As a child, I loved playing dress-ups with my mother’s clothes. I used to handsew outfits for my Barbie dolls. I enjoyed playing with my paper dolls, spending hours to carefully cut out their clothes. Remember those?
I sewed my very first dress for myself at 10 years old (my mom signed me up at a local Singer sewing machine store for a summer activity). As a teenager, I continued sewing clothes for myself and even made a suit for my brother, Johnny – the drummer boy.
My dressing room is my little boutique and every morning, I go “shopping” to choose my OOTD. Sometimes I pick out a top and then decide what to wear with it. Other times I’ll take a scarf or shoes or jewellery and plan my outfit around that.
On this particular day, I wanted to wear this white lace with pearl gray peplum top. I decided to pair it with my white skinny jeans, added an angel wing necklace (a gift from my dear cousin Marion) and metalic sandals.
Do you have fun with fashion?
fashion with compassion 
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My brother was always the best, growing up he would give me all the big barbie accessories, like a pool, jeep, van… All the barbie limo ie 🤍🤍
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Fantastic I loved it! This article is very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing with us.
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you are looking fabulous. beautiful apparel. I also like the background and location.
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You look very stylish in this outfit. Nice tops and pant. You are very beautiful with a bright smile.
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Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Beautiful blouse and beautiful look. I love the hearts in your ears, they are very pretty.
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Thank you very much! I’m glad you like my outfit. Hearts are my trademark. ❤️ 🙂
❤️carmen
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I really enjoy reading your posts. Beautifully done! 🙂
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Thank you so much! Glad you stopped by!
❤️carmen
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Beautiful 😍
Have you seen my new posts, if interested then do check out my blog.
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Thank you Shristy! 🙂
❤️carmen
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In Germany, I learnt sewing in school and in Secondary School I made a floral skirt, I can’t remember anything else really. I wasn’t that great at it but I did wear it. You are amazing even making suits, wow. My mum had a sewing machine and she mailnly extended our clothes, like on trousers she added a band of material to the trouser legs to make them longer etc. So clothes lasted longer. I do remember those paper clothes and I loved them. I had a Skipper doll and loved to dress her up for different occassions. Childhood memories are so sweet.
It is great that you shop every moring in your own wardrobe boutique, it does sound like fun. You always look so amazing stylish and coordinated. You have the eye for it, like you choose your backgrounds – beautiful! much love to you Carmen. ♥♥♥
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Hey! I had a Skipper doll too, Barbie’s little sister! That suit for my brother was very difficult to make and I never made another suit ever again. I did sew several shirts for my boyfriend who is now my husband. Now he buys all his shirts at thrift shops which cost less than the fabric and buttons. The reason my mom bought a sewing machine was more for repairs and alterations (like your mom lengthening pants etc.). Thanks so much for your kind compliment and I do love choosing beautiful and interesting backgrounds.
❤️carmen
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Carmen, were those paper dolls called Betsy?? You always find the best backgrounds for your photo shoots!!
I sewed my first skirt, in 8th grade home ec. (Why don’t we have this anymore???? VERY needed!!) It was garadine blue wrap skirt, with a burgundy ruffle. Tried but couldn’t find any purple I could afford!! I wore that thing even in college!!
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Thanks so much Melinda! Backgrounds are part of the fun, I’m always on the lookout for for lovely spots, especially in warm weather. Your skirt sounds pretty, I love ruffles! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Thx!! I really loved it! 🙂
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Thank you so much I like your blog
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I sure do remember the cut out dolls clothes Carmen and all the outfits you could make!!What great forward thinking by your Mom to sign you up for sewing lessons so early. You had the love for it and how special that you got to make a suit for your brother, a lovely memory for you. How nice to have your walk in dressing room and pick and choose what you want to wear. I am loving the lace with the sheer peplum top and white jeans. Those earrings are gorgeous too. I love to mix and match outfits it is so fun!! happy Sunday Carmen, Terri xo.
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Thank you so much Terri, always a pleasure to read your comments! I’m truly thankful she encouaged me to take the course and I enjoyed it! I felt so pleased making my own summer dress which was a yellow, fit and flare style. I was only 10 so when I grew out of it, I took it apart at the seems, and there was enough fabric to make a short, sleeveless shift dress which were so popular in the ’60s. My mom taught me how to upcyle before that became popular in recent years. People never wasted fabric or yarn during the war and back in the olden days. 🙂
I thought you’d like this lace peplum top because you like feminie styles too! Mixing and matching outfits makes fashion fun and versatile.
❤️carmen
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Aww i do love fit and flare dresses and your yellow one sounds so pretty. Great job in repurposing it! I definitely loved the top !
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What wonderful memories. My mom was such an amazing seamstress (and still is) that I never needed to sew on my own. At least now I know a couple of alterations!!
But I do love going into my closet and what a great way to think of it as a boutique.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchohfstyle.com
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Yes, it gives real meaning to “shopping your closet” and makes it fun! Your mom is amazing with her sewing skills! I have sewn a lot of clothes in the past, now I’d rather visit thrift shops. 🙂
❤️carmen
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This is such a great look on you, Carmen! The ultra feminine peplum blouse with skinny white jeans is the perfect marriage of classic style meets elegant bohemian. The angel wing necklace from your cousin is so special, as well as being a reflection of your beautiful inner self.
I loved paper dolls as a child too. Children today are missing out, because while dressing up a video game created character may be modern and entertaining, it is in no way the same hands-on experience we had with our paper dolls.
Your sewing skills (and at such a young age!) are impressive! Sewing your own Barbie clothes as well as making clothes for yourself and your brother speak to your originality and the beginning of a lifelong commitment to sustainable fashion.
In my mind’s eye I envision your dressing room to be a magical space filled with lace, silks, and all manners of lovely natural fibers, beloved treasures and heirlooms alongside one-of-a-kind finds from your travels—organized, but in a way so pleasing to the eye that it inspires both creativity and relaxation, the perfect retreat to compose the gorgeous outfits you share with us on your blog. My dressing room is sadly utilitarian compared to yours. You’ve inspired me to create a boutique experience in my own home. Maybe you would even consider doing a blog post on how you transformed your dressing room and share organization techniques?
I’m having shoulder surgery on my dominant arm on Wednesday and it will be immobilized for a time afterwards, so I may not be able to type comments for a bit, but will be back to visiting your blog as soon as possible. I look forward to an amazingly smooth post-op course and rapid recovery, so I won’t be away long.
Thank you again for sharing your style in a way that is authentic, kind, and responsible to the environment.
I send wishes for all things good and wonderful to you and your family!
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I forgot to mention this in my original comment, but in the photo on the stone footbridge you look just like a medieval princess overlooking her realm. I don’t know where you were, but it is a beautiful place (with equally stunning flowers) and suits you perfectly!
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Thank you so much for your kind words! What a lovely comment and a beautiful description of my outfit, Nancy – “ultra feminine peplum blouse with skinny white jeans is the perfect marriage of classic style meets elegant bohemian.” 🙂
My cousin’s gift is a happy memory of her visit to Canada in 2014. Tangible things have a way of evoking memories that are in kept in our hearts. ❤️
I agree, children are missing out on simple pleasures that cannot be replaced with hi-tech toys.
I don’t make my own clothes anymore. The last outfit I made was in 2000, a blouse and matching skirt. As for my dressing room, I have planned to do a post someday. I think you are expecting something grander than it actually is and you might be disappointed. However, I love your imagination of my dressing room. 🙂 My favourite thing in the room is an antique vanity with three mirrors which my husband painted shabby chic white (it was dark brown). I also have a white shabby chic sideboard that he painted which I use for displaying jewellery on top and drawers for scarves and accessories etc.
The photo on the footbridge is at an old mill that has been converted to a beautiful restaurant and banquet hall that overlooks the river. We go there for special dates, like my birthday…
On a more important matter, I pray all goes well with your surgery and that your shoulder will heal quickly! God bless you with health and every good gift!
❤️carmen
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Your dressing room already sounds beyond splendid. I am imagining it with the shabby chic vanity and sideboard now. I am so excited to see that post!
And since you were at that special restaurant, does that mean you just had a birthday??? If so, happy birthday!!! I send wishes for a most wonderful and blessed year!
Thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes. I’ve known this surgery was probably coming for a couple months, so I’ve been trying to really eat super healthy foods, work out with my trainer, do a lot of walking, and be as generally healthy as possible in preparation. My nerves are kicking in a little today so I’ve done some meditation. I think I need to make a list of something. I don’t know why, but making lists always makes me feel better-lol.
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Yes I was the same, I loved making clothes for Barbie and my paper dolls, they were the best. I had a whole family. And I made my first pair of jeans at 15 by using a my old jeans as a pattern and I made all my work clothes. I also love clothes still but I have chosen a more practical and artistic expression now that my life revolves around creativity. 💐💐💐
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Those were fun days, weren’t they? I made a pair of jeans too when I was 16. It was my first and only pair of jeans I had during my teens because regular jeans were too stiff and uncomfortable for me as I had very sensitive skin and could only wear soft fabrics. I found a soft, denim-like fabric. I didn’t wear them much because I preferred florals and colourful prints and feminine styles.
It’s interesting how we have similarities and also different ways of expressing and enjoying our creativities. For me, putting an outfit together is fun and creative, like flower arrangements would be for someone else or planning a garden or painting or decorating a room. Everyone has a creative gift, something that gives them pleasure. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
❤️carmen
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Oh my jeans were also made out of very soft material for the same reason, which is why I made them. That’s amazing. And it is awesome that we have unique expressions of creativity too.
Take care💖Morag
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I find this so neat, you at 15 and me at 16 sewing our soft jeans! ❤️
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Yes 😁😁🙌🙌
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