#finding a way to cover the laces of my Doc Martens and the buckle on my belt

[sheliesshattered]

My last post about the progress on my Batuu vest left off with me contemplating exterior pockets, looking to Bix Caleen as an example of a fitted vest in the Star Wars universe. I ended up talking myself out of any visible exterior pockets, with or without flaps, after looking at all those pictures of Bix. I've got enough other bits of visual interest going on with my outfit that I felt like exterior pockets just cluttered up the look.

Once I had decided against adding additional pockets, I was able to move on to the next step: finishing all the edges and attaching the lining to the exterior in preparation for getting the zipper in place. I turned under the armscyes of the lining and the exterior separately, both using a blue lace hem tape that I originally bought to go with this fabric back in 2016. Eventually I'll top-stitch them together with the hem tape sandwiched invisibly between the exterior and the lining, but for now they're finished enough to allow me to try the vest on without fraying the armscyes.

It took me awhile to think through all the steps for attaching the zipper, with all the asymmetry and overlapping and exterior and lining, while also not wanting the zipper to show from the outside at all. Eventually I figured out that I would need the underlap (left front) to be completely sewn together with the edges finished before I could attach the zipper to that side -- but I would need the overlap (right front) to not be sewn together yet, so that I could attach the zipper just to the lining.

With that finally figured out, I put the lining and the exterior together with right/finished sides together, lined up all the seams and notches carefully, then pinned the edges together from the left (underlap side) shoulder, down the center front of the underlap, and around the lower edge of the vest all the way around to the bottom corner of the center front on the overlapping right side of the vest.

After a lot of ironing to get all of that to lay flat when right side out, I was able to trim the center front edge of the overlap to be nice and clean and straight again. When I drafted the center front panels, I modified that right side to have an additional ~2" of width past where I wanted the zipper to be, specifically so there would be a built-in flap to cover over the zipper. Remember: no visible zippers in Star Wars!

Once I had the overlap panels of both the lining and the exterior all trued up, I marked the center front line on the lining side (in the below pic, the angled line going from lower left to upper right), laid half of the separating zipper onto the fabric so that the teeth were lined up with where the center front line met the lower edge of the vest, then measured from the outside edge of the zipper ribbon to the cut edge of the overlap panel. It was just about 7cm away from that edge, so I measured that distance all the way up (past the dashed line that marked the underbust elevation) and drew a nice crisp line with my chalk pen.

That gave me an easy line to follow when sewing the zipper to the inside/lining of the overlapping flap. Since I hadn't sewn the edge of that panel together yet, I was able to move the exterior layer out of the way and sew the zipper only to the lining, for now. I sewed one line of stitching just slightly in from the outside edge of the zipper ribbon, then did a second pass about halfway between the edge and the zipper teeth. It's on there nice and secure, but has a bit of room to separate from the fabric while it's being zipped, so it doesn't get fiddly.

After that, it was just a matter of pinning the other side of the zipper to the lower front corner of the underlap (this time on the exterior side of the fabric, where it faces the lining of the overlap), then try it on with the rest of my Batuu Bounding outfit and pin the underlap side of the zipper until I had the fit I wanted.

I sewed down that side to match the overlap panel side of the zipper, then tried everything on again to double-check the fit. It was a bit weird with the exterior of the overlap flap still unattached, but it fit well enough that I decided to sew the edges of that overlap flap from the lower corner up to the shoulder seam. The back of the neckline is still open, and the armscyes have been turned under but not attached to each other yet, so I can turn the whole thing right side out by pulling it through the back of the neck. With all that ironed and the zipper zipped up, the vest looks like this currently:

Folding back the outer edge of the overlap reveals the zipper. Because of all the overlapping and underlapping, the zipper is just top-stitched in place. It was way more mind-bending to figure out where everything needed to be placed to get this look, but way easier to actually sew on than, say, an invisible zipper set into a seam.

At this point I was able to try on the vest (with my Jyn Erso sweatshirt) and get a pretty good idea of the overall look. I still want to do a bunch of top-stitching both for accent and to help everything lay flat, but even with that I think I'm going to need something to keep the flap over the zipper from coming open.

I looked at a bunch of options for Star Wars-y looking buckles, settled on one I liked the best, then cut the basic size of them out of paper and taped five of them to the outside of the overlap just to get a basic idea of how it would look. I got Jack to weigh in on it too, and we both felt that the buckles were reducing the sleekness of the vest, and weirdly pushing it more towards an Imperial/First Order sort of look. My character isn't an out-and-out rebel, but she doesn't side with the First Order either. I pulled the taped on paper off again, and both Jack and I felt that that was the significantly better look.

But since I knew I still wanted some sort of closures to keep the flap down -- including one at the top left shoulder, that will hang open most of the time, along the lines of Han Solo's and Cassian Andor's shirts (and a bunch of others, this sort of overlap detail shows up frequently all throughout the franchise) and thus be visible where it hangs open.

I ended up finding these slightly unusual looking hooks-and-eyes that I think will provide a nice, nearly invisible look through the torso of the vest, but not look totally out of place on the flap edge that's hanging open. Bix's fitted coat has a similar closure of just barely visible, just slightly odd hooks and eyes, so I feel like I'm in good company there. They should arrive tomorrow, giving me enough time to hopefully get some of the top-stitching done before then.

That top-stitching is the next step, and one of the last things I need to do for this vest project. I want to top-stitch just inside all the finished edges, including the armscyes, and on each side of each of the seams, probably 2-3mm away from the edge and the seamline. That's going to involve getting everything lined up correctly and all the seam allowances lying flat inside the space between the exterior and the lining, but I think the effect will be totally worth it, both for the smoother fit and the subtle visual interest.

After that, I'll have some handsewing to do to invisibly anchor the zipper to the exterior of the overlap panel and to attach the hooks and eyes, once they arrive. The very last thing I'll do on this project is decide if I want a little stand-up half collar that ends somewhere on top of the shoulder, a bit like the one on Jyn Erso's vest.

I'm pretty sure I want a collar like that, the question is just if I need to lower the neckline in the back first, and then how far forward on the shoulder I should bring the collar. Once I've decided on that, I'll cut it out in two layers, lining and exterior, and sew the outside edges together. Then I'll be able to sew the lower edge of the exterior to the back of the neckline, and hand-sew the lining lower edge to fully encase all the raw edges. I did something similar with the Moment vest, and it comes together pretty quickly. I think I should be able to have the vest completely done by this time next week without much trouble. Hopefully.

Alongside working on my vest, I've been continuing to hand-sew the pleated panels onto Jack's jacket. In the tags on my last sewing update, I mentioned that I had about 5" still to go on the first panel. I was in the really annoying section in the middle of the sleeve where I really had to put my whole arm into the sleeve just to pass the needle through, and it was slow-going. I had to make myself push through that annoying section, rather than continue to put it off.

Eventually I worked my way all the way down to the cuff, cut off the excess from the pleated panel, turn under the edges of the lowest pleat, and hand-sew that into place. I am so pleased with how it turned out, but to keep Jack from making jokes about only having one sleeve done (and so that I wouldn't find myself with time to hand-sew and nothing ready to sew), I quickly pushed on to getting the second pleated strip started. I took a bunch of measurements from the finished sleeve and transferred them to the second sleeve, pinned the pleated panel into place, and had Jack try it on just to double-check the placement.

I was able to tear through the upper section of that second panel, between my increased speed and confidence in my method of hand-sewing this, the easy access through the neck side of the jacket, and a couple of long-ass work meetings where I was basically just there to listen in and take notes every now and then. As of posting this, I'm about halfway through with the second panel, and starting to get into that annoying section of the sleeve again.

The effect of the pleated panels on both sleeves is just so cool that I will definitely be getting photos of the jacket on Jack at some point, either on our Disneyland day or during a try-on before that. He's somewhat allergic to photos, but damn it I'm proud of how this looks, and I want to show it off. I've been calling it a 'sewist flex' from the very beginning -- look at what I can do, look at how cool and Star Wars-y it is -- and I'm really looking forward to sending this beauty out into the world in all its epicness.

And I think Jack feels similarly, based on how he's been talking about wearing this jacket all the time once it's done. His whole outfit together (this jacket, cream colored henley shirt with the buttons and bottonholes removed, mustard-y tan moto jeans, hiking boots) looks wonderfully casual Batuu Bound. The effect of the whole thing is Star Wars, but none of the individual pieces feel weird or costume-y. He might not wear those pieces together for anything other than going to Batuu, but each piece paired with something else looks pretty normal. So if Jack is able to get a lot of wear out of this modified jacket, all the better. I know I'll get that burst of sewist pride every time I see him wear it, lol.

[astarlightmonbebe]

☪ ⋆ Table For Two ☪ ⋆

When your friends set you up on a blind date, you’re expecting to hate it, but Han Jisung takes you by surprise.

Word Count: 3.7k

Pairing: Han Jisung x fem!reader

Other members: Hwang Hyunjin and Lee Felix

A/n: this is just a thing that came to mind; hope you all find it cute!

“On a scale of one to ten, how opposed would you be to going on a blind date?” Felix asks, sticking his freckled face right up into yours.

“Firstly, get out of my face.” You say with a look of disgust, slamming your locker shut and throwing your equipment bag over your shoulder. “Secondly, I’m so opposed to that idea that a number one through ten wouldn’t be able to rate how much I’m opposed to it.”

Felix sticks out his tongue at you. “Too bad for you. It’s at seven o’clock tonight, at Scoops For Two, with one of Hyunjin’s elementary school friends. He says he’s super nice, super single, and super cute. Sounds perfect, right?”

“No.” You deadpan, starting to walk towards the double doors. Felix trails after you, chattering away about Hyunjin’s great friend. He’s apparently a musician and he has dyed hair and he talks a lot, so he could totally carry the conversation—you held up a hand right in front of Felix’s mouth, stopping him from saying more.

“Felix, I’m not going on a date with someone Hyunjin set me up with.” You say with an annoyed sigh. Felix’s mouth opens and closes in resemblance with a fish.

“But y/n…” He whines, flinging his arms around your neck and dragging his feet. You try to shove him off to no avail; Felix has all the cling-ability of an octopus, even without little suction cups to keep him in place.

“I’ll pay you.” Felix whispers in your ear. You stop and tilt your head back to look at him. You raise one eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue. “I’m a little broke, but twenty bucks?”

“Yeah, right.” You say with a snort, turning back around.

“Thirty!” Felix bargains. “Come on, mate, I promised Hyunjin that you would definitely be coming.”

“Your mistake.” You reply lightly, pushing through the doors and out into the sunshine.

“Fifty.” Felix says with an air of resignation to him. You spin around, smiling.

“Deal.”

—

Scoops For Two is a popular ice cream shop on the edge of a giant strip mall that’s taken up half of your small town, a small cafe style restaurant best inhabited by high school kids much like yourself. At the moment it’s not occupied by that many people, the dinner rush past, especially for a Tuesday.

You enter it cautiously, tugging at the edges of the dress Hyunjin had stuffed you into. As soon as you had caved in for the blind date, Felix had called Hyunjin and the two of them had promptly taken over your bedroom and executed a mass cleaning as they looked through your closet for appropriate clothes, yelling at you when you tried to interfere, because you apparently ‘had less fashion sense than a human hippo would’—the compliment courtesy of Felix, but seconded by Hyunjin.

It’s not hard to find your blind date: there’s only one single guy sitting at a table for two among the couples scattered across the shop. He looks up at the sound of the bells jangling, eyes alighting on you and—oh, wow—he’s more than just super cute. He’s really cute. No, he’s so handsome it’s making your eyes hurt.

You look away, walking over to him and sitting down across from him. “I’m y/n.” You say, crossing your arms and trying to look as disinterested as possible. “Are you Hyunjin’s friend?”

His eyes fixate on you, a beautiful hazel shade that seem to be kaleidoscoping when you focus on them for too long. His hair is indeed dyed, a violet that is fading into his caramel roots, tousled and messy, falling in front of those eyes when he moves. He has that grunge style you’re kind of into, though you’d rather die than have people find out you have a type. Dressed in a pair of black jeans faded with time and torn with it too, red Doc Martens laced up over his feet, a matching red plaid shirt tied around his waist, his shirt an old Rolling Stones one. You’re not sure if he has the shirt just for the aesthetic or if he really likes them—you won’t judge either way.

Still, his casual style makes you feel extremely dressed up, all cutesy in your little knee length white sundress with the straps that keep sliding off your shoulders. At least you have your combat boots on, the metal buckles catching the light. He’s seen them too, and he’s smiling because of that.

“I like your shoes.” He says.

“Thanks.” You reply. “Name, please?” You’re chewing gum, mint, and you blow a bubble deliberately. He watches it pop, the gum disappearing back into your mouth.

“It’s Jisung. Han Jisung.” He tells you. You like his name, even though you won’t tell him that. It sounds nice. Jisung. Han Jisung. It goes together well too.

“Um, did you eat?” He asks. You nod.

“This is an ice cream shop, dude, not a dinner buffet.” You figure that if you’re as mean as possible, it’ll hurt his feelings and he’ll go away soon. Jisung nods.

“Of course.” He says, more to himself than to you. “So...do you want to go up and order something?” He’s clenching his fingers into fists underneath the table and you realize he’s nervous. Huh.

“Yeah, sure.” You say, rising effortlessly and tugging at the bottom of your dress. It’s a little too short for your comfort, but you managed to slip on spandex shorts underneath in case any mishaps happen.

Jisung follows you up, hanging back. You wonder if you’re intimidating him. Hyunjin had given you strict instructions to seem like the best possible version of yourself, and also to smile lots, because you apparently looked ‘scary’ when you weren’t.

The ice cream is arranged colorfully, labelled on the glass by someone with noticeably messy handwriting. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since you’ve actually had ice cream. Sports keep you busy, and you’re not one for social outings.

“One scoop of mint chocolate chip with hot fudge and whipped cream and a cherry.” Jisung orders beside you, smiling down at the ice cream. You look at him with a raised eyebrow. “What?” He asks, expression souring. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who hates mint chocolate chip ice cream.”

You laugh. “What? No. I just think it’s funny you know exactly what you’re going to order.” Turning to the other worker, you say; “I’d like a scoop of cookie dough with caramel sauce, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry.”

Jisung laughs. “You say that, but you’re exactly the same way.”

“No, I’m simply fast at making decisions. Time doesn’t wait around.” You say back crossly, leaning against the glass and watching the worker drizzle caramel over your ice cream. Jisung leans across from you, smiling again. He never seems to stop smiling. Usually that bothers you, but you like his smile, so you decide to just let him.

“Uhuh.” He says, the grin broad on his face. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” You scoff at him, then thank the workers as they hand you your ice cream. “I can pay.” Jisung says, reaching into his pocket.

“I’ll pay for myself, thanks very much.” You reply, lifting your chin. Jisung blinks, then slowly puts his wallet away and nods, motioning for you to go first.

As you’re paying, the worker asks you; “First date?” You stop, so that he has to tug the money out of your hand.

“No.” Jisung answers behind you. “Not yet.” You nod along, wondering why you were so caught off guard by the question. It wasn’t like it was anything deep.

The two of you take your ice cream back to that small round table for two, the chair hard against your back. It seems even more awkward than before, so you eat your ice cream in silence, poking your spoon in the whipped cream and watching how it gets stuck. You can feel Jisung looking at you every time you look down, but you don’t comment on it.

“So, Hyunjin says you play hockey.” Jisung finally starts, sitting back. You look back up at him.

“Yeah. Field and ice.” He nods appreciatively.

“That’s so cool. I’m not good at sports at all.” He chatters on. “I make music instead. Do you like music? Sorry, that’s a stupid question, everyone likes music. Well, not everyone. What artists do you like?”

You set your spoon down and sit back. “Hey, Han Jisung.” He blinks at you again, rapidly. “Do you talk a lot when you’re nervous.”

“Uh, no, I, maybe?” He stutters, and you find yourself smiling against your will.

“Forget it, it’s fine. I like producers like CB97 and r&b. I’ll listen to just about anything, though, because you have to have something to occupy your mind with when you work out. What about you?”

“Um, well, like you I’ll listen to anything. I like rap, but also ballads...yeah, I guess you could say my music taste is pretty varied.” He laughs a little, eyes scrunching up, and gosh, that’s kind of adorable, how they become crescents of happiness. You can feel the awkwardness melting away piece by piece, chipped away at with the start of this conversation.

“Hyunjin did mention you’re a musician. Are you like in a band?”

Jisung laughs, covering his mouth when he does. “Not exactly. Mostly I just mess around with like...Soundcloud...I swear I’m not cringey though! There’s just not really other platforms to post stuff on.”

You’re already pulling out your phone as he talks. “What’s your username?”

His eyes widen in surprise. “What? No! You’ll think it’s so bad.”

You hand the phone over to him and he tentatively accepts it. “Username, Han Jisung. Besides, Hyunjin will just tell me if you don’t.” Jisung sighs, accepting the truth of that statement, and passes the phone back to you.

“J.ONE?” You say aloud, tilting your head. He has a lot of music, you discover, as you scroll through it. Like, a lot. Too many to count. “It looks like you’ve been doing this for a while.” You observe.

Jisung gave you a dry look. “I went through a weird emo middle school phase, so please don’t listen to any of my old songs. I’ve been meaning to delete them, but a lot of people have listened to them...and also made fun of them, but that’s not important.”

You frown. “Okay, I promise I won’t listen to your emo phase music, but the rest of it is up for dibs, right?” You grin, and Jisung’s cheeks redden a fraction. He touches them with the backs of his head, looking even more embarassed.

“Whatever you want, y/n.” He finally responds with a sunny smile. “I expect adequate feedback though. I don’t usually give out my music to pretty girls on first meetings.”

“Well, I’m known to be an exception to that rule.” You proclaim airly.

“Wow, confident much?” He asks, but he’s holding back a laugh as he ducks his head.

“Actually, yes.” You answer as seriously as possible, teasing at this point just to see the expression on his face. “No one matches me when it comes to totally unneeded confidence, so don’t think you’ll be able to even come close.”

“I wasn’t even going to try.” Jisung replies, holding his hands up in an I surrender motion.

“Good.” You say, feeling yourself smiling hard, your cheek muscles aching. It’s been a while since you’ve found yourself smiling for so long. This scruffy looking cute boy has somehow managed to quite possibly win a little bit of your heart. Possibly. Only possibly, of course. It’s too scary to admit that completely to yourself.

“Are you finished?” Jisung asks suddenly, noticing your empty ice cream cup. “Because I have something I want to do. Only if you want to, though.”

You are indeed finished, but you look at him suspiciously all the same. “What sort of thing?”

He smiles cheekily at you. “Can it be a surprise? I pinky promise I’m not going to kidnap you.”

You aren’t concerned about that, which is a surprise given your usual skepticism when meeting new people, especially when you’re alone. “I’ll go along with it just this once.” You say as breezily as possible, feeling a faint pinkness rise in your cheeks. Since when did you blush over boys—albeit very cute ones with really nice smiles and Soundclouds?

He pushes open the door, opening up something on his phone, and turns back to you. “Ready?” He asks, hand outstretched towards you. You stare at it, thinking about what it would feel like to hold his hand, and by the time your mind has returned in order for you to think to grab it, its dropped by his side again.

“Wait.” You say, grabbing it. It’s warm and a rough all at once, old callouses healed over, but that doesn’t bother you. Your own hands hold the remnants of what it’s like to clutch a hockey stick year round. Jisung looks startled but in a pleasant way as he leads you down the road, eyes narrowed at his phone screen.

You walk around the corner and down the road before he stops in front of a bike, scanning a QR code to check it out. “Um…” He glances down at the bike, then back at the two of you. You smirk.

“Get on behind me, lover boy.” You state, swinging your leg over the bike. You’re glad you had the foresight to wear those spandex shorts now.

Jisung sputters at the name. “I swear I’m not a player!” He exclaims, sounding so sincere you can’t help but let out a loud laugh, doubling over the handles as your body shakes.

“Chill, dude, it’s just an expression.” You smile from underneath your veil of hair. “I know you’re not a player, Han Jisung, so don’t take offense.”

Jisung runs his fingers through his hair and has the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry.” He mumbles, and you motion for him to get on behind you. There’s an awkward moment when he has to squeeze himself to fit, knees almost up to his chest. His arms find their way to your waist, wrapping around it tightly, as if he considers you his only lifeline.

“Where are we off to, Han Jisung?” You ask over your shoulder.

“The boardwalk.” He answers, voice muffled by your shoulder, which he’s leaned his head against without asking, hair tickling the back of your neck. It’s almost...nice, how you can feel how he’s so relaxed against you, as if he trusts you. Who trusts strangers they’ve just met? Only Jisung, apparently.

“What’re we doing there?” You ask jokingly, and you can feel him lift his head to look at the back of his head.

“It’s a secret, of course. Now get pedalling.” You roll your eyes, feeling the burn in your muscles as you set off.

“By the way, you need to swear you won’t sue me if you fall off and get a concussion.” You throw over your shoulder.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Jisung replies, sounding sleepy, even though your pedalling is rough and messy and there are lots of cracks in the sidewalk. “Besides, I thought you had more confidence than anyone else in this world. Aren’t you confident you can keep me safe?” His voice is soft around the edges, wrapping around you and curling through your veins, warm and tingly.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want to ruin that pretty face of yours either.” You respond gently, and he settles back against you as you spend the ride in silence.

The sun is dipping down into golden hour and you tilt your face up to it, enjoying the breeze against you, a relief from the hot summer days you’ve all been suffering from lately as school draws to a close. You like this feeling, you decide: a comforting weight at your back and the wind in your face and the sun making everything prettier, knowing you’re not really that alone.

The boardwalk is old and rickety but surrounded by sand and water, the fair still in session with its glittering lights and larger than life ferris wheel. You park right at the entrance, and Jisung untangles himself from you. It feels empty without him there, after a silent bike ride that lasted for at least a good twenty minutes.

“Golden hour looks good on you.” He acknowledges, and you toss your hair, even though you’re blushing from the compliment.

“Of course it does.” He shakes his head, but he likes your confidence and you both know it.

“What are we going to do here?” You ask, but Jisung just grabs your hand away and leads you in, showing off two tickets he must have stashed in one of those pockets that are scattered throughout his outfit.

“First, we get accessories.” He announces, leading you right to a small shop filled with souvenirs. “To get in a carnival mood.” He declares, and you laugh, looking it over. You pick out a headband with cat ears, sticking it on his head.

“If that’s the case, then I think this is the one for you.” You announce, examining him with a laugh. He does look cute in it, but he pouts at you anyways, finding one with devil horns and jamming it on your head.

“If that’s the case, then I think this one suits your personality.” He says, half laughing at you. You look in the mirror. He’s put it on lopsidedly, of course, so you adjust it with some self consciousness.

“What’s after this?” You ask, looking out across the fair. “Please tell me we’re riding the ferris wheel.” Jisung swallows and looks up at it. “Please?” You add, because if you’re here, then you’re going to have your way for at least one ride.

“I wasn’t planning on rides, but for you, I’d do anything.” He pulls a finger heart out of his jacket and you swat his hand away playfully, even though your heart feels like it’s pumping an electric beat inside of your chest, threatening to break free of your rib cage and jump right into Han Jisung’s hands.

The line for the ferris wheel is short, and soon you find yourself crammed side by side with Jisung on it, only a bar in front of you preventing you from falling. Jisung turns his head to watch the ground disappear, then settles back against the seat. His hands are in his lap, too tightly entwined for you to dare reaching over to grab one of them.

“Truthfully, I’m only on this blind date because Felix said he would pay me fifty dollars.” You tell him suddenly, and it’s so sudden that Jisung starts laughing, leaning out over the bar with his eyes bright.

“So I’m only worth fifty dollars to you?” He asks, poking you in the shoulder. You brush his hand away, nose scrunching up.

“That’s not what I said! You didn’t let me finish.” You pout, and he mouths a silent apology and waves for you to continue on. “I’ve actually had a lot of fun, though, especially considering it’s the first blind date I’ve been on. It’s been nice getting to know you, Jisung.”

Jisung smiles softly at that. “Thanks, y/n.” The ferris wheel creaks upward, then jolts to a sudden halt at the top, sending you both forward. The bar bites into your stomach, and you groan.

“Oh, come on. Isn’t it a little cliche to trap couples at the top?!” You yell down to the worker, who doesn’t seem to hear you as they fiddle with the buttons. You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Wow...we’re really high up.” Jisung notes, his voice coming out shaky. You look over at him and see that your date for the night is looking unusually out of sorts.

“What’s wrong?” You ask in concern.

“Since we’re admitting things tonight, it might be a good time to say that I have a very big fear of heights.” Jisung says flatly, craning his neck to look at the frothing ocean only a drop away. “I don’t suppose you have any good distractions for that, do you? Because I can tell you right now just talking to me will not help in the slightest.”

An idea is formulating in your brain, and you smile. “I do, actually. Look me in the eyes.” He does, turning his head, his eyes colorful orbs with the reflection of the ferris wheel lights in them, hair blowing in the wind.

“What are you doing?” He whispers as you stare up at him, concentrating. You hold up one finger to your lips, making him go quiet. He stares down at you and you gaze up at him, everything going quiet except for your breathing.

Slowly, carefully, you reach up. His eyes track your hand as it traces over his shoulder and around to rest against his neck, pulling him down closer. You can tell he has more to ask, but you suck in a breath and pull his face down towards yours, lips connecting.

It’s brief, two pairs of lips brushing against each other, but it makes you feel things you’ve never felt. Han Jisung’s lips are soft and warm, and his mouth parts against yours in a silent exclamation as you deepen the kiss, hand furled into the collar of his shirt.

The ferris wheel jolts back to life, startling the two of you apart. Jisung is staring at you, chest rising and falling, and you smile at him, feeling shy.

“Did that distract you enough?” You ask innocently, and Jisung blinks several times in rapid succession, then nods slowly. He’s tilting his head, looking at you in a different light, and you wait patiently.

“No wonder you have so much confidence.” He finally murmurs. “You’re freaking beautiful.”

And when Han Jisung kisses you for a second time, you think he’s worth more than money could offer. Up among these clouds, surrounded by light, the water washing up against the shore steadily, you think that he’s quite possibly the best person you’ve ever met.

End.

[outfittrends]

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Check Blazer Trend-18 Ideas On How To Wear Checkered Blazers

Wondering how to style a checked blazer? Don’t worry, Outfit Trends has you covered, as always! A checked blazer is an ultra chic clothing item that has proved its versatility again and again. Wear it to a work event, a comedy club, a concert, or toss it around your shoulders on a cool summer day. There are no limits to how you can style this underrated wardrobe piece to suit your every need.

Let’s get started with 18 ways to wear a checked blazer.

What To Wear With A Check Blazer?

We’ve already done a detailed post on What to Wear with Printed Blazers, but today’s article is all about checkered blazers only. There are many different types of check prints including plaid, tartan, tweed, window-pane and many more. While all the styles differ slightly from each other in terms of print or fabric, they all do share the same classy feel that we love about checks. Here are some tips, do’s and dont’s on wearing checkered blazers this season:

If you’re planning to buy just 1 or 2 blazers, look for one that has the ability to spice up any outfit whether its casual or formal.

It’s always best to go for a relaxed fit as your fitting can change based on how many layers you’re wearing. And in my case, it can even change based on how much food I’ve had since morning, so the relaxed fit is always a safe bet.

 Tartan blazers in shades of grey or black are best for formal evening wear. For daywear, you could go for some catchy colors like pastels or perhaps even hot pink.

If you’re looking for a checked blazer for work, go for any shade of blue that you like as it’s considered the most professional blazer color for workplaces.

Don’t be afraid to add in more checks. The concept that prints don’t work with prints is probably the most outdated one, especially when it comes to checked blazers since they look so good when paired with complementing checkered items.

Contradicting fashion pieces go so well together. While checked blazers are more masculine in nature, pairing them with a feminine floral dress can create the most sophisticated outfit ever.

↓ 20 – Colorful Checks

If you’re looking for a blazer that will look best on camera and help you take some gram-worthy shots, go for colorful checked blazers.

↓ 19 – Rocking A Sleeveless Checked Blazer

Sleeveless checked blazers are not just hard to find but also challenging to dress up in. If you haven’t tried one before, we recommend going for one with a longer length and checking out our post on 16 Cute Outfits with Sleeveless Blazers.

↓ 18 – Upgrade The Look

No matter what you’re planning to wear, a checkered coat will never disappoint when paired with it.

↓ 17 – Night Out!

↓ 16 – Weekend Plans

Choose a relaxed fit blazer and layer it over your favorite tee and the comfiest black denim that you own, you’re all set for a fun filled weekend! Do check out these Outfits with Black Jeans.

↓ 15 – How to Style a Checked Blazer?

As aforementioned, a checked blazer is endlessly versatile and there are so many different ways you can wear it.

Let’s start with a classic look. This gray checked blazer pairs so gorgeously with a pair of gray dress pants, worn over a white v-neck blouse.

How you accessorize will determine how dressy you want to look. Headed for a work event? A simple pair of drop earrings will do the trick, as well as a stylish oversized black purse. A pair of black heels will keep this look grounded and work-appropriate.

Grabbing drinks with your best friend? Throw on a pair of stiletto mules and add a swipe of red lipstick. Ditch the large purse for a clutch and swap out your watch for a bracelet or two. Feel free to get creative. Maybe you want to switch out the white blouse for another colored top. Or maybe swap your dress pants with a pair of skinny black jeans. The choice is yours so have fun with it.

Via

SHOP THE LOOK FOR UNDER $1000

Nordstrom Galvan Ruffle Sleeve Blouse $434.98

REISS Alenna Tailored Blazer $455

↓ 14 – Stylish Winter Look for the City

This checked coat heavily resembles a blazer so we have included it for diversity’s sake. This is a stylish look, perfect for walking around the city in cooler temperatures.

Pair blue skinny jeans with a white top and throw on your coat or blazer over it. This black side bag is super chic and matches well with these shiny black boots. Accessorize with sunglasses and simple jewelry. These checkers deserve center stage.

Get your own blazer here:

1STATE Plaid One-Button Blazer $139

↓ 13 – Casual Style

There is so much to love about this outfit, we don’t even know where to start!

To seamlessly bridge the gap between dressy and casual, trendy and chic, take a look at this ensemble. A gray checked blazer is paired with some ripped, light-wash jeans. A beige cashmere blouse is worn underneath, perfectly matching with some stunning heels and further complemented by a lightweight shoulder purse. With loose curls and a couple of stacked silver necklaces, you are ready to grab lunch with the gals, head out for a movie with your guy, or spend an afternoon window-shopping.

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Get your own blazer here

Repeat Cashmere Oversized Blazer $325

↓ 12 – Sassy All-Black Ensemble with Multicolor Blazer

Ooh, la, la! Now, this is a look to get the heads turning!

Perfect for a business casual dinner, a work event, or party, this blazer savvies up an otherwise sassy ensemble of high-waisted black jeans, she-means-business boots, and a black long-sleeved top. Red lipstick and long statement earrings add further pizzazz to your outfit, as well as a mean machine bag that very nearly steals all that blazer’s glory!

SHOP THE LOOK BELOW

Multicolor Check Blazer $149.99

Saint Laurent Classic Sac de Jour Baby in Grained Leather $2650

↓ 11 – Sleek Look For Women Over 40

We love the choice of laced ballerinas with this outfit.

↓ 10 – Super Stylish Charcoal Checked Blazer

For a fashionista-approved outfit, look no further. This girl means business.

We adore the pairing of this long blazer with a miniskirt, a high-necked top, and some knockout studded boots. Add a pair of trendy shades and stacked necklaces and forget about it. This is a look you will want to wear over and over again.

Great for sitting down to a lecture or even heading to the theater for a movie with friends.

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Susanna Stud Buckle Bootie $1380

Ray-Bans Retro Sunglasses $153

Isla Shimmer Check Blazer

We the Free by Free People Modern Denim Miniskirt

↓ 9 – Glam Street Style – Party Outfit With Plaid Blazer

We cannot get over how stunning this ensemble is.

Perfectly blending chic with allure, this blazer adds a layer of sophistication to this look which you could easily wear to a party, a date, or a night on the town. Accessories are key (ha! we love a mediocre pun!) so let’s pull apart the ones pictured. Start with the necklaces. Two necklaces are chain-style with a standout pendant – in this case, a miniature lock. A few more silver strands are stacked with these. Slide a couple of rings onto your fingers, add a stylish watch as well as a belt to your mid-rise jeans.

For the rest of your outfit, a black lacy bralette is worn under a simple tank tucked into jeans. For footwear, get fun with it! Boots, Converse, Vans, Doc Martens – any of these options would look great with this outfit.

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SHOP THE LOOK FOR UNDER $145

Mango Gingham Blazer $119.99

DSTLD Model Tank in Heather $25

↓ 8 – Checked Blazer Street Style

Here we have yet another stunningly gorgeous ensemble that you’ll find yourself wanting to wear over and over again.

Simply tuck a cream colored knit sweater or turtleneck into a pair of cropped denim shorts. For accessories, thread a thin belt through your belt loops and add a silver necklace with some kind of distinct pendant over your sweater. All that’s left is the blazer and we adore this one! For shoes, opt for Doc Martens, boots, or even chunky heels.

Check out the outfit details below

Oasis Heritage Check Blazer

Cream High Neck Rib Knit Cropped Sweater £4.00

H&M Narrow Belt $5.99

ASOS New Look Distressed Denim Shorts

↓ 7 – Cute and Stylish Lunch Date Outfit

Snazz up a boring lunch date outfit with a gorgeous blazer and camisole as you effortlessly combine style with flair.

A silky black camisole is tucked into some skinny jeans and finished off with a chunky belt. Pop over that your blazer of choice, in this instance a dark blue checkered blazer, and leave your hair down in loose curls. This look requires minimal accessories but you could certainly add a bracelet or two and perhaps a couple of necklaces. For shoes, opt for heels or stiletto mules to keep this look as chic as possible.

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Check out the outfit details

Nordstrom Topshop Satin Cowl Neck Camisole $22.50

Nordstrom Riley Crystal Buckle Belt

Nordstrom LEVI’S 501 Ankle Slim Jeans

Nordstrom Isla Shimmer Check Blazer

↓ 6 – How to Wear a Black and White Checkered Blazer

We love a bold blazer and this black and white checkered one is no exception.

There are a variety of ways you can style a blazer like this. You can keep it minimal, accessorizing only with a delicate necklace and a pair of sunglasses, or you can spice up this look by opting for a bolder necklace and adding a statement belt to the ensemble.

Your footwear will also determine how dressy this look becomes. For a more casual event, why not try Converse? Or if you need a slightly dressier look, opt for mules or sleek black booties. The sky is the limit with an outfit like this, so why not try out a few different things? With a standout blazer like this, there isn’t much you can do wrong! If you’re a fan of white outfits, do check out these Outfits with White Blazers.

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SHOP THE LOOK FOR UNDER $350

Structured Linen Checked Blazer $119.99

The Boxy Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch $169

H&M Jersey Tank $4.99

Contrasting Sunglasses $29.99

ASOS DESIGN Moves Leather Mule Loafers

↓ 5 – How to Style Your Blazer for Work

Blazers might be most commonly associated with work attire, and so far we have tried to show you all the different ways you can wear a blazer other than for work. But we would be remiss if we did not include at least one work-appropriate outfit to perhaps inspire you with a new look you can try next Monday!

Keep reading for the outfit details.

A long-ish well-fitting gray blazer is worn over a white blouse tucked into white skinny jeans. A black belt matches with the stylish footwear and cute little purse that you can dangle over your arm alongside your briefcase. Style your hair as usual, and swipe on a bold shade of red lipstick.

Last by not least, accessorize with some pearl earrings which are both classy and sophisticated.

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Check out the outfit details below

Double-breasted Prince of Wales Checked Woven Blazer

Everlane The Day Heel $145

Levi’s Mile High Ankle Super Skinny Jeans $98

David Jones Icon Frame Clutch $399

Gold Mini Molten Necklace on Plain Chain £79.00

Cotton Courier Shirt

↓ 4 – Great Outfit For Traveling

We love a look that can be easily altered according to the occasion. In this case, let’s say you have just finished lunch and you are ready to take yourself out for a brisk tour of the city. A couple of small adjustments can help you do that.

If your hair is up, let it down and swipe on some fresh lipstick. A little scarf tied around the neck adds a pop of color and a cute twist to this look. Black skinny jeans are great for all sorts of events, and these white mules are not only gorgeous but super comfortable. Last but not least, pop on your blazer of choice. This gray plaid one is gorgeous.

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Check out the outfit details below

H&M Jersey Jacket $34.99

Vera Moda Long-Sleeved Shirt £24

Gap High Rise True Skinny Jeans in EverBlack $49.97

Steven by Steve Madden Velocity Mule $64.98

↓ 3 – Spring Look

Ah, how we love this look! Nothing screams spring like all-white attire (with some light-wash denim, of course) and we happen to think that this outfit is just perfect for a warm spring day when you are out with friends or perhaps grabbing lunch with your significant other.

To replicate this look, you will need a pair of ripped mid-rise jeans (a distressed hem adds casualness to this look, so if that is what you are going for, be sure you don’t miss that detail) and a white top, perhaps a bodysuit or a tank top. Over that, you will put on a white checked blazer and your favorite fashion statement sunglasses.

And of course, we can’t forget the shoes. These white studded mules are so chic and match perfectly well with this ensemble.

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Ribbed Knit Bodysuit $8.99

Women’s Kari Studded Mules

↓ 2 – Matching Suit with Gray Blazer

Gray blazers are obviously a much-loved piece in this article. We love the way it’s worn here!

Slightly oversized, the sleeves may be rolled up to ensure this outfit bridges the casual/work gap. It is worn with a matching skirt, belted at the waist of course, and a white tee. (Girls Can Do Anything, it says. And we agree!)

This look requires minimal accessories, which we love, and it would work well with some white mules or Vans as the footwear of choice.

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SHOP THE LOOK BELOW

Checked Double Button Blazer Checked $35.97

Girls Can Do Anything T-shirt

↓ 1 – Super Cute Party-Ready Look With Blazer

There are so many different ways to wear a blazer jacket, which I hope we have demonstrated in this article. For our final look, this party-ready ensemble shows us once more just how versatile the blazer jacker really is.

A very-fitting blank tank or bodysuit is worn under this very well-fitting tailored blazer that hugs in all the right places.

(Pro Tip: Have your blazers tailored whenever possible. They will fit better and complement your specific figure and body type.)

For pants, opt for high-rise black skinny jeans. Stiletto heels, preferably a neutral tone, will add height to your body and elongate your legs. Sleek hair and bold, oversized earrings further complete this look.

The only accessory you will need is a black handbag.

With that, the look is complete!

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Check out the outfit details below:

ASOS London Black Quilted Shoulder Statement Bag

POW STRAPPY PERSPEX HEELS IN NUDE PATENT £20.99

Black Skinny Jeans High Waisted Women Button Denim Pants $19.99

Women’s Check Blazer Turndown Collar Half Sleeve Women’s Fitted Short Jacket $29.99

[sheliesshattered]

Top third or so of the pleated panel is sewn down!

I tried out a couple of different methods for handsewing this to the shoulder and sleeve, but after a few inches of each, the 'stitch in the ditch' method was the clear winner. It's basically invisible, and lets the piping stand up as it ought to. I'm doing a stitch about every 1/8th inch, and keeping most of the distance on the top so that the stitches inside the sleeve are as small as possible, and won't get caught on things. I'm getting faster with the technique, so I'm hoping to buzz through the rest of this sleeve and the other one over the next few days.

But I'm also going to be interspersing this sewing with starting on my vest scratch build. I was able to find the pattern I made for my vest for The Moment way back in 2014 (it was exactly where I thought it would be, hurrah for keeping old patterns), and I spent some time staring at the existing vest in the mirror and pin-marking the changes I would like to make.

There are enough small changes that I'm going to just draft a new version of the pattern using the old one as a guide. But there are only the four main body pieces that really need re-drafting, and once it's something I can try on then I'll figure out how I'm doing the new collar (so it doesn't look so much like a motorcycle jacket), and I might just drape the new collar on me while I'm wearing the in-progress vest.

Over the weekend I also went though my stash looking for fabrics that have enough yardage (or at least big pieces) to cut out the body of the vest, and after comparing all those to the pieces I know I'll definitely be wearing as part of my Batuu Bound -- gray hooded wrap, brown leather belt/bag/gloves, and black leather-look leggings -- with Jack's help I decided on some lovely dark navy linen that I've had in my stash for years, left over from a dress project. It's on the heavier side for linens, but not quite as stiff as the canvas the Moment vest is made from, but I think it'll work nicely.

I'm going to stick with the basic lines from the Moment vest, including the diagonal cross-body closure. After noodling on this for a week or more, what I've decided to do is a shorter zipper that ends around underbust level or just slightly higher, and then a flap over that with either no visible closures, or some cool looking Star Wars-y buckles or something. I have a few ideas for that, but I won't make any decisions until I can try the new vest on. The separating zipper and the thread for this project have been ordered and should arrive before I'm anywhere close to needing them. Pics on this whole vest project as it develops.

Beyond that, I need to add a tiny dot of glue to a pendant that I made (in the upper left of the photo -- it looks a bit like Jyn Erso's kyber crystal necklace, but smaller with more of a blue tone to it) to make sure the wrappings stay attached. I still want to figure out something to cover the lacings of my big Doc Martens, either wraps over the whole boot or a suede panel that snaps onto the lacings or something of that sort. I've started to gather other accessories, and there are a couple of things I want to order (in particular my Captain's License, once I can settle on a name and spelling for my OC, lol).

I have a long sleeve shirt to go under the vest that works with my color pallet, and an idea (and fabric) for another shirt I could sew, but the weather has been so all over the place lately (80 degrees and sunny! no wait, 60 degrees and rainy!) that I don't want to put too much effort into the shirt until I've got a better idea of the weather we'll have 4 weeks from now. Finishing Jack's jacket and making my vest are definitely the priorities.

4 weeks to go! Hokay, I've got a pile of linen scraps to go iron.