker for lightweight, sheer fabrics in pale colors, and i’m on a roll lately with the sleepwear-as-daywear thing.

my moon necklace is from Alkemie, a jewelry line i particularly enjoy- it’s reasonably priced (i always wait for it on sale anyway) and it has nice texture. i usually reserve this piece for my giant-sleeved stevie nicks dresses, but lately i’ve wanted to wear it with everything i put on.

last but not least, my shoes- they were my birthday gift to myself, found at a favorite consignment store. i really like the contrast of the greasepaint-grey shoe with the wooden heel. plus, the squared-off toe reminds me of my pointe shoes as well as of horse hooves- it’s hard to find this shape. actually, i don’t always like square toes much, but somehow these do it for me.

vintage nightgown, DIY vest/jacket lining from vintage nightgown, old navy leather hoodie, marni shoes, lanvin bag