I've finally finished a sample! I suffered a setback about a week ago, when I realized I can't find the patterns to the skirt and bodice I've drafted. I've looked everywhere. Seriously. I even thought I might have put it in my portfolio by accident and went to the school I'm applying to to look through it - nothing. I don't know where they could've gone, maybe they'll appear again, but I can't wait for that to happen. Luckily I have the muslins, so I'll have to take those appart and trace the pattern from them. Then I can continue making the other patterns!

But back to the sample: it's a cropped bustier for the Gossamer collection, and will be made in Shantung. But I made it in this cotton ikat fabric because it's less fussy and I wanted to really test the fit first. I really like this fabric though! I plan to make a bustier for the Retro Classics collection as well (* I haven't seriously started on this collection yet, but I plan to sell some of the designs I've sewn in the past and new ones too, all inspired by classic silhouettes of decades past with a modern twist), and I think I might use this pattern and fabric for it, if it proves comfortable.

I've been a little obsessed with the perfect bustier top for years, I think it all started in 2009 when I got a lace longline bra at urban outfitters with a front hook & eye closure and wore it as a top over bandeau bras.

This post is also my first outfit post on murmur, and the first in a while for me! I guess this isn't really a thought through, perfectly accessorized outfit, but it's definitely something I will wear in summer, a time when I don't like having any not absolutely neccessary stuff on my arms or around my neck - like jewelry - because I'm a little sensitive to heat (in other words I'm a hot whiny dizzy mess). I think the bustier is perfect for those hot days when I'm like "why do I have to wear clothing? Oh yeah, civilization... whatevs".

The skirt is from last summer, I got it at Zara and it really got me into wearing white! Somehow I didn't really have anything white until then. The blouse I got on sale at Topshop when we were in Dubai for New Years. The fabric is very thin, perfect for adding a bit of "modesty" without subjecting myself to death by heat (seriously I'm so whiny! Summer in Switzerland is over in about 2 minutes and the temperatures rarely go much over 32° C / 90° F and the humidity is no where near as bad as New York.)