The Happy Accident Skirt

When I went shopping for skirt fabric last week, all I knew was that I wanted corduroy.  I really didn't have a particular color in mind, and when I came across this shade I thought it wouldn't really go with much.  But I loved the color so much I couldn't leave the store without it. 

Happily, it turns out I was wrong!  When I got home, I realized it went with my new Renfrew, and I was pretty excited.  But yesterday after I finished the skirt, I went digging in my closet and came up with about ten different sweaters and tops that look great with this color!  So now I'm even more excited!  This morning I did a little outfit roundup of my favorites from the pile.

You'll notice that I left this skirt pretty long.  The first time I made this pattern I took quite a bit off the bottom, but for winter I'm kind of digging mid-calf skirts and dresses over tall boots.  Of course, not one of these looks incorporates tall boots, LOL!

First up, the full-sleeved Renfrew, along with my beloved Frye Carson Oxfords (SO comfy) and winter white legs:

Next, with the "Betty" sweater I made two years ago and have worn . . . never!  Such a pity because I love this sweater!  But I never had a skirt I felt looked good with it - until now!  It's such a cropped style that it requires a skirt (or pants) with a higher waistline like this one.   These Cuban-heeled Seychelles "Scene of the Crime" pumps are from 3 years ago.  They were sold at Anthropologie under the style name "Ancient Woods Heels."

I'm pretty excited about the next one - look how great this color goes with my latest Archer shirt!!  It's like they were made for each other!  Also, I'm wearing this sequinned leather belt I bought from Loft years ago and haven't been able to wear much, because it's waist-sized and most of my jeans and pants hit me at the hip.  Glad to have a use for it, as I think it's a very pretty belt.

And finally, here's my very favorite look.  This is a sweater I bought probably ten years ago from Anthropologie.  It's always been one of my favorite pieces, and I used to wear it quite often when I was still teaching.  I haven't worn it for a couple years though because it's a little small on me now, and so has to be worn as a top rather than as a cardigan.  The colors in the print are just perfect with this corduroy - I'm so excited to be able to make an outfit with this sweater again!  The shoes are Kensington Suede Loafers from J. Crew probably 5 or 6 years ago.  I think they are so amazing - I bought them in three colors (black, aubergine and the vicuna shown here) and I'm so glad I did.  I wear them all more frequently than I do a lot of my fabulous shoes, because they are actually quite comfortable.

By this time, I was getting tired of changing clothes, but here's a little peek at another old sweater that looks great with this skirt.  This one is probably about ten years old too, a floral printed lambswool/angora cardigan from Boden that I used to wear all the time.

So, what a happy accident!  Probably it wasn't an accident at all - I guess all these items were tucked away in some deep corner of my memory, which nudged me on to pick up this fabric.   Does this ever happen to any of you?  You're drawn to a fabric and can't figure out why, and later you discover it fills in a hole in your closet?