Next month, I'll be attending Costume College in Southern California, and there are plans to have a costumed pool party while we are there. I'm pretty prudish about showing off a lot of skin, so I floundered around for awhile trying to figure out what I could make. I finally took inspiration from an amazing piece of vintage terrycloth that I had picked up at an estate sale last year and decided to make a playdress from a 1967 Simplicity pattern.
The tunic was a snap to put together and so fun easy to wear. But I haven't worn a pair of shorts in at least 5 years, and I was getting some major cold feet about walking around the hotel in an outfit that looks like I forgot my pants! So I decided to make up a pair of super-wide pallazzo pants to wear over the shorts when I'm not at the pool. The pants pattern is from 1969, and I am totally in love with these things as well. I think I need a dozen pairs to wear around the house (and do yoga in!)
I think I had the most fun finding accessories to finish this outfit off. The head scarf is such an easy way to fix my hair, and I think it'll look even better once I get a haircut so can do a decent flip with the ends. I made the sash from a similar tunic pattern, and I'm not sure if I will keep that part as is, buy something else, or just wear the tunic with no belt. That's the one part of the outfit that I'm not totally sold on. I found the 60's blue-tinted sunglasses on ebay, and although I think they look a little silly on me, they are definitely fun, so what the heck. The vintage rubber sandals are from etsy, and I also have a pair of big white hoops and a straw tote with flamingoes on it coming in the mail soon. I can't wait to get it all together!
I also had a lot of fun "antiquing" these photos. I scanned some of my parents' old pictures to use for the border and for general color matching. But I also wanted to show you some regular shots so you could see my psychedelic fabric in all its dayglow glory. :)